GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - July 17, 2008

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
VERY SAD BUT NOT SURPRISING: The Combine gets its news media members to keep the McDonald's boycott off their websites - Dave Diersen
www.gopillinois.com
The American Family Association and other groups have called for a boycott of McDonald's because it promotes homosexual activity. It is very sad, but not surprising, that the Combine got its news media members to keep the boycott off their websites. The boycott was announced at an outstanding 10:00 AM press conference yesterday at the McDonald's restaurant across from McDonald's world headquarters in Oak Brook. Because the Illinois Democrat Party Platform promotes homosexual activity and the Illinois Republican Party Platform discourages homosexual activity, the boycott is a political story. I was hoping to see Mary Ann Ahern, David Beery, Mike Flannery, Rick Preason, Andy Shaw, and other political reporters at the press conference, but I did not. Speakers at the outstanding press conference included Matt Barber, Peter LaBarbera, Sandy Rios, and David E. Smith. Sadly, McDonald's is a member of the Combine. Hopefully, Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Chairman Andy McKenna Jr. will get his father, Andy McKenna Sr., the President of McDonald's, to get McDonald's to stop promoting homosexual activity. Also, hopefully, he will get his father to cancel McDonald's membership in the Combine. IRP Chairman Andy McKenna Jr. was scheduled to meet with DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC) leaders in Wheaton this evening. Hopefully, all this will be discussed during that meeting and summarized in a DCRCC press release.

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
-- Christian Group Boycotts McDonald's for Supporting Gay Chamber of Commerce
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,383561,00.html
(THE ARTICLE: OAK BROOK, Ill. - A Christian group that opposes same-sex marriage launched a boycott of McDonald's because of the fast-food chain's support for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. American Family Association president Tim Wildmon says almost 200,000 people have signed an online pledge to boycott McDonald's for promoting homosexuality instead of remaining neutral. McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman says the company has made a financial contribution to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and a McDonald's executive serves on the chamber's board. He insists that doesn't mean that McDonald's supports "a particular lifestyle or same-sex marriage.")

LIFE SITE NEWS
-- Family Advocates Take McDonald's Boycott to Home of the Golden Arches After "Hate" Smear - Peter Smith
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08071602.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: OAK BROOK, Illinois, July 16, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The boycott against McDonald's over its public support of a gay lobby group pushing same-sex "marriage" has now escalated, as the pro-family groups the global hamburger giant accused recently of "hate" have brought the fight right to the home of the famed Golden Arches. The American Family Association (AFA), Americans for Truth, the Illinois Family Institute, and the legal advocacy group Liberty Counsel held a joint press conference Wednesday in front of the McDonald's restaurant across from McDonald's corporate headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois to protest the corporation's statements that people opposed to its support of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), were motivated by "hate." . . . The AFA boycott petition may be found here: http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/ Contact info for McDonald's: Andrew J. McKenna, President, McDonald's Corporation USA, McDonald's Plaza, Oak Brook, IL 60523 Phone: 1-800-244-6227 or: 630-623-3000 Fax: 630-623-5004)

DAKOTA VOICE
-- Protest at McDonald's HQ Over Promotion of Homosexual Agenda - Alexander Sheffrin
http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/07/protest-at-mcdonalds-hq-over-promotion.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: McDonald’s, however, has been unapologetic about its pro-gay stance, asserting that organizers of the boycott are motivated by a hateful agenda against homosexuals. "Hatred has no place in our culture," McDonald's USA spokesman Bill Whitman told The Washington Post. "That includes McDonald's, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment,” he explained. But the AFA is arguing that its boycott is about the record of McDonald’s and its duty to be a responsible and neutral corporation. "This boycott is not about hiring homosexuals, or homosexuals eating at McDonald's, or how homosexual employees are treated," the AFA said. "It is about McDonald's, as a corporation, choosing to put the full weight of their corporation behind promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage,” the group explained. In an e-mail to boycott supporters, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth, which organized a press conference outside McDonald's headquarters Wednesday, said that the accusations of “hate” and prejudice from McDonald’s were a reflection of the food chain’s own deeply embedded anti-Christian views. “When we’ve reached the point where belief in the Bible and traditional morality is routinely equated with hatred, America has become hostile territory for people of faith,” he said. "Sadly, 'diversity' is becoming a corporate code-word for anti-Christian bigotry – forcing people of faith to imbibe politically correct ideologies that violate their beliefs,” he added. According to a press release, boycott organizers “are encouraging families to do two things: sign, print and distribute a Boycott McDonald's petition at www.boycottmcdonalds.com; and call the local McDonald's to politely tell the manager they are boycotting the chain until it stops promoting the gay agenda.”)

