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Tonight’s US Senate debate

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’m not sure I’ll be liveblogging much of the US Senate debate tonight at 7 because it’s a League of Women Voters debate. That means it’ll be stiffly controlled with no real follow-ups. The League and ABC7 sponsored the absolute worst debates of the primary and I don’t think it’ll be much better tonight. I hope I’m wrong.

Anyway, you can watch the debate live by clicking here.

Help everyone out by live-blogging in comments if you can Here are a couple of videos to start things going. First, a new TV ad running Downstate by Working For Us PAC. Rate it


Our next video is debate-related, but not Illinois-related. I don’t usually post out-of-state stuff, but you really should watch this one


* 7:05 pm - Basically, they both just said that if you like the way things are going, then vote for the other guy.

* Kirk had an effective attack for once on Giannoulias over the military issue. “In the rear with the gear.” Kirk claimed Giannoulias has based his entire campaign on Kirk’s service, while Giannoulias never served. Kirk, of course, avoided the questions about his embellishments, but it was a decent pivot.

* Twice Kirk was asked what was wrong with the tea party. Twice he completely avoided the question, more so than Giannoulias, who somewhat avoided the two questions on what he would advice the president to do differently.

* Ah, a little news. Kirk finally admitted that he can’t vote for the DREAM Act right now because “it’s not the time.” Kirk said the border situation and Mexico’s situation and everything else is just too bad right now to move forward with that bill.

Giannoulias, however, claims Kirk didn’t answer the question. He actually did, but Kirk certainly buried it under lots of rhetoric.

* “Voter integrity” program question from Charles Thomas to Kirk. Asks Kirk whether the program is not targeted at African-Americans. Kirk says it’s not because, he says, Metro East is 85 percent non African-American. Said he supported Giannoulias for saying he’d respond with his own voter integrity program.

Giannoulias hits back, and presses Kirk over where the voter fraud was on the South and West sides of Chicago. Kirk can’t do so. Giannoulias overreached, however by saying there had “never” been voter fraud there. “Never” is a long time back.

* Stephanopoulos: “Throw away the script” on creating jobs. Giannoulias sticks to the script: “Focus on education.” Kirk not only doesn’t throw away the script, he looks at his notes.

* Kirk said he favors opening up the books on these non-profits that are spending so much money on TV ads throughout the country. Giannoulias blasts Kirk for benefiting from them, mentioning Karl Rove twice.

* Giannoulias has said several times that Kirk won’t answer the questions, but Kirk does appear to be answering the questions - quickly, no doubt, and then moving along to something else - but he is mostly offering up answers. I just received an e-mail from Giannoulias’ campaign claiming that Kirk didn’t answer the DREAM Act question. He did.

* George Stephanopoulos just asked a truly idiotic question. Should Anita Hill apologize to Clarence Thomas? Um, what? Kirk was right to say that was long ago and then pivot to qualifications for justices.

Giannoulias rightly blows off Stephanopoulos’ goofy Anita Hill question as well. This is why we should keep DC people out of Illinois debates. What a crock.

* Thank goodness that is over. Painful to watch. Stephanopoulos was the biggest loser with that unbelievably stupid Anita Hill question. Hey, George, it’s 2010. You wanna refight Vietnam, too? Giannoulias showed once again that he is Policy Lite, if that. Kirk the wonk, but painful to listen to for some reason. I’ve never quite been able to put my finger on that one.

  135 Comments      


GOP chairman lashes out at Quinn, but is working with a “birther”

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Another silly press release…

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today released the following statement in response to Pat Quinn’s comments last night at the Heartland Cafe in Chicago.

Quinn said, “We cannot allow the right wing, all of those people on cable TV who don’t wish the President any good at all. They’re a bunch of haters…”

Pat Brady: “I can understand Pat Quinn’s frustration that he has failed at his job as governor, but to start blaming conservatives who question the President or who care deeply about how to solve Illinois’ $13 billion deficit is the height of arrogance. They’re not haters, Governor. They’re citizens, they’re people, and they’re voters.”

