Martin Hoke
Encyclopedia
Martin R. Hoke is an American
Republican
politician
, member of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and former member of the United States House of Representatives
from Ohio
.
Hoke was born in Lakewood, Ohio
and attended school at the private Western Reserve Academy
. He graduated from Amherst College
in 1973 and earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University
in 1980. During the 1970s he practiced Sikhism
. He also founded a cell phone company.
In 1992, Hoke won the Republican nomination for Ohio's 10th congressional district
, located in Cleveland's west side. Hoke upset heavily favored Democrat
Mary Rose Oakar
, who had represented the district (formerly the 20th District) for 16 years, in the general election. Oakar was hampered by accusations of check writing at the House of Representatives Bank. Hoke was the first Republican to represent a significant portion of traditionally heavily Democratic Cleveland in over 30 years.
Hoke won re-election in 1994 against Frank Gaul
, a Cuyahoga County Treasurer who had recently overseen losses in a county bond fund based on faulty advice from private bond counsel.
In 1996, Hoke was defeated by former Cleveland mayor Dennis Kucinich
49%-46%. Hoke was harmed by several gaffes he had made, the Democratic nature of the district, strong labor support for Kucinich, and a mounting public perception that he would lose, furthered when his fellow Cleveland-area Republican Congressman Steve LaTourette
argued that voters should vote for him because Hoke was likely to lose and the Cleveland area needed at least one Republican congressman.
Hoke was appointed to the Ohio Casino Control Commission by Governor John R. Kasich on February 23, 2011. His term of office will end on February 22, 2013.
Bill Clinton
, Hoke was being interviewed alongside Democratic Ohio Congressman Eric Fingerhut
. When a female television news producer asked Fingerhut if she could ask him to unbutton his jacket, Fingerhut responded "you can ask me to do anything you want." After miking Hoke and Fingerhut, the producer walked away and Hoke remarked, in an Italian
accent, "She's got ze beega breasts." Hoke quickly realized that he was being recorded and had made a major gaffe, saying "we're probably live". Although the cameras were not broadcasting live at that moment, the incident was taped. Local news stations in Cleveland, Ohio soon broadcast the comment all over the city. Hoke quickly apologized for the remark, stating that he deserved "a 2-by-4 to the head.".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, member of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and former member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Hoke was born in Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
and attended school at the private Western Reserve Academy
Western Reserve Academy
Western Reserve Academy is a private, mid-sized, coeducational boarding and day college preparatory school located in Hudson, Ohio.-History:...
. He graduated from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1973 and earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
in 1980. During the 1970s he practiced Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
. He also founded a cell phone company.
In 1992, Hoke won the Republican nomination for Ohio's 10th congressional district
Ohio's 10th congressional district
Ohio's 10th congressional district is currently represented by Representative Dennis J. Kucinich . The district is based in the western part of Cleveland and surrounding suburbs in Cuyahoga County. Cook PVI rates this district as D+8....
, located in Cleveland's west side. Hoke upset heavily favored Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Mary Rose Oakar
Mary Rose Oakar
Mary Rose Oakar is an American Democratic politician and former member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio, the first Democratic woman elected to the United States Congress from that state....
, who had represented the district (formerly the 20th District) for 16 years, in the general election. Oakar was hampered by accusations of check writing at the House of Representatives Bank. Hoke was the first Republican to represent a significant portion of traditionally heavily Democratic Cleveland in over 30 years.
Hoke won re-election in 1994 against Frank Gaul
Frank Gaul
Francis E. Gaul is an American politician of the Democratic party. He was the Treasurer of Cuyahoga County, Ohio from 1976 to 1995....
, a Cuyahoga County Treasurer who had recently overseen losses in a county bond fund based on faulty advice from private bond counsel.
In 1996, Hoke was defeated by former Cleveland mayor Dennis Kucinich
Dennis Kucinich
Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....
49%-46%. Hoke was harmed by several gaffes he had made, the Democratic nature of the district, strong labor support for Kucinich, and a mounting public perception that he would lose, furthered when his fellow Cleveland-area Republican Congressman Steve LaTourette
Steve LaTourette
Steven C. "Steve" LaTourette is the U.S. House of Representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
argued that voters should vote for him because Hoke was likely to lose and the Cleveland area needed at least one Republican congressman.
Hoke was appointed to the Ohio Casino Control Commission by Governor John R. Kasich on February 23, 2011. His term of office will end on February 22, 2013.
Controversy
Following the 1994 State of the Union speech by PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, Hoke was being interviewed alongside Democratic Ohio Congressman Eric Fingerhut
Eric Fingerhut
Eric David Fingerhut is an American politician of the Ohio Democratic party. Fingerhut was appointed the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents on March 14, 2007 by Governor Ted Strickland. This position makes him a member of the Ohio Governor's Cabinet...
. When a female television news producer asked Fingerhut if she could ask him to unbutton his jacket, Fingerhut responded "you can ask me to do anything you want." After miking Hoke and Fingerhut, the producer walked away and Hoke remarked, in an Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
accent, "She's got ze beega breasts." Hoke quickly realized that he was being recorded and had made a major gaffe, saying "we're probably live". Although the cameras were not broadcasting live at that moment, the incident was taped. Local news stations in Cleveland, Ohio soon broadcast the comment all over the city. Hoke quickly apologized for the remark, stating that he deserved "a 2-by-4 to the head.".