Maybe don’t do this
Wednesday, Mar 11, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Paul Kendrick is running for the Illinois House in a crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago). He’s endorsed by Croke. One of his people sent me this email yesterday…
Isabel and Rich,
Sharing a column written by Karim Lakhani and published in the Cornell Review that we found yesterday. As you’ve reported, Lakhani has been endorsed by CTU.
Karim Lakhani: Public employee strikes are “unthinkable and intolerable”
After spending more than an estimated $100,000 over several weeks attacking and smearing Paul Kendrick’s support for workers and teachers, Karim Lakhani’s hypocrisy has again been exposed.
Lakhani previously authored and published a column opposing the Chicago Teacher’s Union – and the right of all public unions to go on strike.
Lakhani compared Chicago Public Schools to a “failing business” and wrote that students were “abandoned” by their teachers and having their “futures hijacked by a teachers union who have already received a generous raise.” He then went on to issue a broad indictment of the right of public employees to go on strike:
“Since their own services have to do with the functioning of Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable.”
The column was from 14 years ago. As subscribers know, Kendrick has sent mailers attacking Lakhani over other Republican-style statements made while in college.
* My response…
I hear you, but my view is that sometimes people who change their minds become the most forceful advocates for their new positions.
My dad always used to point out that former cigarette smokers seemed to be the most adamant anti-smoking people anywhere. And then he became one of them. Lol
But we will ask CTU why they trust him. Thanks for the link.
* From the CTU…
CTU members endorsed Lakhani for his strong commitment to public schools and our students, not for something he wrote more than a decade ago as a college student. People get to be wrong in the past and get it right when it counts now.
His opponent however is supporting vouchers. Illinois has already rejected voucher schemes once before because they rob public dollars for private schools. Lakhani is running against someone backed by the very people responsible for the damage to Chicago schools the district is working to recover from today.
* Kendrick not only explicitly supports President Trump’s school voucher program, he’s also said during the campaign that he would like to see public employees moved to a “401(k)-equivalent program.”
* I sent the Kendrick campaign the CTU response and asked for a statement…
Consistent with the swift-boating politics of his Republican past, Karim Lakhani launched dishonest attacks against Paul Kendrick who worked locally and nationally to improve education for our kids, which includes serving on two Local School Councils in the district and at the US Department of Education during the Obama Administration. Paul Kendrick is supported by the Illinois Education Association, Stand for Children, Arne Duncan, Janice Jackson and other educational leaders because of his commitment to securing effective education resources for students. District 12 appreciates Paul Kendrick’s thoughtfulness on fiscal challenges, as Lakhani has yet to personally offer policy substance in this campaign. The path forward for our state must be found with labor and all stakeholders at the table and Paul Kendrick has demonstrated leadership for those conversations. Paul Kendrick has always supported teachers and public employees — including their right to organize and bargain — something that could not be said about Karim Lakhani before trying to win public office.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 9:16 am:
Next time, maybe think one more step ahead before taking that first step.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 9:22 am:
I mean, it seems like the Kendrick campaign just swiftboated themselves.
Nowhere in that response do I see even a hint of a denial that Kendrick does, in fact, support school vouchers.
To be fair:
Republicans love vouchers because they hate teachers unions.
Upperclass people love vouchers because it helps pay to send their kids to The Latin School.
Racist people and homophobes love vouchers because it means their kids do not have to go to school with “those people.”
Zero people love vouchers because “they will fix public schools by fostering competition.” although they often claim that, there is simply no evidence.
I just want to know which of the aforementioned groups Kendrick finds himself in.
PS: Among primary voters who care about CPS, trotting out Arne Duncan is not helpful. He did not move the needle at CPS or in DC.
- That Guy - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 9:30 am:
These are not the frontrunners right… right???
Both seem like great trenchcoat wearing republicans.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 9:31 am:
===Lakhani is running against someone backed by the very people responsible for the damage to Chicago schools the district is working to recover from today.===
CTU is referring to Mayor Emanuel’s school closures here I believe, which are older than Lakhani’s columns. A lot of arguing about 14 years ago from both sides. Mac LeBuhn is a nice guy if people want an alternative.
- Another One - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 9:34 am:
Not a fan of Lakhani’s writings or him today, but the fact that Kendrick keeps bringing up college written pieces from 15 years ago because he can’t convince voters of his own merits says a lot more about Kendrick…
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 9:43 am:
@ Juvenal- I think that is a really good post on the vouchers topic. You. succinctly hit all the major groups accurately.
