McCarthy's disappointing challenger

One of Rod Blagojevich's best friends in the Illinois House -- Orland Park's Kevin McCarthy -- hasn't faced a challenge in the last three elections.  In the past he's been a solid prolife vote, athough he's trending more and socially liberal the longer he's unchallenged.  He's ripe for a solid Republican to take him on in 2010, and there's plenty of bad votes to stock a GOP attack.

That's why it was encouraging to meet Jeffrey Junkas Monday night at the Chicago Young Republicans event downtown.  Cook County GOP Chairman Lee Roupas introduced Junkas, and there was an agreement to meet and talk about the upcoming challenge in the 37th district.  Finally, someone who can take on McCarthy and help the GOP to pick up a House seat. 

So this morning after reading the Southtown Star political writer Kristen McQueary's column on Junkas, we're disappointed and confused.  He's got two major strikes against him -- he's not solidly prolife and he's voted as a Democrat in the last four primaries.  Not the best way to get base Republicans charged up about this race.

McQueary quotes Junkas on a crucial life issue -- how to handle tiny babies in petri dishes:

The procedure often produces "leftover" embryos, and couples can decide what to do with them. Sometimes, they are frozen for future use. Sometimes, they are donated to science. Sometimes, they are discarded.

"I have the legal right to decide what to do with them," Junkas said. "I think it would be hypocritical of me to take that same right away from a woman."

In the next sentence, he said: "I have always considered myself pro-life. I spent a lot of resources and emotional energy trying to create life for my family."

This embarrassing response on the embryo issue is troubling on so many levels. 

Those embryos waiting to be placed into a warm, nourishing atmosphere where they can grow into little boys and girls are not tiny squirrels, dogs, cats or horses.  They are human embryos.  Human life begins when a human sperm and a human egg join together.  Animal eggs and sperm is exactly where animal life begins, too. 

This may be an overemphasis on Biology 101, but where a person stands on this issue will affect how they view every other moral issue they contemplate.  Either life is precious then, or it's not. 

Perhaps Junkas should talk to some prolifers before he goes to meet any other media.  Because while you can understand how a Democrat could reject the life basics, it's impossible to run as a dependable, Republican platform supporter and not have a handle on this issue from the get-go.

There's still time to get this right, Mr. Junkas.  If you don't have time to get this issue straight now, you never will.  And, frankly, a whole slew of Republican voters in the 37th district won't find time to help your candidacy, either.

Comments

[Seven7]

at first, i was excited about what roupas was doing, getting some good candidates, like paul vallas to run for office. vallas would have given credibility to the cook gop (as a person with a record of reform) and got some democrat leaning independents to give republicans a second look.

now, it seems, this is roupas' method -- try to get disaffected democrats to run as republicans. this is a joke, as you're just giving gop help to a democrat to run for office.

i always thought it sad that after the late-rep. maureen murphy lost that seat, there was no real attempt to get it back, especially with the gop-favorable, pre-2002 map.

in fact, the republican party at all levels (state, county, township), has ceded the southwest suburbs to the democrats, and is now on it's heels in the northwest cook townships - the last bastion of GOP strength in Cook County.

waiting for democrat rejects to switch sides to run for office as a republican, is not candidate recruitment, it's just being lazy.

[Fran Eaton]

Seven7,
Just to correct one thing -- it was Jim Brosnahan that beat the late Maureen Murphy, but you're right, the southwest suburbs have been conceded to the Democrats. It is supposedly part of an agreement with Republicans in the area who don't want challenges for their county offices. The problem is the Democrats can never keep their word, and, indeed, the long years of deals on local races has appeared to have disintegrated. The Democrats got everything.

There's hope in regaining the area as the township GOPs have new life and energy. We can hope that someday those in the positions of leadership will understand the basics of winning elections -- which is working from a solid base with a good message and lots of positive energy in districts that are winnable.

This development is disapointing.

[spintreebob]

We should avoid generalizations about Dems becoming Republicans. Aurelia Pucinski? Pat O'Malley? Ronald Reagan? Junkas? Each should be considered individually on his own merits. Being a former Dem in itself should be neither a plus nor a minus.

