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Jack Kemp endorses Ryan for U.S. Senate
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | February 8, 2004 | DAN ROZEK

Posted on 02/08/2004 12:44:36 PM PST by JohnnyZ

Former GOP senator and pro quarterback Jack Kemp threw his endorsement Saturday to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jack Ryan, then tossed souvenir footballs to fire up an enthusiastic group of Ryan backers gathered in Lincoln Park.

Kemp, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 1996, praised Ryan as a candidate who will shake up the GOP by reaching out to urban and minority voters often overlooked by other Republicans.

"We have a guy who's a super candidate. He can light a fire under the Republican Party,'' said Kemp, who also was to attend a Ryan fund-raiser Saturday.

Ryan, a former investment banker who later taught at Hales Franciscan High School on the South Side, is one of six Republicans seeking the party's nomination to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald.

Kemp, who wrote key tax reform legislation in the 1980s and later served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, said he and Ryan agree on the use of free-market incentives and cuts in capital gains taxes to help spur economic development.

They also share the philosophy of seeking out voters in urban areas where Republican candidates have not fared well traditionally.

"A party has to represent the whole country,'' Kemp said, adding, "It's a disgrace the Republican Party gets only 8 percent of the black vote.''

Calling Ryan's decision to trade banking for teaching at Hales "a fabulous idea," Kemp said Ryan can appeal to voters across ethnic and political lines.

"I can't think of a better way of serving the country than having Jack Ryan in the Senate,'' Kemp said.

Ryan called Kemp "a giant'' in the Republican Party and said his endorsement will help him in the crowded GOP field.

Ryan said he intends to continue working aggressively to woo Chicago voters who might not have voted Republican before.

"We're competing for those votes the Democrats think they own,'' Ryan said. "We think our ideas are better ideas. It's hard, but we're trying.''

Supporters at the 43rd Ward Republican headquarters chanted, "Jack, Jack, Jack,'' as Ryan and Kemp arrived.

Kemp later tossed several small footballs emblazoned with Ryan stickers to some of those in the room.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: 2004; andymckenna; electionussenate; endorsement; jackkemp; jackryan; rauschenberger
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In my view, Jack Ryan is the perfect candidate for Illinois. He is conservative, which appeals to downstate. He is compassionate and has a nice smile and hair, which appeals to the suburbs. And he is aggressively taking the conservative message of education and economic opportunity to Chicago minorities, which will translate into more votes there taken right from the Democrats' base.
1 posted on 02/08/2004 12:44:36 PM PST by JohnnyZ
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To: JohnnyZ; Theodore R.; Nathaniel Fischer; AuH2ORepublican; LdSentinal; Kuksool; Coop; ...
More Jack Ryan *Ping*!
2 posted on 02/08/2004 12:50:55 PM PST by Pubbie (I hate both the NeoConservatives and the PaleoConservatives - What does that make me?)
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To: JohnnyZ
Hm...apparently not that Jack Ryan. But isn't an endorsement by Kemp the 'pubby equivalent of an endorsement by Gore?
3 posted on 02/08/2004 12:51:49 PM PST by Grut
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: William Creel; Grut
I don't even remember if Kemp endorsed anyone before.

He's been endorsing supply-siders around the country. I think he's endorsed Vernon Robinson again this year. I have no idea how his endorsees have done in primaries.

5 posted on 02/08/2004 1:18:04 PM PST by JohnnyZ
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To: Grut
But isn't an endorsement by Kemp the 'pubby equivalent of an endorsement by Gore?

Not unless Gore became a supply side zealot. Kemp, on fiscal and economic issues is to the right of the white house and most GOPer's in general. Its his social moderation that drives me nuts.

6 posted on 02/08/2004 1:24:17 PM PST by Sonny M ("oderint dum metuant")
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To: JohnnyZ
"A party has to represent the whole country,'' Kemp said, adding, "It's a disgrace the Republican Party gets only 8 percent of the black vote.''

