GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 26, 2007
GOPUSA Illinois News Clips for June 26, 2007 include news and op-eds on the following topics
- GOP Senator Kirk Dillard's new ad for Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama
- GOP State Rep. Paul Froehlich to switch parties
and others . . .
CBS2
-- Obama Gets Surprise Support From Former Colleague Dillard Democratic Frontrunners In Chicago Monday For Dueling Fundraisers - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/local_story_176182248.html (Includes video clip)
(FROM THE POSTING: Democratic senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were fighting for Chicago Monday night with dueling fundraisers. And a Republican state senator from the suburbs made a stunning appearance promoting Obama in a campaign commercial. As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, the Republican in Obama's first ad says he supports John McCain for president for some of the same reasons he admires Obama. "Republican legislators respected Senator Obama,” Dillard says in the advertisement. “His negotiation skills and ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well." “I'm glad to be back in Chicago,” Clinton told reporters Monday evening. While that was about all the Park Ridge native said in public, Obama answered some questions, including a few about his first TV commercial, being broadcast in Iowa – a surprise spot featuring a longtime-colleague in the Illinois state Senate who was, until April, chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party. “We think it sends a message about the work I've done here in Illinois, that people are not familiar with,” Obama said. “I haven’t endorsed Senator Obama for the presidency, but I’m here to tell you that he does have some unique characteristics and a great track record in Springfield of both racially as well as on a bipartisan basis of bringing people together,” Dillard said. “The question is who can inspire the nation to get beyond the politics that have bogged us down in the past?” Obama said Monday. Clinton herself declined to discuss the Obama spot. One of her spokespeople declared that John McCain supporter Kirk Dillard's kind words for Obama shows just how much Republicans want to run against anybody but Clinton. The 2008 election is more than a year away, but the battle for the campaign dollar is already fierce, especially between Obama and Clinton. Clinton's Chicago fundraising total is now up to seven figures, right in Obama's backyard. A suburban supporter of Clinton said the New York senator expected to raise $700,000 at a Loop hotel Monday night. With money she collected in Chicago last month, that would mean she's taken more than a $1 million out of Obama's home town in just a few weeks. He recently raised that much in one day at a series of events. His event Monday night was much more modest, said his campaign manager. “This is really a David vs. Goliath situation," David Plouffe said. "They should raise a lot of money. They're going to raise a lot of money. What Barack Obama is focused on is getting hundreds of thousands of Americans to contribute smaller amounts to get involved in his campaign.” All the presidential campaigns will soon be sending the Federal Election Commission their quarterly reports on fundraising, so each is trying to lower expectations for themselves while increasing expectations for opponents. A Clinton spokesperson, for example, said they expect Obama's money totals to far surpass their own. “It's laughable in a way, to rely on the American people, who are hungry for change," Plouffe said. The Clinton campaign added that they plan to vigorously contest Illinois, despite Obama's huge popularity among Democratic primary voters in the state. A Clinton spokesman forecast she might win up to 35 percent of Illinois' 185 convention delegates.)
DAILY HERALD
-- GOP’s Dillard goes from Obama critic to Obama fan -
(FROM THE ARTICLE: SPRINGFIELD - Just three years ago, DuPage Republican Kirk Dillard was considering running against Barack Obama for U.S. Senate, criticizing the Chicago Democrat as a liberal spender with a “Hyde Park attitude.” Now he’s singing Obama’s praises to Iowans in Obama’s latest presidential ad. “Republican legislators respected Senator Obama. His negotiating skills and ability to understand both sides would serve the country well,” Dillard says in the ad, which plays upon Obama’s 2004 convention speech and its vision of a less partisan country. Dillard’s ad cameo caught fellow Illinois Republicans off guard. Just a few months ago, Dillard, a state senator from Hinsdale, led the DuPage County Republican Party. His replacement, Elmhurst Republican state Sen. Dan Cronin, suggested Dillard’s friendship with Obama might be getting the best of him. “I don’t get it. I can only attribute it to the fact that they’re close personal friends,” Cronin said. A message left with Obama’s campaign Monday was not returned. Dillard defended his involvement with the popular Democrat, describing the ad as a personal reference, not a political endorsement. He said there’s no reason for Republicans to be alarmed. “It’s Iowa, and it’s a Democratic primary and I’m for (Arizona Republican) John McCain for president,” Dillard said. “And maybe if my party understood issues of racial reconciliation, less partisanship and hope, they would be the majority party.” Still, it’s an interesting political change for Dillard from 2004 when he blasted Obama as a big-spending Democrat whose policies would “eat the average family out of house and home.” Dillard briefly considered a Senate run that year. He opted not to, citing the time he’d spend away from his family. Now his views on Obama appear to have come full circle, to the delight of local Democrats. “Holy cow,” said state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat. “I always knew that Senator Dillard had that in him that he would see the wisdom of supporting a solid Democrat for the presidency and I’m glad that he will be at the inauguration with me.”)
-- Froehlich: Joining the party with the power -
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Faced with a rising suburban Democratic tide, Republican state Rep. Paul Froehlich jumped ship Monday and left behind the Schaumburg GOP organization he controlled for nearly a decade. “I’m going to be part of the party that runs everything,” Froehlich said in explaining his switch to the Democratic Party. “I can’t do for my district in the minority what I would do in the majority.” The rare party flip-flop apparently is designed to try to save Froehlich’s political skin in territory that narrowly voted for Sen. John Kerry over President Bush in 2004 and by a landslide for Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington last fall. Froehlich, once a staunch conservative who stormed into power in 1998, sought to portray the switch as motivated by poor treatment from his fellow House Republicans after a few votes in which he sided with Democrats. Froehlich also said he feared House Republican Leader Tom Cross would run someone against him in the February primary. In a statement, Cross sought to cut through that argument, saying there’s no “litmus test” to be a House Republican. “This seems to be a move made more for personal political gain than any belief on issues,” he said. Froehlich disputed the notion he took the easy way out by switching allegiances. “I’m going to be a big target now,” he said. “I’ll be the subject of some pretty uncomplimentary comments. If I wanted the easy way, I would have just run for re-election as a Republican, win or lose.” Froehlich, who had been mulling the move for months, met with Democratic House Speaker Michael J. Madigan Saturday and said he “was welcomed in with open arms, which was a change for me.” Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Froehlich approached the speaker, who has “always felt that Paul is a responsible and conscientious member of the House.” Froehlich will line up with the Democrats Wednesday when he returns for session. Froehlich, who represents the 56th House District that covers Schaumburg and parts of Roselle and Bloomingdale, watched last fall as longtime Republican Rep. Terry Parke of Hoffman Estates lost his seat to Democrat Fred Crespo. Crespo — who himself earlier had defected from Froehlich’s GOP group — brokered the meeting with Madigan. Froehlich started as a conservative Republican who swept longtime GOP township committeeman Don Totten out of power in March 1998. Froehlich was known for exerting tight control. He appointed himself state representative in 2003 when veteran lawmaker Kay Wojcik moved to the Senate, but not before trying to snare the Senate seat for himself. Since last November, however, Froehlich has softened his views, voting with Democrats to grant illegal immigrants driving privileges and to elect U.S. presidents by popular vote. Froehlich also had been trying to broker local political deals with Democratic leaders like Jim Dasakis, the Hanover Township Democratic committeeman. Republicans blasted Froehlich for his move. DuPage County GOP Chairman Dan Cronin called it “foolish,” given investigations into the Democratic governor and criticism of the Democratic Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. “You’ve got to call into question somebody’s character when this comes up,” Cronin said. Republican state Sen. John Millner of Carol Stream said he was “disappointed” by Froehlich’s move. Froehlich said he will resign as Schaumburg Township GOP committeeman and shut down his organization, the Schaumburg Township Alliance of Republicans, or STAR. Cook County Republican Chairman Liz Doody Gorman will get to pick Froehlich’s successor as committeeman. Joseph Folisi, president of a competing GOP group in Schaumburg Township, said “our good fortune is the Democrats’ misfortune.” Pat Riley, senior deputy committeeman of STAR, said he was surprised by the move but slowly came to understand why. “He doesn’t seem to be too popular in his party,” said Riley, a former Schaumburg trustee whom Froehlich nominated for a seat on the Regional Transportation Authority. Last Monday, Froehlich attended an Illinois Republican Party rebuilding forum. “The reality is the party’s continuing to hemorrhage. There isn’t a plan,” he said. Froehlich had scheduled a Tuesday night GOP meeting and a Wednesday morning news conference to discuss his decision, but revealed it early after the Daily Herald repeatedly called him Monday morning.)
