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Schock withdraws from SXSW event

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Illinois

* Friday afternoon, 1:48 Central time…

Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) will appear on a millennial panel at SXSW in Austin this weekend. It’s called: “Millennials: The Unstoppable Force.” […]

Generation Opportunity is proud to have him on board.

“GenOpp is proud to facilitate a meaningful conversation with Millennial leaders on both sides of the aisle at this year’s South by Southwest Festival,” said GenOpp President Evan Feinberg in a statement released Friday. “Whether it’s jobs, healthcare, or criminal justice, our generation is interested in solving issues – and we’re excited to engage in a discussion with members of both parties on the policies that set us up for the best future possible.”

* Less than two hours later…

“Representative Schock’s office has informed us that he will no longer be participating in the panel,” David Pasch, a spokesman for Generation Opportunity, whose president is moderating the panel, told The Hill.

* Meanwhile…

Schock’s staff has refused to respond to, or even acknowledge, days of repeated inquiries from NBC5 Investigates, about an entity known as Menards Peoria LLC, which was organized last April.

Incorporation papers filed with the Illinois Secretary of State list Schock as the “manager” of the company, which is headquartered in his Peoria home.

In those documents, the company’s purpose is listed simply as, “The transaction of any or all lawful business for which Limited Liability Companies may be organized under this act.”

Repeated calls to Schock’s Capitol office, and each of his district offices in Springfield, Peoria, and Jacksonville, yielded no answers. Staffers refused to divulge the Peoria Republican’s public schedule, referring all inquiries to his press spokesman, who did not reply to calls or emails seeking information.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:01 am

Comments

To the bunker!

Comment by Left of Central IL Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:03 am
Is this the same Dopes, that totaled nearly a dozen, that went to NYC?

Schock needs to clean house. No one spared. The Staff and the Crew Schock has right now are complicit in some of “this”, so those Dopes going bunker too, to “help” Schock, once again, are complicit in their own silence.

Schock needs new faces to go “bunker” mode.

After they all get “relieved of their duties”, they all need to lawyer up. Fast.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:07 am
I wonder if he forgot to have us buy his plane ticket to SXSW

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:07 am
“I wonder if he forgot to have us buy his plane ticket to SXSW” No, he was probably going to go in that private jet that just happened have have an empty seat and was flying that direction already. You know, doing the plane’s owner a favor?

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:12 am
The beginning of the end.

Comment by illinoised Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:12 am
How soon can I sign the petition of someone to oppose him?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:13 am
With all this extracurricular activity it is no wonder Rep Schock does not do any official business in Congress. He does not chair any committees or subcommittees, no major legislative initiatives or accomplishments. He has missed over 200 votes. It seems his congressional gig is just a part time hobby while he pursues other ventures.

Comment by Truthteller Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:16 am
Dutch legend has it that there was once a small boy who upon passing a dyke on his way to school noticed a slight leak as the sea trickled in through a small hole. Knowing that he would be in trouble if he were to be late for school, the boy pocked his finger into the hole and so stemmed the flow of water. Some time later a passerby saw him and went to get help. This came in the form of other men who were able to effect repairs on the dyke and seal up the leak.

This story is told to children to teach them that if they act quickly and in time, even they with their limited strength and resources can avert disasters. The fact that the Little Dutch Boy used his finger to stop the flow of water, is used as an illustration of self-sacrifice. The physical lesson is also taught: a small trickle of water soon becomes a stream and the stream a torrent and the torrent a flood sweeping all before it, Dyke material, roadways and cars, and even railway tracks and bridges and whole trains.

I don’t think Schock has enough fingers to plug all the holes, nor enough men to make the repairs.

Comment by Namaste Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:18 am
Talking is largely the job of a politician. And when you can’t say boo about the purpose of a company domiciled in your home, that speaks volumes.

He seems to be circling the drain, and the circles are getting smaller and faster with each passing day.

Comment by Silence Is Golden Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:18 am
“Why don’t you tell all these nice folks why you’re ducking me, Balboa?!”

Comment by Westward Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:21 am
Schock is missing out. Austin is an awesome city. Lots of great Instagram pics to be had.

Comment by Just Observing Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:22 am
@Truthteller: your post reminds me of his weird and vague election commercial tag line. “He’s done a lot. He’ll do a lot more.” Keep thinking of the new context for that line as more stuff comes out.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:22 am
“Whether it’s jobs, healthcare, or criminal justice, our generation is interested in solving issues…”

Can this old timer humbly suggest that GenOp get interested in identifying issues and solving problems, rather than “solving issues”?

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:23 am
How many banana peels can one person throw in front of themselves?

Comment by John A Logan Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:27 am
A recorder search shows a $600,000 dollar mortgage in the Menards Peoria LLC name for the old lumber yard building behind the old Menards on Pioneer Parkway in Peoria. That building is owned by Jeff Green. Probably related to where Aaron has been getting his flights around the states lately. Connections?

