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Hultgren jumps into the fray as Jackson fends off questions

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* This endorsement has caused a bit of a stir in Kane County

The photo sent from the Kevin Burns campaign for Kane County chairman shows county auditor candidate Laura Wallet, coroner candidate Rob Russell, 33rd State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay and a smiling U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren on a Huntley constituent’s porch.

They were campaigning together Jan. 28 for the March 20 primary and all got a ride on Burns’ campaign bus back to their cars, Burns said.

And the news release from the Burns campaign stated that Hultgren told voters Burns was “the best candidate for this important office” of county board chairman. Burns is currently Geneva’s mayor.

Then this weekend, Hultgren, R-Winfield, endorsed Burns’ opponent, State Sen. Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, at Lauzen’s winter barbecue fundraiser on Saturday.

The endorsement caused a bit of a dust-up, as Burns said he was “taken aback” by the apparent about-face. But according to Lauzen, there is no about-face. Lauzen disputes that Hultgren said anything like Burns was the “right man for the job,” which the release claimed Hultgren had said.

* From a Burns press release issued after the endorsement

“While I respect Randy’s right to do what he wants,” said Burns, “I was obviously taken aback by this action. It was only last week he told voters we encountered in Huntley that I was ‘the right man for the job,’ so you can understand my surprise when I read the news.”

According to Burns, Hultgren did not contact him to tell him about his switch until late this afternoon. “I spoke with Randy, and he said, ‘I hate doing this. I absolutely hate it. This sucks.’ ”

* It’s not inconceivable to think that a highly contentious Daily Herald editorial board interview of both the candidates might also have played a role

By including a statement that he [Lauzen] is a pro-life, pro-marriage candidate who supports, “honest, competent administration,” the gloves came off.

“Chris obviously hates homosexuals, is afraid of women and believes that only he has the answers to everything,” Burns said. “That’s sad.”

“Are you joking?” Lauzen responded.

“No, I’m not joking,” Burns replied. “I’m dead, fricking serious.”

“Fricking?”

“Yeah, fricking serious,” Burns repeated.

* Listen to the exchange…

Ouch.

* Meanwhile

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. said Monday that he did not violate House ethics rules when he had a longtime friend and fundraiser buy a plane ticket for a woman who had a secret relationship with the congressman.

Jackson likewise defended his actions amid an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that the same fundraiser was part of a scheme to raise $1 million for convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in return for the governor appointing Jackson to the U.S. Senate.

The 17-year congressman’s remarks came during an often contentious appearance before the Chicago Tribune editorial board with his March 20 Democratic primary opponent, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, who said the House investigation was keeping Jackson from doing his job.

Jackson’s response to the ethics concerns raised new questions when he was asked about his extramarital relationship. He noted he had apologized to “my absolute best friend, my wife,” Ald. Sandi Jackson, 7th.

Jackson apparently interrupted Halorson during the debate and she scolded him for it

Caption?

* And Republican Congressman Don Manzullo has a new TV ad. Rate it

* Roundup…

* IL Tea Party Backs Manzullo in Congressional Primary

* Industry group boosted political spending last year — and it paid off

* Write-in hopeful switches districts, twice in one week

* New Super PAC Readying For Battle With Illinois Tea Party Congressman

* VIDEO: A Conversation with Jason Plummer

* Cook named Executive Director of Cook County GOP

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:11 pm

Comments

  1. So JJJ claims having a “friend” pay for the ticket to fly in his “social acquaintance” isn’t a violation of House ethics rules?

    It has no value?

    I guess that depends on the definition of the word “value”. Somewhere Bill Clinton really feels bad for JJJ. “I feel your pain”.

    Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:15 pm

  2. Who is running Hultgren’s “Show”?

    It may not hurt Hultgren himself, but why make a “mess” when there was no “mess” there to begin with???

    Either get Hultgren back on the reservation on these “endorsements”, or just let Randy run his own “show” since the person running it let his/her “Guy” endorse 2 different people … AND … AND! … the 1st guy had to hear about the 2nd endorsement, and wasn’t given a “courtesy call” to tell of the switch before the endorsement was made?????

    D O P E S!!!!

