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* The other day, we talked about Sen. Michael Bond’s use of the late Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis’ image in his reelection campaign…
More than two years after her death, former Republican state Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis’ name and image are being used by the re-election campaign of her Democratic successor - and it isn’t sitting well with Lake County’s GOP leader.
A recent campaign mailer for state Sen. Michael Bond features a photograph of Bond, his wife and Geo-Karis taken before her death. Additionally, Bond’s float in Lake Villa’s Memorial Day parade bore a large picture of Bond and Geo-Karis with a message about the late politician.
Bond’s opponent in the Nov. 2 election for the 31st District seat is Republican Suzi Schmidt of Lake Villa, the longtime chairwoman of the Lake County Board. Schmidt declined to comment about Bond’s campaign, but Lake County Republican Party Chairman Bob Cook was disturbed by the use of Geo-Karis’ name and photos.
“I’m appalled that someone would resort to using someone who passed away for political gains,” Cook said. “I think it’s in poor taste.”
Bond called Cook’s comments “ridiculous” and said the complaints are purely political.
* What I didn’t have back then was a photo. So, here’s a pic of Bond’s parade float featuring a huge image of him with Geo…
* The Question: Is that float in poor taste or politically justifiable? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:14 pm
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As a friend of Geo’s, I feel confident in this: The irony is that Bond would have gone after Geo BIG time if the GOP had not taken her out first. He was very manipulative of her after her loss and it is sad to watch that same bunk continue long after her death.
Comment by GOP Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:30 pm
Let’s stick to the question, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:33 pm
Despicable,but typical for Illinois politicians.
Comment by PaddyBonner Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:33 pm
Geo’s support of Senator Bond was genuine, and I’m not sure Cook’s comments carry much weight. In fact, he’s probably drawing more attention to the issue that Bond is well-liked by many Republicans. If it was an “endorsement from the grave”, it would be inappropriate, but this seems to be well within bounds. Schmidt is smart to steer clear of this — the last things she wants is to have reporters talking about how Senate Republicans turned on Geo back in 2006.
Comment by Nick Naylor Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:33 pm
Again, stick to the question.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:34 pm
Oh, yea. Poor taste, for sure.
Politically justifiable? Only if it helps him win, or helps him lose, depending on your viewpoint.
Comment by borzoi Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:34 pm
It is both politically justifiable and in poor taste. Justifiable in that the late Sen Geo-Karis had supported Sen. Bond in the previous election, but shows poor taste in that Sen. Bond would use the memory of a beloved political figure in a blatant attempt to gains support for his re-election.
Comment by WRMNpolitics Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:35 pm
=== Bond is well-liked by many Republicans ===
Name one. Everyone I hang with in Lake County can’t stand him.
Comment by Team America Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:35 pm
It depends upon your definition of poor taste, right? He could have just put her embalmed body on the trailer. That would be poor taste. He could have done one of those Victorian Era taxidemy art pieces of her stuffed, sitting in a chair, and playing cards with a wax dummy of Abraham Lincoln. That would be - in poor taste.
He didn’t. What he did was go to Kinkos with a MS Word document where he used two differing texts of five differing font sizes, that was centered and double bordered and asked the Kinkos clerk to enlarge the document enough to fit a piece of 4′X 8′ piece of warped plywood which he then glued and stapled. Then he went to Lowes and asked the clerk for enough hardware and wire to prop the 4′X 8′ sized warped plywood to sit vertically upon a trailer normally used to haul landscape brush and tree limbs, or normally used to haul small livestock animals. When the trailer arrived, he removed the staked sides of it, swept off the manure and fertilizer remaining on it’s wooden floor, and then had some guys rig up the plywood sign so that it wouldn’t wobble. They used the wire and tensioners purchased at Lowes.
As a nice touch, he then tacked onto the side of the plywood four US flags, because after all, it was for a parade, right?
Poor taste? Not if you ever met the guy. To him, it isn’t. To the rest of us, well - there ya go!
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:35 pm
In my opinion, it would be acceptable if he said something along the lines that he would like to continue to work toward she had done in her time in office a couple times throughout the campaign. However, the giant picture of her during the parade is creepy and a little disturbing to me.