Oh, and that's the Republicans' fault, Jack? Yeah, right.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

7 posted on 02/08/2004 2:08:00 PM PST by mikeb704
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To: JohnnyZ
Jack Ryan is awesome. My cousin was taught by Jack Ryan. He said Jack is a pretty ok guy, and my cousin is fairly liberal. Jack gets things done and he doesn't have the overbearing boringness of Oberweis.
8 posted on 02/08/2004 2:49:07 PM PST by Afro_conservative
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To: Afro_conservative
Lets see if he gets the Club For Growth Ok.
9 posted on 02/08/2004 2:53:42 PM PST by ClintonBeGone (<a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/~clintonbegone/">Hero</font></a>)
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To: Afro_conservative
Sure you're not a Jack Ryan plant? I notice you just joined us.
10 posted on 02/08/2004 3:00:32 PM PST by Hibernius Druid (Perseverantia Vincit!)
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To: JohnnyZ
Jack Ryan is the perfect candidate for Illinois.

Can't he change his last name? This will be about the third different Republican "Ryan" in a row for statewide office. The memory of the worst governor in Illinois history--George Ryan, a Republican--is still strong.

BTW, how is this Ryan on the pro-life issue, compared to the other candidates?

11 posted on 02/08/2004 3:52:22 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (Lived my first 31 years in the state of Illinois.)
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To: Hibernius Druid
Jack Ryan Plant or a Jack Ryan supporter, what is the difference. I think he would be a great addition to our Senate. He is also from where I used to live so I know he had a good upbringing.
12 posted on 02/08/2004 4:03:07 PM PST by Afro_conservative
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To: Charles Henrickson
Can't he change his last name?

I don't think it'll be a big deal.

13 posted on 02/08/2004 4:15:16 PM PST by JohnnyZ
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To: Afro_conservative
Guess what? I support Jack Ryan, too. But you'll agree, most of the candidates have "good upbringing," especially New Trier grads, so that's not a compelling reason to support him. There are much better reasons, number one being he's a conservative who isn't identified with some of the extremists in this state. Welcome aboard.
14 posted on 02/08/2004 4:17:30 PM PST by Hibernius Druid (Perseverantia Vincit!)
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To: mikeb704
Oh, and that's the Republicans' fault, Jack? Yeah, right.

Republicans must bear a great deal of the blame. How many Republicans reach out to gun owners, to veterans, to suburban soccer moms? And how many reach out to urban areas, to black Americans? Almost all do the former, but only some do the latter.

I'm glad we have Republicans like Jack Ryan, Bobby Jindal, Jim Talent, Rick Santorum, Thad Cochran, and the Bush brothers, who don't write off the black vote, but I wish there were more.

15 posted on 02/08/2004 4:26:09 PM PST by JohnnyZ
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To: William Creel
I don't even remember if Kemp endorsed anyone before.

Kemp's endorsement will help Ryan get the illegal immigrant vote.

16 posted on 02/08/2004 4:28:15 PM PST by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: JohnnyZ
And how many reach out to urban areas, to black Americans? Almost all do the former, but only some do the latter.

And it almost always makes absolutely no difference because blacks overwhelmingly and consistently vote for Democrats. Forget "reaching out" - is that the same as dialoging? - with hyphenated Americans. I want candidates who don't feel a need to break the electorate into assorted special interest groups.

17 posted on 02/08/2004 4:45:01 PM PST by mikeb704
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To: JohnnyZ
Kemp is a typical political sellout. Don't trust the AH.
18 posted on 02/08/2004 4:47:11 PM PST by Joe Hadenuf (I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
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To: Charles Henrickson
"BTW, how is this Ryan on the pro-life issue?"
______________________________________________________________________

Jack Ryan is pro-life, unequivically. He is a devout Catholic who attends mass and confession regularly. He has a campaign website, and if you visit it, I think you'd be impressed.
19 posted on 02/08/2004 4:48:03 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
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To: mikeb704
Forget "reaching out" - is that the same as dialoging? - with hyphenated Americans. I want candidates who don't feel a need to break the electorate into assorted special interest groups.

Some issues are more important to certain groups. I don't understand your hostility to the notion of talking about guns to a gun rights group and education to a PTA group. Many candidates only bring their message to predominantly white groups and predominantly white areas. They should bring their message to predominantly black areas and groups as well, and emphasize those parts of the message that are most germane to that audience.

And it almost always makes absolutely no difference because blacks overwhelmingly and consistently vote for Democrats.

This is the attitude that hurts Republicans. You are part of the problem. If most Republicans ignore blacks, it's gonna be damn hard for a Republican who doesn't ignore them to make people believe he's sincere. That attitude is poison and must be eradicated.

20 posted on 02/08/2004 5:01:00 PM PST by JohnnyZ
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