Sen. Rauschenberger on Barack Obama and State GOP
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin]: He [Obama] is one of the brightest people I have ever worked with...The question now is whether Barack is going to be seduced by the media and by the attention or whether he stays focused on his opportunity to be a real break-through statesman.
Jeff Berkowitz: Some people say he is too liberal to be President. You’ve seen him in action in the State Senate. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is as liberal as you can be and 1, not so liberal, and 5- in between, how liberal is this guy? Is he a 10?
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Sen. Rauschenberger:...So we [Republicans] have to be out there with an honest vision about education reform; we have to be out there with an honest vision about...
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Next Week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," airing in the Chicago metro suburbs, features State Senator Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin] debating and discussing the issues with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. See, below, for the Public Affairs suburban airing schedule. You may also[Watch the show with Senator Rauschenberger here]. Topics discussed include an assessment of State GOP leaders, the likely successor to Cong. Hastert, should he step down next year, Barack Obama's Presidential capabilities and liberal rating, problems with the recently legislated increase in the Illinois minimum wage, problems with an electric power rate freeze, education reform, tax swaps, school vouchers, the requisite vision and message of the State GOP for that party to succeed, Bob Kjellander and Jim Edgar and much, much more.
Rauchenberger came into the State Senate in 1992, as one of the "Fab 5" new Republican Senators, each of whom had significant business experience: Senators Peter Fitzgerald [who was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1998, and did not seek re-election in 2004, with that seat ultimately won in a 70-27 landslide by Democrat Barack Obama over Maryland import Alan Keyes], Dave Syverson [Rockford, still holds that seat], Pat O'Malley [Palos Park, gave up his seat when he ran and lost in the Republican Primary for Governor in 2002], Chris Lauzen [Aurora, still holds that seat; perhaps the current favorite to win a hotly contested Republican Primary to replace Cong. Hastert in the 14th Cong. Dist. if, as expected, the former Speaker steps down in 2007 to become the U. S. Ambassador to Japan] and Steve Rauschenberger who gave up his seat this year to run, first in the Republican Primary for Governor, and then ran in the Primary for Lt. Gov., as part of a ticket with gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz, with both losing their respective primary races].
Rauschenberger, who stepped into the role as a chief budget negotiator as a freshman senator, is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable state legislators in Illinois on budget issues. When he ran in the Republican Primary in 2004, Rauschenberger swept most of the edit board endorsements, demonstrating a knowledge of national issues that matched his understanding of state legislative issues. Senator Rauschenberger is currently serving as President of the National Association of State Legislators.
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State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin] will be the featured guest on the Monday, Dec. 18 [8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 21] City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs."
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The "Public Affairs," podcast page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," including our recent shows with State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin], Chicago Mayoral Candidate Dorothy Brown [D] and State Rep. Julie Hamos [D-Evanston], as well as interviews, discussions or remarks with or by U. S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giulianiand many, many more pols on our video podcast page[Watch here].
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Jeff Berkowitz: Quickly, on Obama. You came in [the State legislature] in 1992; Obama came in in 1996, so you had substantial overlap there—
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin]: Sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: Eight years together [1996-2004]. You should know this gentleman fairly well from your days in the State Senate.
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: I know him very well.
Jeff Berkowitz: Presidential timber, Barack Obama?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: If he was asking my advice, I think he will make a mistake if he runs this time, it is too soon. He needs to get a fully developed sense of the national responsibilities as a U. S. Senator. I would advise him not to run this time. But, he is certainly a factor.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is he capable. I know you may disagree with him on policy. Is he a capable guy?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: He is one of the brightest people I have ever worked with. He has the potential to be a great U. S. Senator and Lord knows, I don’t know how we pick presidents in America, a lot of it seems like accident, but he has a great deal of opportunity. The question now is whether Barack is going to be seduced by the media and by the attention or whether he stays focused on his opportunity to be a real break-through statesman.