WICHITA EAGLE
-- Not 'lovin' it': McDonald's supports gay group - Brent Castillo
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/castillo/story/465759.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Bigot. Homophobe. Hater. These are the terms that many gay activists and their supporters use to label you if you oppose gay marriage, or believe homosexuality is immoral. What is surprising is to see the spokesman for McDonald's USA, Bill Whitman, incorporate some of the same rhetoric when justifying the company's support and involvement in the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The chamber lobbies Congress on a wide range of issues, including the promotion of same-sex marriage. "Hatred has no place in our culture," Whitman said in an interview with the Washington Post. "That includes McDonald's, and we stand by and support our people to live and work in a society free of discrimination and harassment." The "hatred" he is referring to is the American Family Association's call for a boycott of the restaurant chain.)

PAM'S HOUSEHOLD BLEND
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: "tfeminist" a) denigrates Christians as being "religious wingnuts" and "kooks" and b) defends McDonald's promotion of homosexual activity
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showComment.do?commentId=69952
(THE POSTING: My view on McDonalds - McDonalds is a corporation based in eastern DuPage county. As much as DuPage gets a wrap for being conservative, lets be clear, the wing nut section is in Wheaton, eastern DuPage is some pockets of liberalism and corporate conservatism. The eastern part of DuPage draws employees from Cook and Chicago. It is really just a gigantic corporate office park, especially Oak Brook. McDonalds, secondly exists in Illinois and is a stones throw from "gay friendly" Chicago (I still love the fact that Mayor Daily turned down the Republican Convention saying he was to busy with the gay games). They have to play to Dem Politics to keep State Tax incentives. Illinois is not going to turn red any time soon, the state has become indigo, as younger blue collar folks, and their white collar brethren are starting to share a common political vision for the state. Dem Politics in Illinois, has become pro-queer as a result. Some of it has to do with the increasing progressive nature of the state, and some is pure economics. They want the state to be a "creative class" one that rivals California. They have done a pretty good job of it so far. The state is without question getting an increasing amount of corporate relocations, sees major Hollywood movies regularly (both Batman and Wanted were filmed there). McDonalds, wants to be part of this effort, they have strong ties with the interests of the state and the City of Chicago. McDonalds, a long time sponsor of the Olympics, also wants to see the games in their back yard. So to say they have increasing ties to the democratic party in the state would be an understatement. They may as well be a million miles from these religious wingnuts, they exist in another political reality and honestly are not influenced by these kooks. Their reality that is more about tax incentives, the Olympic games in Chicago and recruiting, than right wing boycotts, really don't have much of an impact. Either way, I am encouraged that McDonalds is ignoring the boycott. When it gets down to it the company has always been one that success is tied to urban areas and urban politics more than anything. I am not saying McDonalds is great, rather . . . that they are a corporation that exists in Illinois and influenced by the politics of the state. A corporation that exists in a pragmatic reality unaffected by right wing politics, and more centered on their own corporate interests.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- McDonald's franchisee pleads guilty in illegal immigrant case
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu-brf2-mcdonalds-franchisejul17,0,4635070.story
-- McCain hasn't ignited the passions of evangelicals - Mike Glover
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mccain-evangelicals,0,3418431.story
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTO: Fox: Jesse Jackson used n-word on tape
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/07/jackson_uses_nword_during_obam.html
-- Governor offers Daley help fighting 'out of control' crime Calling the situation 'out of control,' Blagojevich stuns Daley by offering state police and National Guard resources to help Chicago in its efforts to fight an increase in crime. - Monique Garcia and Hal Dardick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-blagojevich-daley-violence-1jul17,0,239434.story
-- Ethics reform kind of slow - like governor - Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-zorn-17-jul17,0,7274633.column
-- 69 people charged with underage drinking after Naperville party
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-naperville-teen-drinking-busjul17,0,4984635.story
-- House lawmakers verbally spar over loans-for-ex-convicts legislation - Jeffery Meitrodt
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/07/house-lawmakers.html
-- House takes symbolic votes to override Blagojevich budget cuts - Jeffery Meitrodt
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/07/house-takes-sym.html
-- 23 legislators (including Althoff, Cronin, and Hultgran) urge state to OK 2nd cancer center in DuPage County - James Kimberly
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-proton-therapy-bothjul17,0,3058762.story
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: OUTRAGEOUS: DuPage County Democrats deliberately schedule their "DuPage Blue Fest" in Willowbrook to compete with "Rockin' for the Troops" in Wheaton. DuPage County Democrats tout their success in attracting to DuPage County people who lack education and/or job skills and/or have severe health, financial, and/or other problems. On July 19, if you want show your support for America's troops, come to Wheaton. On July 19, if you want to join the DuPage County Democrats in demonizing DuPage County for not doing enough to feed the problematic people that Democrats have brought in, go to Willowbrook. Why aren't there any Democrat sponsors for the Wheaton event?
http://www.triblocal.com/Willowbrook/List_View/view.html?type=stories&action=detail&sub_id=24057
(DIERSEN Republican sponsors for the outstanding Wheaton fundraiser for the troops include: Congresswoman Judy Biggert (Two Star), Milton Township Republican Committee (Two Star), Sauerberg For U.S. Senate (Two Star), DuPage Federation of Republican Women (One Star), Friends of Michael Prueter (One Star), GOPUSA ILLINOIS (One Star), and Naperville Area Republican Women's Org. (One Star) SOURCE: http://www.osotil.org/rockin2008.html)

