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* The news broke about Aaron Schock resigning at around 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. It wasn’t until 7 o’clock last night that US Sen. Mark Kirk finally commented, and it was via Twitter…
I wish my friend Aaron Schock all the best. During this process, #IL's 18th district should be confident in their representation in D.C.
— Mark Kirk (@SenatorKirk) March 18, 2015
* I also found this statement interesting…
Schock’s departure also means there will be one less Republican in Congress who openly backs comprehensive immigration reform.
“I am so sad that he is resigning,” said Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), a vocal proponent of immigration reform and a fellow Illinoisan. “I am very grateful to him for his wonderful warm friendship, and his support for a bipartisan way to fix our broken immigration system.”
* There was some debate in comments yesterday about whether politicians should be wishing Schock well right now. As one commenter wrote (paraphrasing), if they really were his friends they should’ve applied a little tough love before his life fell apart.
But, hey, he is at least their political friend and it’s understandable that they don’t want to kick a man when he’s down.
Then again, shouldn’t they be denouncing this guy?
On the other hand, he hasn’t been convicted of anything, or even charged.
* We already have a QOTD posted today, so let’s just call this one a “poll”…
Make sure to explain yourself in comments.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:44 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Senator Kirk’s statement reminds me of what Alexander Haig said to the press after Reagan was shot.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:47 pm
LOL, VM!
I voted go easy…there will be enough harshness from those who aren’t necessarily his friend, and it’s too late for tough love now.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:50 pm
It is easy to pile on somebody going through a tough time. It is more difficult to find something nice to say.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:52 pm
I said go easy, he is/was young and stupid and nobody ever told him “no.”
Comment by Not it Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:52 pm
Lord!
Process?
We are going through a process?
No. This isn’t a process, Senator - it is a scandal. I might be from Illinois and have watched dozens of you guys end up in jail, but I still wouldn’t call it a process.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:52 pm
Wrlte these yesterday;
===Today, you don’t kick him while he’s down if you’re a colleague. Mistakes are evident, but piling on, ok, you get to take a shot, but why?
Say one thing “nice”, wish him “well” move on.
All good, each their own.===
…
===This is a “Chicken Soup” moment for Schock, and even his Staff and Crew.
This is also a time to see which public officials have some class, and which tweet that they take no pleasure, but rip him anyway.
These are the character moments.===
…
===Sometimes…doing the right thing…is more about you than the person you are showing Grace to.===
…finally…
===Again, sometimes showing Grace to a friend, albeit publicly, is just that.
We don’t know, maybe they did try to sit him but it was too late(?)
To each their own.===
Voted “Go easy on him”
Giving Grace allows us all to receive Grace.
Schock has his problems, that’s not changing, how you respond now can speak more to you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:55 pm
There is nothing special about Aaron Schock. He is simply the latest in a long line of political grifters from Illinois.
His colleagues should denounce this stupid, selfish behavior.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:55 pm
Great - we have another congressman ending up in court, but our senator sees it all as a process like Velveeta or Spam.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:57 pm
No need to keep kicking him now, the damage is done. Go easy, the Dept of Justice will be the hammer.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 12:59 pm
I say go easy. The investigation will, in all likelihood, do plenty of kicking while he’s down. No sense in getting involved in a “race to the bottom” for strongest negative quote.
Comment by Illini97 Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:05 pm
I would have liked a third answer: “Keep quiet”
If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
They shouldn’t “go easy” because the things he is accused of are a very serious breach of the public trust. They also should “kick him when he’s down.” Any statements should speak to the seriousness of the allegations, the importance of finding out what happened, and leave it at that.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:05 pm
Voted tough on him. Any public official from Illinois should know better, after all the political jailbirds we have produced. He was just a young hotshot politician that thought nothing of scamming the state like so many of his predecessors have done. And most are getting away with it.
