Hayes Calls Jesse Jackson a Coward

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2ndCongressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement regarding the House Democrats delay of passing a budget resolution until after the November elections.

“Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. needs to show some leadership in the House of Representatives and demand Nancy Pelosi pass a budget this year as the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Act requires. This will be the first time in nearly 40 years that the House has failed to pass a budget resolution. But Mr. Jackson won’t stand up to Speaker Pelosi because he is part of the plot to hide the Democrats plan to raise taxes on working families after the November elections. There can be no other reason. Only cowards fail to be honest with their constituents when they have something to hide. In this case he is hiding increased spending, record deficits and higher taxes.”
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Hayes Calls Jesse Jackson a Coward”


Ill. Senate Race: Accusations Fly About Niecestro’s Republican ‘Flake’

-By Warner Todd Huston

(New info updated at the end of the post)

Doug Ibendahl of RepublicanNewsWatch has named the “flake” operative that Senate candidate wannabe Mike Niecestro claimed screwed him out of enough signatures to file his independent candidacy papers this week. Ibendahl claims it was none other than former comptroller candidate William Kelly. I spoke to Kelly today about the accusations.

Mr. Kelly says that Niecestro’s claims that his whole independent bid fell apart because of Kelly’s failure to come through with the promised signatures is puzzling. “He didn’t even give me the final go ahead to do it until five days before the filing date,” Kelly told me.

Five days to get 25,000 signatures is not feasible, for sure.
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Ill. Senate Race: Accusations Fly About Niecestro’s Republican ‘Flake’”


(Ill. Senate Race) Niecestro Says ‘Flake’ Denied Him Petition Signatures

-By Warner Todd Huston

Conservative businessman Mike Niecestro has been making noise about running for the U.S. Senate against GOP candidate Mark Kirk for at least a year. Even just a few weeks ago he amped up his noise machine to say that he had the ballot petition signatures needed to make a run for the office as an independent.

But yesterday the filing time came and no Niecestro papers were to be seen. He told reporters that one of the operatives that promised him thousands of signatures didn’t even get him a single one. ABC’s Charles Thomas reports that Niecestro said the politician in question is “known as a ‘flake’ in GOP circles.”

This quote raises major concerns about the seriousness of a Niecestro campaign. If Niecestro knew the guy he was relying on to put him over the top in petition signatures was a well-known “flake,” then why did Niecestro rely on him in the first place? If Niecestro was putting all his eggs in a “flake’s” basket, this seriously calls into doubt Niecestro’s planning capabilities, doesn’t it?
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(Ill. Senate Race) Niecestro Says ‘Flake’ Denied Him Petition Signatures”


Kinzinger Says BP Should be Held Accountable (11th District)

-By Warner Todd Huston

11th District Republican candidate for Congress Adam Kinzinger has come out with his stance on the BP oil mess down in the gulf. But while Kinzinger offers his ideas on BPs culpability, his opponent incumbent Democrat Congressman Debbie Halvorson is less interested in serious discussion and more interested in turning the BP oil mess into a personal fund raising device.

For his part, Kinzinger says that the full force of the U.S. government should be used to focus on the clean-up and to stop the leaking well.

If he were in Congress, Kinzinger said he would press President Obama to basically use the full force of the federal government to cap the gushing well. Also, to support oil well owner British Petroleum in what it has to do.

“And to open dialog with other oil companies and say, ‘What do you guys have,’ and to other nations and say, ‘What kind of boats can you guys bring down here to help us skim the oil off,'” he said.

Kinzinger also notes that Obama has yet to waive the Jones Act so that foreign companies and governments can offer us assistance. Currently Obama has only accepted a very few of the dozens of foreign companies and nations that have offered us their expertise.

Even George W. Bush knew enough to waive the Jones Act when we need it in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
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Kinzinger Says BP Should be Held Accountable (11th District)”


Aide to Alexi ‘Mob Banker’ Giannoulias Manhandles Videographer

-By Warner Todd Huston

OK, OK, this one has been making the rounds all last week. It shows one of Illinois Democratic Senate candidate Alexi “The Mob Banker” Giannoulias’ staffers pushing around a videographer who was trying to get a look at who was attending a private fundraiser.