-- Rep. Paul Froehlich switching political parties - Eric
-- Q and A with Froehlich on the flip -
(FROM THE ARTICLE: I spoke with state Rep. Paul Froehlich Monday about his decision to switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. Here’s a partial transcript of that interview:)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- GOP lawmaker set to cross the aisle Suburban legislator to join Democrats - Jeff Long and Monique Garcia
(FROM THE ARTICLE: "After being in the minority for five years, with no prospects of that changing, I think I can more effectively represent my district being in the majority," Rep. Paul Froehlich said in a phone interview Monday night. Froehlich has set a news conference for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Schaumburg Township Hall in Hoffman Estates to discuss his decision. Democrats hold a 66-52 majority in the House. Republicans said Monday that they had not heard directly from Froehlich, 56, but he has talked with Democratic leaders about his plans. Schaumburg Township Democratic Committeeman Rocco Terranova said he met Monday morning with Froehlich. "He told me, 'I can't run as a Republican anymore' " because there is too little support for the GOP in his district, Terranova said. Froehlich was appointed in 2003 to fill a seat in the House and was elected in 2004. He was re-elected last year. Froehlich also has been the GOP committeeman in Schaumburg Township since 1998. "Today is my 30th wedding anniversary," Froehlich said. "It feels like I'm going through a divorce because I've been a Republican for more than 30 years." But he said the GOP has developed a reputation for being unfriendly toward minorities, especially on such issues as immigration and national security. "In some ways, the party's left me, in moving away from traditional Republican values," he said. Steve Brown, a spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), said, "The speaker believes that Paul has always been a responsible and conscientious member of the House and will expect the same moving forward. He will be a very good member of the Democratic caucus." Republican reaction was mixed. "I will continue to work with him," said state Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream). "I'm not going to shun him." Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman, chair of the Cook County Republican Party, said Froehlich's efforts as a township committeeman have been lackluster in recent months.)
-- Obama launches TV ads in Iowa with an assist from GOP friend DuPage County Republican under fire for helping him - Rick Pearson and John McCormick
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic presidential campaign said Monday that it is launching television ads in the early caucus state of Iowa, including one that features a prominent DuPage County Republican who has been questioned by members of his own party for his strong touting of Obama's skills. Illinois Sen. Kirk Dillard, a friend of Obama's from his days in Springfield, tells viewers that Obama was respected on both sides of the political aisle during his time in the General Assembly. "His negotiation skills and an ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well," he says in one of two ads Obama's campaign will start airing statewide Tuesday in Iowa. The advertising is arriving even earlier than normal, since candidates typically hold off on such spending during the summer months, when many voters are taking vacations and not paying close attention to politics. Obama is the second Democratic presidential candidate to start television advertising in Iowa, following New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, saw a significant rise in his polling numbers after he started spending heavily on ads in Iowa earlier this year. In Illinois, Andy McKenna, the state's Republican chairman, expressed surprise at Dillard's help to a Democratic presidential candidate. "It's disappointing to see him work for Sen. Obama given that all his work should be for a Republican candidate who is more experienced and more qualified," McKenna said at a Republican unity gathering in Peoria. "I think it undercuts his ability to help any Republican candidate." Dillard, meanwhile, said in an interview that he is officially backing the presidential bid of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and told the McCain campaign that he still intends to run as a convention delegate candidate pledged to the Arizona senator in the state's Feb. 5 primary. But Dillard agreed to appear in Obama's ad more than a month ago as a favor to his former state senate colleague. Still his praise, which he said stops short of an endorsement, runs counter to some things Dillard said when Obama was campaigning for the U.S. Senate in 2004. "He's shown a tendency to work on non-philosophical issues, but has been nowhere near the middle of the road, despite how he is trying to portray himself now," Dillard said then. "Even though I have sponsored major legislation with Barack and I like him personally, clearly he is soft on crime and borderline socialist on health care." These days, Dillard said he doesn't