Topinka ad
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Gimme a few more minutes
OK, long session and etc. and I couldn’t get home to download the ad. Long story, but IlliniPundit got the ad from an unauthorized link that I unwittingly posted. Go there now. http://www.illinipundit.com/2006/03/02/topinka-ad/
38 Comments
|
This just in… Lang accepts slot on commission
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) has just accepted an appointment to the governor’s commission on discrimination and hate crimes.
It just keeps getting weirder, campers. More tomorrow.
18 Comments
|
From a press release:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today announced its resignation from the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes and expressed its “utter disappointment” in the Blagojevich administration’s decision to stand by the Nation of Islam representative on the Commission. Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad is a top adviser to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who on Sunday once again used the annual Saviours’ Day event to engage in hateful anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist bigotry. Member of the Commission were invited to the event and several attended.
In announcing ADL’s resignation, Lonnie Nasatir, Regional Director of ADL’s Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest office, issued the following statement:
We cannot continue to serve on a Commission that remains silent in the face of bigotry and makes a mockery of the fight against hatred and intolerance in Illinois. It is sad day when we are left with no choice but to resign from the Commission. We are utterly disappointed at the Blagojevich administration’s decision to stand by Sister Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. She serves on the Commission as a representative of the Nation of Islam, just as I serve as a representative of ADL, and she must be held accountable for the statements of her organization’s leader.
Sister Muhammad’s statement is wholly inadequate. She in no way condemns or apologizes for Minister Farrakhan’s hate-filled rhetoric that pervades the message and beliefs of the Nation of Islam. Moreover, in stating that she respects those who practice the ‘true tenets’ of their faith, she echoes Minister Farrakhan’s comments Sunday that, ‘These false Jews promote the filth of Hollywood that is seeding the American people… It’s the wicked Jews, the false Jews, that are promoting Lesbianism, homosexuality. It’s wicked Jews, false Jews, that make it a crime for you to preach the word of God, then they call you homophobic!’ It is clear to us that the Nation of Islam considers the Jewish community to be ‘false Jews’ whom it is acceptable to hate.
As a good friend of mine just said, “All this over a committee designed to produce positive press releases. Amazing.”
30 Comments
|
Teaser
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Check back here tonight and I’ll give you a link to Judy Baar Topinka’s new TV ad. I’ll open comments at that time.
All other candidates are, of course, always invited to send me links to their new ads before they air.
Comments Off
|
Jones: Rate freeze ’stupid’
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The gauntlet is thrown.
Senate President Emil Jones scolded his counterparts in the House Wednesday, calling their support of extending a freeze on residential electric rates “stupid.” The Chicago Democrat said members of the General Assembly should not interfere with current state law regarding electric rates.
Rather, he said that is the job of the Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utility rates in Illinois.
“They have the staff and the administrative law judges to rule on what they’ve done,” Jones said.
“I’m not an expert, but for the House to continue to play to the cheers of the crowd is rather stupid,” he added. […]
Although he didn’t specifically address the House legislation, his message was clear: It is unlikely he will allow the rate freeze extension to be called for a vote in the Senate this spring.
This wasn’t exactly unexpected. Jones has received tons of campaign contributions from ComEd and its officers. He killed off former CUB executive director Marty Cohen’s nomination to the ICC. The fact that he won’t bring a rate freeze up for a vote shouldn’t surprise anyone.
23 Comments
|
A challenge to the Illinois Hospital Association.
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Capitol Fax Blog Advertising Department
(The following is a paid advertisement.)
Please tell the members of the Illinois legislature which of the following statements are WRONG!
According to the American Hospital Directory not-for-profit University of Chicago Hospitals made a profit (year end 6/30/05) of $96,424,000.
The Pres/CEO of that not-for-profit system received $653,423 in total compensation in 2002. In 2004 that amount had increased to $1,696,636.
Joseph Toomey, the President of not-for-profit Resurrection Health Care received an increase in his total compensation of $1,392,395 in just 12 months. (6/30/02-6/30/03)
According to the American Hospital Directory not-for-profit Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago marks up their actual cost of drugs by 921%
Not-for-profit Advocate Health System in Oak Brook, reported making a profit for 2004 of $143,611,000.
Not-for-profit Wheaton Franciscan Services System reported making a profit in 2004 of $148,259,000.
Not-for-profit Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago now has over $1 BILLION in cash and investments.
Not-for-profit Advocate Health has at least 1.3 BILLION in cash and investments.
You cry poor, but which of these facts are WRONG.
We are the Fairness Foundation. To get more facts about not-for-profit hospitals click on our ad next to this posting.
Stay tuned.