Yeah its uncomfortable to watch, but I have to come down on this in a way that is a bit out of orthodox from all the other conservative websites railing about this video. In fact, that’s why I hadn’t posted about it until now.

I just don’t think it’s a big deal that Giannoulias’ people wanted to keep a private function… well, private.

It was a reserved section, it was a by-invite event not open to the general public and the cameraman wasn’t on the guest list. As much as I think Giannoulias is a crook, deserves to be beaten in the election, and would make a horrible Senator if he wins, I think Giannoulias should be able to expect to see a private fundraiser remain private without being harassed about it all.

As far as this one incident goes, I don’t see any there, there. But, I’ll post it anyway and you decide.
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Aide to Alexi ‘Mob Banker’ Giannoulias Manhandles Videographer”


2nd District: Hayes Issues Position Paper on Israel

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2ndCongressional District Isaac Hayes released the following position paper on the relationship between America and Israel:

Supporting Israel’s Right of Self-Defense

The United States and Israel have a long and trusted friendship. I will continue to support this kind of strong and sincere friendship. Israel has an unfortunate and terrible experience with barbaric guerrilla/terrorist groups on its borders with the Gaza Strip, West bank, and Lebanon. The Israeli armed forces have successfully managed to defeat or curtail these terrorist groups.
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2nd District: Hayes Issues Position Paper on Israel”


Hayes Sees Waning Support for Jackson in Recent Poll

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2nd Congressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement regarding the recent poll by Kankakee City News.

Isaac Hayes believes the recent poll taken by Kankakee City News shows how frustrated the citizens of Illinois Second District are with Congressman Jackson and that they are ready to go against the grain for a long overdue “change of management.” Hayes said, “Our communities must have hope for their future and their children’s future and in order to give them that hope, we must have change.”
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Hayes Sees Waning Support for Jackson in Recent Poll”


City News Poll Shows Hayes Tops Jackson With Voters

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

From City News:

Republican Candidate for 2nd District Congress Isaac Hayes is gaining ground on his opponent Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and polls are showing that Jackson’s image as being connected to former indicted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is hurting the son of the nation’s number one civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson Sr.
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City News Poll Shows Hayes Tops Jackson With Voters”


Lake County: Another Fake Republican Running in Local Race?

-By Warner Todd Huston

These are the kinds of underhanded games played on voters that really make me despair that the is a single honest Democrat in the world — or maybe even a single honest politician in general. Nancy Thorner writes of the fake candidacy one Mike Clark in the 58th State Rep. District which is mostly in Lake County, Ill.

As it happens Clark’s original filing papers identify him as a Democrat as well as a resident of Cook County, yet he’s running as a Republican/independent. Thorner surmises that Clark is just another one of those dirty tricks, another one of those oh-so-common Democrat fake candidates foisted on voters to confuse them and to get them to split up the vote in order to help a particular candidate.

In this case, the Democrats want the Republicans to split their votes between fake candidate Clark and legitimate Republican candidate Lauren Turelli — who ran unopposed in the GOP Primary — so that incumbent Democrat Karen May will again win in November.
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Lake County: Another Fake Republican Running in Local Race?”


Dold for Congress Updates

From the Dold for Congress campaign (10th District)…

Washington, D.C., June 7, 2010 — The National Federation of Independent Business, America’s leading small business association, announced its endorsement of Bob Dold in the race for the open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois’ 10th District.

The endorsement comes from NFIB’s Save America’s Free Enterprise Trust, the association’s political action committee, and is based on positions on key small business issues.

“As a small business owner himself, Bob Dold understands the issues and challenges that entrepreneurs face every day,” said Lisa Goeas, NFIB’s vice president for political operations.
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Dold for Congress Updates”


TeaPartyHD’s live coverage from Nevada and the race to defeat Harry Reid

Tune in to TeaPartyHD.com this evening at 7PM Pacific/10PM Eastern for live coverage of election results from Sharron Angle’s campaign election night HQ in Las Vegas. We’ll have updates on the numbers as the returns come in, interviews with folks in attendance, general punditry and a conservatively based good time.

Hosting the event will be Tony Loiacono from TeaPartyHD.com and Eric Odom from 73Wire.com. Word is that both Steve Foley from The Minority Report Blog and Tea Party Express will also make appearances … maybe several!!

