Better than the Final four: Berkowitz with Lang on Obama and Blagojevich, cable and streaming

State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie): I think it is a momentary dip [for Obama] and I think he’ll come back. [So far, Rep. Lang appears right, see the current national polls favoring Obama; Obama is down in PA, but he was down in PA prior to the Pastor disaster; Of course, Hillary’s Snipergate arose after the Lang show was taped, and that may be offsetting, for the moment, Pastorgate].
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Rep. Lou Lang: I think we would have no trouble passing a capital bill if we knew first where the money was going—in other words, what are the projects—and second, how to make sure that the Governor of the state of Illinois, one Rod Blagojevich, who nobody trusts...
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Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). The show with Rep. Lang airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

Turn on, Tune in and watch discussions about Senator Obama and his Pastor- Jeremiah Wright; Obama’s judgment and leadership capabilities; Obama’s diversity and the Presidential race; Knee-Jerk liberals; the State's capital and operating budgets, and much, much more [See here for a more detailed list of topics discussed on the show and a partial transcript of the show].
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This week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs features the second of two consecutive shows we taped with Rep. Lang (D-Skokie) on March 23, 2008 [Lang, Part 2]-- again focusing on Obama's Presidential campaign--but,this time, with particular focus on the judgment issues raised by Obama's relationship, over the years, with Tony Rezko. Also to be discussed are a variety of state legislative issues. You may also watch that program (Lang, Part 2) here.
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Tonight's show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora with Rep. Lang (Part 1), taped on March 23, 2008, is now available 24/7 on your computer.
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A partial transcript of Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of Public Affairs [Lang, Part 1] is included, below:
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Impact of Wrightgate on Super-Delegates and remaining primaries?

Jeff Berkowitz: Those super-delegates. They are going to look at whose electable, after Rezko, after Pastor Jeremiah Wright…the thing about it—[Pastor Wright] is not just an issue, [he’s] a visual issue. You know those clips people are watching the last two weeks: national polls that generally had Barack Obama up by five points over Hillary Clinton now have him down by five points.

State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie): I think it is a momentary dip and I think he’ll come back. [So far, Rep. Lang appears right, see the current national polls favoring Obama; Obama is down in PA, but he was down prior to the Pastor disaster; Of course, Hillary’s snipergate arose after the Lang show was taped, and that may be offsetting, for the moment, Pastor Wright].

Jeff Berkowitz: But, we’ll see those [Pastor Wright] clips again. It will be more of a visual issue. It will be in May. It will be in April. It will be in June. If he is in the general election, it will be then. You know, visuals are important.

Rep. Lou Lang: They are. But, my view is any damage this will do to Barack Obama will be more in the red states than the blue states. And, so people who are not going to vote for Barack because they are Republican, people who are not going to vote for Barack because they are not going to vote for anyone who is black, people who are not going to vote for Barack because he is tall, people who are not going to vote for Barack because he is bi-racial, those people from red states simply are not going to vote for Barack.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, you know what Barack said—red states have people who have gay friends, too; blue states have people who play baseball, little league—you know that speech (Obama’s keynote speech to the Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2004)

Rep. Lou Lang: That’s all true. But, the premise of your conversation was that this will hurt him in the election and I simply don’t believe it will.

Jeff Berkowitz: In the general election or the [Democratic] nomination?

Rep. Lou Lang: I don’t believe it will hurt him in either process.
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Capital Bill blocked by everybody's distrust of Blagojevich?

Rep. Lou Lang: I think we would have no trouble passing a capital bill if we knew first where the money was going—in other words, what are the projects—and second, how to make sure that the Governor of the state of Illinois, one Rod Blagojevich, who nobody trusts in Springfield, will actually spend those dollars where we’ve asked him to spend them. And, so there is an effort being made to figure out how to pass a capital bill, but put somebody else in charge of the money.
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Rep. Lou Lang: We’ll get the 10th [casino license] replaced [effectively adding a casino’s worth of revenue to the State]. We’ll get one or two more [casinos].

Jeff Berkowitz: One or two more?

Rep. Lou Lang: We’ll get gaming in the City of Chicago in a land-based kind of facility. There will be slot machines at racetracks.

Jeff Berkowitz: Racinos, as they call them.
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Jeff Berkowitz:. …These additional casinos, what does that give you [the State] in additional revenue to finance [the capital budget]? About a billion dollars a year?

Rep. Lou Lang: About a billion…
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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. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including tonight's show with Rep. Lang in the City and last week's show with Rep. Lang in the suburbs and last week's show in the City of Chicago and Aurora with WGN Political Pundit and Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the Chicago Metro suburbs with Rep. Lang (Part 2), tonight's show in the Cities of Chicago and Aurora and last week's show in the suburbs with Rep. Lang (Part 1) , last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, last week's show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

14th CD Cong. Foster replies to Pres. Bush tomorrow and talks w/Berkowitz today about telecom immunity, secret courts and Republican blogs

Revised and links added at 4:40 pm on Friday

Cong. Foster gives Democratic Party response to President Bush

Not quite three weeks after he was elected to Congress in a Special Election to fill the remainder of former Speaker Denny Hastert’s term, 14th CD congressman Bill Foster (D-Geneva) taped, this morning, the Democratic response to President Bush’s weekly radio address, both of which will air nationally tomorrow morning. The taping occurred in the Chicago Loop offices of WBBM-AM Radio, the Chicago CBS affiliate.

Foster’s Democratic response to Bush covers a broad range of topics from the rising cost of college tuition, to the federal economic stimulus program, to energy independence, to home-mortgage issues, to the War in Iraq, to tax cuts to much, much more. It will be broadcast on major radio networks, across the country, including of course, CBS's WBBM- 780 AM-Radio in Chicago, at 10:06 am (CST) tomorrow, following the President’s remarks, by about a half hour.

Democrat Foster, touted in a TV ad by Senator Obama during the last four days of the campaign, upset the Republican standard bearer Jim Oberweis by about five thousand votes for a six point margin of victory in a Special Election held on March 8, 2008. The seat had been held for twenty-one years by Cong. J. Dennis Hastert, whose eight year Speakership was the longest for a Republican in the history of the Country.

Putting Foster “out there,” so soon after his election suggests the Democrats are leaving nothing to chance in business owner/physicist, Dr. Foster’s scheduled re-match in the Fall, 2008 general election against Jim Oberweis. The Oberweis special election efforts (supported by Senator McCain in a fundraiser after the Republican Primary, but not with a TV ad) and regular election efforts by Oberweis constitute, essentially, a combined fourth attempt for elected office in Illinois by Oberweis in the last seven years, after a long and successful career in business in running or overseeing, at various times, both Oberweis Dairy and Oberweis Asset Management, an investment management and brokerage firm.[Watch Oberweis here].

Is Jim Oberweis “Fired up and ready to go,” for Round 2?

Oberweis is rumored to be taking a long vacation after a tough and bitter (but strong) primary win over State Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora), followed by Oberweis' general election loss a month later to Foster. Lauzen declined to endorse Oberweis after the Primary and that was viewed by most as a significant, albeit not the only significant, factor in Oberweis’ loss. [See here.]

Rumors (including a report by Bob Novak) ran rampant shortly after the March 8, 2008 general election that Oberweis was being pressured by Illinois Republican Party Leaders (if there are such) to withdraw from the Fall race, in favor of someone who has a track record of winning, e.g., Republican Minority Leader in the Illinois statehouse, Tom Cross, or perhaps simply someone who has had fewer political battles with the Illinois Republican Party establishment, or as John Kass might say--the Republican half of the Illinois Combine. [For more about the Illinois Combine, discovered and articulated by the Chicago Tribune's John Kass, go here and to the links and videos cited therein].

However, State Rep. Cross (R-Oswego), who is said to be planning a run for Governor in 2010, has shown little, if any, interest in giving up his statehouse seat to make the run in the 14th CD. Further, Bill Pascoe, General/ Media consultant to the Oberweis Campaign, when he was last available to this reporter (last week), stated, “Novak has it wrong. NO ONE has called Jim, or spoken to Jim, to ask him to get off the ballot.” [For more on this topic, go here]. Notwithstanding Pascoe's comments, retiring downstate Republican congressman, Ray LaHood (R-Peoria, 18th) told this reporter two weeks ago that he thought Republican minority leader Tom Cross would have been the best Republican candidate to run in the 14th Cong. Dist.

Both Foster and Oberweis are men of substantial net worth who invested heavily in their campaign and received substantial financial assistance from their respective parties. Foster, as the incumbent, can expect substantial financial support from his party in the Fall. Oberweis, as the challenger, can expect his Party to be much less forthcoming this time around.

Cong. Foster discusses telecom immunity, the Republican Blogs, secret courts and terrorist surveillance with Berkowitz

After this morning’s taping, Cong. Foster made himself available to questioning from the media and the below is a partial transcript of same.

Jeff Berkowitz: Congressman, the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee has accused you, in one of your first votes, I think it is House Roll Call No. 116, of voting against the Senate compromise bill, which passed the U. S. Senate, on the terrorist surveillance issue…[the Senate bill] I believe would immunize the telecommunications companies for acting at the government’s request, post September 11 [2001], to take certain actions regarding surveillance. Do you see that vote that way on House Roll Call No. 116 and where do you stand on that issue of immunizing telecommunication companies [from civil lawsuits] for actions they took at the request of their government. [For an overview of this issue and the differences between the House and Senate bills, see here].

Cong. Bill Foster (D-Geneva, 14th CD): Well, I guess, first off, one of the real joys of having the campaign over and being in the business of government is that you don’t have to pay any attention to the Republican blogs anymore. And, so, that’s been very nice and so I actually didn’t see whatever the NRCC might or might not have said about this but, you know, this was an important vote. And, I do not believe in blanket immunity for telecom companies or anyone else that may or may not have violated basic privacy understandings. I believe there is a huge difference between a scenario in which data was turned over in the immediate aftermath of September 11, with a clear understanding that people in the Administration thought that this was truly legal and data that may have been turned over under other circumstances. And, I think the compromise that came out of the House Bill, which essentially established a secret court that allowed the telecoms to defend themselves, using the letters that they may or may not have received from the Administration, provides a very good intermediate compromise for the purposes of determining the civil immunity or non-immunity of these telecoms. So, I am a bigger fan of the compromise that came out of the House than the compromise that came out of the Senate and I voted that way.

Jeff Berkowitz: You said a “secret court,” coming out of the House Bill. Is that separate from the FISA courts.

Cong. Bill Foster: Yes, yes. As I understand, there was a mechanism to provide—to allow the telecoms—the ability to present letters that they may or may not have gotten from the administration , encouraging them to turn over data. These are letters that, if they exist, would be protected under state secrets provisions by the Administration and the Administration currently would prevent [the telecoms] from presenting in open court. And, so, they are in a situation where the law says very clearly that, you know, you are immune if you got a letter saying certain things with certain assurances from the Administration. But, since [the telecoms] can’t present those letters in open court, then, for civil purposes, they can’t actually defend themselves and so the House Compromise provides a mechanism for them to present those letters, not in open court, but in a secret proceeding.
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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. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's show with Rep. Lang and last night's show in the City of Chicago and Aurora with WGN Political Pundit and Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show with Rep. Lang , last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, last week's show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

Can the Obama Campaign survive the Pastor Disaster?

Professor Paul Green: It’s about Change, Stupid

WGN Radio pundit and Roosevelt University Professor Paul Green argued, just two weeks ago, that Barack Obama had brilliantly succeeded in making the Presidential Race about “change.” As Green said, with that dominant theme as the playing field, “Experience doesn't matter,” at least for the Democratic party’s nomination and perhaps for the general election, as well. [Watch here] and [Read here]. Of course, Obama had to have the right background, smarts, talents and personality traits to pull this off: Eight solid years as a State Senator in the Illinois Legislature; three years in the U. S. Senate; solid academics [Columbia University and President of the Harvard Law Review], knows the issues, connects w/Dems and Independents, transcends politics and race-- and a heckuva a speech giver. Moreover, Senator Obama put together a fundraising and campaign organization that was better than what had been thought to be the best: The Bill and Hillary show.

Hillary, too much insider experience. Strike One

Indeed, in light of the above, it was almost the case that Hillary’s self-described “35 years of experience,” was a negative. First, 35 years counted every minute of her life after law school, even her private legal practice time at the Rose law firm in Arkansas, which tends to strain credibility. Second, even if you pared her relevant experience down to her eight years as First Lady and seven years as a U. S. Senate—that’s still fifteen years as a Washington, DC insider, hardly a plausible change agent. That is, Hillary has too much experience as an insider to be the credible outsider who would bring about “Change.” Strike One.

Obama’s Good Judgment

Barack Obama’s second primary campaign theme is that not only is he the candidate of change, but he has “good judgment.” Thus, he would bring about the “right kind of change.” His “go to,” argument on judgment was his decision to speak out against the Iraq War early and forcefully. Obama did so at an early Iraq War protest in Chicago in October, 2002 and he did so on this reporter’s TV show, Public Affairs,” on November 25, 2002. Simply put, his judgment then [and now] was that it was a mistake to authorize President Bush to take military action in Iraq.

He said he would have voted no on that War Power Resolution, saving, in his view and that of his supporters, half a trillion to three trillion dollars (depending on who the bean counter is), four thousand American lives, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives and avoided severe injuries to tens of thousands of American soldiers. And, perhaps more importantly in his view, Obama saw great damage to the World Wide reputation of the United States from following a reckless, dangerous and ill-conceived path to War, that was subsequently matched by gross mismangement of the War. Further, the characterization of the War as being mismanaged is agreed to, at least in part, by Senator McCain, the Republican’s presumptive Presidential nominee.

