Eisendrath Webcast-Cablecast on taxes, spending, public corruption and much more.

Jeff Berkowitz: Rod Blagojevich said ... he would not raise the income tax; he would not raise the sales tax. He says, and he can say this now—he did not do either... Will you make that pledge, that if you are elected—

Edwin Eisendrath: I won’t make that pledge. It was a cruel pledge. What he did instead, he raised all those fees and all those small taxes, so that Illinois is more regressive than when he got here. The tax system is less fair than when he got here...
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Our show with Edwin Eisendrath, candidate for Governor in the Democratic Primary who is taking on the incumbent office-holder, is now available as a video Podcast/Webcast at the Public Affairs Cinema [See here]. This is the first thirty minute televised interview with the former Chicago alderman/Clinton appointee as HUD Regional Administrator in his week-old role as Challenger to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The show with gubernatorial candidate Eisendrath will air on Comcast Cable TV in 34 Chicago Metro Suburbs the week of Jan. 9, with the Public Affairs suburban airing schedule detailed at the conclusion of the blog post here. The Eisendrath show will also air through-out the City of Chicago on Monday night, Jan. 16 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].

A partial transcript of the show is included, below. For another partial transcript of the show, see here.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …Blair Hull could spend 40 million dollars [in the 2004 Democrat U. S. Senate Primary]. There was no law, federal or state, that could limit [how much he could give to himself].

Edwin Eisendrath: I can’t. You know, I don’t have that kind of wealth, notwithstanding all the rumors about this. I can’t self-fund this campaign and I wouldn’t if I could. I’m not Blair Hull and I wish I were [laughter].

Jeff Berkowitz: And, if you were [Blair Hull], you might give yourself 10 million to spend on this campaign, right?

Edwin Eisendrath: I think, as I have said before, it’s very important to raise money all over the state. I’ve said that everywhere and I haven’t changed, I mean that- I’ve said it every time.

Jeff Berkowitz: Rod Blagojevich said- [he] made an important pledge before he became governor: he would not raise the income tax; he would not raise the sales tax. He says, and he can say this now—he did not do either, a lot of people give him credit for that. That’s what you are up against. Will you make that pledge, that if you are elected—

Edwin Eisendrath: I won’t make that pledge. It was a cruel pledge. What he did instead, he raised all those fees and all those small taxes, so that Illinois is more regressive than when he got here. The tax system is less fair than when he got here. Fee raises--

Jeff Berkowitz: Eight hundred million dollars in fee increases.

Edwin Eisendrath: So, lower income payments, not even lower income, all but the top twenty percent pay a higher percentage [of taxes] than they used to—

Jeff Berkowitz: Has that made the Illinois Economy one of the worse in the nation?

Edwin Eisendrath: Not by itself.

Jeff Berkowitz: But one of the factors? What else? Republicans say it is a terrible business climate. Would you agree that Illinois has a terrible business climate now?

Edwin Eisendrath: The No. 1 priority. At least according to the Chamber of commerce, which is sort of generally thought of as a Republican point of view—the thing that people want to see—are our colleges and our schools preparing [a] better work force. You know what, if that makes us a bad working environment, you bet.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, where are you going to get the money to subsidize higher education more? Does it inevitably mean that you would raise either the income tax or the sales tax?

Edwin Eisendrath: It doesn’t mean that.

Jeff Berkowitz: [Then] you have to cut spending somewhere [else]. How are you going to do it?

Edwin Eisendrath: Well—

Jeff Berkowitz: Cut spending [or] raise taxes.

Edwin Eisendrath: I think what you are going to end up seeing is spending cuts and the tax system looked at across the board. My guess is some taxes go down; other taxes go up—because the tax system isn’t fair. So, we have to—

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you favor a tax swap? Lower the—lower the property tax, raise the income tax?

Edwin Eisendrath: I certainly am open to looking at that in great detail. I wouldn’t do what the Governor did, which is to threaten to veto it, so it never even saw the light of day. It never got—

Jeff Berkowitz: You would have considered House Bill 750, which was not only a tax swap but an increase of total taxes of about 3 billion dollars. Would you have given that some thought?

Edwin Eisendrath: Well, I wasn’t there, so I didn’t get a chance to work on it.

Jeff Berkowitz: Hypothetically.

Edwin Eisendrath: Hypothetical questions are, are—

Jeff Berkowitz: Good questions. They are ways of finding out what you would do before you get there.

Edwin Eisendrath: If I were there, I would have worked on a bill like that to see if we could craft one that makes sense. I don’t know enough about--

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you are open to that? You are open to House Bill 750, or some variant?

Edwin Eisendrath: Yeah, I am open to looking at all things and that was taken off the table and I think it does need to be looked at.
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Edwin Eisendrath, running for Governor in the March 21, 2006 Democratic Primary in Illinois. The show was recorded on December 27, 2005 for a forthcoming Public Affairs episode that will air in the City of Chicago on Monday, January 16 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV], the suburbs the week of January 9 and on the Public Affairs Cinema [starting now and continuing at the Cinema for at least a month], which currently is also airing a five minute interview with Eisendrath, taped about a month ago [See here]. The Cinema also houses a dozen recent, other Public Affairs episodes, each of which is available here
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Compare and Contrast: Berkowitz and Brackett; Gutierrez and Gidwitz-Rauschenberger

Elizabeth Brackett: And do you think that organization [the Hispanic Democratic Organization, aka the Hispanic Daley Organization or the Mayor’s Merry Pranksters] could have functioned in its patronage distribution without the Mayor’s knowledge?

Cong. Luis Gutierrez [D-Chicago, 4th CD]: I think that the Mayor, at some level- and he has defended the Hispanic Democratic Organization—at some level knew about the Hispanic Democratic Organization and must have given it his blessing at some level.

Brackett: The question is- how deep is the level?

Cong. Luis Gutierrez: But, I don’t know how deep the level is and I don’t want—I don’t want to say things about another politician, about the Mayor of the City of Chicago that I can’t come here with concrete proof about.
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Tonight’s Chicago Tonight, airing on WTTW in the Chicago Metro area at 7:00 pm, midnight, 1:30 am and 4:30 am
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Jeff Berkowitz: Is the Daley Administration corrupt, Senator Steve Rauschenberger?

Senator and Lt. Gov. candidate Steve Rauschenberger: I think so. I don’t know how the Mayor can close an airport [Meigs Field in the Chicago Loop] with Bulldozers. I don’t know how a mayor can stand up and have four pending federal investigations into the hiring and the contracting practices [of the City of Chicago] and say, “I don’t know anything about it.” I mean Mayor Daley is maybe an effective mayor; he may be a nice guy, but you know, like a lot of politicians, I think four pending federal investigations is enough to ring the bell for the retirement.

Berkowitz: Ron Gidwitz, do you agree?

Republican Primary Gubernatorial Candidate Ron Gidwitz: I think what we need to do is we need to find out where the investigation is going with both of these people [Daley and Blagojevich]. We’re running for office. We’re running to defeat the current administration in Springfield. And, we’re focused on that. My suspicion is where there is the appearance of evildoing, unfortunately, the people lose confidence, which is why we’ve been talking about let’s clean up all of them-- all of the races and all of the jobs.
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Public Affairs, airing here at the Public Affairs Cinema [See Here, click on the Rauschenberger-G… box, recorded on Dec. 18, 2006] and in the Chicago North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs this week and throughout the City of Chicago on Monday night, Jan. 2, 2006 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV]. See here for more details on the suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs and for an additional partial transcript of the show.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Does Eisendrath have the Right Stuff?

Revised at 12:30 am on Tuesday, Jan. 10 to correct some slight transcript errors; Revised at 11:45 am on Wednesday to add many missing links.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you have the right stuff to become Governor of the State of Illinois?

Edwin Eisendrath: Not only can I do this, but it isn’t about me and it isn’t about Rod [Blagojevich]. It is about what people want to see in their government. And, I don’t think that it is okay that we don’t fund schools and we can’t send our kids to college; that the state budget is in worst shape than it was four years ago. Those [things] aren’t what Democrats are about.
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Jeff Berkowitz: On economic issues, are you with the Republicans? On corruption issues, are you with the Republicans?

