IL 6th CD newspaper endorsements, Duckworth sweep!!!

[wndycty]

Chicago Sun-Times
There are some intriguing contests in the congressional primary elections, most notably in the 6th District, where Democratic heavies Dick Durbin, Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel are putting on a full-court press to install Tammy Duckworth. Does the disabled Iraq war veteran, plucked from outside the district, have a better shot of beating Henry Hyde's designated successor in November than the seasoned Christine Cegelis? We think so.
-snip-

After anti-war Iraq veteran Paul Hackett's near-upset win in last year's special congressional election in Ohio, the Democratic power structure sees in Duckworth, who opposed the invasion, a similar X factor capable of defeating the formidable state Sen. Peter Roskam, unopposed in the Republican primary. Having entered politics only recently, Duckworth has a solid grasp of the important issues, including illegal immigration (her district has a large Hispanic and Asian population; she was born to a Thai mother), the war and health care, and she has the pluck to act on them. She is endorsed over Cegelis and Wheaton College professor Lindy Scott.
-snip-
http://www.suntimes.com/output/endorse/cst-edt-edits07.html


Chicago Tribune:
Christine Cegelis, a software engineer, picked up 44 percent of the vote against Hyde in 2004. She's running again. But Democrats have a better candidate in Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq war who has fresh and pragmatic views on trade, health care, taxes and other issues. Duckworth was an Army National Guard major when she was grievously injured in Iraq, losing both of her legs. She has some well-considered views on how the U.S. and Iraqis can finish the job there and bring American soldiers home. Duckworth is endorsed over Cegelis and Wheaton College professor Lindy Scott.
-snip-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0602270126feb27,1,1182894.story?coll=chi-opinionfront-hed


Daily Herald
In fact, given the success of Melissa Bean in a neighboring district two years ago, Democrats nationally have taken an interest in this race and put their money and muscle behind one of the candidates — Tammy Duckworth.

We, too, believe Duckworth is the strongest candidate in the Democratic primary and earns our endorsement.

Duckworth, who turns 38 this month, is a veteran of the war in Iraq who lost both her legs when her Army helicopter was shot down. But she is more than just a visual symbol for those opposed to the war. She understands not only defense issues, but also has good ideas on health care, the budget and immigration.
-snip-

http://www.dailyherald.com/politics/ele_story.asp?id=162561

Pioneer Press
The three Democrats running in the 6th District Congressional primary for the seat held by retiring U.S. Rep Henry Hyde are intelligent, knowledgeable and passionate about the issues facing the district and the country. They each offer well-thought-out solutions to the country's growing concerns, both domestic and international. Indeed, any one of them would make a responsible, contributing member in Congress.

But Democratic voters must choose one candidate for the nomination, and therefore we endorse Tammy Duckworth.

An Illinois Army National Guard officer, Duckworth lost both legs when the helicopter she was piloting was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade while she was serving in Iraq. Instead of returning home bitter and resentful, she focused her energy on making a difference. Drawing on her connections with high-powered Democrats, she announced in December she was running for the 6th District. She faces Christine Cegelis and Lindy Scott in the March 21 primary. Republican Peter Roskam is unopposed in the primary.
-snip-

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/he/03-02-06-endorse-1.html

[IndyOp]

1. If I had a vote, I'd vote Cegelis...

Duckworth is being supported by the Dems who want everyone to run as Republicans. Duckworth's statements on Iraq are gutless. 200,000 Iraqi's dead (according to the Iraqi women currently touring the US) and all Duckworth can say is that she "came away from these conversations with the impression that while they often said what they thought we wanted to hear, they resented what they saw as the occupation of their country. We must understand that this resentment, fueled by insurgent propaganda, continues to grow and creates the conditions for insurgency, making U.S. troops and aid workers the targets."

Fueled by insurgent propaganda - BULLSHIT.

Fueled by 1,000,000 Iraqi deaths during 13-year-long UN/US economic sanctions.
Fueled by massive destruction of their nation during Gulf War.
Fueled by deaths of 100,000+ Iraqi's encouraged to rise up against Hussein by GHWB and then abandoned.
Fueled by 200,000 Iraqi's dead since Junior invaded.

BULLSHIT DUCKWORTH! Have some GUTS!

How the hell do we trust these Dems to speak truth on our behalf if they can't speak truth on behalf of the Iraqis --

BULLSHIT.

[Walt Starr]

20. I live in teh 13th so have no stake in this race

but if I lived in the 6th I'd pick up a Democratic ballot and vote Cegelis. If Cegelis didn't win, I'd consider sitting out that race in the fall.

[wndycty]

22. So you are saying that Duckworth is no different than Roskam?

You are kidding right?

[Walt Starr]

24. Nope, I'm using the "withholding strategy"

I am no longer a Democrat and thus am no longer beholden to the Democratic Party. If the Democratic Party pulls shit in a race I do not agree with and they win a primary pulling that shit, I withhold my vote from the annointed candidate.

For example, if I lived in Ohio I would withhold my vote in the Senate race this year because of the party machinations and bullying that went on.

[MrBenchley]

26. Gee, Walt, and yet you got no problem clogging a Democratic forum

[wndycty]

27. Don't forget he belongs to the "Obama is a sellout" club. . .

. . .you know how they roll!

[madfloridian]

2. You need a few more exclamation points.

To rub it in hard enough. Why do you so delight in this? We all know Tammy got the big guys, the really big names, the really big money.