If you listen to the audio from the GOP tracker, the rest of the Quinn quote is “They’re a bunch of haters, a lot of them, on those TV shows.” Audio


Quinn wasn’t talking about Illinois citizens upset about Quinn’s many failures or the state’s horrific budget deficit. The governor was talking about the cable TV goofballs, who don’t even live here. Personally, I can’t bear to watch cable “news,” whether it’s Fox or MSNBC. Shrill haters all. It creeps me out after about 2 minutes. It’s just a vast wasteland of hate.

* And speaking of haters

Together with a conservative political action committee, the state GOP has teamed up with an infamous anti-Obama birther who’s helped to recruit tea party activists to oversee the vote as official poll workers and independent poll watchers […]

This effort has placed [state GOP chairman Pat Brady] in league with one of the tea party movement’s more unusual characters. The project’s coordinator, Sharon Meroni, is an infamous anti-Obama birther who filed objections against 32 Illinois candidates for failing to provide adequate documentation of their citizenship.

Meroni, who blogs under the pseudonym “Chalice Jackson,” also helped launch a petition demanding Obama’s resignation for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” “Who truly would have believed…that there was ANY chance America could be in the hands of a usurper government?” she wrote in another court filing to contest Obama’s citizenship, which the McHenry County Grand Jury dismissed. Meroni is now helping to select the election judges—as official poll workers are called in Illinois—and poll watchers that the joint project will dispatch on Election Day.

* Doug Ibendahl has more on Meroni

Meroni (who blogs under the name “Chalice Jackson”) went into a McHenry County court in late 2009 seeking to challenge the citizenship of Barack Obama. Her website has some similar themes.

However I had never heard of her until this summer when she filed 31 frivolous objections against the petitions of independent and new party candidates…. Meroni didn’t care about the number of petition signatures or any of the other claims made in the typical petition challenge. Meroni instead wanted every candidate to produce a birth certificate.

* And the Illinois Republican Party has apparently scrubbed its website of its ballot integrity program

But the [IL GOP] was apparently inadvertently too candid on its own website about the efforts, and has since scrubbed the earlier references to the RNLA’s training program. Also scrubbed: the party chair’s statement that “ballot integrity will be a key ingredient to our success.”

Sheesh.

  53 Comments      


Another Quinn flip-flop and other weirdness

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* As usual, give him a few days and Gov. Pat Quinn will flip-flop on his tax hike plan. The truth is, he doesn’t really have a plan. From Crains

Monday, Mr. Quinn suggested that part of the (income tax hike) proceeds would go to cut local property taxes for schools, but much of the $3 billion left after that would be used to replace existing state aid to education — thereby providing indirect budget relief.

“A great deal of it” would be used as an offset for existing state aide, Mr. Quinn said at one point. But at another, he said things like, “We want to invest in education and low property taxes.”

In other words, Quinn’s “education surcharge” is basically the infamous Lottery scam under a different name.

Man, I’m really getting tired of these flip-flops.

* In other weird education-related news, the IEA’s latest anti Bill Brady Internet video is a bit on the creepy side


* Unclear on the concept

Senate Bill 3146 would circumvent the village’s home rule authority, which means the state would control Arlington Park’s slot machine operations.

No. The home rule circumvention means that the town couldn’t stop the slot machines from being placed at the track. The Gaming Board will have control of the slots, just like at the casinos.

* The Palatine Tea Party sent me an e-mail this afternoon saying this radio ad will be playing statewide. I put it on YouTube so you could listen easier


It’s supposed to be a “get out the vote” ad, but I’m not sure that thing’s gonna motivate anybody. Whew. Somebody got ripped off.

* First came the tracker videos, now comes the oppo dump on a tea party candidate

Eighth Congressional candidate Joe Walsh bills himself as an average Joe who, like many, fell victim to hard times when his Evanston condominium was foreclosed upon last year. […]

Yet, court records show Walsh had state and federal liens for unpaid taxes long before the recession began in 2007. […]

Starting in 1992, Walsh was handed several liens for failing to pay state and federal income taxes, together totaling nearly $25,000, according to records from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

The first lien, in June 1992, was for failing to pay $2,239 in federal income taxes.