Ed Eisendrath: The Republicans can’t talk about corruption while George Ryan is on trial. And just because Rod [Blagojevich] lets them do it doesn’t mean that I will

Berkowitz: They [The Republicans] have been doing it [talking about Democratic corruption].

Eisendrath: As far as I am concerned, they don’t have the “stuff,” to do that. I have shown that I can clean up a government.

Berkowitz: Is Rod running a corrupt administration?

Eisendrath: The [Blagojevich] Administration has crossed the line—[show ends].
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Edwin Eisendrath, running for Governor in the March 21, 2006 Democratic Primary in Illinois. The show was recorded on December 27, 2005 for a forthcoming Public Affairs episode that will air in the City of Chicago on Monday, January 16 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV], the suburbs the week of January 9 and on the Public Affairs Cinema [starting now and continuing at the Cinema for at least a month], which currently is also airing a five minute interview with Eisendrath, taped about a month ago [See here]. The Cinema also houses a dozen recent, other Public Affairs episodes, each of which is available here
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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A cancer spreading in the Republican Party? Gidwitz and Rauschenberger discuss on TV/Web

"Public Affairs," with Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Ron Gidwitz and his running mate Lt. Gov. candidate and State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger is airing tonight in 24 Chicago metro suburbs in its regular Tuesday time slot: 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

The show is also available now to be watched anytime as a webcast on the Public Affairs Cinema Complex [See here].

The show will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, Jan. 2 at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21.
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The episode of Public Affairs featuring Gidwitz and Rauschenberger airs tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And at 8:30 pm 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.

And tomorrow, Wednesday, and Friday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 and Thursday, in a special airing at 9:00 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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A partial transcript of the show is included immediately below.
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Jeff Berkowitz: [DuPage County State’s Attorney] Joe Birkett, he’s now her [Topinka’s] running mate [for Governor], is he a part of the problem?

Ron Gidwitz: We’ll see.

Jeff Berkowitz: What do you think, [Steve] Rauschenberger? Senator Rauschenberger?

Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: I’m disappointed that the State’s Attorney in DuPage County [Joe Birkett] doesn’t see any wrongdoing anywhere that he needs to speak out about. He said, “Until the federal government indicts someone, I have no comment.” That doesn’t sound like political leadership to me.

Ron Gidwitz: And, quite frankly, he hasn’t spoken out on the issue of Bob Kjellander [the controversial Republican National Committeeman from Illinois] .

Jeff Berkowitz: Yeah, he invokes, what is it, the “Eleventh Commandment?”

Ron Gidwitz: Yeah. Not speaking ill of a Republican. I mean, quite frankly-

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you adhere to the Eleventh Commandment?

Ron Gidwitz: I think we ought not to speak ill of each other, but, I think, by the same token, I think we need to expunge from the party, eliminate from the party, the conflict, or the appearance of conflict, because it is a cancer in this party.

Jeff Berkowitz: It is a cancer? Is the cancer growing? Is Kjellander the equivalent of a cancer?

Ron Gidwitz: I think it’s one of those cancers.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is it one of the tumors?

Ron Gidwitz: A tumor.

Jeff Berkowitz: A malignant tumor?

Ron Gidwitz: I like that.

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s what you say.

Ron Gidwitz: I think it’s a tumor.

Jeff Berkowitz: You agree, Senator Rauschenberger?

Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: I’m with you. [laughing]. Let’s move on. I’m not a doctor.
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Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Ron Gidwitz and his running mate Lt. Gov. candidate and State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger, recorded on December 18, 2005 and as is airing on the Suburban edition of Public Affairs this week [week of Dec. 26] and on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs on Monday night, Jan. 2 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. See, below, for a detailed suburban airing schedule.
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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.
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Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Better than Monday night Football: McSweeney on Cable/ Web

David McSweeney: [Cong. Bean] took their [the unions'] support; she took their coordinated expenditures. I understand she filled out a questionnaire that said she would oppose NAFTA like agreements, which CAFTA certainly was, and then she voted for it[CAFTA]. That’s what creates skepticism in politics.
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Jeff Berkowitz: And, if it’s ten million people to be deported, you would favor that as a federal program?

Dave McSweeney: Jeff, let’s be realistic. What we need to do is we need to enforce the existing laws, we need to protect the borders, and we should not reward illegal immigrants in this country.
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"Public Affairs," with David McSweeney [R-Barrington Hills, 8th CD Primary Candidate] is airing tonight through-out the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on [CANTV], Cable Ch. 21.

The show is also available now to be watched as a webcast on the Public Affairs Cinema Complex [See here].

You may also watch a show we did with David McSweeney in August, 2005 at the The Public Affairs Cinema Complex. See here for a partial transcript of tonight’s show, a list of many of the topics discussed tonight and for links to partial transcripts of the August, 2005 show and more about that show, as well as links to the McSweeney campaign site and additional partial transcripts of the previous show with McSweeney.
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Another partial transcript of tonight’s show is included, below.
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Jeff Berkowitz: She [Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-Barrington, 8th CD)] did support CAFTA, right? The Central America Free Trade Agreement; You support CAFTA, Central America Free Trade Agreement, right? On that, you are the same.

Dave McSweeney: This is an amazing situation. Let me first of all tell you that I do support CAFTA, the Central America Free Trade Agreement. I believe it will help create new jobs and opportunities for exports around the country. Melissa Bean took the unions’ money; she took their support; she took their coordinated expenditures. I understand she filled out a questionnaire that said she would oppose NAFTA like agreements, which CAFTA certainly was, and then she voted for it [CAFTA]. That’s what creates skepticism in politics.

Jeff Berkowitz: To be fair, she said just the other day, on Dick Kay’s City Desk show [NBC-5, Chicago] that she never said that she would vote against CAFTA. We’ll have her on again and she’ll be able to talk about this-she’s scheduled to be on in January- but you just said it is a NAFTA-like agreement. She said it wasn’t NAFTA-like because there were provisions to protect labor standards, and to hold these countries to their own labor standards, to have funds in these countries to enforce their labor standards. She said that made it a very different agreement.

Dave McSweeney: It wasn’t a different agreement. I would have supported CAFTA.

Jeff Berkowitz: It wasn’t different from NAFTA; that’s what you’re saying? Not in that perspective?

Dave McSweeney: Not in that perspective, number one. Number two, this will be a very interesting discussion throughout the entire campaign because of her or [because of] people who say that Melissa Bean gave them her word that she would oppose the CAFTA agreement, and, we’ll see. We’ll see how that plays out during the entire campaign. And, you should ask her that next time she is on the show.

Jeff Berkowitz: She said the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times both supported that, showing different ideological viewpoints came together on CAFTA. That’s her view [on CAFTA]. She’s saying that she’s an independent- [she’s saying that] she’s not a partisan.

Dave McSweeney: Melissa Bean has voted with [Cong.] Jesse Jackson Jr. seventy-seven percent of the time. She was quoted on the Tom Roeser show as saying that the two people she admires most in Congress are Rahm Emanuel, the liberal Chicago Clinton attack dog and Barney Frank from Massachusetts. If that’s mainstream, I don’t define it as that.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Immigration. McCain-Kennedy talks I think about and maybe the President is signing onto this now, not quite officially, but he [President Bush] seems to be coming around [to the position that] we need more border control and we need a guest worker program, and we need a path to citizenship for those illegal people who are undocumented workers, here illegally, probably ten to twelve million in this country, but have no path to citizenship. So, would you favor those three things. Put aside whose legislation it is: Increased border control, a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants—[that is], immigrants who are here illegally.

Dave McSweeney: I oppose a guest worker program because what it does is it implies legal status for illegal immigrants. I do favor increased border security and controls. We need to protect our borders-both the Canadian and Mexican borders-because of national security purposes. Remember the nineteen terrorists with box cutters? Imagine terrorists coming across the borders. But, I do oppose the guest worker program.

Jeff Berkowitz: You do? And that’s the Bush program. So, you differ with President Bush. He wants to have two three-year periods of guest worker status.

Dave McSweeney: I oppose that. I do oppose that.