believe the "soft-on-crime" tag is appropriate. Obama, he said, now represents the entire state and has to be "more moderate," rather than only reflecting the liberal Hyde Park area he represented in the state Senate. Still, Dillard said Obama leans "too far to the left" on the issue of health care. Both of the new ads start out with images of Obama from his 2004 Democratic National Convention speech, the appearance that kicked his political career into high gear. They both seek to highlight the candidate's complex biography, while also trying to make the case that he is experienced enough to run the country. Obama's campaign declined to say how much would be spent on the ads. "Strategy-wise, whatever he does is going to get covered and noticed," said Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks political advertising. "He doesn't have to spend a lot to get a lot in this case." Dillard, said that if he was still a member of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee or chairman of the DuPage County GOP organization, he would have refused the request. He said he taped the interview after he stepped down from the county Republican post. He acknowledged he might face fallout for the ad, particularly since some local as well as state Republicans had been critical of his glowing testaments to Obama's tenure in the Illinois Senate in the months leading up to the Democrat's candidacy and after. "Certainly I care what Republicans think, but Senator Obama is a personal friend, someone I worked closely with on issues we're both proud of," Dillard said. "He's my United States senator and I think his candidacy, whether he wins or loses, is good for Illinois and it's good for the Untied States." Dillard worked with Obama on state legislation that included ethics reforms, changing the state's troubled death penalty law and efforts to combat racial profiling. Danny Diaz, a McCain campaign spokesman, had no comment except to note that "Senator Dillard supports John McCain.")
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- State rep Froehlich switches parties, becomes a Dem - Dave McKinney
(FROM THE ARTICLE: SPRINGFIELD--If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Invoking that age-old cliche "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," state Rep. Paul Froehlich (R-Schaumburg) has decided to switch political parties and become a Democrat. Froehlich confirmed the switch to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rich Miller, who publishes the Capitol Fax political newsletter. Froehlich, who did not return phone calls left Monday at his district and political offices, intends to speak publicly about the move Wednesday. "Paul talked to me about this a while back. He indicated his frustration with getting things done and being an effective legislator," said Schaumburg Village President Al Larson, a longtime Froehlich friend. "Increasingly, he felt as though somehow he wasn't getting the support he felt he should be getting for some of his initiatives." Froehlich's defection carries no real political significance since Democrats, until now, held a seven-seat majority in the House. With Froehlich in their ranks, House Democrats will hold 67 seats. "I don't know how good this will be for Paul in the long run," said state Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream), whose Senate district covers the area Froehlich represents. "I think there are a lot of Republicans in the district, and I think they may feel betrayed by this." Like other large swaths of suburbia, the once solidly GOP district Froehlich represents in the northwest suburbs has swung Democratic. Last fall, Schaumburg Township voted for Gov. Blagojevich over GOP rival Judy Baar Topinka. In that same election, Froehlich's home political turf overwhelmingly backed U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) over GOP challenger David McSweeney. Candidates in the Feb. 27, 2008, primary will begin circulating nominating petitions in early August -- no doubt a factor in the timing of Froehlich's announcement. In all likelihood, Froehlich figured to be a top Democratic target next year, particularly given the 2006 Democratic ouster of longtime state Rep. Terry Parke (R-Hoffman Estates) in a neighboring district. Now, Froehlich will be a top Republican target. "This seems to be a move made more for personal political gain than any belief on issues," said David Dring, a spokesman for House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), who added that Cross is "disappointed" by Froehlich's move. Froehlich took office in 2003, succeeding former state Rep. Kathleen Wojcik (R-Schaumburg). As Schaumburg Township Republican committeeman, Froehlich had enough votes to appoint himself to the House seat Wojcik occupied before she moved to the Senate. While unusual for a House or Senate member to change political stripes, it is not without precedent. The last time it happened in Springfield was in 1988, when former state Rep. Sam Panayotovich left the Democratic Party to become a Republican. After the switch, he lost re-election for a fourth term representing part of Chicago's South Side.)
