Question of the day
Tuesday, Feb 7, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
As I told you in today’s Capitol Fax, Ron Gidwitz made a blunt comment about Jim Oberweis during a Daily Herald editorial board meeting.
Republican governor candidate Ron Gidwitz said Monday that foe Jim Oberweis is unelectable because Democrats will paint him as a “racist bigot.†[…]
Gidwitz’s running mate, state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin, was discussing why Gidwitz was a better choice as the GOP governor nominee than Oberweis of Sugar Grove, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka of Riverside or Bloomington state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington.
“With all due respect, I think Jim Oberweis is a very interesting guy and he’s a nice guy,†Rauschenberger said. “But I think the Democrats will turn him, fairly or unfairly, into, you know, potentially, uh, a, what’s the word I’m looking for?â€
“Racist bigot,†Gidwitz interjected.
“Well,†replied Rauschenberger. “I think it would be very tough for him to win a general election.â€
When asked later if he personally thinks Oberweis is a racist bigot, Gidwitz said: “Absolutely not. I think he may be at times insensitive.â€
Question: Did Gidwitz go too far, or is his prediction prescient? Explain.
By the way, as a little aside and not related to the question:
Gidwitz also said he’s not upset that running mate Rauschenberger has backed away from an earlier pledge not to accept the Republican lieutenant governor nomination if Gidwitz lost the governor’s race.
I’m sure.
[Emphasis added]
UPDATE: Hear the quote yourself. mp3 or wav.
- Nameless - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 8:09 am:
Brand new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Judy Baar Topinka leading Rod Blagojevich by 11 points, 48-37.
Same poll shows Gidwitz tied with Blagojevich at 40 percent each.
Blagojevich leads Oberweis 43-39.
No results posted matching Blago and Brady.
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 8:22 am:
Well, is Rod M. or Borling working for these guys? Who needs the press or democrats when you’ve got these two?
Rauschy the sell out. Vote Brady/Wegman. She hasn’t sold her soul for some rich sugar daddy.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 8:41 am:
Yeah, vote Wegman. She hasn’t sold out. She’s sticking with her campaign manager, even after he gets indicted! And that campaign manager has the most expensive lawyer in town. Wonder who’s paying that bill…..hmmmmm.
- grand old partisan - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 8:58 am:
I think there is some truth to the point that Rauschenberger was trying to articulate, and while Gidwitz’s prediction is “prescient†(in respect to the ability of Democrats to create that perception, not necessarily about what Oberweis actually believes in his core), but it was a tactical mistake to begin with (Throwing light on the un-electability of Oberweis benefits Topinka, not Gidwitz.) and Gidwitz did take it too far (especially since he will be painted by Democrats as a “slumlordâ€).
- Beowulf - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 9:00 am:
Rauschenberger did loads of good for Ron Gidwitz by associating himself with Ron. That told many of us that Gidwitz is an honest politician. Steve Rauschenberger has made a few mistakes such as initially saying that he would only serve as Lt. Governor with Gidwitz. Steve was only trying to express his passion that he believed that Gidwitz was the best choice for the GOP candidate to clean up the Illinois GOP. Not very well thought out but, it shows that Rauschenberger is a passionate politician. The Illinois GOP needs more of these type of guys.
Gidwitz comments about Oberweis were refreshing. It shows us all that Ron Gidwitz is more concerned with speaking out with what he believes to be the facts rather than in being “politically correct”. That is refreshing. Gidwitz likes Oberweis and does not think he is racially bigoted but he knows that the Democrats will portray Oberweis that way in the general election. Gidwitz is not afraid to say that he sees an elephant in the room like other politicians fear to do. Hence, the more I see and learn about Gidwitz, the more I like the guy. He is a “no nonsense-take no prisoners” type of guy. The Illinois GOP needs that type of individual to fix what is broken.
The Illinois GOP has some good people running for governor this time. Oberweis, Gidwitz, or Brady would all fit the bill as to showing that the GOP Party in Illinois is serious about changing it’s image.
- Just a Voter - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 9:02 am:
Proving that there is something colder than Soldier Field in December, Gidwitz is the neutered version of Judy. No passion and 100% liberal dullness: caution, he may give you narcolepsy. Plus, stuffing George Ryan’s Christmas stocking with $100, but now talking about reform. Please.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 9:09 am:
Anybody who hands George Ryan $100 for Christmas and stiffs the kids at Evergreen Terrace is unelectable.
