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Whether it’s a legitimate question or irrelevant red herring, this is still an interesting development.
In attempting to keep control of a key suburban congressional seat, Republicans are trying to make Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s ethics issues a factor.This week, Republican Peter Roskam sent a letter to Democrat Tammy Duckworth asking her to publicly say if she supports Blagojevich, a Chicago Democrat who’s come under federal scrutiny for his administration’s hiring and contracting practices.
“Throughout this campaign, you have repeatedly brought up the issue of ethics on the campaign trail. Many times, you have issued a press release on any scandal related to the Republican Party,†Roskam said in the Aug. 2 letter addressed to Duckworth. “Yet, you have been noticeably silent on corruption when it involves the Democratic Party and high-ranking leaders who have been instrumental in your campaign.†[…]
In a letter back to Roskam, Duckworth says she supports Blagojevich’s re-election.
“But that does not mean that I give him, or anyone else, a pass on ethical behavior,†she said in the letter. “Should he or his administration be proven to have engaged in illegal or unethical actions, they should suffer the consequences.â€
What do you think?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 6:51 am
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Seems like Roskam is desperate and Tammy handled it well. Tammy should Peter a letter asking him his opinions on his former boss Tom Delay. I mean if Peter wants to drag others into the 6th district lets ask him some questions on Delay, Rove, Abramoff, Henry Hyde’s youthful escapades, Lee Daniels,Hastert’s land deals, Bush’s response to Katrina, etc. two can play that game.
Comment by wndycty Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 6:48 am
Did Rahm write that response for Tammy?
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 6:53 am
Another mindless, irrelevant diatribe from Wndy.
Gee, where to start. Let’s just leave it at this: The 6th district is in Illinois, not Texas. People in Illinois want to know about ‘Illinois’ issues, not ‘Texas’ issues.
Let’s keep the corruption conversation centered on Illinois state government. There’s plenty to talk about there.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:08 am
Where was Roskam while George Ryan was walking with the xrox paper and pens?
Comment by Pete Granata Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:11 am
This is a completely reasonable answer for a democrat. Most democrats would say that they support the Governor until it is proven that he has done anything illegal or unethical. All we have so far are allegations. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
Comment by school daze Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:12 am
Daze, I’m sure you had the exact same philosophy regarding the previous corrupt administration.
Remember, school daze. Someone in the gov’s office was wearing a wire.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:15 am
She handled it just right.
Comment by Bill Baar Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:22 am
A good political response, landing somewhere between “Stand By Your Man” (Tammy Wynette) and “I Wouldn’t Touch Him With a Ten Foot Pole” (ZZ Top).
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:26 am
As Roskam and Duckworth are running for Federal office I do not agree with Anonymous 7:08 that we should confine the discussion to Illinois.
Comment by Way Northsider Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:36 am
As I recall, Tammy denounced two Congressional Democrats, Jefferson and Mollohan, for their ethical scandals. I think she actually has this one dead on.
She calls it as she sees it, and it doesn’t matter if the person she is seeing is a Democrat or a Republican.
Roskam, however, doesn’t feel that way. I really don’t see why he keeps hitting Tammy where her strengths are so obvious. Maybe it’s just that he has weaknesses in every area?
Thoughts?
Comment by jefferson and mollohan Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:38 am
I see what Roskam is trying to do … but I don’t think he has her in a trickbag. It’s not like she needs Blagojevich’s support to win — her support is coming from the national Dems. And, she can can always give a response like the one she gave to Peter.
Bottom line - Duckworth does not risk losing state Democrat support for distancing herself from Blagojevich. Lord knows, plenty of Dems in Illinois are doing just that.
Not to mention the fact that, even though Blagojevich has low approval ratings … he still has a double-digit lead over the Republican Topinka.
The only significant way this will come into play is if Blagojevich is, in fact, indicted.
Comment by Curt Mercadante Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 8:28 am
What a fluffball question. Her answer (or rather, the one her campaign devised) gives her a chance to look reasonable and concerned. Does Roskam’s campaign manager have a brain?
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 8:36 am
Cassandra - Does Roskam’s campaign manager have a brain?? I would be suprised if they even had a campaign manager at this point!
Comment by HANKSTER Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 8:58 am
Hey I know I was out late but this part of her response seems off, “But that does not mean that I give him, or anyone else, a pass on ethical behavior,†Shouldn’t she be saying she doesn’t give anybody a pass on unethical behavior?