PIONEER LOCAL
-- Froehlich switches to Democrat - Patrick Corcoran
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican state Rep. Paul Froehlich, R-56th, is abandoning the party that helped him rise to power in Schaumburg Township to become a Democrat. Dogged by rumors for months, Froehlich told supporters Monday he is switching parties. Though Froehlich has long touted his bipartisan voting record in the General Assembly, he said he only recently considered switching to the majority party "to be more valuable to my district." In a state government where both chambers and the executive offices are controlled by the Democratic Party, Froehlich said he felt powerless in the Republican minority. "In most years, you have zero input on the budget, you have zero projects back in the district," he said. "I could do more in the majority than I could in the minority." Froehlich said he only seriously started thinking about jumping ship in early May after talking with state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-44th, of Hoffman Estates — a former Republican — and state Sen. Michael Noland, D-22nd, of Elgin. He said he only finalized his decision Saturday, when he met with House Speaker Michael Madigan to gauge his support from the state Democratic Party. Froehlich is Schaumburg Township Republican committeeman and head of the Schaumburg Township Alliance of Republicans (STAR), an organization that supported the campaigns of many local officials, including congressional candidates, village presidents, trustees and township officials. Froehlich scheduled a meeting for Tuesday during which he is expected to explain to STAR members the reason for the change, according to an e-mail sent out Monday morning to STAR members. In the e-mail, Froehlich said he wanted to talk with members face to face before the switch leaked to the media. "There will be a major announcement that will shake the township's political foundation so you'll want to be there. I want everyone to have a chance to hear about it from me before you read about it," he wrote in part. Offices closed Most legislators were in their home districts Monday because Tuesday's scheduled session of the General Assembly had been canceled, but the STAR offices in Schaumburg were closed Monday afternoon. Froehlich's ties to the Republican Party reach back more than 30 years. He took over the local Republican organization after wresting it away from long-serving committeeman Don Totten in March 1998. He was elected to a new, four-year term in November after running unopposed in the general election. Despite a noticeable lack of Democratic candidates in local races, the township has become decidedly more Democratic in recent years, beginning most noticeably in 2004 when large numbers of voters turned out for former presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. The blue tide continued in the 2006 mid-term elections that saw Republican challenger David McSweeney unable to crack incumbent U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-8th, and three Democrats — state Rep. Crespo and state Sens. Dan Kotowski, D-33rd, and Noland — won seats in the state Legislature. Crespo, a former STAR member who was considered a Froehlich protege switched parties prior to his winning bid over longtime incumbent state Rep. Terry Parke. Asked about Froehlich, Crespo said, he had heard rumors but was unwilling to comment further until Froehlich had a chance to talk about it publicly. Wait and see "We're going to have to wait and see first what exactly he wants to do," Crespo said. Rocco Terranova, Schaumburg Township Democratic committeeman, said Monday was a good day. "It looks like I got another Democrat in the township," he said. Terranova said while he has yet to take an official position on it, the party switch was not only confirmed, but also "whole-heartedly" endorsed by state House Speaker Michael Madigan, Cook County Democratic Chairman Joseph Berrios and other top Democrats. Froehlich scheduled a last-minute meeting for Monday to talk it over with members of the township organization. "The organization is going to vote on it, and I'll respect their feelings. The question for me is, "How can I go against my party again?'" he said Monday afternoon. Point of view From the state Democrats' point of view, Terranova said the switch means the Republican Party in Schaumburg Township is, if not washed up, in serious peril. Schaumburg Trustee George Dunham said he is unsure where the change leaves the local party. A longtime friend, Dunham said he did not at all feel betrayed by Froehlich and he expects he will be able to work with Froehlich in the future as he has in the past. "This was a decision that came after quite a bit of soul-searching ... and I certainly understand the reasons why he's doing what he is doing," Dunham said. It is unclear how or when a replacement for Froehlich will be selected. John Lawson, Schaumburg Township deputy Republican committeeman and township assessor, could not be reached for comment. According to Froehlich's e-mail, the STAR meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Comfort Suites Schaumburg, 1100 Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Additional meetings have also been tentatively scheduled for Saturday at the STAR headquarters at 17 W. Weathersfield Way, and at 11 a.m. Sunday at Chandler's Banquets, 401 W. Roselle Road, both in Schaumburg.)
