GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - June 20, 2008
ASSOCIATED PRESS & USA TODAY & CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- McCain meets with Illinois Hispanic leaders - Michael Tarm
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gHGkJbzOIZuuWMIZ5vXfszMc7CRAD91DH0980
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-19-hispanic-leaders_N.htm?csp=34
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-mccain-hispanics,0,7438054.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: VERY SAD: "He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics," complained Rosanna Pulido, a Hispanic and conservative Republican who attended the meeting. Pulido, who heads the Illinois Minuteman Project, which advocates for restrictive Immigration laws, said she thought McCain was "pandering to the crowd" by emphasizing Immigration reform in his 15-minute speech. "He's having his private meetings to rally Hispanics and to tell them what they want to hear," she said. "I'm outraged that he would reach out to me as a Hispanic but not as a conservative." After the event, McCain met privately with Martin Sandoval, an Illinois state senator and Democratic convention delegate for former candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sandoval said he left open the possibility of backing McCain, citing his Immigration stance and pledge to keep business taxes low.)
BEACON NEWS
-- Hispanics mixed on McCain meeting - Andre Salles
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1016124,2_1_AU20_MCCAIN_S1.article
(THE ARTICLE: On Wednesday, a busload of Fox Valley Hispanics trekked to Chicago for a town hall meeting with Sen. John McCain, the apparent Republican nominee for president. They came away with mixed impressions of the event. McCain was in Chicago for a series of fundraisers at the Drake Hotel, and the town hall meeting was scheduled for immediately afterward. It was arranged by Fox Valley residents Julie Brady of St. Charles and Gabriela Wyatt of Aurora. Brady is the deputy co-chairman of McCain's campaign in Illinois, and Wyatt is chair of the Kane County Republican Central Committee and a delegate to the Republican National Convention. The two of them envisioned the event as a question-and-answer session, a chance for McCain to hear what Illinois Hispanics have to say. In the end, though, McCain only had time for a 10-minute speech and a few handshakes. According to Brady, he'd attended NBC newsman Tim Russert's funeral earlier in the day, which had thrown his schedule off. He arrived at the meeting about 45 minutes late, attendees said. And while some, like Auroran Robert Enriquez, were impressed with McCain and the event, others -- like Aurora Alderman Juany Garza -- thought McCain should have spent more time with the Hispanic voters he's trying to court. "That's the reason we were there, because they told us they would let us ask questions," Garza said. "He didn't give us a chance." McCain's speech touched on several issues, starting with immigration reform. He talked about guest worker programs, the importance of education and the value of Hispanic support of the U.S. military. The McCain campaign did have a number of volunteers scattered through the crowd, asking attendees which issues were important. One of the campaign volunteers was Gloria Campos, who said that while Hispanics in attendance were concerned about education and the economy, not one talked about immigration reform. She understood why McCain couldn't stay longer. "It would have been nice for him to answer questions," she said. "But it was nicer of him to take time off his busy agenda to greet us." Wyatt got to introduce McCain and said she was pleased with the event, calling his speech "positive and upbeat," with a focus on "solutions for our country." Brady said McCain would likely make another Chicago appearance before the campaign is over, but no concrete plans had been finalized.)
POLITICO
-- McCain's secret meeting with Hispanics - Jonathan Martin
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- VERY SAD: SNEED: An endorsement? Sneed hears Dem state Sen. Martin Sandoval showed up at a private meeting between GOP presidential contender John McCain and 200 members of the Hispanic community Wednesday night at the Drake Hotel.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/1015937,CST-NWS-sneed20.article
-- VERY SAD: Wright, Pfleger appear together - Abdon Pallasch
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/1015939,wright062008.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: The main thing that Democrats are doing to elect Obama in November is driving America's economy down. Sadly, the Democrats are having success.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1016194,CST-NWS-wrong20.article
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Michael Swenson demonizes those who do not promote homosexual activity, wants the "Gay Pride" parade moved to State Street
http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/letters/1015458,CST-EDT-vox20.article
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- VERY SAD: Pfleger introduces his "hero," Wright - Manya A. Brachear
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-wrightjun20,0,3103245.story
-- Wright, Pfleger tone message down for law group - Deanna Bellandi
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-il-wright-pfleger,0,6051587.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Iowa politician Chet Culver blasts politicians, tells politicians to stay away because politicians "divert local law enforcement from the flood recovery effort"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-culver-mccain,0,3350511.story
-- NIU building proton therapy clinic West Chicago cancer treatment facility that would be 1st of its kind in state is scheduled to be completed in 2 years - James Kimberly
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-proton_therapyjun20,0,1377742.story
(FROM THE ARTICLE: DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said the project will spur more development for the park. "This facility will help bring jobs to the DuPage Technology Park," Schillerstrom said. "That, in turn, will bring more businesses to the park and will create even more jobs.")
