Posted on 10/10/2008 9:33:48 PM PDT by Maelstorm
Only days after backtracking on questioning Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's patriotism, Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg reheated the issue Thursday by accusing him of actions that "embolden the enemy" and "put our soldiers in danger" in Iraq.
Sauerberg's remarks, during a debate at Knox College in Galesburg, prompted Durbin to ask "where the bottom is" in his opponent's campaign.
Two days earlier, during a joint appearance at the Tribune's editorial board, Sauerberg said of questioning Durbin's patriotism: "Maybe that's fair. Maybe it's not." He also told Durbin, "I apologize if you're upset with me" and praised the incumbent's work on behalf of the troops.
But on Thursday night, in the last debate before the Nov. 4 election, Sauerberg told an Illinois Radio Network audience that he was only voicing a frequent concern of voters by questioning Durbin's patriotism.
Much of the criticism was drawn from a June 2005 Senate floor speech in which Durbin said an FBI report on the American treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay could be compared to "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags."
Durbin later apologized.
rap30@aol.com
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
It’s a legitimate question, but the Nazi comparison is yesterday’s news.
See that is the problem with the GOP, this is not yesterday’s news it is a pattern. They still think this way. What I’d do if I’d been running is I’d have been trotting out military men and women denouncing Durbin all through the campaign. I’d have used every opportunity to hit him on the issue till everyone remembered and tied Durbin to the negative. The only way to win against incumbents is to drive up their negatives.
And good old Durbin has a lot of them even in liberal Chicago. This is probably too late in the game but if Sauerberg had gotten a handle on fundraiser earlier and had gotten his legs he’d have been much better off at this point.
Sauerberg has nothing to lose at this point. He should attack Durbin at every opportunity. Durbin also has called for the repeal of the Bush tax cuts which would raise everyone’s taxes and that is a very sensitive issue for the public.
Does sandberg have a chance? my state gop decided to not field a candidate for senate and congress....green party picked up the slack. what is WRONG!!!!
You mean calling his patriotism into question is legitimate? Isn’t that like calling Madonna’s virtue or good taste into question?
It’s legit, just trivial. Durbin’s a ‘Rat.
No, Sauerberg doesn’t have a chance. That’s why I’ll vote for Chad Koppie, of the Constitution Party. He’s the only candidate, in that race, who is pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-illegal alien. If you know anyone, who lives in IL, please ask them to read Koppie’s site, www.koppieforsenate.com.
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