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Club for Growth slams “anemic” Shimkus, backs “fresh breath” McCarter

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Illinois

* Coming a day late to this. Sorry. Press release…

The Club for Growth PAC today announced its endorsement of State Senator Kyle McCarter for the U.S. House from Illinois’s 15th Congressional District. The seat is currently held by incumbent Congressman John Shimkus.

“Kyle McCarter has a proven track record as a principled fiscal conservative,” said Club for Growth President David McIntosh. “Kyle has been a successful businessman and he’s fought against big spending in the Illinois legislature. During a recent debate, Kyle told his colleagues in the Illinois Senate, ‘…the state is broke and doesn’t have $60 million for a new program.’ That’s exactly the kind of resolute conviction that’s needed on the House floor in Washington.

“While Kyle McCarter would bring a fresh breath of fiscal conservatism to Washington, his opponent, John Shimkus, is the epitome of what’s wrong with Congress. Shimkus was first elected nearly 20 years ago; that’s eight years longer than the term limits pledge he made in 1996. And Shimkus has an anemic lifetime rating of just 66% on the Club for Growth scorecard, with his annual rating plummeting to 34% in 2014. The Club for Growth PAC is delighted to endorse Kyle McCarter, a real economic conservative, to replace Shimkus.”

Congressman John Shimkus voted:

· To reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (#576, 2015)
· To increase the debt ceiling (#690, 2011)
· For the recent budget-busting spending deal negotiated by Obama and Paul Ryan (#705, 2015)
· To raise his own pay (#580, 2007)
· To restrict political free speech (#88, 2006)

* Politico…

McCarter is only the second incumbent primary challenger the Club has endorsed this cycle, after Jim Duncan, an opponent of GOP Rep. Renee Ellmers’ in North Carolina.

* Roll Call…

One of the most powerful groups on the right, the Club for Growth has been slow to engage in many of the primaries Republican incumbents are facing this year. Part of that, conservatives said, is that it has been successful in recent years in gaining ground.

But its incumbent challenges – even those attractive to conservatives, like taking on Sens. John McCain in Arizona or Richard C. Shelby in Alabama – are heavy lifts. The easiest way for the group to get someone that passes their litmus test into Congress is in primaries for open seats in safe Republican districts, known as “A-seats” within the organization.

Part of the group’s strength, said one Republican operative, is its willingness to be picky. “The fact that they don’t do a lot of these – it doesn’t really matter“ the operative said. “They never endorse just to say they endorsed.”

* Illinois Family Action…

“The Club for Growth is the gold standard of conservative principles, and their endorsement today demonstrates that my message of fiscal restraint, core values, and free market economics is reaching true conservatives,” McCarter said.

* React…

“It’s disappointing that an outside group that targets conservative Republicans is attacking Congressman Shimkus, the true conservative in this race,” Shimkus spokesman Steve Tomaszewski said Wednesday.

He said Shimkus “has a proven conservative record of voting to repeal Obamacare, protect our Second Amendment rights, secure our borders, eliminate wasteful government spending and protect the life of the unborn.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 4:44 pm

Comments

If Rauner is going to “help”, now would be the time to do it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 4:51 pm
==To restrict political free speech (#88, 2006)==

Seems odd to attack him on a vote for issue advocacy group reform, a FULL 3 YEARS before the Citizen’s United decision came out of SCOTUS and shifted the landscape entirely.

Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 4:51 pm
“He said Shimkus “has a proven conservative record of voting to repeal Obamacare, protect our Second Amendment rights, secure our borders, eliminate wasteful government spending and protect the life of the unborn.””
It appears Shimkus’s record is not good enough for the 1%ers (the Republicans new Reform Party). The question is, what does this Republican Reformers party consider good?

Comment by Mama Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 4:55 pm
it’s alarming to see what it takes to fit in with this crowd when Shimkus isn’t cutting the mustard

Comment by Johnny Pyle Driver Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 4:56 pm
The vote they’re referring to was on the 527 Reform attempt. Technically speaking, he voted to enforce traditional PAC rules on IRS 527’s, which would have subjected those groups to a myriad of regulations, reducing their ability to speak. Obviously, the myriad of regulations was largely swept away by Citz United anyways. Had that bill actually passed in the Senate and been signed, it would have been thrown out on constitutional grounds anyways.

Comment by NixonHead Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 5:26 pm
“The Club for Growth is the gold standard of conservative principles”

By which we mean they hoard gold and rave against fiat currency.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 5:27 pm
The Club for Greed strikes again. Want your Rep. owned by the Billionaire Boy’s club?

