As the United Steelworkers union was announcing its endorsement for a number of Ohio Democrats, including Gov. Ted Strickland, Chris Redfern used a variation of the F-word to describe opponents to his party's agenda.

A NEWS9 reporting crew was invited into the union hall in Clarington for the endorsement announcement, and the camera was rolling as Redfern leveled the expletive at critics in the Tea Party, who, in his words, believe health care is a privilege, not a right.

"If your kids are going to graduate from college, now he or she gets health care, your heath care, while he or she looks for a new job," Redfern said. "It's in the very base terms we win these arguments. Every time one of these (expletive deleted) says, excuse my language..."

When NEWS9 contacted Redfern for an explanation of his comment, he was under the impression that the endorsement announcement was a private event.

Redfern also said he saw both the NEWS9 reporter and videographer, but did not see the reporter holding a microphone and assumed his comments were not being recorded.

NEWS9 also sought clarification on a remark United Steelworkers Assistant District Director Dave Caldwell made during the endorsement event.

Caldwell was accusing Republicans of trying to distract voters from economic issues by playing up social issues, especially gay marriage.

"The 13 states that were the battleground states were the only ones that had 'Issue Ones' on the ballot," said Caldwell. "And they never once talked about women, because freaks like me would think that's a good thing for two women to be hooked up. It's only when two guys are getting married that that's a bad thing."

When NEWS9 contacted Caldwell for clarification, he said his comments were an attempt at humorously trying to make a point about how political spin can distract from economic issues.

While Caldwell would not say whether he supported gay marriage, his further remarks Monday night implied he does not have a problem with gays or lesbians.

Tuesday, after reviewing Redfern's comments and his explanation, NEWS9 used a laptop computer to play Redfern's speech for local voters to ask if they thought his remark crossed a line.

"Well, I think it's probably inappropriate for the setting, but I think emotions are starting to take place with the Tea Party movement," said Jeff Gray, of Steubenville. "These guys are starting to panic."

Gray said he is a Democrat who occasionally votes for Republicans.

"With this comment, I don't know, it was an emotional comment," said Gray. "I think things are coming to a head. It should be a very interesting election."

Elizabeth French, of Steubenville, who did not offer to reveal her political affiliation, questioned Redfern's choice of words.

"Even being as angry as he is, why (swear)," said French. "That's not going to solve the problem."

The Strickland campaign had not heard Redfern's quote firsthand as of midnight Tuesday and did not want to respond directly to it until they had a chance to review it.

The campaign did issue a general statement reading: "The Strickland campaign does not condone that sort of language, even behind closed doors."

State Republican Party communications director John McClelland offered his party's response.

"Ohio Democrats have clearly lost it before they've lost it," said McClelland in a statement e-mailed to NEWS9. "It's unfortunate that a few bad poll numbers have them lashing out at voters with name-calling and profanity. Ohioans deserve better from a party that promised a higher standard."

Strickland trailed Republican John Kasich in a recent Quinnipiac poll.

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