GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - July 18, 2008

POLITICO
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: DEMOCRATS OVERJOYED: Kirk Dillard, the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus Whip, former Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee Member, and former DuPage County Republican Party Chairman, blasts his Republican critics
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11853.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “Senator Obama worked on some of the deepest issues we had and he was successful in a bipartisan way,” said Dillard in the ad. “Republican legislators respected Senator Obama. His negotiation skills and an ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well.” Dillard was not a McCain delegate at the time the spot was filmed, but his appearance nevertheless rubbed GOP colleagues the wrong way. “There was some obvious concern about Senator Dillard and the fact that he was in an ad, and the comments he’s made,” said Frank Watson, the Senate Republican leader. “I just had to say I was disappointed that he was in a commercial for the candidate. That was over the top. He didn’t just hear from me. Colleagues, Republicans in general throughout the state were very disappointed in his participation.” Andy McKenna, the state party chairman, also raised the issue with Dillard. “I echoed what I’d heard from many people that they were disappointed and found it counter-productive,” he said. But it wasn’t just the commercial that landed Dillard in hot water. It was the stream of laudatory remarks in the media, including some made in a 2007 Obama conference call that he participated in. As soon as it seemed likely that Obama would be the Democratic nominee, other Republican state Senate colleagues privately complained to him that anything positive he said about Obama would hurt McCain. Besides, as they recalled things, Obama had much more modest achievements and a far less dramatic presence. “Kirk’s enthusiasm for Senator Obama is clearly an outlier,” said GOP state Sen. Christine Radogno. “Everyone agrees Barack’s an intelligent guy, but in terms of being a stupendous standout that’s a unique view.” “In fairness, [Dillard] served with Obama longer than I did,” said Dale Righter, the Republican Senate caucus chair. “But I’ve seen him refer to Obama as having done really yeoman’s work in the Illinois state Senate. I don’t know that I’d agree with that from my two years with him.” Dillard contends he was punished for by Watson for his pro-Obama remarks. Dillard, who serves in the unpaid position of party whip, said that he had been assured by Watson that he would get the next opening among the paid leadership positions, namely assistant leader. But, when an opening came, he was passed over. Dillard believes it was at least in part payback. “The partisans want to punish me,” he said. “They’ve done it through pocketbook and position.” Watson was unavailable to return a follow-up request for comment on that claim. But his spokesperson, Patty Schuh, denied that any specific position had been promised. She did not rule out the possibility that Dillard’s comments on Obama might have contributed to him not getting the job, but said it could not have been the sole reason. Dillard also appeared, to some colleagues, to be dragging his feet on a matter of importance to his colleagues - a request from McCain’s Illinois campaign chairman, state Rep. Jim Durkin, that Dillard formally ask the Obama campaign to remove the ad from the air. Durkin says that Dillard delayed for months until finally, in May, Durkin himself offered to draft a formal letter for Dillard to sign and send to the Obama campaign. “He walked the letter over to my desk on the Senate floor and stuck it under my nose and asked me if I’d sign it,” recalled Dillard. Durkin says that Dillard was not taken by surprise and that Dillard revised the letter himself. “I had talked to Kirk and I had suggested to him that I would draft the letter,” said Durkin. “I did not just show up on the Senate floor. He was pleased and relieved. I came over with a draft and he marked it up.” Durkin added that Dillard had said he was glad to bring the matter to a close. “Kirk has received a lot of flak in Illinois. I was doing this to protect Kirk and he was thankful that I did this.” Durkin said the letter was his idea, and that it did not originate from within the McCain campaign. When presented with the request in June, the Obama campaign agreed to stop airing the ad. “Senator Obama appreciates that Senator Dillard worked with him in a bipartisan way in the Illinois legislature to take on the special interests and pass campaign finance and ethics reform,” said Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan. “But he understands that Senator Dillard feels obligated to support his party’s nominee.” Dillard attributes some of the GOP pushback to reflexive partisanship. “Some of the totally partisan, more conservative legislators from Day One were not understanding of my cameo appearance in a Senator Obama ad in Iowa,” he said. “The only people I received negative feedback from initially were the partisan leaders.” Kent Redfield, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois-Springfield, and an expert on state politics, said that Dillard may have been surprised by the controversy his comments caused because state politics in Illinois are generally isolated from national partisan rancor. “Politics tends to be not very nationally or ideologically focused on the state level in Illinois,” said Redfield. But Dillard’s comments also may have touched a raw nerve by exacerbating preexisting intra-party tensions. “The Republican Party in Illinois has a huge ideological split between the moderate wing and the hard right,” said Redfield. “Dillard is seen as part of the moderate suburban crowd so there’s a ‘there he goes again’ kind of reaction from the people who brought you Alan Keyes [the conservative activist who Republicans nominated to run against Obama in 2004].” Dillard said he will continue to speak up about Obama, though he favors McCain for president because he agrees with the presumptive GOP nominee on the issues. He contends that there are other Republicans who hold Obama in high regard, though they will not say so publicly for partisan purposes. “None of my colleagues who admired Obama will return the reporters’ phone calls,” said Dillard. “And that’s the problem with this country. No one is willing to say something nice for 10 seconds about someone of a different race, party, and location. In this case Barack is from Chicago and I’m from the suburbs of Chicago.” “Very few suburbanites would work closely with city of Chicago Democrats,” he added. “Also, there’s the racial component. It’s a testament to Senator Obama that he was able to work with people who were different than he.” But, he hastened to add, “John McCain has those same qualities.”)

