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* The Illinois Review obtained a statement from US Senate candidate Jim Oberweis about his week-long trip to Florida before the primary…
“It is certainly no secret that in a highly contested U.S. Senate race in one of America’s most populous states, I will be expected to travel quite a bit over the next six months, mostly inside Illinois but occasionally outside Illinois, to meet with contributors and to attend fundraising events,” Oberweis said.
“I have currently traveled to Florida for two reasons. First, to fulfill a promise to my wife to spend a few days with her in Florida for her birthday, and second, to raise money for my U.S. Senate race.”
Doug Truax, Oberweis’ opponent, said Oberweis’ actions show he’s unelectable.
“We need a warrior to take on Durbin, not a timid snowbird,” Truax said.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:09 am
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So, is it true his wife has made Florida her residence?
Comment by Jim'e' Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:12 am
Fundraising in Florida?
Oh those folks have Illinois’ best interests at heart!
Comment by Walker Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:14 am
He missed an opportunity to say he wanted to make Illinois the most magical place on earth.
Comment by Nonplussed Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:15 am
Obie has obviously learned absolutely nothing from his pitiful previous runs.
He will succeed in spending another pile of cash and only serve to further diminish his already sad reputation.
Hard to believe the GOP could potentially nominate someone who makes Dick Durbin look good.
Comment by Adam Smith Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:19 am
It took 2 days to figure out to tell the press that Oberweis (he) went to visit his Florida-Resident wife for her birthday??
What. A. Dope!
The quote, to Mary Ann Ahern, “…I am not going to answer that question.”, and the question, “Are you in Florida?”, I mean what a Dope, thinking he (Oberweis) could stonewall a question that he (Oberweis) would later have to issue a response, to a Conservative website no less, and not the press or reporter he rebuffed is a clear indication that Slytherin Jim Oberweis is ill-prepared to take on the 2nd most powerful senator in America.
Pathetic.
This is Sharron Angle / Harry Reid, “Part Deux.” Check out how that race ran, and how Angle defeated, herself, which is a “Jim Oberweis Special”!
Both Bruce Rauners are going to love to be “married” to the Litmus Tester Oberweis and his media savy Keystone Kops.
Jim Oberweis, with pitchforks and torches in Florida, and two day, “too late” responses will sink the ILGOP. If I were part if the Rauner Crew, I would be, already, critical of Oberweis from the get-go. The two Rauners can’t stand insiders and/or career politicians, just add perennial candidates, then the “Rauners” will have ample cover.
Attention Oberweis “Political” people or even the “Governmental” folks; Oberweis’ biggest liability is…Slytherin Jim Oberweis, in his actions, words, evading, and responses…
…all the while he called out his Springfield secretary.
I will never forget that Dopiness. As I won’t forget Florida, and his Florida-Residing Wife…to avoid taxes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:25 am
His reasons are fine. Why didn’t he just say that at the beginning? End of story, or more likely, no story.
His comical evasiveness with Ahern is what made it a story and gave Truaz an opening.
Oberweis is always getting into these silly little predicaments. I think maybe he digs the drama.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:26 am
He’s also lying about it. Said he is in Florida ” a few days.” It’s a week. This story has lit the grassroots on fire. Truax has a radio ad out. This could get interesting.
Comment by Bogarty Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:26 am
Truax sure is milking this Florida controversy.
*puts on sunglasses*
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:30 am
OWilly: Just curious —
When Red Meat Rauner’s on the plate after next week, do we go vegan?
Comment by Walker Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:30 am
Amazingly cocky, inept whatever actions by Oberweis. He could have waited for his trip one week and it wouldn’t have made a difference at all. It seems to me there is an agenda of some sort here - either he has personal or professional business to address that can’t wait or he wants to diss his opponent.
Comment by Stones Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:33 am
- Walker -,
For me, I may have to go Vegan, and sadly become Lactose Intolerant…
There goes my Filet, potato with Sour Cream and Butter, and Cannoli and Cappuccino…
Yikes! I have major dinner problems.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:35 am
hisgirlfriday, go sit in the corner!
No issue with him raising money in Florida. It is a common practice. he should have said he was raising money from Office Depot and Office Max, since the latter left the state! One would think his wife would have made a concession to go a week or two after his birthday.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:35 am
Yeah, I see that all the time, campaigning in FLA for elective office in ILL!
Comment by I B Strapped Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:36 am
*her birthday
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:36 am
She can’t come here to celebrate her birthday when he’s a week out from a Senate primary? That and her Florida voter registration seems to show what she thinks of his political ego trips.
It won’t happen, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for Truax to somehow pull this out. It would be an all-timer.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:40 am
Well done, Jim. You just clinched the “wow, he loves his wife who lives in Florida” vote.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:43 am
I don’t have a Snowbird in this fight, but I thought Kass made a great argument for why Oberweis has no chance to win in the fall while his opponent has at least a chance.