Jeff Berkowitz: Some people say he is too liberal to be President. You’ve seen him in action in the State Senate. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is as liberal as you can be and 1, not so liberal, and 5- in between, how liberal is this guy? Is he a 10?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: No, if 10 is Barbara Flynn Currie [Majority Leader in the Illinois State House, from Hyde Park—and a State Rep. from within Obama’s old State Senate District], who has never seen a tax she wasn’t for and who has never seen spending she didn’t like, I would put Barack at about a 7 or an 8. And, he is very pragmatic—and… willing to learn. I think, as he stays in office, and develops more perspective, he’ll become more conservative. He has got that opportunity.
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Jeff Berkowitz: What should the vision—what should the message be for the Republican Party in the State of Illinois?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: Well, for the last four years, we have been known as the party of No. We voted against everything [Governor] Rod Blagojevich talked about. Our message was basically we can’t afford to do what Rod wants to do and the voters gave us feedback on what that message meant to them, a resounding thumbs down: both at the gubernatorial level and—we lost every constitutional office, we lost five seats in the State Senate; we lost one seat in the Illinois House…so we have to be out there with an honest vision about education reform; we have to be out there with an honest vision about where we see healthcare in the next decade; we need to be out there talking about what it takes to make Illinois, again, a land of opportunity where there’s jobs and opportunity, that’s what people care about…they want to hear about how you are going to do that, they don’t want to hear constant criticism of the incumbent.
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State Senator Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin] as will be airing next week on Public Affairs in 35 Chicago Metro suburbs [See below for the suburban airing schedule] and as will be airing on Monday, Dec. 18 [8:30 pm on Cable, CANTV] on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs. You may also[Watch the Rauschenberger program here].
***************************************************
In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.
In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show air three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below.
******************************************************
The suburban episode of Public Affairs airs every Tuesday night :
at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, 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 every Monday night, Wednesday night 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.
The City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," airs every Monday night at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] throughout the City of Chicago.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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Jeff Berkowitz: Some people say he is too liberal to be President. You’ve seen him in action in the State Senate. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is as liberal as you can be and 1, not so liberal, and 5- in between, how liberal is this guy? Is he a 10?
*************************************
Sen. Rauschenberger:...So we [Republicans] have to be out there with an honest vision about education reform; we have to be out there with an honest vision about...
*********************************************
Next Week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," airing in the Chicago metro suburbs, features State Senator Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin] debating and discussing the issues with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. See, below, for the Public Affairs suburban airing schedule. You may also[Watch the show with Senator Rauschenberger here]. Topics discussed include an assessment of State GOP leaders, the likely successor to Cong. Hastert, should he step down next year, Barack Obama's Presidential capabilities and liberal rating, problems with the recently legislated increase in the Illinois minimum wage, problems with an electric power rate freeze, education reform, tax swaps, school vouchers, the requisite vision and message of the State GOP for that party to succeed, Bob Kjellander and Jim Edgar and much, much more.
Rauchenberger came into the State Senate in 1992, as one of the "Fab 5" new Republican Senators, each of whom had significant business experience: Senators Peter Fitzgerald [who was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1998, and did not seek re-election in 2004, with that seat ultimately won in a 70-27 landslide by Democrat Barack Obama over Maryland import Alan Keyes], Dave Syverson [Rockford, still holds that seat], Pat O'Malley [Palos Park, gave up his seat when he ran and lost in the Republican Primary for Governor in 2002], Chris Lauzen [Aurora, still holds that seat; perhaps the current favorite to win a hotly contested Republican Primary to replace Cong. Hastert in the 14th Cong. Dist. if, as expected, the former Speaker steps down in 2007 to become the U. S. Ambassador to Japan] and Steve Rauschenberger who gave up his seat this year to run, first in the Republican Primary for Governor, and then ran in the Primary for Lt. Gov., as part of a ticket with gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz, with both losing their respective primary races].
Rauschenberger, who stepped into the role as a chief budget negotiator as a freshman senator, is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable state legislators in Illinois on budget issues. When he ran in the Republican Primary in 2004, Rauschenberger swept most of the edit board endorsements, demonstrating a knowledge of national issues that matched his understanding of state legislative issues. Senator Rauschenberger is currently serving as President of the National Association of State Legislators.
