From the Walsh for Congress Campaign (8th District)…
8th District Republican Congressional Nominee spent an hour last night speaking with, listening to, and answering questions from more than 100 Eighth District residents at a candidate forum last night.
“I am not a perfect candidate,” Walsh said, “But I am the perfect candidate to defeat Melissa Bean,” he said to great applause from the audience.
“I wasn’t the establishment choice,” Walsh said. “And the fact that I am neck-and-neck with Rep. Bean in the polls makes those who benefit from the status quo nervous. That’s okay. I’m not going to make the same mistakes Melissa Bean has made by putting her political party ahead of her district. You elected me and it is your interests that will fight for and your values that I will represent in Congress.”
Walsh added that he has nonetheless been very encouraged by the party support he has received. “The local party leaders are in full support of my candidacy, I had a great meeting with House GOP Whip Eric Cantor last week when he was in town who was very encouraging, and we’re putting together a Finance Committee with serious, smart men and women from this district who can help me raise the resources I need to compete with the public sector unions, big banks, and trial lawyers who are funding Melissa Bean’s campaign.”
Walsh went on to point out the differences between Rep. Bean and him saying, “I am holding open, no-holds barred townhalls to discuss the issues, Melissa Bean is hiding behind closed doors with invitation only photo ops; I said I would move into the district and I am moving in this weekend whereas Melissa Bean said she would move into the district and six years later she still hasn’t; I said I would release my tax returns and I will be doing that this week whereas Melissa Bean has refused to do so. When it comes to transparency and accountability, I have been both transparent and accountable, including for my mistakes, and Melissa Bean has exhibited neither of these characteristics.”
During the Q&A, Walsh highlighted the substantive policy differences between Rep. Bean and him as he discussed her votes for Obamacare, for cap-and-trade, for bank bailouts and for trillions of dollars in new federal spending.
“Melissa Bean is part of an administration and a Congress that will spend $31,000 per US household this year even though we’re only taking in $18,000 in taxes per household. That’s Washington political math for you. And it is why I say we cannot afford these tax-and-spend policies and we cannot afford Melissa Bean in Congress,” said Walsh.
The final question of the evening came from a woman who wanted Joe to address some of the attacks that have been made on his candidacy saying, “We think it is up to the voters, not the party leaders, to decide who represents us here in the 8th district. Joe, we want to know if you are going to honor our primary vote and stay in this race?”
“Not only am I going to stay in, I am going to win,” said Walsh, whose reply generated a standing ovation which closed the evening’s event.
Joe Walsh is the Republican candidate running against Democrat incumbent Melissa Bean in 2010 for the Illinois 8th Congressional District. Born and raised in North Barrington, a policy advocate, teacher, and business entrepreneur, Joe has spent his adult life advancing limited-government and conservative principles. For more information on Joe Walsh and his campaign visit: