Posted on 02/07/2002 11:33:36 AM PST by BillyBoy
February 7, 2002
BY SCOTT FORNEK, STAFF REPORTER
Not surprisingly, all three Republican Senate candidates paid homage to Ronald Reagan during a spirited debate Wednesday, but Gold Coast businessman John Cox turned to another president to deliver a blow guaranteed to make any Republican wince.
"While I'm at it, Mr. Oberweis, you have a problem with the truth, because you don't tell the whole truth," Cox told rival Jim Oberweis. "We don't need another Bill Clinton."
It was the roughest jab in an often contentious debate between Cox, Oberweis and state Rep. Jim Durkin--who are all running in the March 19 primary, hoping for a chance to run against incumbent Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin in November.
By chance, the City Club-sponsored event fell on Reagan's 91st birthday--and all three debaters mentioned the former president. But none paid much attention to Reagan's famed 11th commandment, "Thou shalt not criticize other Republicans."
Cox was the most aggressive, presenting Durkin with a canned ham that he called a present for Durkin's support of Gov. Ryan's $12 billion Illinois FIRST program.
"We thought we'd give you a little pork," Cox said.
Durkin later downplayed the stunt to reporters, saying "you know, coming from the ham that gave it to me."
And Durkin took a dig at Cox's and Oberweis' wealth, saying "unlike my two opponents, I'm like the 99 percent that are not millionaires."
Oberweis, 55, is chairman of the family-owned Oberweis Dairy in Aurora and two investment firms. Cox, 46, is a lawyer, accountant and businessman. Both Oberweis and Cox are pumping their own wealth into their campaigns.
Durkin, 41, a resident of west suburban Westchester, is in his fourth term in the state House--a theme he used repeatedly.
"The issues I've talked about are the issues I've worked on for the last 7 1/2 years," Durkin said. "I think I've got a good record in Springfield."
But Cox tried to turn that record against Durkin, considered by many GOP insiders to be the front-runner.
"You've been a consistent vote for casino gambling, for the casino deal, for the liquor tax, for the license [plate] tax--for all the deals that have really made the public sick and cynical," Cox said.
The three also tangled over abortion. Both Cox and Durkin said they would support a constitutional amendment banning abortion. But Oberweis said he would not.
"I have a great deal of respect for the framers of our Constitution," Oberweis said. "And as a conservative, I would be hesitant to vote for an amendment."
All three say they oppose abortion, but Oberweis supports a woman's right to have the procedure--a position Cox attacked.
"I'm not going to equivocate," Cox said. "You know, saying you're personally pro-life but not favoring an amendment is like saying you're personally for freedom, but you think slavery's a good idea."
Oberweis hit Cox for saying he supports reconfiguring O'Hare Airport's runways but not expanding the airport--and putting a third airport in Peotone first.
" I'm not going to equivocate and try to play both sides of the coin like that," Oberweis said. "It's clear we must meet the needs of the future. Now, having said that, I'm not at all sure that the George Ryan-Mayor Daley plan that has been proposed is the right plan."
But the sharpest exchange came when Oberweis jabbed Cox and Durkin for lacking campaign funds. Oberweis' disclosure reports show him with $1,033,194 in the bank--$1 million of it his own money--at the end of the year. Durkin had just $36,593, and Cox had just $36,113.
"I'd like to ask the other two candidates to address the finance issue," Oberweis said.
Cox insisted he has already put in $600,000 of his own money and has another $1 million at his disposal, but has not yet reported it because of a clerical error by his campaign treasurer.
"You don't tell the whole truth," Cox told Oberweis. "You know that there are newspaper articles out there that say I have a million dollars in an account, but you persist in laying around saying I don't have enough resources. We don't need another Bill Clinton."
Each of the three argued he is the one to beat the popular Durbin. Oberweis displayed a Durbin fund-raising letter that singled Oberweis out as a potential threat, Durkin said he was "the only one who's going to be able to beat Dick Durbin," and Cox said "Durbin is plenty worried about my ability to talk about the issues."
But one GOP consultant who sat through the debate was not so sure: "Do you really think any of these three have Dick Durbin quaking in his boots?"
MOST DUBIOUS CLAIM TO FAME
"I've got the experience. I'm the only one of the three of us who's run a federal race. I ran for Congress two years ago."