ABC7
-- Wright, Pfleger tone message down for law group
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6216350 (Includes video clip)
CBS2
-- Obama Campaign Stages "Educational" Meeting Former Colleagues To Tout Obama's Record In Illinois General Assembly - Mike Flannery
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/obama.springfield.record.2.752679.html
DAILY HERALD
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN DUPAGE EDITION WITH 5X6.5-INCH COLOR PHOTO: Bill Simmons, DuPage County's first black police officer, chief blazed trail for others - Christy Gutowski
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=209871
-- NIU to build cancer treatment center - Jack Kompera
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=210193&src=2
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Among the politicians in attendance were DuPage County board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, West Chicago Mayor Michael Kwasman and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert. "It's just natural that this place become a high-tech park," Hastert said. "It's people coming together to do great things … but when they put on those hard hats and take those shovels, the work won't be done." . . . Both NIU and Central DuPage Hospital had been rushing to be the first to get state approval to construct similar treatment centers in the West suburbs. The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board has rejected the proposal by Central DuPage because of its proximity to the NIU site. The Winfield hospital has since filed an appeal to the state's decision. NIU remains opposed to that project. Several hospital officials from CDH attended Thursday's groundbreaking, including Jim Spear, the hospital's executive vice president. Spear at first declined to comment on his reasons for attending. He then said, "It's a great day for cancer patients in Illinois.")
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- Push for state construction plan isn't building any momentum - Kurt Erickson
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/19/news/doc485b2a2062d2a163417444.txt
KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE
-- Oberweis wants cheaper gas - Dana Herra
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/06/19/news/local/doc4859ea6a567d9054479441.txt
CHAMPION NEWS
-- The real story behind McKenna vs. Schillerstrom (Part 2) McKenna's real motivation - Doug Ibendahl
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1043
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It's actually very simple and hardly a secret, based on what sources in DuPage report. Like most Republicans who have eyes and a brain, Bob Schillerstrom knows Andy McKenna is doing a lousy job as State Party Chairman. The Illinois GOP is headed straight for another embarrassing disaster in November and McKenna doesn't seem to care. Anyone can see McKenna quit on the job long ago. The obvious question remains, why did Andy take a top post in our party when he clearly isn't taking it seriously, and when he doesn't even seem to enjoy the experience? At least part of the answer comes from a not entirely uncommon source - staff. When Judy Baar Topinka stepped down finally as State Chairman to run for Governor in early 2005, McKenna was put in by the Bob Kjellander crowd to aid Topinka's bid. They didn't necessarily need a leader, but they wanted at least a body to hold the place and to keep the State Party apparatus from becoming a tool for someone else. Topinka's crew arrogantly figured that her name I.D. could carry her to victory against the horribly damaged Blagojevich. Further, a professionally functioning State Republican Party might only give a lift to the Republican base. And those pesky voters who actually care about issues, if energized, might get a crazy idea like nominating someone other than another flawed Democrat in the GOP primary. McKenna had already allowed his name to be floated repeatedly as a possible primary challenger for U.S. Senate when the old guard was trying to send Peter Fitzgerald the message that he better not run for re-election in 2004. McKenna had proven he would go along with most anything, so he was the perfect placeholder. Plus his daddy's got money and connections. But in November 2006, a large majority of voters decided they liked Topinka even less than they liked Blagojevich. After that trainwreck, McKenna should have done the right thing and moved on too. But our State Party largely became the refugee camp for the defeated Topinka team. So now what we have is a State Party that's still run by Topinka people. And the operation is as vicious, inept and as self-serving as ever. Unfortunately, the one thing that old crowd is good at is self-perpetuation. If McKenna goes, so too do the old staff and various other hangers-on. So anyone who threatens the gravy train is going to be attacked - Republican prospects in November be damned. This also explains the dissimilar treatment of say Birkett compared with Schillerstrom in Decatur. In 2006 Birkett