Comment by Big Joe Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:06 pm
I don’t know about anyone else, but I sure thought Ray LaHood’s comments to Sneed yesterday were aweful. Making snarky comments, when your son is trying to consolidate, just seems dumb. Although, Ray didn’t exactly have the common touch when he was congressman. Then, as Sec Trans, he pretty much blew everybody off. I’m starting to think that the comment Rich highlighted has some merit. If the LaHood’s are going to act entitled, why not go with someone else? The district is much different than when Michael or Ray LaHood had it. Most of the GOP votes are now in McClean and Sangamon counties.
Comment by PIA SPI Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:07 pm
“I say shame on those *** who now sanctimoniously decry his corruption with statements to the media today.” http://tinyurl.com/Schockojevich
SHAME!!1!
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:07 pm
Go easy then meet with your accountant, financial reporting staff or whomever you entrust with paying bills and reporting expenditures make sure you have everything in order.
Comment by Observation Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:10 pm
Schock’s arrogance and laziness brought this on. He cared only for himself and not for his job or his district. It was 100% self-inflicted and the voters paid the price.
The politicians can side with the voters or the allegedly corrupt politicians.
I recommend they side with the voters and their statements should reflect it.
Comment by Gooner Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:10 pm
Go easy….it will or could be them some day… like throwing stones living in a glass house kinda thing
Comment by jazzy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:11 pm
I say go hard on him. If not now, when? When will we cease to be the but of jokes about out elected officials? When will we get tough on greed, corruption and arrogance?
Comment by Nick Naylor Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:11 pm
Magnanimity is always classy. This is about great wasted potential and it’s sad, genuinely sad. Go easy, folks.
Comment by Ray del Camino Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:11 pm
= we cease to be the but of jokes=
Clearly, I meant “butt”…
Comment by Nick Naylor Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:12 pm
Take it easy until the evidence comes in and the investigation is completed.
Comment by Under Further Review Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:14 pm
Just like anything in life, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If I was a Illinois politician (and thank God I am not), I give the kid some tough love. Call him out for what he has done wrong but still show him some support particularly if he is willing to make amends. In the end, we all make mistakes. Even us who comment on websites.
Comment by JustSaying15 Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:14 pm
The politicos need to go easy and be wary. Glass houses, stones, etc…
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:16 pm
The Sneed pull quotes…
“When Schock announced his intent to run for Congress, we wondered, due to his lack of experience, whether he had the maturity,” Ray LaHood said.
“My son will announce within the next couple of days he will run for the seat vacated by Congressman Schock,” he added.
“But This isn’t about me . . . this is about Darin. I don’t think there is any downside to our name. Darin is very popular and I believe he will be the guy in the lead. But I will tell you one thing. I will be his biggest supporter.”
Comment by PIA SPI Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:16 pm
I voted to “go easy.” He voluntarily resigned and what happens to him in the future in any legal proceedings seem up in the air. He could have done a Blagojevich, a Ryan, or fought back tooth and nail like so many others in recent Illinois history, but didn’t. That must have been one tough call for him to make yesterday.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:20 pm
===the kid===
Oh, for crying out loud. He’s not a kid. He’s over 30 and a grown man. He’s been in politics for 14 years.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:20 pm
Maybe he screwed up and the G will hammer him for that, with many others goading and piling on. But if you worked with him and knew him to be capable, it’s entirely fair to say so, and to say you’ll miss working with him. There will be a campaign, but it’s not necessary to define heros and villains all the time.
Comment by Elo Kiddies Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:26 pm
Agree with Pot at 1:05- be neutral. “Any statements should speak to the seriousness of the allegations, the importance of finding out what happened, and leave it at that.” YES
Comment by Just askin' Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:28 pm
Go easy…
There will be plenty of time to condemn if criminal investigations find things.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:29 pm
The system’s going plenty hard. The media has gone even more hard.
Colleagues; go easy. It’s good insurance for when your ox gets gored.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:29 pm
I voted for going hard. They are going easy on their colleague because many of them have likely done similar things such as cheating a little on their reimbursements though probably not to the extent of Schock.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:34 pm
I voted go easy, we’re all part of the human family. There is a system and a process that will go hard on him later. Sure, some politico’s can score some pr points by going hard and that’s the kind of people politics is filled with.
Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:41 pm
I said go tough, but I wish there was a middle ground. In the end I voted tough because the car reimbursement was the final straw for me, that action was stealing directly from the tax payer to put in his pocket. That’s unforgivable in my opinion.
Comment by A modest proposal Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:42 pm
People who live in a glass house should not throw stones.
Comment by Down South Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:44 pm
I’m with Pot Calling Kettle. If political “friends” come down on either side they better be sure they’re not living in glass houses. It’s a “Look at what he did. I would NEVER do such a thing.” or “It’s not all that bad.” (Just in case I get caught, too.)
Comment by Gramps Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:45 pm
Agree w/ Pot…no reason to be saying anything. No knowledge of what’s what. Can’t rely on the media stuff–is it the ice berg or the tip. Is he Rosty or Jim Wright? That includes his father who should keep his mouth shut!
Comment by D.P.Gumby Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:46 pm
Easy
We are dealing with allegations. They may be well founded but it is not the time to be casting stones.
Comment by Bigtwich Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:51 pm
I voted go easy. He’s resigned; his political career is over. I don’t see a reason for other officials to go tough on him. That’s the investigator’s job.
Comment by Jay Dee Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:51 pm
Adam Kinzinger had a rather complimentary comment about Schock on his Twitter feed last night. It is gone today. Wish I had saved it. Must gotten a lot of grief for it.
Comment by Nearly Normal Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:53 pm
No need to be cruel when the facts tell the story.
Comment by AC Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 1:58 pm
I’d go for keep quiet or a neutral statement like, “it speaks for itself.”
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Sanctimony now is just self-serving.
If you want to get tough, start calling out the boondogglers still in your midst.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Get tough. As long as they act tough, we may be less likely to believe they are doing similar stuff.
Comment by Belle Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:29 pm
isn’t there another way? certainly not go easy on him. and how does one define going tough? would Rahm’s approach be tough, that is, to say how he was wrong on the issues? cause Schock was very wrong on many issues. if I were in public life I wouid say that we are still uncovering the facts, but that this prompts thoughts of a cautionary tale on record keeping and money raising in political life and a hope that his life gets better.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 2:50 pm
He is reimbursing the tax payers so go easy on him.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:09 pm
Voted “get tough.” Given the state’s issues with integrity, blatant acts such as those reported should be denounced. As Blago said it so well, “not even the appearance of impropriety.”
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:17 pm
There’s faux moderate, overly nice guy Kirk again. You can bet he was mean as a snake behind closed doors.
No reason not to slam Schock. Just slam his slimy supporters harder, if the investigation goes that way.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:33 pm
Easy. He self immolated, but has the decency to leave the stage. He can fight out of office, or cut a deal
Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Looks like “Tough Love” wins the day.
Except for the love part.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 5:06 pm
I won’t pay any attention to much of anything they say about him. Federal prosecutors should go tough on him, if there’s a real case there, and especially on his backers who, I suspect, he resigned quickly to protect from unwanted scrutiny. Some of them have had it before.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 6:02 pm
There is no excuse for the way he abused his office and abused his public trust.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 7:26 pm
I say go hard on him. He wouldn’t be resigning if he hadn’t done anything wrong. He surely couldn’t be that naive or dumb not to know what he was doing was abusing his public office. Another Illinois disgrace that I regretfully voted for. Embarrassing!
Comment by tunes Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 8:47 pm
Get tough. If you enter public service, then you should expect to be criticized for your votes and positions on issues. That’s not the issue. You should also expect to be accountable for your actions, and responsible for them. He, obviously, didn’t have a clue when it comes to accountability, ethics, morals, etc. What a shame that he destroyed himself what could have been a promising political career. And I.M.O another example of why we need redistricting reform. In a more competitive congressional district, maybe he would not have taken us citizens ,taxpayers,and voters for granted, and would have lived up to the standard that we expect and should demand of our public officials.
Comment by VPLena Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 9:40 pm
If he was a dem the “poll” numbers would be reversed, gotta love it.
Comment by Urbana Wednesday, Mar 18, 15 @ 10:57 pm