Jeff Berkowitz: [Have ] you let him know. You expect his support, even though you oppose him on that?

Dave McSweeney: I support the President on many issues, and I do not favor the guest worker program. We’ll see what eventually comes out of Congress, but I would not vote for a program that gives legal work-permit status to illegal immigrants.

Jeff Berkowitz: What do we do with the ten to twelve million immigrants who are here in this country illegally? They’re working. They have families. They’re probably paying taxes. What do we do? Do we try to deport all those individuals?

Dave McSweeney: Well, Jeff, let me tell you. First of all, we are a nation of immigrants. I support LEGAL immigration- so, where we need workers, we should bring in temporary workers, and also bring in individuals, through legal means, who have gone through security checks. But, we should not reward people who are in this country illegally. Without a doubt, that is a focus that we need to make, which is--Let’s allow an increase in legal immigration, but let’s not reward illegal immigration in this country.

Jeff Berkowitz: What do we do with the ones who are here now.

Dave McSweeney: We don’t give them legal status. We don’t-

Jeff Berkowitz: Do we deport them? Do we have a program to try to deport those-

Dave McSweeney: As we find people, we should deport them.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, if it’s ten million people to be deported, you would favor that as a federal program?

Dave McSweeney: Jeff, let’s be realistic. What we need to do is we need to enforce the existing laws, we need to protect the borders, and we should not reward illegal immigrants in this country.
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David McSweeney, candidate in the Republican Primary for the 8th Cong. Dist.nomination, recorded on December 11, 2005 and as is airing on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs tonight, Monday, Dec. 26, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV].
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Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Connecting the dots: Alito, Bush and Baseball?

Carter Phillips [longtime friend of U. S. Supreme Court nominee Sam Alito; Phillips has made forty-seven appearances before the Supreme Court]: …I have gotten to that age [about 54] where people of my age are the ones who start to run the world…

Phillips: …[H]e [Judge Alito] was a ringer on my law firm’s softball team, as well, and again-- it is good to have a power hitter who plays a…mean first base.

Phillips: …[H]e [Alito] came as a purely non-political lawyer.
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Carter Phillips, longtime friend of Supreme Court Nominee Sam Alito [whose confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin Jan. 9], suggests Sam Alito’s nomination to the Supremes is somewhat surprising in light of his lack of focus on politics [See, below].

However, others make clear that Alito identified with much of the Reagan Administration political philosophy, and was not simply functioning as an advocate in the administration. On the other hand, they also argue that is hardly a disqualifier for serving on the highest Court in the Land, reminding us of Justice Ruth Bader Ginzburg's political alignments and activity prior to her confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice [See here]. For a contra view about Judge Alito's fitness to sit on the U. S. Supreme Court, [see here].

Interviewer: It must feel a little odd when a personal friend is nominated for the Court?

Carter Phillips: Well, in some ways, that was true, though, with Chief Justice [John] Roberts--I have known him actually since 1981, as well, though we weren’t in the same office, but he was in the Justice Department at the same time, and our paths crossed at different ways over the years, so I am not sure-I mean it is a little bit different because I am a little bit closer to Sam than I was to John, but, you know, it is exciting…Somebody said yesterday, you know, I have gotten to that age where people of my age are the ones who start to run the world, so it shouldn’t come as a huge shock I’d have to run into him in one context or another.
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Phillips: …it may heat up, but at least at this stage, it seems to me there are some serious objectors out there, but they don’t seem to be getting that much traction, I guess.
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Phillips: …he is a good ballplayer. We played on the same team when we were in the Solicitor General’s office. It has a team that plays other teams in and around the City [DC]. …Sam was a very good first baseman and power hitter. And, then, he was a ringer on my law firm’s softball team, as well, and again-- it is good to have a power hitter who plays a…mean first base.
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Phillips: I do have a baseball card [with him as the baseball player] in his Philadelphia Phillies uniform…that’s from a Phillies fantasy camp down in Florida. I think his wife sent him to it and he spent a week with all of the old Phillies players and those are the players he is closest to in his own mind. Obviously when you are younger, you tend to have heroes and those are the ones who tend to participate in these kinds of camps. [As most know, George Bush also likes baseball, having assembled a group of partners that purchased the Texas Rangers prior to his becoming Governor in Texas [See here and here]; Bush is also one of the few people who, when throwing out the first ball, gets it over the plate--with some velocity].
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If you had sat down twenty years ago and said who in that group [in the Solicitor General’s office], do you think is going to be on the Supreme Court, I’m not sure Sam would have been at or even above the fold on that list, not because he isn’t a spectacularly talented lawyer, but mostly I suppose because the politics of it. I mean he came as a purely non-political lawyer. That was my sense of him through that entire period that he and I worked together in that office. He is just a very talented person and for my money, it’s wonderful to know you can be a very talented lawyer and achieve incredibly high accomplishments within our judicial system, but I wouldn’t have bet on that twenty some odd years ago at the time, certainly.
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Carter Phillips, Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, speaking recently on C- Span’s "America and the Courts."
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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8th CD R Candidates McSweeney-Churchill face-off on TV/Web

Look what we found under the tree, the most recent addition to the Public Affairs Cinema--

This is the show we taped earlier this week with two of the more prominent of the seven 8th CD Republican Primary candidates: Investment Banker David McSweeney [Barrington Hills] and State Rep. Robert Churchill [Lake Villa], facing off against each other.

The winner of the 8th CD Republican Primary will face the first term Democrat U. S. Rep. in that district, Congresswoman Melissa Bean [Barrington], who is scheduled to tape our show in the middle of January.

You can watch the McSweeney-Churchill face-off by going to the Public Affairs Cinema.

The McSweeney-Churchill show will also air in the suburbs during the week of January 2 and throughout the City of Chicago on Monday evening, January 9, 2006 at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable ch. 21.

From the Michael Sneed-Dan Rather School of Journalism

As I reported [See here], Rich Miller, of Capitolfax fame, in one of a series of uncomplimentary posts on Democrat Primary Candidate Ed Eisendrath [See short video interview with Eisendrath] that Rich wrote during the last week, borrowed from Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed-- an always dangerous act for a fellow journalist.

Wrote Rich Miller in his Capitolfax blog [which is generally well written, well linked and very informative, and a very useful supplement to his Capitolfax newsletter],

This Sneed bit is somewhat telling [See Sneed column here]:

Dem gubernatorial hopeful Edwin Eisendrath carried an appropriate totem when he announced his candidacy against incumbent Gov. Blagojevich: a silver bookmark engraved with the Winston Churchill quote, “Never, never, never give up.”

Rich Miller added to the Sneedling, above:

So, instead of a silver spoon, he’s got a silver bookmark?

Funny story. Unfortunately for Sneed and Miller, it is not true. How very North Shore of the once and perhaps still Winnetkan Michael Sneed. She spreads a rumor that has no relationship to fact. And, others [Capitolfax] pick it up and extrapolate from the false statement to suit their own purposes and theories about Eisendrath not being a person of substance, but instead just another spoiled rich kid.

How ironic that the source of the Sneed-Miller derision should be a bookmark with a quote from perhaps the greatest world leader of the 20th Century.

Paraphrasing my good friend Locke Bowman’s statement about various prosecutors incorrectly concluding they got the right perp in a death penalty murder case, "Rich couldn’t have been more wrong." Indeed, the only thing rich about Rich and Sneed's story is Rich Miller’s error.

The bookmark is not silver. Brass, perhaps. It has a brownish color. The bookmark was a Christmas present, last year, from Edwin’s bride, Jennifer. It cost all of six dollars [not unlike O'Henry's "The Gift of the Magi"]. From that, Miller gets-- [Eisendrath was born with a] silver spoon in his mouth? Gimme a break.

But, I could understand why these facts weren’t too appealing to Sneed. They don’t quite fit with her storyline, or Rich’s extrapolation. Makes you kind of wonder who gave Sneed the storyline and whether she did an ounce’s worth of journalism when she wrote the column.

When Sneed screws up, does the Chicago Sun-Times require that she does something about it? A retraction, perhaps? Inquiring minds want to know.

Then Rich Miller picks the “silver bookmark,” up, assumes Sneed got it right— and adds his own misplaced nastiness to it. After all, it's fair game. The guy is said to be rich.

Oh yeah, Sneed and Rich did get one thing right. The bookmark present from Jennifer to Ed Eisendrath is engraved with the Winston Churchill quote, “Never, never, never give up.”

Perhaps the Churchill quote will be inspiration for Sneed and Miller, as they try, in the future, to write things that are accurate and fair to their targets. “Never, never, never give up,” checking on facts, and as the Stones sang, if they “try some time, they just might find, they get what they need,” if not what they want.

As I have said before, I am not working for Eisendrath and I an not working against him. I am working for the notion of trying to be tough, but fair, on all.

I’ll videotape Eisendrath on Tuesday night. Perhaps I’ll shed some light on his positions on public policy issues. I might even find out something about his vision for the State and leadership capabilities. I might get a sense of whether he has or will have sufficient resources, organization and message to mount a credible campaign against incumbent governor Rod Blagojevich in the Democratic Primary, or even how he might match up against whichever Republican choice and/or third party candidate[s] might emerge.

After that, and with more information, the Democratic Primary voters [and, if he wins that, the general election voters] of this state might decide he is a good candidate or they might decide he is not. But, let’s not decide this stuff on silver bookmarks that don’t exist and ridiculous extrapolations from that. Let’s not, as journalists, slurp up whatever slop the candidates’ spinmeisters and handlers put in front of the hungry media. In other words, how about some good, fair, tough and balanced journalism?

One more thing, a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays to all, and especially to Michael Sneed, Rich Miller and to all those Public Affairs viewers and readers who have sent me emails criticizing what I do and suggesting how I could do it better.

And, yes, I know, I am remiss in publishing those comments for which I have permission to do so. I will try to get them posted as soon as I can and I will resolve to do better next year. Keep those emails coming, please. And, please don’t forget to send your suggestions for questions and topics for this coming Tuesday night’s show with Democrat gubernatorial candidate Ed Eisendrath. Silver bullets, anybody?
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Speaker Mike Madigan: Blagojevich's Best Friend, Today

Revised slightly at noon on Friday, including the addition of a link to a five minute Eisendrath video interview.

Have you noticed the generally negative tone of Rich Miller of Capitolfax fame regarding the Candidacy of Ed Eisendrath for Illinois Governor in the Democratic Primary [you can find all of the below Capitolfax references by scrolling through the Capitolfax blog [See here] posts for this week][See here to watch a video interview with Edwin Eisendrath]?

First there was this:

Only a hundred people at his [Eisendrath’s] announcement of his candidacy this past Sunday.

--Well, for one, he didn’t have armies of government employees available to push his attendance numbers up, and he didn’t have labor that was bought off, etc, like some candidates. Anyway, the election won't be won or lost on that stuff.

Second, there was this:

Edwin didn’t return columnist Aaron Chamber’s phone call.

--Oh migod. Really, Rich? Quick, lift the moratorium on the death penalty. Execute Ed. Can you imagine that? Ed didn’t respond to a phone call from the media. And a media member, to boot, who used to room with Rich Miller. Wow!

Third, there was this:

--Just awful. He pretty much refused to speak [to the media] in specificity about anything from his political support to his personal financial commitment to his positions on any number of policy issues

Oh migod. Can you imagine that? A newcomer candidate for Gov who may not have a definitive answer for every question the press can throw at him? Isn’t that just awful? Of course, nobody in the MSM comments on the contrast to Rod, who would not be allowed to face the media if he didn’t have a prepackaged answer.

Fourth, there was this:

--And what’s with the “Edwin” stuff? It’s all over his website. Sounds a little too snooty to my ears. Doesn’t anyone ever call him “Ed”? [Even Eric Zorn took a swipe at Eisendrath for this].

Actually, I do [call him Ed]. One of the first things he said to me, when I asked, was, Ed or Edwin, whatever you like. So, I alternate. Moreover, before and after he became President in 1960, they didn’t call him John or Johnnie. Maybe Jack. But, often it was John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or JFK. Sound a little Snooty to you, Rich? I didn’t think so.

Fifth, there was this. [Rich, when you are dipping into Sneed, you know you are in trouble].

---This Sneed bit is somewhat telling: Dem gubernatorial hopeful Edwin Eisendrath carried an appropriate totem when he announced his candidacy against incumbent Gov. Blagojevich: a silver bookmark engraved with the Winston Churchill quote, “Never, never, never give up.” So, instead of a silver spoon, he’s got a silver bookmark, remarks Rich Miller.

Yeah, that’s really terrible, Rich. A guy who likes Winston Churchill and who has a silver bookmark? Worse, he even reads books? Talk to Chris Matthews, a man of the people and he is in love with Winston, and Chris reads books, too. Indeed, he even writes a few.

Sixth, there was this.

One item in Rich’s blog kind of for Ed and from my good friend [if not ex-roommate] and ace political analyst at IRN, Jim Anderson:

In my opinion, Rod has solid support to win the Democratic primary in about the 70 percent range, meaning Eisendrath would still get close to 400,000 votes — a lot for a late-starting campaign for a guy with no name recognition, but not nearly enough to beat the Rodster.

Seventh, and finally, we get to the apparent source of Rich’s angst. Let’s hope Dem gubernatorial hopeful Edwin Eisendrath’s good-luck Winston Churchill charm does its job.

*Translation: Sneed sources claim minions for Dem state party chief Michael Madigan were scouring Eisendrath’s nominating petitions filed with the state election board to see if they can find a legal reason to end his bid for the state’s top job.

Now comes the commentary by the host of this blog.

First, everybody knows that when it comes to keeping up with and knowing various facts, rumor and innuendo on Illinois’ 177 General Assembly seats and a bunch of other state and local political issues, Rich Miller’s Capitolfax hard copy and blog are indispensable reading.

On the other hand, when it comes to analysis, some suggest Rich has a bias or two.
For example, if you want to know what Speaker Mike Madigan wants on important matters, it has been suggested-- look to Capitolfax’s drift.

What outcome does Speaker Mike want in the Gubernatorial election? Yes, we know he is Co-Chairman of Hot Rod’s campaign. But, really, what does he want?

Well, we are told he has two primary goals in life [and not necessarily in this order]: Keep the Illinois House Democratic so he can stay Speaker and keep moving his daughter, AG Lisa Madigan, up the political ladder, or more precisely, do what he can to assist her upward mobility. Admittedly, she has a lot of her own talent, smarts, integrity and political finesse [much of which she learned in her teenage years from watching Speaker Mike, up close, in Springfield].

But Speaker Mike didn’t hurt Lisa’s chances when she sought to became a state senator. Indeed, Party Leader Speaker Mike made sure Lisa got the best political tutoring for the kind of pol she wanted to be, even including some tutoring from independent Dems, an image Lisa fancies.

Nor did Speaker Mike hurt her chances when Lisa sought to become AG. First, Speaker Mike sought to clear the field in the Democratic Primary by sending the more experienced and more accomplished State Rep. Tom Dart out of the AG race and into a losing race for State Treasurer. I am sure Speaker Mike made Tom an offer he couldn’t refuse [like some day he would help him become Cook County Sheriff].

Lisa then pitted her four years of legal experience against three decades or so of the private practice and No. 3 in the USDOJ experience of John Schmidt in the Democratic Primary. After beating Schmidt handily, Lisa took on, in 2002, the two decades of prosecutorial [although some would argue Necarico case tarnished] experience of DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett in the General Election, and she won by three points in a hotly contested race.

In that AG general election race, Rich Miller, in his Capitolfax, made a cottage industry out of trashing Birkett and cheerleading for Lisa. Some would argue the merits of the race dictated that. Some would argue otherwise.

Lisa Madigan's next political pit stop is Illinois Governor. Speaker Mike thinks Rod has done a terrible job as Governor and in four more years, Blagojevich will crash and burn. Of course, the Speaker is confident that the Republicans can’t beat even a badly damaged Rod, so long as he is not indicted, and the Speaker is betting that won’t happen, at least not this year or next year.

