Better than Stephanopoulos w/ Emanuel and Pawlenty: Berkowitz w/13th CD Dem Candidate Harper on Cultural issues: Cable and Streaming

Where is Cong. Judy Biggert?

Jeff Berkowitz: Let’s go very quickly over to the social issues… Guns, gays, God, and abortion—I think that’s what Howard Dean said—[he said] Democrats needed to talk more about [those issues]. And we’re going to continue to speak as the credits roll, but I very much want to thank our guest, Scott Harper, who is running for Congress. He is running in the 13th congressional district, and he is the Democrat running against the Republican incumbent, Judy Biggert. As we’ve said before, we’ve spoken with Congresswoman Biggert about coming out [to the show]. She seems a bit slow in the last month or two [in terms of] getting back to us as to her appearance. We don’t endorse candidates, but we do endorse the notion that every candidate should do what Scott Harper has done: come here, face the issues, communicate with our viewers and with his voters. Thanks again, so much for coming, Scott.

Scott Harper [D-Lockport, 13th CD candidate]: Thank you, Jeff.

Jeff Berkowitz: We hope Congresswoman Biggert will follow your model.

Scott Harper: I hope to sit on a set with her.
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[Discussion by candidate Harper of his view that the 13th CD is becoming more Democratic and of his view that the people are frustrated by “how far to the right the Republican Party has gone under George Bush.”]
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Partial Birth Abortion

Jeff Berkowitz: Social issues. Abortion. Would you support the ban on partial-birth abortion? There is a congressional ban. It was voted, it was affirmed by the Supreme Court. Ban on partial-birth abortion. Yes or no? Support it?

Scott Harper: I am a pro-choice candidate. And I’m proud to support a woman’s right to choose.

Jeff Berkowitz: So you would like to see that ban overturned.

Scott Harper: I’m worried about the implications of that ban.

The Federal Assault Weapon Ban

Jeff Berkowitz: Guns. Would you like to bring back the ban on assault weapons, which lapsed? The federal ban.

Scott Harper: On guns—I think the Second Amendment is very important.

Jeff Berkowitz: But the ban on assault weapons? Should it be brought back? The federal ban?

Scott Harper [D-Lockport, 13th CD candidate]: I’m not sure.

Same Sex Marriage

Jeff Berkowitz: Same-sex marriage. Yes or No?

Scott Harper: I think people, gay or straight, should be treated equally.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, does that mean you would be in favor same sex marriage? Should states allow same sex marriage, as California is doing now.

Scott Harper: I am in favor of the identical treatment. So, whether that’s marriage or that’s civil unions, that’s what I am in favor of.

Parental Notice

Jeff Berkowitz: Parental notice. Are you in favor of laws that tell parents they should be notified of an abortion of their minor daughter?

Scott Harper: This is an issue that we’ve got to work out in the context of education, strong parenting-- parents need to be involved in the lives of their children.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, yes or no, parental notice law? You favor it.

Scott Harper: That’s an open question and I’m not necessarily in favor of that.
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From tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora and this week's Illinois Channel edition of Public Affairs, 13th CD Democratic Nominee Scott Harper debates the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz; show was taped on June 22, 2008. For more about the show's topics, the guest and this week's airings of the show in Chicago, Aurora and across the State of illinois, go here. To watch the show on your computer, go here.
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Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a very good draft of the above partial transcript of our show with 13th CD Democratic Nominee Scott Harper.
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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 Chicago, Aurora and across the state of Illinois with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); this past Monday night's city of Chicago and city of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 Chicago, Aurora and across the State of Illinois with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Better than Brokaw hosting Meet the Press; A 13th CD Harper-Biggert virtual debate on the War, Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying you might recommend he [Obama] make those tactical changes, slow down the withdrawal?.

