Just a little clip in a column, but mind-boggling; and concerning. It may seem like a small thing, but I see it as a form of official oppression; not by the letter of the law, but certainly in the spirit.

You watch, we decide what: The TV in the first-floor cafeteria at the Ohio Department of Transportation headquarters in Columbus (1980 W. Broad St.) has been mysteriously changed from CNN to Fox News under the new regime of Gov. John Kasich.

ODOT spokeswoman Melissa Ayers confirmed that the channel change edict was ordered up by ODOT Chief Jerry Wray. “The director said we should switch it up a little bit,” she said.

Asked why it was Fox News, Ayers said, “No particular reason.”

So it doesn’t have to do with the fact that Kasich had a weekend show on Fox News until 2007, and had more recently filled in for popular host Bill O’Reilly.

And it’s not related to Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch making a $1 million contribution to the Republican Governor’s Association last year and telling Politico that it was solely because of his friendship with Kasich. (Oh, by the way, during last year’s election, the RGA ran a series of ads targeting Kasich’s opponent, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.)

Ayers denied a report from an angry ODOT employee, who wished to remain anonymous, that all of the other channels were blocked on the TV, but said, “I’m not sure there is a remote for it down there.”

__________________________________

“Official Oppression”: Definition (Texas):

Sec. 39.03. Official Oppression

Updates from 2007 Legislative Session are being added but not yet complete.

Sec. 39.03. Official Oppression

(a) A public servant acting under color of his office or employment commits an offense if he:

(1) intentionally subjects another to mistreatment or to arrest, detention, search, seizure, dispossession, assessment, or lien that he knows is unlawful;

(2) intentionally denies or impedes another in the exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power, or immunity, knowing his conduct is unlawful; or

(3) intentionally subjects another to sexual harassment.

(b) For purposes of this section, a public servant acts under color of his office or employment if he acts or purports to act in an official capacity or takes advantage of such actual or purported capacity.

(c) In this section, “sexual harassment” means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, submission to which is made a term or condition of a person’s exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power, or immunity, either explicitly or implicitly.

(d) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1217, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 16, Sec. 19.01(34), eff. Aug. 26, 1991. Renumbered from V.T.C.A., Penal Code Sec. 39.02 by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

construction (Penal Code Sec. 39.03. Official Oppression)

In the phrase “rights, privileges, powers, and immunities,” employment in the public sector clearly falls within the meaning of “privilege.” Sanchez v State, 995 S.W.2d 677 (June 30, 1999)