In June 1994, Walsh was handed a lien for failing to pay $21,566 in federal income taxes, some going as far back as 1985. Six months later, the state placed another lien for Walsh’s failure to pay $778 in state income taxes. He eventually paid them off and the last lien cleared in 2001.

Oops.

* The most breathless press release of the season is from Republican Joel Pollak’s campaign this morning…

In a speech last night at the Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park,incumbent Jan Schakowsky urged fellow Democrats to intimidate voters into supporting her and other candidates:

“All around the country, people are trying to replicate what we do in Chicago. They–we have a tradition of knockin’ on doors, of pulling people out–you know, people, they talk about ‘message’ and ‘persuasion.’ Here’s our message: ‘I don’t get off your doorstep until you get out to the polls and vote.’ That’s our message! That’s our message!”

Schakowsky is explicitly encouraging Democrats to commit the crime of intimidation.

Yeah. OK.

* Speaking of Schakowsky, the Teaparazzi failed to even get an acknowledgement of their presence the other day. Watch


* Scott Lee Cohen’s latest targeted mailer clumsily features a Menora…

The guy is doing a ton of mail and nobody’s covering him.

* And, finally, the Jeff Tobolski for Cook County Board campaign is claiming that the Tony Peraica folks are attaching a nasty sticker to their yard signs…

  49 Comments      


Question of the day

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias are squaring off tonight at 7 on ABC7. George Stephanopoulos is co-moderating.

* The Question: What as yet unanswered question(s) would you like to see each of these candidates answer?

Try to post questions for both, please. Thanks.

  26 Comments      


Big money and Chuck’s bus trip

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last night at midnight was the deadline to file campaign finance pre-election reports, covering July 1 through October 3rd. As I told subscribers, the Tribune and I have different numbers for Bill Brady and Pat Quinn

Republican Bill Brady has raised more than $9.3 million from July through Monday in his bid to become governor, edging out Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who has collected $8.7 million.

About $4.1 million of Brady’s take has come from the Republican Governors Association, which is betting big that Brady can defeat Quinn on Nov. 2.

The fundraising pace has picked up considerably the past two weeks. From July through Oct. 3, Brady collected $6 million in contributions and donated services, according to campaign discloures filed late Monday. Since Oct. 4, he’s collected another $3.3 million.

Quinn raised more than $1.9 million from various units of the politically powerful Service Employees’ International Union and at least $1.8 million from the Democratic Governors Association. He began July with $2.3 million in cash in his two political funds.

When I count both of Quinn’s campaign committees (and subtract money sent to one from the other), I get $9.3 million for Quinn as of early this morning And when I search the Board of Elections’ website for Brady’s contributions during the same period, I get this…

Either way, the money race is pretty darned close. And there’s lots of it, although not nearly as much as Rod Blagojevich raised. Heck, it’s not as much as Jane Byrne raised for her Chicago mayoral reelection: $10 million. And that was back in 1983. That’s almost $22 million in today’s dollars.

Also, it sure looks like the DGA spent a whole lot of cash on TV ads last summer for nothing. Sheesh, what a waste. The RGA has had much greater success with Brady.

* As of 10:54 this morning, Scott Lee Cohen has not yet filed his pre-election report. It’s not on par with knifing a hooker, but it’s still not legal. Cohen recently loaned his campaign $1 million. Green Party nominee Rich Whitney, on the other extreme, raised just $31,322.48 during the pre-election reporting period and about $2,500 since then.

* If you think Whitney’s numbers are low, try looking at Steve Kim’s pre-election report. $15,760 in cash. Oof. But that was still better than Robert Enriquez’s pathetic $6,288.50 in cash. Having trouble figuring out who they are? Kim is running against Lisa Madigan and Enriquez is up against Jesse White. They’re not Green Party guys, either. They’re Republicans, left out to dry.

* Democratic comptroller candidate filed his pre-election report 7 hours late. And he wants to manage the state’s books? Miller raised $195,274 in the pre-election reporting period to Judy Baar Topinka’s $193,380 in cash, plus $12K in in-kinds. Topinka started out with $473K to Miller’s $158K.