Scott Harper (D-Lockport, 13th Cong. District Candidate): I will listen to the experts in the field and try to make the mid-course corrections that we need within the overall framework. I don’t think we should have a permanent presence in Iraq.[Watch the show with Scott Harper here ]
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The Biggert-Harper Difference on the War:

Jeff Berkowitz: The war. That would certainly seem to be one of those issues[where there is a major difference between the incumbent and you], because Judy Biggert, I believe, supported going into Iraq, way back in 2002 or 2003 when we went in. I think [Biggert] voted to give the President authorization to take military action. Barack Obama said on the set of Public Affairs in November of 2002 he would not have voted—the vote had already occurred—to authorize the President to take military action. If Scott Harper was in Congress in 2002, you wouldn’t have voted either to authorize the President to take military action, right?

Scott Harper [D-Lockport, 13th CD candidate]: That is correct, Jeff. In fact, at the very same time that Senator Obama was here, talking with you, I was against the war. From the beginning. I didn’t think that it served our national security interest. And I’m very disappointed that Judy Biggert has voted fifty-seven times on various resolutions and bills to give the President a blank check on his Iraq policy. [Biggert has] voted for over five hundred billion dollars in Iraq war spending, with no timelines, no responsibility. I think that that needs to change.

Clinton, Edwards and Kerry voted yes on Iraq War.

Jeff Berkowitz: Much of the country, many of the leaders—Democratic and Republican—almost a majority, I believe, in the Senate, of the Democratic party, voted to authorize the President to take military action. Many of the people who have run for President and were running—Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Al Gore, as I recall—I guess we wouldn’t say Al Gore because he wasn’t there at the time, but certainly John Kerry did. And John Edwards did. And Hillary Clinton did. Vote to authorize the President to take military action in Iraq, if he chose to, if he decided it was necessary. And those folks certainly bought into the idea that there were weapons of mass destruction. Many of our allies and even our critics bought into the notion that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But you, Scott Harper, sitting there in 2002, decided that there weren’t?

Harper predicted chemical weapons in Iraq

Scott Harper [D-Lockport]: I thought that there might well be. I was very involved in following the debate. Clearly I wasn’t a participant in the Senate debate or the House debate at that time. But it seemed to me at the time that there might well be chemical weapons. I had grave doubts about nuclear weapons, in particular, and thought that case seemed particularly weak.

Jeff Berkowitz: You thought there might be chemical weapons, which would be weapons of mass destruction-

Scott Harper [D-Lockport, 13th CD candidate]: By the definition that we had.

Jeff Berkowitz: And yet you wouldn’t have authorized the President to take military action.

Harper wanted to see diplomatic negotiations run their course in Iraq.

Scott Harper [D-Lockport]: I would not have. I wanted to see the diplomatic negotiations play their course. Remember, we had a very strict embargo at the time and the no-fly zones in the south and in the north of Iraq. Iraq was contained. And I didn’t think that if Iraq had chemical weapons, without missiles that could reach the United States, that that was a threat to our national security.

June, 2008, the surge has worked?

Jeff Berkowitz: But now scroll forward to June of 2008. And now take a look at the situation. Many people have said it’s been a rocky road, but security has improved, they would argue. They would argue security has improved in Iraq. The Iraqis have gotten better and closer to being able to defend themselves. They would argue that the surge has worked—militarily, diplomatically, and economically. [That is] certainly what John McCain would argue. They would argue 12 of 18 of the milestones have been achieved, and these are not simply military milestones that the surge set out as things they were trying to accomplish. They would say that there are provincial elections coming up, or that some have occurred. They would say that Sunni-Shia cooperation, at least locally, is much better than it was before. That a country is emerging and that the United States should try to wind up things. But these people would say, don’t set a date certain [deadline for withdrawal of all troops]; don’t set a date for surrender. Give Iraq a chance—whether it was right to go into Iraq or not, historians will argue about that, as we have discussed. But putting that aside, in terms of the future course of action—should the United States give the flexibility to Iraq—if they want us to stay, and it appears the government does--to ease out of there, rather than say, as Barack Obama has done, we should be out of there in sixteen months? A brigade a month [withdrawn] until basically, many but not all of the combat troops [are withdrawn]—I think [Obama] would say, get it down to twenty or thirty thousand troops, although Barack’s been a little vague on that. But more importantly, what does Scott Harper say? Because, I understand you were against [going into Iraq], but given the situation—have I got it wrong, or these people who say that things have gotten better, 12 out of 18 milestones have been achieved, security’s better, things are better, in Iraq? Are they wrong?

