Updated October 26, 2004 at 4:55 pm
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Jeff Berkowitz: The [tax cut] legislation that passed came before the congress. If you were there, would you have supported it, would you have voted yes or no on that vote?
Melissa Bean: I’d have to go back and look at it. I wasn’t there. It is a rhetorical question.
Berkowitz: So, you are not going to answer it.
Bean: I don’t have the facts in front of me, no.
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Berkowitz: All right. Assault weapons, you don’t support the ban on assault weapons?
Crane: No.
Berkowitz: Why would individuals-- private individuals—need to have an assault weapon?
Crane: Whatever melts their butter in terms of going out to the rifle range and target practicing and so forth. I don’t do that myself and it is not something that excites me but it does some people.
*******************************************************
A virtual debate between Cong. Phil Crane (R- Wauconda) and his challenger, Melissa Bean (D- Barrington).
*******************************************************
Tonight [Oct. 26], at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable on Ch. 19 or Ch. 35 in 24 suburbs [See, below airing schedule], after watching the Obama-Keyes debate, watch the two contestants [Crane and Bean] in the only major competitive race in the state of Illinois on “Public Affairs.” Or, watch “Public Affairs,” at the same time Monday, Wednesday or Friday on Ch. 19 in 10 additional suburbs. The airing schedule for the show, by specific suburb, is included at the end of the partial transcript of the show, below. The show will also air through-out the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
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Cong. Phil Crane [R] and challenger Melissa Bean [D] in the 8th Cong. Dist. [ Northwest Cook County, McHenry and Lake Counties], debate and discuss with “Public Affairs,” show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz tax cuts, trade, prescription drug benefits, medicare, job losses, deficits, national security, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Teachers’ unions, special interests, Roe v. Wade, Partial birth abortion bans, gun control, melting butter, rifle ranges and much, much more.
***************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Phil Crane has been known as a big tax cutter, right? He has supported unequivocally—
Melissa Bean: No, he claims to be a big tax cutter.
Berkowitz: He has supported unequivocally President Bush’s program to cut taxes in 2001 and again in 2003. That’s correct, right?
Bean: Correct.
Berkowitz: Now, a good portion of that was tax cuts across the board on marginal rates of taxation, right?
Bean: Um-um.
Berkowitz: Now, how would you have voted on that? Would you have voted for either of those packages [Bush 2001 or 2003 tax cuts]? If you had been the …Congressman from the 8th Cong. Dist. …if you had been that person… [Congressman] in 2001 and 2003, would you have voted yes or no on those tax cut proposals?
Bean: I liked a lot of the tax cut proposals.
Berkowitz: But, you have to vote yes or no.
Bean: My challenges with Crane have not been on the tax cuts but on just the tax code in general because on your point about accountability, he tends to provide in the tax code always relief for those largest lobbying interests.
Berkowitz: All right, we will have to find out [about that]. But, back to taxes, if you had to vote in 2001 or 2003 for the Bush Tax [Cut] program, would it have been a yes or no?
Bean: Well, there were a couple of different options…
Berkowitz: Don’t you, at the end of the Day, when you are a congressman- you have to vote yes or no on what is being proposed, right?
Bean: Hm, um.
Berkowitz: The [tax cut] legislation that passed came before the congress. If you were there, would you have supported it, would you have voted yes or no on that vote?
Bean: I’d have to go back and look at it. I wasn’t there. It is a rhetorical question.
Berkowitz: So, you are not going to answer it.
Bean: I don’t have the facts in front of me, no.
**********************************************
Melissa Bean: I believe you, along with Phil Crane, are very much about being a free trader. It is kind of interesting—
Jeff Berkowitz: I am a free trader? Are you a free trader? More important than my views are your views, are you a free trader?
Bean: I do believe in trade. I do believe in trade.
Berkowitz: So, you are a free trader? But, are you—
Bean: But, when you are talking about—
Berkowitz: Excuse me. But, are you a free trader? Because you said Phil Crane is a free trader.