As for Oberweis’ explanation. Gimme a break.
The fundraiser could and should have been scheduled any time besides the week before the election, and his wife could have flown to Illinois.
He is taking a vacation, plain and simple.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:45 am
Ahern just said the story “fell in her lap”
Guess that means Truax could not peddle to WLS
Meanwhile this helps up fill out the sample ballot
for the Crossover Express…
ChopperJim
D-lard
Grogan
What a day it will be for the GOPies
Kassamoron just reported a ChopperJim win will mean national disaster for GOPies because he will say stupid stuff like the MO whack job and GOPies go down in flames
Comment by circularfiringsquad Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:45 am
Don’t you just love the drama?
Oberweis enables a stupid story with a bunch of silly weasel-words to a straightforward question of “where are you?”
He could have easily just told the truth and gave his very understandable reasons for being in Florida,
But noooooooo — now he’s “issuing statements from Florida,” days later to the Illinois Review to keep the story alive — it’s for laughs.
He’s like the kid or co-worker who is always desperate for attention. If they can’t get it in a positive way, they manufacture some “controversy” that puts them at the center of attention.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:52 am
1. He is obviously not in Florida for fundraising. He may now squeeze in a lunch or round of golf with a potential donor for appearance sake. Like when a businessman talks business for 30 seconds at lunch and writes it off as a business expense.
2. Regardless of how confident he is he will prevail in the primary, it is incredibly arrogant and disrespectful to vacation out of state just days before the election. Just for appearance sake, head down to FL after March 18.
Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:52 am
NBC reported last night that the Oberwises list their Florida home as their primary residence and get a significant tax break because of it.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Jim-Oberweis-Florida-Home-Raises-residency-Questions-249965471.html
Comment by And I Approved This Message Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:53 am
“to raise money for my U.S. Senate race.”
Wore out your welcome in Illinois, Senator ?
Comment by AFSCME Steward Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 8:56 am
- And I Approved This Message -,
There was a “hint” at the residency, NBC5 went “there”, but they made the issue of the Wife’s residence, “questioned” Slytherin Jim’s residence, but stopped short.
The Florida-Residing wife is beyond question, Jim Oberweis got that out early. The residence of Jim is just “questioned”, not put under scrutiny.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:01 am
Did Oberweis defend his travel to Florida as a conjugal visit?
Comment by Upon Further Review Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:02 am
Oof. That tax thing is worse. Yeah it’s a significant difference in the exemption, but he’s loaded anyway. Looks like he is nickel and diming the IL tax system while trying to represent IL in DC. Did no one do an oppo self-analysis on this guy? Then again, the people that did probably turned down working for him.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:03 am
Since she “resides in Florida”, maybe she only sees him once a year for her birthday.
Comment by AFSCME Steward Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:06 am
Steward, we should all be so lucky.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:27 am
There is this thing called an airplane that allows a person of some modest means to travel to and from Illinois and Florida in a matter of hours? Can we call Jim and let him in on the secret?
Talk about phoning in a performance…..
Arrogant and unelectable, what a combination.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:30 am
After this awful Winter, Florida’s weather, the absence of a state income tax and the generous property tax exemptions make me wonder why I am still an Illinoisan… that property tax homestead exemption is huge as compared to what is available in Illinois.
Comment by Upon Further Review Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:31 am
I agree with just about everyone here. Just say he campaigned hard, took a couple days to share a weekend birthday with the Mrs. Then, no further comment. My guess is that he’s been told, but doesn’t listen. OY.
Comment by A guy... Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:35 am
Can we please just stop talking about this until after the primary? I really want Oberweis to win the nomination and his colossal bungling of this campaign isn’t helping.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:36 am
– I really want Oberweis to win the nomination and his colossal bungling of this campaign isn’t helping.–
Seriously, can you believe it?
It’s like the guy can’t handle the prospect of winning a primary. So he pulls a boneheaded move to give his opponent an opening, and then keeps it going for days.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:44 am
Considering a race for US Senator — from Florida.
Comment by Walker Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:47 am
Quinn spent a few days in sunny California for fundraising purposes and it barely raised an eyebrow. Emanuel left during the last snowstorm to fundraise and hob nob in Texas and it rated only a few grumbles. Oberweis claims to be visiting his spouse and conferring with potential donors in Florida and it wound up as a controversy.
He should have answered Mary Anne Ahern’s question instead of trying to hedge the truth.
Comment by Upon Further Review Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 9:48 am
No worries 47, the IL GOP will do everything in its power to nominate the worst candidate - or from your perspective, the best to ensure a Dem victory.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:06 am
===Oberweis claims to be visiting his spouse and conferring with potential donors in Florida and it wound up as a controversy.===
Days. Later.