Thus, as Speaker Mike sees it, Lisa is in line to become Governor in 2010, when things are going so badly for Rod, that he slinks away in disgrace. And then, in 2016, maybe, well, you know.

But, this guy Eisendrath, if Rod should get indicted next year before the Primary, Eisendraft would be there to pick up the pieces. That is, Speaker Mike, as Chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, couldn’t use that power to send in his sub and daughter, Lisa.

And, what if Eisendrath, the Anti-Rod, as in anti-Christ, took off in the polls and then beat Rod. You know, substance, reform, honesty, integrity, downstate, etc. It could just work. Then Ed or Edwin, you choose, becomes the Democrat nominee for Governor and he easily beats the Republicans, thinks Speaker Mike.

And then what happens to Lisa? Her progress to Governor and beyond is impeded. And Speaker Mike spends his golden years living a shattered dream. Ok, that is a lot of ifs and maybes. But, still, why take a chance, says Speaker Mike. He says, check those petitions with a fine toothcomb. And, he tells his cooperating Illinois Major Media [as Senator Durbin would put it], please write that stuff about Ed and Edwin; silver book marks and not returning phone calls and all that other ridiculous crap and who knows, some of that might stick.

Now, look, I am not here to shill for Edwin or anybody. I will interview him for the second time this Tuesday night, and he may look bad or good to my viewers. I don’t know how it will come out. As my good friend and mediameister for the Governor, Pete Giangreco, reminds me, from time to time, we don’t know- that’s why we play the game, to find out "how it does come out."

But, one thing I do know. This is the second videotaped interview I got with Edwin Eisendrath in the last month, which is two more than I got with Governor Blagojevich since he won the Primary in 2002 and two more than I ever got with AG Lisa Madigan. Moreover, Gov. Blagojevich was invited to join Ed Eisendrath at the taping of our show this coming Tuesday and we were told the Governor's schedule wouldn’t permit it, but he will try another time. Yep, we’ll see. Meanwhile, we are taping Democrat Guv Candidate Eisendrath this Tuesday night [Please send your suggested questions and topics to my email, below. As usual, that is not for attribution unless you indicate you prefer that]

Now, that is something to which "Senator Durbin's major media groupies," might want to give some thought. How many times have Governor Rod Blagojevich, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Speaker Mike Madigan subjected themselves to a tough half hour of substantive questioning by a single interviewer [with lots of follow-ups] in the last four years? Or, indeed, how many times has Senator Durbin subjected himself to tough, unmanaged, unscripted questioning at a press conference, or otherwise, over the course of his career? [See here]. I think I know the answers. Do you?

So, I am not saying anything about Capitolfax, Rich Miller, AG Lisa Madigan or Speaker Mike. Really, I am not. Because, I would never engage in rumor and innuendo.

But, I am just saying. When you think about it, it seems a little strange, doesn’t it? But, I am not saying. Really, I’m not.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Compare & Contrast: Gidwitz-Rauschenberger and Durbin

State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: In fact, not only does Jim Edgar not recognize it, in some ways he has been a facilitator, willing or unwilling. I mean he is close friends with [RNC Committeeman] Bob Kjellander. He knows all these players. I mean it is time for real leadership to stand up. It’s not the 70s anymore.
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Ron Gidwitz: I have the utmost respect for Jim Edgar, but quite frankly we have a problem in our party and he doesn’t acknowledge it.
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Whatta guy. Your Senior Senator. Dick Durbin. Representing the powerful? And the major media?
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Our show with Team Gidwitz-Rauschenberger, taped on Sunday, is the latest addition to the Public Affairs Cinema Complex [See here].

This is the first extended television interview [29:57] with Republican Primary Gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz and his Lt. Gov. running mate, Steve Rauschenberger, discussing, in response to some tough questions, how they might work jointly as a team and how their sometimes divergent views, e.g., taxes, capital punishment and abortion, would mesh.

One rather striking and perhaps controversial statement, on which Team Gidberger agrees, is their assessment of whether Big Jim Thompson [See Thompson’s reflections here] is a Republican in good standing. [See a partial transcript of the show with Gidwitz-Rauschenberger, below].

The show airs in the suburbs next week and throughout the City of Chicago on Monday night, January 2 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV]. But, why wait- when you can watch it here and now.

Of course, being the first to air an extended TV interview with the Gubernatorial/Lt. Gov. team of Ron Gidwitz and Steve Rauschenberger might count for something, or so you might think. Doing 400 thirty minute shows with big time pols and public policy makers over eight years [including the Senior Senator from Illinois, the Junior Senator from Illinois and two former U. S. Senators from Illinois] might count for something, or so you might think.

However, if your name is Senator Dick Durbin, the response is “not so much.” Airing throughout Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago Metro Suburbs and on this site doesn’t meet the high media standards that our Senior Senator for the State of Illinois has for political media. Team Durbin declines to add “Public Affairs,” to the good Senator’s media list so we can get notice of his press conferences and maybe ask a question or two of Senator Durbin.

Populist, reformer, fighter for the powerless, Equal Protection under the Laws Dick Durbin doesn’t want to clutter up his media list and his press conferences with the likes of Public Affairs. And, of course, Senator Durbin's Media lists, Media personnel and press conferences are financed by your tax dollars and mine. Further, even to get a negative response took about two years from Team Durbin.

Team Durbin says “Public Affairs” is not “major media,” and only major media are entitled to notice of Senator Durbin’s press conferences. But, Team Durbin declines to define “major media.” It should be clear why. Whatta guy. Your Senior Senator, Dick Durbin. Representing the powerful? And the major media? Blocking access to Public Affairs. With your money. And with resources that are supposed to be used for the "Public Good." Senator Durbin, whatta guy.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Is that the real schism in the Republican Party? Reformers and non-reformers? You’ve said that, you agree.

State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: It is what I believe. All this talk about where we are on different issues… they all pale in comparison to those people who believe the Republican Party needs new leadership like Ron represents, who want to see honest people from the outside come in and …the people who want to protect connected insiders who take care of their friends.

Berkowitz: Jim Edgar scoffed at that distinction [between reformers and non-reformers] when I asked him [about it] when he decided not to run [for Governor]. You would criticize [former Governor] Edgar for not recognizing that important distinction?

State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: In fact, not only does Jim Edgar not recognize it, in some ways he has been a facilitator, willing or unwilling. I mean he is close friends with [RNC Committeeman] Bob Kjellander. He knows all these players. I mean it is time for real leadership to stand up. It’s not the 70s anymore.

Berkowitz: Do you agree?

Ron Gidwitz: I agree with that.

Berkowitz: Would you be critical of Jim Edgar in that sense? That he is not recognizing this important distinction between reformers and non-reformers?

Ron Gidwitz: I have the utmost respect for Jim Edgar, but quite frankly we have a problem in our party and he doesn’t acknowledge it.

Berkowitz: Is Judy Baar Topinka a part of the problem?

Ron Gidwitz: I think we have a problem with people who are acknowledging the status quo and not moving to fix it. Judy says she is quite satisfied with what’s going on today.
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Team Ron Gidwitz and Steve Rauschenberger, interviewed on Public Affairs on Sunday, December 18, 2005 and as will air in the suburbs next week [week of Dec. 26] and throughout the City of Chicago on Monday night, Jan. 2, 2006 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] and as is airing now [here].
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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McSweeney- TV/Webcast: National Defense, Guns, Gays, Crane, Taxes

Jeff Berkowitz: But, why does somebody need an assault weapon?

David McSweeney: The reason somebody needs an assault weapon is people use it for—whether it be hunting, target practice—

Jeff Berkowitz: Hunting? Does that sound like a fair match-up with a deer? You need an assault weapon to kill a deer?
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David McSweeney: ...my real training of message is on what I believe in, which is lower taxes, less spending and a strong national defense.

Jeff Berkowitz: …Are you saying those are the three most important issues to your constituents in the 8th Congressional District?

David McSweeney: They are…I am going to run on those issues…
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"Public Affairs," with David McSweeney [R-Barrington Hills, 8th CD Primary Candidate] is airing tonight in 24 Chicago metro suburbs in its regular Tuesday time slot: 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.

