Obama finally gets it and quits Trinity Church; Anderson and Abrams still in a fog, blaming it all on Fox

Revised at 12:55 am on Monday morning to correct the affiliations of Monroe Anderson and to fix a link or two.
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Senator Obama came to his senses yesterday and resigned from Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s south side. It doesn’t matter whether Rev. Wright said and did goofy things five times in the last twenty years or one hundred times in the last twenty years. It doesn’t matter that Father Pfleger (whose regular clerical stomping grounds are St. Sabina) was simply a guest of Rev. Moss delivering the guest sermon last Sunday at Trinity. It doesn’t matter if Obama was in the pews all, some or none of the times when Wright and Pfleger were spewing their venomous, hate filled, anti-American and/or racial prejudiced themes. It doesn’t matter if Wright and Pfleger have done some (or many) good things for their communities over the years.

What does matter is that Obama is running for President and the words, style and preachings of Pastor Wright and Father Pfleger, at least some of the time, are antithetical to everything for which Obama and most of this country stand. Further, it is not okay for the Church, Synagogue or Mosque of the President of the United States to welcome those who mock and degrade whites, blacks, Muslims, Christians, Jews or America. (Rev. Moss, Wright’s successor, thanked God for the “message,” and “messenger’ after Pfleger finished his sermon, last week). Our places of worship are not the same as Comedy Central (Contrary to what Monroe Anderson and MSNBC's Dan Abrams might think, see below).

Finally, Obama got this. Apparently, Senator Obama follows the saying, fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me. However, Obama is clearly a cautious man when it comes to possibly upsetting his African-American base, see, generally, here.

Larry Sabato, University of Virginia Professor of Political Science and media political pundit, being interviewed on Fox’s Beltway Boys, about four hours ago, on being informed that Senator Obama had resigned from Trinity, noted that this showed Obama was smarter than your usual pol. Sabato said most pols have to be hit over the head with a two by four three times before they get it. Obama only required two whacks (Wright and Pfleger), according to Sabato. Professor Sabato is being charitable to Obama, as the good professor apparently collapses the multiple sins of Wright into one.

To take a look at some people who don’t get it, go to Monroe Anderson(who, ironically, may have been the first to break the story; by the time the Beltway Boys confirmed the Obama resignation from Trinity, the Boys had referenced an unconfirmed report from a blog and another TV station about Obama’s resignation) and to Dan Abrams. Anderson, who has been in and out of the MSM for the last three decades, was recently a free lance op-ed page columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and now is a member of the Trotter Group. He thinks Obama’s resignation is a sign that he caves too easily to right-wing forces. MSNBC’s Dan Abrams thought Fox’s Brit Hume was hyping a relatively trivial story.[See the Abrams video link, included in a post by Anderson].

Anderson and Abrams would no doubt think that Obama’s poor showings in Ohio, West Virgina and Kentucky (almost as bad as Alan Keyes’ losses in 2004 to Obama in the Illinois U. S. Senate race) were attributable to a vast right-wing conspiracy led by Fox, a similar one- no doubt- to the one that trapped Bill Clinton in the White House with Monica Lewinsky—and no one can blame Mr. Bill for pursuing that bait, can they?

Anderson and Abrams seem to think: Why in the world would working class whites in Appalachia be put off by videos of Wright (Obama’s self-described spiritual advisor) telling America that 9/11 was her fault for tolerating America’s own acts of terrorism around the world (9/11 was America’s chickens coming home to roost, so to speak).

Of course, Rev. Wright was not the only problem Obama had in Appalachia. There were also the images of Obama declining to wear a flag lapel pin and declining to place his hand over his heart when a group Pledge of Allegiance was being recited to the U. S. flag. There was also the report of an “elitist Obama,” speaking in San Francisco about those who vote Republican because they feel a need, in tough economic times "to cling to their guns and churches," and oppose those who look different from them. (Yes, there was some bigotry, for sure, from some in Appalachia who could not vote for a Black man, but that certainly was not the whole story).

To those Obama images, about to be added was the image of Father Pfleger [until recently on the board of “Catholics for Obama,”] guest sermonizing in Obama’s Church about white collective guilt for slavery and the notion that “White Supremacy,” and white entitlement was the essence of the Hillary Clinton campaign. And, then the image of Rev. Moss, who moved up recently to Trinity’s primary pastor, blessing the Pfleger performance by thanking God for the messenger and message, amid the applause, arm-waving and cheers from his congregation.

Snap! If that wasn’t enough to persuade the Trotter Group's Monroe Anderson and MSNBC’s Dan Abrams that Obama should leave Trinity, it was enough for Obama. Too bad for Obama he didn’t snap a little sooner. Obama knows what America and he are about. Anderson and Abrams? They don’t have a clue.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, this week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), Tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include
Tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), This week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign, and many other pols

Obama’s 2006 choice not to transcend race: From small problems do big ones grow?

Transcending Race in 2004

This journalist and many others have written and spoken glowingly of Senator Obama as someone who transcends race and politics. That seemed especially to be the case in the run-up to his big win in the 2004 Illinois U. S. Senate Democratic Primary. In that contest, Obama was an extremely talented, smart and charming candidate who happened to be black. Clearly, he did not run as the “Black candidate.” As Barack said frequently during the campaign, he may have been "rooted in the African-American community, but he was not limited to it." He promised to be competitive in every demographic of the State and he was.

Did the media turn a blind eye to Obama’s weaknesses?

Those were the days of pre- Rev. Wright, pre-Tony Rezko and pre-Bill Ayers, or at least those problems had not yet been discovered by the media. Not to mention uncles in Auschwitz (that didn’t exist) and 872 days since visiting Iraq. In short, that was an Obama who didn’t make mistakes. Or, if he did, the media seemed not to notice or care. These days, of course, are very different. With Big-time losses in Ohio, Texas, West Virginia and Kentucky, Obama is backing into the Democratic Presidential nomination, and the media have noticed his problems with working class whites, especially those earning less than 50K per year, Hispanics, Seniors and various female subgroups.

Not Transcending race in 2006

But, one act of political cowardice, if not a political mistake, that Obama had made before he began his Presidential run was his decision to sit on the fence when he could have effected reform in March, 2006, in his own backyard, the County of Cook.

Claypool falls on his sword

Last Sunday, the victim of that act of cowardice by Obama, Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool, fell on his sword and told us that "politics is complex," when taping next week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” [Watch here, and read about the issue, generally, here].

Comm. Claypool, a member of the Obama Presidential Campaign media team, may have been protecting his boss/friend or he may really believe what he said. But, you have to wonder if Obama had transcended race by supporting Claypool for Cook County Board President, might he have also been more likely to have chosen to separate himself from Rev. Wright and Father Phleger and then he wouldn’t have to back into the Democratic Presidential nomination. Of course, he would have also then been a much stronger candidate in the general election against Senator McCain.