So what else is new. That is why our country is so screwed now...money, big guys, big money.

[wndycty]

3. Why must everything be seen by you as rubbing it in. . .

. . .per yesterday's Sun-Times article it would appear that CEGELIS will pull an upset, afterall she has more ground support. Why are you such a defeatist? You got good news yesterday it appears that Cegelis is winning the ground war. Oh I forgot, its called martyrdom, the least I can say for the other Cegelis supporters (LSK, MOPINKO, MINVIS) is they got my respect because they are going to fight until the very end. You could learn a hell of a lot from them.

If Cegelis wins I look forward to working with people who fought like hell for her (after we scream at each other and address how we have hurt each others feelings).

[madfloridian]

5. I did not read much here yesterday..Good for Christine.

I have fought for Cegelis, twice now. I hope she wins, I really do. But the last few days we have seen just how poorly our Democrats in power have been handling things in this country.

I think the big boys have a lot of humbling to do, and they need to stay out of races like that one and the ones in Florida.

You do this a lot. You have made it personal toward me, and you have really made it that way to some in that district.

I hope she wins, but I think many will never ever forget the haughty way things were handled and the haughty way things were done here.

[wndycty]

8. Made it personal towards you?

I only talk to you when you show up to diss the Duckworth campaign, I don't follow you, you follow me. I don't seek you or your threads out, you seek out mine. . .how have I made it personal?

[madfloridian]

9. What do you consider "seeking out"?

I am interested in a topic, I post. I think that the point has been made that Duckworth is getting the big money. I think the power from the past is still controlling things. I have a post in GD, and I see the fight coming.

I know where I stand.

[wndycty]

10. "You have made it personal toward me"

I have not made it personal. . .look this thread is about Tammy's endorsements. . .not about you.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. Hackett could learn from Cegelis too

I do give her props for staying in and fighting. And the voters in the end are the people who vote and you do still have a primary.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. So aren't newspapers etc allowed to make endorsements all they want?

:eyes: Why don't you post news on her opponent?

[nevergiveup]

4. Is Duckworth bad because

Obama, Durbin, Kerry and other big name Democrats have endorsed her? Is there any possibility that she might actually be the best candidate?

[Larkspur]

6. Maybe she's willing to be their political handmaiden in Congress?

Cegelis would not be so easily cowed by the Dem Estabishment in Washington, but Duckworth would "obey & pay" -- a term used by the pre-Vatican II hierarchy about how they expected the Catholic laity to behave towards them.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. And you know this how now??

Gee she's never run before and she's never been in office before so you know this how? Do you have a crystal ball?

[wndycty]

23. Baseless allegations used to bash Duckworth that is all it is. . .

. . .you know more making SHIT UP!

[wndycty]

7. Yes she could be but a lot of DUers hate her because of her support

:kick:

[madfloridian]

11. No, no one hates her. We don't like the party games.

That has been made clear all over and over again.

It is very little to do with Tammy or Christine, it has to do with party meddling.

[FreedomAngel82]

15. So because she's getting more attention that's now called

"party games"? Gee so could the same thing been said for Howard Dean in the 2004 primaries? He had a feature cover on "Time" and had Al Gore's endorsement. So were you bitching about that too?

[madfloridian]

16. The TIME feature helped bring him down.

Did you read them? They sort of painted him a little bit nuts and a little bit crazy. I have them among my campaign paraphenalia. The Newsweek was not helpful either.

[wndycty]

17. Will Dean, DFA, PDA or anyone involved with them EVER TAKE . . .

. . .RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS POOR SHOWING? Its ALWAYS someone elses fault (the media, the DLC, DCCC, DSCC, et al). I feel that is what happening in the IL 6th. Cegelis is their annointed candidate and SHE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING! If she loses it will be everyone elses fault except hers and her campaign. THIS IS GETTING OLD!

[madfloridian]

18. That is really ugly.

Dean is not involved with this, and you are misrepresenting.

[wndycty]

21. In post #16 did you or did you not say that TIME and NEWSWEEK

. . .bared some responsibility for Howard Dean's downfall in 2004? I did not raise the issue, you did. Don't bring someting up and then cry foul when I have an opinion about it.

[minvis]

19. I'll be interested to see if these endorsements have much effect

I don't begrudge the newspapers for endorsing Duckworth. I don't agree with the endorsements, obviously, but I have no problem with them endorsing her. Looking at this objectively, I believe the only way this will have much effect is if there is a large number of undecided Democratic primary voters in the 6th. I don't know if any of the campaigns or even better a third party polling entity has done polling in this district. If the undecideds are under 20%, I don't think the effect of the endorsements will be that significant due to Cegelis ground forces getting her voters out more efficiently than Duckworth, but if the undecideds are in the 40-50% range then I think this is a very good sign for Duckworth.

Does anyone know if polling has been done here yet?

[wndycty]

25. Kick

:kick:

[DrGonzoLives]

28. Beware, beware, beware the endorsement of the Trib and DH

The Daily Herald is a rag that spends 99% of its editorial pages espousing the conservative agenda. The Tribune...well...it's the Tribune.

[IndianaGreen]

29. Duckworth is pro-war and pro-business

while Cegelis is our kind of Democrat!

I am a veteran and like many other veterans, we just don't vote automatically for someone that wore the uniform, particularly one that is opposed to bringing the troops home.