The show is also available now to be watched anytime as a webcast on the Public Affairs Cinema Complex [See here]. You may also watch a show we did with David McSweeney in August, 2005 at the The Public Affairs Cinema Complex. See here for partial transcripts of that show more about that show, as well as links to the McSweeney campaign site and additional partial transcripts of the show with McSweeney.

The show will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, Dec. 26 at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21.
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The episode of Public Affairs featuring David McSweeney [R-Barrington Hills,8th CD Primary Candidate] airs tonight at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Wilmette

And at 8:30 pm 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 show also airs tomorrow and Friday night at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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A partial transcript of the show is included immediately below.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …As he says, he [David McSweeney] is running against?

David McSweeney: Melissa Bean.

Jeff Berkowitz: who is the Congresswoman in the 8th Cong. Dist. She is the first term Congresswoman, she is the incumbent. That is where your sights are trained?

David McSweeney: Absolutely, and my real training of message is on what I believe in, which is lower taxes, less spending and a strong national defense.

Jeff Berkowitz: …Are you saying those are the three most important issues to your constituents in the 8th Congressional District?

David McSweeney: They are…I am going to run on those issues…
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Jeff Berkowitz: You know when Cong. Crane was on this show, when he was a Congressman [for 35 years from the 8th Cong. Dist], he said he didn’t favor any gun control ….I said, “you mean you don’t favor it on the federal level, you favor [it on] on the state level,” and he said, “No I don’t favor any gun control.” That was Cong. Phil Crane. Do you agree with him?

David McSweeney: I don’t think we need any further control.

Jeff Berkowitz: He didn’t say, “further.” He said we don’t need any [gun control].

David McSweeney: No, I don’t [agree with that]. We have an instant background check. I support that.

Jeff Berkowitz: You support that.

David McSweeney: Which is the position of Republicans in Congress and myself. We one hundred percent should focus on punishing criminals as opposed to punishing law abiding citizens. And, that’s why I favor mandatory sentences for criminals who commit crimes while using a gun.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you do favor the existing gun control we have, and you would favor instant checks, just not the delay period—I think the Brady bill provides for a delay, you don’t—

David McSweeney: I oppose the Brady bill.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you would favor instant checks. And, you would [agree with the law that says that] ex-felons, people who have been convicted of a felony, under the current law are not allowed to own or possess a gun. You agree with that legislation, right?

David McSweeney: That’s the instant background checks. That’s not the Brady bill. I oppose the Brady bill.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, at that time, when Cong. Crane was here, we had a [federal] ban on assault weapons and I asked him if he agreed with that, he said, “No.” I said why would someone need an assault weapon. He said, Cong. Crane said, “Whatever melts your butter.” Do you agree with Cong. Crane?

David McSweeney: What I am telling you is my position. We do not need an assault [weapon] ban. It was allowed to expire because all it did was create administrative difficulties for people who are law abiding citizens.

Jeff Berkowitz: Why do people need assault weapons?

David McSweeney: What we need to do and let me answer that question. But, let me first of all say, what we need to do, again, is punish criminals who are committing crimes while using a gun. No.1. The legitimate hunting, target practice needs, etc. Let’s punish criminals, not law abiding citizens.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, why does somebody need an assault weapon?

David McSweeney: The reason somebody needs an assault weapon is people use it for—whether it be hunting, target practice—

Jeff Berkowitz: Hunting? Does that sound like a fair match-up with a deer? You need an assault weapon to kill a deer?

David McSweeney: Or, it could be used for practice—Again, let’s focus on punishing criminals, not law abiding citizens.

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.

David McSweeney: And, it’s for sportsmen, for target practice, for hunting, etc.

Jeff Berkowitz: Same Sex Marriage, you’re opposed to [that]?

David McSweeney: I favor a constitutional amendment that defines marriage between a man and a woman.

Jeff Berkowitz: What about civil unions? Would you favor a law that [says] not marriage for gays and lesbians, but civil unions?

David McSweeney: I don’t. I don’t—

Jeff Berkowitz: …You know, you’re a family values kind of guy, right?

David McSweeney: I am.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would we want to promote, you know, monogamous relationships between gays and lesbians? Would that be closer to family values than not allowing civil unions—[a public policy] which seems to make it more difficult to have long term monogamous relationships between gays and lesbians?

David McSweeney: Again, I favor legislation—we need a constitutional amendment which would define marriage between a man and a woman, and I don’t think the government should recognize that kind of a—

Jeff Berkowitz: Same thing, no civil unions either?

David McSweeney: No civil unions, no.
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David McSweeney, candidate in the Republican Primary for the 8th Cong. Dist.nomination, recorded on December 11, 2005 and as is airing on the Suburban edition of Public Affairs this week [week of Dec. 19] and on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs on Monday night, Dec. 26, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. See, below, for a detailed suburban airing schedule.
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David McSweeney, 8th CD Republican Primary Candidate, debates and discusses with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz illegal immigration, possible regime change in Congress, taxes, spending, national defense, Iraq War, Iran, Cong. Kirk, Cong. Frank, Cong. Emanuel, Cong. Jackson, Cong. Crane, Airports, NAFTA, CAFTA, Trade, labor unions, Russia, China, ANWR, guest workers, path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, abortion, Gays, Guns and God, identity theft, the Economy, jobs, the War on Terror and much, much more.
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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.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Better than Monday Night Football: Cong. Schakowsky [on Cable/ Web]

Berkowitz: So, you don’t, you know, you don’t give him [President Bush] any credit for reviving the economy, even all those jobs, you would agree, two, three million jobs in the last year, that’s a pretty strong recovery.

U. S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky: You know what, Jeffrey? I’m right in the mainstream of where Americans are at, who have declining support for this President, not just because of his foreign policy disaster of the war in Iraq, but because he’s not meeting their needs, and, evidencing a government that can’t do its basic function, like take care of people after a disaster. That it’s not only the culture of corruption and cronyism, but also incompetence.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Or, [tactics of] Democrats. You agree Democrats and Republicans have joined together over the years-

U. S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky: Oh, come on.

Berkowitz: It’s a joint [Bi-Partison, Re-districting] Incumbency Protection Act.

U. S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky: Oh, come on.
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Tomorrow [Monday] night’s City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features Cong. Jan Schakowsky in an encore performance(D-Evanston, 9th CD) [See Jan’s blog here]. The program with Cong. Schakowsky airs throughout the City of Chicago Monday night at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21.

Congresswoman Schakowsky is campaigning to become No. 4 in the House Democratic Leadership, and in the process, trying to help the Democrats obtain a majority in the House of Representatives and make House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi the first female Speaker in 2007. Of the 206 Democratic House representative and delegate voters, 118 have publicly reported the candidate they are supporting, and Schakowsky is in second place, trailing the leader, Rep. Joe Crowley [D-NY] by six votes. [See here].

You can also watch the show with Schakowsky on a video podcast or listen to it on an audio podcast by going here to the Public Affairs Cinema. Also available at the Public Affairs Cinema are ten other Public Affairs shows, including Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Candidate Edwin Eisendrath, who will file tomorrow; Republican Primary Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, Democratic Primary Cook County Board President Candidate Mike Quigley ; 8th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary candidates David McSweeney, Bob Churchill and Kathy Salvi, 7th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary candidate Jim Ascot and 6th Cong. District Democratic Primary Candidate Lindy Scott.

The show that we taped today on "Public Affairs," with the Republican Primary Gubernatorial/Lt. Gov. candidate team of Ron Gidwitz and Sen. Steve Rauschenberger should be available as a webcast on the Public Affairs Cinema within a few days and will air in the suburbs during the Christmas/Chanukah week and in the City of Chicago on Monday evening on January 2.
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For partial transcripts of tonight's show and to read more about Cong. Schakowsky. the show, and her Democratic leadership contest, please go here and to links referenced therein.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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West Wing lead in to Roeser- Eisendrath-Berkowitz

Jeff Berkowitz will join Edwin Eisendrath [D-Chicago] as a guest tomorrow night [Sunday] on Tom Roeser’s Political Shoot-out, WLS 890 AM Radio, from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm [See here for more about Tom’s show and See here for Tom’s Blog (Righteous blog chops hath Tom, says Chicago Tribune columnist and the father of Chicago blogging- Eric Zorn, and that’s the highest compliment you can get from Eric]. Eisendrath will announce, tomorrow morning at 11:00 am at Kendall college [Chicago and Halstead], his candidacy for Governor in the Democratic Primary, and he will file on Monday afternoon. Governor Rod Blagojevich has some competition for his party’s nomination and as we know, competition is the patron saint of the Consumer [See here for Berkowitz’s web cast interview with Eisendrath].