Comment by kimocat Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 5:43 pm
Inside the beltway right-wing bloviating by the same nut-jobs who thought Mike Flynn would topple the liberal Darin LaHood.

These folks don’t cut much ice with IL GOP primary voters.

That being said, it doesn’t hurt to keep Shimkus on his toes after so long in a safe seat.

Comment by Adam Smith Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 5:58 pm
Ahh, the Club for (Democratic) Growth, helping unelectable candidates win primaries since 1999.

Republicans could have had the Senate back in 2010 and 2012 if it weren’t for these idiots.

But please, shoot yourselves in the foot again in the name of ideological purity.

Comment by ChrisB Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:07 pm
They didn’t go after Kirk. Must not think it’s their year statewide regardless of the nominee.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:10 pm
More than ready for McCarter to just go away already. Please.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:10 pm
McCarter would fit right into the GOP Congress. Crazy with no record of accomplishment.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:15 pm
I saw this endorsement on an early morning email from Kos. I have known both candidates since they were first elected and frankly do not have a very high opinion of either, yet they both “represent” me.

Granted, this is a safe Republican District, Shimkus has a huge campaign fund, but he may be running a little old and tired with his base. The Club for Growth is little more than a Tea Party front and McCarter fits well with their agenda and ideologies. McCarter has nothing to lose in this Primary since he will still be a member of the GA for two more years. The Club does have the ability to put a lot of money in this race which he badly needs if he is to be even remotely with competitive in getting his message out.

This added twist could definitely make this a race worth watching.

It is just too bad that the Democrats do not have a candidate at this time to go against either of these. Shimkus would still be hard to beat, but should McCarter prevail he has enough negatives to make this competitive.

Lets see what happens.

Comment by illini Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:17 pm
Willy - just curious, who would you expect him to “help”?

Comment by illini Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:21 pm
- illini -

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-10-07/update-rauner-backing-shimkus-over-mccarter.html

Looks like Rauner chose Shimkus.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:43 pm
Thanks Willy. I missed that post - it was not the first and will not be the last.

Given the money Shimkus has accumulated ( don’t forget - “corporations are my best friends” ) and the money the Growth PAC can put into this race for McCarter it could prove to be an interesting Primary.

And we are less than 2 months away from the voters deciding between 2 flawed candidates. Shimkus is losing much of his charisma with many voters and McCarter is just enough of a “lose cannon” to muddy the waters and do some damage.

It is just too bad that the Democrats do not have a candidate at this time to make for an interesting General Election. Even though this is a Republican leaning district McCarter, should he prevail, could be vulnerable with the right candidate.

Lets see how things play out!

Comment by illini Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 6:59 pm
Club for Growth? Isn’t that for growing men’s hair back? No wonder they endorsed McCarter.

Comment by Austin Blvd Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 8:19 pm
I’ve met Shimkus several times. He’s personable and he shows up to stuff. I know for a fact he spends a ton of time in his district.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 9:45 pm
Shimkus also violated many times his pledge when he first ran to only serve 12 years.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:23 pm
Shimkus over stayed his own term limits pledge. A challenge from the right was inevitable. He’s getting what he deserves.

What I don’t understand is why some right wing fringe types hate the Import-Export bank so much. Someone needs to explain that conspiracy theory to me sometime. I don’t understand why that’s apparently a big part of a conservative purity test.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jan 7, 16 @ 10:25 pm
Isn’t Rep Shimkus one of those folks that think the earth has only been around for about 6,000 years?

Comment by Mouthy Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 7:26 am
–What I don’t understand is why some right wing fringe types hate the Import-Export bank so much. Someone needs to explain that conspiracy theory to me sometime. I don’t understand why that’s apparently a big part of a conservative purity test.–

That has been a weird one. No one said “boo” about the ex-im bank for its first 80 years.

From what I’ve read, this is an actual case where it’s virtually a Koch Bros.-financed operation. It’s an ideological purity test for them, and they’ve bankrolled just about the whole lobbying effort to kill it.

You want to make nice with them, you get on the train. You just have to pretend there is an actual “free-trade world” out there, and the likes of Airbus and Komatsu are “competing” on the square in the private marketplace without massive government backing against the likes of Boeing and Caterpillar.

Goofy zealotry, especially when you consider the initial source of the Koch fortune was building oil refineries for Stalin. They didn’t mind government interference in the economy so much back then.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 8, 16 @ 8:50 am