GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 9, 2008
ABC7
-- Foster wins 14th district race - Andy Shaw
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6007477 (Includes video clips)
(DIERSEN NOTE: Those who walked with Oberweis in the St. Charles St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday included John Barsanti, Matt Fuesting, Karen McConnaughy, Andy McKenna, Pate Philip, and Randy Ramey.)
NBC5
-- Foster Elected To 14th District Illinois Congressional District Gets Ready For Rookie - Mary Ann Ahern
http://www.nbc5.com/politics/15542621/detail.html?dl=mainclick (Includes video clip)
CBS2
-- Foster Wins 14th Dist. Special Election - Rafael Romo, Pamela Jones, and Mike Puccinelli
http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/14th.district.race.2.672661.html (Includes video clip)
BEACON NEWS
-- Round 1 to Foster - Dan Campana and Andre Salles
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/833538,2_1_AU09_14THDIST_S1.article
(THE ARTICLE: Somehow, the man of the hour snuck into his own party. Twenty minutes after unofficially becoming the Fox Valley's newest congressman-elect, Democrat Bill Foster surprised the raucous crowd at Long Island Sound Banquets in Aurora when he entered from a rear door. Seconds later, chants of "Foster, Foster" clearly announced the former Fermilab scientist was now a congressman. Foster's party entrance befitted the stunning win over perennial GOP bridesmaid Jim Oberweis. He topped Oberweis by just more than 5,000 votes, unofficially, across the 14th Congressional District to fill the remainder of retired Rep. Dennis Hastert's term. "Back in the lab, this is something we'd call a pretty successful experiment," Foster deadpanned to start a 14-minute victory speech. After collecting hugs from his teary-eyed children, Foster thanked voters, "who demanded change and got it," and his army of campaign staff and volunteers. Aurora victory margin At the Q Center in St. Charles, the mood was decidedly different at Oberweis' gathering. "As I said a month ago, coming in first is a lot better than coming in second," Oberweis said. "Unfortunately, we're on the other side of that one tonight. I'm sorry we came up short, but we'll have another run at it in nine months." Oberweis scored wins in only three counties in the district, which stretches from Aurora to the Mississippi River. Foster took five counties and Aurora, where he had a 3,000-vote margin over Oberweis. Most impressive in historic terms were Foster's victories in traditional GOP territories of Kendall and DuPage counties. Foster becomes the first Democrat to represent the Fox Valley since Tim Hall won the congressional seat after the voter backlash over the Watergate scandal in the mid-1970s. Congrats from Obama Surrounded by his two children, ex-wife and Democratic leaders ranging from Kane County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Guethle to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Foster renewed his pledges to provide health care to all and work to change direction in Iraq. Foster also received a congratulatory call from Illinois' other U.S. senator, Barack Obama, who has made "change" the theme of his presidential campaign. "Change started right here in the 14th District," Durbin told the crowd, then credited Foster for withstanding a million-dollar barrage of negative ads from Oberweis. Foster said Oberweis "ran a hard campaign" and briefly referenced what he described as "nastiness" from the dairy magnate. In his thank-yous, Foster credited the support given by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which pumped just more than $1 million into the race, primarily by way of attack ads and mailers against Oberweis. "DCCC came in like the cavalry over the hill," Foster said. In a statement, DCCC chairman Chris Van Hollen called the win "a stunning rejection of the Bush administration." "Republican candidates learned tonight that Sen. (John) McCain, who campaigned with (Oberweis), cannot save them from defeat against strong Democratic challengers, even in districts that voted overwhelmingly for President Bush." Guethle dismissed the notion of Kane County being GOP territory, describing it as being driven by independents. "People vote on the candidate, not on the party," he said to characterize Foster's win. "Bill Foster's proven to me that he has a connection to the regular guy." On to November Foster, as the winner of Saturday's special primary election, will fill out Hastert's term until next January. He and Oberweis face off again Nov. 4, with the winner becoming the Fox Valley's new congressman in the term beginning in 2009. Before November, Foster must deal with a discovery recount by Democratic primary challenger John Laesch, who Friday requested another look at more than 50 precincts in the district. Foster defeated Laesch by 398 votes to win the Democratic nomination for the November election. Oberweis said he would probably change his strategies before then but would not change his positions on the issues. One of the Oberweis supporters who turned out Saturday night