 OFF MESSAGEInstead of getting to focus on jobs or endorsements,
Gov. Pat Quinn spent a lot of time answering questions about his
Corrections Department quietly releasing some inmates after just a
few days or weeks behind bars.
Initially, the administration defended the program. Then Quinn
halted it. Then he denied the policy had ever been a secret but
couldn't show it had ever been disclosed publicly. Then Quinn said
he told Corrections not to include violent criminals. Then he
appointed a former judge to review the whole thing.
His political opponents jumped all over Quinn's handling of the
program and the questions about it. Fellow Democrat Dan Hynes talked
about the issue day after day, even announcing that he had filed a
request under the Freedom of Information Act to get a complete list
of the inmates who were released.
HOT BUTTON
Another prison issue got national attention and stirred up
candidates in races from Illinois governor to Senate and the
Congress. That was the Obama administration's announcement of plans
to buy an unused prison in Thomson and house federal inmates there,
including some terrorism suspects from Guantanamo Bay.
Critics renewed their cries of outrage and warned that this would
make Illinois a target for terrorists.
"Gov. Quinn is distracted with a plan to bring terrorists to our
neighborhoods, all in the name of job creation," said Andy McKenna,
a Republican candidate for governor.
Rep. Aaron Schock went on MSNBC's "Hardball" to criticize the
plan and soon found himself in the middle of a discussion of
torture. The Peoria Republican proclaimed himself a supporter of
using any torture technique if it helps protect America.
Quinn called it an economic development victory for northwestern
Illinois. He also jabbed at the complaining politicians by saying
he's more concerned about what the military experts say.
"I listen to them a whole lot more than I would listen to some
local politician in Illinois who, frankly, they don't know what
they're talking about," Quinn said.
YES AND NO
Bob Schillerstrom, a Republican candidate for governor, scolded
Quinn for pursuing the sale of the Thomson prison without informing
the public. He also scolded fellow Republicans for rejecting the
plan out of hand.
Meanwhile, Hynes praised President Barack Obama's handling of the
Thomson prison issue and simultaneously criticized Quinn. He claimed
Quinn's early release of state inmates was undercutting public
confidence in bringing terrorism suspects to Illinois.
SPEAKING UP
Dan Proft was easily the most quotable person at a forum for the
Republican candidates for governor.
-
Arguing that the
Illinois Legislature needs bigger changes than just term limits:
"If you want to reduce influence peddling, reduce the amount of
influence that politicians have to peddle."
-
On the billions of
dollars, years of construction and big promises involved in a
plan to offer high-speed rail service: "It's not public policy.
It's a 'Simpsons' episode."
-
On the damage that Gov. Rod Blagojevich
could have done if he had been a more active governor: "It's
probably a good thing that he wasn't working as hard as he
wasn't working."
STICKS & STONES
When Andy McKenna chaired the Illinois Republican Party, the
party paid for a poll to gauge the prospects of various potential
candidates for governor. One of them was McKenna.
Now his opponents are accusing McKenna of improperly using party
money for his own political ends.
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"If Andy McKenna did indeed use $25,000 of his own party's money for
personal use, what's to say he wouldn't do it to the taxpayers of
Illinois?" said Bill Brady.
McKenna hasn't had much to say about the allegations. But the
Chicago Tribune reported that Ty Fahner has told party officials
that it was his idea, not McKenna's, to include McKenna in the poll.
Fahner was the state party's finance chairman at the time.
ALLIES
Secretary of State Jesse White, one of the state's best-liked
politicians, endorsed Quinn for governor.
MONEY TALKS
Sometimes it's not easy being the underdog.
Cheryle Jackson recently sent a message to supporters asking for
their help in hitting a fundraising goal. Was the goal $250,000?
Nope. How about $100,000 or $50,000? No and no. It was a mere
$3,500.
The good news for the Democratic Senate candidate is that she was
able to report a few days later that supporters had come up with
$7,633 and counting.
WHERE THEY STAND
Republican Kirk Dillard announced that he opposes a plan for
truck manufacturer Navistar to expand in Lisle, a project that could
create hundreds of jobs. The gubernatorial candidate said he fears
diesel fumes could harm students at the nearby Giant Steps school
for autistic children.
Just a couple of months ago, Dillard supported the Navistar
expansion. In fact, he sponsored tax-break legislation to help make
it possible and scolded Democrats for not supporting the project.
Dillard told the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald that he changed
his mind because of concerns about children's health.
Schillerstrom, a rival in the governor's race, accused Dillard of
"playing politics with thousands of jobs, and illustrating why
employers steer clear of Illinois in the process."
ON THE NET
First, Democrats Alexi Giannoulias and David Hoffman went after
each other in a Senate debate. Then they kept the sniping going with
dueling campaign videos.
Giannoulias piled on Hoffman for railing against Wall Street when
he owns stock in big banks that received federal bailout money.
"Take on the banks? The ones he profited from?" Giannoulias' ad
asks.
Hoffman took aim at Giannoulias' resume, including the Illinois
treasurer's work as an executive at his family's Broadway Bank.
Hoffman pointed out Giannoulias' family bank gave loans to
convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko, who was part of ousted Gov.
Rod Blagojevich's inner circle. "Who do you trust?" Hoffman's ad
asks.
WHAT'S NEXT
Dec. 24 is the first day to request an absentee ballot for the
February primary election.
Merry Christmas!
[Associated Press;
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS and DEANNA BELLANDI]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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