* Chuck Sweeny of the Rockford Register Star rode along on Bill Brady’s fancy campaign bus. His report is quite long and involved, but there are a couple of items of note. This, for instance, is a Brady quote

“Even some Democrats realize we have to change our ways. And if they want to use me as the bad guy to say I forced them to do it, that’s fine with me,” he says.

That’s quite true. Every Democrat who is worried about what Brady will do is also worried about what Pat Quinn will do. If it wasn’t for the remap, many probably wouldn’t care all that much if Brady was elected because they could simply let him do his thing and take all the blame. Cutting programs will not be popular, no matter what some may think. His best hope is that the economy makes a roaring comeback by 2014.

Something else to take note of…

Pat Saunders of Polo has been listening to Brady’s speech.

“I don’t agree with him on everything, but he isn’t from Chicago, and he’s not a lawyer,” Saunders says.

The Chicago vs. Downstate divide is more intense than I’ve ever seen it. Brady is doing better than recent candidates in Democratic Downstate counties partly for that very reason.

Umm…

We are ahead of schedule, and campaign staffers don’t want to roll into Dixon before the noontime crowd being recruited by local Republicans has assembled. At a hamlet called Woosung, Brady sees a building supplies company, H.P. Lumber. His eyes light up. He says, “Let’s stop here.” The driver brakes quickly, but smoothly.

The owner and staff hadn’t expected guests, but they greet Brady with smiles and handshakes. The candidate kibitzes about building materials and the state of the local economy. Brady reminds me more of a district sales manager than a candidate for the state’s highest office.

I hope he wasn’t cutting business deals. Just kidding. Kinda.

* Speaking of Bloomington homebuilders, the Today Show had a segment today about how a house built with Bloomington building standards couldn’t stand up to high winds. Watch.

  51 Comments      


Claypool goes up with first TV ad

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Forrest Claypool is up with his first TV ad of the season. Rate it


Not as hard-hitting as I thought it would be.

* Claypool, Joe Berrios and the other assessor candidates debated last night on WTTW. Watch

* Tribune coverage

The major candidates for Cook County assessor both found themselves addressing potential political liabilities during a televised debate Monday night. […]

“What you’re basically saying is that Joe Berrios should get out of politics,” Berrios said during the exchange on WTTW-Ch. 11’s ” Chicago Tonight.” “If my brothers or whoever wants to come and work in government, they shouldn’t be allowed to work in government. If you want to pass a law that says one individual is in government, then none of their friends or relatives can work in government, then you should pass that law.” […]

Claypool, a longtime Democrat, confirmed that he did not vote in February.‬

‪”It was one of those crazy, crazy days, like we all have,” he said. “I think in the last 30 years, I’ve missed two elections out of about 60. … I guarantee you, I’m not going to miss this election.”‬

* Both Berrios and Claypool plan to run ads on black radio stations, WBEZ reports. Claypool was at Sen. James Meeks’ House of Hope on Sunday. ABC7’s photo still wasn’t exactly flattering…

* Clapyool is also running a robocall from Jesse Jackson, Jr...

: This is Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. As head of the Chicago Park District, Forrest Claypool rebuilt parks in our community that had always been neglected. … Instead of favoring clout-heavy business interests downtown, Claypool will put us first.


…Adding…
From the Berrios campaign…

Two weeks ago, Claypool, a Cook County Board commissioner, voted against ethics reforms which would have capped individual contributions at $10,000.

On Oct. 1, Houlihan, who is retiring, contributed $100,000 from his own coffer to the campaign of Forrest Claypool, a former Democratic seeking the same office. Eychaner gave Claypool $200,000 on Sept. 17. Houlihan receives money from property tax attorneys, a practice in which Claypool has used as his main criticism against Berrios.

Houlihan has given Claypool over $130,000 in recent months, and held a fundraiser at his home for the former Democrat on October 12th.

  78 Comments      


They’re forgetting something; Plus: Viral videos

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* There’s a real problem with the coverage today about Bill Brady’s legislation to overturn a state law to ban mass euthanasia of pet animals

On Monday, Brady promised, if elected, to veto the idea “because I realize the consequences associated with the legislation.” Asked what those consequences were, Brady said, “The people of Illinois don’t want it.”