Hillary’s bad judgment? Strike 2

Hillary, as everybody now knows, voted in Fall, 2002, to authorize the President to take military action in Iraq. For many in the Democratic Party, that is all they need to know to support Barack Obama for President. Strike 2.

Obama: Right for the Dem Primary voters on almost all issues?

Obama's early, vocal and consistent opposition to the Iraq War is not all the Democratic Primary voters know about him. They know he is a great speaker; he is eloquent, he connects and he is credible. He is liberal and liberal in a way that is attractive to the Democratic base. He is against the Bush tax cuts, except perhaps for those that benefit low and some middle income families and individuals. He wants to reform trade agreements to avoid loss of American jobs. He wants to improve education by spending more on public schools, and to the dismay of most teachers unions, Obama supports some education reforms, including more charter schools. He generally is a big time supporter of labor unions, and they of him. He is a big time supporter of getting out of Iraq quickly, talking to virtually any foreign leader and of using much more diplomacy than is now the case. All of that, except for the Charter school expansion, generally plays quite well with almost all Democratic Primary voters.

Obama: So damn likable?

In short, what’s not to like about Barack Obama? If you are a liberal Democrat and for many independents, there is virtually nothing to dislike about Barack. Indeed, even for some Republicans, they might accept significant differences on the issues with Obama and vote for a guy who is so damn likable.

Unlike Hillary and Bill, Barack carries little or no baggage. He put together a great organization. He is always civil, respectful, calm, collected and cool. Cool Hand Luke. He inspires, he uplifts, he makes you feel good about yourself. In short, he has it all.

Obama’s Pastor Disaster: Strike 1

Indeed, just about when Hillary is close to facing a called strike 3,
along comes what Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn refers to as the “Pastor disaster,” the connection of what appears to be a very peculiar and offensive, at least some of the time, Rev. Jeremiah Wright to his most famous congregant. The nation is treated to the visuals of Pastor Wright making incendiary, fiery statements about a U. S. Government that Wright asserts wants to gives blacks Aids, as opposed to the U. S. Government that the American people think has commited to give billions to African nations to eradicate Aids. And, there are more visuals of more fiery statements by Pastor Wright: Sep. 11 as “Chickens coming home to roost,” payback to America for what Wright seems to think are heinous foreign policy actions around the world.

Questions arise. What would cause Obama to bond with Pastor Wright, as he said he did for almost two decades? To have Wright marry Michelle and Barack, baptize their kids and be Obama's chosen, spiritual leader? And, when you get past that question, as Eric Zorn asks—“Why didn’t Obama begin creating distance from Wright back in 2002 when he began running for the U. S. Senate.”

Obama’s judgment questioned by supporters: Strike 2

And, when you get past that one, as Zorn notes further,

You don’t have to be a knuckle-dragging racist to doubt Obama’s judgment here and to wonder why voters should believe he can elevate the tone in America when he apparently couldn’t even do so in his own house of worship.

And, remember, although Eric Zorn is a very balanced journalist, he is an opinion journalist who has been a long-time supporter of Barack Obama. So, if he is asking the above questions, what are others thinking?

Rep. Lang says Obama will be okay

This reporter has argued in his television interview with Democratic State Rep. Lou Lang that the Pastor Wright issue will stay with Obama in April, May and June and perhaps to the Democratic Convention and beyond. Rep. Lang, a Democrat and Obama supporter, takes the view [Watch here and read here] that in large part, voters who would otherwise vote for Obama will not change their votes as a result of Pastor Wright.

Journalist Parker: Obama should have spoken out sooner on Wright

Kathleen Parker, a syndicated columnist, who is somewhat right of center takes a pretty balanced view of Obama’s handling of Pastor Wright, but still concludes with this:

…[R]acial harmony will require more than hope. It will also require that people like Obama speak up and object to harmful rhetoric, sooner rather than later, even if it hurts the ones he loves.

That brings the issue back to Obama’s judgment and leadership.

Obama can overcome his Pastor Disaster

Although far from a plus, the Pastor Wright thing is an issue that Obama can overcome. He still leads in pledged delegates and the popular vote. Almost surely, Clinton cannot catch Obama on pledged delegates. If she cannot make it close on the total Democratic primary popular vote [Obama leads by more than 700,000 votes], Clinton probably cannot get enough super-delegates to offset Obama’s lead in pledged delegates. Unless, that is, Clinton can bloody up Obama with items like the Pastor Disaster.

Obama doesn’t like to campaign about race and certainly has never focused a campaign on it. Remember, he was the candidate who transcends race and politics. Or, so it has been said. He gave “The Race Speech,” on March 18, 2008 and hoped that would end the Pastor Disaster and his temporary focus on race. It didn’t. Hillary emphasized to Democrats yesterday, “[Wright] would not have been my pastor.”

Obama is rooted in the African-American community, but he is not limited by it.

Barack Obama was fond of saying during his U. S. Senate Democratic Primary, “I may be rooted in the African-American Community, but I am not limited by it.” Then State Senator Obama argued, correctly as it turned out, that he would be competitive in every demographic in that Primary. Consistent with that message, Obama will try to get off race as soon as he can. He likes to talk about education, healthcare and jobs—what pols call the kitchen table or lunch bucket issues.

Obama: Reassuring the voters and super-delegates on his Judgment.

If Obama can talk about race and Pastor Wright just enough to reassure Democratic voters and the super-delegates that he has good judgment and that his historical treatment of the Pastor Wright issue was simply an aberration, an unimportant aberration in his past that tells voters nothing about the future, Obama can right himself on Wright.

Pivoting away from Race.

Further, Obama needs to pivot from race and argue, again and again, to the super-delegates that he has the judgment and leadership that,unlike Hillary, would have avoided a reckless involvement in what he calls “a costly and dumb war.” That avoidance, Barack would argue, would have enabled change, years ago, for the country in the economy, jobs, healthcare and education. If Obama can do all of that, which is a very big if, then Obama wins the Democratic nomination. It is as simple as that.

More electable than Hillary?