Bean: I wouldn’t say I am a knee jerk free trader like Phil Crane is.
Berkowitz: He is a knee jerk [free trader]?
Bean: I have never seen anything related to trade that he doesn’t—
Berkowitz: But, do you support NAFTA, for instance?
Bean: At the time, I think I would have supported NAFTA, absolutely. I think there are some things that could be amended now—
Berkowitz: okay
Bean: to just try to create more of a level playing field, but there are definitely benefits to trade-- but when you get into issues like the drug bill, we suddenly get into a protectionist mode. So, there is an inconsistency, in a sense.
****************************************************
8th Cong. Dist. Candidate Melissa Bean [D-Barrington], recorded on August 14, 2004, and as is airing this week on “Public Affairs,” in the suburbs and as will be airing through-out the City of Chicago on "Public Affairs," on Monday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 pm on Ch. 21 [CANTV].
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Berkowitz: Is it going to be in 2004 when the Presidential election occurs, …”it’s the economy stupid”? Or is going to be, “it’s National Security, stupid.”
Crane: I think National Security will be an issue, but I still think the economy is—uh, I have always felt that taxes are [the] No. 1 concern to voters and to provide tax relief and economic growth initiatives is [the] No. 1 priority.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …Gun Control. Do you support gun control? You’re opposed to gun control?
Cong. Phil Crane: I am totally supportive of the Second Amendment. My right to keep and bear arms.
Berkowitz: Okay, but in addition to being supportive of the Second Amendment, would you support any federal gun control legislation?
Crane: No, I don’t believe in federal gun control legislation.
Berkowitz: So it should all be on the state level?
Crane: Except, if you violate the law, and then we’ll control you and your guns.
Berkowitz: You oppose the Brady Bill?
Crane: Oppose it?
Berkowitz: The concept of the federal government requiring background checks. You oppose that?
Crane: Oh, Yeah. No, I don’t think background checks are required.
Berkowitz: You don’t think so?
Crane: No.
Berkowitz: So, if felons want to get a gun, that’s Okay?
Crane: Well, a felon goes to the store—
Berkowitz: Ex-felons, or
Crane: Yeah, and buys it, and he is a law abiding citizen
Berkowitz: It’s okay.
Crane: So long as he is a law abiding citizen.
Berkowitz: All right. Assault weapons, you don’t support the ban on assault weapons?
Crane: No.
Berkowitz: Why would individuals-- private individuals—need to have an assault weapon?
Crane: Whatever melts their butter in terms of going out to the rifle range and target practicing and so forth. I don’t do that myself and it is not something that excites me but it does some people.
*************************************************************
Cong. Phil Crane, [R- Wauconda, 8th Cong. Dist.], recorded on June 30, 2003 and as is airing on “Public Affairs,” this week in the suburbs and as will be airing through-out the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 pm on Ch. 21 [CANTV].
*******************************************************
The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
******************************************
The City edition of Public Affairs airs throughout the City of Chicago every Monday night at 8:30 on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
The “Public Affairs,” show with Cong. Phil Crane and Candidate Melissa Bean will air throughout the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
**********************************************
8th Cong. District Democrat Candidate Melissa Bean’s internal poll of a week ago indicated that the race is currently a statistical tie. The Cong. Crane camp argued the poll should be ignored, asserting that it was a “Push Poll.” In 2002, Crane, who is now in his 35th year in Congress, beat Bean by a 57% to 43% margin. But, this time, Bean has more money and more name recognition, and, two week-ends ago, the Obama troops came to the District to help her. Cong. Lahood is planning to send another busload to the 8th the weekend before the election. So, things are heating up in the 8th, which looks to be the only competitive congressional race in the State. Watch for the issues of tax cuts, trade, the War and abortion [helps Crane] and loss of jobs off shore, gun control, Crane's detachment from District and age [helps Bean] to be significant, if not decisive, as we head toward the home stretch.
****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, host and producer of “Public Affairs,” can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
***********************************************
********************************
Jeff Berkowitz: The [tax cut] legislation that passed came before the congress. If you were there, would you have supported it, would you have voted yes or no on that vote?
