5 Comments - illinoispolitik - Saturday, Oct 16, 04 @ 4:48 pm: It certainly isn’t breaking news to announce the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board has an affinity for candidates supported by the Republican Party. In recent years, the Trib attempted to conceal that agenda by endorsing Democratic candidates in marginal races, to offset their Republican endorsements in hotly-contested campaigns…especially in races for the Illinois General Assembly. But the state’s largest newspaper and most influential editorial page in the Land of Lincoln wore its partisanship on its sleeve during its recent round of 2004 General Election endorsements for the Illinois House. The Trib’s endorsements in every targeted Illinois House race read like an electoral “Wish List” inked by Minority Leader Tom Cross and the House Republican Organization. But don’t take our word for it - simply compare last week’s Chicago Tribune’s 2004 General Assembly endorsements (www.chicagotribune.com) with the targeted candidates listed on Leader Cross’ website at: www.joincross.com. David Reis (R-108), Kay Pangle (R-79), Doug Hayse (R-75), Beth Coulson (R-17), Bob Churchill (R-62), Aaron Schock (R-92) and Deborah Frank-Feinen (R-101) are all “Tier One” House candidates in the most hotly contested Illinois House races across the state. Coincidentally ALL seven Republican candidates were endorsed by the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board over the past three days. The Tribune reserved its endorsements for Democrat candidates that are either incumbents representing heavily Democratic districts in Chicago or candidates running in “Tier Two” or “Tier Three” races with little chance of losing… - Anonymous - Saturday, Oct 16, 04 @ 4:57 pm: You’re right, the Tribune certainly wasn’t too subtle with their House endorsements this year - I mean how on earth could they endorse a mope like Doug Hayse??? - Troy Sammons - Sunday, Oct 17, 04 @ 7:22 pm: The fix must have been in…what a joke. The trib is the paper that helped ruin George Ryan and put the Republicans in disarray with their suits to unseal the divorce of Jack Ryan (If the Peoria Journal Star asked for Sloan’s be unsealed that race would be over). The Democrats need to stop appointing people like Dugan who legitimately struggles to communicate over the wishes of the locals and believe the only place to look for young talent is at Madigan daghter’s office like Careen Gordon. You do not have to lean Republican to figure out that Naomi Jacobsen and Ricca Sloan are ineffective for their area and border on embarassing to their constituents. Madigan needs to start reaching out to candidates who can think for themselves and are community activists who may not bow down to the will of leadership at the drop of the hat if he wants to start winning endorsements of objective papers. Legitimately the house Republicans have better, more articulate and independent candidates than the Democrats this session. Whether that will matter on November 2nd is anybody’s guess. It is pretty well known that Bob Churchill is in a tier one race this fall and the Trib made the proper endorsement by recommending Sharon Ellman who has the potential to not be a robot for Madigan if elected. - Chris Rhodes - Sunday, Oct 17, 04 @ 8:39 pm: That’s rich. The Trib is a ‘gop rag’, eh ip? Oh that’s right. You must have forgotten about Melissa Bean. - Rich Miller - Sunday, Oct 17, 04 @ 10:15 pm: Illinoispolitik, your conspiracy theory falls short. The Trib did not endorse Bob Churchill. Let’s all take off our tinfoil hats and calm down a little, shall we? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.