The general election contest with Senator McCain? Now, that’s another matter. But, as Obama’s consultants David Axelrod (Obama's Chief Strategist) and Pete Giangreco(A major direct mail and message consultant to Team Obama) will remind Obama, “[Y]ou can’t win the general if you don’t win the primary.” On the other hand, if Barack Obama can’t persuade the super-delegates that he is more likely to beat John McCain than Hillary Clinton is, he might not be able to win a sufficient number of the super-delegates to win the Primary. [This also sssumes that the resolution of the Michigan and Florida delegates issue in a likely Democratic Convention credentials fight, or in a compromise reached between the campaigns before the campaign, does not hurt Obama significantly.] It is as simple as that.
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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. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's show with Rep. Lang and last night's show in the City of Chicago and Aurora with WGN Political Pundit and Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show with Rep. Lang , last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, last week's show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

Better than Chris Wallace w/Bill Richardson: Berkowitz w/Rep. Lou Lang on Obama, Wright and Blago: On Cable and NOW Streaming

This week’s suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). Turn on, Tune in and watch discussions of Senator Obama and his Pastor- Jeremiah Wright; Obama’s judgment and leadership capabilities; Obama’s diversity and the Presidential race; Knee-Jerk liberals; the State's capital and operating budgets, and much, much more [See, below, for a more detailed list of topics discussed on the show].
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This week’s suburban schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
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The show with State Rep. Lang will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas on that same Monday night at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10.
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Next week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," also features Rep. Lou Lang in part two of his discussions with host Jeff Berkowitz regarding Obama's Presidential campaign-- with particular focus on the issues raised by Obama's relationship, over the years, with Tony Rezko. Also to be discussed are a variety of state legislative issues.

This week's show with Rep. Lang, taped on March 23, 2008, is now available 24/7 on your computer.
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On this week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs,Jeff Berkowitz, host and producer of “Public Affairs,” debates and discusses state legislative issues and Barack Obama’s Presidential judgment and leadership traits with State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). Lang’s twenty-two year tenure in the Illinois Statehouse includes the eight years (1997-2004) that Obama served in the Illinois State Senate and Rep. Lang, who supports Obama for President, assesses Obama's substantive and political capabilities, based on their various interactions in and out of the Illinois General Assembly.

Rep. Lang answers a line of questioning regarding the credibility of Senator Obama’s statements regarding his Pastor of almost two decades, Jeremiah Wright. Wright married Barack and Michelle Obama and he baptized the Obama’s two daughters. Lang was happy that Obama stepped forward and condemned various comments made by Jeremiah Wright.

Berkowitz questions Lang as to whether Obama long ago should have walked out of a Pastor Wright sermon or made some other public statement of disapproval of the Wright comments. Lang suggested perhaps we are better off with Obama staying within his church and continuing to work with Pastor Wright to tone down his rhetoric and make other improvements in Wright’s understanding of the Black-White divide. Berkowitz questioned the judgment of Obama to stay quiet, at least publicly, on these issues until the media brought them up.

Berkowitz and Lang discussed the importance of Obama’s bi-racial background and his diversity to the Presidential race and whether it is particularly good for America, at this time, to have someone with that background as its President.

Lang reflected on what he knew about Obama from their time together in Springfield—as it relates to Obama’s qualifications to be President. Lang said from day one Obama wanted to engage all people in moving an agenda forward for people. Berkowitz noted that Obama last year, based on the National Law Journal’s assessment, had the most liberal voting record in the U.S. Senate. Notwithstanding that assessment, Lang argued that Obama was not a “knee-jerk liberal,” in the Illinois Senate.

Lang stated that the thing that is holding [an Illinois capital budget] up is nobody trusts Rod Blagojevich. Lang, chairman of the House Gaming Committee, predicts a gaming bill at the end of the day that adds one or two licenses for casinos (including one for Chicago), in addition to replacing the 10th license.

Lang argued that Gov. Blagojevich’s proposed operating budget for 2008-09 has tons of holes in it. Berkowitz and Lang discussed the Governor’s plan to lease the state of Illinois Lottery and to raise the tax on casino revenue to 70%.
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A partial transcript of this week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs is included, below:
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State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie): I would submit to you that staying at this church at this time after the speech Barack made last week discussing race in this country is more of a red herring relative to the Presidential campaign than anything else. I can’t imagine somebody following Barack Obama’s career, following this campaign and listening to his remarks about race last week who would still stay, “Well, he hasn’t left that church. I can’t vote for him because he hasn’t left that church.” If you listen to his comments, you can draw no other conclusion than [Obama's] on the right side of these issues. Now, there may be people out there that say, “Well, if it was up to me, I would have left that church. But, I don’t think you know unless you are in that situation, unless you are a person who has been a member of that church for many years, who has a personal relationship with that person. Perhaps we are better off having Barack be a member of that church so he can continue to work with Pastor Wright and try to (a) tone down his rhetoric and (b) make him understand where the black-white divide in this country emanates from and maybe work with him and maybe use that church as a core focus to make a real difference in the community.

Jeff Berkowitz: …as you know, Barack Obama, through much of the campaign, when people, especially people like Hillary Clinton, have questioned his experience, he questioned her judgment. That’s what he’s been touting, the judgment of Barack Obama. Maybe he has been in the U. S. Senate less time than Hillary Clinton [4 years less]; maybe he wasn’t in the White House, as she was, for eight years; but, he claims he had better judgment—he goes to the War vote…she voted in 2002 to authorize [the President] taking military action in Iraq…he said on this show in November of 2002 [Nov. 25] that he would have voted no, not to authorize that military action and he made his speech [in October, 2002] about that, so he was pretty public [about that position]. He says that was his judgment and he has better judgment over Hillary Clinton. People are saying now but what kind of judgment was it on your part, Barack Obama, to be in that church and not speak out in 2002; not to do what you [Lou Lang] said—try to change those views…as Barack said in his speech [of March 18]…the thing about the …statements of Jeremiah Wright is that they viewed the U. S. in a static way, they didn’t see the change that had occurred; they didn’t see the goodness and greatness of America. This was Barack Obama’s statement and this was his criticism of Jeremiah Wright now, but the question is why didn’t he say that in 2002. Because to be a leader of this country, you have to react—you can’t sit on something for six years. So, it’s a question of judgment, a question of leadership…people are always trying to extract from your history what kind of a President you’ll be.

State Rep. Lou Lang: Jeff, we don’t know that he didn’t do those things.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, he hasn’t said that. I think if he did, one, we might have heard of it… in 03 and 04, he was a name in the State of Illinois.

Rep. Lou Lang: I am not certain that every private conversation I have with my clergyman is your business.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, maybe it shouldn’t be private. As a leader, you should stand up and make it known that, you know, this has to change.

Rep. Lou Lang: You know in the year 2002 when Barack Obama was just elected to the U. S. Senate [Obama was elected in 2004], I don’t know that there would be any reason to raise the issue that my pastor said this—these outrageous, outlandish and embarrassing things—and I have straightened him out. For what reason, would he do that? I have been a state representative for twenty two years. I don’t have public orations about the things my clergyman says.

Jeff Berkowitz: Or, you go to him, privately, as you say. You seek to make change. It doesn’t occur. Then, you stand up publicly and say, “Look, this church has done a lot of good things. There are a lot of good people there. But, I want to say that I can’t be a part of it and that church should change.” That’s when you do it publicly. That’s when a leader does it, doesn’t he.

Rep. Lou Lang: I am not certain that what goes on in my synagogue is appropriate public discussion. Now, if you say to me would it have been better for him today, looking backward, if he had done that, I suppose so. He’s running for President of the United States.

