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* Way back in April, Republican US Senate candidate Steve Sauerberg laid out his battle plan against incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin…
“You win by showing the people of Illinois who Dick Durbin really is,” [Sauerberg] said. “He is a divisive, partisan politician who has spent 37 years on the government dole.”
* In that same interview, Sauerberg also revealed why he initially decided to run against Durbin…
Sauerberg said he first considered running after Durbin compared the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners to atrocities committed in Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia and Cambodia.
“When he compared our troops to Nazis, that pretty much put me over the top,” he said.
Durbin profusely apologized for the remark, but Sauerberg was having nothing of it. His press releases throughout the summer have been some of the most vitriolic I’ve ever seen.
* Sauerberg was therefore furious with Durbin’s first TV ad of the season, which highlights the incumbent’s work on behalf of disabled military veterans…
* Here’s Sauerberg’s press release…
Today, Republican Senate nominee Steve Sauerberg, M.D., sharply criticized Senator Dick Durbin for a new television ad running as part of the Senator’s campaign for re-election. “Dick Durbin, who has been unwilling to stand up for our brave men and women in uniform in his role as a United States Senator, has stooped to shamelessly exploiting our troops for his own political gain,” said Sauerberg. “This is cynical election-year politics at its worst.”
“Time and time again Dick Durbin has failed to stand up for our troops. It’s incredible that Dick Durbin, the same man who compared our troops to Nazis on the floor of the U.S. Senate, pronounced the surge a failure before it began, and would not denounce the slandering of General Petraeus, would now attempt to use our troops as election-year gimmicks,” continued Sauerberg. “One slickly crafted campaign commercial cannot make up for a life-time of failing our men and women in uniform.”
* Yesterday, Durbin had a chance to confront Sauerberg about his attacks during a Chicago Tribune editorial meeting. After months and months of going on the offensive, Sauerberg backed off…
Republican U.S. Senate challenger Steve Sauerberg backtracked Tuesday from questioning Sen. Dick Durbin’s patriotism after the Democrat emotionally accused his rival of employing “the lowest form of politics.” […]
“I apologize if you’re upset with me and I understand, but the fact of the matter is, you shouldn’t say these things,” Sauerberg said. “People are hurt. They’re still hurt.” The Republican said every veteran he has spoken with holds Durbin “in great disdain.”
“You need to meet more veterans,” Durbin said, pointing out he recently received the endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
That’s a sharp, spot-on retort by Durbin. The VFW isn’t in the habit of endorsing troop-hating, terrorist-loving commies.
* And then Sauerberg completely capitulated…
Sauerberg acknowledged that Durbin has “done a great job on some of these issues” dealing with veterans. And Sauerberg said a news release issued Monday by his campaign, criticizing Durbin for “shamelessly exploiting our troops for his own political gain” in a campaign TV ad was “a little bit too strong. I think I might take that one back a little bit.”
“I do applaud your efforts on behalf of the troops,” Sauerberg said. And after their editorial board session ended, Sauerberg shook Durbin’s hand and said, “I apologize for any offense.”
Candidates who don’t have the guts to back up their assaults when their opponents are in the same room deserve whatever ridicule results. In Sauerberg’s case, however, he manned up and apologized. We’ll see if his campaign follows suit.
* Congressional stuff…
* Oberweis on Iraq: “We’re winning”
* Foster really does vote bipartisan
* Costello explains ‘no’ vote on bailout
* Gay candidates anticipate breakthroughs
* Callahan accuses Schock of resume-building
* Romney to raise money at $1,000-per-plate DuPage dinner
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:30 am
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Sauer grapes?
Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:35 am
As long as I live, I will NEVER understand why candidates NEVER seem to think “what if he does A”?
And there are LOTS of things to dump on Durbin for.
Comment by Pat collins Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:38 am
I find the Durbin spot exploitive. I think he could make his point without using the visual of the wounded soldier. I just don’t think you should use the service of soldiers in a partisian campaign.
Questioning someone’s patriotism is the lowest form of politics.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:47 am
If I thought any Illinois republican could beat Durbin, nevermind a second-tier candidate, I would care. Sauerburg is out doing what all second-tier candidates do, be bombastic. The sad fact is, he looked bad doing this. He should’ve kept his mouth shut about the ad. He put himself in the worst position; you either have to apologize, or stand by what you said. Either way, you are still only getting 35% of the vote.
Comment by Heartless Libertarian Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:51 am
I’ve got to be honest and say I’ve been disappointed with Sauerburg’s campaign for a while. I live in downstate Illinois and his presence is practically non-existant.
And now, to see that Sauerburg had the opportunity to call Durbin out on the one thing he’s been hammering him on this whole time and didn’t… it’s beyond disappointing.
I think Heartless Libertarian is giving him too much credit by saying he’ll get 35% of the vote. The GOP need to find someone that can really give Durbin a run for his money and stop wasting time.
Comment by Nikoli Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:57 am
I think Heartless Libertarian is giving him too much credit by saying he’ll get 35% of the vote.
Remember, the “Keyes Threshhold” is 27%. This should be the standard by which all futile statewide campaigns should be measured.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:06 am
Running against Durbin should be great fun. Durbin is one of the best shape-shifters and image spinners ever. Anyone running against him needs to enjoy Durbin’s abilities to continually morph into whatever political shape he needs.
Durbin is a great lawyer. He hasn’t met a hair he couldn’t split. There isn’t a word he couldn’t redefine to his political advantage. Every statement he has ever made could be reinterpreted endlessly - by Dick Durbin himself. Like a bug with 80 eyes, Durbin sees everything coming at him from every angle.
What a catch he would be by a political opponent willing to hunt him down! Anyone who beats Dick Durbin should mount his scalp high on his office wall in the Capitol building and glory in his victory.
