Jim Oberweis And The Illinois Senate Race
By Robert Klein Engler (06/28/04)
The race for Senator from Illinois has gained national attention, now. Republican control of the U. S. Senate may be at stake, too. It looks like there's more to those "sex club" allegations and Republican Jack Ryan's subsequent withdrawal than meets the eye. Somewhere along the line before those allegations, Ryan's campaign may have also gone afoul of important Illinois Republicans like the party chairman Judy Barr Topinka and House Majority Leader Dennis Hastert.
These party leaders claim they were mislead on just how damaging the allegations made by is ex-wife were. One has to wonder when all this misleading took place. We also have to ask why the Chicago Tribune, a paper viewed as Republican by many, pressured for the release of California court documents about Ryan's divorce?
Some Republican party leaders in Illinois may have felt that Jack's name was just too reminiscent of Gov. George Ryan, who many credit with losing the state to the Democrats in the last election. Even though the two men are not related, the name ''Ryan'' may be related to ''scandal'' in the minds of many Illinois voters.
Perhaps Jack Ryan's campaign tried to be too nice. Did he think he could win an election in Illinois by just looking good on television? One Republican official I talked to in Chicago said his campaign staff was new and didn't know what they were doing. I suspect his relations with the media were strained as well. Ryan's campaign never consented to a simple e-mail interview with this writer, even after many requests.
Ryan's statement upon his withdrawal leaves some scratching their heads about what he meant. Ryan said, ''It's clear to me that a vigorous debate on the issues most likely could not take place if I remain in the race. What would take place, rather, is a brutal, scorched-earth campaign--the kind of campaign that has turned off so many voters, the kind of politics I refuse to play.'' But isn't that exactly what a Republican has to do to win an election in Illinois these days? This is especially true in light of Judy Barr Topinka's remark that politics in Illinois is a blood sport.
Then there is the issue of Ryan's replacement on the November Ballot. Illinois Republican Party leaders say they will decide on a replacement candidate in 3 weeks. I believe the Republican voters of Illinois have made that decision already. In the March primary they gave enough votes to Jim Oberweis for him to come in second. That is argument enough for his name to be on the ballot in November. Any other name would smack of backroom deals.
Writing in the AP (June 26), Maura Kelly Lannan opines that "Oberweis, who made millions in the dairy and ice cream business, would have money but would be hampered by ads he ran during the primary that many viewed as anti-immigration." It is about time that reporters understand that talking about illegal immigration does not "hamper" a candidate. The very fact Oberweis took on the issue of illegal immigration in the Illinois primary means that he is honest and informed. Many state and national Republicans have been hiding from the illegal immigration issue for too long.
Most working Americans and the Republican party's grassroots base know what's going on regarding illegal immigration in Illinois and they don't like it. Besides, this is one issue the Democrats' "multicultural candidate" cannot face. Jim Oberweis can win on this issue alone in Illinois if he just presents the facts. When he makes it clear to African-American voters how they are being harmed by illegal immigration, many of these voters will also support Oberweis.
There are 4 months to go until the election. Much money needs to be raised and campaigning needs to be done. Oberweis can do it. Jim Oberweis may be the underdog in this race, but he's a scrappy dog, too. The next time someone asks Illinois Republican politicians, "Got milk?" they ought to answer, "Yes. Got Oberweis!"
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