Think about what might have been as you take a listen to Commissioner Claypool:

Jeff Berkowitz: You were reform, [John Stroger] wasn’t and Barack Obama could have been extremely influential in that decision that people were making whether to support Forrest Claypool or John Stroger, [Barack Obama] stayed out of that. He didn’t endorse you [for President of the Cook County Board]. He didn’t endorse John Stroger. Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. [did] the same thing. People [including this journalist] have said Barack Obama transcends race. He transcends politics. He does the right thing. Here was a case, putting it bluntly- people were saying-- Barack Obama, maybe to be fair, Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. [too], obviously knew you, liked you, supported many [if not all of] your ideas, but, they are black [and there is] a tremendous cost to supporting a white person over a black person in the black community. Is that what was going on there?

Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago): Well, I think actually the fact that they were both neutral in that race and had positive things to say about me, publicly, and worked with me publicly on various issues in that campaign I think actually made a strong statement, given John Stroger’s long and pioneering history in the African-American community, so I thought that actually spoke more volumes than anything else.

Jeff Berkowitz: That they said nice things about you. But, why couldn’t [Obama] go that extra length. And, you know Barack. And, you’ve worked with Barack and you helped elect him to the U.S. Senate. So, it’s not like he just knew you as a reformer. You folks—you’ve worked with David Axelrod’s firm [Axelrod is Obama’s chief strategist on the Obama Presidential campaign]. You helped start David Axelrod’s firm, AKPmedia, right?

Comm. Forrest Claypool: Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: In 1984-85, and you worked closely with Rahm Emanuel, you knew Axelrod, you were sort of the Three Amigos, and maybe the fourth amigo was Barack Obama, why couldn’t [Obama] go that extra length and endorse you? You could have been Cook County Board President. You could have seen reform [enacted]. You could have done a great many things that I know Barack Obama would like to do to improve health care and so forth for people in Cook County. Why couldn’t he make that move?

Comm. Forrest Claypool: I don’t know. I mean, look, politics is complex. People have multiple relationships and they do the things they have to do and believe in. Like I said, he was, like I said, neutral in my race. I thought that was a major statement, given the fact that the entire establishment was behind John Stroger and he was a three term incumbent. And, like I said, we worked closely together on other issues in that campaign, and with Jesse Jackson, Jr., as well, on the Peotone airport and on healthcare. And, I remember, at the end, it was a real tragedy—that last week when John Stroger had the stroke—and I think people, you know, I think everyone was very respectful of what [John Stroger] had done, his pioneering status as a leading African-American and had overcome discrimination and other things. The entire environment, at that time, was a difficult and sensitive one, for everybody and you know, so, I’m proud of the race we ran and I’m proud, you know, to have the things that they said positively about me in that campaign.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, Next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), This week's show in the Suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include This week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign, and many other pols

Way better than Softball w/Chris Matthews: Berkowitz w/6th CD Col. Morgenthaler

You say you missed the recent Public Affairs cablecast featuring 6th CD Democratic candidate Jill Morgenthaler interviewed by show host Jeff Berkowitz? Not to worry, you can watch the show online here or here.

Go here to watch the show with Col. Morgenthaler, and for links to a partial transcript, more about the show and more about Colonel Morgenthaler.

If you prefer to watch the show on cable, you can watch the show with Col. Morgenthaler this week on the Illinois Channel, which airs in 125 communities across the State of Illinois and into Missouri. The Illinois Channel airs a two hour package of cable programming each week. The "Public Affairs," show with Morgenthaler is the last half hour of that two hour block of programming. Go here to learn on which cable channel and when the two hour block of Illinois Channel programming airs in your community. For example, that site tells you that the two hour block of programming airs in Addison, starting at 1:00 pm, Monday thru Sunday on Cable Ch. 6. That means you can find the Morgenthaler show on Cable Ch. 6 at 2:30 pm, Monday through Sunday, this week.

Similarly, by going here, you can verify that the show with Colonel Morgenthaler airs in the 6th CD communities at the days, times and channels listed below:

Addison, M-Sunday, 2:30 pm, Cable Ch. 6

Carol Stream, M, W, F, 9:30 am, 3:30 pm, 9:30 pm, Cable Ch. 6

Des Plaines, Th, 6:30 pm, F, 3:30 pm, Sat, 8:30 pm, Sun, 10:30 am, Cable ch. 17

Elk Grove, M-Sunday, 1:30 pm, 5:3 0 pm, Cable Ch. 6

Lombard, Wed, 9:00 pm, Th, 5:30 PM, Cable Ch. 6

Mt. Prospect, M-Sunday, 12:30 pm, Cable Ch. 2

And for a sampling outside the 6th CD, the show w/Col. Morgenthaler airs in

Springfield, M, W, F, 8:00 am, Cable ch. 18

Sa and Sun, 11:30 am, Cable Ch. 18

M-Sunday, 11:30 pm, Cable Ch. 22

Sa and Sun, 9:30 pm, Cable Ch. 22 and in

Chicago, Sat, 10:30 am, Cable Ch. 21

Chicago, Sunday, 10:00 am, Cable Ch. 19
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, Next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), This week's show in the Suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), last night's night's show in Chicago and Aurora with with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include This week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign, Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), the prior week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

Better than Stephanopoulos w/Axelrod: Backpacking with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R) on School Choice and illegal immigrants,Cable and Streaming

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Every parent should have a choice [of schools for their kids]…

Jeff Berkowitz: You give them the backpack. You take [the backpack] and you give them the backpack?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Yes, right.

Jeff Berkowitz: The $10,000 [per year per kid.].
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Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, Linda Chapa LaVia, what does she have to say about that?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Oh, she is against school vouchers … …she came out against choice in education.
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John Solms: Her [Chapa LaVia’s] child goes to a private school.

Jeff Berkowitz: She said that and she said she would like to have choice [for her children] and I think it’s a religious school [that her children go to]…

Joan Solms: Yes, it is...
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora, 83rd Dist.). Solms is taking on Democrat Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia. The show was taped on May 18, 2008.

The show with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms is available 24/7 on your computer.

Public Affairs contacted State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia a number of times in the last few months to see if she would commit to tape Public Affairs, either individually or with her opponent, Joan Solms, so that our viewers and her potential voters could learn more about her positions on the issues. Chapa LaVia did not return our calls. Joan Solms agreed weeks ago to tape the show and she kept her commitment.

State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms debates and discusses, with Jeff Berkowitz, Public Affairs show host and Executive Legal Recruiter, various state legislative issues, including backpacking on education, taxes, spending, state treatment of illegal immigrants, driver’s certificates for illegal immigrants, impeachment, recall, Gays, Guns, God and Abortion and much, much more. For a more detailed list of show topics, see below.
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The suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
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The show with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) 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 "Public Affairs," show in the Chicago Metro Suburbs features Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago). Claypool is also a member of the Obama for President media team and Claypool is uniquely qualified, in many respects, to discuss Barack Obama, the man and the Presidential candidate. The show focuses on the Obama Presidential Campaign, but implicitly and explicitly touches on Cook County Politics, Reform and Public Policy. You can watch the show with Comm. Claypool here.
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A partial transcipt of the show with candidate Solms is included, directly, below:

Jeff Berkowitz: Mostly, the 83rd District is in Aurora [Also includes parts of North Aurora and Montgomery]. We air in Aurora, so if you are watching it in Aurora, there is a good chance you will get a chance to vote, if you like, for Joan Solms, who is the Republican candidate [for 83rd District State Rep.]. We should say the Democratic candidate, and she is the incumbent, Linda Chapa LaVia—she was here…about a year ago; she said she would come back and lately, she’s not coming back. She’s not even returning our calls. We don’t endorse candidates but we do endorse the notion that incumbents and challengers should come on shows like Public Affairs and answer tough questions…
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Chapa LaVia: Hiding from her constituents?