And Oberweis refused to disclose his whereabouts. Why? Dopey, self-inflicted wound to continue his bumbling narrative.
It’s not solely that he went; it’s how Slytherin Jim handled the Ahren questions, and the 2 days it took to come clean.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:15 am
He should have answered Mary Anne Ahern’s question. He made the mess.
Comment by Upon Further Review Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:20 am
As we speak, reporters are asking if they can go to Florida and cover the story.
Not that I think this matters or that I think it’s the truth, but I can see the argument for fundraising. the number of illinois residents down there may be huge till end of March.
interestingly they don’t live there all year round.
Comment by frustrated GOP Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 10:35 am
He should have claimed he was campaigning for all the Streeterville, Gold Coast, and North Shore absentee voters.
“You know, my opponent shows his utter disdain for rich elderly white people by refusing to go to them to ask for their votes. But not this campaign. We will stop at nothing to reach out to ALL Illinois voters.”
Hey, he’s already lost on the issue. He might as least act like he cares about some voters.
Comment by Smoggie Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:02 am
http://goo.gl/XRB86L
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:09 am
This is a good illustration for GOP voters paying attention. All the money in the world can’t buy you voters’ respect when you do bonehead stuff like this campaign after campaign. Republicans who ARE paying attention need to step up and help spread the word. In a year when Republicans across the nation should do well, Illinois can’t afford Oberweis at the top of the ticket. If Oberweis wins the nomination, Durbin will unload for a couple of weeks or a month early, and it will be over before it starts.
Comment by Amuzing Myself Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:35 am
Pretty funny JM.
Comment by Samurai Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:41 am
Amuzing, Because that happened last time we had a great GOP year with Bill Brady at the top of the ticket and no other Republicans won? Puleeeze.
Comment by A guy... Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:50 am
“Fresh as a daisy, wise from past mistakes,and stunningly tann, Gov. Dewey prepares to lead the Illinois Republican ticket to sure victory!”
Comment by LincolnLounger Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 11:52 am
“Amuzing, Because that happened last time we had a great GOP year with Bill Brady at the top of the ticket and no other Republicans won? Puleeeze.”
Which party do JBT & Rutherford belong to ? I believe they both won statewide elections.
Comment by AFSCME Steward Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:08 pm
==“It is certainly no secret that in a highly contested U.S. Senate race in one of America’s most populous states, I will be expected to travel quite a bit over the next six months, mostly inside Illinois but occasionally outside Illinois, to meet with contributors and to attend fundraising events,” Oberweis said.==
It’s really beyond offensive that he wrote this as if the primary’s over and he’s already the nominee. I wish Truax had more money to spend against the sour milkman.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 12:51 pm
Happy Birthday, Ms. Simon. Do you still have that lovely yellow blazer and will you be wearing it when you give your concession speech?
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:05 pm
Yeah sorry Sheila–wrong thread.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:08 pm
Are we sure he isn’t debating Andy Martin while he’s down there? Andy is running again isn’t he?
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 1:59 pm
===This is Sharron Angle / Harry Reid, “Part Deux.” Check out how that race ran, and how Angle defeated, herself, which is a “Jim Oberweis Special”!
Actually Angle ran a fairly good primary, Jim can’t even do that.
===I don’t have a Snowbird in this fight, but I thought Kass made a great argument for why Oberweis has no chance to win in the fall while his opponent has at least a chance.
Yes, Kass sounds the bugle for the reason the Republicans don’t win in Illinois is that they are not conservative enough. If they stand up and scream really loud the true nature of Illinois will come out and elect right wing ideologues.
And when a conservative does go up in the general election and loses…it’s because it was a bad candidate.
At some point, an editor, if they have those at the Tribune anymore, might point out to Kass that he is right about as much as Bill Kristol.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 2:13 pm
–Yes, Kass sounds the bugle for the reason the Republicans don’t win in Illinois is that they are not conservative enough. –
Well, history is on his side. There was Peter Fitzgerald taking down the unbeatable Carol Mosely Braun, then there was….. there was….. there was…..
Little help?
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 13, 14 @ 2:16 pm
==“I have currently traveled to Florida … to raise money for my U.S. Senate race.” ==
I am so tired of Florida, California, and New York money used to elect Illinois pols. It’s bad enough when the pols owe favors to someone in the state, but it rankles me when they owe allegiance to folks clear across the country.
I’ll get off my soap box now.
Comment by Late to the Party Friday, Mar 14, 14 @ 7:07 am
A guy and AFSCME Steward, Mark Kirk was at the top of the ticket, not Brady, but don’t let details get in your way.
Comment by Amuzing Myself Friday, Mar 14, 14 @ 7:52 am