* Twice in this new 60-second ad, Republican Congressman Bobby Schilling says “it’s not a Democrat or Republican issue,” and then says “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.” The former Tea Party darling is obviously trying to run hard to the center. Rate it…
* Meanwhile, in other campaign news, the Illinois Republican Party has highlighted two recent pieces by central Illinois columnists about claims made by in a DCCC TV ad that 13th Congressional District Republican nominee Rodney Davis worked for “Gov. George Ryan”…
Tom Kacich, Champaign News-Gazette, 9/2/12:
“The truth is that Davis never worked for Ryan while he was Governor. The DCCC’s own opposition research (still available online last week) said that Davis worked for Secretary of State Ryan from June 1, 1993 to January 2, 1997. Ryan, now in federal prison, didn’t become governor until 1999.”
“Gill can claim that he had nothing to do with the spot produced and paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, but he could also distance himself from the misleading attack ad and even ask that it be pulled. So far he hasn’t done either.”
Bernie Schoenburg, Springfield State Journal-Register, 9/2/12:
“…Davis never worked for Ryan as governor. He left the secretary of state’s office in 1997, while Ryan became governor in 1999.”
* But Will Reynolds reminds us that Davis took a paid leave of absence from George Ryan’s Secretary of State office to run for the Illinois House…
*** UPDATE *** Comptroller records show that Davis actually took an unpaid leave of absence, so the Alton Telegraph article linked to by Reynolds was incorrect. I’ve left Reynolds’ post up (with a strike-through on the untrue part) because he still asks some decent questions.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
In 1996, Rodney Davis was given paid leave from his Secretary of State job to run for State Representative. Getting paid to not work at your government job while you run for political office is a pretty big favor!
For a little historical context, it’s important to remember John Shimkus’ connection to the George Ryan scandals. Deb Detmers, who would later work on staff for John Shimkus, testified that Secretary of State employees under George Ryan were expected to raise funds and do political work, often during state taxpayer-funded time.
Some Secretary of State employees helped John Shimkus with their “volunteer” time and major fundraising efforts during his 1996 race for Congress. The George Ryan political machine got Shimkus elected to Congress. Even after Ryan was convicted, Shimkus expressed appreciation for “everything that George Ryan did for me in the past and his support.”
Several Ryan employees went to work for Shimkus after his election, including Deb Detmers and Rodney Davis, who spent 15 years with the Congressman.
This raises all sorts of questions I’d like to hear a reporter ask Davis. Did he see the same corruption in the office that others saw? Did he object to it? Was he asked to do political work or raise money on state time?
* And Democrat David Gill is taking some heat for his past remarks…
Democrat David Gill has made it a point to emphasize he will not accept money from corporate PACs as he attempts for the fourth time to win a seat in Congress representing Illinois’ 13th district.
In January, he even went as far as to accuse his Democratic primary election opponent of being “indirectly corporate funded” because the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was supporting him.
“Wall Street banks will not buy David Gill,” the emergency room doctor from Bloomington said at the time.
Flash forward to last week when the DCCC unveiled an ad blasting Gill’s opponent, Republican Rodney Davis of Taylorville.
And the Republican Party is attempting to rebut the claim via a barrage of press releases, including this one…
Last week, Democratic Congressional Candidate David Gill released a radio ad filled with misleading claims and hypocrisy. Here are some of the those claims:
Misleading Claim #1: “David Gill doesn’t take a penny from Wall Street lobbyists or corporate PACs.”
Fact: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on TV ads in the 13th Congressional District on behalf of David Gill. Just this year, the DCCC has received contributions from Wall Street PAC’s like Bank of America, US Bancorp, and ING.
Gill should refuse assistance from the DCCC and their corporate money to maintain any ounce of credibility.
Misleading Claim #2: “Dr. David Gill will demand that millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes just like teachers, cops and nurses.”
Fact: David Gill supports a tax increase that will force small businesses to pay higher taxes and will make it harder for small businesses to hire new workers. Gill also supports increasing billions of dollars in income taxes on families and businesses, capital gains, and gasoline, and he opposes the elimination of the “Death Tax.” The “teachers, cops and nurses” Gill claims to support would all be hit with tax increases under his plan.
Unlike Gill, Rodney Davis opposes tax increases and will work aggressively to curtail federal spending and reduce our national debt.
Misleading Claim #3: “And David Gill will make it his top priority to protect the Medicare and Social Security we’ve earned.”
Fact: David Gill supports the Obama health care law that cuts $741 billion dollars from Medicare spending, gives fifteen unelected bureaucrats the power to restrict seniors’ access to medical treatments and care, and raises taxes on the middle class.
Gill also supports a government-run health care system that goes even further than President Obama’s health care law and that would require tax increases to pay for it.
Rodney Davis believes that we have made a promise to our seniors that Medicare will be there for them to assist with their health care needs in retirement.
Misleading Claim #4: “Dr. David Gill, not a penny from Wall Street.”
Fact: The DCCC is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on TV ads in the 13th Congressional District on behalf of David Gill. Just this year, the DCCC has received contributions from Wall Street PACs like Bank of America, US Bancorp, ING.
Gill should refuse assistance from the DCCC and their corporate money to maintain any ounce of credibility.