Jeff Berkowitz: You see her [Chapa LaVia] in the District? I mean she lives in the District?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Yes, she does.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, maybe… she can’t take the time to come here…She doesn’t think she needs to speak with the viewers [the District’s constituents] on TV?
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Solms says no to tax increases. Chapa LaVia says Yes?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: You know she [Chapa LaVia] voted for the three bills, increases in taxes; she’s voted for all three of them to increase our taxes; one was the toll road.

Jeff Berkowitz: She supported that?

Joan Solms: Yes and the other was that bill that would have increased taxes up to six percent on people who earn $250,000, or more, annually, She voted for that.
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Jeff Berkowitz: You would have opposed that tax increase.

Joan Solms: Yes, I did.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is your slogan, “Read my lips, no new taxes.”

Joan Solms: Yes, I took the pledge [not to increase taxes].
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Solms supports School Choice, she takes the backpacks and hands them out

Jeff Berkowitz: …but, if the parents wants to send their kid to a private school, out goes the kid, out goes the backpack, out goes the cash.

Joan Solms: That’s right.

Jeff Berkowitz: Joan Solms, would you like to give the parents that school choice?

Joan Solms: I want to give it to every parent.

Jeff Berkowitz: Every parent.

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Every parent should have a choice [of schools for their kids]…

Jeff Berkowitz: You give them the backpack. You take [the backpack] and you give them the backpack?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Yes, right.

Jeff Berkowitz: The $10,000 [per year per kid.].
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Chapa LaVia says no to School Choice for other parents

Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, Linda Chapa LaVia, what does she have to say about that?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): Oh, she is against school vouchers … I spoke to her personally at a meeting of the university women …she came out against choice in education.
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Chapa LaVia wants school choice for her kids

John Solms: Her [Chapa LaVia’s] child goes to a private school.

Jeff Berkowitz: She said that and she said she would like to have choice [for her children] and I think it’s a religious school [that her children go to]…

Joan Solms: Yes, it is...

Jeff Berkowitz: But, she didn’t want to give [school choice to other parents]…at this point, she didn’t tell me she was opposed to school vouchers—she told you she was opposed to vouchers; for me, she said she would have to see the program [even though I outlined a proposed school voucher program to Chapa LaVia].
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Chapa LaVia votes present: a copout?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate (R-Aurora): …There was a bill that was up about the smoking ban [a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars], and she voted present…I thought that was a real copout because first of all, I would not have voted for the ban but I will not vote present because I think—

Jeff Berkowitz: People are entitled to know how you are going to vote?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: And what your vote is?

Joan Solms, State Rep. Candidate: Right. They are entitled to know and she [Chapa LaVia] has voted present on other bills.
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Solms for free enterprise. Chapa LaVia votes present.

Joan Solms: I would have voted against [the smoking ban in bars and restaurants] because I think it limits private enterprise.

Jeff Berkowitz: People who own that restaurant should decide and then the customers [and employees] decide whether they want to be there or not, right?

Joan Solms: …That’s right.

Jeff Berkowitz: Free market.

Joan Solms: That’s right.
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State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) [http://www.joansolms.com/], debates and discusses the issues with "Public Affairs," show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. State Rep. candidate Solms is taking on six-year Democrat incumbent Linda Chapa LaVia, who has not responded to recent Public Affairs invitations to appear on the show.

State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms is a mother of two, grandmother of eight and foster parent for a dozen kids, on both a long-term and short-term basis. She is a union member who has worked in the railroad business and accounting business. Candidate Solms has been active in the public arena on behalf of "Family values," and kids. She has taken a Freedom of Information Act Request to the State Supreme Court and she won.

Topics discussed on this episode of “Public Affairs,” include whether all parents should have freedom of school choice, including access to a fully-funded school voucher and a choice of charter schools. Candidate Solms discusses her support for school choice as well as Rep. Chapa LaVia's opposition to school choice for all parents, notwithstanding Chapa LaVia's decision to opt out of the public schools for her own kids.

The concept of competition as the "Patron saint of the consumer," is also discussed and supported by candidate Solms. Candidate Solms also articulates her support for free markets and free enterprise but her opponent, Chapa LaVia, did not appear on the show to voice her position.

Also discussed is the Illinois legislation banning smoking in restaurants and bars. Candidate Solms articulates her position on the issue, indicating she would not vote "present," as she asserted Chapa LaVia had. Solms characterized Chapa LaVia's position as a "cop-out." Chapa LaVia did not respond to an invitation to appear on the show.

Candidate Solms discusses the impact of teachers unions’ contributions to legislators on their votes and specifically the impact of such contributions on her opponent, Chapa LaVia. Again, Chapa LaVia chose not to respond to an invitation to appear on the show, so her absence from the discussion is noted.

Candidate Solms discusses Chapa LaVia’s sponsorship of legislation permitting illegal immigrants to drive with State issued “driver certificates,” in contrast to Solms’ position on the issue. State Rep. Candidate Solms also questions Chapa LaVia’s support for discounted college tuition rates for illegal immigrants attending Illinois colleges and universities relative to the tuition rates Illinois charges to legal citizens from states other than Illinois.

Solms also discusses with host Berkowitz same sex marriage; laws outlawing discrimination, based on sexual orientation, in housing and employment; a statewide ban on assault weapons; parental notice and parental consent for a minor daughter to have an abortion (including Chapa LaVia’s views); laws restricting the rights of abortion protesters; the Aurora abortion clinic zoning/public hearing issues; the use of ultra-sound equipment at clinics counseling those considering having an abortion; right of recall of statewide elected officials; impeachment of Gov. Blagojevich; are there statewide spending programs that can be cut; who can strengthen families; does Chapa LaVia support increased taxes? Does Solms? Which candidate has taken a pledge not to increase taxes? Who is giving financial support to Solms? Senator Lauzen? Jim Oberweis? Where is Jim Oberweis?
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This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora) 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. Additionally, there is a special airing in these areas of the show with candidate Joan Solms at 9:00 pm on this Thursday night on Comcast Cable Channel 19.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, Next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), This week's show in the Suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), last night's night's show in Chicago and Aurora with with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include This week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), next week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign, Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), the prior week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

Better than Conaty with Rep. Schakowsky: Berkowitz with Rep. Durkin on Mckenna, Obama and much more, Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: Is it time for Andy (Mckenna, Jr., State GOP Chairman) to go.

State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs): Well, I think Andy’s got a—He’s going to be tested this year. And, I would like to see exactly how he’s going to—one, he’s got to raise the money but he’s got to rally troops and Andy, I believe, needs to be a little more forceful and talk about what the Republican Party has to offer and also criticize Democrats on things that they should be challenged on.
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Rep. Durkin: Andy’s got a big job ahead of him. Andy’s run for U. S Senate. I think he understands politics. He’s been doing a good job raising money but the fact is our party has an opportunity, I think right now, currently with what’s going on with Democrats in this State, to take advantage of the lapses that are going on in Springfield, of the disaster at the [Cook] County level with Todd Stroger—

Jeff Berkowitz: Right, so you are saying that about Andy McKenna, Jr., State GOP Chairman. You have said he should be more forceful and critical

Rep. Durkin: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: of the Democrats, City, County, State and Federal.