Jeff Berkowitz: Politically and otherwise.

Rep. Lou Lang: Politically and otherwise. However, let’s not take what happened then and what’s happening today out of context. What happened then, happened then. He was not running for President at the time. No one raised this as an issue in any campaign or any other time and there would have been no reason for him to step to a microphone and have a public discussion about it.
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This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) airs:

tonight 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 tonight 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 this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
***********************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search,
can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's show with Rep. Lang and last night's show in the City of Chicago and Aurora with WGN Political Pundit and Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show with Rep. Lang , last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, last week's show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

Better than The Verdict w/Dan Abrams; Berkowitz w/Paul Green on Obama, Axelrod, Kass, Clinton, the Combine and much more; On Cable and Streaming

Professor Paul Green: …Do you honestly believe those people out there [in DuPage] are part of “Pay to Play.” Do you honestly believe that people who are taking Democratic ballots, who are voting for Democrats are doing so because of Pay to Play, or could it be the caliber of—

Jeff Berkowitz: Have you heard of Hired Truck, Hired Tow? Have you heard of Don Tomczak? Have you heard of using city and county government resources, notwithstanding the Shakman decree, to elect people in the City of Chicago, in Cook, now … in DuPage? Have you heard of that, Professor?
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WGN Radio’s Paul Green: You don’t want to run against Barack Obama if you have any kind of sexual peccadillo in your background…it comes out even if…
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Jeff Berkowitz: John Kass said Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Cong. Luis Gutierrez [or] somebody has to grow a backbone to take on [Chicago’s] Mayor Daley to bring about change…. You saw Jackson. You saw Gutierrez. They just started groveling to the Mayor, right? After making all these noises about [change]…
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Paul Green: You’re really strong on someone else’s strength. You want these guys [Jackson and Gutierrez] to run and try to raise the money and lose. You think they didn’t do any polling.
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Our show with Roosevelt University professor and WGN political pundit Paul Green airs tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Channel 21 throughout the City of Chicago and at 7:30 pm in Aurora on ACTV-10 and surrounding areas. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. For more about tonight’s show, including a partial transcript of the show and a list of topics discussed, Go here.
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The show with Paul Green, Pundit and Professor, taped on March 9, 2008, is also available on your computer.
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Another partial transcript of tonight's show is included, below:
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Paul Green: … the fact of the matter is that those individuals view abortion, gay rights and guns as really crucial political issues when in reality those are the very issues that have turned Illinois into a blue state…as the professor, I am just telling you suburban Cook County has gone from being a-

Jeff Berkowitz: Yes, because pay to play has now gone from Cook County to DuPage—

Paul Green: Not Pay to Play, do you honestly believe those people out there are part of pay to play? Do you honestly believe that people who are taking Democratic ballots, who are voting for Democrats are doing so because of pay to play, or could it be the caliber of— [See here for some thoughts from those outside the Ivory Tower how Chicago Democrats are "carrying water," not only for suburban Democrats, but also for some "cooperating," suburban Republicans. The Combine in operation.]

Jeff Berkowitz: Have you heard of hired truck, hired tow? Have you heard of Don Tomczak? Have you heard of using city and county government resources, notwithstanding the Shakman decree, to elect people in the City of Chicago, in Cook, now outside in DuPage? Have you heard of that, Professor?

[See here for a piece written three years ago about the ties of Daley's convicted waterboy, Don Tomczak, to Rahm Emanuel and then of ties, perhaps, from Emanuel and waterboy Tomczak to the election of Cong. Bean and efforts by the Chicago Dems to take away Cong. Hyde's seat [primarily in DuPage County] from the Republicans. See here for more about the man who gave the Democrats a majority in the House: Cong. Rahm Emanuel and how Tomczak knew what to do to help elect Rahm, which includes this exchange:

Jeff Berkowitz: Could you have won your [2002 5th CD Democratic] Primary without Don Tomczak’s help? [See here].

Cong. Rahm Emanuel: I will leave that to your insights.]

Paul Green: So, what you’re saying in effect is that all these people are a bunch of dupes, that the fact that Daley won last time—in 2007, he won all 50 wards, only three of them under 60%.

Jeff Berkowitz: He bought them off. Come on.

Paul Green: Oh, he just bought them off.

Jeff Berkowitz: The opponents have no backbone.

Paul Green: So, Jim Oberweis should be President of the United States.

Jeff Berkowitz: This is what John Kass said.

Paul Green: Oh, John Kass—

Jeff Berkowitz: John Kass said Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Cong. Luis Gutierrez, somebody has to grow a backbone to take on Mayor Daley to bring about change—you like that word “change,”—in the city of Chicago. That’s what has to happen. You saw [Cong.] Jackson. You saw [Cong.] Luis Gutierrez. They just started groveling to the Mayor, right? After making all these noises about—they made them at the City Club [of Chicago]. You invited Luis Gutierrez to come in and speak--

Paul Green: He made a fine speech.

Jeff Berkowitz: And he talked about all these things that were wrong with the City and what he was going to do-- implicitly

Paul Green: Yes

Jeff Berkowitz: And, then he just sucked up at the end, right?

Paul Green: Put it like this—

Jeff Berkowitz: Did I get that right?

Paul Green: You’re really strong on someone else’s strength. You want these guys [Jackson and Gutierrez] to run and try to raise the money and lose. You think they didn’t do any polling.

Jeff Berkowitz: I don’t want anything. I’m just going with the facts.

Paul Green: Well, remember you’re entitled to your opinion. You’re not entitled to your facts.

Jeff Berkowitz: Yeah, Moynihan said that. [former U. S. Senator] Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Paul Green: Daniel Patrick Moynihan, another professor.

Jeff Berkowitz: Said, everybody is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.

Paul Green: And you’re very good at that.

Jeff Berkowitz: I’m talking facts

Paul Green: No, you’re talking opinion.

Jeff Berkowitz: A Daley has sat in the [Chicago] Mayor’s chair, for what, 38 out of the last 51 years [actually, it is 40 of the last 53 years.

Paul Green: Since 1955, the former Mayor Daley was there for 21 years, this guy’s been there for 19.

Jeff Berkowitz: Every year, but 13 years, it’s been a Daley.

Paul Green: So.

Jeff Berkowitz: You call that a good system? You call that competition? You think the public is being well served by that?

Paul Green: If they don’t like it, they should vote against him.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, have you heard of the Machine?

Paul Green: I’ve written books about it. I think I have.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, of course. So, when you say they should vote against it. If the machine marshals all these resources; If they get the government—no, they have the government. But, they get the Republican Party to join in. That’s what Kass is talking about. It’s interesting to find the Republicans who are supporting Democrats, who are being bundled [into Democratic fundraising] … Republicans who supported Blagojevitch. You’re lambasting the conservatives..for knocking off Topinka [in her 2006 Gubernatorial loss to Democratic incumbent Rod Blagojevich]. Or at least not helping her. But, Kass is saying it was the Combine, The Republicans [e.g., Republican Bill Cellini, who helped the Democrats elect Blagojevich in 2002].