was Kane County Board Member Bill Wyatt, who said he didn't know what turned the vote against Oberweis. However, he said, when the people speak, the party has to listen. "This isn't a black eye for the Republican Party," he said. "You win some, you lose some, but you have to regroup and get the message out." Aurora - All precincts reporting Foster 7,153 Oberweis 3,859 Kane - All precincts reporting Foster 25,661 Oberweis 24,365 Kendall - All precincts reporting Foster 6,396 Oberweis 6,305 DeKalb - All precincts reporting Foster 5,937 Oberweis 4,640 DuPage - All precincts reporting Foster 3,294 Oberweis 3,216 Henry - All precincts reporting Foster 1,046 Oberweis 1,678 Lee - All precincts reporting Foster 1,913 Oberweis 2,414 Whiteside - All precincts reporting Foster 519 Oberweis 425 Bureau - All precincts reporting Foster 45 Oberweis 51)
COURIER NEWS
-- Foster tops Oberweis - Andre Salles and Dan Campana
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/833424,3_1_EL09_A1CONGRESS_S1.article
DAILY HERALD
-- FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PHOTOS: Foster takes Hastert's seat Oberweis to meet Democrat again in November election - Susan Sarkauskas
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=150308
-- Good question on DuPage turning blue - Martin Uttich, Carol Stream
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=149334
(THE LETTER: This is in response to Paula McGowen's Feb. 15 letter to the editor. Paula, it was most appropriate for Sen. Cronin to ask why in God's name anyone would want to turn DuPage blue. Just look around, Paula. No one on Earth can possibly understand why anyone wants to turn DuPage County blue? Haven't the Democrats done enough damage to this state, Chicago, Cook County, the state of Michigan, the state of California, and numerous other places that they have control over? So instead of questioning Cronin's use of God's name why don't you just answer the question? Why do you want DuPage blue? Is it because you want more taxes? Higher crime rates? More corruption? Why? I'm waiting.)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- FRONT PAGE: Foster takes seat from GOP Democrat to succeed Hastert in Republican stronghold - James Kimberly
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-special-election.09mar09,0,7304737.story
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
-- FRONT PAGE WITH 5X10-INCH COLOR PICTURE OF FOSTER AND DURBIN: Political earthquake: Foster to replace Hastert Newcomer Foster defeats Oberweis, shifts House seat to Dems - Abdon Pallasch and Dan Rozek
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/833484,election030908.article
NORTHWEST HERALD
-- FROM THE ARTICLE: Oberweis spokesman Bill Pascoe said their campaign did not expect to lose to Foster. “I think everybody was surprised. We did not see it coming,” Pascoe said. “We are going to take our time and analyze the voter returns. “He’s not going to change his policies or beliefs – he might change campaign strategy – hopefully something to get us 50 percent plus one in November.”
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/03/09/news/local/doc47d37f5347e7d242003116.txt
CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY
-- Illinois Democrat Wins Former Hastert House Seat - Greg Giroux
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002684379
NEW YORK TIMES
-- Democrat Wins Seat Once Held by G.O.P. Speaker - Monica Davey
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/us/09hastert.html
WASHINGTON POST
-- WASHINGTON POST REPORTS DEMOCRAT PARTY SPIN: "Republican campaign officials quietly blamed Oberweis more than the political environment. The dairy farm owner has run unsuccessfully for political posts in Illinois and has encountered problems with his sometimes abrasive personality."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030802294.html?hpid=topnews
ASSOCIATED PRESS
-- FROM THE ARTICLE: Oberweis: "I'm really disappointed that we came up second but that's where we're at"
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQZZmxxd-dehJ1c_lUKFffsXLaxwD8V9M4NO0
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4415745
YAHOO NEWS
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: Yahoo News editorializes on Foster's victory
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080309/cm_thenation/45296365
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: Obama is particularly popular in his home state. And Oberweis, a wealthy but often over the top anti-immigration advocate, was not the strongest Republican contender. The bottom lines, however, are these: The district was gerrymandered to favor Republicans and it went Democrat on a large swing. Oberweis is going to be the nominee in November, so Republican chances in this particular contest are unlikely to improve. Taking the seat being vacated by the former Speaker of the House from the former speaker's party is always a coup. Oberweis tied himself to McCain and it did not help. Foster felt it was beneficial to be associated with Obama, and the linkage certainly does not appear to have hurt.)
ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
-- DIERSEN HEADLINE: VERY SAD: Illinois Democrats and "Independents" elected Rod Blagojevich governor twice knowing full well that he is twice as corrupt as George Ryan
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/5F5F2A18194B31328625740600191294?OpenDocument
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
-- Foster beats Oberweis in Illinois' 14th CD, with a major assist from the Chicago Tribune and help from Obama-- and maybe Senator Lauzen - Jeff Berkowitz
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/03/foster-beats-oberweis-in-illinois-14th.html
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
-- Tragically, the Combine wins another one - Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com/
(THE COMMENTARY: The Combine has always wanted anti-conservative candidates to win both primary elections and general elections in Illinois. For some time now, the Combine has wanted only candidates who ran as Democrats to win general elections. The Combine's success in getting the Illinois news media to cover up Foster's major divorce problems is just one more example of the Combine's domination of the Illinois news media. The Combine has been very successful in blaming all past, present, and future problems on those who oppose illegal immigration and oppose mass immigration and on conservatives, especially on social conservatives. The Combine has been very successful in defeating conservative Republican candidates in primary and general elections. The Combine has been very successful in promoting Republican elected officials who vote against the Republican Party platform. The Combine has been very successful in elected party leaders who do little or nothing to help elect Republican candidates who can and will advance the Republican Party platform. The Combine has been very successful in pitting the base of the Republican Party, that is, conservatives, against each other. People who are members of the Combine, who want to be members of the Combine, and who are dupes of the Combine have been successful in convincing Republicans that your GOPUSA Illinois Editor is not a member of the news media, that your TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman is not a conservative leader, that he has terrible judgment, that he has evil motives, that he lacks ability, and that if he would just stop doing what he is doing, only Republicans would win elections in Illinois. Finally, the Combine has been very successful in convincing many that the Combine does not exist.)
7 comments:
Boy, that Hastert endorsement really worked out well.
There is no republican party in this state.
It's gone, done, toast, and nothing short of realizing that and moving on to something better is the solution.
these posts are too long.
Have to love the posts.
The GOP did not lose because the GOP has been taken over by right-wing dirt bags like Obie.
It lost because THE ALL POWERFUL COMBINE made it so.
At some point, this becomes more pathetic than very sad. They lost, and it is somebody else's fault? The Tribune is to blame? Did the Trib make Obie make strange references to aliens and stadiums, or did Obie make those on his own? Did the Tribune force Obie to hire a contractor that employeed illlegals? Wow,The Combine can force words into Obie's mouth and can force him to hire illegals when he doesn't want to.
Reading these posts makes clear that the ILGOP is going to see a lot more days like Saturday.
This is without any doubt one of the most stupid things I've ever read. Normally I just wouldn't read it, but now and then I want to remind myself of exactly how the hard right thinks, and boy, this did it.
How is this possible:
"'I think everybody was surprised. We did not see it coming,' Pascoe said."
Is the GOP too short on funds to do any polling? Obie has a lot of money. Couldn't he pick up the tab himself?
The real shocker is that the margin was that close.
How can somebody hire Pascoe when he "did not see this coming"?
I am starting to think that the GOP ravings that "the combine was responsible for another GOP loss" is starting to sound a little like Hillary and her accusations that a "vast right-wing conspiracy" was responsible for her husband Bill "dancing the light-Fandango with Monica" and every other ill that the Clintons ran into.
Oberweis should have been running for a school board position somewhere. I blame Hastert and McKenna for encouraging this likeable loser. They patted him on the head and told him "Your The Man" while they whispered to each other "Thank God we found a warm body to run for this office that can largely self-fund his own campaign."
Tepid GOP turnout in the 14th Congressional District on election day "told the tale" as to what GOP voters and Independents thought about Jim Oberweis as their candidate. Unless Foster does something "really stupid" (like run stupid attack ads against his opponent calling him a professional politician) between now and November, Mr. Foster is going to beat Oberweis (again) like a cheap tin drum come November.
Advice for a nice guy named Oberweis: Save your money, don't listen to the Illinois GOP leadership (because there really is none), don't let your ego control your sense of reason, and beware of their flattery (while they pick your pocket). Money and self-enrichment seem to be the engines that run the Illinois Republican Party anymore.
Hastert's hand-picked candidate Oberweis got sucked in to Hastert's corrupt pork barrel empire known as the Prairie Parkway. Hastert has diverted a quarter of a billion dollars to a get rich quick scheme for his Kendall County cronies that is starting to unravel. Hopefully Foster can reallocate these precious funds to the crumbling existing roads in the 14th district instead of building an interstate highway through undeveloped farmland so a chosen few can get rich.
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