Rep. Durkin: I’ll just say that generically, absolutely

Jeff Berkowitz: So you agree with that, okay.
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Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs). The show with Rep. Durkin (who is also Illinois Chairman of the McCain for President campaign) airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and also tonight 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 on tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Rep. Durkin about the State GOP's message, what is needed for the State GOP to become stronger, impeachment of Gov. Blagojevich, the performance of the State GOP Chairman, Andy McKenna, Jr., the performance of Barack Obama as a state legislator, a comparsion of Senator McCain and Senator Obama as Presidential Candidates. Go here for a partial transcript of tonight's show, as well as for links to a more detailed list of topics discussed on tonight's show and for more about our guest.
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You may also watch the show, taped on May 4, 2008, with Rep. Durkin, here .
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include Tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), the prior week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

A virtual debate between Durkin and Dillard on Obama, Cable and Streaming

McCain as an Off shore balancer to Congress?

Jeff Berkowitz: …So you’re going to say that in 2008 the Republicans stay in the minority in the U. S. House and U. S. Senate [and therefore the country should] make McCain President to be a counterbalance, you’re conceding that, you’re saying that the Republicans don’t take back the House or Senate

State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs)[Watch Durkin here]: We’re not going to get the House or Senate back but I believe John McCain is the only person under the circumstances right now who is going to be able to make a challenge... I’m glad for a number of reasons, but he is the only person who can challenge a Democrat in November, under very difficult circumstances

Can McCain win back the Republican base?

Jeff Berkowitz: Can he rally the Republican base?

State Rep. Jim Durkin: I think so…my conversations with a number of people, particularly the social conservatives and even the Blue Collar Democrats over the last few months—they like John McCain—and people are going to rally—

Could Bob Baar affect the race for President?


Jeff Berkowitz: They don’t like his views on immigration, do they? McCain Kennedy. They don’t like his views on campaign finance, McCain Feingold. They don’t like his views that he voted against the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. So, some of those people say, let’s vote for Bob Barr, who looks to be the libertarian candidate for president.

Rep. Jim Durkin: Well, he is a fringe candidate and let Bob Barr do what he’s going to do. But, John McCain would not have survived the Republican Primary if the Republican base were that upset with him over some of the positions he took/

Jeff Berkowitz: A lot of independents and Democrats could cross over and vote in a lot of those states, couldn’t they have.

Rep. Jim Durkin: Well, that’s what John McCain’s appeal is and that’s what—

Jeff Berkowitz: So, maybe he didn’t have the base with him. He had the Democrats and Independents—

Rep. Jim Durkin: John McCain is going to go back—he is going to get the blue collar Democrats, independents are going to support him over Barack Obama because Barack is right now…going through a very difficult vetting process and nobody really knows who Barack is. I know him from—

Jeff Berkowitz: He represents change. You gotta like change, right?

What does Obama mean by "change"?

Rep. Jim Durkin: You know it sounds great but …I’d like to know what exactly he means by change. No one does.

Jeff Berkowitz: You should know. You knew him for seven years [in the state legislature]. Is he about change?

Rep. Jim Durkin: Not in the years that I knew him in Springfield. He was a sure--

Jeff Berkowitz: Obama wasn’t about change?

Obama: a sure vote for the Machine?

Rep. Jim Durkin: Barrack Obama was an intelligent, articulate guy but he was a sure vote for the Cook County machine and the City Hall for those six years.

Jeff Berkowitz: What did he vote that was for the Cook County Machine and City Hall.

Rep. Jim Durkin: I look at his, I mean I have been looking at his records but there was nothing that was outstanding—anything that leaped out—

Jeff Berkowitz: Kirk Dillard sat in [your] chair just last week and you know Kirk.

Rep. Jim Durkin: I know Kirk.

Jeff Berkowitz: He is a colleague of yours?

Rep. Jim Durkin: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: He is a Republican State Senator?

Rep. Jim Durkin: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: He knew Barack for all eight years he was there and he said Barack worked with him. They worked on capital punishment reform; they worked on ethics reform…as you know, your Republican colleague did an ad for Barack Obama in the Iowa caucuses because Kirk said he’s not going to say anything different now than he was saying in the seven years they knew each other. [Watch Senator Kirk Dillard here]

Republicans Dillard and Durkin fight over Obama

Rep. Jim Durkin: The Barack Obama that I knew back in Springfield, as I said, he was articulate, bright—but the fact is there was nothing that jumped out. I left in 2002, but …

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you differ with Dillard on this.

Rep. Jim Durkin: I differ with Dillard—I could tell you that capital punishment reform was basically—the groundwork was done between 1998 and 2002. It was a lay-up at that point. A lot of the things which they worked on—

Jeff Berkowitz: Who was doing it because Dillard said he was meeting on Monday mornings, those cold Monday mornings, coming down to meet with Barack and others—and Rauchenberger criticized Barack—Dillard said he was freezing his butt off, getting that thing done.

Rep. Jim Durkin: Well, I was there in the middle of it.

Jeff Berkowitz: You were there doing it, too?

Rep. Jim Durkin: I was there—

Jeff Berkowitz: You were working on capital punishment reform?

Rep. Jim Durkin: Yeah, I was. I was chairman of the prosecutorial—

Jeff Berkowitz: And, it wasn’t true that Dillard and Obama were working hard on it?

Rep. Jim Durkin: Not in the years that I was down there, no. It was not until 2003 when the Senate went to the Democrats and most of the groundwork had been done by the Fitzgerald commission and a few other commissions during the late 90s.
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State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), taped for Public Affairs on May 4, 2008. Go here for more about the show with Durkin and for the suburban, Chicago and Aurora airing schedule of the show. Go here to watch the show with Rep. Durkin on your computer.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

Better than Obama-Hillary Oregon-Kentucky election returns:Rep. Durkin w/Berkowitz on Obama, McCain and Impeachment; Cable and Streaming

Revised and Links added on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 about the State GOP and its June 6-7, 2008 Convention
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This week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features State Rep. Jim Durkin(R-Western Springs). The show with Rep. Durkin, who is also Illinois Chairman of the McCain for President campaign, was taped on May 4, 2008.

The show with State Rep. Jim Durkin is also available 24/7 on your computer.

State Rep. Jim Durkin debates and discusses, with Jeff Berkowitz, Public Affairs show host and Executive Legal Recruiter, Obama's state legislative accomplishments, McCain for President, the Combine, the Illinois Republican Party, Public Corruption, Recall or Impeachment of Blago, a new RNC member from Illinois, the McKennas and much, much more (see, below for a more detailed list of show topics).
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The suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
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The show with State Rep. Jim Durkin 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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A partial transcript of this week’s show with Rep. Durkin will be added to this blog post shortly.
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State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) debates and discusses the issues with "Public Affairs," show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.

Rep. Durkin's background and experience:

Rep. Durkin graduated from Illinois State University in Bloomington, IL and John Marshall Law School. He was an Assistant Attorney General for one year and an Assistant State’s Attorney under State’s Attorney Jack O’Malley for five years.