Paul Green: Ah, that Combine.

Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t think Republicans were out there supporting Rod Blagojevich? …they were there. Who the hell was Stu Levine? Was he a Democrat?

Paul Green: …No, Stu Levine was a Levineocrat.
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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. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, as well as soon this week's show with Rep. Lang and currently last night's show in the City of Chicago and Aurora with WGN Political Pundit and Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page will include later this evening this week's show with Rep. Lang and currently, among others, last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, last week's show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

Better than the Beltway Boys: Berkowitz w/Professor Paul Green on Obama, the Combine, Kass, the Fitzgeralds and much more, Cable and Streaming

Words of wisdom from Chairman Green, Roosevelt University Professor and WGN Radio political pundit:

Paul Green: You don’t want to run against Barack Obama if you have any kind of sexual peccadillo in your background…it comes out even if…
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Paul Green: There is no such thing as the Illinois [combine].
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Paul Green: …So you have the social conservatives, on the Republican side, who literally want to ruin the Republican Party by making non-important issues, as far as electoral politics, important.
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Paul Green: …She [Judy Baar Topinka] was spending most of her time guarding her rear end because she was being knifed in the back by her own party people.
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Paul Green: …The chair of the Republican Party is irrelevant…[Andy McKenna, Jr.] is a nice young man and he comes from a wonderful family but there has never been a book written on the great state chairmen of the Democratic and Republican parties.
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This week’s suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features WGN Political Pundit and Roosevelt University Professor Paul Green on National, Illinois and Chicago politics. Turn on, Tune in and watch discussions of Obama, Clinton, Rezko, Cross, Watson, McKenna,Jr., Jones, Blagojevich, the Illinois Combine, John Kass, Peter Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzgerald, Hired Truck, Don Tomczak, Hired Tow, Mayor Daley, Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Cong. Luis Gutierrez , the Chicago Machine, Stu Levine, Public Official A, Gary MacDougal and the Illinois GOP and much, much more [See, below, a more detailed list of topics discussed on the show].
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This week’s suburban schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
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The show with Professor Paul Green will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and in Aurora and surrounding areas on that same Monday night at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10.
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The show with Paul Green, taped on March 9, 2008, is also available 24/7 on your computer.
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On this week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs, Paul Green, Roosevelt University Professor of Policy Studies and WGN Radio Political Analyst, discusses and debates with "Public Affairs," Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz whether "Experience means almost nothing," in the Democratic Presidential Primary, "Experience matters when you are President," Obama can throw a knock-out punch, the super delegates will choose the Dem. Presidential nominee, Obama is the favorite, race matters, there will be an Obama-Clinton ticket or vice-versa, Rezko is a factor in the Presidential Primary, disclosure of sexual/marriage issues have tended to be factors in Obama election contests, Axelrod is a significant factor in any Obama contest, Obama's 1996 senate race was a 'contest," Obama has sharp elbows, social conservatives have hurt the Illinois Republican Party, political discussions can be Orwellian, ideas have consequences, the State GOP is in need of ideas and a brand and whether Blago's budget consists of serious proposals or smoke and mirrors.
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A partial transcript of this week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs is included, below:

Paul Green: …So you have the social conservatives on the Republican side who literally want to ruin the Republican Party by making non-important issues, as far as electoral politics, important.

Jeff Berkowitz: Wait a second, those social conservatives joined with economic conservatives to elect Peter Fitzgerald U. S. Senator. U. S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald brought us--

Paul Green: One in a series of one victory—

Jeff Berkowitz: Brought the people in the State of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald [no family relation to Peter Fitzgerald]. Would you say Patrick Fitzgerald has done a great job as U. S. Attorney [N.D. Ill].?

Paul Green: I think Patrick Fitzgerald has done a great job and I am a great—

Jeff Berkowitz: You got Peter Fitzgerald to thank for that.

Paul Green: I am a great fan of Peter Fitzgerald…

Jeff Berkowitz: So, don’t lambast the social conservatives—

Paul Green: Well, they won one race.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, that was a pretty important one.

Paul Green: Well, yeah—

Jeff Berkowitz: If it ever changes in Illinois. If the politics of pay to play changes in Illinois, you’ll have two people to thank for that: Peter Fitzgerald and Patrick Fitzgerald.

Paul Green: But you have to understand that the social conservatives are rule or ruin politicians. They supported Blagojevich over Judy Baar Topinka. They called her the liberal candidate.

Jeff Berkowitz: Oh, don’t blame [them for] that. She was a terrible candidate. She’s a nice lady but a terrible candidate. You would agree with that, right?

Paul Green: I disagree with that—
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Paul Green: There is no such thing as the Illinois [combine].

Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t think so? John Kass made it up?

Paul Green: No, John Kass is a very good reporter.

Jeff Berkowitz: He says there is an Illinois combine. You’re taking on John Kass?

Paul Green: And, he has a right to his opinion. I would disagree with Mr. Kass, absolutely. I mean if you are talking about moderate conservative Republicans and moderate Democrats who get elected, you could call them a Combine, you could call them anything you want. This is a middle of the road state. This is not a state that enjoys the far left or the far right.

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s the Illinois Combine? …you’re the professor, teach me as a student. What does John Kass mean when he says Illinois Combine?

Paul Green: That there’s some kind of unwritten rule or some kind of understanding that certain kinds of people get together to run things in this state, sort of like a version of the combination of the Mafia, the Sopranos—

Jeff Berkowitz: Certain kinds of people? What would those groups be?

Paul Green: Or the Masons?

Jeff Berkowitz: Define your terms, professor.

Paul Green: Just individuals who are involved in politics, who get elected.

Jeff Berkowitz: …No, no, no.

Paul Green: The Thompson-Edgar wing of the Republican Party and the Daley wing of the Democratic Party.

Jeff Berkowitz: Right, there we go. Democrats and Republicans getting together for public corruption for the benefit of [individuals in] both parties…

Paul Green: Now, you are-- as always, Mr. Berkowitz, you go a tad too far.

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s what Kass says. That’s not Jeff Berkowitz, that’s John Kass.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Eight years in the State Senate, what did he do that qualifies him [Obama] to be President of the United States?

Paul Green: It makes no difference.

Jeff Berkowitz: It makes no difference?

Paul Green: No, it makes no difference. One of the things that has happened in this campaign is that the word “Change,” has dominated experience. The two Democrats who had the most experience, running for President, were Senators Dodd and Biden and they were the two early dropouts. Experience means almost nothing. You are voting for change and change is a wonderful word. It means …for everybody what they want to believe. And as long as Obama—and his campaign is brilliant—makes the key word change, not experience, not having any experience is probably a plus.
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Jeff Berkowitz: So race matters, you just sneaked that word in there.

