Replacing Monday night Football: McSweeney-Churchill face off on Cable/Web
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Jeff Berkowitz: So, you think that--the women’s groups are not going to-they’re going to understand, is what you’re saying.
Robert Churchill: I don’t know whether they’ll understand it or not. It is what it is, so--
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Jeff Berkowitz: Dave McSweeney...people are saying those loyalists-the Crane loyalists- they’ll sit at home before they support you in the general election. Have you heard that? What are you going to do about that?
David McSweeney: I disagree with that. I’ve been out there working hard, and talking to people who have been big supporters of Phil Crane. I have their support, and I will...
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David McSweeney:... What my specific plan says is that we should freeze the total level of federal spending, excluding national defense, social security and homeland security for three years. What that means is...
******************************************
State Rep. Robert Churchill: I’m not sure that you absolutely need a freeze; I’m not sure it would be practical and I don’t think that in the end analysis you’re going to see a freeze...
**********************************************
Probably the two most prominent and likely to win of the seven 8th CD Republican Primary candidates: Investment Banker David McSweeney [Barrington Hills] and State Rep. Robert Churchill [Lake Villa], face off against each other tonight. The McSweeney-Churchill show will air throughout the City of Chicago this evening at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable ch. 21.
You can also watch the McSweeney-Churchill face-off by going to the Public Affairs Cinema. See here for a partial transcript of the show, a summary of the topics discussed and a brief discussion of the 8th CD Republican Primary candidates and the race.
See here for a partial transcript of a one on one interview with McSweeney and links to additional transcripts of that show and additional information about McSweeney. See here for a partial transcript of a one on one interview with Churchill. And, see here, for State Rep. Churchill's new web site.
David McSweeney has a very strong campaign organization which, at least informally, has been in place for much of the last year, is picking up a lot of important township and others endorsements, knows the issues, projects clear, articulate positions; has the resources to run a strong campaign; has been running, informally, since the beginning of the year and is comfortable with forums, walking the precincts, appearing before the cameras and staying focused on winning the general election.
State Rep. Robert Churchill entered the campaign in late summer, but has a campaign structure based, in part, on his nineteen years of state legislative experience [and family name, contacts and law firm] in the area, and so has pulled together a coherent organization in a fairly short time. He is at ease discussing and analyzing the issues and communicating with voters. Although he has had to shift from the state arena to national public policy issues, there is some transference and he seems to be leveraging his prior public policy and legislative experience nicely. He also is comfortable with forums, meet and greets and appearing before the cameras.
Although McSweeney and Churchill agree on the great majority of public policy choices, they differ quite a bit in style and how they express themselves on the issues. In a sense, those two alone provide a stylistic choice, not an echo, for the voters in the 8th CD Republican Primary, and it seems likely to come down to those two.
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 at the end of January.
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Capping Federal spending
Jeff Berkowitz: … [Y]ou’ve also proposed a spending freeze, with three exceptions, right?
David McSweeney: I have. What my specific plan says is that we should freeze the total level of federal spending, excluding national defense, social security and homeland security for three years. What that means is you can allow increases in other areas of the budget, for example, full veterans’ benefit--but you have to cut other areas in order to make up for those increases. That means we need to cut the operational and administrative budgets of each federal department and agency, excluding national defense and Homeland Security, by ten percent. Eliminate unnecessary federal programs like the National Endowment for the Arts. But, we have to make spending reductions in Washington to bring down these deficits, or we’re going to have some real problems in the future.
Jeff Berkowitz: Representative Churchill, you agree with that freeze?
State Rep. Robert Churchill: I’m not sure that you absolutely need a freeze; I’m not sure it would be practical and I don’t think that in the end analysis you’re going to see a freeze. It’s nice to call for that kind of thing. But, what’s going to have to happen is that the people that actually go to Washington are going to have to just agree amongst themselves that they’re going to be tighter on budgetary matters because, particularly with all the pork barrel projects that are added on in every bill. It just gets to the point where billions of dollars are being spent for “bridges to nowhere” and programs that mean nothing to the American people.
************************************************
Divorce/Cong. Crane’s shadow/Intelligent Design
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re running against a woman [in the General Election]. We’ve talked about this a little bit before... That is, whoever wins this is going to be running against a female, [Congresswoman] Melissa Bean, Democrat. [Rep. Churchill], we talked about your divorce a little bit before. Contentious, acrimonious, you said-- not going to be an issue in this race. Do I have that right?