Comment by Test Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:32 am
Test, that’s interesting.

Still, it’s weird to appropriate the Menards name just because it’s next door. Not very creative for a guy who certainly has his own style.

Schock should have gone in the bunker, with his lawyers, before he said he “hoped” he hadn’t broken any laws.

The Ringmasters to this Media Circus, whoever they are, certainly are dealing out the stories far and wide.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:49 am
Why do I keep reading these stories but for the morbid curiosity? Someone pulled a string from my favorite sweater and it slowly unraveled itself daily into heaping bunch of yarn.

Comment by anonymoose Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 9:59 am
Wow, this has been rolled out perfectly. First, the mostly amusing “Downton Abbey” office. Then the drip drip drip of financial shenanigans. Is this the opening of the final act in this drama?

Comment by PolPal56 Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 10:05 am
Despite the predictions on CF of Schock’s departure, I have the feeling that when all the bad news finally plays out, he’s going to retain his Congressional seat.

Not much outcry in the district. No “I told you so’s” from Democrats (who probably don’t want to look like they’re behind the attacks). Where’s the outrage, except on CF?

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 10:07 am
Sounds like a perfect time to disappear into the post midnight SXSW shows for several days.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 10:11 am
Get in the bunker. Draw up the resignation speech.. Staff.. OW finally started giving the advice… Take it. This is beyond a hit job.. This is now a feeding frenzy… Whoever started this will not need end it… It’s clear there is enough dirt to find… With minimal work. He will end up making money somehow… The staff needs to ask themselves… Will they? If they get indicted too? I think that answer is doubtful…

Comment by Walter Mitty Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 10:16 am
Mr.JM, I caught that “solving issues,” too.

Youth is wasted on the young.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 10:21 am
Maybe he should take a trip to the Southern Hemisphere so he can watch his political career circle the drain in a counter-clockwise direction.

Comment by exbricklayer Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 10:48 am
Is Rahm Emanuel going to SXSW this year?

He has been a regular in Austin too — any excuse to absent himself from Chicago to pursue “economic development” used to be sufficient for Rahm to exit the city.

Comment by Under Further Review Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 10:52 am
It’s interesting to note that the LLC in question was “organized” last April using his residential address. Based on its depth and sophistication one could reasonably think that the orchestrated takedown machine against Schock has been in business longer than that. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 11:05 am
Tempted to say ’stick a fork in him he’s done’ and then I think about guys like Adam Clayton Powell and Marion Berry. He may yet weather the storm.

Comment by Toure's Latte Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 11:17 am
Is there any truth to the rumor that he will now be conducting his own panel discussion in Beardstown next week called “Millennials - We’ve grown up being told we were an unstoppable force, yet everyday I feel a little more stoppable”?

Comment by Blago's Hare Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 11:56 am
Still little stuff being offered on him. I think in the next few weeks the warning shots will be over and full unloading of something big will be put out.

Only question is which reporter or news outlet is going to get the “scoop”?

Comment by FormerParatrooper Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 2:45 pm
OW I appreciate his handlers should know what he’s supposed to do and should be able to control him (arguably) I am struggling with trying to understand why all his “staff” are to blame for his over the top, out of control habits? He owns all of this ….the staff didn’t get elected.

Comment by flea Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 2:46 pm
- flea -,

The Staff needs to keep their boss out of trouble. Schock’s Crew needed to step in when the Staff didn’t.

Why am I hard on them, specifically?

It takes 10 of them to go to NYC to party?

It takes one of them to hitch a ride to watch the Bears?

Not one person up to the revelations thought anything of it?

The Staff and Crew own a large share. They all were looking for “what’s in this for me?” which is a death knell for them all, the boss included.

That’s why.

It’s on Schock. But not one pro, Staff or Crew, thought about anything, but thenselves. That’s the biggest failure you can have as either.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 3:19 pm
==Despite the predictions on CF of Schock’s departure, I have the feeling that when all the bad news finally plays out, he’s going to retain his Congressional seat.

==Not much outcry in the district. No “I told you so’s” from Democrats (who probably don’t want to look like they’re behind the attacks). Where’s the outrage, except on CF?==

Well, the Peoria paper hasn’t exactly been kind, and it takes the moon and stars, almost, to move those guys to say anything bad about nearly anyone. The only thing needed to take him out in the GOP primary is a legitimate candidate, and there is plenty of time to find one of those, a media team, and there are plenty of those, and some money, and there is plenty of that.

He’s finished. Even if he sticks around for the primary, he’ll be lucky to lose by five, assuming that the primary challenger, whoever it is, doesn’t have his or her own skeletons that were overlooked in the vetting process. What’s Schock going to do, run ads saying, “I’ve grown up a lot in the last year and I’m ready now to act like a congressman?” OTOH, he could run on his record.

Comment by Silence Is Golden Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 3:46 pm