Proft Surprised by Dillard’s Entrance into the [Illinois Governor's] Race as a Republican

Proft 2010 ^ | July 8, 2009 | Dan Proft

[BillyBoy]

Proft Surprised by Dillard’s Entrance into the [Illinois Governor's] Race as a Republican

from Proft for Governor campaign

July 8, 2009

In anticipation of State Senator Kirk Dillard’s announcement this morning of his candidacy for Governor, GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft issued the following statement:

"I want to welcome Sen. Dillard to the race, though I admit to being a bit surprised he decided to run as a Republican. I want to make it clear from the outset, as a point of differentiation, that I will refuse any offer made by President Barack Obama to appear in Dan Proft for Governor television commercials.

At his announcement this morning, Sen. Dillard will likely tout his 15 years of experience in the Illinois General Assembly and his track record of bi-partisanship. So let’s review both:"

Dillard’s bipartisanship – Endorsement of Barack Obama. Sen. Dillard appeared in a campaign commercial for then-Sen. Obama during the Presidential primary campaign in which Dillard said:
“Senator Obama worked on some of the deepest issues we had and he was successful in a bi-partisan way…Republican legislators respected Sen. Obama. His negotiation skills and his ability to understand both sides would serve the country well.”

Sen. Dillard calls this “statesmanship” not an endorsement. I disagree. I would ask Sen. Dillard how well he thinks President Obama’s skills are in fact serving the country after all?

Dillard’s 15 years in the General Assembly – Taxes, Spending, Debt.

• Blago’s $10 billion bond scheme. Sen. Dillard was one of only four GOP State Senators to cross party lines in order to vote for Rod Blagojevich’s $10 billion bond scheme in 2003. This deal doubled the state’s bonded indebtedness in one fell swoop. This insider deal is also famously remembered for the $800,000 fee given to disgraced former GOP National Committeeman Bob Kjellander as part of that deal.

By contrast, I opposed the bond deal in writing and I called for Kjellander’s resignation after the details of this deal came to light six years ago, and was one of the first Republicans in Illinois to do so.

• Sales tax increase to bail out the RTA. Last year, Sen. Dillard was one of only three GOP State Senators to vote to increase the sales tax in Cook and the collar counties to bail out the mismanaged Regional Transit Authority, an entity that is already subsidized by the state for half of its operating budget each year.

By contrast, I am the only candidate for Governor who publicly called out Sen. Dillard and the other two GOP State Senators at the time for voting for this tax increase/bailout:
http://www.urqmedia.com/proft/contentview.asp?c=206156

• State Spending. During Sen. Dillard’s 15 years in Springfield, general fund spending in the state has increased at nearly four times the rate of population growth in Illinois (adjusted for inflation). The profligate spending in state government is the primary reason we have “budget crises” like the one we have currently for FY 2010.

By contrast, I am the only candidate for Governor who has proposed statutory spending caps for state government because I understand that fundamentally we have a spending problem not a revenue problem.

It is important to recall that for half of Sen. Dillard’s tenure, the GOP was in the majority in the State Senate so there were plenty of opportunities to propose system change ideas. Sen. Dillard is an affable gentleman. In fact, I like him. But the question for conservatives is this: Are we going to nominate someone who thinks our state’s problems can be solved through closer cooperation with political insiders intent on preserving a fixed system? Or are we going to nominate a candidate who will take the fight to the Chicago Democrats on behalf of people who play by the rules in Illinois?

For Republicans who think our state’s problems can be solved by tinkering on the margins and through closer cooperation with the current power structure, Sen. Dillard is your candidate.

[BillyBoy]

I haven't endorsed anyone from Governor (and although Proft is conservative I don't think he's my first choice), but he IS spot on about Dillard here. The guy is a combiner.

Apparently Senator Dillard was robo-calling a bunch of Illinois freepers yesterday (who unfortunately ended up on his mailing list) to announce his candidacy for Governor and ask them to "spread the word" about him (I didn't get a personal call from him but my mother did). Since Dillard wants his name out there, I figured I'd do my part and bring freepers up to speed.