Comments Off
|
Question of the day
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
First, the roundup.
The Tribune editorial board is not happy about Jim Oberweis’ new TV ads.
If you buy all the claims in political campaign ads, you probably also believe the Swedish bikini drill team will show up on your doorstep if you swig a certain beer.
But then the beer commercials, at least, are so over the top the exaggeration is clear. Political ads are supposed to represent the truth.
Too often, though, they play fast and loose with the facts. That’s where Jim Oberweis, a Republican candidate for governor, has strayed.
Oberweis has launched attack ads against Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, another GOP candidate for governor.
The ads feature front page headlines from the Tribune and three other newspapers. But they’re not headlines from the newspapers. They’re made up. They were never published.
One ad displays the Tribune masthead and underneath a headline that reads “Investigation into Topinka.” That headline didn’t appear in this newspaper.
And then there’s this from Bernie’s column today.
TERRY BARNICH, Topinka’s campaign manager, said he thinks that the Oberweis campaign is using a “premeditated misrepresentation,†making it look as though the ad has actual headlines.
But DOUG BOHRINGER, president of Omni, said the phrases being used, mixed with the newspaper logos, were “the most visually interesting way to attribute the information. They weren’t intended to be taken as true headlines.â€
He said there was no attempt, for example, to include “the date and all the little doodads that go with the masthead†to make it look as if the pages are real.
“It’s an age-old political technique,†Bohringer said. “We’re not the first to use it. We are certainly not going to be the last to use it.â€
But Oberweis admits that the ads are a mistake.
Oberweis defends the content of the ads, which is based on the news accounts, but he admits the fake headlines under real newspaper logos Is probably a mistake.
“We will in the future ads be sure (it’s) a headline or not a headline,” said Oberweis.
And then there’s this from the Daily Herald.
A handful of downstate TV stations have pulled a pair of ads by Republican governor candidate Jim Oberweis until he provides them with documentation to back up criticisms of opponent Judy Baar Topinka. Her attorney sent a letter to TV stations statewide asking for the ad to be pulled. Oberweis campaign manager Joe Wiegand said Wednesday he was putting together the required information to send to the stations.
QUESTION: Do you think these new Oberweis ads should be taken down? Why or why not?
UPDATE: The fallout continues.
The latest ads in the Republican governor’s primary campaign, which carry made-up newspaper headlines about state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, are under review by the state GOP. […]
Oberweis’ campaign manager, Joe Wiegand, said a clarification had been discussed but for now the spots will continue to air. […]
Last month, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna - in a letter to Gidwitz about one of his ads attacking Topinka - essentially urged the candidates to play nice. The state GOP is currently investigating Oberweis’ spots, said GOP executive director John Tsarpalas, but the most the party would do is wag a finger and implore civility among the contenders.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Statement by former Gov. Jim Edgar (via press release):
In the last days of a campaign, the reckless charges begin to fly and voters are looking for the facts. This campaign is no different.
I want to set the record straight.
Judy Baar Topinka has done an exceptional job as Treasurer. She is a fiscal conservative who respects taxpayers’ money and has run an office with integrity. She’s tough and she tells you the truth.
I’ve been there and I know what it takes. I know Judy and I know she is the one Republican who can beat Rod Blagojevich. I encourage my fellow Republicans to support Judy Baar Topinka and Joe Birkett. They will get Illinois back on track.
46 Comments
|
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.
7 Comments
|
Getting nervous?
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The governor appears to be bending over backwards to try to avoid any problems with his proposed sale of student loan assets. And that means the pals go under the bus.
A financial consulting firm withdrew Wednesday from a pending deal to advise the state on the possible sale of its student loan portfolio, one day after questions were raised about a potential conflict of interest.
Scott Balice Strategies removed itself from the deal after the Tribune asked about its ties to Conlon Public Strategies. Conlon registered in January as a lobbyist for Sallie Mae, a company interested in buying at least part of the state’s $3.5 billion loan portfolio.
Also Wednesday, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state’s non-profit student-loan agency, killed another pending deal with a law firm because it had hired a lobbyist with close ties to the governor.
State officials said they were concerned about the appearance of influential people getting deals related to the controversial proposal to sell the state’s loans.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich said his chief of staff has instructed state officials to “recognize political realities” when choosing private firms on the loan deal and to try to “remove any potential excuse that anybody can have to vote against the ISAC plan.”
While Scott Balice and Conlon share an office suite on North Wacker Drive, Scott Balice’s president said Wednesday the two companies currently have no business ties. Kevin Conlon owned equity in Scott Balice when the company first got under way about three years ago but has since sold his interest, according to Lois Scott, the company’s president.
