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Weird day for Illinois Republicans - Froehlich flips, Dillard does Obama TV ad * Updated x3 *

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* The Daily Herald now has a story up about Rep. Paul Froehlich (R-Schaumburg) switching parties. He’ll make the announcement Wednesday, when he moves to the Democratic side of the aisle. I’m keeping the Capitol Fax story, posted earlier this afternoon, hidden for subscribers only, but here’s part of the Daily Herald piece that just went online…

Republican state Rep. Paul Froehlich is switching political parties, becoming a Democrat and leaving behind the Schaumburg Township GOP organization he controlled for nearly a decade. […]

Froehlich, who represents the 56th House District, watched last fall as longtime Republican Rep. Terry Parke of Hoffman Estates lost his seat to Democrat Fred Crespo, who himself had defected from Froehlich’s GOP group.

Froehlich also had told allies he feared House GOP leader Tom Cross would back a primary challenge against him next February.

Froehlich had been mulling the move for months. He was unopposed last year in the General Election and won by about a 2-to-1 margin in the primary. But Froehlich watched Schaumburg Township vote for Democrat Melissa Bean over Republican David McSweeney last fall. (Bean scored 58.4 percent and McSweeney 37.6 percent.) President Bush also lost Schaumburg Township to Democrat John Kerry in 2004 by about four percentage points.

Froehlich was a conservative Republican who swept longtime township committeeman Don Totten out of power in March 1998. Froehlich was known for trying to exert tight control in his organization.

* I’ve moved this item from a previous post…

Paul Froehlich isn’t the only one playing footsy with the Democrats. Sen. Kirk Dillard, who until recently was chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party, has just cut a TV ad for Barack Obama.

Dillard: “Sen. Obama worked on some of the deepest issues we had and he was successful in a bipartisan way.”

“Republican legislators respected Sen. Obama. His negotiation skills and an ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well.”

You can click the pic to go straight to the video…

*** UPDATE - 3:23 pm ***
Statement from House GOP Leader Tom Cross’ spokesman David Dring

If the reports are true it is disappointing that Representative Froehlich has decided to switch parties. Our caucus has always encouraged members to vote their district’s best interest and Paul was no different. The House Republican caucus does not have a litmus test for our members. This seems to be a move made more for personal political gain than any belief on issues.

*** UPDATE 2 - 4:12 pm *** From Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter on the Froehlich move…

We were with Froehlich in his primary last year. He has been a very solid vote on the environment, and not just a vote. He has been a real leader on some tough issues with a lot of business opposition.

*** UPDATE 3 *** I gave ArchPundit permission to reprint this paragraph from my subscriber-only story, so I figured I ought to post it here as well…

The state’s newest Democrat said his dissatisfaction with the Bush administration also played a role in his decision. Froehlich claims to have been against the Iraq War since before it began, said he is horrified at President Bush’s abuse of Habeus Corpus (which Froehlich claimed is the thing that “separates a free system from an unfree system”), has been very bothered by the national party’s “harsh rhetoric” on immigration issues and has disagreed with his fellow Republicans on environmental issues.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 2:52 pm

Comments

When asked about the endorsement Dillard said “I can’t remember if I had a prefrontal lobotomy or a bottle in front of me!”

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:00 pm
I quit. Why would Cross back an opponent? now I see why.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:01 pm
Froehlich goes form hated by one party to not trusted by either.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:07 pm
As far as I’m concerned, if you’re just a Republican in name only and govern like a Democrat…you SHOULD change your party to what you truly are. Geez, where are all the conservatives in this state? They should be out there pushing their ideas from now until the November ‘08 elections so they can win back a bunch of seats!

Comment by Crimefighter Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:08 pm
Yikes. Froehlich is beyond footsie at this point. Maybe Totten can come back as Committeeman.

Comment by Yikes Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:08 pm
Looks I picked the wrong week to stop drinking….

Why do I suspect IllinoisReview is about the explode.

OneMan

Comment by OneManBlog Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:09 pm
OneMan,
I quit drinking every week.

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:11 pm
That’s Kirk Dillard? He used to be hot!

Comment by Shelbyville Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:17 pm
Politicans just don’t get it. We don’t need them. They need us. If a politician doesn’t like the political party they have been a part of then they should take what little self-respect is left and go back to bilking us in new ways outside of government.

Dillard and other Party Poopers are not doing us or anyone else a favor by switching parties. They are merely thinking about themselves - not us.

