This is a huge victory for Democratic challenger Melissa Bean. The Chicago Tribune loves its Republicans, and its Republican incumbents even more.
The Tribune has admired and supported Crane's strong advocacy of free trade. But it has become evident that Crane's interest in serving his constituents has evaporated. He has used his seat in Congress as a cozy sinecure. In the last four years he has taken more than $109,000 in trips to spots around the world paid for by lobbyists and other private interests. Republican leaders privately acknowledge that Crane has gotten lazy and is out of touch with his constituents. The leaders have not been successful at shaking him out of his lethargy. It's time for a change.
The Tribune endorses Melissa Bean, an energetic, pragmatic Democrat from Barrington, in the 8th Congressional District. Bean, a business consultant, is not quite the ardent free-trader that Crane is, but she understands that free trade creates opportunities for U.S. firms and that foreign competition ultimately strengthens U.S. markets. She has sound views on tax policy, health care and education reform. She will, unlike Crane, pay close attention to the folks back home. Bean is endorsed.
True to form, the Trib endorsed Henry Hyde in the 6th, and Jerry Weller in the 11th -- both Republicans who could be ousted amidst the collapse of the Illinois Republican Party.
They essentially give the same reasons for not to endorse Crane that are true of Hyde. Why Bean and not Cegelis too? It was sad to see them endorse poor old Henry Hyde, especially on the premise that he is doing an "important investigation" of the UN Oil for Food scandal.
First, it is ridiculous to imply that only Mr. Hyde can get to the bottom of this issue -- in fact, I would argue that someone whose morals are as compromised as Mr. Hyde is the LAST person you want looking into ANYTHING! He himself said in testimony to Congress that it is okay to lie if it serves a greater good (he was testifying on behalf of Oliver North). And consider the fact that in the initial CIA report, all the names of US and British companies and individuals who had gotten oil vouchers were LEFT OUT of the report. When they finally were released, two of the largest recipients, Chevron Texaco and Exxon Mobile, gave 85% of their campaign contributions to Republicans during this time period. And that at the time it all ended, in 2003 when we invaded, the US was busy slurping up 67% of this Iraqi oil.
And of course let's not forget all the things that Mr. Hyde has NOT seen fit to investigate, like the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, the gross mismanagement of the Iraqi reconstruction, etc!
I wish the Cegelis/Hyde debate were going to be broadcast or even recorded in any way so the district could see the vast difference between the two.
Mr. Youthful Indescretion is well beyond his prime and is invisible to his district. He is NOT terribly well liked around here. He is vulnerable. Cegelis has the ability to take him down. Based upon the incredible Cegelis signage I see here in Hyde's district, I think she may now enjoy higher name recognition than old Hank The Crank.
The Republican Senate candidate in Oklahoma warns of "rampant" lesbianism in some schools in the state in a tape released Monday by his Democratic opponent.
The remark by Republican Tom Coburn drew a skeptical response from state educators.
"I don't believe that," said Keith Ballard, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. He said the group's attorneys "haven't said anything to me about that."
In the tape released by the campaign of Brad Carson, the Democratic candidate, Coburn says a campaign worker from Coalgate told him that "lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"
Joe McCulley, school superintendent in Coalgate, chuckled when asked about Coburn's remark.
"He knows something I don't know. We have not identified anything like that. We have not had to deal with any issues on that subject -- ever," McCulley said.
Why is Coburn, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, obsessing over teenage lesbians? Heck, he demands we "think about it"!
Seems better suited for the porn industry than the U.S. Senate, is all...