Scott Harper: You went quickly from the authorization to the surge.

Jeff Berkowitz: Yeah. It’s only a half-hour show.

Post invasion war mismanagement.

Scott Harper: Let me just circle back very quickly to the actual running of the war. Post-invasion, it was so badly mismanaged, the way we occupied the country, and did not protect the Iraqi people, did not protect the infrastructure, did not invest as we said we were going to do. And had the wrong military strategy. But, to your question, now that we’re there, we have to deal with the facts on the ground. And I’m very pleased that the violence is down. And that the surge has worked militarily. But let’s not forget that the purpose of the surge was to allow a political space for the Iraqi government and the various factions in Iraq to work out their differences, whether it’s community relations, whether it’s the oil revenue, whether it’s the role of militias.

Post Surge improvement in Iraq.

Jeff Berkowitz: Aren’t they working those out? I think there’s a tentative oil-sharing agreement among the three major groups, the Sunni, the Shia, and the Kurds. Am I wrong on that?

Scott Harper: It seems like there is some movement, but it’s certainly not the milestones we set at the beginning of the surge. They’re not accomplished.

Milestones met in Iraq

Jeff Berkowitz: But, some of the political milestones have been reached, in addition to the military milestones, you would agree, 12 out of 18? All 12 of those weren’t military, right?

Scott Harper: Could I just follow back to the surge for a second? One factor about the surge and the military success on that front, is that it’s required so many military resources, in terms of our brave soldiers and Marines and airmen.

Jeff Berkowitz: Sure.

Support the Troops.

Scott Harper: And sailors. And, when they come home, they’re not necessarily taken care of. This talking point of “supporting our troops,” as a way to sell-

Jeff Berkowitz: Judy Biggert says “support the troops?”

Scott Harper: She does.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, let me just interject. You’re giving very specific answers here, and I appreciate that, because if you go to Judy Biggert’s web site , which I’ve done, you don’t find all the answers there, that is why we want Congresswoman Biggert to come out here separately, and with you, Scott.

Scott Harper: That would be great. But when we say, “support the troops,” that doesn’t stop at the battle’s edge. That philosophy of supporting our troops needs to follow them home. And Judy Biggert voted against VA funding, voted against this new GI Bill. These are all unconscionable hypocrisies in my view, when we use that phrase to support the funding of the war without timelines or accountability, but not to support them in their human needs—back in their families--

Jeff Berkowitz: But get to my question. Because we’ve got to get to other topics.

Scott Harper: Yes, let’s get back to the Surge.

Jeff Berkowitz: What we should do now? Post-June 22, 2008.

Scott Harper: I’m in quite close agreement with Senator Obama on his plan. My sense is that if we have a strategic, phased, withdrawal, that starts now and provides that accountability, that we can empower the Iraqi government to take the further steps. We’re in agreement that they’ve taken some steps. Now let’s empower them to take further steps, to stand up for themselves and protect the Iraqi people.

Slow down the projected troop withdrawal in Iraq?

Jeff Berkowitz: What if they take those steps, and say, six months later, with us taking out, say, forty thousand troops, they say to us, we’re not quite ready. We appreciate that you’ve got to eventually bring these troops home, but close it down for a little bit, give us a chance. We’re making progress, economically, militarily, and even diplomatically. The Iraqi government says that to us, says that to Barack Obama as President. Think that Barack ought to change at that point?

Scott Harper: I think that we have to be reality-based. When we’re formulating policy, that’s as important as the safety of our troops, as the future of the country of Iraq, we have to be reality-based. And that’s my complaint with the Bush administration and with Judy Biggert.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, what does that mean? Go forward with my hypothetical. Six months into a Barack Obama presidency, he’s taken out forty thousand troops, fifty thousand-- a brigade a month-- and the Iraqi government says, we need a little more time, slow down the troop withdrawal. Does Barack listen to them and try to give this government in Iraq a chance to succeed?

Scott Harper: My sense is-

Jeff Berkowitz: Should he? I’m not predicting what he would, but should he?