A word of advice to Party Poopers, move on, get a life outside politics. We really don’t need you.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:22 pm
Who is next?

Comment by Reddbyrd Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:33 pm
Wow, but it’s no wonder. If Tom was looking to find someone to replace him all is not lovey dovey at the HRC. What comes around goes around people.

Comment by game plan Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:39 pm
Just goes to show you what I’ve believed for a long time: We really have a one-party system.

Comment by Ferdy Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:41 pm
That reminds me… I need to send out those invitations to all the legislators, asking them to consider joining the Green Party. It’s a great opportunity for progressive legislators, who value their independence, want to plug into an international movement, and who want to get out from under the thumb of party bosses like Madigan and Cross.

Comment by Squideshi Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:41 pm
Wumpus said it the best.

Froehlich doesn’t care about the views of his district, he cares about himself.

If I was an enterprising Dem in his district I would be all over a primary challenge. He now gets two tough races in a row with hopefully no backing. Not sure what promises Madigan gave him.

Comment by Where's the wind blowing Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:43 pm
Dillard leaving the GOP? I thought he already had.

Comment by Right Girl Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:46 pm
Why would he join the Democrats now? They’re not exactly hot after this overtime stalemate. All they got is more numbers.

Comment by Levois Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:47 pm
What I do know about Froehlich is that he has/had one of the strongest organizations in the state, GOPwise from what I have heard. The only way dems got into office in Schaumburg is by fluke. I would like to see how his votes change. Parke got outcampaigned, that is why he lost.

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:50 pm
All of you who said that the conservatives were just paranoid calling these people RINO’s; now know what we were talking about.
The losses listed in pauls area were because of his lack of work in favor of GOP Ideals. Terry Parke’s big mistake was to trust Pauls group to get out the vote. At least now someone who can promote GOP ideas and believe in them can rebuild and beat his ass in the next election!

Comment by RAI Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 3:52 pm
What a brilliant Obama spot. Axelrod strikes gold again.

Of course, all the righties will now blast Dillard and forget all the years of service he dedicated to the party. It’s a smart move on his part. The GOP is dying a slow death in Illinois (case in point, Froehlich). It gets more blue with each cycle. If you can’t beat em, join em. Obama needs to establish his experience and ability to work with all parties. This spot starts to build that case. more of these to come for sure.

Comment by demgrrl Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:04 pm
So…he is setting himself up to eventually lose a Democratic primary? (unless a deal was made w/ Madigan). It is a strange move/timing, but it’s his decision and he has to live with it.

Comment by scoot Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:06 pm
In the end, all we have are our principles. Paul, you have none.

Comment by ROOSTer Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:07 pm
I wish he would take Rosemary Mulligan with him.

Comment by WTF! Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:08 pm
Froehlich’s move is not very surprising if you read some of his fairly recent writings. I remember one piece that called for the Republican Party to re-engage some of its more progressive roots. (I think it was in the Chicago Tribune, but I’m not 100% sure). If this thought pattern wasn’t part of a longer-term strategy to make a switch, then it seems like foreshadowing that he was getting sick and tired of the IL GOP being hijacked by severe right-wingers.

Comment by Ambulance chaser Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:12 pm
Red Rover, Red Rover, send Rosemary over!!

Other Republicans who really aren’t welcome in their party, mainly for their pro-choice, pro-environment views:

Beth Coulson
Sandy Cole
Susie Bassi
Sid Mathias

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:21 pm
Thanks to Froelich for leaving our party. He is always filled with hate…good luck Dems dealing with him. Dillard is smart to do the Obama thing. Bi-Partisanship is wise unlike Paul’s ‘look out for me and try to get my wife a job party’. Watch what payroll Mrs. F winds up on!!

Comment by thanks Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:23 pm
Rooster is correct: Froelich has no principles, at least none he wouldn’t sell out for a statewide office. When the time comes, his past will surely catch up with him and we will bid him adieu.

Comment by Voice from his past . . . Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:25 pm
RAI — Promoting GOP ideas is not enough, I want promotion of CONSERVATIVE ideas…cause this state has gotten bluer than midnight to the point of becoming completely pitch black.

Comment by Crimefighter Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:29 pm
More rats jumping off of the sinking ship. Adios, IlGOP!

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:31 pm
Would Beth Coulson rather run against Daniel Biss in a Dem primary or in a general election?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:32 pm
Betn Coulson is unbeatable in her district. Ask the Speaker.

