Tempers flare as Ill. Senate candidates face off (Sauerberg questions Durbin's patriotism )

suntimes.com ^ | October 9, 2008 | AP Stelth Author

[Syncro]

Tempers flare as Ill. Senate candidates face off

October 9, 2008

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg accused incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of endangering troops in Iraq by criticizing the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, prompting an outraged response from Durbin as the two debated Thursday night.

''I don't know where the bottom is anymore in your campaign. Why don't you debate the issues?'' Durbin said. ''Common decency still works.''

''It does still work,'' Sauerberg shot back, ''and you should have shown it in your remarks about our troops.''

*snip*

Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, is seeking a third term, arguing that he has both the clout and the policies to help Illinoisans.

But Sauerberg, a newcomer to politics, describes Durbin as one of the true insiders who has contributed to failure and gridlock in Washington

*snip*

''I do not apologize for bringing to the attention of the people of the United States of America his behaviors that I think have probably led to possibly more troop hazard in Iraq than if he hadn't made them,'' Sauerberg said. ''This emboldens the enemy. This probably puts our soldiers in danger.''

Sauerberg was largely referring to a comment Durbin made in 2005 saying prisoners at Guantanamo Bay were receiving treatment that sounded like something ''done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags or some mad regime.'' The comment made no reference to U.S. troops.

*snip*

He also called it ''reaching very, very low'' to question an opponent's patriotism.

[Syncro]

Sauerberg said. ''This emboldens the enemy. This probably puts our soldiers in danger.''

Sauerberg was largely referring to a comment Durbin made in 2005 saying prisoners at Guantanamo Bay were receiving treatment that sounded like something ''done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags or some mad regime.'' The comment made no reference to U.S. troops.

So what if Durbin made no reference to U.S. troops? It still put our soldiers in danger.

That was the point that Sauerberg was making, and it is a valid one.

IMO Durbin and Murtha are traitors.

[jospehm20]

IMO opinion also. In a sane society they would be tried for it.

[Candor7]

Go get him Steve!

Lay it on. The Dem traitors need to hear it and so does our public.

[Brizick]

I was tempted to watch this debate, but I am so sick of 0bama and the crap in this state which spreads to Washington that I couldn't do it.

Needless to say, Sauerberg has my vote. DICK Durbin should be kicked to the curb, but I just don't know if Chicagoans have had enough to 'throw the bums out'.

[MarkeyD]

I couldn’t stand Illinois anymore, I had to get out. I moved to the reddest of states (Idaho).

[skr]

...saying prisoners at Guantanamo Bay were receiving treatment that sounded like something ''done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags or some mad regime.'' The comment made no reference to U.S. troops.

Well, who was allegedly giving this Nazi-like treatment if not the soldiers, AP Stelth (sic) author?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Idaho’s Communist ?

[MarkeyD]

Up in Moscow, yes.

[Brizick]

. . . I had to get out. I moved to the reddest of states (Idaho).

Moving to a red state is the only option.  There is NOWHERE else in the world to go, except a blood red state in America.

I'm jealous.

[TheThinker]

Moving to a red state is the only option. There is NOWHERE else in the world to go, except a blood red state in America.

Isn't that sad though? Tells you what kind of state we're in.

[TheThinker]

He also called it ''reaching very, very low'' to question an opponent's patriotism.

Then it was very low of Ms. Pelosi to do the same. And why not call a spade a spade. Patriotism isn't some amorphous concept. You support your government in time of national danger.

[jan in Colorado]

I moved to the reddest of states (Idaho).

Colorado use to be red...now we have illegals and liberals from California and we are quickly turning from purple to blue!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Seriously, we need to stop using those media newsspeak colors. We’re not reds. Reds are communist rodents.

[roses of sharon]

BRING BACK THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES!

[babygene]

“I moved to the reddest of states (Idaho).”

Welcome to Idaho...

[incredulous joe]

I dunno, I don’t have the quote on hand, but I do make permanent checks against politicians for such comments and Durbin has such a check ~ in my book.

In osome states this guy is a traitor. In Illinois he is a senator.

[mesoman7]

Gee...when I read that comment, I thought it was me. I left Illinois for Idaho 7 years ago. I lived most of my life in IL...but NEVER in Cook County.

[Vanders9]

Odd isn’t it? Everywhere else in the world red equals “left wing” and blue equals the “right wing”

[Nextrush]

Dick Durbin’s gross comments about our troops should never be forgotten.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

What’s wrong with having all of the candidates debate together? There actually are six candidates running for this U.S. Senate seat. I’m a registered Republican, but I will always find it ridiculous when all of the serious, legitimate candidates are not included during all of the debates at every political level from the POTUS all the way down to the most local levels of political office. I always believe in fairness in the political system, and pretending that all of U.S. politics really just involves the Democrats and Republicans will always be silly and unfair to everybody else.