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Can State GOP get past Froehlich-Dillard ? - Jeff Berkowitz
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Yesterday’s double hit taken by the State GOP leadership would, for a normal political party, be a downer. One, State Rep. Froehlich’s [D-Schaumburg] defection to the Dems can’t be viewed as a plus to a Republican State House that was already down by a net seven seats to the Dems. Two, having your, until recently, DuPage County Republican Chairman [the most important Republican County] and current State Senator, Kirk Dillard, place himself in an ad praising Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama can’t be reassuring to any of the Republican presidential candidates. That is especially true for Senator McCain, who has been “endorsed,” by Senator Dillard. State GOP leaders? Who would lay claim or at least be unable to deny that title? It would seem as if the ruling triumvirate would now be made up of State House GOP leader Tom Cross, State Senate Republican leader Frank Watson and State GOP Chairman Andy McKenna, Jr. Cross, Watson and McKenna have the State GOP leadership positions, by default. Former Speaker Hastert is thought to be ready to announce in August, if not sooner, that he will not seek re-election to his House seat. 10th CD Congressman Mark Kirk [Highland Park], once thought to be a wunderkind of the Illinois Republican Congressional delegation, now is praying that he can hold onto his seat in 2008. Freshman Cong. Roskam [Wheaton], having won by only two percent, is in no position to lay claim to the title of Party Leader. Longtime Cong. LaHood [Peoria] appears to be in search of an exit strategy, not a leadership position. Illinois’ RNC honcho and friend of Rove, Bob Kjellander, is badly wounded from his closeness to, if not involvement with, those who have been indicted or are being investigated and thus he hopes he can quietly make it through ’08, without taking any additional hits. But, because the Illinois Party’s motto has to be, “Been down so long looks like up to me,” who knows what the Party leaders really felt. Perhaps just another day at the office—just like the Bears dealing yet again with Tank Johnson’s continued run-ins with the Law. However, for the Bears, their solution was simple: sever the infringing team member. For the Illinois GOP leaders, they could, at most, mumble some words mildly critical of Froehlich and Dillard and hope this would be at most, a two-day story. And, they might make it. Taking them in reverse order, Senator Dillard is known as the “Let’s make a deal,” guy in Illinois politics. A few years back he was accused by a senate colleague, or two, of selling his caucus down the river for a few shackles from the Governor for his District when Blagojevich needed a few Republican votes. Indeed, Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet told Hardball’s Chris Matthews last night, “Look, it is a good investment for him [Dillard] because no matter what happens, Barack Obama at the least is going to be a Senator from Illinois and he is going to have one big chit owed to a Republican State Senator.” In short, the Obama ad can be viewed as just another case of Dillard cutting a deal for himself at the expense of his Party. Not a plus for the State GOP, but not a major body blow-either for the State GOP or the eventual Republican Presidential Candidate. Froehlich’s defection, on its face, is more problematic. One, unless Leader Cross wanted this to happen, there is the organizational sloppiness from Froehlich’s accusation that he couldn’t get an appointment last week to discuss this with Cross-- but Speaker Mike Madigan found time to meet with Froehlich. Doubtful that Cross could have turned this around, but if no other reason than PR, leaders should at least match their counterparts in being accessible to their members, especially those who are defecting. Two, the perhaps underlying reason for the move, the previous Republican District voting for Ds can’t be comforting to the Party leaders. 2nd Term 8th CD Democratic congresswoman Bean won Froehlich’s District in 2006 by almost 20 points over her Republican opponent, McSweeney, and Democratic 6th CD congressional candidate Duckworth won it in her losing effort against Peter Roskam. Three, with the additional seat, Democrats in the State House move to a 67-51 majority, or an 8-vote net margin. That means the Dems need pick up only four Republican votes in the over-time legislative session to get to the three fifth supra-majority needed to pass a budget, making the Republicans even less relevant than they were yesterday. Four, over the last half year, Froehlich has blasted the state Republicans for being on the wrong side of social justice and seems relieved to no longer have to explain his ties to President Bush. That having been said, the State GOP might reasonably be able to write off Froehlich as sui generis, i.e., a problem that exists only with Froehlich and his District. One, people say Froehlich was a conservative, but if he was, that had changed dramatically