Jim Durkin is in his 10th year as a State Rep. He was appointed to be a State Rep. in 1995 and re-elected three times until he gave up his seat to run successfully in the 2002 Republican Primary for the nomination to run against Democratic incumbent U. S. Senator Dick Durbin. Durkin won most of the print and electronic media edit board endorsements but lost in the general election to Durbin. Durkin was appointed again in 2006 to a State Rep. seat and won re-election in 2006.

Durkin was Chairman in 2000 of the Illinois McCain for President campaign and he holds that position again this year. This year Durkin is also national legislative co-chair of the McCain for President campaign.

Topics discussed on this episode of “Public Affairs,” include whether the Republican Party message in Illinois is anti-tax? Whether it is anti-public corruption? Whether it is pro-jobs?

Also discussed is the significance of a meeting between Tony Rezko, Gov. Blagojevich and Ali Atta, at which time a 25K check from Atta to the Blagojevich campaign was placed on the table by Rezko and what was being done about a job for Atta in the Blago administration was discussed. Does that meeting sound like an indictable offense for the Governor?

Was Democrat Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn leading the unsuccessful effort to place the issue of being able to recall a sitting Governor on the ballot this fall? Will the Illinois statehouse vote articles of impeachment against Gov. Blagojevich? If yes, will the State Senate vote to convict Gov. Blagojevich of an impeachable offense.

Will the state of Illinois operating and capital budgets get passed by the legislature before the end of May, 2008?

Was State Senator Barack Obama a sure vote in the Illinois legislature for the Cook County machine and City Hall?

Are the questions about the intersection of the McKennas’ political and economic interests “interesting.”

Is Senator McCain still in trouble with the Republican base due to his past and current views and votes on the Bush tax cuts, campaign finance limitations, restrictions on illegal immigration and judicial appointments?

Will the State GOP Convention in Decatur, IL on June 6-7, 2008 result in two new National Republican Committeemen from Illinois? Is the change as to one long overdue? Will the new male RNC member be former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger? Pat Brady (from St. Charles)? Cong. Ray LaHood? Someone else? For more on the Convention and current State GOP news, see here and here.

Does State Rep. Durkin think that State GOP Chairman McKenna should be more forceful and critical of public corruption involving Democrats holding public office at all levels, including City, County, State and Federal?
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This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) 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.

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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

ABC Filters McCain's talk; MSM continue to give Obama a Pass

Yesterday’s McCain response to Obama on Iran

ABC News reported yesterday, online, on Senator McCain’s speech to the National Restaurant Association meeting yesterday morning in Chicago. In particular, what one of their reports highlighted was Senator McCain’s four minute response to some comments made by Senator Obama on Sunday. The McCain response to Obama preceded the thirty minute, or so, prepared comments of McCain [See here].

ABC News omissions from the McCain response.

What is interesting is what ABC News omitted from the McCain response. Since it was online, why not just link to the remainder of McCain’s comments, as any decent blog would do. Further, the way in which the comments were edited would be kind of what you might expect from a second grader. The “editor,” simply omitted the second portion of two discrete lines of argument. The ABC omitted portions are highlighted (bolded) below. Any reporter could have done a better editing job, falling out of bed.

Questions the MSM are not asking Obama on Iran

Substantively, McCain's comments raise significant questions, although not as explicitly as this reporter would have liked: what is it exactly that Obama contemplates using to persuade Iran to back off from their dangerous, destabilizing behavior of arming insurgents in Iraq with tremendously explosive devices, developing a military nuclear capability and promising the extinction of Israel? What will Obama offer Iran or Syria, for that matter, in his summits with those countries’ “leaders.” The Golan Heights to Syria? Lebanon to Syria? And, what dear Lord, does Obama have in mind as a carrot to Iran. He sure isn’t going there with any threats of using sticks.
This reporter doesn’t think Wallace or Russert have asked Obama those questions. Shouldn’t they. Or, are Obama’s thoughts on this matter a national secret? Kind of like Nixon’s secret plan to end the Vietnam War. The nation is still waiting for that disclosure.
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I want to respond briefly to a comment Senator Obama made yesterday about the threat posed to the United States by the government of Iran. Senator Obama claimed that the threat Iran poses to our security is tiny compared to the threat once posed by the former Soviet Union. Obviously, Iran isn't a superpower, doesn't possess the military power the Soviet Union had. But that does not mean, by any stretch of the imagination that the threat posed by Iran is insignificant. On the contrary, right now Iran provides some of the deadliest explosive devices used in Iraq to kill our soldiers. They are the chief sponsor of Shia extremists in Iraq, and terrorist organizations in the Middle East. And their President, who has called Israel a stinking corpse, has repeatedly made clear his government's commitment, commitment to Israel's destruction. Most worrisome, Iran is intent on acquiring nuclear weapons.

[The biggest national security challenge the United States currently faces is keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. Should Iran acquire nuclear weapons, that danger would become very dire indeed. It might not become a superpower but the threat the government of Iran poses is anything but tiny. Senator Obama has declared and repeatedly reaffirmed his intention to meet the President of Iran without any preconditions, likening it to meetings between former American Presidents and the leaders of the Soviet Union. Such a statement betrays the depth of Senator Obama's inexperience and reckless judgment. Those are very serious deficiencies for an American president to possess. An ill conceived meeting between the president of the United States and the president of Iran, and the massive world media coverage it would attract, would increase the prestige of an implacable foe of the United States, and reinforce his confidence that Iran's dedication to acquiring nuclear weapons, supporting terrorists and destroying the State of Israel had succeeded in winning concessions from the most powerful nation on earth. And he is unlikely to abandon the dangerous ambitions that were giving him a prominent role on the World Stage].

This is not to suggest that the United States should not communicate with Iran our concerns about their behavior. Those communications have already occurred at an appropriate level, which the Iranians recently suspended. But a summit meeting with the President of the United States, which is what Senator Obama proposes, is the most prestigious card we have to play in international diplomacy. It is not a card to be played lightly.

[Summit meetings must be much more than personal get acquainted sessions. They must be designed to advance American interests. An unconditional summit meeting with the next American President would confer both international legitimacy on the Iranian President and would strengthen him domestically when he is very unpopular with the American people. It is likely such a meeting would not only fail to persuade him to abandon Iran’s nuclear weapons, it’s support of terrorists and commitment to Israel’s extinction. It could very well convince him those polices are succeeding in strengthening his hold on power and embolden him to continue his very dangerous behavior. The next president ought to understand such basic realities of international relations.]

Senator John McCain, speaking on the morning of May 19, 2008 to the National Restaurant Association at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The above comments preceded McCain’s prepared remarks on economic policy, trade, the farm bill and national security. The bolded comments, above, are the McCain comments that were omitted from the ABC News report, referenced above.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Senator and Senate Minority Whip Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

Better than Chris Wallace w/Obama: Berkowitz w/ Morgenthaler on Roskam, the War, Abortion, the Fed, God and Gas Prices, Cable and Streaming

Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features 6th Cong. District Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.). The show with Col. Morgenthaler (D-Des Plaines) airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and also tonight 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 on tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Jill Morgenthaler about her positions (and those of her opponent, Cong. Roskam) on domestic, cultural and foreign public policy issues. Go here for a partial transcript of tonight's show, as well as a more detailed list of topics discussed on tonight's show and for more about our guest,
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You may also watch the show, taped on May 4, 2008, with 6th CD Democratic candidate Col. Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.) here.