So, after much thought and the realization of how unpopular it was, Brady wouldn’t sign his own bill.

Trouble is, Brady voted against the original law that banned the mass animal killings not once but twice.

The law was a product of negotiations between the Farm Bureau and the Humane Society. It wasn’t an easy process by any means. The talks lasted two long years, and they were often difficult.

So, it’s hard to disagree with Gov. Pat Quinn on this one

Quinn said the Brady euthanasia legislation goes directly to the senator’s overall judgment.

“He withdrew it because everybody in Illinois thought it was one of the worst ideas ever submitted to the Illinois General Assembly, and I think he ought to be accountable for it,” Quinn said. “What kind of nonsense was he thinking when he even submitted the bill?”

Not only that, what was he thinking when he twice voted against the original moratorium back in 2009?

* Keep in mind, Brady’s bill was introduced just two days after the February primary. This is what I told subscribers back in late February…

Obviously, Brady is not yet thinking like a statewide candidate. For crying out loud, you can’t introduce a bill to help out your local puppy gas chamber when you’re trying to be governor. I mean, seriously, what kind of thought process concocts an idea like that?

Brady shouldn’t be let off the hook so easily on this thing. He ought to be held accountable not only for his incredibly goofy bill, but for his two votes against the original moratorium.

Now, is this the most important issue in the state? Hardly. But Brady’s legislation sure was the stupidest bill of the year. By far. That’s really saying something, and that alone makes it an issue.

* Meanwhile, Illinois Statehouse News has a story about “viral” YouTube campaign videos

The four candidates at the top of the ticket have reached almost 425,000 people via the Internet–enough to populate Illinois’ three biggest cities outside of Chicago. Kirk’s video viewers alone would constitute Illinois’ second biggest city; he and Quinn have substantial leads on their opponents in terms of Internet viewership.

It is a large market to tap into and one that professor Max Dawson of Northwestern University’s School of Communication says could revolutionize the output of campaign press.

“This new platform allows for more targeted messaging, more immediate messaging and it allows messages to be customized to an audience,” he said “Uploading is free, less costly allow candid to blanket the public with the platform and reach out to young people.”

The targeted messaging allows candidates to respond to the news of the day quickly or highlight nuances of the campaign that may not seem important enough for statewide airtime. When, for example, legendary Bears Coach and self-described conservative Mike Ditka endorsed Gov. Quinn, the campaign released the announcement on Youtube.

No surprise, Gov. Pat Quinn’s puppy killer video is by far his top-watched YouTube effort at 20,681 views. Bill Brady’s most-viewed YouTube video is an ad from the primary. It was called “Brady Plan” and it has received 7,074 views.

Mark Kirk’s most-watched video, at 9,754 views, is his TV ad called “Risky.” Alexi Giannoulias’ top video has 13,155 views. It’s called “On and On,” a web vid about Kirk’s military embellishments.

None of these are truly “viral” videos. But Quinn’s puppy vid is probably the closest thing we have to that because it is the only one which has generated any sort of buzz and “mainstream” media coverage. ABC7 was one of the outlets that covered the story last night. The Guardian did a piece on it last week.

  57 Comments      


Morning Shorts

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Quinn names retired FBI agent as tollway watchdog

* Tollway watchdog named inspector general

* Time Running Out To Take Advantage Of Tax Amnesty

* State commended for new panel

* Quinn to improve breast cancer treatment

* Statewide Panel To Work To Improve Breast Cancer Treatment

* State Officials Urge Testing For Radon

* Illinois cracks down on sex offender compliance

* Madigan: More lawyers devoted to FOIA

* Corn prices up as harvest winds down

* Tribune Board Said Ready to Oust Chief Executive

The individual, who spoke on the condition of not being identified, said the board had lost confidence in the ability of Mr. Michaels to lead the troubled company.

