Free Republic

It's early spring in Washington, D.C., and the cherry blossoms lining the Tidal Basin are bursting like kernels of popcorn, lending a fairy-tale feel to the nation's bastion of power. But to catch a glimpse of the real Washington in action, you'd better arrive early. If you hit the street before 8 a.m., you may see the fittest man in Congress, U.S. Representative Aaron Schock of Illinois, clocking in for his 5-mile run—the conclusion of a morning fitness routine that starts in the House gym at 6:30 every weekday morning. "It's got to happen early or it's not going to...

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) issued the following statement in response to the Presidents Deficit Reduction Plan: “The President cannot hide his true feelings. It is abundantly obvious to me that he wishes he could go on spending unprecedented amounts of money as former Speaker Pelosi allowed him to do in his first two years in office. Time and again, President Obama’s actions prove that he is not interested in controlling spending. “The President yet again had the opportunity to lead on an issue, but predictably failed to do so; instead offering fear and partisanship as his way forward. “Now that...

18th District When you are the youngest member of Congress and have looks like those of Aaron Schock, you are going to attract attention. Schock, the 29-year-old Peoria Republican whose district includes a portion of Springfield, has been celebrated in magazine profiles, featured on “Top Chef” and, in general, celebrated as the new star of young conservatism. But more impressive than Schock’s celebrity is his mature and cautious take on it. Sure, says Schock, he’s attracted attention. But celebrity will mean nothing if he does not construct a solid record to back it. And besides, he notes, appearances on TV...

Here is video of Illinois GOP Rep. Aaron Schock on "Morning Joe" where he talked about the upcoming 2010 Midterm Elections. Schock said as early as late this summer or early Fall, Republicans will bring forward what will be called the "Commitment with America," which will echo many of the principles that were a part of the 1994 "Contract with America," when Republicans swept to victory in the House of Representatives. Schock said the message with be focused on cutting spending, balanced budgets, and pro-Growth economic policies.

"That's happening a lot with Republicans sort of taking credit for things that Democratic bills do and then Republicans simultaneously touting their votes against them and trashing them," Maddow said. "That, I think, is a problem that needs to be resolved within your caucus. Because you seem like a very nice person but that is a very hypocritical stance to take." Schock argued it would be foolish to deny his district funds that would be appropriated anyway. And responding to Maddow's charge of hypocrisy, he asked the MSNBC host if she had returned to the IRS all the tax cuts...

One of the favorite talking points that often comes from Fox News detractors is the claim that the News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA) cable news is somehow an organ of the Republican Party. It's a claim that former White House Communications Director Anita Dunn made, along with countless other accusations from prominent Democrats. However, these Democrats would be doing themselves and their audiences a favor to take notice of two Fox News anchors, "Your World" host Neil Cavuto and the weekend edition of "America's News HQ" co-host, Gregg Jarrett. The two recently challenged two Republican members of Congress, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa,...

CHICAGO (AP) — A 29-year-old Illinois man who idolized American-born Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh has been arrested after attempting to detonate what he thought was a bomb inside a van outside a federal courthouse, officials said Thursday. Michael C. Finton, also known as Talib Islam, was arrested Wednesday and charged in a criminal complaint with one count of attempting to murder federal officers or employees and trying to detonate a weapon of mass destruction. Federal officials said the case has no connections with the major terrorism investigation under way in Colorado and New York. "This alleged plot drives home...

Here is video of GOP Rep. Aaron Schock on Fox & Friends this morning talking about President Obama's Health Care speech last night. He talked about GOP Rep. Joe Wilson shouting out last night "You Lie!" at President Obama when he claimed no illegal aliens would be covered under his plan. Wilson has since apologized, although he continues to disagree with the content of Obama's statement. While Schock agrees the conduct was "not in keeping with the decorum of the House," he said Pelosi's reaction was a double-standard: "Apparently, she has a problem with people challenging her leadership, and the...

The Illinois congressman, 27, is getting attention from paparazzi and politicos, and he's prepared to take full advantage of it. BY JAMES OLIPHANT Reporting from Washington -- He is the Republican Dream Date, a smooth-speaking, polished product of Illinois, as comfortable with Facebook as a face-to-face. John McCain's daughter gushed over him as the future of the party. He blogs for the liberal webzine Huffington Post, which said he sports the best abs in Congress. TMZ trails him like a pop star. And he is two decades younger than Barack Obama. Aaron Schock, 27, hasn't wanted for attention since being...