The show with 6th CD Democratic candidate Jill Morganthaler, in the short space of a week, has rocketed to the 12th most viewed show (and still climbing the charts) of the Public Affairs episodes airing in almost the last year. See here.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Senator and Senate Minority Whip Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R- Western Springs) and tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

Paul Vallas on School Choice: The Republican Messiah?

Paul Vallas, once more for Gov, with feeling?

Paul Vallas, who re-made and reformed the Chicago Public School ("CPS") system, under Mayor Daley, from 1995 to 2001, as its CEO-Superintendent, was back in town on April 28, 2008 at the City Club of Chicago to tease a bunch of supporters and Vallas fans about making another run for Governor in 2010. After Vallas came in a close second to Rod Blagojevich in the 2002 Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, he exiled himself first to Philadelphia to be that City’s Public School CEO and more recently to be CEO of the Recovey School District of New Orleans. That contract is up in June, 2009. Vallas will apparently decide about taking on Blago, et al for Gov in 2010 sometime after the first of the year.

Vallas, at the City Club of Chicago, on Education Reform

However, the focus of his discussion on April 28, 2008 was on ten or so concepts or ideas that are crucial to reforming education. But, the key concept was school choice, a concept that has now been embraced by Vallas much more warmly than any Republican mentioned as a serious and credible 2010 Guv candidate. Yes, Vallas’s social issue positions might be a bit hard to swallow by the great majority of Republican Primary activists. But if they could, Vallas could be the Republican messiah in Illinois. Take a listen to him on School Choice, below and watch Vallas speak here [But watch him today, as he’ll be gone [from the link] tomorrow—perhaps not unlike the real Paul Vallas]:

Paul Vallas on school-choice: “…You can’t be against school choice and be for kids.”

If anyone was wondering if I have a chance of becoming a candidate for governor, I have become even more[for] school choice and that certainly is not going to help me with certain constituencies. I have never opposed subsidies for parochial and private schools. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindahl has an initiative to provide scholarships to use at private schools. I am the only superintendent to support that initiative--you can’t be against school choice and be for kids. I made a decision a long time ago that I was not going to oppose anything that benefits kids, regardless of which schools it is benefiting-- simple as that.

In order to save New Orleans, we need school options, whether it is parochial or private, whether it is charter schools. Half our children, right now, in New Orleans, are being educated in charter schools. One third of the kids in Philadelphia were being educated in charter schools and privately managed schools. I am agnostic-- I don’t care who is managing the schools, I don’t care, as long as we are expanding school choice. Our position with the archdiocese in Louisiana is to offer the archdiocese a charter, so rather than close a financially failing parochial school-- redesign that school day, tweak it, however you want to do it, so that we can …convert that school to a charter and keep that school open.

But you have to have school choice-- low-income parents need the same choices that affluent parents have. It not only creates competition but it allows parents to then become more engaged in their children’s education. When you have no choices, sometimes you give up; sometimes you resign yourself to the failure of that local school. But when you have choices, sometimes that has a liberating effect. So many inner city kids don’t believe they have choices, don’t believe they have opportunities, so I am always going to be a supporter of sch—pro-choice, obviously I am going to have check my party membership now, Tom [Roeser], so—so be it, so I know, everybody, hang on, what are you going to do, you’ll take me?

Excerpted from Paul Vallas’ speech to the City Club of Chicago, April 28, 2008.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Senator and Senate Minority Whip Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), this week's show in the suburbs with Colonel Morgenthaler and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this coming week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), this past week's show in the suburbs with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

Sun-Times' Sneed gets the U. S. Constitution wrong: Sandi and Jesse Jackson, Jr. may still sleep together

Revised, supplemented and links added on Friday at 1:00 pm
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Well, Michael Sneed, as usual, is, at best, half right: Article 1, Section 2, of the U. S. Constitution, prior to Sneed’s amendment of today, stated, “No person shall be a Representative …who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.”
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Sneed’s homework assignment tonight: Read the Constitution. She might find it even more appealing than Desperate North Shore Housewives, soon to be showing at...
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Dumbsville No. 1

The nice thing about working for the Chicago Sun-Times, if you are Michael Sneed, is that you can often write dumb things and nobody- at least nobody in a position of authority over Sneed at the paper- will notice or give a damn. You might think an editor would catch Sneed’s errors. Think again.

Sneed, in her Sun-Times column of today, tells us that Cong. Bobby Rush, battling cancer, is being urged to resign “so a successor would be in place before the November election.” [Of course, this reporter wishes Cong. Rush well in his battle with cancer].

Cong. Rush urged to resign so Dem Party Bosses can rule

Actually, what Sneed means to write, is that Cong. Rush is being urged to resign so that the people in the District won’t have a say in who replaces Cong. Rush, at least initially. If Rush were to resign after the November 4, 2008 election, a special election would be called to fill out his term. The people of the 1st Cong. District, not the Democratic Party bosses, would decide who represents them.

The Stroger to Stroger, Lipinski to Lipinski hand-off

But, if Rush steps down now, the Democratic Ward bosses and Township Committeeman bosses in the 1st Cong. District would decide who replaces Rush on the November ballot. (And, then two years later, that person could run as an incumbent). Further, if Rush were to wait a bit, the party bosses could avoid the possibility of an independent stepping up and filing to run in opposition to the pols’ choice. In other words, this is sort of the Cook County Board President John Stroger to Todd Stroger, Cong. Bill Lipinski to Dan Lipinski hand-off for which the Illinois Democratic Party has become so well known.

Chicago’s Democratic Royal Families

Of course, the Stroger to Stroger, Lipinski to Lipinski hand-off is just a variant of the Democratic aristocracy or Royal Families who rule in Illinois: Madigan to Madigan, Daley to Daley, Hynes to Hynes, Jackson to Jackson and Mell to (son-in-law) Blagojevich. In short, these folks believe, as they have essentially told Forrest Claypool and others, “If God had intended for you to hold [high] public office, he would have given you a different last name.” Yes, yes, this reporter knows, Jones to Obama is sort of an exception—the exception that proves the rule. And, of course, a Senate President like Emil Jones using his power to help his mentee (with the unlikely name of Obama) become first a State Senator and then a U. S. Senator is somewhat different from the above “hand-offs.”

Committeemen and Ward Bosses

Sneed goes on to tell us that Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson (Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s spouse) is on the short list to replace Rush. Sneed also reports Ald. Freddrenna Lyle and Rush’s wife, Carolyn have been lobbying Dem. Committeemen to be appointed as Rush's replacement. Sneed should have included Democratic Chicago Ward bosses along with the Democratic suburban township committeemen she referenced to be lobbied. Rush’s 1st Cong. District spans some suburbs as well as portions of Chicago’s south side. Of course, Ald. Jackson would also be “lobbying Dem. Committeemen and Ward bosses.”

