GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - May 13, 2008

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Time for change in Illinois - Andy McKenna, Chairman, Illinois Republican Party, Chicago
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0513ledelettermay13,0,7203556.story
(THE LETTER: The people of Illinois have endured failed leadership at the very top of their government for nearly a decade. They trusted their leaders, and that trust has been violated time and again. Last summer, the Republican Party went around the state to listen to voters. One idea we kept hearing: a recall amendment to keep political leaders honest. Out of those talks, some legislators started to seriously consider the idea. As the Antoin "Tony" Rezko trial revealed more allegations of deep corruption in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration, we heard voters demanding the ability to recall public officials who violate the public trust. Unfortunately, not all legislators listened. Senate Democrats protected Blagojevich by killing any chance of putting a recall amendment on the November ballot. They chose Blagojevich over the people. And then to cap the day, Senate President Emil Jones, who led the fight against a recall amendment, declared he needed a pay raise. This is the attitude voters seek to change in Springfield—an attitude of arrogance and entitlement, an attitude that ignores the wishes of the people, that protects a culture of corruption. Six years ago, Illinois voters threw Republicans out of office in response to their failed leadership, arrogance and inability to listen to the wishes of the people. We were rightfully held accountable. We listened. When the votes were tallied in the Senate, one group stood together in support of the recall amendment: Republicans. Republicans believe it is time for ethics reform and a recall amendment. We believe it is time for tax and spending reform and greater transparency in government. We believe it is time for change in Illinois.)
-- With pool cue, flag pin, Obama combats elitist image - Charles Babington and Matt Apuzzo
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-democrats-optional,0,6749272.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the House majority leader, and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) promote voter fraud
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0513votemay13,0,1591406.story

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: LaHood argues that "his greatest accomplishment was helping get the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum built," but it seems that the Combine and other anti-conservatives would argue that LaHood's greatest accomplishment was getting Peter Fitzgerald to not seek another term as U.S. Senator. That, of course, brought us Obama. Why did Obama hug LaHood?
http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/30165.asp
-- All politics all the time with this governor - Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/Opinion/stories/30154.asp
-- Structural Work Act unnecessary - Rob Winchester
http://www.sj-r.com/Opinion/stories/30043.asp

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- Obama puts on flag pin - AP
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/945420,pin051308.article

DAILY HERALD
-- Give Rep. Franks real election recall - Michael Adelizzi, Elk Grove Village
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=189651
-- Good idea on transportation funding - Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=189635&src=
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Even though homosexual activity should be discouraged according to all the religions of the world, very sadly, Burt Constable nevertheless promotes homosexual activity again, big time
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=189687
-- Madeline Menna, wife of Milton Township Republican Precinct Committeeman Ron Menna, teams up with celebrity chef to win on Oprah's show - Elisabeth Mistretta
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=189725

CBS2
-- Exposing Todd Stroger: Allegations Of Patronage - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/exposing.todd.stroger.2.722376.html

ABC7
-- Law would offer businesses mass transit credit - Kevin Roy
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6138540 (Includes video clip)
-- Study: 50% of Chicago area employees would use mass transit if offered benefits
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6138260

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Kane County Chronicle promotes Foster
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/05/11/news/local/doc4826d22ff0206570474066.txt

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- Chance to update state constitution will be in voters hands - Kathleen Haughney
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/12/news/doc4827afe95437c724919445.txt
-- Elected as team, Quinn is now a Blagojevich foe - Kevin McDermott
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/12/news/doc4827b9bca4b20596496625.txt
-- Not just 'filthy rich' who object to lawmakers' pay hike - Editorial
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/12/opinion/131514.txt

CHAMPION NEWS
-- State GOP Convention now less than a month away and Republicans still don’t know who will be representing them - Doug Ibendahl
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=980

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Berkowitz w/Sen. Dillard on Obama, McCain and the Combine
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/05/better-than-hannity-and-matthews.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
-- The Push for Counterfeit "Marriage" Continues - David E. Smith
http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=33880

JILL STANEK
-- McCain and the pro-life plank of the GOP platform
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/05/mccain_and_the.html

BELOIT DAILY NEWS
-- In Illinois, recall weapon is needed - Editorial
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2008/05/12/editorials/edit01.txt

NEW YORK TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: New York Times promotes voter fraud
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/opinion/13tue1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- Help Wanted: Lefty College Seeks Right-Wing Prof Colorado University-Boulder Bid to Endow A 'Conservative' Chair Leaves Both Sides Uneasy - Stephanie Simon
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121062988605186401.html?mod=todays_us_page_one
-- A House Race Holds Clues for GOP Loss in Mississippi, Following 2 Others, Would Signal Trend - Susan Davis
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121063931008986951.html?mod=todays_us_page_one
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Unlike the March special election in Illinois, where Democrat Bill Foster campaigned as an "Obama Democrat" in his successful bid against Republican Jim Oberweis, Mr. Childers has sought to distance himself from Washington Democratic leaders. He has focused more on playing up his personal and professional ties to the district.)

USA TODAY
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: DeWayne Wickham makes an extremely racist argument. He argues that if you do not support Obama, you are a racist
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/05/clinton-exposes.html
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Immigrants from Mexico are the slowest to assimilate
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-13-assimilation_N.htm
-- Springfield, Illinois: Home sales are down, but upturn expected - Christine Dugas
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/closetohome/2008-05-12-springfield-ill_N.htm

CBS NEWS
-- Are Republicans Gloomy For Good Reason? Weekly Standard: Prospects For Republicans In The 2008 Election Look Grim - Fred Barnes
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/12/opinion/main4088374.shtml

CHRISTIAN POST
-- 8 Myths About Evangelicals It is a myth that evangelicals succeed because of conformity and unity, according to one author. Other myths Lindsay listed include: The center of evangelical power are where the national institutions are: Wheaton College, Colorado Springs, etc.” Rather, the center of evangelical powers are where other centers of power are for the rest of culture: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C, he said. - Michelle A. Vu
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080512/32334_8_Myths_About_Evangelicals.htm

NEWSWEEK
-- The Coming Onslaught Against Obama--and the McCain Camp's Response - David Botti
http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/05/12/newsweek-must-read-the-coming-onslaught-against-obama-and-the-mccain-camp-s-response.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The McCain campaign is now poring over Obama's record, looking for weaknesses that can be exposed without race-baiting or hitting below the belt. They want to brand Obama as a "superduper liberal who is out of the mainstream," says one McCain adviser who did not wish to be identified discussing internal campaign strategy. A campaign insider who declined to be identified for the same reason says McCain aides are studying a private, 52-page dossier, compiled for the aborted 2004 campaign of Illinois Republican Senate candidate Jack Ryan (slated to be Obama's opponent until disclosure of some embarrassing records related to his divorce forced him to drop out). The dossier, a copy of which was obtained by NEWSWEEK, brands Obama as "in favor of coddling sex abusers" and "shamefully soft on crime and drugs." It hits, for instance, Obama's vote in 2001 against a GOP-sponsored measure to toughen penalties against "gangbangers," pushed after a particularly brutal gang killing in Chicago. Charlie Black, McCain's top strategist, tells NEWSWEEK he had not personally reviewed the Ryan dossier, but saw no problem with using Obama's votes on justice issues in the Illinois Legislature. "What's wrong with that?" he says. (An Obama spokesman says the criticism in the dossier was "long ago debunked," and that the candidate "is supported today by law-enforcement officials across Illinois and the nation."))

WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN PARTY
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Duncan And Pawlenty to Speak at Wisconsin GOP State Convention May 16/17
http://www.wisgop.org/FlexPage.aspx?area=convention_2008