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:26 pm

  3. I was really disappointed Kirk endorsed Plummer. I thought after Bush we’d moved on from DC Republicans who couldn’t put together coherent sentences and thoughts. Apparently not. If I were in that district I’d actually strongly consider voting Democrat on that race.

    It’s tough to buy that ad from Manzullo when he’s been in office 20 years. In this environment Kinzinger should be able to win a fight on time for new blood.

    Comment by Shore Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:27 pm

  4. The American Dream has no sparks at the manufacturing facility which are heavy in presidential politics this year. The Ad agency missed the boat. (non political bent just opinion on ad)

    Comment by palatine Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:28 pm

  5. lauzen seems to bring that out of people for some reason..

    Comment by b town Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:30 pm

  6. “Fickle? Hey I am holding my finger up to the wind to…ah never mind.”

    Comment by No More AJ Wilhelmi Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:30 pm

  7. Is Halvorson trying to channel Arizona Governor Jan Brewer? What’s with all the finger-wagging going on. First, Brewer wags her finger at the President and now Halvorson at J3??? What gives?

    Comment by Pax Hominem Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:37 pm

  8. Wonder if Lauzen can see his house from up on his Cross.

    Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:45 pm

  9. “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!”

    Comment by Stones Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:46 pm

  10. “I said I wanted 1 lump of sugar in my coffee … ONE … got it???”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:53 pm

  11. “What is really annoying is that Congressman Jackson is not even paying attention to me … Sir, … HEY …. Follow my finger if you are listening!”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:55 pm

  12. Wow, you know it take a lot to out ‘be angry’ Chris Lauzen and Burns seems to have done it.

    Lauzen has apparently gotten in Burns head, it is going to be fun to see how this plays out.

    Also revealing what I suspect Congressman Hultgren considered a private conversation in a press release is not going to help that relationship.

    Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:55 pm

  13. “Ah, Ah, ah … keep your mitts of my cough drop … Congresman Jackson…”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 12:57 pm

  14. If that is how is treats his “my absolute best friend” imagine how he treats those who cross him…

    and a caption
    I told you I am not interested…

    Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:04 pm

  15. Caption?

    Rerun of Obama & Brewer in Arizona.

    See: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/chilly-reception-obama-lands-in-phoenix-has-words-with-gop-governor/

    Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:22 pm

  16. Who cares what Randy thinks? He lives in DuPage.

    Comment by dizzycow Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:30 pm

  17. “Niagara Falls! …”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:34 pm

  18. Don’t give me no lines and keep your hands to yourself.

    Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:40 pm

  19. Once I bought I airline ticket for your other best friend, once, and this is the thanks I get.

    Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:43 pm

  20. “NO he didn’t!”

    Comment by Apple Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:44 pm

  21. After reading about the Burns-Lauzen tiff, I think a moderate Democrat has a good chance of winning the general, since neither the Burns nor Lauzen camps will vote for the winner here.

    Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:55 pm

  22. I am wearing ONE flag pin, and Coooonnngressmaaannn Jaaacksonnnn is wearing NONE! So, I should get the endorsement!

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 1:58 pm

  23. One Man, I think you are close but doesn’t it seems as if Hultgren was campaigning with Burns et al one day and endorsing Lauzen days later?

    And maybe the exchange at the DH changed Hultgren’s mind. I really dislike Sen. Lauzen, but even I thought that Burns was over the top. The ‘freaking’ quote is just oddball.

    Comment by Still Stuck with Sen. CPA Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 2:00 pm

  24. “I served with Kasich Walker, Jr.. I knew Kasich Walker, Jr.. Kasich Walker, Jr. was a friend of mine.

    You, sir, are no Kasich Walker, Jr.”

    Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 2:17 pm

  25. “Congressman Jackson constituent services typically do not include flying your mistress all over the country”

    Comment by Farker Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 2:19 pm

  26. “Those fickle voters almost re-elected me ONCE!”

    Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 2:50 pm

  27. After reading about the Burns-Lauzen tiff, I think a moderate Democrat has a good chance of winning the general, since neither the Burns nor Lauzen camps will vote for the winner here.