Ald. Jackson (whose spouse is the Congressman from the 2nd Cong. District) lives with her family in the 2nd Cong. District-- to the extent, that is, that they live in Illinois and not Washington, DC.

Dumbsville No. 2

Sneed goes on to tell her gentle readers not to worry about Ald. Jackson’s residence because, as Sneed says:

Please note: A candidate does not have to live in the congressional district when running for election but would have to move into the district after winning to take the seat.

Sneed, half right.

Well, Sneed, as usual, is half right: Article 1, Section 2, of the U. S. Constitution, prior to Sneed’s amendment of today, stated, “No person shall be a Representative …who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.” So, yes, Ald. Jackson would not have to be a resident of the 1st Cong. Dist. when running for election. She would just have to be an “inhabitant of Illinois,” when elected. But, Ald. Jackson would not have to “move into the [1st Cong. D]istrict after winning to take the seat,” as Sneed contends Ald. Jackson would.

8th CD Bean actually can vote for Kirk-- or Seals

Indeed, even if Sneed has not read the Constitution, you would think she might be aware of a U.S. Rep. in Illinois who doesn’t live in her District, or a number of U. S. Reps who have run and are running with no commitment to move into their Districts. For example, Illinois 8th Cong. District Congresswoman Melissa Bean [watch here], who was redistricted a block or two out of the District prior to her election to that seat in 2004, has not moved into her District, even though she is now completing her second term. Major Tammy Duckworth (D-Hoffman Estates), who ran in the 6th CD in 2006 had no plans to move into the District if she had beat Peter Roskam.

Further, the current 6th CD Democratic candidate, Jill Morgenthaler (Des Plaines), as far as this reporter knows, has no plans to move into the District if she beats Congressman Roskam (R-Wheaton, 6th CD)[Watch Roskam and Duckworth] [Candidate Morgenthaler’s [Watch here] house was in the 6th CD when she moved into that District with her husband decades ago, but they were re-districted out of the 6th CD in 1990]. Democrat Dan Seals, running for a second time in the 10th CD against 8 year incumbent Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park) lives a few blocks outside the 10th CD, and Seals has made no commitment, as far as this reporter knows, to move into the 10th CD, if elected [Watch Seals and Kirk, here].

Homework for Sneed

Sneed, or a Sun-Times editor, might consider reading the Constitution some time. It’s not that long (only about 27 pages in this reporter’s Oak Hill Publishing Company pocket book edition). And, it would be very instructive for Sneed to know what’s in the Constitution and what’s not. Indeed, having mastered the Constitution, Sneed might even become a Strict Constructionist, if not an Originalist. How happy would that make Justices Scalia and Thomas?

Michael Sneed also should learn a bit more about the U. S. Representative (Bean) for the District to the west of the Illinois 10th CD, the district in which her long time North Shore residence is located. Further, Sneed should bone up on the residential facts and residential commitments (or lack thereof) of those running for Congress in the 10th CD-- as well as in other nearby, Chicago Metro suburbs.

Sneed’s homework assignment tonight: Read the Constitution. She might find it even more appealing than Desperate North Shore Housewives, soon to be showing at a theater near you or perhaps in a future edition of Playboy Magazine, re-printing, no doubt, their old interview with Milton Friedman.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Senator and Senate Minority Whip Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), this week's show in the suburbs with Colonel Morgenthaler and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include next week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), this week's show in the suburbs with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols

Way better than any Obama-Clinton Election TV Analysis, Berkowitz w/Col. Morgenthaler (Illinois 6th CD) on Iran and the Economy, Cable and Streaming

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (D-Des Plaines; 6th CD): I am knocking Bush and Cheney. [watch show w/Morgenthaler].

Jeff Berkowitz: Just those two? There are other Republicans. Are you knocking Peter Roskam-- he’s your opponent.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: He’s not standing up for stopping the War. He’s not standing up for helping people with this mortgage crisis. He [Cong. Roskam] actually voted against...So, yes, I guess I am knocking him [Roskam].
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Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying President Bush is using Iran to distract us from the economic problems of the United States?
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Jeff Berkowitz: So, you’re saying it could take ten years, maybe it could take fifteen years, you just don’t know?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: No, we don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: For Iran to have a nuclear capability.
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Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Oh no, you never take it[the military option] off the table.
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Jeff Berkowitz: You would commit to be here if [Cong. Peter Roskam] says he will be here?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: All right, Peter, where are you? We’ll find out.
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Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: We need stronger border control, especially along the northern border, that’s been neglected.
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This week’s suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features 6th Congressional District candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (D-Des Plaines). The show was taped on May 4, 2008.

The show with 6th CD candidate Col. Morgenthaler (Retired after thirty years of military service), is available 24/7 on your computer.

Public Affairs contacted Cong. Roskam’s office a few weeks ago to ask if he would commit to tape Public Affairs, either individually or with his opponent, Colonel Morgenthaler, so that our viewers and his potential voters could learn more about his positions on the issues. Cong. Roskam did not return our call. Colonel Morgenthaler agreed weeks ago to tape the show and she kept her commitment.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, Illinois 6th CD Dem. candidate, debates and discusses, with Jeff Berkowitz, Public Affairs show host and Executive Legal Recruiter, Iraq and Iran; the Economy, the mortgage crisis, gas prices and oil companies; Education and charter schools; Immigration; Gays, Guns, God and Abortion and much, much more. For a more detailed list of show topics, see below.
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The suburban airing schedule for Public Affairs is included, below.
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The show with Illinois 6th CD candidate Jill Morgenthaler (D-Des Plaines) 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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A partial transcipt of the show with candidate Morgenthaler is included, directly, below:

Knocking Bush and Cheney

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: …I just feel so strongly that Washington, Bush, Cheney have had no strategy. No strategy on the economy, on the War, on Healthcare, on energy. That’s what we’re lacking. And, what I’d like to do is bring my ability to work with people regardless of Democrat or Republican.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you’ve just knocked Bush—

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Um-um.

Jeff Berkowitz: And Cheney—

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Yup.

Jeff Berkowitz: And Republicans in general for mismanaging the War, for mismanaging the Economy and then you say, but, you would like to work with Democrats and Republicans--

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: I am knocking Bush and Cheney.

Knocking Roskam

Jeff Berkowitz: Just those two? There are other Republicans. Are you knocking Peter Roskam-- he’s your opponent.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: He’s not standing up for stopping the War. He’s not standing up for helping people with this mortgage crisis. He [Cong. Roskam] actually voted against the Mortgage Finance Bill. He’s not standing up for children and healthcare. He’s voted down Medicare being required to be competitive for senior citizens the way the VA has competitive prices for veterans. So, yes, I guess I am knocking him [Roskam].

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, let’s deconstruct some of this. We’ll get to Roskam in a minute, we’ll get to Bush, but let’s start more generally with the economy, let’s start with…
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President Bush using Iran to Distract the American people?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: …And. I believe that President Bush is using Iran to try to distract us from our economic problems and what we really need—

Jeff Berkowitz: Wait, you believe that the President of the United States is doing that. You’re saying he is using Iran and Iraq to distract us—

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Not Iraq.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not Iraq. That’s a real problem?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Iran, Yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying President Bush is using Iran to distract us from the economic problems of the United States?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Why else would we have an admiral on the front page of the Chicago Tribune talking about Iran when it’s diplomacy. This should be [Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice and the State Department if we’re truly involved in having a dialogue.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, Condoleezza Rice would tell you that Iran is a major problem. I’ve seen that just recently—seen Condoleezza Rice speak [about that] in the last week.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Well, she should be the one speaking about Iran.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, she is.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Not the Admiral.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, both.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Military is our last solution.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, it is a combination of military, diplomacy, economics—right?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Military is our last solution.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, it is. But, even Hillary Clinton doesn’t take it off the table.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Oh no, you never take it off the table.