-- John Cox, who spent more than $644,000 of his own money in the 10th Congressional District primary, coming in fifth in an 11-candidate race with 10 percent of the vote
A POSITION TOUGH TO ARGUE WITH
" I happen to be one of those who is very concerned about seeing someone put to death."
--Jim Oberweis, who supports Gov. Ryan's moritorium on the death penalty
STRANGEST ARGUMENT "In the Year 2000 we spent $2 billion on all federal, state and local races. We spent $8 billion on potato chips. I think politics is a lot more important than potato chips." -- John Cox on why he does not support the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill
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GOP candidates for U.S. Senate do lunch debate
Thursday, February 7, 2002
By Kristen McQueary
Politics writer
Wednesday afternoon, Republican hopefuls for U.S. Senate traded barbs over chicken Parmesan — and pork — at a City Club luncheon.
During his introduction, candidate John Cox, a certified public accountant and businessman who ran for Congress on the North Side last year, reached into a plastic shopping bag and presented one of his opponents with a gag birthday gift: a ham.
"Given that you've been down in Springfield so long working on all those great programs, we thought we'd give you a little pork," Cox told state Rep. Jim Durkin, referencing projects funded at the request of state lawmakers often characterized as unnecessary "pork."
Durkin, whom Cox has criticized for voting in favor of Gov. George Ryan's Illinois FIRST program, quickly put the canned ham under the table.
While Democrats can boast a strong incumbent in U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Republicans face a three-way primary race between candidates considered weaker in name recognition.
With Democrats holding a one-person majority in the U.S. Senate, Republicans are hungry to boost their numbers in Washington.
During Wednesday's luncheon, Cox and Oberweis were the only candidate who said he would support an amendment banning abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. "If you're not sure how you would vote on it, I say err on the side of protecting life," he said. Durkin said he "plans to support an amendment of that nature." Oberweis said he would be hesitant to support changing the constitution.
Cox, an Alsip native and self-made millionaire, built several businesses and often touts his involvement in keeping Jays Potato Chips from leaving Chicago. He is a divorced father with three girls who ran for Congress in a crowded race for the 10th Congressional District in the north suburbs last year.
Cox has criticized Oberweis for using his dairy business to boost his name recognition state-wide through Oberweis Dairy advertisements and billboards.
Oberweis, a lifelong Aurora resident, said the company has been running radio ads for several years to promote the business and attract qualified workers. Married for 34 years and a grandfather of five, Oberweis said his experience growing his business would give him a unique perspective in Washington.
All three candidates support reconfiguration of runways at O'Hare and the construction of a third regional airport. Oberweis, a licensed pilot, said he was concerned the plan to expand O'Hare proposed by Mayor Richard Daley and Gov. George Ryan might not be safe. From what he's seen, the runways are too close, and pilots would have to cross active runways to get across the airfield, he said.
Still, Oberweis said O'Hare "is the greatest asset in the state of Illinois, and we must do whatever is necessary to meet the needs of the future."
Durkin — a seven-year state representative, attorney and father of four young girls — was the only candidate who said he supports a campaign finance reform bill currently in Congress. The bill would eliminate "soft money" in elections, which is money raised and spent by parties to get around disclosure laws.
Cox, who opposes the death penalty and didn't support it for Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, said he would support a death sentence for Osama bin Laden. In times of war or in acts of self-defense, Cox said he supports capital punishment.
Durkin said the death penalty is the "only appropriate punishment for people like Timothy McVeigh."
I tagged just about every Illinois freeper. It was nothing PERSONAL, I just didn't want the thread to die off quickly like my last one did. Hey, I get flagged all the time on posts that people want me to BUMP, and some are completely useless. ;-)
>> That's bad news, why didn't you bold it? You bolded everything else that was bad from the other two candidates. Anyone that currently supports making the media and unions the only way for politicians to get their word out, has a serious problem... <<
I think I was pretty fair pointing out each of the candidates stregths and weaknesses. Oberweis is lousy on abortion and several other social issues. Cox is lousy on the death penalty and rallying the party's members. Durkin is lousy on guns, some taxes, and is a little too cozy with McCain. As for streghths, Oberweis has charisma and money, Cox has money and devotion to his campaign, and Durkin has experience, loyality and big connections to get out the vote in the general election.
I listed both paper's articles in their entirity so Illinois freepers could read where they all stand, and I bolded what I felt were solid information on the candidates.