State Rep. Robert Churchill: Yeah. That’s correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is there anything in- it’s public, but, you know, was there a protective order out there in terms of that divorce, and will that protective order that was issued against your still wife- because you’re not divorced yet- is that the kind of thing women’s groups will jump on and say, is this guy-did he treat his wife the right way during the divorce?
Robert Churchill: Anything that came out of-- anything that’s been in the divorce is a matter of public record, and you know, people can go in and look at it--
Jeff Berkowitz: But was there that kind of a protective order that is trouble or problematic?
Robert Churchill: Well, there was a time when she basically moved my children to a different county and the judge in Lake County wasn’t real happy about that and ordered that the kids come back. But--
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you think that--the women’s groups are not going to-they’re going to understand, is what you’re saying.
Robert Churchill: I don’t know whether they’ll understand it or not. It is what it is, so--
Jeff Berkowitz: Dave McSweeney, you ran against [then Cong.] Phil Crane six years ago-- I guess, seven years ago-- people are saying those loyalists-the Crane loyalists- they’ll sit at home before they support you in the general election. Have you heard that? What are you going to do about that?
David McSweeney: I disagree with that. I’ve been out there working hard, and talking to people who have been big supporters of Phil Crane. I have their support, and I will continue to look for their support in the primary and in the general election.
Jeff Berkowitz: Intelligent design. Do you think that ought to be taught with evolution in science classes?
David McSweeney: School boards should have the option of having intelligent design as an option.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, [Bob Churchill] you agree?
State Rep. Robert Churchill: I think all those theories should be taught equally.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, it’s okay? You teach it as a science? [show ends]
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Republican 8th CD Primary Candidates Investment Banker David McSweeney [Barrington Hills] and State Rep. Robert Churchill [Lake Villa] , recorded on December 21, 2005 and as is airing on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs tonight, Jan. 9 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
*******************************
Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
******************************************
"Public Affairs" Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
**********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you think that--the women’s groups are not going to-they’re going to understand, is what you’re saying.
Robert Churchill: I don’t know whether they’ll understand it or not. It is what it is, so--
**************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Dave McSweeney...people are saying those loyalists-the Crane loyalists- they’ll sit at home before they support you in the general election. Have you heard that? What are you going to do about that?
David McSweeney: I disagree with that. I’ve been out there working hard, and talking to people who have been big supporters of Phil Crane. I have their support, and I will...
****************************************
David McSweeney:... What my specific plan says is that we should freeze the total level of federal spending, excluding national defense, social security and homeland security for three years. What that means is...
******************************************
State Rep. Robert Churchill: I’m not sure that you absolutely need a freeze; I’m not sure it would be practical and I don’t think that in the end analysis you’re going to see a freeze...
**********************************************
Probably the two most prominent and likely to win of the seven 8th CD Republican Primary candidates: Investment Banker David McSweeney [Barrington Hills] and State Rep. Robert Churchill [Lake Villa], face off against each other tonight. The McSweeney-Churchill show will air throughout the City of Chicago this evening at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable ch. 21.
You can also watch the McSweeney-Churchill face-off by going to the Public Affairs Cinema. See here for a partial transcript of the show, a summary of the topics discussed and a brief discussion of the 8th CD Republican Primary candidates and the race.
See here for a partial transcript of a one on one interview with McSweeney and links to additional transcripts of that show and additional information about McSweeney. See here for a partial transcript of a one on one interview with Churchill. And, see here, for State Rep. Churchill's new web site.
David McSweeney has a very strong campaign organization which, at least informally, has been in place for much of the last year, is picking up a lot of important township and others endorsements, knows the issues, projects clear, articulate positions; has the resources to run a strong campaign; has been running, informally, since the beginning of the year and is comfortable with forums, walking the precincts, appearing before the cameras and staying focused on winning the general election.
State Rep. Robert Churchill entered the campaign in late summer, but has a campaign structure based, in part, on his nineteen years of state legislative experience [and family name, contacts and law firm] in the area, and so has pulled together a coherent organization in a fairly short time. He is at ease discussing and analyzing the issues and communicating with voters. Although he has had to shift from the state arena to national public policy issues, there is some transference and he seems to be leveraging his prior public policy and legislative experience nicely. He also is comfortable with forums, meet and greets and appearing before the cameras.
