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.
***************************************
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].
**************************************************
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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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.
***********************************************************
Whatta guy. Your Senior Senator. Dick Durbin. Representing the powerful? And the major media?
********************************************************
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.
****************************************************
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.
***************************************
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].
**************************************************
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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