Scott Harper: Right. We want to listen to the Iraqi government. We want to listen to the generals on the ground. We want to have a policy that makes sense, but if we have the intention clear in the minds of both the Iraqi government and our senior military leadership, if they have a goal to shoot for, if they know that in sixteen or eighteen months or whatever the timeline we decide on is, then they can take the appropriate steps, they can do the tactical planning. And, if something changes-

Jeff Berkowitz: So your answer is keep the withdrawal going, notwithstanding what the Iraqi government asks of President Barack Obama.

Scott Harper: Sometimes you have to make tactical changes to a strategic plan.

Harper might slow down the troop withdrawal.

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying you might recommend he [Obama] make those tactical changes, slow down the withdrawal?.

Scott Harper(D-Lockport, 13th CD Candidate): I will listen to the experts in the field and try to make the mid-course corrections that we need within the overall framework. I don’t think we should have a permanent presence in Iraq.
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From this week's Chicago Metro North and Northwesterrn suburban edition of Public Affairs, 13th CD Democratic Nominee Scott Harper debates the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz; show was taped on June 22, 2008. For more about the show's topics, the guest and the upcoming airings next week of the show in Chicago, Aurora and across the State of illinois, go here. To watch the show on your computer, go here.
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Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of our show with 13th CD Democratic Nominee Scott Harper.
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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 Chicago Metro suburbs with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); this past Monday night's city of Chicago and city of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 Chicago Metro North and Northwest Cook County suburbs with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Way Better than "Countdown w/Olbermann": Berkowitz w/13th CD Dem Candidate Harper, Cable and Streaming

First paragraph, below, revised at 9:40 am (CST) on Friday morning.

Watch 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper on your Computer

Now posted on our Youtube page (at top left hand corner] , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring 13th Cong. District Democratic nominee, Scott Harper, (D-Lockport) can also now be watched on Youtube by clicking here. You can read more about the show, candidate Harper's background and experience and the 13th CD by clicking on "More info," to the right of the video, when watching our show w/Scott Harper.

The show is a bit over 29 minutes long and this blogger can assure you, Democrat, Republican or independent, you will be riveted to your seat. Public Affairs, hosted and produced by Jeff Berkowitz, for the last decade, is the fastest half hour in television. If it's Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it's Public Affairs. If you want to be current on Public Affairs, don't leave your computer without watching "Public Affairs"; don't leave home without watching "Public Affairs," on cable.

Topics discussed with candidate Scott Harper

On "Public Affairs," this week in the Chicago Metro suburbs, Scott Harper (D-Lockport), the 13th Cong. District Democratic Nominee, discusses and debates domestic, foreign and cultural public policy issues with show host Jeff Berkowitz. Topics include, among others, the War in Iraq, high gas prices, alternative energy sources and expanded off shore drilling, differences in approach to the energy issue and high gas prices by Presidential candidates Obama and McCain, the housing and mortgage crisis, federal bailouts of "Big Lenders like Countrywide," raising or lowering federal taxes, free and/or fair trade, the federal ban on partial birth abortion, the expired federal assault weapon ban and same sex marriage.
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13th CD Democratic challenger Scott Harper is taking on, in the fall general election, ten-year Republican incumbent, Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale).
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show with 13th CD Democratic challenger Scott Harper has been airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot on:

Tuesday 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 Tuesday 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 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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Public Affairs City of Chicago and City of Aurora airing schedule, featuring 13th CD Dem Nominee this coming Monday night.

The "Public Affairs," show with 13th CD Democratic Nominee Scott Harper will also air throughout the City of Chicago next Monday night, June 30, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-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.
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Public Affairs show with 13th CD Scott Harper(D-Lockport) featured on Illinois Channel next week; airs across the State of Illinois, including in significant portions of 13th CD

The "Public Affairs," show with 13th CD Democratic Nominee Scott Harper will also air throughout the State of Illinois next week, starting next Monday and continuing thru Sunday on the Illinois Channel. You can watch it on the web, starting Monday at the Illinois Channel website by clicking the picture of Harper and/or Berkowitz and also you can watch the show on the Illinois Channel's cable outlets.