* Tribune Co. board is weighing CEO’s fate, sources say

* Watchdog: Chicago 911 officials skirted bidding on $23 million contract

Inspector General Joseph Ferguson concluded the officials at Chicago’s 911 center falsified paperwork to justify giving the contract to a pre-selected firm. That company is identified as Motorola in documents obtained by the Tribune through an open records request.

Office of Emergency Management and Communications officials said using Motorola would preserve “the city’s prior investment of nearly $2 million” in Motorola equipment bought earlier. But the city actually paid only $350,000 for that equipment, according to Ferguson’s report.

* Inspector General’s Report: Chicago OEMC Improperly Dealt Contract

* Judge focuses on carp DNA in lawsuit over locks

* Judge Considering Whether to Close Locks Against Carp

* Burke says Daley ignoring city pension crisis

Daley has vowed to push legislation in the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session that would extend a two-tiered pension system to newly hired police officers and firefighters.
During opening day of the city council hearings on Daley’s final city budget, Ald. Edward Burke (14th), chairman of the council’s finance committee, said that’s nowhere near enough to address the city’s pension-fund crisis.

* VIDEO: Richard M. Daley on his struggle to balance the budget

* Chicago writing fewer parking tickets, using Denver boot more

Ticketing was down, primarily because crime-fighting was a higher priority for Chicago Police officers. Even so, police still led the pack with 747,648 tickets, compared to 631,170 for Revenue Department parking enforcement aides and 227,740 for a private contractor hired to assist the city.

While the number of parking tickets issued was dropping, booting was going in the opposite direction. It’s on the upswing.

There were 44,581 boots applied from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31, up by 7 percent or 3,112 from 41,469 boots applied during the first eight months of last year.

* CPS to Meet with Whittier Protesters

* Whittier Protesters Want CPS to Sign Off on Plans

* Maggie Daley scheduled to fly home tomorrow

* District 203 reviews plans for TIF district

* Dist. 203 supports Navistar TIF

* School secretary accused of stealing variety show money

Ruth Ann Kadlec, 55, of the 900 block of Plainfield Road in Darien, is being charged with one count of felony theft after school district officials noticed the money missing from a safe and repeatedly asked Kadlec – who was supposed to deposit the cash in the school’s bank account – where it had gone, according to police and district officials.

* State police sergeant goes on trial in fatal shooting

Illinois State Police Sgt. Bryan Falat is either a hero who used justifiable force to save the lives of himself and his partner, or a quick-tempered cop who opened fire on an unarmed off-duty prison guard.

An eight-member federal jury considered the contrasting portraits Monday as Falat’s civil trial opened.

Falat twice shot Lernard Grigsby after responding to a 911 call at 4:15 a.m. April 24, 2008, inside an employee dormitory at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet. The 48-year-old guard died four days later, leaving three children who are seeking unspecified damages after accusing Falat of using excessive force.

* Peoria city budget proposal weighs on firefighters

* Agreement between Normal, One Main terminated

* Herald & Review: Meyer earns endorsement for county treasurer

* Herald & Review: Both experienced, but Schneider wins nod

* SJ-R: Voters should OK sales tax hike for schools

* Marion council approves expense

* Report says Marion VA hospital has improved

* Vandergraph unfit for trial

The results of a mental fitness test for 72-year-old Bill Vandergraph, who was pastor of the Full Gospel Pentecostal Church in Alto Pass, show he is not fit to stand trial because of mental illness caused by depression and possible signs of dementia, defense attorney Allen James said Monday.

* Don Monty formally announces candidacy for Carbondale City Council

* Illinois state bird: Groups consider new pecking order

  3 Comments      


*** UPDATED x1 *** New ads: Kirk, Quinn, Dold

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We have three new ads this morning. The first is an independent expenditure by the National Republican Senatorial Committee which hits Alexi Giannoulias on his support for a state income tax increase and ties it to other stuff, including Bright Start and the fact that he paid no income taxes. Rate it


Script…

ANNOUNCER: Alexi Giannoulias has a message for Illinois…

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

ANNOUNCER: For our seniors, Alexi says…

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

ANNOUNCER: For families whose college savings Alexi devastated while managing the Bright Start program.

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

ANNOUNCER: But in 2009, Alexi Giannoulias paid no income tax.