For those who find West Wing a little too Left Wing for their tastes to keep up with it, it airs on NBC-5 in the Chicago Metro area from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Yes, I agree, it is hard to imagine real life Lefty Masher Alan Alda as a Republican, let alone as a Republican Candidate for President. But, remember, life imitates art.

Upset with something I said on my show? something I wrote on this blog?—Tom Roeser’s show on Sunday night is your chance to fire back. A free fire zone, so to speak. Also, you can help shape the show by calling in with your questions and comments—312-591-8900. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Communists [no collect calls, please] and others are, of course, all welcome.

I don’t know the topics—they are determined by Mr. Roeser, with some incisive suggestions, no doubt, by his wife Lillian. However, an educated guess is that the questions will consist of various Statewide, including downstate, issues, possibly selected from the following questions, some of which are holdovers from what I suggested in this blog before I was on the show in November.

Of course, you can call and ask any of the below questions or whatever you like. As with University of Chicago Ph. D. prelim questions in economics over the years, many of the questions on Political Shoot-out stay the same each week, only the answers change. And you are Free to Choose, so to speak:

• Will Edwin Eisendrath be the “Thinking Democrat’s choice in the Democrat Primary.”
• Will the Eisendrath family see Rod’s 20 million and raise him 5?
• Will Rod debate Eisendrath? How many?
• Can Eisendrath beat Rod, like a drum, on the issue of reform?
• Is Ed Eisendrath the best friend of the Illinois GOP?
• Does Joe help Judy?
• Does Steve help Ron?
• Does Brady help Judy?
• Does everybody help Jim?
• Will Pat O’Malley lead a conservative third party?
• Will Stroger’s proposed tax increase [this time for smokers] lose for a third year in a row?
• Did the Governor’s All Kids health insurance legislation cement his re-nomination and re-election?
• Can the Stroger-Daley forces get to Earlean Collins?
• Is Tom Roeser right in suggesting the Republican activists should let RNC member Bob Kjellander be?
• Can Claypool and Quigley make a deal?
• Is Senator Obama a likely VP pick in 2008? A possible candidate for President?
• Who raised, this summer, one million dollars, in one evening, for their school voucher- school choice foundation.
• Will Dick Kay really retire?
• Will Sullivan and Kelly be credible Democratic primary challengers to Cong. Dan Lipinski in the 3rd Cong. District? Or, will Sullivan and Kelly cancel each other out? I mean think about it: Kelly and Sullivan.
• Will John Ascot be a credible Democratic primary challenger to Cong. Danny Davis in the 7th Cong. District?
• Is Cong. Bean vulnerable in the 8th CD?
• Did Rahm Emanuel find a stronger opponent [Maj. L. Tammy Duckworth] for Sen. Peter Roskam than Christine Cegelis or Lindy Scott in the 6th CD General Election?
• Is Roskam worried about Major Tammy Duckworth, who left active duty in the Army this week
• Can Cong. Kirk be beat in the 10th CD?
• Can Cong. Evans be beat in the 17th CD?
• Has Daley turned the corruption eruptions around?
• How will Bob Sirott work out at as a weekend anchor at NBC- 5 News ? 500K? 300K? 200 K? Inquiring minds want to know.
• And, of course, much, much more.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Questioning Gidwitz, Rauschenberger, Churchill and McSweeney

“Public Affairs,” is taping Republican Primary Gubernatorial Candidate Ron Gidwitz and his running mate, Lt. Gov. candidate Steve Rauschenberger tomorrow at 1:00 pm. If you have suggested questions and topics you would like to see covered, please email them to me at the address below by 11:00 am tomorrow. Attribution to you only if you request it. Alternatively, if you prefer something like Bill from Bloomington, Judy from Riverside, Jim from Sugar Grove, Joe from DuPage or Sandy from Kane County, we could do that as well.

“Public Affairs,” is taping Republican Primary 8th CD candidates David McSweeney and State Rep. Bob Churchill on this coming Wednesday night. If you have suggested questions and topics you would like to see covered, please email them to me at the address below by 4:00 pm on Wednesday. Attribution to you only if you request it. Alternatively, if you prefer something like Teresa from Mundelein, Kathy from Mundelein, Ken from Warren Township or Aaron from Wauconda, we could do that as well.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Topinka and Birkett finally get Hitched:It's official

Jeff Berkowitz: Joe, did Chairman McKenna lobby you to join this [Topinka-Birkett] ticket?

Joe Birkett: I’m not going to comment on that. That’s out there. I mean I got phone calls.

Berkowitz: You said he did [lobby you]. [See here] Are you taking that back?

Birkett: No, I’m not taking anything back.

Berkowitz: He [McKenna] says he’s neutral. Is he neutral?

Birkett: Pardon me.

Berkowitz: Is [State GOP Chairman Andy] McKenna neutral?

Birkett: I’ll let him speak for himself. I have been encouraged to run by a lot of people.
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Joe Birkett, Republican Primary Lt. Gov. candidate and DuPage County State’s Attorney, as he was leaving a press conference this morning, at which he appeared with Republican Primary Gubernatorial Candidate Judy Baar Topinka and at which conference he formally accepted Judy’s offer to be her running mate. [Of course, this has been a done deal for more than a week, See here]. Team Topinka-Birkett were getting on a plane to do the marriage ceremony two more times, with feeling-- as they say, this afternoon, in Springfield, IL and in the Metro East area.

The joint press conference, held at a Holiday Inn on the Southwest side of Chicago near Midway Airport, lasted less than a half hour, and Judy Baar Topinka led with a two minute statement, followed by a twelve minute acceptance statement by Joe Birkett to join her as his Lt.Gov mate [Of course, this has been a done deal for more than a week, see here]. The question-answer session ran less than fifteen minutes, including a minute, or so, with Birkett's wife, Patti, taking a few bullets [figureatively] from the press for Joe.

During Joe’s acceptance statement, he discussed some of the differences between Judy and him, primarily alluding to social issues—but Joe Birkett emphasized Judy’s agreement with him on parental notice-- and his petition to the Illinois Supreme Court to issue necessary judicial bypass rules to implement parental notice legislation regarding a minor daughter having an abortion. . [Gays, Guns and God did not come up in the press conference, but abortion was a prominent part of the discussion]. Both Judy and Joe made clear that they believed that they agree much more than they disagree, especially with respect to matters other than "social issues."

Birkett discussed some of Judy’s contemplated responsibilities for him as Lt. Gov., including Homeland Security and law enforcement issues, and especially public corruption [watch out AG Lisa Madigan, the new Sheriff might try to compete with the U. S. Attorney to go where the State's Attorney of Cook County, Dick Devine, and you don’t go—is that Constitutional?].

Talking about law enforcement, a question was posed at the press conference about the twenty-two year old famous case involving the tragic rape-murder of ten year old Jeanine Nicarico, and what the Chicago Tribune is wont to refer to as "the botched prosecutions," in that case by the Office of the DuPage County State's Attorney [See here]. Joe deflected the issue relatively easily-- for the press conference. However, I suspect it will play a more prominent role in the primary and the general election, should Birkett become his Party’s Lt. Gov. candidate, even as it was an issue in the race he almost won for Attorney General in 2002.

Birkett said, in a Topinka-Birkett regime, he would also have some responsibilities, “in the areas of health, safety and welfare of our children as well as the traditional roles of Lt. Gov,” [with the latter perhaps including daily inquiries as to the health of Governor Topinka]. Seriously, Topinka made a point of emphasizing just how important it was to her that “Joe knew how to be Governor,” in case he had to step in for the sixty one year old gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar, who is completing her third term as State Treasurer, and appears to be in pretty good health.