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:33 pm
i applaud the honesty.

as paul apparently now agrees, truth in labeling is a good thing.

i feel for the republicans of schaumburg township, who knew from the very start what they were dealing with (and it has always been thus, since the first moment of paul’s committeeman campaign), but who have endured these nine years of consumer fraud, abetted by some of the least attractive elements of the ‘party,’ with admirable staunchness and resolve. may the light of day now shine on them and their number and may they emerge from their reteats to win back what is rightfully theirs.

i also recall george dunne’s concise quote on being told that ed vrdolyak had finally become a ‘republican.’

if memory serves, dunne said, “we lost nothing and they gained nothing.”

and that was that.

in this case, i guess the dems gain a vote.

best,

chris robling

Comment by chris robling Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:37 pm
No different than Skip the Rebuplacrat!

Comment by ChaseDems Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:43 pm
Crimefighter - the pushing of conservative ideals by the Republican party is exactly why this state is becoming more Democratic with every election. We had moderate Republicans at one time, with Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar - and then once we started electing more conservatives in GOP primaries, such as Al Salvi, Chris Lauzen, Jim Ryan, etc., Republicans started losing in the general elections. Face it — the move towards conservative candidates is the problem, not the answer.

Comment by Anonymous ZZZ Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:44 pm
What was the state of the Illinois GOP before President Bush took office? Now?

I don’t see extreme Right Wing candidates as killing the GOP in Illinois. I see having people see the results of implementing an extreme “conservative” agenda.

Republicans are going to get trounced again in 2008.

Better to switch parties or retire than to go down with the ship.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:51 pm
ah nepotism…that’s just a snake that won’t die…Rich, your comments regarding Froelich seemed really canned. Bet he’s been working on them for some time. There really is a fear out there even for long time Repubs that this will be a democratic year. That Republicans will jump ship in the primary to vote whom they believe would be a good candidate in the big show, or who is more beatable in the big show leaving republicans to take care of republicans. You saw that in the first Blog v Vallas.

I agree with ZZZ. The conservatives (really neo-cons) drive everyone away. Standing on principle gets you nothing when your child dies on the battle field for nothing.

Comment by game plan Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:54 pm
I welcome Mr. Froehlich to the party. And its good to see someone wake up and realize the kind of evil that’s been unleashed by the decision to render Habeus Corpus powerless. The building block of our entire society, thrown into the garbage for the hard-right conservatives.

Comment by jerry Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 4:59 pm
Reddbyrd had a good question. With the primary being moved up and all, has anybody here heard of anyone else actually planning to do this?

Comment by Yikes Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 5:16 pm
Given the state of the Illinois government and the likelyhood of even more indictments within the democratic party, I would think that would be the last place anyone would want to jump. For the record very few Republicans support Bush or the decision to render Habeus Corpus. If he wants to jump, then let him jump. Big deal.

Comment by Leigh Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 5:17 pm
For the record very few Republicans support Bush or the decision to render Habeus Corpus.–Leigh

There are 202 Republicans in the House of Representatives and another 49 in the U.S. Senate.

How many of them have spoken against President Bush on Habeus Corpus? How many have consistently opposed the administration’s attempts to curtail civil rights for U.S. citizens?

And how ’bout those Republicans on the Supreme Court? How many of them support the Bush administration interpretations of civil liberties and Habeus Corpus.

Republicans were all for repealing the Bill of Rights (minus the Second Amendment) when Bush was popular. Now they want to pretend that Bush is some sort of aberration and not part of the modern conservative movement.

Here’s my offer to the Republican cheering section: explain what Bush did wrong. And tell us when it started to bother you. And then tell us when you spoke up about Bush taking the country on the wrong path.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 5:34 pm
I smell B–sh-t. He did it to preserve his job (for some reason he felt was threatened!). You don’t come out with the first response, then claim some disgust with national policies. He has always been consistent on immigration, but the switch at this point is bs! Do it at the time of the election, not mid-term!

Dillard and Froehlich..proving there is a me in GOP!

Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 5:50 pm
August 8, 2007, the first day to circulate petitions, is right around the corner.

There should be a lot more suprises coming.

Comment by True Observer Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 5:55 pm
Florida is looking better all the time. I think my next vacation may turn into about a 20-year stay. My family has been on Illinois soil since the 1850’s; my wife’s family since the late 1790’s so I believe I truely qualify as a “longtime family” Illinois citizen. I’m really getting sick of this State; if what Blago is selling is finding resounding success, then I guess I really don’t belong here anymore. Rino’s should bail and switch to the Democratic party and make way for new blood.