The Illinois Channel cable outlets air a two hour, weekly block of programming on cable. The show with candidate Harper is the third of four segments airing on the Illinois Channel next week, and will air starting about 50 minutes into that two hour block of programming. Please click on Distribution at the Illinois Channel website or click here to find the cable airing days, time at which the two hour block of programming begins and the channel for your location.
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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 Chicago Metro suburbs with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); this past Monday night's city of Chicago and city of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 Chicago Metro North and Northwest Cook County suburbs with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Kondracke calls yesterday’s Chicago presser with Obama “a joke.”

This reporter was waving his arm and yelling out to Senator Obama throughout the presser, in hopes of getting called on to ask one of the above, tough questions to Obama on Iraq, Countrywide, Rezko, off shore drilling or Mugabe.
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It used to be much easier to get Barack’s attention when he was a guest of “Public Affairs,” back, say, in November, 2002 and we discussed his hypothetical Iraq War Powers resolution vote.
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Brit Hume: I have argued that this race will not be about McCain. This race will be about Obama. McCain will be seen by most voters if they get worried about Obama as a safe alternative choice, not an extremist of any kind, somebody that they have known very well for a long time and that this will all come down to not how well McCain runs his campaign but to how well Obama survives such scrutiny as he gets throughout the course of the campaign. The question I have about it is will the scrutiny come and will McCain make an effort to generate it?

Mara Laisson (NPR Senior correspondent and FNC contributing correspondent): He is going to have to.

Morton Kondracke (Executive Editor, Roll Call and FNC contributing correspondent): Well, you know, that press conference today in Chicago was a joke. I mean there were no hard questions.

Hume: To Obama.

Kondracke: To Obama, no substantively hard questions at all. So, so far as the media is concerned, I don’t see the scrutiny [of Obama] coming.

Special Report, The nightly, one hour FNC national news and analysis show anchored by Brit Hume, June 25, 2008

Kondracke got that right. Yesterday's Chicago presser was kind of a joke. The presser at the Westin Hotel in Chicago went on for about forty minutes, drawing about twenty, or so, questions from a media pool of almost thirty media members, perhaps split somewhat evenly between Obama traveling media and Chicago media.

Obama was asked questions about Obama and the Clintons, e.g., Obama’s efforts to help Hillary pay off her campaign debt, Bill Clinton’s tepid endorsement of Obama and Hillary and Bill’s future contributions to the Obama campaign; what is unique about Chicago pols (Obama: their non-ideological, practical style); what the President can do about inner city shootings (Obama: Following Mr. Bill, more cops paid for by the feds); whether states should be permitted to impose capital punishment on those convicted of raping children (Obama: yes); what Obama thought about Ralph Nader's assertion that Obama was "talking white."

Not one question on the Iraq War was asked. Nobody thought to ask about the fact that 12 of the 18 political, military and economic milestones set before the surge have now been met—and does that fact give Obama pause in his promise to pull out most of the combat troops in the first 16 months of an Obama Administration.

Not one question about whether a President Obama might give up on the inaction of the UN and the European Union regarding the atrocities of Mugabe and consider unilateral action by the US or multilateral action by the U. S. and several of its allies to stop the downward spiral in Zimbabwe.

Not one question about the unseemly nature of a three hundred billion dollar federal bailout of “Big Lenders,” like Countrywide championed by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Kent Conrad (D-ND), after they were beneficiaries of Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo’s preferential mortgage program for legislators and high ranking government officials with the ability to benefit Countrywide [AKA the Friends of Angelo program]. Pay to Play, Chicago style, anybody?

Not one challenge to Obama’s statement that he had no connections or resemblance to Chicago pols, even though Obama (1) had assistance from the recently convicted Tony Rezko to the tune of a quarter of million dollars raised by and/or contributed by him to Obama in his State Senate and U. S. Senate campaigns, (2) at times, Rezko and Obama conferred almost daily about U.S. Senate campaign matters, and (3) Obama received some funky assistance from Rezko’s wife when she was a helpful buyer of a side lot (for 600K) to Obama’s mansion, which Obama purchased on the same day for 1.6 million dollars, a transaction which occurred in 2005 after Obama had been a U. S. Senator for a bit and when it was well understood by almost everyone in Chicago that Rezko was being investigated by the Feds (But, see here, for a somewhat contra view).