Comment by Rollin' Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:39 pm
I don’t have a problem with it. I think its appropriate. She was a politician. Her party turned on her and she turned on them. He didn’t manufacture her endorsement, she gave it to him.
If Suzi Schmidt has a picture of her with Geo, then feel free to use it. People use popular politicians like that all the time.
Tactically speaking, its a smart move by Bond. Reminds people why they voted for him, reminds them of her support for him. Of course Schmidt and the GOP are going to attack him for it - that’s their job.
Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:42 pm
Poor taste–Yes it’s a bit poor. However it isn’t any poorer taste than all the poo-pooing GOP leaders who gave Geo-Kairus the heave ho and now all of a sudden she is beloved to all of them!! Give us a break!!
train111
Comment by train111 Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:42 pm
And the picture was from one of his campaign fliers, its political and he’s using it in a political context. It’s not like he ran out and took a fresh photo of himself placing flowers on her grave or something tacky like that (don’t get any ideas Michael).
Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:45 pm
Had he bothered to act like a reporter, the Daily Herald’s wire-reader could have investigated just who made the float. It was Geo’s family members.
The real “bad taste” here are the number of Lake County Republicans who swept Senator Geo-Karis under the carpet, engaged in a vicious primary campaign against her, and were conspicuously absent from her senate retirement festivities, but who now say they were Geo’s ‘friends’.
Bond’s record so closely matches Senator Geo-Karis’s voting record that it’s almost scary.
This float, especially in her home territory of Zion and Winthrop Harbor, especially on Memorial Day, which Geo loved, is a fitting and honorable memorial by a legislator who seems to be following in her footsteps save for his party affiliation. When Ray True said that Geo would not be forgotten, I guess he meant that the Lake County GOP will INSIST she be forgotten. Now THAT is what’s in bad taste.
Comment by Springfieldish Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:45 pm
Poor taste. And I agree with Train, the GOP leaders who treated her like crap are no better. But Bond’s stunt was way over the top. I think it will hurt him in November.
Comment by raising kane Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:46 pm
I will be the loan dissent and say it politically justifiable.
The message does not say she is ndorsing him, or in memory of my longtim supporter or backer etc etc. It is a decent tribute to a local politician. I would have no more problem with this then somone with a float honoring the memory of Paul Simon.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:51 pm
It comes off as tacky and pathetic. I don’t think that someone who is deceased should be the face of your campaign. You have been a real Senator now, pick an accomplishment and run with that. If you can’t find anything to run on, make something up, this in Illinois.
Comment by nick guzinya Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:54 pm
Capt Fax:
It is Lake County. They sited a nuke on Lake Michigan. I don’t thing poor taste is possible.
Might have been more powerful if Bond had left his self off.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:55 pm
As a resident of the district, I didn’t like Geo, and I don’t like Bond. I’m not happy that Geo endorsed Bond, but the fact is that she did.
This float (which is not new, I saw it in a parade last year) expresses Bond’s appropriate gratitude (whether sincerely or not I couldn’t say) to Geo for her years of public service, culminating in her final political act: giving Bond her imprimatur.
I don’t believe it’s over the line. That doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.
In Lake County, many candidates seem to shy away from actual issues; Bond and Geo embrace, Cole leans left, Bean pretends to lean right. My view is that it’s all about fooling voters into thinking that parties and “divisive” issues don’t matter, it’s all about who brings home the bacon, builds the roads, expands the forest preserves and somehow, without mentioning an issue, provides jobs. This float is entirely in keeping with that tradition. But when they get into office, candidate certainly do turn out to have strongly-held views on all those “divisive” issues that they didn’t want to mention on the campaign trail.
Comment by Paul, Just This Guy, You Know? Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:56 pm
Totally Justifiable - Bond has been using this float for almost two years. Funny how the GOP waits until now to bring it up. Schmidt should use a photo of her and Geo-Karis…except she can’t.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 12:57 pm
Poor taste. He should have buried the endorsement with Geo and should be running on his own merits. If he has any.
Geo endorsed Suzi every time she ran for County Board, so who’s to say which one would get her endorsement now if she were still alive? Let it go, Michael.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:03 pm
Are “poor taste or politically justifiable” mutually exclusive. Many politically justifiable campaign tactics are in poor taste. But that being said, I don’t think it is in poor taste here. But I think he should be running on his record more than past endorsements now that he has a few years under his belt.