SUBURBAN LIFE
-- OUTSTANDING: Actor Gary Sinise’s band to help vets with Catigny concert
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/geneva/entertainment/x379989839/Actor-Gary-Sinise-s-band-to-help-vets-with-Catigny-concert
(THE ARTICLE: Wheaton, IL - Stage and screen star Gary Sinise will perform with his Lt. Dan Band at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, on the parade field at Cantigny in Wheaton, capping an afternoon of entertainment and special events organized by Operation Support Our Troops Illinois. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the group’s efforts to assist troops and returning veterans. Lawn seating is available, and tickets are $25. Limited parking is available at Cantigny for $10, and free off-site parking offers shuttle service. Sinise, who stars in “CSI: NY” on CBS, is returning to headline the event. The band is named after Sinise’s role as Lt. Dan Taylor in the movie “Forest Gump.” The park will open at noon with American English – a Beatles tribute group – at 4 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. Comedian Tom Dreesen will begin his act at 7 p.m. Food vendors will be on hand, and there will be other special guest appearances, including Miss Illinois, Dick Biondi, Greg Brown, Big John Howell & Cisco Cotto and Brant Miller. Tickets to Rockin’ for the Troops can be ordered at (800) 594-8499. Visit www.osotil.org for more details, including the Jewel-Osco locations where tickets are sold in Bolingbrook, Naperville and Wheaton.)

DAILY HERALD
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: The Daily Herald promotes the Illinois House Republican "Agenda for Action." Why doesn't the Daily Herald promote the Illinois Republican Party Platform?
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221492&src=
-- Illinois Republican Representatives Reboletti, Sacia, and Stephens accuse Illinois Democrat Representative Monique Davis of 'racial hatred' - AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221463&src=109
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: State's 10th casino could be up and running in one year, chairman says - Rob Olmstead
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221451
-- Underage drinking party in Naperville nets 130 citations - Jake Griffin
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221518

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Chicago Sun-Times lists organizations that Obama "doled out state cash to" as state senator. The list includes $25,000 in 2001 to the South Shore Drill Team (SSDT) for "purchasing performance equipment, uniforms and shoes for new recruits, and paying off vehicles." The SSDT accepted the Wheaton Jaycees's invitation to march in Wheaton's 2008 Independence Day parade. The Wheaton Jaycees gave the SSDT its "Best Performance" award.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1060495,CST-NWS-watchdog17.article
-- ENTIRE FRONT PAGE WITH 4X8-INCH COLOR PICTURE THAT RIDICULES BLAGOJEVICH: Gov. says Chicago "out of control" New sheriff in town? Gov offers to send state troopers and National Guard copters to fight gang violence - Fran Spielman, Dave McKinney, Frank Main, and Annie Sweeney
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1060701,CST-NWS-blago17.article
-- What's with gov's offer to rescue city? It's more complicated than just putting more cops on the street - Mark Brown
http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/1060655,CST-NWS-brown17.article

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- 'It's a matter of setting priorities,' governor - Kristin McQueary
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/mcqueary/1060415,071708mcqueary.article

ABC7
-- Governor: Chicago might need National Guard help
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6268390 (Includes video clip)

NBC5
-- Blagojevich: Chicago May Need National Guard Help Mayor Unaware Of Plan; Welcomes Partnership
http://www.nbc5.com/news/16901117/detail.html?dl=mainclick (Includes video clip)
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hilarious video clip by Jib Jab about the presidential election
http://video.nbc5.com/player/?id=276385&dl=mainclick#videoid=276385
-- Illinois House Votes To Reverse $480 Million In Cuts
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/16905007/detail.html?dl=mainclick

CBS2
-- Republican State Representatives Reboletti, Sacia, and Stephens Accuse Illinois Democrat Representative Monique Davis Of 'Racial Hatred' Lawmakers Say Davis Accused Them Of Wanting To Keep Prisons Full
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/state.reps.racial.2.772604.html
-- Gov. Looks To Give City Help Controlling Violence Blagojevich Meets With State Police, National Guard For Ideas - Kristyn Hartman
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/blagojevich.daley.gun.2.772942.html
-- Fox: Jackson Used N-Word In Off-Air Remarks - Jay Levine
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/jesse.jackson.nword.2.772975.html