However, while I will be fair, I'm not gonna be impartial and "neutral". I told everyone who I'm leaning towards and I'm going to encourage all freepers to vote for Jim Durkin. But I will say that I'd take ANY of these guys over Durbin. We know the Republican's weaknesses. But more importantly, we should know Durbin's! ;-)
Durkin is the marginal front runner, with Oberweis in a close second. Cox is acutally in third. At least, that's what the columnists in the paper stated today. In the governor's race, Jim Ryan is still way ahead (unfortunately), with O'Malley and Wood both tieing each other with about 15% each. We still have six weeks left, so you may not have the time now, but I hope you can help us campaign to GOTV by Feb. 19th. I want to do a blitz in the last 30 days before the primary.
Shouldn't that be "regain"? Calling King George a Republican is like calling John Walker Lindh an patriot.
The media are such liars. Reagan said not to criticize after the primaries.
LOL... Page B1 of the Chicago Tribune today said...GET THIS...
Ryan takes swipe at GOP hopefuls
But he speaks kindly of Vallas
I saw that. And that was not what I was getting at. The flag was sufficient. If people have something to say, they will say it. Flagging people is not necessarily an indication for a need to be bumped, atleast IMO. The flag is there to solicit comments on the article you think is relevant for those you've flagged. :)
I listed both paper's articles in their entirity so Illinois freepers could read where they all stand, and I bolded what I felt were solid information on the candidates.
I, personally, do not like this kind of posting. Bolding what you think is relevant can be demeaning to the reader. That's what the "article poster comment" (for lack of a better term) section is for. To each his own, I guess.
Who do you think would be the best Democratic candidate for us to face for Gov., Burris?
I agree, his cozy relationship with McCain-Feingold is more of a concern to me than his moderate stance on guns. Lucikly, it seems like he'd be more like Fitzgerald in office (Fitz votes for a couple anti-gun bills, but plays both sides when it comes to McCain-Feingold). I'll take two Fitzgerald's over a Fitzgerald and a Durbin.
I wish we could get freepers to agree a bit more on the Senate race. We've got the Durkin the camp with me, you, Barnical Bill, Clemenza, etc. The Cox camp is lead by RedWing9, SpintreeBob, and I think Santadru. And ever Oberweis has fans on this forum-- Chicagoland thinks he's the best candidate.
Luckily on the Senate race, it's pretty much 90% of us in favor of O'Malley, the remaining 10% going for Jim Ryan, and virtually no one supporting Wood (any freeper that thinks she'd be the best candidate is either a RINO or nuts anyway.) ;-)
>> Who do you think would be the best Democratic candidate for us to face for Gov., Burris? <<
I was hoping they'd nominate their 1978 nominee, Bakalis. Of course, Mikey figured out he had no shot so now he's dropped out. There's no ideological difference between the remaining three Dems...they'll split the Chicago liberal vote almost equally, so Poshard was a moron not to run again-- he would have been a shoo-in. Vallas is probably their strongest candidate, but we could beat him if we hit him over the head with all his seedy connections (corrupt father-in-law funding campaign, George Ryan came out today and "unofficially" endorsed him). Burris is pretty much a has-been in the primary, but I view him as a threat IF he gets the nomination because he'd probably have a lock on the minority vote, plus he can con a bunch of downstaters into think he's one of them ("I used to live in Centralia!") Beatable, but tough. Probably Blagojevich would the weakest Dem. No one can pronounce his name, and his "base" is exclusively on the north side of Chicago. He'll do poorly in the middle-class suburbs and terrible downstate. Plus Burris and Vallas come off as soft-spoken and likeable in person, Blagojevic comes off as a loudmouth know-it-all (remember Gore?)
O'Malley/Hawkinson (or O'Malley/O'Conner, although I personally HATE the latter, but he IS popular) vs. Blagojevic/Washington would probably be our best chance of winning, but it's hard to say at this point.
I think Ryan is going to win the gov. nom though.
Such is politics.
Thanks for the excellent write-up and analysis BillyBoy. You make a good case for Durkin being our best bet. Just to increase his odds a bit more, maybe he could change his name to Durbkin or Durkbin. Ha ha.
There was an old joke going around that you can win any election in Chicago by simply changing your name to:
William Patrick Kennedy-Daley IV ;-)
I stand humbly corrected. :)
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