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[Bumped up from Friday afternoon and comments opened.]
* FRIDAY 5:30 pm - Via the Peoria Pundit comes word of this interesting preelection probe…
The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office says it has received a request from 18th District Congressional Democratic Candidate Colleen Callahan to investigate her Republican opponent Aaron Schock.
The request revolves around whether Schock committed official misconduct when he postdated [sic] documents for his parents as a notary public. […]
The state’s attorney’s office says due to the time sensitive nature of the manner, it is reviewing Schocks’ work as a notary and they could have the results next week.
* Callahan has been demanding an investigation into what would be an eight year old misdemeanor, if true…
“We can not be deceived here, this was not a mistake this was a premeditated act devised to shelter his families fortune from the US government, there is no dispute on this point his father testified to these facts under oath and Aaron Schock is trying to mislead us as voters.”
Lots of background here.
To me, the alleged misdemeanor is no big deal. What I found appalling was that the local media allowed Schock to claim without challenge that the apparent back-dating was a “clerical mistake” when his own father testified under oath that it was a deliberate act.
I guess it really is always the cover-up that gets you. As commenter GOPer noted yesterday…
Very disappointing. Schock’s first instinct is to not be truthful - even about small things, where the truth would have worked just as well. Reminds me of Bill Clinton.
If he had just said something like, “I was 19 and I made a mistake I regret” - I could accept that.
But instead he goes into dishonest cover-up mode. On one level this is a small thing - but it’s a big test of his character, which he’s failed.
Yep.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 8:14 am
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When will Colleen reveal to us that when Schock entered his Pinewood Derby car, his father helped him too much on that too?
Schock backdated a document for his father, back when he was a high school teen! Ooh! I bet Colleen could also find a couple of rumors about some of his high school dates too.
I heard them both this morning on the radio, and Colleen is really s t r e t c h i n g this too far.
That’s all she got? She hired a poor bunch of aides if that’s all she got!
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 9:23 am
Actually, VMan, he was an adult who had taken an oath when he took he job. You can look it up and draw you own conclusions of the action and the purpose it served.
I doubt if it will matter in the election, but it’s not a small deal. I know a guy who got in over his head building spec houses who had his mother, a notary, backdate documents. When his Ponzi scheme crashed, he had to cop a plea to keep his mom out of the can.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 9:56 am
He was a Notary Public. It costs you $10. The legal age required is 18. His dad asked him to notarize these documents and he did. What kid is going to tell his dad no? No one made a dime out of this.
Colleen considers this a pivot point for her campaign? Pathetic!
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 10:38 am
He wasn’t a “high school teen,” he took an oath, and he deliberately falsified documents. It is what it is.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 10:42 am
VM, I believe Schock ran for the local school board a year after this youthful indiscretion.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 10:45 am
Give me a break. This whole story is a non-story. When I was in the fifth grade I cheated on a social studies exam. Guess I should resign my candidacy for Jackson County Board.
Comment by Speaking At Will Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 11:19 am
This is a stupid little thing, and small time compared to incredibly stupid things like wanting to give nukes to Taiwan.
So, why was Schock’s first impulse to lie?
This is a small thing. If he were convicted, then he’ll get served with a small fine and a slap on the wrist.
So, why lie? If the DA investigates, cop a plea bargain, pay a fine, and move on. Deal with it like a grown up.
Instead, Schock chose to deal with it like a petulant child. Lie, blame others, and finally give up.
The act itself is not a big deal. It’s the decision making in trying to cover it up that shows a lack of character.
Comment by jerry 101 Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 12:29 pm
VM what happens when dad asks for another favor only bigger because Shock has more power/resources?
Is it ok because dad asked him and he cant say no to dad.
Comment by Me Too Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 1:00 pm
Actually, his misconduct is more than “no big deal.” Mr. Schock’s duty was to function as a professional witness to the identity and date of the signatures in order to attest there was no fraud being perpetuated in the performance of a contract. What he has basically done is commit perjury. What he has done is no different than those accounting firms that gave AAA ratings to worthless mortgage back securities that were no better than junk bonds. That is Republican crony capitalism at its most sordid.
On last comment, I have developed an appreaciation for the job that Callahan’s campaign manager has done. He was constructed a powerful narrative around Schock and his judgment ovet the summer, and I wonder if the campaign gave Lyons the evidence that we the public know, or if there is something more?
Comment by Brian G Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 1:17 pm
I’ve always said it’s not the lie that will get ya, it’s the cover up. Some of you believe this notary thing is no big deal. I am a notary and I can tell you that I have never done this, never considered doing it, and never would. Yes, I have been asked to notarize a document that was already signed and I told them to go find another notary that would do it for them, because there are all kinds of people like Aaron Schrock who would do it. That doesn’t make it right. Shame on his father for asking such a thing. Our children learn what they live.
