Support Christine Cegelis

[eridani]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/13/17748/5020#57

Turn 44% into 54%: Take Back Henry Hyde's Seat
by Christine Cegelis
Tue Sep 13th, 2005 at 15:07:48 CST

The time is now. Rep. Henry's Hyde's protégé has cleared the Republican primary field for 2006 and the Republican interests in Washington are willing to do whatever it takes to retain his seat. They've lined up Peter Roskam, a former Tom Delay staffer and Grover Norquist ally to fill Hyde's shoes. I'm Christine Cegelis and in 2004 I held Hyde to a career-low vote total. Now I'm challenging his protégé. I am asking you to stand beside me and join me in this fight. We can win this seat, we must win this seat, and we will!

I'm asking you to vote for me in Democracy for America's Take Back the House: Grassroots All-Star Competition. (http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/)I would not have received 44% of the vote against conservative icon Henry Hyde in 2004 without the grassroots support from members of Democracy for America, both locally and nationally. From walking precincts, stuffing envelopes, writing letters, hosting fundraisers, writing blog entries, and drafting position papers, the enthusiasm and hard work of local members continues to fuel my campaign.

"With the most rudimentary campaign architecture in place, it was up to a diehard grassroots team to get out the message and get out the vote. Cegelis estimates that approximately 600 volunteers worked for her campaign. "The majority of my core volunteers came from the Dean or Kucinich campaign," said Cegelis. "The DFA people were the yeast that helped us grow the volunteer organizations as well as the money." Campaign organizers also mailed everybody in the 6th district who had voted in three Democratic primaries and asked them to work their precincts for the campaign. "We got a really good response from that letter." Cegelis said. "Sometimes it is good to extend the invitation to get involved as well."

[mopinko]

1. she looks like the real deal to me.

i mean really the real deal. a camp wellstone grad who always puts out the progressive line- strong on choice, and working for a sustainable future. and smart enough to have never folded her campaign.

[AX10]

2. If the Dems got 44% last time, what must be done to...

get 51%?

[dogman]

3. Tie Roskam to his friend DeLay.

This culture of corruption steals from every taxpayer. Beat them over the head with it.

[Cadfael]

4. re: Roskam and DeLay

from Rapid Response for Illinois:

ISSUE: Friends who play together...
> -------------------------------------
>
> 1) DeLay's ARMPAC -- yes, the same ARMPAC under
> investigation -- contributed directly to the Roskam
> Campaign in 1998. Source: Open Secrets,
> http://tinyurl.com/aackq
>
> 2) DeLay sponsored and hosted a $1000-a-plate
> lunchtime campaign fundraiser for Roskam on Sept 22nd
> of 2005. That's last week! Moreover, this was the only
> candidate funder DeLay hosted on that day for a
> non-incumbent. Source: National Republican
> Congressional Committee, http://tinyurl.com/a4u2w
> (scroll to Sept 22 or search for "Roskam" on the page)
>
> 3) Like DeLay, Roskam's has been under investigation
> for campaign finance abuses with separate
> investigations by the IRS, Federal Election Commission
> and Illinois Attorney General in both 1992 and 1999
> for tens of thousands of dollars in questionable
> donations. Sources: Chicago Tribune 11/2/92, 10/29/92,
> 10/22/92, 10/19/92; Chicago Sun-Times 08/22/99; FEC
> press release 10/07/99
>
> 4) Roskam's own web sites tout his experience as an
> assistant Congressman Tom DeLay. Sources: IL State
> Senate Republicans website
> and Pete Roskam website
>
>
>
> ** ACTION **
>
> * Can the hard-working ! folks of the 6th really trust
> someone so close to an indicted Congressman, someone
> with his own history of questionable money practices,
> to clean up Washington's dirty tricks?
>
> * Do voters want to continue a Campaign of Corruption
> or would they rather have independent fighter in
> Congress truly representing them, not big-money
> special interests?

[pascal1947]

5. Hold his feet to the coals

Running unopposed for the Hyde seat, Roskam doesn't have to come out of his rathole and meet the public till after the Democratic Primary in March. Until then its all Republican fundraisers and $1000 a plate dinners parties.

After March when he has to deal with Christine or Lindy on the Democratic ticket, we need to be out wherever he is speaking and confront him with his support for the Bush crime family.

Does anyone know if any of his kids are old enough to serve in Iraq? There ought to be plenty of Republicans out there supporting the Bush line on the Iraq war but who don't want THEIR kids dying for it.

[Chicago Democrat]

6. Hurrah! I am a Cegelis Volunteer and have met the candidate! Impressions..

Christine is a youngish 30 something (40 something?) woman of obvious conviction and charactor. A self made woman, with bold opinions and a vision of the USA that includes EVERYBODY. I am very impressed meeting her and seeing her in action. She was an EARLY OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT OF THIS IRAQ POLICY. She knows the district and local issues and, to be frank, that's what is going to win this race.

She knows the district. She is able to answer tough questions, on her feet, without handlers or black boxes on her back. SHE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE. A smart politician with a HUGE HEART.


My conversations with her are as follows:

A big local issue is the OHare Expansion. Basically a few people are being totally screwed and OHare is going from 900000 flights to 1,400,000 million flights per year. The runways are going a different way and that will totally screw Bensenville. Oh well. They are poor.

Christine is well aware of the hardship this is causing Bensenville. Guess What? A Muslim enclave and Mosque in Bensenville are being emminent domained out of existence. Christine wants FAIR COMPENSATION AND MOVING COSTS. So far they are only offering FMV (low and not fair)

Henry Hyde is ALL TALK about blocking the Ohare expansion but ACTUALLY DID NOTHING TO STOP IT. Christine has always been up front about. The economic developement is needed and it will help the district. The new alignment of the runways will direct planes over the NW tollway and away from the residential areas. So maybe its not so terrible.

Basically Bensenville and Elk Grove are screwed. I have seen a ton of for sale signs along the new flight path. Christine says this deal will be done long before the election. We are trying to satisfy everyone here and its a hard issue.

That's mainly what we talked about. Christine spoke passionately about a Muslim youth of 19 who is heartbroken his mosque and home are being destroyed. She wants to see that they are treated fairly.

Right now I am collecting signatures for Christine and meeting local Democrats. Its fun. I love Democrats, esp neighbors. Its a great basis for freindship.

[Chicago Democrat]

7. Christine regarding impeachment: "Not there yet, but....

the Plame affair may lead to it"


I really like her. To me this answer shows political wisdom.