Not one question probing what, other than a federal government source or two, led Obama to conclude that a significant expansion of off-shore drilling could not possibly affect the price of oil for ten to twenty years.

For less critical reports on yesterday's Obama presser, go here and here.

This reporter was waving his arm and yelling out to Senator Obama throughout the presser, in hopes of getting called on to ask one of the above, tough questions to Obama on Iraq, Countrywide, Rezko, off shore drilling or Mugabe. Somehow this reporter (who will never be mistaken for “sweetness,” or a “sweetie,”) couldn’t seem to get Senator Obama’s attention.

It used to be much easier to get Barack’s attention when he was a guest of “Public Affairs,” back, say, in November, 2002 and we discussed his hypothetical Iraq War Powers resolution vote. Perhaps this reporter can get called on next time. We don’t want the national press media to continue to refer to Chicago pressers as a “joke.” Or, do we?
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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, soon this week's show in the Chicago Metro suburbs with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); this past Monday night's city of Chicago and city of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 Chicago Metro North and Northwest Cook County suburbs with 13th CD Dem. Nominee Scott Harper, last week's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Better than Chris Wallace w/Biden and Graham: Berkowitz w/Sen. Cullerton on Taxes, School Choice and Impeachment, Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: Jack Roeser--from Champion News, which was the Family Tax Payer Network. He points out what I’ve just said: The average spending on public schools (K-12), per kid, per year, is about ten thousand dollars, across the state of Illinois. Take a classroom of twenty five kids—that means we’ve got available there, for those twenty five kids, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to educate them for one year...[Roeser's] point is—do you need to increase education spending? Because you’ve got a hundred thousand to pay the teacher. You’ve got a hundred and fifty thousand for other stuff. And so Jack’s saying, to you, John Cullerton, why do you need more money?

Senator John Cullerton(D-Chicago): And you know what the problem is, you’ve got to look at the entire obligations of a school district. You know, you have kids who are disabled, you have kids who are--
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Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features Senator John Cullerton(D-Chicago) . The show with Senator Cullerton 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 Senator Cullerton interviewed by show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz about the majority of Democrats, with help from some Republicans, trying to raise the state income tax in January, 2009; School choice, school vouchers; impeachment of the Governor; the Governor's choices regarding how to handle the state budget; Kjellander, Pat Brady and Senator Bill Brady and much, much more on tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago). Go here for partial transcripts of tonight's show, as well as for 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 June 8, 2008, with Senator Cullerton(D-Chicago)here or on the Illinois Channel archive site.
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This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features Scott Harper (D-Lockport), Democratic candidate in the 13th Cong. Dist., taking on ten-year Republican incumbent Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale).
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A partial transcript of tonight's show is included, below:
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Is the concept of school choice politicized?

Jeff Berkowitz: How about accountability in terms of [school] choice? Why not let people choose the schools they send their kids to? If they’re happy with the public schools, fine. If they’re not, take the ten thousand dollars—that’s what we spend on average, per kid, per year, on average across the state of Illinois—take that 10k average—if it’s fourteen thousand somewhere, take fourteen thousand, if it’s eight thousand somewhere, take eight thousand, total amount of money being spent, state, federal, local—and bring it to the school of their choice.

Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago): The idea of choice, unfortunately, has become so politicized; it makes it more difficult for Democrats to embrace that concept-

Jeff Berkowitz: The teachers’ unions don’t like it. If you want to stand up to the teachers’ unions, stand up to them. Your constituents, I assure you, would like choice. You know that.

Senator John Cullerton: Yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: I know that. Everybody watching—is there anybody watching this show out there, any of you parents-- you don’t want to have choice? You would rather be locked into one school? Of course not, right?

Is the concept of “School Choice,” like Obama’s slogan of “Change,” vague and ambiguous?