AMERICANS FOR TRUTH
-- VERY SAD: Chicago Media Black Out McDonald’s Boycott Press Conference - Peter LaBarbera
http://americansfortruth.com/news/chicago-media-blacks-out-mcdonalds-boycott-press-conference.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chicago’s CBS TV affiliate fields a float every year at the city’s bawdy homosexual “pride” parade, but CBS and other major Chicago secular media were no-shows at AFTAH’s pro-family coalition press conference yesterday highlighting a huge and growing pro-family boycott of McDonald’s (based outside Chicago). McDonald’s was given a high 85% rating by a homosexual lobby group for its pro-homosexuality and pro-transsexuality policies. Photo courtesy Illinois Family Institute. Dave Diersen, an Illinois Republican activist, has provided a summary of the coverage of our press conference in front of McDonald’s’ world headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. Predictably, I suppose, we were completely blacked out by Chicago’s and Illinois’ major media - which had no excuse since they were inundated with press releases about the event by four pro-family organizations taking part: Americans For Truth, American Family Association, Illinois Family Institute and Liberty Counsel. It appears that the Fox News item below came from AP. So once again the major media are doing the work of the homosexual lobby. Many in the media have decided that the “gay” issue is settled, and the homosexual activists have won. (Remember when Big Media thought the abortion issue was pretty much over?) Yesterday’s non-coverage was appalling journalism, even by corrupt Chicago standards. Clearly, the boycott story is compelling - even from a pure business perspective: already, nearly 200,000 people have signed AFA’s boycott petition (www.boycottmcdonalds.com). The people involved in this boycott of McDonald’s are good family people - not vegans, America-hating leftists, or some other fringe group. And the idea really seems to be catching on. As I said yesterday, millions and millions of Americans have had it with the elite media’s and pop culture’s promotion of homosexuality, but they don’t know what to do about it. Boycotting McDonald’s, an easy target but admittedly not the worst corporate offender - PepsiCo Foundation recently gave $500,000 to the homosexual group Human Rights Campaign Foundation, compared to McDonald’s $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce - is something simple to do to stand up for marriage and the natural family. More coming on this story. P.S. Most major Chicago media either field floats or participate in the annual Chicago “Gay Pride” parade, and the local ABC affiliate televises it (see photo above). Now there’s some “news” with wide appeal in Chicagoland!)

ILLINOIS REVIEW
-- Corporate McDonald's hit with two public relations headaches - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/07/corporate-mcdon.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It can't be easy chairing the boards of two major corporations such as McDonald's and Schwarz Supply Source like Andrew J. McKenna, Sr does. Today, McKenna should be concerned about his board members' reaction to McDonald's being hit with two major PR embarrassments in one day: one was McDonald's franchisee pleading guilty to helping illegal immigrants obtain false Social Security numbers; and the other is several national family groups launching a boycott against McDonald's for giving $20,000 in corporate donations to a radical pro-homosexual rights coalition. The McDonald's Reno story is alarming: A plea agreement entered in a U.S. District Court in Las Vegas details how management for Reno-based Mack Associates knowingly employed illegal immigrants by furnishing them with names and Social Security numbers that belonged to U.S. citizens or legal residents.The high-profile case shines the spotlight on Oak Brook-based McDonald's Corp., which tried to distance itself from the matter. But the McDonald's boycott story and its lack of Chicago-area media coverage is troubling: When McDonald's wrote a check for $20,000 to join a gay and lesbian coalition that promotes same sex marriage, they probably had no idea family groups would react one way or another. One of McDonald's executives serves on the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the recipient of those controversial corporate dollars. Financially backing anti-family causes doesn't fit with the all-American image to which McDonald's caters. Growing, busy families are the core of their business. However, representatives from state and national family groups joined together outside McDonald's Oak Brook international headquarters Wednesday, calling for those who hold traditional family values to boycott McDonald's by not eating there and by pulling corporate stock investments. One of the Illinois-based groups urging the protest is Illinois Family Institute, whose executive director David Smith released this portion of a longer media statement: The Illinois Family Institute (IFI) believes that McDonald's vigorous support of the NGLCC undermines essential societal institutions-- particularly, the natural family-- while violating the deeply held convictions of many. Through both funding and corporate policies, McDonald's affirms and supports radical and culturally divisive anti-family principles. In a recent letter, McDonald's "Global Chief Diversity Officer," Pat Harris, wrote that, "We have a well-established and proud heritage of associating with individuals and organizations that share in the belief that every person has the right to live and work in their community free of discrimination." If Ms. Harris means that those who identify as homosexual should be able to live and work without harassment, we're in complete agreement. No one should be harassed anywhere anytime. American Family Association director Tim Wildmon reports over 200,000 have signed onto their online petition committing to the national boycott.What do the groups want to call off the boycott? David Smith says McDonald's should publicly withdraw from the coalition and ask for return of the $20,000. "We would be happy if they did that," Smith said. "We'd also like them to support the natural family rather than sexual perversion." Other participants in the press conference included Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth (pictured right), Elise Bouc of Stop ERA (pictured above), Matt Barber from CWA and Buddy Smith of AFA. Question: Will you participate in this boycott and what would you propose McDonald's do to make amends to the pro-family groups? The IL GOP's platform supports one man/one woman marriage. Will this pit the father and son McKennas against each other, or will it even come up at family outings? Could the legal immigrant movement be persuaded to join the pro-family groups in opposition to McDonald's?)
-- United Republican Fund's 8 in '08: House 56th District's GOP candidate Anita Forte-Scott - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/07/8-in-08-spotlig.html
-- Rod's Best Friend Froehlich - Fran Eaton
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/07/rods-bf-froehli.html

USA TODAY
-- McDonald's franchisee fined $1 million giving workers false IDs
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-07-17-mcdonalds-immigration-fine_N.htm

ABC7
-- Jackson apologizes for use of 'n-word' - Charles Thomas
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6270518 (Includes video clip)

NBC5
-- Blagojevich Says Chicago Is 'Out Of Control'
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/16901117/detail.html?dl=mainclick (Includes video clip)

CBS2
-- Rev. Jackson's Latest Misstep May Hurt Credibility
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/jesse.jackson.nword.2.773817.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- FRONT PAGE: 'Please come on down' Weis says to Blagojevich State Police aid welcome, but cites 'misconceptions' - Frank Main and Fran Spielman
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1062591,CST-NWS-weis18.article
-- AS THE ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT PARTY'S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS TIGHTENS: Illinois joblessness reaches 15-yr. high
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1062272,CST-FIN-jobs18.article
-- Topinka rips gov for cutting RTA budget 'What was he thinking?' $37M slash leaves agency in a 'very bad state' - Mary Wisniewski
http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1062399,CST-NWS-rta18.article
-- DEMOCRATS OVERJOYED: Evangelicals not excited by McCain Religious conservatives were key to Bush's victory in 2004 - Mike Glover
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/mccain/1062421,CST-NWS-evangelical18.article
-- Kendall County booming despite slowdown - Sandra Guy
http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/1061460,cover18.article