Although McSweeney and Churchill agree on the great majority of public policy choices, they differ quite a bit in style and how they express themselves on the issues. In a sense, those two alone provide a stylistic choice, not an echo, for the voters in the 8th CD Republican Primary, and it seems likely to come down to those two.
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 at the end of January.
****************************************************
Capping Federal spending
Jeff Berkowitz: … [Y]ou’ve also proposed a spending freeze, with three exceptions, right?
David McSweeney: I have. What my specific plan says is that we should freeze the total level of federal spending, excluding national defense, social security and homeland security for three years. What that means is you can allow increases in other areas of the budget, for example, full veterans’ benefit--but you have to cut other areas in order to make up for those increases. That means we need to cut the operational and administrative budgets of each federal department and agency, excluding national defense and Homeland Security, by ten percent. Eliminate unnecessary federal programs like the National Endowment for the Arts. But, we have to make spending reductions in Washington to bring down these deficits, or we’re going to have some real problems in the future.
Jeff Berkowitz: Representative Churchill, you agree with that freeze?
State Rep. Robert Churchill: I’m not sure that you absolutely need a freeze; I’m not sure it would be practical and I don’t think that in the end analysis you’re going to see a freeze. It’s nice to call for that kind of thing. But, what’s going to have to happen is that the people that actually go to Washington are going to have to just agree amongst themselves that they’re going to be tighter on budgetary matters because, particularly with all the pork barrel projects that are added on in every bill. It just gets to the point where billions of dollars are being spent for “bridges to nowhere” and programs that mean nothing to the American people.
************************************************
Divorce/Cong. Crane’s shadow/Intelligent Design
Jeff Berkowitz: You’re running against a woman [in the General Election]. We’ve talked about this a little bit before... That is, whoever wins this is going to be running against a female, [Congresswoman] Melissa Bean, Democrat. [Rep. Churchill], we talked about your divorce a little bit before. Contentious, acrimonious, you said-- not going to be an issue in this race. Do I have that right?
State Rep. Robert Churchill: Yeah. That’s correct.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is there anything in- it’s public, but, you know, was there a protective order out there in terms of that divorce, and will that protective order that was issued against your still wife- because you’re not divorced yet- is that the kind of thing women’s groups will jump on and say, is this guy-did he treat his wife the right way during the divorce?
Robert Churchill: Anything that came out of-- anything that’s been in the divorce is a matter of public record, and you know, people can go in and look at it--
Jeff Berkowitz: But was there that kind of a protective order that is trouble or problematic?
Robert Churchill: Well, there was a time when she basically moved my children to a different county and the judge in Lake County wasn’t real happy about that and ordered that the kids come back. But--
Jeff Berkowitz: So, you think that--the women’s groups are not going to-they’re going to understand, is what you’re saying.
Robert Churchill: I don’t know whether they’ll understand it or not. It is what it is, so--
Jeff Berkowitz: Dave McSweeney, you ran against [then Cong.] Phil Crane six years ago-- I guess, seven years ago-- people are saying those loyalists-the Crane loyalists- they’ll sit at home before they support you in the general election. Have you heard that? What are you going to do about that?
David McSweeney: I disagree with that. I’ve been out there working hard, and talking to people who have been big supporters of Phil Crane. I have their support, and I will continue to look for their support in the primary and in the general election.
Jeff Berkowitz: Intelligent design. Do you think that ought to be taught with evolution in science classes?
David McSweeney: School boards should have the option of having intelligent design as an option.
Jeff Berkowitz: So, [Bob Churchill] you agree?
State Rep. Robert Churchill: I think all those theories should be taught equally.
Jeff Berkowitz: And, it’s okay? You teach it as a science? [show ends]
***********************************************
Republican 8th CD Primary Candidates Investment Banker David McSweeney [Barrington Hills] and State Rep. Robert Churchill [Lake Villa] , recorded on December 21, 2005 and as is airing on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs tonight, Jan. 9 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21.
*******************************
Transcript draft prepared by Amy Allen, who also does research for “Public Affairs,” and has her own political blog [See here].
******************************************
"Public Affairs" Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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