Comment by Jechislo Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 6:20 pm
Thanks @4:23 p.m.:

Wow. He is always filled with hate? Are you kidding?

Comment by No Wonder He's Leaving Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 6:21 pm
Beth Coulson won’t have any problem with Dan Biss in any election. After he loses I’m sure he’ll just move to another district he isn’t from and run again.

Comment by Bisser Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 6:42 pm
Paul Froehlich has been a fraud without character from day one.
At least now his true colors are showing. As long as he can continue to feed from the government job and get wifey and little something too all will be well in his world.

Bring back Totten. He will speak the truth and tell the story well. The Schaumburg GOP can get the reform movement going in this state and call out the G. Ryan throwbacks that won’t release the stranglehold they have on the IL GOP in this state.

Comment by Earl Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 7:10 pm
Thank you, Kirk Dillard!

Comment by politicaljunkie Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 7:49 pm
I was once a supporter of Paul’s, but my support has waned in recent years. He had a good thing going, running on a platform of change, which worked, but he later turned into the person he once attacked.

I disagree with Paul’s leadership for the GOP in Schaumburg, rather dealing with the fact that he can’t turn out the vote in Schaumburg Twp (see Terry Parke’s and David McSweeney’s vote totals), so he switches to the other side.

I’m sure the Dems made sure it was worth his while to switch. Look to see what Froehlich family members end up on state payrolls…

Comment by Dieter Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 9:23 pm
“Bi-Partisanship is wise unlike Paul’s ‘look out for me and try to get my wife a job party’.”

BI-partisanship? How about NON-partisanship, or at least MULTI-partisanship. The last time I checked there were THREE legally established, major political parties in the State of Illinois.

Comment by Squideshi Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 9:32 pm
Good for Dillard. I’m a Republican, and I saw nothing that Kirk said that most Republicans who know Obama wouldn’t say. Give the choice between a Republican I don’t know, and Obama, I would hate to vote for the unknow, Obama is a decent man and was a good stste legislator, bright and fair-minded. Too much partisanship is one of the biggest problems in Springfield right now.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 9:54 pm
So Squid, you are calling for tri-partisan cooperation?

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:08 pm
Froehlich did it for Froehlich…Dillard did it for Dillard, maybe he wants to run for Gov or Congress…IL is trending more blue every election especially in the top third of the state folks, influx of Latinos in Metro Chicago trends more of the same…for the Republican posters need I remind you our former Gov is on his way to the pokey, Rod may or may not join him…Publicly funded elections w/a level playing field is one way to rid ourselves of pols who serve for self enrichment vs. the public good….

Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:09 pm
“A CItizen,” please be quiet or you’ll have the Trilateralist Commission paranoids flooding the blog.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:13 pm
Anyone who wants to be assured of political survival in Cook/Will (can DuPage be far behind?) will eventually have to jump of the sinking Ill GOP ship. The state will continue trending increasingly blue until a Dem president louses up, Blago and cohorts put on their orange skivies, or immigration comes to an abrupt halt, whichever comes first.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:24 pm
Wow. The depths to the GOP freefall are amazing. It is interesting to see who is a sell out and who has character. Time, it is a wonderful thing.

Comment by Shambles Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:29 pm
Well, well, another politician who goes into politics to help the people of his area and within the state, UNTIL HIS INCOME AND/OR POWER IS THREATENED, then it’s “Let’s switch.” I wonder how his Repub. supporters feel? A perfect case for the abolition of partisan politics and for electing people on their records and experience, not for the party they belong to. The only loyalty within politics is to their own paycheck. Move along folks, there is no altruism here - in Illinois.

Comment by Disgusted Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:41 pm
y

Comment by Just looking out Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:44 pm
Now we hear that Froehlich’s township assessor is eyeing the Senate seat!!!! or is a deal being cut there also?

Comment by Just looking out Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 10:47 pm
[…] The Eric Krol of the Daily Herald seems to have broken the story. Welcome State Representative Paul Froehlich! […]

Pingback by WurfWhile » Blog Archive » GOP Crumbling - First DuPage Democratic State Rep (Ex-Republican) Paul Froehlich Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 11:21 pm
This race will break the $2 million mark. I’m sure Froelich knew exactly what he was doing, and the threat of a primary race - which in reality is more of a threat on his job than anything - caused the switch. The House GOP can kiss any chances of taking out a downstate rep goodbye, and they certainly won’t retake Crespo’s district.

Why did Dillard endorse John McCain? He should have never made such an endorsement if he knew he was going to commit these shenanigans. As a Republican who was possibly in line to succeed Frank Watson, be it this January or in 2009, it should be about party loyalty. He doesn’t need to be nasty about his choice but he should remain loyal to his endorsement and the party that has supported and propped him up for years.

I am about to give up. In addition to these two turn of events, I would not be shocked to see us lose the 14th Congressional District, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see us lose Ray LaHood’s district if he is picked to be the president of Bradley. John Sullivan is looming large…

Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 11:42 pm
I’ve said it before. IL is not becoming a blue state, it is becoming a state of blue, purple and red Democrats, and a few red and purple Republicans. The purple Republicans who used to run the state are not that different from the Madigan wing. And the Republicans who are left are doing an awful lot of wheeling and dealing with the other party, in politics and on the side where the real money is to be made.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Jun 25, 07 @ 11:52 pm
It seems that most of the “Republicans” like Robling and others are happy to see Froehlich leave. It seems sour grapes and hatred are the norm for the “real Republicans” of the ILGOP. Has anyone seen how they attacked Froehlich on the house floor - did I mention that it was his own party? Has anyone in HGOP supported Froehlich when he was being attacked by the old guard (the George Ryan crowd) that he threw out? Does anyone even bother to see that Froehlich and STAR busted their hump for Parke’s election and still he gets blamed? Why is it that no one has been there to defend Froehlich from his own party? Why hasn’t Cross met with Froehlich when Froehlich tried for the past month to ask Cross why he doesn’t like Froehlich? These and many more questions should be answered by the Hate Club of America.

Comment by stranger than fiction Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 6:02 am
[…] The Capitol Fax has a great rundown here, where Representative Paul Froehlich says he left the Republican Party because of disagreements on the Iraq War, Bush’s abuse of Habeus Corpus, Republican immigration rhetoric and Republican anti-environmentalism. Today’s Chicago Tribune quotes Froehlich as saying, […]

Pingback by WurfWhile » Blog Archive » Representative Paul Froehlich On Why He Left And Additional Thoughts Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 6:04 am
So which side is Froehlich going to be in the Democratic Party? Madigan or the Gov’s?

Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 6:47 am
But the old guard say Paul is an ally of GHR’s despite the obvious. I am wondering and hopefully will find out why Froehlich abandoned one of the stronger GOP groups around? Parke only came arount at election time and only gave to the group when his job was in jeopardy. He was a waste.

He should have remained a “maverick” and not abandoned his principles and friends.

Who will be th enext committeeman? I heard Totten was very ill, but has since recovered. Now he is allied w/Bean and Terranova? Terranova couldn’t win squat! The more I think abou tthis, th emore I am disgusted by Paul. Despite how he was treated, he should have kept some principal.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 7:05 am
I liked Froehlich’s column on reclaiming the GOP’s progressive heritage. Both McCain or Guiliani’s campaigns could have offered Forehlich a platform to lead a charge for this within a leaderless GOP. He could have made some impact I think.

Instead he’ll just join a morass in Springfield. A distrusted traitor in a party where the leaders dislike each other that can’t accomplish a thing.

Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 7:37 am
I gather Obama’s Dillard ad is intended for out of state and reinforeces Obama’s Politics as Therapy theme of bringing us together?

As Obama get’s skewered by Clinton later in the year, maybe the GOP should dust this ad off later and say hey, we didn’t think he was such a bad guy?

Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 7:51 am
dear stranger than fiction,

who said anything about hate?

no ‘hate’ here.

the one time i met paul — at a family wedding –we had a grand time.

take another look at my post. my point is democrats should run as democrats, and goppers should do the same. i think that’s good for all of them and for the voters to whom they are appealing for support.

my disapppointment about paul is more about us than about him.

we failed in our efforts to convert him.

best,

chris

Comment by chris robling Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 8:17 am
[…] Illinois Political Journ Rich Miller has a bunch of password-protected info and the papers have had some quote and reactions. Hiram Wurf has a good run-down and I highly recommend it. […]

Pingback by Rep. Paul Froehlich (was-R, now-D, Schaumburg) « Illinois Reason Tuesday, Jun 26, 07 @ 9:33 pm