Paul Green: Damn right race matters.

Jeff Berkowitz: African-American? what does that mean, how does that come into play?

Paul Green: Because they are the most solid, crucial part of the Democratic base. Remember, what you have—

Jeff Berkowitz: So you are saying the super delegates don’t want to alienate—

Paul Green: They have a tough decision—

Jeff Berkowitz: The African-American base.

Paul Green: Let me finish my sentence. On one side, you have Obama, having tremendous support among…
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Jeff Berkowitz: Could you see Hillary Clinton taking No. 2 to Barack Obama? Could you see that?

Paul Green: Possibly.

Jeff Berkowitz: A sixty-one year old lady taking No. 2 to a forty-six year old man?

Paul Green: Possibly.

Jeff Berkowitz: You could see that?

Paul Green: Yup. Possibly. No doubt about it. Remember, she serves eight years-- she is still younger than John McCain is, running for President, now.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, she brings all the baggage of the Clinton Administration and Barack Obama brings Tony Rezko into the White House.

Paul Green: Well, we’ll see about that.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Who ran the Obama [U. S. Senate] campaign in 2004?

Paul Green: David Axelrod.

Jeff Berkowitz: Yeah, and he knows machine politics better than anybody. He knows how to get down and dirty better than anybody. Would that be true?

Paul Green: That’s your opinion.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, is that your opinion?

Paul Green: No. But that’s okay. He’s a very smart and a very successful—

Jeff Berkowitz: Would that be a plus if he knew that?

Paul Green: David Axelrod is a very smart and a very successful campaign consultant and is making himself a national person in this campaign. But, to your suggestion, first off, (a) you don’t want to-- you don’t want to run against Barack Obama if you have any kind of sexual peccadillo in your background…

Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t because it is bound to come out--

Paul Green: It comes out

Jeff Berkowitz: Somebody makes that happen

Paul Green: Even if the New York Times runs a phony story on you, I mean, it comes out with poor Senator McCain now. But, the bottom line is…
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This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest Professor and WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green airs:

tonight 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 tonight 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 this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm airing on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
********************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search,
can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain-- and many other pols and pundits, as well as this week's show in the suburbs with Professor Paul Green and last week's show with State Senator Brady at PublicAffairsTv.com
*********************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include, among others, this week's show with Political Pundit Paul Green, last week's show with Senator Brady, our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

Better than March Madness: Berkowitz w/Brady on Cable and Streaming

Our show with State Senator and possible 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) airs tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Channel 21 throughout the City of Chicago and at 7:30 pm in Aurora on ACTV-10 and surrounding areas. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. For more about tonight’s show, including a partial transcript of the show and a list of topics discussed, Go here.
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The show with State Senator Brady, taped on March 2, 2008, is available on your computer.
******************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search,
can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain-- and many other pols, as well as tonight's show with State Senator Brady at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*********************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include, among others, tonight's show with Senator Brady, This week's show in the suburbs with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee on “Unfortunate young men that …take the life of a coed.”

Twelve days ago, UNC-Chapel Hill Student body President Eve Carson, 22, left home in Chapel Hill early in the morning to make copies for school. Before she reached campus, she was shot and died in the street. On January 18th of this year, Abhijit Mahato, 29, a graduate engineering student at Duke University, was shot in his head in his apartment during an apparent robbery. Laurence Lovette, Jr., 17, has been charged in the murders of both Carson and Mahato. A 21 year old convicted burglar, Demario Atwater, has also been charged in the murder of Carson.

“Both Atwater and Lovette had histories of burglary and theft but managed to get probation rather than jail time,” reports the L. A. Times. The state of North Carolina seems to have become quite "progressive," in that it doesn’t seem to put criminals, short of murder, in jail. For a description of the bungling and absurd leniency by the North Carolina courts and criminal justice system that enabled Lovette and Atwater to keep their freedom when it should have been denied to them, see here and here.

With the above as a backdrop, Cong. Jackson Lee (D- Houston, TX) with degrees from both Yale and University of Virginia Law School discussed, on Thursday of this past week, on the floor of the House, the Federal Budget and the above murders. Apparently, Jackson Lee had done enough research to conclude that the two individuals, identified above as charged with murder, were “unfortunate young men.” Murder victim UNC Student Body President Eve Carson? She would rate only a description of “coed,” from Cong. Jackson Lee. Murder victim Duke graduate student Abhijit Mahato? He would rate no mention at all. One wonders if Cong. Jackson Lee believes women and men should have quite a bit more protection from “unfortunate young men,” than North Carolina courts and the criminal justice system gave them in this instance. If so, she wasn’t saying.

Take a listen:
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…We understand that there are now people who are now evicted who were homeowners. We give out 200,000 housing vouchers so that those in my district alone, 25,000 people on the waiting list for Section 8 and other housing resources, not because they can’t work, because there are no good facilities for them and because the market is out of control. This is what the progressive budget does. And, it takes to the least of those—those children who in the foster care system that circle [Jackson Lee asks for more time to speak] around in the system, who knows who they turn out to be. Maybe it’s the unfortunate young men that found themselves in the streets of North Carolina to take the life of a coed. There are tragedies out there and this budget understands that investing in America and these workers will make the difference…

Cong. Sheila Jackson Lee (D- Houston, TX), speaking on the House Floor, March 13, 2008
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Jackson Lee ties all of the above into a federal budget issue. Is she saying, “They were depraved because they were deprived,” stealing a line from “West Side Story.” But, it was reported that the high school dropouts (Lovette and Atwater, above) were convicted of crimes but put back on the street by a system that failed to notice when they were arrested again. Both are now behind bars, held without bail and charged with murdering two college students.

Perhaps Jackson Lee agreed with Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez, who said, “We've got a lot of kids out there who have a sense of helplessness, with a propensity for violence." "We need to look at the reasons our youth are doing this." [See here].

Perhaps the police and courts first need to get individuals off the streets who are making a career out of breaking and entering, robbing and killing those who get in their way. Handing out probation, like it was candy and everyday is Halloween, is probably not a good idea.

Then, if you think society has “Kids or adults on the street,” because their public educational system or foster system has failed them, you might try to do something rational about that. But, flailing around, as does Cong. Jackson Lee, speaking almost incomprehensively about suspected murderers as “unfortunate young men that found themselves on the streets,” and perhaps decided to kill a few people to facilitate a robbery of an ATM card is not a good start. Maybe Jackson Lee would tell us we need to supplement “gun control,” with “unfortunate young men,” control. Yes, we do. They call it jail time for criminals. How is that for a new idea?

Neither Cong. Jackson Lee, nor her Communications Director, Judith Kargbo, returned this reporter’s call on Friday to discuss the above.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include, among others, tonight's show in the city of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 with Senator Brady, our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.

