From the Schilling for Congress Campaign (17th District)…
EAST MOLINE, IL–Bobby Schilling, candidate for Congress in the Illinois 17th District, spoke out against Rep. Hare’s recent attack on a local veterans group. Schilling said that the Hare campaign is playing shameful political games by trying to silence a local veterans group simply because they are unsupportive of Hare’s re-election. Schilling said that voters should expect more baseless attacks from the Hare campaign because, if they were to actually focus on the issues, they would lose.
A complaint was filed with the Federal Election Commission by James Moody, the Sangamon County Democrat Party Chairman and $1,000 donor to Rep. Hare’s campaign. The complaint suggested collusion between a local veterans group, Veterans for the Constitution, and the Bobby Schilling for Congress campaign.
“It’s unfortunate that these types of political games have dominated the debate instead of the real issues that affect the 17th District,” said Schilling. “With the unemployment rate having doubled, the national debt having grown by over $5 trillion and more taxes being pushed on to the middle class all since Rep. Hare was first elected, it’s no wonder that the Hare campaign would have one of their cronies pull this type of stunt. Rep. Hare can’t focus on the issues that are affecting us because if he does, he loses. Simple as that. This is a baseless claim and a dirty political stunt.”
Schilling also decried Hare’s attacks on veterans.
“On a day when President Obama is honoring our troops for a job well done in Iraq, Rep. Hare has instead decided to attack our veterans and silence their freedom of speech. These are men that have fought and bled for our first amendment rights. He should be ashamed of himself. This is one of the reasons why people truly believe that Rep. Hare doesn’t worry about the Constitution.”
This is not the first time that Rep. Hare has attacked or misrepresented veterans in his district. In a news story on WQAD, Rep. Hare attacked the honor and credibility of Medal of Honor Recipient John Baker by claiming that his endorsement of Bobby Schilling was just a political “stunt.” Click here to see the video.
Rep. Hare also falsely accused Allie Lymenstull, a World War II U.S. Navy Combat Veteran of Quincy, of handing out “racist” literature. Rep. Hare sent out a release claiming that Mr. Lymenstull handed him a piece of paper which stated, “The White House is no longer white,” when the paper actually said, “America’s White House? Not anymore.” Tim Schlittner, a spokesperson for Rep. Hare, later admitted to the State Journal Register that they were incorrect in framing Mr. Lymenstull as a racist. Please click here to read the State Journal Register article.
Schilling also said, “Hare’s frivolous complaint against brave veterans who served our country is a desperate and pathetic political stunt by a politician down in the polls aimed to distract voters away from his failed economic policies.”
Schilling, a native of Rock Island, graduated from Alleman High School and attended Black Hawk College. Schilling, a local business owner, is the Republican candidate for the 17th Congressional District in Illinois. Bobby is running on a platform of bringing jobs and real representation back to the 17th District. Earlier this year, Schilling conducted a 34-city “Bob’s for Jobs” tour, where he met with voters and employers all across the 17th District.
For more information about Bobby Schilling, please visit his website at http://www.bobby2010.com.