Second banana hopefuls debate
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The Daily Herald’s coverage of yesterday’s lt. governor’s debate focuses on the topic of intelligent design.
If there’s such a thing as intelligent design, a higher power made sure the Republican candidates for lieutenant governor had different views on it.
Sandy Wegman thinks it should be taught at home.
Steve Rauschenberger has no problem including it in science curriculum.
And Joe Birkett says it should be taught only in religion or philosophy classes.
The trio aired their differences at a debate Wednesday sponsored by the City Club of Chicago. The issue exploded onto the national forefront last year when a federal judge barred a Pennsylvania high school from teaching the creationism theory in biology class as an alternative to evolution.
Birkett, of Wheaton, and Rauschenberger, of Elgin, agree each school district should be allowed to decide whether to teach intelligent design. Their running mates — Riverside’s Judy Baar Topinka and Chicago’s Ron Gidwitz, respectively — share that view.
The lieutenant governor hopefuls differ, however, on where to teach the concept, which holds that living organisms are so complex, a higher power must have created them.
The Tribune’s coverage includes this exchange.
“The fact that the insiders in Springfield are comfortable with Judy Baar Topinka does not … speak to the strength of her credentials,” Rauschenberger said. “It speaks to the comfort level of the people who brought you George Ryan and who brought you the problems in the Republican Party we’ve seen for the last four years and their comfort level with Judy.”
But Birkett contended Gidwitz has failed to take the ethical high road through his ownership interest in Evergreen Terrace, a troubled Joliet housing development.
“Among other things, you and Ron have called for increasing transparency in government. Yet the man you chose to run with operates one of the most notorious slums in the Midwest,” Birkett said. “How can you claim the ethical high ground when your running mate refuses to come clean on this issue?”
UPDATE: Archpundit has more.
- Beowulf - Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 9:50 am:
Regarding the Birkett comment about Ron Gidwitz being regarded as a “slum landlord”, I believe that Gidwitz has been placed in the uneviable position of not being able to defend himself on this recurrent issue. Please keep in mind that I say this “Not as a Gidwitz supporter” because personally, I am “undecided” but leaning toward Bill Brady.
The only side of this “slum landlord” story that we have heard has come from the City of Joliet officials that are trying to take over this Evergreen Terrace Apartments complex through the use of the right of Emminent Domain. Also, keep in mind that the gambling casinos in Joliet are located across the river from these federally subsidized low-income residents. The Gambling Casinos would love to get rid of these primarily African- American single moms ling there that are an eyesore for their business interests. The City of Joliet officials only ask “How high?” when they are told to jump by Harrah’s Casino and the Empress Gambling casinos. These casinos bring in huge amounts of revenue to Joliet. They are “the heroin fix” that the Mayor and City Manager of Joliet have grown to be so dependent on. They have become dependent on this gambling cash flow which goes into the City of Joliet coffers.
One of the rumors going around (and I stress the word “rumor”)is that Carol Marin was all set to do a story on Ron Gidwitz and his involvement with this Evergreen Terrace investment group. Upon Carol and her producer going to the Gidwitz camp and getting the “rest of the facts” from Ron and his brother, she decided to NOT do the story. Gidwitz has been told to not publicly comment on this apartment complex by his attorneys since there is ongoing litigation taking place in court regarding it and the City of Joliet officials. Gidwitz has publicly acknowledged that he owns 2/10 of one percent of this apartment complex. Yes, that is correct! Only .002% of this federally subsidized housing project is owned by him but to hear his opponents tell it, you would think that this guy owns 99.99% of it.
I asked Gidwitz why he doesn’t just sell his interest in this apartment complex and be done with it? He certainly doesn’t need the money.
He said that he will not allow the minority residents in this housing complex to be turned out on the streets and be used as pawns due to the political bullying and manipulation being used against him. There is not enough adequate housing in the Joliet area to accomodate these financially strapped minority individuals.
I may not vote for Gidwitz but I do admire his stance and firmness when he is subjected to intimidation. He is willing to risk his candidacy for governor rather than “role over and play dead” for a bully in the neighborhood. He said his family’s name and reputation for what they stand for mean more to him than anything else. He may not be a “warm & fuzzy” guy but maybe that is what is needed in Illinois government right now?
- Wumpus - Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 11:05 am:
First, they should worry about teaching kids to read and write, then worry about the other stuff. I barely want these teachers teaching history classes, let a lone sex ed and intdesign.
- Lefty - Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 11:51 am:
Intelligent design is BS. If a candidate doesn’t say this unequivocally then you shouldn’t vote for him/her no matter what your political stripe.
I can’t believe that so many people in this country don’t have even the slightest inkling about science and the scientific method. Maybe I can help a little bit here:
Science is observable. Science is reproducible. Science is taken apart and put back together by other scientists to make sure that science works. You can do NONE of these things with ID. NONE. Therefore it is not science.
www.talkorigins.org
Also, Beowulf, check your math. I know spelling isn’t a big deal in blogland, but if you’re going to make a point in a post about science then know that
a) 0.002% is not 2/10 of a percent. It is 2/1000 of a percent. 0.2% is 2/10 of a percent.
b) 99.99% + 0.002% = 99.992%
I don’t mean to be pedantic but COME ON!
- Beowulf - Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 1:39 pm:
My apologies Lefty. I stand corrected. Yes, I was wrong. And, don’t worry about being pedantic. I won’t tell anybody.
I loved the Miss Kitty analogy by Vanilla Man. I have always been a fan of the old “Gunsmoke” television series. “Miss Kitty” did have her redeeming characteristics: 1)a heart of gold, 2)she gave free drinks to her friends and people that she liked, 3)she never minced words if she didn’t like you, and 4)she stood by her man.
Judy has: 1) a heart of gold (it certainly took one to be willing to ride in a gay & lesbian rights parade), 2)she gave away away free drinks to friends (and forgave bad loans owed to the Illinois taxpayers by her friends like Celini), 3)she never minced words if she didn’t like you (need I say anything), and 4)she stood by her man (also correct but, perhaps in this case, it is more appropriate to say her “men”, George Ryan and Kjellander).
But, wasn’t “Miss Kitty” really a redhead?
- PAT QUINN - Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 5:03 pm:
You might wonder why I wasn’t in the debate. Cause I’m hiding from ethical issues!!!!!!!!!!!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 2, 06 @ 7:34 pm:
Beowulf, you are a shill for Gidwitz. You are repeating his lame talking points. Gidwitz controls the limited partnership and won’t tell anybody who the investors are. The complex is the number one spot for crime in Will County and NOBODY is seeking to throw the residents out. The city has a plan to get them better residences. The black community, the Catholic community, the black alderman who represents that district, and many other groups all oppose Gidwitz’ slum. Gidwitz has hired an expensive PR firm that is giving him these phony talking points. Anybody who believes them is gullible. NOBODY IN JOLIET WANTS EVERGREEN TERRACE. Gidwitz’ group has not put any money in that dump for years because there’s no tax advantage. No elevators, nothing. Now, they are seeking a sweetheart deal from the feds for enormous guaranteed rents. And millionaire Gidwitz is a deadbeat, as well. While he spends millions running false ads, he owes the city more than $300K for police protection.
- Beowulf - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 10:44 am:
Anon @ 7:34 PM–I’m not a shill for anybody. I only wished to express another point of view. I would not argue that everybody in Joliet would prefer to “not” have the Evergreen Terrace Apartments complex there. HUD seems to disagree with your assessment that there is adequate housing available for the minority residents living there. Also, I am not disputing that it is a high crime rate in that area. I didn’t know that Gidwitz “as an investor” was supposed to act as the babysitter for the apartment residents? I thought that was what city law enforcement authorities are supposed to do? Throw the bad guys in jail. Sounds like it is beyond their control based on your comments. The Gidwitz investor group stated that they had $5 million that they have been trying to spend on the security at this complex but Joliet authorities have prohibited them from doing so with their litigation. Is Gidwitz lying about that? I don’t know. I “do know” that it was a high crime area many years before Gidwitz and his other investors “were asked” to take over this complex by HUD. Where were the City of Joliet officials back then? Why did they tolerate this situation back then? Only since the Gambling Casino interests have located near this apartment complex have we seen the City of Joliet officials suddenly become filled with “righteous indignation” regarding this issue. All of a sudden, they are concerned for the Evergreen Terrace residents. Strange? But, I guess they do say “timing is everything”.
By the way, I am not a “shill” for the minority residents living there either. Sorry.
I am not defending Gidwitz. I am not attempting to act as a shill for him. I just felt it was worthwhile to mention that most people have only heard one side of this story and it is the City of Joliet version. Maybe you are correct and their version is the correct one? As for myself, I will keep an open mind and wait before I jump to a conclusion.