* When state Rep. Aaron Schock officially announced his congressional campaign, this is how the Peoria Journal-Star led its report…

Government needs a clean break from corruption and bitter partisanship and needs to be refreshed with new leaders championing fundamental conservative principles in Congress, said state Rep. Aaron Schock.

Schock, R-Peoria, outlined his positions on the Iraq war, foreign relations, immigration, education, the economy and energy Saturday during his official announcement that he’s seeking the Republican nomination for the 18th Congressional District seat. He also outlined a few bills he would propose on those issues.

* Not a single mention was made of Schock’s most incendiary proposal within the PJ-Star’s glowing article. Bernie fill us in…

State Rep. Aaron Schock, who is running for Congress, has some audacious — well, maybe “shocking” is a better word — ideas about foreign policy. […]

In particular, Schock’s plan to offer nuclear arms to Taiwan if China doesn’t go along with U.S. policy toward Iran seemed odd to me.

An international relations expert I checked with agreed, saying that idea not only shows “incredible naivete,” but, if carried out, probably would lead to war between China and Taiwan. […]

“The statement about selling nuclear weapons to Taiwan reflects an incredible naivete about international relations,” he said of Schock’s idea. “Transferring nuclear weapons technology to any state is a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It would also encourage other states to do the same, specifically to enemies of the United States.”

Oy.

* The Galesburg paper ran this recent profile of Schock…

One of the shooting stars of the Republican party made a stop in Knox County Tuesday. […]

Despite being the youngest of three Republican candidates for the seat - Jim McConoughey and John Morris, both from Peoria are the others -Schock is considered the front-runner, both in terms of the polls and fundraising. He has been tapped for big things by national Republican operatives, according to columnist Robert Novak.

Americans love a winner, so candidates (like commercial products) will always try to burn in the message that he or she is “number one.” But there’s more to a campaign than who is winning, and thankfully we have people like Bernie Schoenburg around to point that out.

* More congressional stuff…

* McQueary: Lipinski’s opponents line up on ballot

* Illinoize: The Lauzen letter to my family

* Would-be Hastert successors start mudslinging

*** UPDATE *** From a press release…

Jim McConoughey, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 18th Congressional District, will be holding News Conferences this afternoon in Peoria and Springfield. McConoughey will make a statement regarding news released in this morning’s edition of the State Journal-Register. An availability session will follow.

The schedule is as follows:

1:00 p.m. McConoughey for Congress Headquarters
1200 West Main Street, Suite 9
Peoria, Illinois

3:00 p.m. Blue Room
State Capitol, Mezzanine
Springfield, Illinois

If McConoughey’s smart, he’ll use this as an opportunity to make the case that Schock just isn’t seasoned enough to be a Congressman. That seems to me like the best line of attack against the 26-year-old candidate.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Billy Dennis was at the presser and filed this report…

Jim McConoughey must have said “naive” and ‘inexperienced” a dozen times during his brief news conference today. Which is pretty must his biggest weapon against Aaron Schock, who was courteous enough to give McConoughey and other opponents John Morris an opening by suggesting that the United States arm Taiwan with nuclear weapons and arm freedom fighters in Iran. […]

Jonathan Ahl of WCBU was sorta playing word games by suggesting that Schock was being irresponsible by making the statement, because the public needs to know what opinion candidates have on foreign policy. The word Ahl suggested that McConoughey meant was “stupid.”

And Karen McDonald, the PJS reporter who’s article didn’t mention Aaron’s desire to ship nukes to Taiwan? She asked McConoughey why he didn’t say what HE wanted to do about China and Taiwan. My two cents: Why bother asking? The Journal Star won’t print it.

…Adding… Since some of you aren’t bothering to click on the link to Bernie’s column, here are some Schock quotes…

“If China continues to be irresponsible about nuclear proliferation in Iran, we should tell them that if they do not care about proliferation — and since they are enablers of it in Iran — that if they don’t change their position, we will sell Pershing nuclear missiles to Taiwan for their defense.”

“Non-proliferation will either be enforced universally or not at all — it is their choice,” Schock continued. “The Chinese will come around, I have no doubt.”

And Schock’s mouthpiece backed it up…

Schock’s campaign manager, Steven Shearer, responded that “academia routinely looked down on President Reagan and ridiculed him when he said that the Soviet Union was going to fall into the ash heap of history.” Reagan’s controversial positioning of Pershing missiles in Europe in the early 1980s “led to the first arms reduction in history,” Shearer claimed.

Here’s the difference: Reagan deployed American missiles to Western Europe, and America controlled those missiles. Selling Pershings to Taiwan means they would control those missiles, not us.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Schock responds…

The first step in the diplomatic dance that is necessary to prevent Iran getting nuclear weapons is to strengthen our President’s hand in negotiations. My comprehensive proposal on the Iranian threat will undermine the Iranian regime by their own people and get China’s attention to become a partner in stopping this threat from Iran.”

“While I have offered innovative ideas based completely on President Reagan’s successful strategy to end the Cold War, my opponents are operating cynical campaigns of being quick to attack while offering no substance on the issues what-so-ever themselves,” said Schock. “The people are tired of cynical candidates who run for office while avoiding dealing with our nation’s challenges while problems get worse. Our country needs leaders who are willing to address problems instead of waiting until they become a crisis.” […]

McConoughey is now on record as being soft on Iraq, Iran and China. He is running in the wrong primary.

Again, the US owned and controlled those Pershings that Reagan sent to Western Europe. Schock would turn control of those nukes over to the Taiwanese.

It really is amazing that this was totally ignored by the Peoria paper.

*** UPDATE 4 *** From the SJ-R…

McConoughey said at a State Capitol news conference today that the 26-year-old Schock, a state representative, made a “serious and reckless statement” with regard to nuclear weapons.

Serving in Congress requires maturity and steadiness, McConoughey said.

I’m curious how the Journal-Star will play this tomorrow. Guesses?

*** UPDATE 5 *** Democratic candidate Dick Versace…

“I’ve traveled across this great district on the Common Sense Express and I’ve heard what’s important to people in this community. Dishing out nuclear weapons to foreign places like Taiwan wasn’t mentioned. After eight years of reckless foreign policies coming from Washington, the last thing we need is another career politician who is willing to make dangerous proposals like this one without first considering the consequences.”

* Republican John Morris…

“Being in Congress is a very important responsibility and one has to be very thoughtful in their statements. I support policies that promote freedoms abroad. Congress and our next congressman need to work to make the world safer. My number one priority in Congress will be keeping America and its military strong,” Morris said. “Giving away nuclear weapons is completely irresponsible.”

*** UPDATE 6 *** From Lee News…

‘’This isn’t a Ronald Reagan idea. It’s a Dr. Strangelove idea,'’ McConoughey said.