* Several voters in the 11th Congressional District received this mailer from Republican candidate Martin Ozinga the other day…

* Trouble is, the members of that attractive “family” have probably never heard of Ozinga. They’re paid models…

One Democratic operative has called the advertisement “Ozingaweis,” arguing that it’s eerily reminiscent of a tactic Republican Jim Oberweis used in an unsuccessful bid during a special election this spring in the 14th District.

Oberweis’ mailer, which was trashed by the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board, used actors and gave them fake names and situations to argue against his opponent’s tax policies.

Ozinga’s mailer doesn’t go that far, and only includes a quote but no names.

“It’s a symbol of the fact that families are supporting Marty Ozinga,” Andy Sere, Ozinga’s campaign manager, said.

Sere also points out that the DCCC’s television ad also appears to use stock video.

“It’s a common campaign procedure,” he said. Such images and videos can be purchased more easily and cheaply than assembling local families for such situations.

“I’m shocked that (Democrats) think this is important to the voters of the 11th District,” Sere added. “It shows just how bankrupt they are of ideas and that they would go to any lengths not to talk about Debbie Halvorson’s record.”

A previous Ozinga mailer prominently featured one of his employees. This new one uses paid spokesmodels. You’d think the Ozinga campaign could find a good looking family in the district that is voting for the man.

* Speaking of Oberweis…

…the National Republican Congressional Committee launches near daily attacks on Foster’s early record on Capitol Hill.

“Where’s Bill Foster?” read the title of a recent NRCC e-mail blast to the media.

In it, the committee — which spent close to $1.3 million in support of Oberweis leading into March’s contest — targets Foster for voting to recess instead of staying in Washington to debate energy policy. Last week, the NRCC released an “energy report card” that painted Foster as unwilling to get behind solutions to energy issues.

“Bill Foster has used his brief stint in office to define himself as an out-of-touch obstructionist, but this report card paints an alarming picture of a member of Congress who will do anything he can to side with Democrat leadership instead of the people of Illinois,” NRCC spokesman Ken Spain stated in one release.

* Other congressional stuff…

* Hinz: Pregnant women will have to deliver in back seats. Whole subdivisions will burn. Productivity will plummet as firetrucks and cars alike are stuck in traffic. That’s the story that opponents of a pending big railroad merger in the Chicago area have peddled in recent weeks in a highly effective media blitz to pressure federal authorities to reject the deal. As that great liberal populist U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Wood Dale, thundered in a press release last week, “In CN’s eyes, we are nothing more than speed-bumps on the way to an enhanced bottom line.”

* Takes a train to cry

* Rep. Weller quietly slipping into the background

* Role matures for Obama adviser