Comment by Been There Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:06 pm
I think it’s completely justifiable. As Anon said, this float has been in use for nearly two years. Paul noted that it has been seen in parades. It is not as if Sen. Bond just constructed this float recently. It is interesting that the GOP is suddenly standing up for Geo-Karis when they were the ones who basically threw her under the bus. I don’t think it’s in poor taste because she endorsed him prior to her death and they were actually friendly. If he just randomly decided to use her photo and had no connection to her, then it would be a different story.
Comment by basketballcourt Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:09 pm
TA says: “Name one. Everyone I hang with in Lake County can’t stand him.” Off topic, and besides, with all them hoods on, who can tell who’s who anyway!
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:11 pm
It is crass, but up to the voters who decide whether it is politically appropriate.
Campaign materials are a window into the mind of the candidate. I for one don’t care for this candidate.
Senator Geokaris may have chosen to support Sen Bond this year or not. We will never know. I just wonder why Sen Bond would rather use a nearly four year old endorsement from a dead pol than to stand on his own record.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:18 pm
Last warning. Bannings will be issued if you don’t stick to the question.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:19 pm
This is probably sentimental foolishness on my part, but I kind of like it for a Memorial Day parade and don’t find it tasteless at all.
Didn’t Geo sing “God Bless America” on the Senate floor every Memorial Day? I loved that. And she was always such a proud veteran, that if the only way her memory is going to stay alive on Memorial Day is thanks to some cynical politician tactic (although I’m getting more and more persuaded by some of these commenters that it’s actually not that cynical), well I feel like it’s better that she’s remembered even in this weird campaign way than forgotten entirely like she would be if Bond wasn’t around.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:21 pm
Tacky, poor taste.
A memorial is one thing, a campaign is another and the two should not be combined.
Comment by Third Generation Chicago Native Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:32 pm
Poor taste and a lot of voters will see it for what it is.
Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:35 pm
All is fair in love and Illinois politics.
Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:45 pm
Its crass and in poor taste. Explaining my answer, it’s simply crass and in poor taste.
Comment by downstate hack Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 1:57 pm
I think it’s politically justifiable. It doesn’t mention his campaign, it stands a public memorial to a political ally of his.
Comment by LakeviewJ Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:00 pm
Meh. It could have been a bit less maudlin. But it’s politically justifiable. You still see Republicans waving the image of Reagan around. And how long did Democrats use the JFK iconography? Obama used a dead Paul Simon to sell his Senate candidacy and no one batted an eye. Let’s face it, politicians bootstrap with other pols - dead or alive. But I think Bond shouldn’t have done the “In Memory of” stuff. Kinda weird.
Comment by phocion Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:01 pm
Poor taste? Yeah. Way poor.
Politically justifiable. Yes again!
C’mon, people. Is this really an affront?
We do dead people in politics all the time!
Sheila Simon supposed that her father would have endorsed whomever.
And lest we forget — mere months ago, Hynes got Harold Washington to slime Quinn.
So what’s the big deal about Mike Bonding with Geo beyond the grave?
Any of you who are bent way out of shape by this, well — get ready. Next year will be worse.
I speak, of course, of the centennial of Reagan’s birth.
Any pol who ever posed with The Gipper will do precisely what Bond has done with Geo. Ya think?
And hey, you just KNOW that there will be bozos who falsely Photoshop themselves onto Reagan images. And then parade around with them as if RR was their big confidante and pal.
Some of them will apologize. Some of them will prevaricate.
None of them will regret it.
If they think it’ll move them ahead politically, they’ll do it. Just like Mike Bond.
Sleaze sells.
Always has.
Always will.
Comment by Dooley Dudright Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:01 pm
I do not see any harm in honoring a woman who went across party lines and endorsed a person she truly felt was going to do a good job representing the 31st. If he built it last week, yes, it would be somewhat strange. Considering the late Senator’s FAMILY helped build it, he truly does/did appreciate her endorsement and service, no, it’s not out of line.