sold-out to the Log Cabin wing by teaming up with Topinka for her campaign. So McKenna's staff loves him now. Joe can do no wrong. So when staffers give McKenna his words to say, Birkett gets praise while Schillerstrom gets attacked - even though they both lobbied equally hard for the same tax increase. In other words, the whole tax increase issue was just a phony Trojan Horse in Decatur. McKenna and his staff don't care about any tax increase - or really any policy issue for that matter. We're talking simple self-perpetuation here. The tax issue was just a vehicle to attack a guy they perceive as a threat to staying on a political payroll. Schillerstrom needs to step up now I want to be clear. I'm not trying to make Schillerstrom out to be some kind of sympathetic victim or as some kind of hero here. Frankly, I don't see a lot of white hats among any of the incumbents in DuPage, just like I don't at the State Party level right now. I see a lot of good people and up-and-comers in the ranks, but few at the top. In some ways the DuPage GOP reflects the same arrogance and poor decision making Republicans see at the State Party level these days. So Schillerstrom's issues with McKenna may not be identical to the concerns I and most others have regarding McKenna. I see in McKenna a failed figurehead who can't lead and who isn't getting the job done. The divisive, rigged affair McKenna presided over in Decatur was just the latest example. John McCain and every other GOP candidate in Illinois has to suffer again this year simply because McKenna and his staff are determined to put their own selfish interests ahead of our Party. It's a travesty that our GOP in Illinois is in the same position today that it was going into the awful elections of 2002, 2004, and 2006. Most signs look worse today in fact, and Barack Obama has very little to do with it. But at least more Republicans start to understand why this old circle so desperately and nastily oppose giving Republicans back a direct vote for the State Central Committeemen. A State Central that was truly accountable to Republicans would be much more likely to do their job and dump an ineffective Chairman like McKenna. Hopefully, Schillerstrom sees the obvious too, but I just don't know for certain. I was a bit disappointed to see his recent letter to convention attendees where he tried to respond to McKenna's attack. Trying to hide behind "the 11th Commandment" is the wrong strategy and in this case it's a complete misapplication of that teaching. If Ronald Reagan was here he would be kicking butts and taking names. Reagan knew you can't win or even advance the GOP flag with a broken organization and you certainly can't ask real Republicans to unify with rotten behavior and unworthy leaders. I think I've only spoken with Schillerstrom once. A couple of years ago or so, my friend and all-around outstanding Republican Dave Diersen was getting some really vile emails from an anonymous source. We helped him trace the IP address of the sender to the offices of DuPage County government. In what certainly wasn't a coincidence, one of Topinka's former staffers had recently gone to work there. That kind of thug behavior was of course the stock in trade for Topinka's minions, a tradition that continues to this day. Anyway, I called Schillerstrom and told him about the problem. It stopped immediately. So from my very limited experience with Schillerstrom, I at least saw some concern for professionalism. That's a trait that's as lacking right now in our State Party as it was under Topinka. Again, it's no surprise given that McKenna kept largely the same handlers around. Schillerstrom shouldn't get a pass for working with the Democrats on legislation that is destructive to the Republican brand - just like our other GOP officials certainly shouldn't get a pass. But if the man is in the Log Cabin wing's crosshairs right now, he must be doing at least some things right.)
-- Self government and a republic in name only - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1042
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Peter LaBarbera on Champion News talk radio, Sunday, June 22, 8AM - 9AM
http://www.championnews.net/talk/
(THE ARTICLE: This Sunday, Guest Co-Host Pete LaBarbera will join Jack, John and Doug to discuss same sex couples getting married in California, the impact of the gay agenda on government policy and politics, and why morality matters.)
NEW YORK TIMES
-- The Two Obamas - David Brooks
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/opinion/20brooks.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Judge Robert Anderson gives outstanding address at Wheaton Chamber of Commerce meeting - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
(THE ARTICLE: DuPage County Judge Robert Anderson gave an outstanding address at the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting Thursday, June 19, at the beautiful Arrowhead Banquet Hall in Wheaton. Attendees included DuPage County Treasurer Gwen Henry and Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk.)