Also the fact that Schrock was willing to let Peoria pay for the extra police manpower for “W’s” strictly 100% political trip to Peoria for Schrock’s fundraiser is another HUGE issue for me. Now Schrock says he will reimburse Peoria $38K for their expenses. I’ll believe it when Peoria posts a copy of the cancelled check from Schrock’s campaign fund that has cleared the bank. For 25 years of age, I don’t think this is a very good track record. Some of you may call this stuff minor. I call it frightening and is just a taste of bigger and worse things to come.
Comment by Just My Opinion Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 2:08 pm
I have always wondered how Schock became a millionaire (if he is)just a few years out of college. Since the main items on his resume are the political offices he has held, what role have those jobs played in his apparantly well-paying private employment. That is probably a much more interesting story…
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 2:25 pm
Schock got licensed by the state to conduct an official function. The only duty of this official function is to get the details right so others can rely on the details being right.
Schock committed fraud in an attempt to make money for his family.
Republicans seem to be saying this it’s no big deal that a candidate for Congress committed fraud. The GOP argument is that it’s no big deal that Schock committed fraud because he was so young.
But their real motivation is that they are willing to make excuses for illegal conduct (in this case in performance of official duties) b/c it’s more important to have a vote in Congress to push their partisan agenda than to follow the law.
On one side you have people who aspire to follow the law. And on the other side are people who casually defend violating the law when it suits their partisan interests.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 2:29 pm
Is there any actual argument for Callahan, or just against Schock?
Comment by T.J. Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 2:33 pm
If Obama, who was 8 at the time, can be held accountable for Bill Ayers’ wrongdoing, Aaron Schock should certainly be held accountable for his own mistakes when he was an adult
Comment by Mountain Man Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 3:19 pm
TJ, the fact that she is 30 years older than Schock and has worked in the area of agriculture all of her adult life is enough reason for me to vote for her. If the GOP had run someone who was not wet behind the ears and had some years on them, my opinion would be different. I’m putting politics aside here and voting for the mature individual. Callahan has worked specificially in an area that could use good representation in D.C. Schock, on the other hand, seems to think that we should be concerned only with the Illinois River from Henry to Beardstown. Here’s a news flash for Aaron Schock. Go buy a bass boat and try to rid the Illinois River of those crazy Asian Carp fish. That would be a great full-time job for a kid.
Comment by Just My Opinion Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 4:12 pm
The Illinois Farm Bureau endorsed Schock.
Comment by anon Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 4:45 pm
- - Is there any actual argument for Callahan, or just against Schock - -
im surprised by this myself, given the balance that is usually conducted on this site.
Comment by anon Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 4:50 pm
Whatever happens, there’s a lesson here for notaries. You are responsible for what you notarize, despite what a family member, a friend, or a boss, says.
Comment by Cheswick Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 4:51 pm
TRhere is not much to say for either one. Neither candidate has the experience a voter should expect to see in a candidate for Congress. Schock’s youth and enthusiasm have carried him this far, so, after he jumped into the primary, the Repubs decided to give him the Palin pass. On the Dem side, you had a basketball coach ?!? replaced by a farm reporter. Sorry, but I’m not impressed.
The remarkable thing to experience are the non-answers given by all the awed Schock supporters (R’s & D’s). They like his enthusiasm and that’s about as deep as it gets. If he would stay in one place for a few years, he might be a respected Rep., but by then he will be running for Gov. And who can blame him? You’ve got to jump up when the number is called. This is essentially how the Obama campaign started; timing can be everything.
The reason these two are running for the seat is that the district was gerrymandered for an R. Schock, with his base in the most Dem part of the district was a shoe-in, and, in any case, no D wanted to waste their time trying for it.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Oct 20, 08 @ 5:37 pm
There are members of the extended Callahan clan, doing great work in various fields, all over Illinois. If you’re lucky enough to know any of them, you know they’re the salt of the earth.
Callahan would be a breath of fresh air in Congress. Dixie Versace would have been great, too.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 21, 08 @ 8:37 am
If Callahan really is the salt of the Earth, her campaign ought to at least acknowledge that, instead of just flipping out over Schock.
Comment by T.J. Tuesday, Oct 21, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Those democrats are always stirring up the pot. Why don’t they just stay home,collect public aid and let the Republicans run thing the right way.
Comment by honest abe Saturday, Nov 1, 08 @ 6:49 pm
to be honest, I’m votin fer McCain.
Comment by Barack Obama Saturday, Nov 1, 08 @ 6:51 pm