Maybe she wrote it, or I need more coffee, or I am grammatically impaired this morning. I’ll need to check it again when the eyes clear up.
Comment by Buck Flagojevich Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 9:25 am
Roskam’s got a lot of nerve. Can’t think of a single time he ever criticized George Ryan, Scott Fawell, Lee Daniels, etc. etc. And he still defends Bob Kjellander of his own party.
Only a trial lawyer who’s never faced anything scarier than another shark lawyer’s feeding frenzy would have the nerve to take a proven war hero to task for lack of spine.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 9:26 am
Typical personal injury lawyer tricks.
Just what I would expect from somebody who makes a living over having other people slip and fall.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 9:29 am
Roskam’s basic problem is that he is running on a Rove/Carville/Matalin/Emmanuel style campaign where bashing or atempting to bash the opposition comes first and defining your own character, trustworthiness and then positions comes second. Given the Republican disarray Roskam can use himself in the smoke and mirrors.
Comment by Truthful James Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 9:30 am
Um…is Roskam running for Congress or the Statehouse? He seems far less focused on national issues and more on the state and local stuff (e.g. the Tollway) than Ducksworth. For someone with all his so-called experience, he does not seem ready for prime-time.
Comment by Bluefish Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 9:32 am
You guys are a hoot. Attacking Roskam for being a personal injury lawyer. Your wonderful Governor was a personal injury lawyer before running for State Rep. He couldn’t find his way around the courtroom so he became a referral laywer. What a loser he was before Mell pulled him out of the gutter.
Comment by Chinaman Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 1:51 pm
I think that Blago is in trouble if candidates for other offices are trying to tie him in with their opponents. Someone should ask Blago how it feels to be Bush.
Comment by Garp Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 2:26 pm
Major Duckworth is turning out to be a much better candidate than I think most anticipated.
She handled this ruse perfectly — she demonstrated she’s a trustworthy teammate (she supports his re-election) but also said if the allegations are true he needs to pay his debt to society. And where was Roskam when the Willis children were being buried due to the Republican Culture of Corruption?
—
Garp, difference is Bush is dragging down candidates. Blago isn’t.
—
Ravenswood Right Winger, did Tom DeLay write that response for you? Or maybe it was Karl Rove…
Why is it ok for Republicans like Petey Roskam to work with his national leadership (even if disgraced like DeLay) but not for a Democrat to do the same?
Wait. I know. It’s OK If You’re A Republican (IOKIYARâ„¢).
Comment by NW burbs Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 3:03 pm
Duckworth’s level of support for Blagojevich isn’t terribly relevant because she’s going to Congress.
What is important is to what extent Roskam supports Bush.
* Does Roskam support staying in Iraq in perpetuity?
* Does Roskam support Bush’s deficit spending?
* Does Roskam support replacing Social Security with individual accounts?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 3:44 pm
Its an interesting angle, but I think this has the same effect as a Lt. Gov on a ticket. 4 people care.
Ashur Odishoo
Candidate
State Representative 11th District
Comment by Ashur Odishoo Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 4:19 pm
A lot of people will see Duckworth as wrong on many issues. But at least she’s shown some courage in her life.
Roskam talks about issues, but what has he ever stood up on? Sueing people?
Trying to take Duckworth to task over Blago is pretty desperate. Roskam’s a guy who has never said a peep about his old boss Delay, or other people he’s worked with like George Ryan, Bob Kjellander, the list is endless.
How can a guy whose never said a peep about wrongdoing in his own party criticize Duckworth for not cleaning up her party. At least Duckworth has a good excuse, she was over helping to clean up Iraq, while Roskam was right in the middle of all the sleaze here.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 6:44 pm
Lemme get this straight. ‘How wrong Tammy Duckworth is’ is more important than how right you are? Why would any candidate give importance to the opponent? She’s a neophyte (Bless her for her service to this nation.) Stand up straight, Mr. Roskam, and say what you stand for. Talk about how wonderful this nation can be. Don’t go around practicing “Madam Speaker, Nancy Pelosi”.
If you want to engage her, ask her if she supports Chavez. You know the guy that embraced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and was quoted as saying: “Let’s save the human race, let’s finish off the U.S. empire,â€
Comment by Mensa. Friday, Aug 4, 06 @ 7:29 pm