This senatorial race is one of the most closely followed and watched races in the country this cycle and TeaPartyHD will be bringing you live coverage from the grassroots perspective. To watch, just point your browser to TeaPartyHD and click on the link to the broadcast. Join us at 7PM Pacific, when the polls close – and please tell 500 of your closest friends to watch as well.


Steve Rauschenberger Officially Launches Bid for 22nd District State Senate Seat

-By Warner Todd Huston

Steve Rauschengerger held the State Senate seat of the 22nd District for many years until he bowed out to make a run for Governor in 2006. Since that time Rauschenberger imagined that he had hung up his political hat, never to run again. That was until the current General Assembly retired for the Summer without a final budget. It was then that he knew he had to run again.

“This is the worst situation in Springfield I can ever imagine,” Rauschenberger said after his kickoff address to a crowd of about 75 people in his Elgin campaign office on Douglas Avenue. The Chicago-based leadership “felt politics were more important” than coming up with a balanced budget, Rauschenberger said.

“There are 48 other states that have a balanced budget,” Rauschenberger said, noting that the only other state in as dire a situation as Illinois is California, which has a $16 billion budget deficit.

Good luck to Mr. Rauschenberger.
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Steve Rauschenberger Officially Launches Bid for 22nd District State Senate Seat”


Bill Brady for Illinois: With Quinn at Helm 218,000 Illinois Jobs Lost

From Brady for Illinois Governor…

As usual, Governor Pat Quinn is attempting to distract from the real issues and his failure to lead. This time, he has help from the Democrat Governor’s Association.

On Friday, Governor Quinn was criticized for taking $75,000 in campaign contributions from the Teamsters – just before using his power to change McCormick Place reforms in order to specifically benefit the union. If not overruled by the General Assembly, Governor Quinn’s actions could have cost Chicago 66,000 jobs in the convention and tourism industry.
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Bill Brady for Illinois: With Quinn at Helm 218,000 Illinois Jobs Lost”


New NC Union-Based Political Party Fails to Get Enough Petition Signatures

-By Warner Todd Huston

Back in April we reported that unions in North Carolina banded together to try and start their own political party (as if the Democrats weren’t in thrall to them anyway). Well we are happy to report that the new North Carolina Families First Party failed to get the required number of petition signatures to authorize the effort.

This is not stopping the SEIU-based group from trying to punish North Carolina Democrats that aren’t sufficiently left-wing enough to suit them, however.

The Washington Post is reporting that the Service Employees International Union has recruited a candidate to run against first term Democrat Rep. Larry Kissell. Kissell was a “no” vote on Obamacare earlier this year.
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New NC Union-Based Political Party Fails to Get Enough Petition Signatures”


Gay Blogger Claims Mark Kirk (R, IL) Told Him He’s Gay

-By Warner Todd Huston

Michael Rogers has made an unsavory name for himself “outing” gay politicians. Today he has targeted for his next “outing” operation GOP Illinois Senate candidate Congressman Mark Kirk. It’s something Rogers says he’s known since 2004.

Why has Rogers waited some six years to “out” Kirk? Because, Rogers says, Kirk recently announced his support for the Pentagon’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that keeps gay members of the military serving under a cloud of silence about their sexual preferences. Kirk has said that he does not want DADT repealed and Rogers thinks that is an affront to Kirk’s supposed gay compatriots.
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Gay Blogger Claims Mark Kirk (R, IL) Told Him He’s Gay”


Hultgren for Congress: 3 Upcoming Parades, 2 Ways to Help and 1 BIG Endorsement!‏

From the Hultgren for Congress campaign (14th District)…

My strong record of fighting for job creation and economic growth, while reducing the tax burden for individuals and businesses, has earned our campaign for Congress the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce!

But, the most important endorsement I can receive is yours, which is why I need you to come out and show your support THIS WEEKEND in 3 upcoming parades!
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Hultgren for Congress: 3 Upcoming Parades, 2 Ways to Help and 1 BIG Endorsement!‏”


Ill. Gov. Who Says ‘I Always do the Right Thing,’ Said the Same thing About Blago

-By Warner Todd Huston

Sometimes words come back to haunt you, ya know? Ask Illinois Governor Pat Quinn who has just said something that is as bad as when a husband tells his wife she really does look fat in that dress. It’s something that just can’t be forgotten.