But to take down a guy like Durbin takes too much time, money and effort for an average politician. The GOP needs to either create their own star and match Durbin that way, or fund a big game hunter that would love to beat Durbin using Durbin’s own rules. That would require more effort than the GOP is currently willing to invest in taking Durbin out.
Sauerberg was really not up to the task, and not creative enough to attract voters or address Durbin’s gaffes, obsolete New Deal ideology, and his general ickiness.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:12 am
I think the GOP should just wait until Durbin retires. That’s the only chance they’ll ever have to remove him from office.
Comment by chic ster Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:18 am
I also think the Durbin ad is a bit too much to take. But, I can understand why Derbin is airing it given how he compared our troops to Nazis until the Mare from Chicago called him on it did Durbin apologize. Had Daley not called Durbin on it, no doubt Durbin would have continued with his diatribe against our troops on the US Senate floor!! But then again, some pols simple have no shame and will say and do anything to get elected! And in the interest of change, I hope someone with guts and new ideas takes on Durbin in the not too distant future and gets this guy out of office; we’re all tired of the double-speak life-time pols give us.
Comment by ChicagoDem Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:21 am
Let’s not forget, however, that Durbin’s speech was about the use of torture by the U.S. Yes, yes — the speech was a mistake. But the underlying point (that the U.S. should not engage in torture) is a valid one.
You’ll never win against an incumbent with an established, successful track record if your only argument is that he used dumb rhetoric.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:21 am
Funny, I thought Durbin’s apology was one of those non apologies where he was sorry if he offended anyone, not the ‘profuse apology’ mentioned above.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:26 am
Chic is correct. We have no shot. Even a heavyweight - comparatively, at least - such as Tim Johnson or John Shimkus would have a very tough time toppling Durbin.
I like Durbin enough to think he’s doing a decent job. He brings money back to the state and travels all over. He’s not just limited to Chicago.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:31 am
“More than most people, a senator lives by his words … occasionally words fail us, occasionally we will fail words,” Durbin, D-Ill., said.
“I am sorry if anything I said caused any offense or pain to those who have such bitter memories of the Holocaust, the greatest moral tragedy of our time. Nothing, nothing should ever be said to demean or diminish that moral tragedy.
“I am also sorry if anything I said cast a negative light on our fine men and women in the military. … I never ever intended any disrespect for them. Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line. To them I extend my heartfelt apology,” Durbin said, choking on his words.
“They’re the best,” he said of U.S. service men and women.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:32 am
I’ve said it before on this site and I’ll say it again, Dr. Sauerberg is a genuinely nice guy who voluntarily put himself in an impossible situation. Running against a super popular, powerful politician who is loaded with cash.
For a first timer running for office who actually believes in something to the point where he decided to make a stab at it, I’ll give Sauerberg a ton a credit for doing what nearly all of us will not. Run and take a stand.
And I’ll give him credit for his apology as well. A lot of politicians out there never apologize for anything.
Under the circumstances, the ridicule by some is misplaced. This man should be admired for at least trying.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:49 am
Yeah - i dont know why candidates do this. Its kind of like Callahan taking on Schock.. there is no way on earth you will win, obviously Sauerberg has less of a chance than Callahan - but why not be cordial and have a hint of honor, talk about what you might do to be better.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:51 am
===This man should be admired for at least trying. ===
It’s possible to “try” while retaining at least some semblance of basic American decency.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:54 am
The ad is routine constituent work, and at a time when the economy is tanking and Durbin’s been in d.c. 25 years it might be nice to have an explanation and some accountability.
Again really frustrating that with 2 million people voting for Bush here last time McKenna couldn’t find one with any sort of ambition and frustration at the status quo to make a serious run. This isn’t Idaho with 30,000 people in it.
Comment by shore Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 12:26 pm
For at least the past four months, Sauerberg should have given many speeches in which he would remind voters about Durbin’s speech which compared our troops to Nazis.
Comment by Phil Collins Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 12:48 pm
Please look closely at Rich’s quotes of Senator Durbin. The word if is used twice.
Comment by Hickory Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 1:44 pm
Durbin’s remarks aside, let’s not forget the real crimes that took place at Abu Gharab. It was also a violation of everything America stands for and a shameful episode in our history.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 1:50 pm
It is really disappointing…he had such a positive performance on TV the other night, and now this. These are precisely the kind of mistakes you cannot make in a challenger race
Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:21 pm
I laughed out loud this morning at Sen. Durbin’s response to Sauerberg.
Nothing quite like seeing GOP ignorance exposed.
It also looks like The Doctor is taking a page out of The Milkman’s playbook:
“Start by aiming for high office and losing. Move down and continue to lose.”
In this plan, The Doctor will run for gov. and lose the primary, and then in 2012, he will run for a seat on a library board and lose.
Why in the world would this guy start out with a run against Sen. Durbin? Where is the upside for him?
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 2:22 pm
I think Sauerberg is a genuinely good guy and any candidate deserves kudos for getting into th game. However, a complete political novice is not my first choice. I would have liked to see someone with some other political experience, even park commissioner, school board member, city council. The biggest problem Dr. S faces is funding. It takes a lot of cash to run statewide and certainly he got no help–just like Jim Durkin six years ago. You can’t take on an entrenched incumbent in a state wide Senate race with grass roots support alone. This isn’t a State House race where you can at least bust your hump and knock on enough doors to overcome an incumbents cash advantage.
Comment by Reality Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 3:22 pm
“It’s possible to ‘try’ while retaining at least some semblance of basic American decency.”
Let me get this straight: Sauerberg is suddenly the indecent one here?
Comment by T.J. Thursday, Oct 9, 08 @ 2:20 pm