*******************************************************
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin] will be the featured guest on the Monday, Dec. 18 [8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 21] City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs."
*************************************************
The "Public Affairs," podcast page gives you a choice of more than twenty-five episodes of “Public Affairs," including our recent shows with State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin], Chicago Mayoral Candidate Dorothy Brown [D] and State Rep. Julie Hamos [D-Evanston], as well as interviews, discussions or remarks with or by U. S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giulianiand many, many more pols on our video podcast page[Watch here].
***************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Quickly, on Obama. You came in [the State legislature] in 1992; Obama came in in 1996, so you had substantial overlap there—
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin]: Sure.
Jeff Berkowitz: Eight years together [1996-2004]. You should know this gentleman fairly well from your days in the State Senate.
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: I know him very well.
Jeff Berkowitz: Presidential timber, Barack Obama?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: If he was asking my advice, I think he will make a mistake if he runs this time, it is too soon. He needs to get a fully developed sense of the national responsibilities as a U. S. Senator. I would advise him not to run this time. But, he is certainly a factor.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is he capable. I know you may disagree with him on policy. Is he a capable guy?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: He is one of the brightest people I have ever worked with. He has the potential to be a great U. S. Senator and Lord knows, I don’t know how we pick presidents in America, a lot of it seems like accident, but he has a great deal of opportunity. The question now is whether Barack is going to be seduced by the media and by the attention or whether he stays focused on his opportunity to be a real break-through statesman.
Jeff Berkowitz: Some people say he is too liberal to be President. You’ve seen him in action in the State Senate. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is as liberal as you can be and 1, not so liberal, and 5- in between, how liberal is this guy? Is he a 10?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: No, if 10 is Barbara Flynn Currie [Majority Leader in the Illinois State House, from Hyde Park—and a State Rep. from within Obama’s old State Senate District], who has never seen a tax she wasn’t for and who has never seen spending she didn’t like, I would put Barack at about a 7 or an 8. And, he is very pragmatic—and… willing to learn. I think, as he stays in office, and develops more perspective, he’ll become more conservative. He has got that opportunity.
*******************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: What should the vision—what should the message be for the Republican Party in the State of Illinois?
Sen. Steve Rauschenberger: Well, for the last four years, we have been known as the party of No. We voted against everything [Governor] Rod Blagojevich talked about. Our message was basically we can’t afford to do what Rod wants to do and the voters gave us feedback on what that message meant to them, a resounding thumbs down: both at the gubernatorial level and—we lost every constitutional office, we lost five seats in the State Senate; we lost one seat in the Illinois House…so we have to be out there with an honest vision about education reform; we have to be out there with an honest vision about where we see healthcare in the next decade; we need to be out there talking about what it takes to make Illinois, again, a land of opportunity where there’s jobs and opportunity, that’s what people care about…they want to hear about how you are going to do that, they don’t want to hear constant criticism of the incumbent.
*****************************************************
State Senator Steve Rauschenberger [R-Elgin] as will be airing next week on Public Affairs in 35 Chicago Metro suburbs [See below for the suburban airing schedule] and as will be airing on Monday, Dec. 18 [8:30 pm on Cable, CANTV] on the City of Chicago edition of Public Affairs. You may also[Watch the Rauschenberger program here].
***************************************************
In twenty-five North Shore, North and Northwest suburbs, the "Public Affairs," show airs every Tuesday night in the regular weekly Public Affairs slot, 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19 or 35, as indicated, below.
In ten North Shore suburbs, the Public Affairs show air three times each week in its regular slots at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Ch. 19, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as indicated, below.
******************************************************
The suburban episode of Public Affairs airs every Tuesday night :
at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, 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 every Monday night, Wednesday night 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.
The City of Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," airs every Monday night at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 [CANTV] throughout the City of Chicago.
****************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com
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