Topinka referred to prosecutor Birkett as the “New sheriff in town…who will not rest until Illinois Government is something Illinois citizens can be proud of.” For his part, Birkett responded that he was “honored to be teamed up with another fighter for Illinois families.” Judy and the family values theme? Will it play with Birkett’s social conservative supporters? Or will they turn to alternative social conservative Republican candidates Sen. Bill Brady or dairyman/businessman Jim Oberweis?

Although they attempted to smooth over some of their differences on social issues, that could be a challenge for team Topinka-Birkett. Joe made clear he did not plan to modify or play down his position on abortion—which is to oppose it except in those instances where the life of the pregnant mother is at stake, or the pregnancy results from rape or incest. And, when it comes to a ban on partial birth abortion, Birkett would want one that permits an exception only for the life of the mother and not for the health of the mother.

Judy, of course, made clear she believes in “a woman’s right to choose,” and she would not like to see Roe v. Wade overturned. However, as indicated above, they find common ground in that both Topinka and Birkett favor parental notice [Parental consent was mentioned as well, but it appeared their primary focus was on implementing parental notice legislation in Illinois].

As the conversation turned to abortion in the question-answer session, Topinka made a point of jumping in front of a follow-up abortion question to Birkett to emphasize that what most people think about, as they get up in the morning, is not abortion but it is “jobs, jobs, jobs.” She went on to say, “We are talking about the economy and the fiscal crisis that is this state. That is going to be our primary impetus and therein Joe and I are in total agreement.” Joe then answered the question on abortion.

Joe’s wife and childhood sweetheart, Patti Birkett, commented [with Joe and Patti’s two teenage kids looking on] at the end of the press conference, “I just think Judy—she is the clear front runner-- and Joe and Judy have always been friends …and together as a team with Judy, it just is a win-win situation…he is just good at getting people, you know, together. You know, that’s his job…he has always been good that way and he’ll be passionate…and compassionate about their beliefs, together, and I think it will be really good for the Republican Party.”

Perhaps Patti Birkett is on to something. And, there is that name, Patti, again, as in Illinois’ First Lady, Patti Blagojevich. Maybe Judy and Joe will heal the division in the Illinois Republican Party over abortion. [For a much more skeptical, cynical and as always, well written blog post about the Topinka-Birkett prom date, see Chicago Tribune columnist and ace blogger Eric Zorn.

On the other hand, as former Senator and 2002 Republican Primary candidate Pat O’Malley is fond of arguing, the real schism in the Illinois Republican Party is between reformers and non-reformers, not between Pro-Lifers and Pro-Choicers.

This could be the key question of the Republican Primary: does Team Topinka-Birkett qualify as a reform team.

I think I know Pat’s answer but at “Public Affairs," our slogan is we discuss, you decide.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Flying on one wing with Carlos Hernandez Gomez

Last night’s Chicago Tonight had about an eight minute discussion of which Democrat minority pol gets to be Mayor after Mayor Daley tires of the position, becomes vulnerable or is run out of Dodge by Sheriff Fitzgerald, a one minute discussion of the almost certain Eisendrath challenge to Gov. Blagojevich and a three minute discussion of Republican mating and dancing patterns, or lack thereof, for Republican Guv and Lt. Gov. candidates.

That 75%-25% ratio of discussion of Democrat politics to Republican politics no doubt reflects WTTW’s perception of its base audience—that is, predominantly Democratic and liberal, or perhaps it is a slight underestimate of the current and emerging Democratic/liberal bias of Chicago Tonight “in front of the camera,” and backroom staff.

But the interesting portion of the discussion regarding Republican Primary Gubernatorial Candidate Judy Baar Topinka's courtship of DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett as her Lt. Gov. running mate is captured by the exchange, below:
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Chicago Tonight’s segment moderator Phil Ponce: But Carlos, isn’t there a risk involved when a moderate tries to court a conservative and a conservative goes along with it, does the conservative not risk his conservative bona fides or her bona fides?

CLTV’s Carlos Hernandez Gomez: Well, that’s the issue, Phil. You’ve got that 33% of the Republican Primary voting block. I’m talking about the movement conservative, that sort of far-right conservative, and they see Judy as a baby—she supports abortion. I mean to them she is a baby killer, she is a—she is a—you know, gay rights supporter, I mean, they—some of these people who are more, who find that—are very inflamed by her views on these issues, so, of course, it is ticket balancing. She gets Birkett, who is very pro-Life, very law and order--

CBS 2-News’s: Mike Flannery: Joe Birkett comes as a prosecutor and, you know, has an image of integrity, you know, being a tough guy.

Hernandez-Gomez: He’s got some baggage.

Mike Flannery: He’s got a lot of baggage when it comes to the death penalty and to the famous Cruz case.
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WTTW’s [Chicago Public TV] Chicago Tonight, December 13, 2005.
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Phil Ponce asks a perfectly reasonable question. When social conservative Rauschenberger teams with social moderate Gidwitz and social conservative Birkett teams with social moderate Topinka, doesn’t the conservative pol, in each case, risk losing credibility with his base now and in the future?

Of course, the answer is yes, there is that risk. This would be the same, for example, if say a liberal Nancy Pelosi [House Minority Leader] would pair up with a moderate Democrat for President, if I could think of one. But, you see my point, if it were Democrats, I would imagine Carlos would be discussing liberals, at worst, and moderate Democrats.

But, three times in the last two weeks on WTTW [My good friend and well respected Carlos is becoming their go to guy], Hernandez Gomez has referred to far-right conservatives, far right wing and right wing when discussing segments of the Republican Party in Illinois.

I am hoping at some point Phil Ponce, Joel Weisman or one of the other fair and balanced moderators on WTTW will ask Carlos for some examples of just who the far-right conservatives, far right wing and right wing politicians are in the Republican party.

For example, is Sen. Rauschenberger a candidate of the far right-wing or far right conservatives? Joe Birkett? Bill Brady? Jim Oberweis? Yeah, I don’t think he means Judy Baar Topinka or Ron Gidwitz.

I would say each of the above, except for Judy and Ron, would be candidates of the conservative wing or center-right segment of the Republican Party. Rauschenberger has been trying to move to a center-right position, so maybe he is there.

I mean if the far right wing represents 33% of the Republican primary, as Carlos contends, there ought to be some leaders identified with that block. So, Carlos, who are they?

But, the real question is, which Democrats does Carlos put in the category of far-left liberal, far left-wing or left-wing, when he discusses National or Illinois Democrats. Minority Leader in the Senate--Senator Harry Reid? No. 2 in the Senate Minority, Senator Dick Durbin? House Minority Leader Pelosi? Congresswoman Schakowsky? Governor Blagojevich? Lt. Gov. Quinn? State Senator Ronen? State Senator Meeks? State Sen. Del Valle? State Rep. Fritchey? Senator Obama?

I mean I’m not saying. I’m just asking. Fair is fair. If you have far-right conservatives, you must have far-left liberals. Right?

The funny thing is—just a few years ago Carlos was on my show, Public Affairs, for the first time-- and I couldn’t get an opinion from the guy, at least not without a lot of prodding. He explained as a political reporter at WBEZ [Chicago Public Radio] 91.5 FM, he was prohibited from expressing opinions on the air.

Well, he loosened up under my not inconsiderable pressure-- and over the years, even more so. But, then recently, he goes to CLTV [A Chicago Tribune subsidiary] and man, all sorts of opinions about right wing, far right wing stuff come gushing out-- but no left wing stuff. Must be something in the water at CLTV.

Even Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Cong. Henry Hyde-- a real odd couple-- agree that to fly a plane, you need both a left wing and a right wing.

So, Carlos, next time you are taking off on WTTW, you will be sure to tell us about the far left wing of the Democratic Party? Yes, I know. They might not invite you back. But, not to worry. You are always welcome on “Public Affairs.” We fly with both wings.

And, BTW, where and when can we find you on CLTV? Every day between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm? You're the guy in the cockpit?
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Jeff Berkowitz, Host and Producer of Public Affairs and an Executive Recruiter doing Legal Search, can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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