Eric Zorn and Dan Proft: Longing for Alan Keyes? Journalism makes strange bedfellows?

Chicago Tribune columnist and blogger Eric Zorn has responded to this author’s post suggesting that Oberweis stand his ground and better yet, that the so-called Republican Party leaders find something better to do than see if they can pressure Oberweis into giving up his nomination as the Republican candidate in the 14th CD fall general election.

First, Zorn misses a major point of this reporter’s argument. Yes, I argued that the so-called party bigwigs have no carrots or sticks to induce Oberweis to give up his nomination. But, more importantly, as this reporter argued, the so-called party leaders are people of either little or long-ago accomplishment, so by what moral or other authority do they override the Republican primary voters judgment of last month that Oberweis should be their nominee. Zorn fails to address that point.

Second, Zorn asserts that Oberweis is 0 for 4, having lost two Republican U. S. Senate primaries, one Republican gubernatorial primary and now one 14th congressional district general election. But, shouldn’t Eric give Oberweis credit for winning two Republican primaries in the 14th CD, making him 2 for 6 Of course, that is not as good as say, Cong. Rahm Emanuel and Cong. Melissa Bean, but then, again, Oberweis doesn’t have convicted felon, Water Dept. and ward boss Don Tomczak and his City of Chicago Daley army of employees working for him, so you have to cut Jim a little slack.

Third, Zorn doubts that “Oberweis can rehabilitate himself with the voters,” because Tom Roeser has concluded, “Oberweis plain and simple is not liked.” But, the Republican Primary voters in the 14th CD “liked him more than Sen. Lauzen,” a month, or so, ago when they voted to make Oberweis the Party standard bearer in the March Special Election and in the regular November election.

Fourth, Zorn cites to Russ Stewart for the argument that Jim, aside from being “pompous, arrogant, intolerant and utterly insufferable,” is unelectable. While this reporter would concede that he has met more charming and likable pols than Jim Oberweis; others, with similar personality deficiencies, have been big winners.

For example, Cong. Dan Lipinski, while not being a big charmer, has now won two contested primaries and a general election. Many Democrats have castigated Cong. Rahm Emanuel as completely lacking in the personality skills for elected office and he won a tough primary in 2002. Indeed, although I don’t agree, some Democrats, not to mention Republicans, have described Emanuel as "arrogant and stiff," and no one seems to think he should be disqualified from running for office, after he won a primary. Even Senator John McCain, with his reputation for a hair-trigger temper, will admit no one in the Senate will mistake him for “Miss Congeniality,” and he is now the Republican nominee for President.

Fifth, Zorn trots out archliberal-archpundit, Larry Handlin to tell us that media will do stories about how Republicans are dissatisfied. with Oberweis. I suppose in the same way they were dissatisfied with Peter Fitzgerald, Jack Ryan and anyone else who wouldn’t bow to the Daley Ryan Combine with which Thompson, Edgar, Topinka and McKenna could get along and which consists of the likes of Bob Kjellander, aka as individual K by the U. S. Attorney, and Gov. George Ryan, now doing serious time. Maybe the media should ask Thompson, et al why they tolerate or have chosen to be a part of the Combine, as opposed to why they are dissatisfied with Jim Oberweis, if indeed they are.

Sixth, Archpundit- archliberal predicts that Foster will raise his profile with good earned media. Let’s think about that—Oberweis was generally very accessible to the media with numerous opportunities given to the press to question him collectively and individually. Foster was kept in a bubble, with his campaign turning down numerous joint forums or debates, e.g., League of Women Voters, WTTW, Fox, opportunities for pressers after the debate, e.g., At Issue (BTW, accepted by Oberweis). And, how much did you hear about that from the MSM or edit boards? Not at all. As the Chicago Tribune said, Foster was transparent. For the MSM, this reflected the usual liberal media bias. For the Chicago Tribune, this reflected it is a part of the Combine? Almost enough to make John Kass, blush, one would think. Come to think of it, one wonders if Kass was invited to sit in on the Chicago Tribune’s edit board session.

Seventh and most disappointing in Zorn’s hit parade was Dan Proft, his former mentee for which Zorn apparently still has some affection. Proft put together a tendentious piece for Human Events, trying to argue that no national trends were important for the 14th CD general election and to do that, he had to dump a bit on his partner [Pascoe, handling the Oberweis campaign] and a lot on his partner’s client [which sounds like an odd term, but it is accurate], so dump he did. For example, Proft repeated the “assertion,” that Oberweis hypocritically hired illegal immigrants. Presumably, Dan knows that the assertion is false. It was an independent contractor to the Oberweis Dairy that had hired illegal immigrants, not Jim, nor his Company.

Proft refers to Oberweis’ gaffe-filled campaigns. But, such was not the case for the primary or the general in the 14th CD; Proft was just throwing a bit of mud up there to help with his argument that the 14th CD result had no national implications. Indeed, if the quote out of context to which Proft refers in his Human Events piece was a gaffe and that’s not clear, it presumably was Proft’s campaign consulting partner’s gaffe, and not Oberweis, as the quote was used extensively in TV ads and mailers. Last time this reporter looked, those kinds of decisions are made by consultants, not by candidates.

And, then Proft reminds Zorn that maybe Oberweis’ short and perhaps non-existent campaigns for party office should count, too, in Oberweis’ won loss record.

Perhaps, but then maybe Zorn should trot out Proft’s won loss record. Let’s see: Proft lost with Pat O’Malley, over-all you probably have to count Jack Ryan’s end result as a loss; then a big time loss for Alan Keyes; and a loss for Rauschenberger, and maybe another for Gidwitz-Rauschenberger, and a loss for Peraica for County Board President. Oh yeah, a win for moderate Republican Beth Coulson—but Beth pretty much wins those on her own; and a win for Larry Dominick in Cicero. So, Proft is 2 wins, 6 losses as a consultant? Oberweis is 2 wins, 4 losses as a candidate, and Zorn is using Proft as an authority to take the candidacy away from Oberweis? Maybe Zorn should start taking away candidates from Proft.

Eighth, and most importantly, by what right does Zorn, with a few journalists and a few pols in tow find the moral authority to nullify the will of the people. To paraphrase the late William F. Buckley, Jr., this reporter would take the will of the first two hundred listed registered voters over the opinions of the media and combine pols. Indeed, didn’t the majority of about 75,000 voters in the Republican Primary in February decide they wanted Oberweis for their nominee in the fall general election? And, Zorn says Party Big-wigs like Topinka, Kjellander, Edgar and McKenna should take the nomination away from Oberweis? Didn’t we try that approach in 2004? Topinka, Kjellander and Edgar [in the guise of the Republican State Central Committee and with the blessing of Proft?] brought us Alan Keyes? How did that work out, Eric? And, now you want to do it again?

QED.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include, among others, tonight's show with Senator Brady, our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.