in recent years. So, given those changing views of Paul’s, he would not be comfortable as a Republican. That is, he was not, at the core, even a moderate Republican, but increasingly a Democrat [See here] Two, earlier this year Froehlich ran away from school vouchers-school choice [See here], even though that concept is very popular with Hispanics, an ethnic group whose growth in his District Froehlich claimed was behind his decision to embrace in-state tuition and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. In contrast, Hispanic state senator Martin Sandoval, representing a substantial Hispanic population, has embraced school vouchers, which are hated, with a passion, by the teachers unions. As a former teacher, perhaps you could take the pol out of former teacher Froehlich, but not the teacher out of the current pol, Paul Froehlich. Three, it has been rumored Froehlich faced, in 2008, another and more serious Republican Primary challenge due to his inability to support his caucus. Maybe Froehlich jumped before he would have been pushed, saving the Republican Party some unnecessary internal warfare. Four, Froehlich either was differing or was soon to be differing with his party on the environment, on taxes, on education funding, on capital punishment, spending and issues of justice. In short, maybe Froehlich was no longer a Republican who would run well with his Party, or in his District. If so, the Republican Party can say thanks to Paul for easing the transition to a new Republican in his District, one who beats Paul next Fall, assuming Paul can win his Democratic Primary.)
EXTREME WISDOM
-- What Illinois Republican Party? - Bruno Behrend
(THE POSTING: About a year and a half or so ago, I wrote a blog post about possible formation of a 3rd Party in Illinois. At the time, I was only agitating for some good policy on the part of the Republican Party, which I have more affinity with than the Democrats. Little did I know how right I was. First, last week’s news gave us the stage-managed Andy McKenna Road Show, along with the revelation that McKenna himself donated to Democrats a few years ago. Today’s news is even better. Kirk Dillard is appearing in Iowa ads touting Barack Obama, while Paul Froelich is bolting the Republican Party for the Democrats. Let me state right off the bat that there is nothing wrong per se with either of these three men engaging in acts that follow either their conscience or their political pragmatism. However, let them at least admit that none of them are following what one might call “republican principles.” Whether they are rats or not, they certainly are deserting a sinking ship - and that ship is the Illinois Republican Party. When talking to my radio audience, I’ve decided that the best thing to do is appeal to the best principles, and eschew the increasingly pointless party labels. Apparently some “party apparatchiks” feel differently. Some Illinois “republican” bloggers and have gone so far deleted my comments (agreeing with them, mind you) on their websites because I’m insufficiently doctrinaire in my “party loyalty.” They may want to ask themselves why “republicans” are “deleting” themselves from the party instead of trying to enforce “loyalty” to an organization that deserves none. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Republican Party may just be dead in Illinois. Make no mistake, the sentiments behind the party that went to war to end slavery is not dead. The sentiment that gave rise to Teddy Roosevelt’s enlightened ‘progressivism’ is not dead. The sentiment that gave rise to fighting for citizen’s rights over the rights of a privileged and insulated bureaucratic class is not dead. But who in Illinois Republican Party stands for these values. Who in today’s Illinois Republican Party stands for ANY values at all? If Andy McKenna had a pair, he’d drum Kirk Dillard out of the Party, and rebuild off of the few remaining decent people left in the IRP. Dillard is a coward of the highest proportions, holding on to a party label he cares nothing for while sucking up to an empty suit he thinks will get carried across the finish line by a faked media “love-fest.” At least Froelich is honest enough to pay true obeisance to the people who have been electing him. (Paul, I hope that one day your fealty to Teacher’s Unions is hung around your neck like a stone.) Seriously folks!! Dump this party. Dump this label. Take it’s deepest and best principles away from the low class apparatchiks that have been sullying them and start something new. If a new party isn’t your flavor (it isn’t really mine), then at least fight for a delegate seat in a convention that might disempower the corrupt in both “corporate parties.” In the 1850s, a ragtag anti-immigrant party destroyed itself, and took a the declining Whigs with them. In the ensuing chaos, the Republican Party was born, and held sway over the nation for about 60 years. It’s time for that to happen again. You can’t fix this. Leave it and start anew, keeping faith with the Principles, not the party hacks who have destroyed a good name.)