    Don’t see a moderate Democrat pulling it off. Both bases lose a lot of power if a Democrat gets in. What you are going to see is a second fight a few days later at the party caucus IMHO. That is going to be very entertaining.

    Still Stuck With the CPA…

    Not really sure, can’t figure out an angle where getting the GOP ‘establishment’ angry at him does Hultgren any favors. Seems to me Burns was the better bet for Hultgren from a purely political point of view. So it makes you wonder if there is something that is going to be coming down the pipe or what. No idea, but obviously Hultgren had his reason(s)… There are several candidates in the various races who seem to be running as implicit if not explicit slates.

    Since I am in Aurora we don’t get exposed to Burns much in this race. Think I have seen him at one thing down our way.

    But losing your cool like that in the internet age with tape recorders running, not a bright idea.

    Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 2:59 pm

  28. “Call me ‘Sweetie’ one more time…”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 3:21 pm

  29. Caption
    Jackson is thinking, “She’s talking and she can’t shut up”

    Comment by 3rd Generation Chicago Native Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 3:38 pm

  30. Congressman…”constituent services” aren’t supposed to involve the “constituent” doing any “servicing” of the Congressman

    Comment by titan Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 4:16 pm

  31. Would “freaking” have more decorum than “fricking”? Just sayin’.

    Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 4:38 pm

  32. “Congressman, didn’t Ed Hanley of Chicago Mob-AFL-CIO fame teach you better? “

    Comment by Steve Bartin Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 4:41 pm

  33. Lauzen-Hultgren-Burns

    Not that hard to figure out.

    Hultgren was helping Burns.

    Lauzen got wind of it because the photos were posted on Facebook.

    Lauzen went ape-$#!@ and called Hultgren

    Hultgren folded like a cheap suit and caved to Lauzen. Lauzen’s temper is legendary, I think the wise one has posted here before.

    Hultgen endorsed Lauzen. Kind of telling from what Hultgen said to Burns - “I hate it, this sucks”.

    Comment by Kane County Hobbit Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 4:43 pm

  34. Hultgren folded like a cheap suit and caved to Lauzen. Lauzen’s temper is legendary, I think the wise one has posted here before.

    Don’t forget Hultgren served in the State Senate with Lauzen, find it hard to buy that he would just ‘fold like a cheap suit’. I have experienced that temper first hand, it doesn’t make you fold it just ticks you off.

    Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 4:47 pm

  35. Two differences between the Brewer-Obama and Halverson-Jackson finger pointing. Brewer’s finger is nearly in Obama’s face, while Halverson’s is pointed in the air at some distance from Jackson.

    Also- Halvorsen is a former Representative in Congress, which is Jackson’s current job title, while Obama is President of the United States.

    Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 5:04 pm

  36. –The woman’s travel was “not a personal benefit to me, I don’t believe, under the House rules.–

    Fricking bummer.

    Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 5:47 pm

  37. “Don’t make me go Jan Brewer on you!”

    Comment by anonymice Tuesday, Feb 7, 12 @ 6:26 pm

  38. Burns is a nuisance candidate put in by the Pat Brady Bunch to try and get Lauzen to implode. The last time they tried this tactic was Sean Michels in the 2010 primary against Lauzen for Senate. All the same insiders lined up for Michels. I told Sean directly that it was an unwinnable race for him and don’t get used by the conservative haters. He did not listen and lost 70-30. This one will go down about 65-35 Lauzen when it all shakes out. He knows to keep his cool with Burns. No matter how hard he frickin pokes. You should hear Burns talk off tape. He curses like the immature frat boy he is.

    Comment by Jon Zahm Wednesday, Feb 8, 12 @ 2:05 am

  39. John Zahm, do you have any actual evidence of your charges? Or is this the usual “the establishment hates our candidates and always conspires to sabotage them” tin foil hat stuff that us plain average Republicans not affiliated with the variety of self-proclaimed Republican “groups” out there are really sick and tired of hearing?

    Just wondering.

    Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Feb 8, 12 @ 7:31 am

  40. ===I told Sean directly that it was an unwinnable race for him and don’t get used by the conservative haters. He did not listen and lost 70-30.===

    No one can pat Jon Zahm on the back better than Jon Zahm …

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 12 @ 8:16 am

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