DAILY HERALD
-- Foster heads to the border for fact-finding mission - David Beery
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221731&src=2
-- Sauerberg washes hands of O'Hare expansion - Joseph Ryan
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221739
-- Greenberg trails Bean in fundraising race - Russell Lissau
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221779
-- OUTRAGEOUS: (ILLEGALS) sue staffing company
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221619
-- FRONT PAGE IN DUPAGE EDITION WITH COLOR PICTURE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Rev. Andre Allen, Wheaton's most well known African-American, pleads guilty to disorderly conduct, leaders of his church ask him to resign, he refuses, full congregation to vote on termination
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221780
-- Obama is for change - changing his mind - Robert Graham, Naperville
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221609&src=
-- Obama's wrong in pushing Spanish - Flo Brinacombe, Schaumburg
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221636&src=
-- Obama supporters quick to cry racism - Timothy D. O'Reilly, Chicago
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=221748&src=

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Sauerberg questions Durbin's patriotism GOP candidate describes Durbin as 'ultraliberal' - Rick Pearson
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/07/gop-challenger.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-senate-race-18jul18,0,1478681.story
-- The Obama joke deficit - Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0718edit2jul18,0,3070972.story

SOUTHTOWN STAR
-- The $1 billion casino ripoff - Phil Kadner
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/kadner/1062603,071808Kadner.article

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
-- Broken budget: Analysis of the pieces - Ryan Keith
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x469162330/Broken-budget-Analysis-of-the-pieces

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
-- VERY SAD: Some legislators warming up to idea of income tax increase - Aaron Chambers
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x518440931/Some-legislators-warming-up-to-idea-of-income-tax-increase
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Back in Rockford, Republican state Sen. Dave Syverson says he could support an income tax hike, but only if all new revenue supported capital construction and if voters amended the Illinois Constitution to stop lawmakers from raiding cash in the state’s road fund.)

NORTHWEST HERALD
-- Special House session fruitless, lawmakers say - Kevin Craver
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/07/17/news/local/doc487facd5ca3c4804266136.txt

NAPERVILLE SUN
-- Election commission is challenged to explain voting machine accuracy - Bill Mago
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/mego/1060604,6_4_NA17_MEGOCOLUMN_S1.article

QUAD CITIES TIMES
-- Leadership still MIA in Springfield - Editorial
http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/07/17/opinion/editorials/doc487e727addccb656482869.txt

THE TIMES
-- Springfield 'sandbox time' over - Charles Stanley
http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=363425

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
Governor's cuts likely to stand - Scott Reeder and Andrea Zelinski
http://daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=424103

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Berkowitz discusses Obama’s flip-flop on School Vouchers-School Choice w/ McCain’s Education and Economics policy advisors
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/07/better-than-pbs-news-hour-berkowitz.html

TOM ROESER
-- Speaking of Emotional Instability, How’s Blago’s “Call Out the Guard for Chicago?” Jesse Jackson the White as Well as Black Racist
http://www.tomroeser.com/blogs/blogview.asp?blogID=24674

ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- WHY IS THAT?: McCain backers' excitement lags - Alan Fram
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jwM1qSbEKEEoo9SqCcagyb7M8pNgD9207H400

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
-- McCain, Obama Seek to Pick Off Marginal Voters From Opposite Party - Cristina Corbin
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/17/mccain-obama-seek-to-pick-off-marginal-voters-from-opposite-party/

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
-- VERY SAD: Obama Campaign Is Making Progress With Evangelical Voters
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/07/17/obama-campaign-is-making-progress-with-evangelical-voters.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
-- Distinct Hispanic nationalities - Lee Anthony Nieves
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/16/distinct-hispanic-nationalities/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
-- OUTSTANDING: McCain Speaks Out Against Abortions - Laura Meckler
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/07/17/mccain-speaks-out-against-abortions/
-- McCain Discusses GM's Situation - Sharon Terlep
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121633808872963853.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_leftbox

WORLD NET DAILY
-- VERY SAD: Racist Democrats: Then and now - Melanie Morgan
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69880

USA TODAY
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Needless-to-say, if you cannot speak English, you should not be allowed to drive anything in America
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-17-truckers_N.htm