WURFWHILE
-- State Senator Kirk Dillard Making Ads And Moves - Hiram Wurf
(FROM THE POSTING: State Senator and former DuPage County Republican Chair Kirk Dillard has just made a TV ad for Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. For a while I’ve been sitting on a hunch (and only a hunch) that Dillard might be seeking a federal post with President Barack Obama, should Obama win. I based my hunch on Senator Dillard’s close relationship with Obama (and his praise of him early in newspapers), plus Dillard’s divesting himself of GOP partisan roles. He dropped out as long-time DuPage GOP Chair, and Kirk didn’t run again recently for Illinois Republican State Central Committee 13th District. Senator Dillard also rejected a (bad) chance to run against Obama for U.S. Senate after Republican Jack Ryan imploded, and more recently turned down a chance to lead the GOP State Senators as Minority Leader replacing Frank Watson. There aren’t a lot of options for the Kirk Dillard politically right now - Judy Biggert’s 13th Congressional seat being one of the few (should Biggert retire). Combine the general GOP problems in DuPage (such as a Democratic voter upswing and the failure to show fiscal responsibility with the budget) with the redistricting that will happen in a few years under (likely) Democratic control, and things look pretty ugly for state (and county) Republicans. The fact that Obama (as seen by the ad Dillard just cut) will be looking for ways to reinforce his bi-partisan appeal, offers real opportunity for Kirk to move up and on. If the opportunity presents itself, he may just take it - perhaps becoming a judge, which might permit him to stay in or near his current home, or else perhaps some sort of cabinet post. While it’s certainly possible that Illinois Republicans will try to punish Dillard for perceived transgressions in helping Obama (despite Dillard’s previous choice of John McCain) - its also likely, for now, they’ll just be happy to try to hold on to Dillard’s seat and not devote a lot of resources to keeping it. Things have changed for state and DuPage County Republicans.)
DES MOINES REGISTER
-- Straw poll details jell - Thomas Beaumont
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has been the most aggressive about organizing for the fundraiser, will start the series of 20-minute speeches at 12:30 p.m. Romney will be followed by U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Chicago businessman John Cox, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. All eight have also committed at least $15,000 to reserve space to feed and entertain supporters and other activists. Tickets cost $35 and allow holders to vote at one of dozens of electronic voting machines set up in and around Hilton. In the past, campaigns have bought up blocks of tickets and often bused their supporters to the event.)
FOX NEWS CHANNEL
-- Chavez Tells Venezuelan Soldiers to Prepare for War With U.S. - AP
ROBERT GRAHAM
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Letter to the Daily Herald editor concerning the Daily Herald's promotion of homosexual activity
(ROBERT GRAHAM'S LETTER: Being gay is nothing to be proud of. It is vile sexual immorality. Should we have parades to celebrate other forms of sexual immorality? We don’t have parades to celebrate adultery, fornication, child molestation, masturbation and other forms of sexual immorality, so why does the Daily Herald editorial (6/25/07) celebrate a perversion that takes 30 years off the life spans of the perverts who practice it?)
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
Outstanding Fortner fundraiser in West Chicago; 80 attendees include Bellock, Bolds, Burns, Hultgren, B. Kotecki, Lauzen, Oberweis, Reboletti, Sanchez, Schreiber, and D. Wagner - Dave Diersen
State Representative Mike Fortner hosted an outstanding fundraiser at the Prairie Landing Golf Course in West Chicago Monday, June 25. The approximate 80 attendees included Patti Bellock, Alan Bolds, Kevin Burns, Randy Hultgren, Brett Kotecki, Chris Lauzen, Jim Oberweis, Dennis Reboletti, Leonard Sanchez, Margo Schreiber, and Dan Wagner. Oberweis brought ice cream and Ramey introduced Fortner.
According to the Wheaton Jaycees, Wheaton Independence Day parade political entries so far include Birkett, Democrat Party of Milton Township, District 4 DuPage County Board & Forest Preserve, Fortner, Gresk, Henry, Hultgren, Kachiroubas, Milton Township Republican Central Committee, Lisa Madigan, Paul, PFlag DuPage, Roskam, Ruscitti, Sauerberg, and Wheaton City Council - Dave Diersen