The same is true if a person is a former Catholic now Baptist; or former Protestant now Catholic; or former anything. Take each individual as an individual on his merits.

[Lee Roupas]

I think its important to clarify a few points. Mr. Junkas contacted Party officials expressing an interest in running. As noted, Rep. McCarthy has gone unchallenged in the last three cycles, and that's going to change for 2010. There have been other individuals that the Party has reached out to who are still considering a run in the 37th District as well. If a primary is necessary to determine who would best represent the 37th District for the Republican Party, thats certainly ok, and often times healthy. I would caution, however, about disregarding Mr. Junkas' candidacy without hearing more. As a Township Committeeman, County Chairman, and Republican Primary voter, I personally need to hear more before he would get my support. With that said, from my limited contact with Mr. Junkas, he strikes me as a genuine individual who's fed up with the Democrat corruption and misplaced policies and wants to make a difference.

[Seven7]

fran-

it was a typo, but thanks for clarifying. i meant to say 'her seat,' instead of 'that seat.'

lee-

i think you've done a great job being pro-active as county chairman, especially making sure that no democrat goes uncontested. i do take exception with the fact that you're introducing someone as a republican candidate, without supporting them or vetting them first. your introduction implies your tacit support.

[Curt Mercadante]

I've known Jeff for several years - he is a principled individual who cares deeply about his family. He was raised a Democrat - just like Ronald Reagan and Henry Hyde. But it's clear the Democratic Party has left him. Unlike Paul Vallas, Jeff is pretty clear about where he stand on important issues like taxes and budget reform. He is a committed tort reformer. I agree he needs to improve his answer on life issues. But probably shouldn't base support for his candidacy based on a single article written by Kristen McQueary. Jeff is a good, principled person and would make a great legislator.

[Fran Eaton]

There's no question he's consistently voted Democrat and he said what the said to McQueary. Only he and she know what the context of that quote was. Unless she completely misrepresented him, the message was loud and clear -- Junkas says he's prolife, but has determined "Life" is not in the petri dish or the earliest stages within a mother's womb.

We stand by our criticism and by our hope that things can get ironed out quickly if Junkas is to be the candidate to challenge McCarthy in November 2010. His answer now would prevent support from prolifers in the district.

[Angry in Palos]

Lee, when will you recruit and support solid GOP candidates in your OWN districts (18th Senate, 35th Rep)?

There are 200,000 people in the 18th and 100,000 for the 35th.

Are you telling us that there isn't ONE candidate there who could represent the GOP well in either district?

A lot of people are trying to figure out if what you do is just for personal ambition or for the good of the people.

The "ambition" option would be shown by you not recruiting candidates that will have a tough time winning and siding with the McKenna folks on things like SB600 against the people (which you did).

Your Palos Web site still is advertising an event in June......2006!

One of the important traits of leadership is being able to recruit key personnel and delegate responsibility to people who get the job done.

NO ONE is doing any recruiting or organizing in Palos that's apparent to the interested GOPers. Volunteers for precinct workers and petition circulators aren't even getting phone calls returned.

I guess the proof will be shown on August 4, Lee. If you can't even recruit a Rep candidate in the 35th , your own district, why should we support you to lead the party in Cook?

FYI, word is that Joyce will be filing for a House seat this fall, so you won't be fighting the "Joyce machine".

By the way, where's Liz Gorman's candidates in the 37th and Worth Committeeman Murphy Jr's candidates in the 35th and someone against Brosnahan?

Who will Liz put up against Sen Crotty?

If you want to generate some interest in the Crotty race, just go to one of her golf outings where where union leg breakers hand over rolls of untraceable cash that would choke a herd of horses to buy "raffle" tickets.

In Palos and Worth townships, we understand that it's tough to win in gerrymanmdered districts against Madigan Dems with an army of patronage workers.

WE DO EXPECT, however, to have you find SOMEONE to stand up for us that we can support for this unprecedented opportunity in 2010.

If you won't support the right center majority in your districts, please don't ask us to support YOU!