- Walking Wounded - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 9:37 am:
Why would GRod need to spend any money on his reelection when he’s got the Republicans slapping each other around?
I sure wish someone would get their act together.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 10:21 am:
I sure hope this is a sign that these Chuckleheads are finally waking up and seeing that they’ve wasted millions and have gotten zilch in return. These are two businessmen? They should be glad they inherited their businesses. So far they have shown that they know nothing about being candidates for office.
- Reagan Democrat - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 10:28 am:
Oberweis must be doing something right, Gidwitz and Brady are both starting to realize that Oberweis is starting to pull away and they need to try to pull him back.
Rasmussen shows any of the candidates who make it through the primary can and will beat Blago. Two polls in a row miss Brady?
- Obie's Achilles' Heel - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 11:14 am:
What my brethren Republicans here seem to be missing is that Gidwitz’s comment, as blunt as it was, was an accurate assessment. If Obie were the nominee, the Democrats will gear up Hispanics for Blagojevitch like nobody’s business. I have already heard one Hispanic politico state that if Oberweis were the nominee, the Latino community would be energized to see his defeat. And with Blago’s $14+ million, ready to be splurged upon eager HDO types looking for the next handout in the wake of the Hired Trucks fiasco, the Hispanic-anti-Obie campaign will be pounded out relentlessly from March through November. That campaign will even resonate with timid non-Hispanic bleeding hearts who don’t want to be seen as offending anyone. Obie will be spending so much time and money fighting this image problem that he won’t even be able to get into the ring with Blago on substance. Oberweis fans: Gidwitz is just waiting until after the November election to say “I told you so.”
- Pat Collins - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 12:33 pm:
And now, a dissenting opinion.
Duhhhhh. Of COURSE GB Rod (his surrogates, really) will paint Ober as a racist. They try it evey chance they get. Why stop now?
As for energized bases, that sword cuts TWO ways. The more that OB is painted as a racist, the more people will think he will DO something about illegals. In case no one has noticed, that is becoming an issue nationwide.
And what of the effect on the BLACK vote? You know, blacks in other areas of heavy immigration have not been keen supporters of it. Why think IL is different.
I think it depends on how Ober repsonds. If he plays “I’m so scared they’re calling me racist” and runs away, he loses.
If he stands tall and says “Yes, I AM against illegals, and I call on the Hispanic community to BACK the rule of law”. He wins.
- YNM - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 12:40 pm:
actually the issue may be less about ober-the-top and more about how the gidberger (welcome to gidberger, home of the diberger, can i help you?) people handle and spin it from their side. i don’t think anyone’s surprised that “someone” said that about the milkman … but they might be surprised it came from gidberger … especially since today the “code” signers were released and he is on the list. interesting at least.
by the way, notice the one gov. candidate not on the list?
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 2:48 pm:
Yeah, that is what dems do, lie about peopl ebeing racists. But my point is that Mr. Super psuedo conservative Rauschie and Gidwitz didn’t have to give them a useable quote.
- zatoichi - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 3:33 pm:
Why don’t these candidates talk this blunt during their televised debates? It’s all nicey nice about how comprehensive their grasp of the issues are. Wish they would all stop being politically correct and get to the point. Maybe one will stand out from the crowd.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 8:35 pm:
I spit my coffee out laughing as I read this, picturing the ed board meeting with Gidwitz finishing Rauschenbuger’s sentence that way. Then I got to hear it tonight and it’s exactly the way it should be scripted when they resurrect the local Gridiron show or Mel Brooks makes the 2006 GOP governor’s race his next “Producers.” And it should be a musical.
It’s not only actually happening, it is almost real-time satire. I say bring in the composers, we need a soundtrack.
- Lovie's Leather - Tuesday, Feb 7, 06 @ 11:23 pm:
This sound clip makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. I always knew that Rauschenberger was a down and dirty politician like Topinka. And I am glad to see Gidwitz is too. That comment was very strategic and I loved Rauschenberger’s reaction. Oberweis will definately be painted a “racist bigot.” He already has been. And I think the turnaround team has definately proven their point. Go Ron! Go Steve! Doing what they must do to atleast have a .1% chance of winning this primary.
- Jeff - Wednesday, Feb 8, 06 @ 1:15 am:
VanillaMan:
I hope you are not saying that Jim Oberweis inherited his business? If so, you need to check your facts again. He didn’t inherit Oberweis Asset Management and didn’t inherit the Oberweis Dairy. His brother actually did and when his brother could no longer afford the business, Jim Oberweis bought the business.