Comment by My Opinion Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:08 pm
Sorry Lake County Republican Friends, but I find it kind of sweet. I loved watching her walk or ride or roll in parades dressed in red white and blue. I always thought she was a pretty good role model for women like me who go to work in predominantly male fields and I just like seeing her smiling face. Not sure it will have a lot of political impact one way or another.
Comment by 10th Indy Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:10 pm
oh, and to clarify, many have done it, many do it. Might be a little questionable, but voters buy it up. It’s actually a smart idea to remind folks with a huge picture of their “beloved” Senator and the “new guy” they voted for last time.
Comment by My Opinion Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:11 pm
This float if would have been done the year of or immediately after her death would be relevent and appropriate. To pull this out two years after the Senator passed away was done for purely political reasons and does not do Geo or Mr. Bond any justice. This was 100% inappropriate at this time and is once again a move by Mr. Link and Mr. Bond to bring chicago gutter politics to lake county.
Comment by Antiochian Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:16 pm
I think it is okay. The fact that her family helped build the float and his record is along the lines she held I see it as a memorium to her. Him expressing gratitude.
This gets into an arena where a lot of questions could be raised. How much do others exploit groups to further political agends. Is using veterans, immigrants, the homeless, etc. worse than this display?
Comment by Irish Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:26 pm
Is that float in poor taste or politically justifiable? Explain.
It being a float for Memorial Day would have given Bond a little slack and maybe accolades if he would have done it right. Geo was a veteran, and very proud and vocal of her service and those who have served this country. It’s in poor taste because he chose a picture with himself in it and makes no specific mention of her military service. What staffer missed that one?
If Bond would have had a picture of just Geo (I would have done a picture of her late in her career and her Military picture side by side, a thank you for her state and military service and the only mention of Bond being his “paid for tag” larger than normal) it would have been a much better play on his part and might have brought/bought himself some positive traction.
In summary, the ethical question would have come up, but I think it would have spun in his favor if he would have made it just about Geo and her service to the State and country. Now - because he overreached - it’s just a pretty blatant poor taste political move, and will continue to be every time her uses it from here on. While Bond has been called out for using it since the election 4 years ago, if done right, this may have helped suppress it; now it’s just magnified.
Whether the Senate GOP left her out to dry or made a political decision to back someone else because they truly believed she could NOT win, or she broke a promise made in her district or combination of such is a totally different question and should be addressed separately.
Comment by Moderate REpub Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:27 pm
I have in front of me an frozen orange juice can with the lid removed. I covered it with macaroni noodle designs, then spray painted it in gold, when I was six years old. (Mom is a pack-rat.)
If I did a really large version, say, one that is twenty feet high, and then glued a deceased, but beloved, local politician’s portrait onto it, - then hung four American flags on it - what do you say? In poor taste?
How about if the photo of Geo-Karris and Bond showed the two of them shaking hands while standing on clouds, like they are in heaven? Way cool.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 2:50 pm
Poor taste if you ask me.
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 3:21 pm
Poor taste? In Illinois politics? In U.S. politics? w/ t-baggers and birthers? w/ religious zealots picketing soldier’s funerals condemning gays? w/ Blago on trial? Poor taste…phhfft…good joke, Rich!
Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 3:25 pm
Looks pretty respectful to me. We can question someone’s motives all we want, but you can’t be in someone else’s heart.
If we want to single this one out by saying something like “he’s just doing that for political gain” - then I don’t know where that slippery slope ends.
For crying out loud, Republicans name pretty much every one of their fundraising dinners after Lincoln or Reagan.
Is it different here just because Geo-Karis passed only 2 years ago? Or are some naturally offended because she was of the other party? I can understand that on one level, but it’s kinda hypocritical.
Meanwhile, on the GOP side, one of those life size cardboard cutouts of the Gipper is treated like the Ark of the Covenant. God help you if you swipe one at an event.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 3:31 pm
Poor taste. Geo took pictures with lots of pols and supported people on all ends of the spectrum, but you don’t see everyone else riding the Geo wave using her picture to further themselves politically.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 3:36 pm
A float in “memory of” a local pol was in a Memorial Day parade and the local GOP went nuts?
So much for the GOP being “against” political correctness, eh? Get a life.
And the Lake Co. GOP kicked Geo-Karis out by working to defeat her in her final primary as it was. So much for any sense of “respect” from them in the first place.