Meghan McCain sizes up the youngest congressman, Aaron Schock, and his appeal to minorities, wise use of paparazzi, and what the best abs in D.C. can do for the future of the Republican Party. The first time I ever heard of Congressman Aaron Schock, I was hanging out with some friends during a girls' night in, and one of my friends yelled to me from the other room: “Meghan, there’s a congressman on TMZ.” To which I answered: “Twenty bucks he’s a Democrat.” Well, I was wrong. Schock is not only a Republican, but currently fills the congressional district in...

<p>WASHINGTON (CNN) — At 27 years old, Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock is the youngest member of Congress. He's also possessed of washboard abs and has, as of late, become a favorite target of celebrity gossip outlet TMZ. And the daughter of the last Republican presidential candidate thinks he might just be the answer to the GOP's troubles.</p>

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Having mastered the Hollywood gossip scene, celebrity site TMZ apparently has set its sights on a new conquest — Capitol Hill. The site — owned by Time Warner, CNN’s parent company — has started accosting members of Congress, including Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock, as they go about their work in Washington. “I didn’t know what was going on,” Schock said of his first encounter with TMZ. “I was on my way to the floor for a vote, I’m talking to a constituent literally on my cell phone and there’s some guy with a handycam in street...

Shock Treatment by: Heather Latham, March 20, 2009 At 27, Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., is currently the youngest member of Congress. Being a Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, he found that communication to all groups is the key to success. While campaigning for office as a state representative, he was told to ignore certain demographics since they never vote Republican. When he would visit these groups, he would be met with people who had never before been approached by a Republican. He says, “When you write off a demographic, you’re most…certainly set for defeat—and I don’t care what demographic...

(CNN) – It’s not often that a freshman member of Congress gets a ride on Air Force One and a personal shout-out from the President himself in front of the hometown crowd. Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock got both last week but still voted against President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus bill. After joining Obama on the presidential plane to Peoria, which is part of Schock’s congressional district, the President made a specific appeal to Schock during an event at a Caterpillar plant. “Aaron’s still trying to make up his mind about our recovery package,” the President said last Thursday. “He’s...

Here is priceless video of Republican Congressman Aaron Schock of Illinois, the youngest member of Congress, saying today that he was not asked by a single constituent to vote for the Stimulus Bill, despite the fact he was put on the spot yesterday in his hometown of Peoria by President Obama to vote for the plan. Yesterday, Obama urged Caterpillar workers there to talk to Schock after the event and urge him to vote for it. Schock says in this speech that not a single Caterpillar worker did so. In fact, he said his office had received over 1400 phone...

At age 27, Congressman-Elect Aaron Schock (R-IL) will be the youngest Member of Congress. Though some in the well entrenched political circles in Washington, DC may be skeptical and even critical of this rockstar, they will most likely find themselves blown away. Age and being a member of the minority party seem like two great disadvantages for this incoming Member of Congress. However, both have failed to stop this silver bullet lawmaker. When he was just five years old, Aaron started selling strawberries with his siblings on their family farm. Just ten years later he was working in a gravel...

Today President Bush participated in a private fundraiser for Congressional candidate Aaron Schock in Peoria, Illinois. The family of Tony Snow traveled with the President today on board Air Force One. Press Secretary Dana Perino: The President invited them to come on a trip with him if they ever wanted to and the family decided that they would like to, so they're on board. They got a tour of the plane and they're up with the President now, and they'll be coming with -- just coming along for the ride, for the event. And hopefully we'll be able to show...

PEORIA - State Rep. Aaron Schock wants to go national. Fueled by what he called his passion to "step up to this cause" and the "outpouring of support" expressed to him from constituents and leaders throughout the 18th Congressional District, Schock told the Journal Star on Saturday he plans to run for the 20-county seat. It's held by U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, who is retiring in January 2009. "Serving in Congress will allow me to step up and advocate for people and the causes I believe in at a higher level," said Schock, also a Peoria-based Republican. "This is...