He was in and about the state last Friday. He was met with about 25 protesters at the Hilton in Effingham. There was some coverage about it in the Effingham Daily Newspaper. Here is what Bill Grimes wrote.
Visit sparks protest
By BILL GRIMES,
Daily News
While Dick Durbin was lunching with business and civic leaders Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn, about 25 people walked up and down the sidewalk in front of the hotel to protest the U.S. senator's visit.
Protestors said they were upset because of comments Durbin made last month about conditions at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where many suspected terrorists are being held.
Durbin had said an e-mail report on conditions at the prison brought to his mind several brutal dictatorships of the 20th century, including Germany under Adolf Hitler and Cambodia under Pol Pot. He has since apologized for his choice of words.
But that apology wasn't enough for several protesters, who spent more than an hour in front of the hotel carrying signs with sayings such as, "Down With Durbin," "Censure Durbin," and "Joe Stalin, Pol Pot, Dick Durbin."
"We're Americans. We support the troops," said Paula Bushby of Effingham.
Protest organizer William Bence said the gathering was an impromptu response to Durbin's comments.
"It's not proportional," Bence said. "Turning up the air conditioner on these guys (prisoners) is not comparable to Auschwitz (a death camp in present-day Poland operated by Nazi Germany during World War II).
"I don't feel like these kind of statements are supportive of the troops," Bence added, noting that any concern over the welfare of Guantanamo prisoners may be misplaced.
"What is with the concern? They're just a bunch of murderous thugs," Bence said.
Bence, a local radio talk show host, added that he believed Durbin's comments were politically motivated.
"I don't think he would have said anything if we'd had President Kerry or President Gore," he said. "I really think the whole thing was meant to disparage President Bush."
Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola said the protesters' ire is misplaced, because of Durbin's overall record on military issues.
"I think Sen. Durbin has a solid record when it comes to standing up for the troops and veterans," Angarola said, noting that the senator has recently sponsored legislation that would make it easier for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to get treatment.
Angarola said Durbin has also sponsored legislation mandating armor for certain types of military vehicles, as well as increased benefits for Illinois veteran
Man I do love emailing and calling his office. I get some perverse joy out of it. And he so richly deerves it. I hear he got some stations in Illinois to refuse to broadcast the ad. Nice muzzling of the media he does.
Mr. Grimes: Your statement that IL Senator DICK Durbin apologized for his inappropriate accusations of US soldiers is incorrect. DICK Durbin never apologized for his remarks.
Durbin said, "Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line. To them, I extend my heartfelt apologies."
What Durbin should have said was "My remarks crossed the line. I am sorry."
What Durbin said, in essence, is that what he said is true and that some people simply cannot handle the truth and for that he is sorry. WRONG ANSWER DICK.
And Bill, you should not have tried to cover for him.