Last week Governor Pat “I’m For the Little Guy” Quinn took some guff for his pay-to-play union payoff when he signed an amendatory veto that benefited the Teamsters Union. As soon as Quinn issued the veto that would help the Teamsters his opponents highlighted the fact that Gov. Quinn only last month received $750,000 in political contributions from the union.

Quinn scoffed at the idea that he was handing his union pals a big payoff.
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Ill. Gov. Who Says ‘I Always do the Right Thing,’ Said the Same thing About Blago”


Kirk Bio Wrongly IDs Military Award, is That Worse Than ‘Mob Banker’ Alexi’s Financial Failures?

-By Warner Todd Huston

Representative Mark Kirk (R,IL) has admitted that the bio on his webpage has had to be altered to reflect a change in the identification of a military award it had previously accredited to him.

Kirk’s bio page originally claimed that he had been awarded the U.S. Navy’s Intelligence Officer of the Year award. This, however, was in error. It appears that his unit received this award, he did not individually receive the citation.

Kirk told the press, “upon a recent review of my records, I found that an award listed in my official biography was misidentified.” According to Navy records the Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award was issued to the entirety of the Intelligence Division Electronic Attack Wing at Aviano.

Kirk’s opponent, Alexi “the mob banker” Giannoulias has played this up as a major transgression, of course. Amusingly, Giannoulias comes from the same leftist wing of the Party that is currently excusing Connecticut Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal who didn’t just goof up a particular award he was given but completely lied about his service as a Marine in Vietnam… as in he never served in Vietnam.
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Kirk Bio Wrongly IDs Military Award, is That Worse Than ‘Mob Banker’ Alexi’s Financial Failures?”


GOP Will Repeal Obamacare if They Take Control of House

-By Warner Todd Huston

Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) told reporters that the Republicans are “committed to repealing the health care law” if they take back control of the House or Representatives in November.

Boehner was touting the GOP effort AmericaSpeakingOut.com. Earlier today Representative Peter Roskam debuted his op ed about the effort here on the blog.

Please do take advantage of this opportunity to make your voice heard by our GOP leaders.
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GOP Will Repeal Obamacare if They Take Control of House”


5th Distroct, David Ratowitz: ‘I stand for Liberty: Boldly and without Equivocation!’

From the Ratowitz for Congress campaign (5th District)…

U. S. Congressional Candidate, David Ratowitz (IL – 5), calls to task advocates of public corruption who use specious claims of racism to distract from their own dishonesty”

Chicago, IL, March 12, 2010 – Long time transparency and pro-liberty advocate Candidate for U. S. Congress from Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, David Ratowitz defends Liberty from false charges of racism.

OF LIBERTY AND RACE
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5th Distroct, David Ratowitz: ‘I stand for Liberty: Boldly and without Equivocation!’”


AmericaSpeakingOut.com: Listen, Learn and Lead

-By Representative Peter Roskam (R, IL)

If you’ve noticed the uproar around the country over the direction America is heading, you are one step ahead of the Democratic Majority. It appears everyone from Nancy Pelosi to the intern answering the phones has their fingers in their ears and their eyes clamped shut when it comes to responding to the will of the people. Unfortunately, their mouths are still working overtime.

Alexander Hamilton stated the fact best: “Here, Sir, the people govern.” Congress would be wise to listen to the American people. Thankfully, in our social media age, it’s possible for Congress to be wise in ways almost unimaginable a few years ago.

Today/On Tuesday, May 25th, I joined my colleague Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), in a major national announcement unveiling an exciting new project we are spearheading called “America Speaking Out.” This effort will equip men and women all across America to dramatically affect the direction of our country by offering solutions to the tough challenges we face. This initiative draws on first-of-its kind technology to enable a meaningful two-way conversation about the policies our nation needs to pursue to get back on the right track.

Active, enthused participation is perhaps the hallmark of successful democracies. Through AmericaSpeakingOut.com, and through in-person town halls in congressional districts across the country, House Republicans can now engage the American people in the process of governing like never before.
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AmericaSpeakingOut.com: Listen, Learn and Lead”


Rep. Jesse Jackson Endorsing Republican Mark Kirk?