Sour grapes.
Comment by Rob_N Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 3:53 pm
I want to express the other sentiment. I knew Geo well, and she thoroughly enjoyed a parade. So, I say “Thumbs up.”
Comment by PPHS Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 3:56 pm
Given the fact that the Lake County GOP and Frank Watson knocked Geo out of the running, it’s perfectly appropriate for Bond to use a “real” picture from his last campaign.
Comment by downhereforyears Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 4:49 pm
Even though she’s getting “taken” for a ride I don’t think she’ll vote for him…even from the grave.
Comment by one day at a time Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 8:44 pm
Jesus…. that was actually used in a parade?
Damn…. yes, it’s despicable. And if I were in Bond’s district, I would specifically vote against him for literally parading out a dead person to get some votes.
Comment by TJ Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 10:57 pm
Nice language, TJ. You seem to know despicable intimately, but Lake County and Geo remotely.
Hisgirlfriday hit it right on the head. Geo loved Memorial Day, and loved the 31st District. The best judges of this float were the people along the parade routes and they cheered. They didn’t think it was in bad taste.
Comment by Springfieldish Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 11:29 pm
* The Question: Is that float in poor taste or politically justifiable? Explain.*
Good Grief!
It IS in poor taste at this point in time over two years later. As a close personal friend and family friend of Geo’s, I am appalled that it is still being used in parades. It has been around for two years now. Is it justifiable to still use it two years after her death as a reminder of the endorsement four years ago? It may be justifiable in a tasteless way.
Why is it tasteless? Because Geo always honored Vets on Memorial Day. That Float fails to do that.
Perhaps Bond is still talking to Geo over two years after her death. I know I haven’t, and I was one of many who received those infamous after midnight phone calls from her and handled many of her personal affairs and helped handle her funeral arrangements.
And to set the record straight: Geo’s “family” did NOT “help build” the float or “authorize” it, let alone “authorize” it’s use for over two years after her death. Let’s stop those “embellishments” right now and stop pretending otherwise. Yellow Dog Democrat seems to have tons of information about how that float was constructed using Kinkos, et. al.
And those of us close to Geo KNOW how much detail went into decorating her floats and parade cars. A cheap signboard on a bare trailer would have resulted in a fierce “character building” session Geo was famous for. For Memorial Day, she favored several large American Flags unfurled which were kept at her office and flew at her office, her home and on her floats and parade vehicles. She favored floats which honored veterans. That “float” still making the rounds fails on both counts.
Most of the Lake GOP party leadership (and not the current Lake Chairman Bob Cook) threw her under the bus and paid the ultimate price for their actions, the loss of her seat and permanent pie stains on their faces. I can’t help them out other than to direct them to keep on scrubbing their faces and hope for the best.
And the Democrats, Bond and/or the tooth fairy “manipulated” Geo into that endorsement? Lots of people were trying to manipulate her before, during and after that campaign from both major political parties. Ultimately, she did it her own way on her own terms. She made that endorsement over my objections. I was (and still am) unhappy over it, but I respect the reasons why she made it and didn’t end my friendship over it.
Enough said. Hard to type this watching the Stanley Cup celebrations.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jun 9, 10 @ 11:30 pm
If indeed the late Senator’s family built, or helped build, this, that provides the political justification and I would not want to accuse them of poor taste.
Comment by BigTwich Thursday, Jun 10, 10 @ 9:24 am
No Louis, no. You should avoid the appearance of impropriety and your statement above clearly violates that code of professional responsibility. Geo’s family DID authorize and assisted in the construction of this float, it was in the back drive of their home all last summer, and will be again this summer. Half truths, Louis, are just lies. Your feeble attempts at self-authentication fall on deaf ears. You did, sir, fail to involve yourself, in any way, shape, or form, along with the rest of the Lake County GOP’s members in Springfield, with Geo’s retirement party. Disagree you may have, but stand up for Geo’s memory you certainly didn’t.
(Eeek! I think I just wrote ‘Yoda speak!’)
The people decided it was not in bad taste. Those in Winthrop Harbor and Lake Villa at the Memorial Day Parades cheered and thanked the Bond marchers for remembering her.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 10, 10 @ 5:44 pm