Melissa Bean: I’d have to go back and look at it. I wasn’t there. It is a rhetorical question.
Berkowitz: So, you are not going to answer it.
Bean: I don’t have the facts in front of me, no.
***********************************************
Berkowitz: All right. Assault weapons, you don’t support the ban on assault weapons?
Crane: No.
Berkowitz: Why would individuals-- private individuals—need to have an assault weapon?
Crane: Whatever melts their butter in terms of going out to the rifle range and target practicing and so forth. I don’t do that myself and it is not something that excites me but it does some people.
*******************************************************
A virtual debate between Cong. Phil Crane (R- Wauconda) and his challenger, Melissa Bean (D- Barrington).
*******************************************************
Tonight [Oct. 26], at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable on Ch. 19 or Ch. 35 in 24 suburbs [See, below airing schedule], after watching the Obama-Keyes debate, watch the two contestants [Crane and Bean] in the only major competitive race in the state of Illinois on “Public Affairs.” Or, watch “Public Affairs,” at the same time Monday, Wednesday or Friday on Ch. 19 in 10 additional suburbs. The airing schedule for the show, by specific suburb, is included at the end of the partial transcript of the show, below. The show will also air through-out the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
*****************************************
Cong. Phil Crane [R] and challenger Melissa Bean [D] in the 8th Cong. Dist. [ Northwest Cook County, McHenry and Lake Counties], debate and discuss with “Public Affairs,” show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz tax cuts, trade, prescription drug benefits, medicare, job losses, deficits, national security, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Teachers’ unions, special interests, Roe v. Wade, Partial birth abortion bans, gun control, melting butter, rifle ranges and much, much more.
***************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Phil Crane has been known as a big tax cutter, right? He has supported unequivocally—
Melissa Bean: No, he claims to be a big tax cutter.
Berkowitz: He has supported unequivocally President Bush’s program to cut taxes in 2001 and again in 2003. That’s correct, right?
Bean: Correct.
Berkowitz: Now, a good portion of that was tax cuts across the board on marginal rates of taxation, right?
Bean: Um-um.
Berkowitz: Now, how would you have voted on that? Would you have voted for either of those packages [Bush 2001 or 2003 tax cuts]? If you had been the …Congressman from the 8th Cong. Dist. …if you had been that person… [Congressman] in 2001 and 2003, would you have voted yes or no on those tax cut proposals?
Bean: I liked a lot of the tax cut proposals.
Berkowitz: But, you have to vote yes or no.
Bean: My challenges with Crane have not been on the tax cuts but on just the tax code in general because on your point about accountability, he tends to provide in the tax code always relief for those largest lobbying interests.
Berkowitz: All right, we will have to find out [about that]. But, back to taxes, if you had to vote in 2001 or 2003 for the Bush Tax [Cut] program, would it have been a yes or no?
Bean: Well, there were a couple of different options…
Berkowitz: Don’t you, at the end of the Day, when you are a congressman- you have to vote yes or no on what is being proposed, right?
Bean: Hm, um.
Berkowitz: The [tax cut] legislation that passed came before the congress. If you were there, would you have supported it, would you have voted yes or no on that vote?
Bean: I’d have to go back and look at it. I wasn’t there. It is a rhetorical question.
Berkowitz: So, you are not going to answer it.
Bean: I don’t have the facts in front of me, no.
**********************************************
Melissa Bean: I believe you, along with Phil Crane, are very much about being a free trader. It is kind of interesting—
Jeff Berkowitz: I am a free trader? Are you a free trader? More important than my views are your views, are you a free trader?
Bean: I do believe in trade. I do believe in trade.
Berkowitz: So, you are a free trader? But, are you—
Bean: But, when you are talking about—
Berkowitz: Excuse me. But, are you a free trader? Because you said Phil Crane is a free trader.
Bean: I wouldn’t say I am a knee jerk free trader like Phil Crane is.
Berkowitz: He is a knee jerk [free trader]?