WEEK
-- Illinois Lawmakers in Racial Dispute
http://www.week.com/news/local/25524624.html (Includes video clip)

HERALD NEWS
-- 11th Congressional District: Candidates' camps trade heated barbs - Patrick Ferrell
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1060577,4_1_JO17_OZINGA_S1.article

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
-- Illinois Democrat Representative Monique Davis: Downstate colleagues encourage crime - Kevin McDermott
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/07/16/news/doc487e73c828083431185423.txt

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
-- Weaver's Angus Farms in Peoria will host President Bush - Karen McDonald
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x390631578/Weaver-Farms-site-of-President-Bushs-visit
-- Candidates file reports with Federal Election Commission - Karen McDonald
http://www.pjstar.com/homepage/x2050100361/Candidates-file-reports-with-Federal-Election-Commission

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS
-- Blagojevich: State Police or National Guard to battle Chicago violence? - AP
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30223
-- 10th casino license bidding process starts Friday - Bob Tita
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30226

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- Talk about it: the HOUSE GOP's Agenda for Action's Capital program - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/07/talk-about-it-t.html

CHAMPION NEWS
-- Illinois senate Republicans and civil unions - John Biver
http://www.championnews.net/article.php?sid=1084
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Back in 2005 three socially liberal Republicans, Pamela Althoff, Christine Radogno, and Dan Rutherford, joined the Democrats in voting for the bill during the last days of the 2003-2004 session which ran a little into ‘05. Part of the story that's told involves how traditional values lobbyists were outsmarted and the above mentioned conservative stalwarts were fooled by the procedural maneuverings to call the bill for a vote at the last hour. After the bill passed I called one of those stalwarts on the phone to ask how in the world such a bill could pass in light of the many decades worth of combined experience he and his fellow conservatives had going for them. Surely they should have been able to put their experience to use to stave off such ridiculous legislation. With the prospects of history repeating itself later this year (or in early 2009) with a civil unions bill passing, I shot off a note (see below) to that very same legislator I had phoned three and a half years ago.)

WASHINGTON TIMES
-- VERY SAD: Bipartisan pandering to La Raza - Editorial
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/17/bipartisan-pandering-to-la-raza/
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: In their speeches this week to the National Council of La Raza, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain illustrated why the American public holds Congress - and politicians in general - in such low regard, particularly on the issue of illegal immigration. Based on their voting records and their remarks to that powerful amnesty lobby at its annual meeting in San Diego, there is not much substantive difference between the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential candidates on the issue of amnesty for illegals. In making his case for "comprehensive immigration reform" (mass amnesty), Mr. Obama upbraided Mr. McCain for backing away from his support for recent amnesty bills Mr. McCain pushed for, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat. Mr. Obama denigrated the men and women who work at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by referring to ICE raids against businesses who employ illegals in an insulting way. He falsely suggested that by doing its job, the agency was behaving in a thuggish, dehumanizing fashion. "The system isn't working," the Illinois Democrat stated, "when communities are terrorized by ICE immigration raids - when nursing mothers are torn from their babies, when children come home from school to find their parents missing.")

ABC NEWS
-- McCain Talks Education Reform at NAACP
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/mccain-tries-to.html
-- Did Romney Predict McCain Defeat to Obama? - Matt Stuart
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/did-romney-pred.html

NEW YORK TIMES
-- WHEN WILL THEY COURT JUST PLAIN AMERICANS?: Obama and McCain Expand Courtship of Hispanics - Larry Fohter
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/us/politics/17hispanics.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

LOS ANGELES TIMES
-- McCain addresses NAACP, outlines plan to aid minority schools - Robin Abcarian and Michael Muskal
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-campaign17-2008jul17,0,1881090.story

MCCLATCHY NEWS
-- McCain tells NAACP Obama's candidacy makes him proud - Margaret Talev
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/44488.html

MEDIA MATTERS
-- AP continues pattern of ignoring McCain's immigration reversal
http://mediamatters.org/items/200807160010

INVESTORS
-- 'Maverick' McCain Loses Middle As Conservatives Also Hold Back
http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=301096707832786

LIFE NEWS
-- Planned Parenthood Ad Bashes John McCain on Viagra, Not Abortion - Steven Ertelt
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4052.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- McCain Surrogate Fiorina Meets With Clinton Supporters - Christopher Cooper and John Emshwiller
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/07/16/mccain-surrogate-fiorina-meets-with-clinton-supporters/