I'm sure few outside of Illinois have ever heard of Dillard, but here in Illinois, he is the ultimate Springfield political insider. His wife, Stephanie, is the great, great granddaughter of civil war era Illinois Governor, Richard James Oglesby. (Oglesby was the individual who nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency) Dillard was the Chief of Staff to Governor Jim Edgar, Director of Legislative Affairs for Governor James R. Thompson (both GOP "moderates") He's also a former state judge, as well as former a committeeman of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee (they make all the decisions for the state party, not the chairman), and was chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party, 1994-1998 (DuPage county is the Illinois equivalent of Orange County, California, it's basically the HQ of GOP, Inc. in this state). And last but not least, Dillard has been State Senator for 15 years. He is the Senate GOP Whip (in a Senate that started with a Republican majority when he joined but currently has a veto proof Dem majority...hey sounds like the U.S. Senate!) and is considered "dean" of the DuPage delegation.

I'd say Dillard is basically a Ray LaHood type, in that he is considered nominally "conservative" on paper (pro-life, traditional marriage, etc,), but he's also considered one of those "respected on both sides of the aisle" types who "works well with Democrats" and is a "close, personal, family friend of Obama" (yes, mega barf there). He's also a big tax-and-spender porker type.

Bottom line is that Dillard is the GOP establishment's choice for Governor (both at the state and national level), along with the other "Kirk", Mark Kirk, as their hand-picked, personally recruited choice for the U.S. Senate '(gee, thanks Senator Cornyn!) Funny, at a time where Obama is becoming less and less popular with independent voters, the IL GOP is pushing for a ticket of Obama Republicans as their slate.

IMO, for both Governor and Senator, conservatives should be of the "anyone but Kirk" mindset.

Senator Dillard with Senator Obama

[BillyBoy]

Seems that ever since Dillard announced his campaign for Governor yesterday, the Obama ad he recorded during the height of last year's hotly contested Dem primary has been pulled and can't be found anywhere on the Internet. Hmmm. In any case, some interesting material on Kirk Dillard:

Mainstream Media on Dillard...
The Chicago Sun-Times has said that Dillard "has a reputation for getting along with all types and factions."The Daily Herald has been quoted saying "Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, is one of the most qualified individuals for the job of lawmaker. In 2004, the New York Times called on Dillard to run against Democratic candidate, (and close Dillard friend), Barack Obama. The New York Times cited Dillard as a "serious lawmaker."

Dillard's Obama Ad Spot

Dillard: “Sen. Obama worked on some of the deepest issues we had and he was successful in a bipartisan way.” “Republican legislators respected Sen. Obama. His negotiation skills and an ability to understand both sides would serve the country very well.”

Kirk Dillard - Obama Republican
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9OrBcyHH24

Dillard endorses Lisa Madigan?
(He says it wasn't really an endorsement)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2009/07/dillard-endorses-lisa-madigan.html

and...

Lisa Madigan Likes Dillard, Too!
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2009/07/madigan-likes-dillard-too.html
Attorney General Madigan said Kirk Dillard's fawning endorsement of her for reelection as Attorney General, the previous day, would be used on her mailings into DuPage County during the upcoming campaign against Birkett.

Republican leader scorches Dillard for doing Obama ad
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/jun/27/news/chi-dillard27jun27
“To say I was disappointed in him would be an understatement,” [former Illinois Senate President Pate] Philip said.

SOME OF HIS RINO-ISH POSITIONS:
Senator Dillard supported the interests of the National Taxpayers United of Illinois 10% in 2001-2002

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to United Republican Fund of Illinois's position, Senator Dillard received a rating of 25%

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Illinois Environmental Council's position, Senator Dillard received a rating of 86%.

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Illinois League of Conservation Voters’ position, Senator Dillard received a rating of 100%.

2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Independent Voters of Illinois's position, Senator Dillard received a rating of 50%

2005-2006 Senator Dillard supported the interests of the Independent Voters of Illinois 40% in 2005-2006.

Senator Dillard supported the interests of the Illinois Gun Owners of America 55% in 2002.

[BillyBoy]

And the old "he has to be friendly to Dems to get elected" excuse doesn't work here because Dillard represents a "safe Republican" seat in DuPage County.

PING.

[BillyBoy]

And the old "he has to be friendly to Dems to get elected" excuse doesn't work here because Dillard represents a "safe Republican" seat in DuPage County.

PING.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Dillard = Big giant liberal Combiner douche.

[Nomen Klatura]

Can someone please tell me the names of the Illinois Central Republican Committee people who were responsible for cutting Senate candidate Jack Ryan loose after a scandal broke, and then picking Alan Keyes to take his place, thereby ensuring that Barack Obama would be elected US Senator from Illinois? Was Dillard part of that crew? I would like the complete list of names so I can know who is largely to blame for our current situation.