Bean: I have never seen anything related to trade that he doesn’t—
Berkowitz: But, do you support NAFTA, for instance?
Bean: At the time, I think I would have supported NAFTA, absolutely. I think there are some things that could be amended now—
Berkowitz: okay
Bean: to just try to create more of a level playing field, but there are definitely benefits to trade-- but when you get into issues like the drug bill, we suddenly get into a protectionist mode. So, there is an inconsistency, in a sense.
****************************************************
8th Cong. Dist. Candidate Melissa Bean [D-Barrington], recorded on August 14, 2004, and as is airing this week on “Public Affairs,” in the suburbs and as will be airing through-out the City of Chicago on "Public Affairs," on Monday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 pm on Ch. 21 [CANTV].
*******************************************************
Berkowitz: Is it going to be in 2004 when the Presidential election occurs, …”it’s the economy stupid”? Or is going to be, “it’s National Security, stupid.”
Crane: I think National Security will be an issue, but I still think the economy is—uh, I have always felt that taxes are [the] No. 1 concern to voters and to provide tax relief and economic growth initiatives is [the] No. 1 priority.
*****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: …Gun Control. Do you support gun control? You’re opposed to gun control?
Cong. Phil Crane: I am totally supportive of the Second Amendment. My right to keep and bear arms.
Berkowitz: Okay, but in addition to being supportive of the Second Amendment, would you support any federal gun control legislation?
Crane: No, I don’t believe in federal gun control legislation.
Berkowitz: So it should all be on the state level?
Crane: Except, if you violate the law, and then we’ll control you and your guns.
Berkowitz: You oppose the Brady Bill?
Crane: Oppose it?
Berkowitz: The concept of the federal government requiring background checks. You oppose that?
Crane: Oh, Yeah. No, I don’t think background checks are required.
Berkowitz: You don’t think so?
Crane: No.
Berkowitz: So, if felons want to get a gun, that’s Okay?
Crane: Well, a felon goes to the store—
Berkowitz: Ex-felons, or
Crane: Yeah, and buys it, and he is a law abiding citizen
Berkowitz: It’s okay.
Crane: So long as he is a law abiding citizen.
Berkowitz: All right. Assault weapons, you don’t support the ban on assault weapons?
Crane: No.
Berkowitz: Why would individuals-- private individuals—need to have an assault weapon?
Crane: Whatever melts their butter in terms of going out to the rifle range and target practicing and so forth. I don’t do that myself and it is not something that excites me but it does some people.
*************************************************************
Cong. Phil Crane, [R- Wauconda, 8th Cong. Dist.], recorded on June 30, 2003 and as is airing on “Public Affairs,” this week in the suburbs and as will be airing through-out the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 pm on Ch. 21 [CANTV].
*******************************************************
The suburban edition of "Public Affairs," is regularly broadcast every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
The suburban edition also is broadcast every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette and every Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable Channel 35 in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Glenview, Golf, Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood and Wheeling.
******************************************
The City edition of Public Affairs airs throughout the City of Chicago every Monday night at 8:30 on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
The “Public Affairs,” show with Cong. Phil Crane and Candidate Melissa Bean will air throughout the City of Chicago on Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
**********************************************
8th Cong. District Democrat Candidate Melissa Bean’s internal poll of a week ago indicated that the race is currently a statistical tie. The Cong. Crane camp argued the poll should be ignored, asserting that it was a “Push Poll.” In 2002, Crane, who is now in his 35th year in Congress, beat Bean by a 57% to 43% margin. But, this time, Bean has more money and more name recognition, and, two week-ends ago, the Obama troops came to the District to help her. Cong. Lahood is planning to send another busload to the 8th the weekend before the election. So, things are heating up in the 8th, which looks to be the only competitive congressional race in the State. Watch for the issues of tax cuts, trade, the War and abortion [helps Crane] and loss of jobs off shore, gun control, Crane's detachment from District and age [helps Bean] to be significant, if not decisive, as we head toward the home stretch.
****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, host and producer of “Public Affairs,” can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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