IS HILLARY RIGHT ABOUT A PROTECTIVE UMBRELLA FOR SAUDI ARABIA, ET AL?

Jeff Berkowitz: Hillary Clinton has actually proposed a [U. S. protective] umbrella for countries like Saudi Arabia if Iran is going to be troublesome to them. You’ve heard that, right?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Did Hillary get that right?

IS IRAN A REAL THREAT?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Right now, Iran is not a real threat.

Jeff Berkowitz: They’re not?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: They do not have military capacity to hurt America. The same as Iraq did not have the capacity to hurt us in 2001.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, how far is Iran from nuclear capability?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: It’s moving—

Jeff Berkowitz: How far? A year, two years?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: The national intelligence estimate says it does not have the capacity.

Jeff Berkowitz: Right now.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: So, we have to monitor—monitor and dialogue. We do not need to be rattling our sabers.

Jeff Berkowitz: You know this as well as anybody; You’ve got a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies and …

HOW LONG BEFORE IRAN HAS A NUCLEAR CAPABILITY?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Do I have an estimate? No. We’ve got to watch it.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, you’re saying it could take ten years, maybe it could take fifteen years, you just don’t know?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: No, we don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: For Iran to have a nuclear capability.

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Right, we have to watch.

Jeff Berkowitz: For those who say, they may have it in two to three years, we’ve got to do something now--

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: No, we’ve got to talk now.
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Obama or Clinton?

Jeff Berkowitz: …brief distraction: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, who are you supporting in that race?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Either one. I-

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re not taking sides?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: No, I need to win my race.
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What to do about illegal immigration?

Jeff Berkowitz: Immigration, big issue, what do you think? Should there be a fence across the border? Should there be drones? Should we have stronger border control?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: We need stronger border control, especially along the northern border, that’s been neglected.

Jeff Berkowitz: Northern border? Do we need—we’re going to continue to speak as the credits roll, but I very much want to thank our guest, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, thank you so much for coming—

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Thank you.

Where is Peter Roskam?

Jeff Berkowitz: Jill is, of course, a candidate in the 6th Cong. District. She is a Democrat. She is running against the incumbent, first term Republican incumbent Peter Roskam. We’d like to see Peter come out and answer similar questions, if not the same questions. You would like to see Peter here and you would have a casual conversation?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: That would be nice.

Jeff Berkowitz: Discussing the issues?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would commit to be here if [Cong. Peter Roskam] says he will be here?

Colonel Jill Morgenthaler: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: All right, Peter, where are you? We’ll find out.
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Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, Illinois 6th CD Democratic candidate (Des Plaines), debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz this week on the suburban edition of "Public Affairs."

Col. Morgenthaler spent five years in the active military (1976-81) and twenty-five years in the Army Reserves. She was activated for service in Bosnia (1996) and Iraq (2004). Jill Morgenthaler was appointed by Gov. Blagojevich to head up Illinois’ Homeland Security office during 2005-07. Colonel Morgenthaler worked for fourteen years in public affairs and community outreach at Argonne National laboratory; in other jobs involving marketing in the private sector and also for the U. S. Department of Commerce.

Colonel Morgenthaler received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University, a Master’s Degree in International Policy from the Monterey Institute for International Studies and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.

The Illinois 6th CD has about 80% of its population in Northeast DuPage County and about 20% in Northwest Cook County, including the O’Hare Airport suburbs. The late Republican Cong. Henry Hyde (R-Addison) held the seat for thirty-two years before creating an open seat by not seeking re-election in 2006. Former Republican State Senator Peter Roskam (Wheaton) won the seat by only two points in a tough race in November, 2006 with Democrat candidate, Major Tammy Duckworth.

Colonel Morgenthaler lives in Des Plaines with her husband Kerry and their two kids. Topics discussed during this episode of “Public Affairs,” with Col. Morgenthaler include whether “It’s the War, stupid,” or It’s the Economy, stupid? Why Col. Morgenthaler would knock Bush, Cheney and Roskam. Are the U. S. oil companies making above normal rates of return? Is Morgenthaler supporting Hillary or Barack? Should we have a federal gasoline tax holiday this summer? Should we place a windfall profits tax on domestic oil companies? Do taxes on oil companies come from shareholders, employers and customers, or could they come from somewhere else?

Did Cong. Roskam support the Mortgage Finance bill? Should he have? Should taxpayers help those homeowners who bought more house than they could afford? Did various home buyers misrepresent their financial condition when buying a home? Are homes being sold in 6th CD suburbs like Bensenville, Mt. Prospect, Des Plaines, Wheaton, Arlington Heights and Hoffman Estates or are we facing a “depression,” in housing?

Is the housing crisis a part of a routine business cycle or should we blame the President, the Federal Reserve and/or the Congress for the downturn in the economy, high gas prices and declining housing prices? What is the difference between Cong. Roskam and 6th CD challenger Col. Morgenthaler on Iraq? Do we need more diplomacy to deal with winning or resolving the Iraq War? Is President Bush using Iran to “try and distract us from our economic problems?”

Is Iran “right now a real threat,” to the U. S.? Can we make a reasonable estimate of how many years it will take for Iran to possess a nuclear capability? Does Col. Morgenthaler think it was a good idea for Israel to have taken out the nuclear facility that Syria was developing with the help of North Korea?

Did the Surge in Iraq work? Does Col. Morgenthaler believe in a timeline for American combat troops to be withdrawn from Iraq?

Should No Child Left Behind be mended? Ended? Charter schools expanded? School Vouchers-school choice offered as an option to parents?

Should we ban earmarks? Does Roskam want to ban earmarks?

“Gays, Guns, God and Abortion,” as Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean has said. Should we have any governmental restrictions on abortion? Should same sex marriage be permitted? Should the feds bring back the ban on assault weapons?

Stronger border control? Northern border? Southern boarder? A fence? Better employer controls as to whom to hire? Path to Citizenship for illegal immigrants in the country? Would that be rewarding illegal behavior? Should we do anything that might be viewed as rewarding illegal behavior?

Does Col. Morgenthaler commit to discuss the issues on Public Affairs with Cong. Roskam? Would Cong. Roskam make a similar commitment? Where is Cong. Peter Roskam?
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This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest 6th Cong. District candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (D-Des Plaines) 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.
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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, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Senator and Senate Minority Whip Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), this week's show in the suburbs with Colonel Morgenthaler and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include next week's show in the suburbs with State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), this week's show in the suburbs with 6th CD Democratic candidate Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, last night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Dillard, and our prior shows with former Presidential Candidate John Cox, Dem. Campaign consultant Pete Giangreco, State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), Senator and Deputy Republican Senate Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and many other pols