9 Comments
|
Farrakhan roundup
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
The Tribune, leads today’s roundup.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday stood by his controversial appointment of a Nation of Islam official to his anti-discrimination commission, saying the woman shouldn’t be judged by a history of anti-Semitic and anti-gay statements made by nation leader Louis Farrakhan.
Blagojevich said commission member Claudette Marie Muhammad should be judged by her own words in support of tolerance and acceptance, which she expressed in a brief written statement released earlier in the day.
“What Mr. Farrakhan said was deplorable, hateful, wrong and harmful,” Blagojevich said in an interview with the Tribune. “What I’m not going to do is engage in the practice of guilt by association. Ms. Muhammad didn’t say those things.”
Muhammad, who serves as chief of protocol to Farrakhan, said that she believes in “fairness to all people regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or religious beliefs” and that she respects those who “practice the true tenets” of any religion. She also said she supports human rights for gays and lesbians.
Then there’s this from the AP:
As tempers flared at the state Capitol, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday that he didn’t know he had appointed a Nation of Islam official to serve on a hate crimes commission until learning it from news reports.
Claudette Marie Muhammad was named to the commission last summer, but Blagojevich said he only learned about it in the last week or two after criticism of her appointment was discussed in news stories.
He nodded vigorously when asked if he wished his staff had discussed the appointment with him, but he would say little more.
He didn’t know that The Daily Show interview was a spoof, either. Glad to know he stays on top of things.
And, finally, the Sun-Times.
Tempers roiled at the Statehouse, pitting Jewish and black lawmakers against one another over Blagojevich’s 2005 appointment of Claudette Marie Johnson to the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. […]
Jewish lawmakers and their allies who pressed for Johnson to renounce Farrakhan’s statements expressed disappointment at the governor’s move.
“It is essential the commission be a place of the utmost integrity and there be no question as to whether it’s tainted by the presence of one member or another,” said Richard Hirschhaut, a commission member and director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. “I fear we are now at a point where there is a cloud over this body.”
“It’s inadequate,” Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) said of the governor’s response.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Notice how Muhammad claims that she respects those “who practice the true tenets” of their religion.
Farrakhan talks a lot about “false Jews,” including just this past Sunday.
“These false Jews promote the filth of Hollywood that is seeding the American people and the people of the world and bringing you down in moral strength. … It’s the wicked Jews, false Jews that make it a crime for you to preach the word of God, then they call you homophobic.â€
Considering this, I don’t think that Muhammad’s statement was much of a conciliation at all. What about you?
LAST UPDATE: Comments closed on this one. Go to Friday’s thread and provide some ideas for ending this mess.
22 Comments
|
Enter your password to view comments
|
Morning shorts
Thursday, Mar 2, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
· Sun-Times editorializes in favor of medical marijuana proposal. “In fact, Illinois already has a law on the books authorizing the State Police and the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow medical marijuana.” The proposal would make it mandatory. More coverage here.
· Lynn Sweet has a 6th Congressional District update.
· I can’t be sure of it, but I think this story about Bill Brady helping a car crash victim is the result of a tip in this blog’s comment section.
· I’m going to have more on this ethanol bill in the Capitol Fax soon. But here’s a Post-Dispatch story for now.
· Illinois gets an “F” on mental health services.
· Minority casino investors protected.
· More later.
· House and Senate to undergo $14 million in remodeling work this year.
· SJ-R likes bill to allow counties to ban smoking in businesses located in unincorporated areas.
· “The Gay Liberation Network ( GLN ) and the Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association ( OPALGA ) , reacting to Republican gubernatorrial candidate Jim Oberweis’s anti-gay marriage statements and actions, have embarked on separate platforms aimed at getting individuals and businesses to boycott the dairy magnate’s products.” Meanwhile, an Oberweis campaign coordinator is promoting an anti-Topinka website that could be considered homophobic.
· George Ryan may have leaked story about juror removal.
· More on Sen. James Meeks’ possible gubernatorial bid is here.
· Illinois eyeing Supreme Court case on state tax breaks.
· The strange case of Judge James Doyle gets even weirder.
· Here’s a story about Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson’s airport bill that I wrote about in today’s Capitol Fax. For Congressman Jesse Jackson’s full response, see the password protected post on the blog today. There’s lots of other stuff there, too. And I’ll be adding more in a few minutes.
· Larry pretty much nails it.
10 Comments
|
|
Support CapitolFax.com Visit our advertisers...
...............
...............
...............
...............
|
|
Hosted by MCS
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax
Advertise Here
Mobile Version
Contact Rich Miller
|