ANNOUNCER: If you don’t want a tax increase, you don’t want Alexi.

GIANNOULIAS: We need an income tax increase.

* Congressman Luis Gutierrez has cut a TV ad for Pat Quinn in Spanish. Watch


* Bob Dold’s new ad


Script…

Supporter: “He’s a businessman not a politician.”
Supporter: “He knows how to get people back to work.”
Supporter: “He’s not a politician; he’s a real person.”
Supporter: “He knows how to create jobs.”
Supporter: “He stands for something.”
Supporter: “We need strong, independent leadership in Washington.”
Supporter: “We need someone fighting for us.”
Supporter: “If I lived in Chicago, I’d vote from him twice.”
Supporter: “Families are on a budget. Why isn’t the government?”
Supporter: “I’m voting for Robert Dold.”
Supporters: “Robert Dold.” “Robert Dold.” “Robert Dold.”
Supporter: “I’m voting for Robert Dold.”
Supporter: “Robert Dold.”

Dold: “I’m Robert Dold, and I approve this message. On November 2nd, I ask for your vote.”

*** UPDATE *** The Dold campaign left something out of the script. Toward the end of the ad a woman says: “We gotta get it right this time.”

From the Dan Seals campaign…

Exactly. We do need to ‘get it right this time’ and vote for someone who’s not going to hide the truth about his real positions and allies. We need to elect an experienced businessman like Dan Seals, who will create jobs without compromising our values.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Jack Roeser and others speak on behalf of Roger Keats for Cook County Board President


  27 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and lots, lots more

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

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*** UPDATED x2 *** Bean calls Walsh “dangerous” in new TV ad

Tuesday, Oct 19, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

[Updated and bumped up for visibility.]

* I tried getting through to Democratic Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s campaign spokesperson twice today so I could get a copy of her new hard-hitting TV ad. I wasn’t successful. So, I had a buddy make a copy using his mobile phone. That means the video/audio quality is lousy, but this is one tough hit on Republican Joe Walsh and you should watch it.

*** UPDATE 1 *** The Bean campaign sent a better quality version. Rate it


* Script…

Announcer: Listen to Joe Walsh.

Walsh: “We’re at the beginning of a war.”

Walsh: “This is a revolution.”

Walsh:”We have to make the case for concealed carry by saying it works.”

Walsh: “This protects me from my government.”

Announcer: He’d eliminate protection for our air and water.

Walsh: “It’s a crusade.”

Announcer: He’d ban the right to choose, even to save a woman’s life.

Walsh: “I’m pro-life without exception.”

Announcer: Hidden guns? No environmental protections? End a woman’s right to choose?

Walsh: “Some people may say that’s reckless, but so what?”

Announcer: Reckless? Joe, that’s dangerous.

Bean is obviously concerned about a tightening race.

* Walsh has no money, so he has uploaded an angry YouTube video in response


Um, yes, Joe, I do believe she’s serious.

*** UPDATE 2 *** From a Joe Walsh campaign e-mail..

Dear Friends:

Be strong. It’s going to continue to get ugly out there. We have two weeks to go and our opponent and her enablers in the media will do and say whatever they can to help her and hurt me. Ignore all this misinformation, let’s keep our heads down and work hard. Let’s make Melissa Bean defend her votes and debate her opponents.

Thank you so much for everything you do,
Joe

  24 Comments      


« NEWER POSTS PREVIOUS POSTS »
* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
* Repeal IFPA Now
* Rep. Morgan calls congressional AI proposal 'as dumb as it is risky' (Updated)
* Governor moves some universities to 'no position' on his community college baccalaureate bill
* False alarm - Pritzker will not be traveling to Utah on May 31
* Still not a done deal, but Bears now focusing far more intently on Arlington Heights
* Free clinic warns it can’t replace state health insurance program for undocumented residents
* It’s just a bill
* Stop Credit Card Chaos In Illinois
* Sen. Peters reports good haul in first 72 hours (Updated with Biss $ numbers and comparison to 'influencer')
* Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Live coverage
* Jackson says he didn't formally endorse Robin Kelly
* Yesterday's stories

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