[BillyBoy]

The fun part is that apparently Dullard is being asked about the Obama endorsement at every GOP event he speaks at, and his campaign is only two days old. My guess is he's going to stop these little Q&A sessions soon.

Also, on Public Affairs, they caught Dullard off-guard and asked the RINO about his relationship with the combine. Here's what he had to say:

==========================================

http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2008/05/better-than-hannity-and-matthews.html

Jeff Berkowitz: … [John] Kass says the [Illinois] Republicans can’t go after corruption because you’re sort of tied in with the Combine. What’s your response?

Senator Kirk Dillard: You know I don’t want to get into the McKennas but I think that the ethics law that I passed with Senator Obama as the co-sponsor gives you the ability to look at these hard questions, including John Cox’s so—those are good questions.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you think you are getting at it with that law?

Senator Kirk Dillard: No doubt about it. That’s how you track the money.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you think you need more legislation or will that do it?

Senator Kirk Dillard: I think it does it. I mean what more could you want. You can see everything over $150 that is taken in or spent… you wouldn’t even know this stuff if it weren’t for that law. The law works and it works really well.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, is there an Illinois Combine?

Senator Kirk Dillard: Of course, there’s an Illinois Combine.

Jeff Berkowitz: And you don’t like it. You would like to remove the Illinois Combine?

Senator Kirk Dillard: I would certainly like to dismantle the Combine with respect to personal gain. But I don’t want to get rid of and I don’t like the word Combine—I don’t want to get rid of the regional cooperation that’s there between DuPage County and Mayor Daley with respect to economic development around O’Hare. Or, what we just saw in the RTA package, which was passed from right here where this studio is, working with [Senators] John Millner, Dan Cronin and I to benefit Joliet and Naperville, while taking care of the North Shore, as well. You know, the Skokie Swift in Evanston needs transportation. Evanston is a major metropolis. And, you know, Chicago has to have a mass transit system, Jeff, it’s what make our city different than any others. And, if I can, for a small sales tax, get property tax relief in DuPage County, while keeping our system great, I’m for it, regardless of what the rest of my caucus thinks.

[fieldmarshaldj]

“I don’t like liberalism and corruption, but I don’t want to get rid of it.” What a douche.

[PhilCollins]

Proft shouldn’t have been surprised that Dillard would run as a Republican. Dillard has been a republican state senator since 1993. If Proft didn’t know that fact, he’s too uninformed to be governor.

[BillyBoy]

>> Proft shouldn’t have been surprised that Dillard would run as a Republican. Dillard has been a republican state senator since 1993. <<

Phil, I believe he's being sarcastic since Dillard is always hanging out with/praising Democrats.

[PhilCollins]

I was being sarcastic, too.

[chicagolady]

Thats an EASY one!

Here you go dear....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYVQ-Ta9uE8&feature=related

[KevinDavis]

Oh by the way Dan Proft is not that innocent either..

[BillyBoy]

As I said I’m NOT endorsing Proft, I’m just agreeing with assessment of Dillard as a combine RINO

[KevinDavis]

I’m not supporting him either... I don’t know why he is running he has no chance in hell...

[BillyBoy]

>> I don’t know why he is running he has no chance in hell...

That's my opinion on Adam Andrzejewski but for some reason a bunch of freepers think a guy with zero political experience who started a phone book company is the "best candidate" for Governor. No wonder the Dems get away with running Franken for Senate and Obama for President when our side is running even less qualified people. :: sigh::

[KevinDavis]

I hope to god Obie is not running.. I’m supporting Brady again.. I still think he was the best chance for us to win... I trust downstate politicians more than I do Chicago politicians...

[Impy]

"I look forward to having Lisa Madigan as attorney general when I'm the governor."

I voted for Topinka in 2006. Sorry if any of you read that while eating breakfast.

I will NOT vote for Dullard. He looks like the biggest D-bag on the planet.

[Impy]

What did Proft do that’s bad?

[PhilCollins]

I didn’t vote for Topinka. If I thought that the race would be close, I would have voted for her, since I didn’t want to split the anti-Blago vote, helping Blago win. In Oct. 2006, I thought that he would win by at least 10%, so I voted for Randy Stufflebeam, of the Constitution Party.