Posted on 02/21/2006 2:46:45 PM PST by Kuksool
A post-debate news conference among the Republican governor candidates Monday turned into a sometimes-surreal bash session of state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.
The strange goings-on started after Topinka threw down the gauntlet in her debate closing statement, calling on her wealthy foes to release a decade of tax returns to show how they’ve made their money.
With the live Daily Herald/Chicago Public Radio debate on WBEZ 91.5 FM over, Topinka initially sat down with Sugar Grove businessman Jim Oberweis, Bloomington state Sen. Bill Brady, Chicago millionaire Ron Gidwitz and perennial candidate Andy Martin of Chicago to answer questions from reporters.
Faced with the prospect of an unregulated mini-debate, an audibly upset Topinka spokesman, Eric Robinson, pulled her out of the room, saying she’d come back and answer questions after her opponents finished.
Topinka waited in another part of the radio station for more than 20 minutes as her foes blasted away at the ethics plan she released Sunday.
Oberweis called Topinka talking about ethics an “oxymoron,” given that she’s accepted campaign checks from banks doing business with her office. Gidwitz called Topinka “hypocritical” for releasing an ethics plan after spending decades in state government without doing so before.
At that point, Brady noticed Topinka wasn’t there. “Judy should answer this. Where is she? Where is she? Judy?” Brady said.
Bagel-munching perennial candidate Andy Martin then started singing for her return. “Judy, come through the door. Don’t say nevermore.”
In the end, Topinka came back out to engage her critics, who declined to leave. “The boys have had enough time to beat up on me behind my back,” said Topinka, arguing that her office bids all state investment contracts and not all donors have gotten business.
Topinka ripped Gidwitz for hiring “fancy handlers” who‘ve failed to help him ascend in the polls and said Gidwitz and Oberweis bash her because she’s the front-runner so far.
As for the tax returns, Brady agreed to release one year’s worth, which showed his family’s 2004 income as $581,059. Gidwitz volunteered to release a couple of years’ worth of returns, and his 2004 version showed income of $1.8 million and charitable donations of $850,000. Topinka won’t release her returns until Wednesday and Oberweis said he’d think about whether to release any.
Hello gang. I've been missing for a few days from FR because I was focusing on the debates in the IL Governor primary. Here what I have to report.
First they need to sue her for calling them "boys"
So what do you think?
From Rochelle, IL
Ah, Illinois politics. Kinda leaves you feeling like you just stole a bowl of soup from a homeless man.
The republican party in Illinois is pathetic. So pathetic that they are going to lose to someone as pathetic as blagojovich.
Yea.....right.
Second: You're pro abortion.
Third: Your anti 2nd Amendment.
Fourth: Your pro-illegal immigration.
So Judy with all due respect sit down, and shut up.
I'm voting for Oberweis.
Got Guv?
L
That was about 10 years ago and I still feel the need to shower frequently.
L
At least there isn't anyone named "Ryan" running this time.
Hi neighbor! It's not like the old 'hawks of the mid 60's. That's when I enjoyed NHL hockey.
The state of the GOP is so poor, I'm tempted to root for the current governor. If Illinois Republicans can't do any better than this crop of losers, they don't deserve to win. Even New Jersey Republicans have a better operation than the party in Illinois.
Furthermore, having Blago as Governor could keep state 'Rats on the defensive.
The primary is going to down between Oberweis and Topinka. Either would be a strong candidate against Blago.
Gidwitz is cramming up the airwaves with his ads. They're good, but when you meet Gidwitz in person, he is a boring speaker.
Last year, Blago said there was no more money for social programs. Now that is election season, Blago promising all sorts of spending increases for child care, education, and health care for seniors. He also swears not to raise taxes. This week, he is touring the state, to kick off his re-elction campaign and warning the voters of corrupt Republicans. Talk about the "pot calling the kettle black.". This will be the last chance the GOP has to win a statewide election of any kind. If the IL GOP doesn't beat Blago, then I may consider moving to Merriville, IN.
If what you write comes about then it's Oberweis for me. As far as I'm concerned Topinka is a no-starter.
I was unsurprised that IL people nominated this Topinka person. She is the most liberal person ever to run for high office on a Republican ticket. People in IL in both parties are drunk on liberalism. She may win in the fall.
Nor was I surprised. My remark about her being a non-starter was personal in regard to my vote options.
Actually, if you look at the Republican vote tallies, the combined conservative vote outpaced her by over 88,000 votes. Had the conservatives running played it smart and fell in line behind one candidate (IMHO Oberweis would have been the logical choice...his coming in at 2nd place & 8 pts. behind) they would have defeated her.
That belies the idea that a conservative can't win in Illinois. We could have won the primary if we'd not have multiple candidates, and I certainly believe we'd be able to beat out Blago.
There's some talk, I understand, that Brady was the one who blew it for the conservatives. Some are saying he even may have done it to curry favor with the Topinka camp. I don't know about that. I'm not that much in to Illinois politics. But I do know that if the conservatives in Illinois are going to get back in to state office they have to settle behind a viable candidate. To me that's Oberweis because of the votes he garnered.
Now for the general election. I know a lot of conservatives are talking about sitting this one out or voting Constitutional Party, or whatever. I personally think that's a mistake. Our first goal should be to get Blago out. As difficult it may be to support a candidate like Topinka (and for me that's a BIG problem), I'll still do that to be successful against Blago. This gives us time to come up with a conservative candidate who can run successfully against Topinka, who will then be running on her record. Again, I believe Oberweis showed he can do it. This would also show the state we mean business when it comes to qualified, honest candidates.
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