=Republicans love vouchers because they hate teachers unions.=
I would only add that republicans, at least today’s republicans, seem to hate public education in general as evidenced by the current state of the Dept of Education Leadership. You cannot put the WWE queen in the office of Sec of Ed and actually value public education. Even Betsy DeVos was better than her.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 9:55 am:
===he would like to see public employees moved to a “401(k)-equivalent program.”===
Croke is running to for a position that involves being on the governance board of public employee pensions.
It really surprises me that she’d endorse a candidate that was against public employee pensions.
- Skokie Man - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 10:02 am:
=== I hear you, but my view is that sometimes people who change their minds become the most forceful advocates for their new positions. ===
This is one of the strongest cases for Kat Abughazaleh to make in the face of the deluge of AIPAC attack ads and mailers highlighting her high school op-ed supporting Rubio for president.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 10:04 am:
= Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable =
Very insightful for a college kid
- keep trying - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 10:12 am:
Paul’s got one schtick and he’s really sticking to it. But Karim isn’t going out saying he’s going to gut pensions and support vouchers. I guess we’re going to find out if the past or present matters more to voters.
- TNR - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 10:34 am:
== Upperclass people love vouchers because it helps pay to send their kids to The Latin School. ==
There are plenty of legit arguments to be made against vouchers and education tax credits. No need to make stuff up.
- Chicago Blue - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 10:37 am:
Arne Duncan, Janice Jackson, Stand For Children are all hung ho on vouchers and privatization. What a terrible response by Kendrick’s people.
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 11:04 am:
@ Skokie Man
Agreed but that would require Kat having an ounce of humility or self awareness. 6 days left. Not holding my breath.
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 11:07 am:
I wonder how school vouchers actually poll in that district specifically. I mean I’m sure they’re not popular but compared to other areas of the city I bet they do pretty well. Remember what district we’re talking about here.
- Iron Duke - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 11:32 am:
What makes you think vouchers aren’t popular?
It’s not even a close call
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 11:49 am:
Getting tired of Chicago Democrats that are basically old-school moderate, suburban Republicans.
Don’t know why the party establishment keeps giving themselves a false choice of “Vallas Democrats” and 100% CTU-backed candidates.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 11:58 am:
=== the strongest cases for Kat Abughazaleh===
Kat v2.0 coming in 2028 to a safe democratic district near you!
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 12:01 pm:
Isabel and Rich, I want to thank you both for bringing this flimsy attack attempt to our attention, and for pushing back on it by doing actual journalism. Because clearly the Kendrick campaign thought you would just go ahead and swallow whatever they fed you, and that brings up the question of how much success they have with that approach elsewhere in the press.
==What makes you think vouchers aren’t popular?
It’s not even a close call==
Cite a source. Any source.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 12:32 pm:
You should have done and said dumb things in college. If not, you weren’t learning.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 12:34 pm:
==What makes you think vouchers aren’t popular?
It varies greatly by the framing of the questions more than most other issues. Once you make the consequences clear it becomes a muddled mess.
- Iron Duke - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
Doesn’t seem muddled at all
https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018b-408d-d77d-a38f-c7df7d550001
- Google is Your Friend - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:29 pm:
==- TNR - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 10:34 am:==
You’re the one making stuff up. Most voucher recipients across America come from very wealthy families making $200k+ per year.
https://itep.org/illinois-voucher-tax-credits-invest-in-inequality/
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 1:30 pm:
The point being that support varies by poll is not refuted by one poll by definition.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/politicians-want-universal-school-vouchers-but-what-about-the-public/
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Mar 11, 26 @ 2:01 pm:
“Those who never change their minds, never change anything.”
– Winston Churchill
I’ve always wished we didn’t demonize pols who change their positions. With growth and more information people should be allowed to adjust their thinking.
- Annie Heitman - Thursday, Mar 12, 26 @ 8:52 am:
These two are not as qualified, independent, or transparent as Litcy Kurisinkal, the only woman in this race. Litcy is is a true progressive and not supported by corporate PACs or family wealth. She’s in this to be a voice of the district, not to impose corporate interests and as a former LSC Chair who understands how schools are funded, she is firmly opposed to vouchers.
- Tsippi - Tuesday, Mar 17, 26 @ 7:23 am:
At this point, I’ve decided to vote for either of the two candidates who have not stuffed my mailbox with dozens (maybe hundreds) of expensive and frankly weird, obnoxious, and deceitful mailers in recent months. (And don’t get me started about the nonstop texts.) Anyone this hungry for an elected position and this disingenuous in his communication is the last person we need right now.