-By Warner Todd Huston

The final answer is, “no,” Chicago-based Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. is not endorsing a Republican to take Barack Obama’s old Illinois U.S. Senate seat. But Jackson is making news by seeming to be toying with the idea of abandoning the troubled Democrat candidate, Alexi Giannoulias.

And, in the end, that’s all this is. It’s Jesse Jackson, Jr. employing the ages old Chicago Democrat game of fishing for payoffs.

The game goes like this: Long-time Democrat strong-man wants a pay off of one kind or another so he pretends he might support someone surprising, someone that isn’t the expected pick. Party bigwigs rush to payoff said strong-man so that he will support the usual suspect. Strong-man gets big rewards and ends up supporting the usual suspect anyway.
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Rep. Jesse Jackson Endorsing Republican Mark Kirk?”


Hayes Calls Jackson’s Endorsement of Kirk ‘Shenanigan to Regain Independent Voters’

From the Isaac Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2ndCongressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement in response to Jonathan Allen of Politico reporting Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) is considering an endorsement of Rep. Mark Kirk (R) in the IL U.S. Senate Race:
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Hayes Calls Jackson’s Endorsement of Kirk ‘Shenanigan to Regain Independent Voters’”


(Ill.) Brady Campaign’s First Step At Serious Campaign for Gov.

-By Warner Todd Huston

Not long ago, I asked someone, anyone, to take control of Bill Brady’s gubernatorial campaign. It looks like my wish is fulfilled because Senator Brady has hired a new press secretary, and one with some major experience at that.

The new media boss for Brady is one Patty Schuh, who has worked for the Illinois GOP for 25 years. Schuh started with the state party in 1985 and was until this month the press secretary and assistant to Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno. Schuh also worked for James “Pate” Philip when he was president and minority leader of the Illinois Senate.

Schuh, a Chicago native, is a mass communications graduate of Illinois State University and worked as a news director for radio stations in Macomb, and then as political affairs director for Morton Buildings Inc. in Morton before joining the Senate staff.

This is a very good development. Through the grapevine I was hearing that Brady’s campaign was arrogantly ignoring every snippet of advice that so many top operatives were offering them and the result has been multiple mistakes, the sort that a well controlled campaign could easily have voided.
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(Ill.) Brady Campaign’s First Step At Serious Campaign for Gov.”


Hayes Applauds Rejection of Gitmo Transfer to Thompson

From the Hayes for Congress campaign (2nd District)…

CHICAGO: Republican nominee for Illinois 2nd Congressional District Isaac Hayes released the following statement today following the House Armed Services Committee rejects the plan to shift terror detainees to Illinois:

“I applaud the House Armed Services Committee for unanimously approving legislation that bans spending on any facility inside the United States to house Guantánamo detainees. From the very beginning this ridiculous idea was opposed by the American people. At a time when the federal government refuses to do anything to secure our borders, transplanting high-risk terrorists near Chicago would have resulted in a welcome mat for Al-Qaeda. These terrorists should remain exactly where they are – far from the American people and far from the possibility of escape.”

For more information, please go to: www.isaac4honesty.com


Don’t Come Home ‘Til Your Job is Done

From the Office of State Senator Chris Lauzen (R, Aurora)…

In ancient Sparta, Spartan mothers commanded their soldier sons, “Come home victorious, or come home on your shield.”

This was the old version of the British Empire’s declaration, “Victory or Death”. The modern Illinois version of this refrain, contained in hundreds of recent emails, letters and calls to my office from recently concerned Illinois constituents. Citizens and editorial boards warned, “Don’t leave Springfield until you produce a responsible balanced budget!”
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Don’t Come Home ‘Til Your Job is Done”


10th District: GOP’s Bob Dold on Jobs

From the Dold for Congress campaign (10th District)…

Our National unemployment rate rose to 9.9% last month and the unemployment rate in Illinois is even higher, now at 11.5%. There is some good news in these numbers as our country created 290,000 net new jobs in April, and there is evidence that workers who had given up seeking work reentered the search for employment.

There remain, however, an unacceptable number of people unemployed. We must not accept this as a “new normal” and herald an economy that leaves millions of people without work. Our Federal government deserves much of the blame for the slow recovery of our jobs market.
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10th District: GOP’s Bob Dold on Jobs”