Senator John Cullerton: Well, you know, “choice” is one word-- like the word “change” and--

Jeff Berkowitz: No, no. “Choice” is very defined, unlike the word “change.” “Choice” means you take the money and you go to the school of your choice. Okay? That’s what “choice” means. Tell me how that’s like “change.”

Senator John Cullerton: Because there’s nuances to it. And all I’m saying is, the word “choice,”—I’m trying to give you a political answer, before we talk about public policy—from a Democratic point of view, we’re the dominant party in this state—it means something. Okay? And it’s been politicized. And, it is difficult for a Democrat to vote for something that has that label. Now, at the same time, if we can ease into achieving the same goal of competition by emphasizing things like charter schools-

Are charter schools more politically correct than school vouchers-school choice?

Jeff Berkowitz: Charter schools.

Senator John Cullerton: Which we have, and I personally have-

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s the cap? The cap that the Legislature has set on the number of charter schools in Chicago.

Senator John Cullerton: Over the objections of both major teachers’ unions in Illinois, we have raised the cap and shifted some of that-

Jeff Berkowitz: When was that done?

Senator John Cullerton: It was done in this General Assembly.

Jeff Berkowitz: What has it been raised to?

Using “campuses,” to avoid Charter school caps

Senator John Cullerton: I can’t remember the details. I do know that there’s been concern among the teachers’ unions that we had a cap on charter schools, but they were just opening up campuses. And they felt that was an abuse of that [the cap]. We didn’t change that.

Jeff Berkowitz: So they can still do that.

Senator John Cullerton: They can still do that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is it still 30? I thought it was 30 in Chicago, 30 downstate, and 30 in the suburbs.

Senator John Cullerton: If that’s the case, we were able to pass a law—not all the 30 downstate were being used—so we passed a law that allowed them to divert those. So, my point is, when you say the word “choice,” it raises a lot of antagonism among the Democrats. If you want to accomplish the goal of competition, and you use those terms, you’re in a better way to try to ease into that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Take this. Jack Roeser—you know the name Jack Roeser?

Senator John Cullerton: I know Jack Roeser.

Jack Roeser asks-- where does school money go? To the teachers’ pensions, suggests Senator Cullerton

Jeff Berkowitz: Jack Roeser--from Champion News, which was the Family Tax Payer Network. He points out what I’ve just said: The average spending, per kid, per year, is about ten thousand dollars, across the state of Illinois. Take a classroom of twenty five kids—that means we’ve got available there, for those twenty five kids, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to educate them for one year. Now--even if you pay a teacher a hundred thousand dollars, which Jack claims we often do, even if people deny that—that leaves you a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. What do you do with that? This is before we raise money. His point is—do you need to increase education spending? Because you’ve got a hundred thousand dollars to pay the teacher. You’ve got a hundred and fifty thousand for other stuff. And so Jack’s saying, to you, John Cullerton, why do you need more money?

Senator John Cullerton: And you know what the problem is, you’ve got to look at the entire obligations of a school district. You know, you have kids who are disabled, you have kids who are--

Jeff Berkowitz: Sure. That comes out of the hundred and fifty thousand.

Senator John Cullerton: It doesn’t come down to per pupil, having two hundred and fifty thousand per pupil.

Jeff Berkowitz: No, it’s two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a classroom. A hundred thousand for the teacher, to teach regular stuff, a hundred and fifty thousand for [special instruction for] reading, for disabilities, for learning disabilities, for educational disabilities, for emotional disabilities. Isn’t that enough?

Senator John Cullerton: It sure would seem like it, doesn’t it?

Jeff Berkowitz: So where’s it going?

Senator John Cullerton: Maybe the pensions for the teachers, I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. Let’s go back. We really didn’t finish with the [state] budget.
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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 Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); Tonight's city of Chicago and city of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Better than Andy Shaw w/Granholm and Mike Flannery w/Strickland: Berkowitz w/Governors Sebelius and Granholm on Iraq, Obama and VP

Does Senator Obama stand for old time pump priming, Keynesian economics and bigger government in the non-national defense sector?

In a meeting yesterday morning at the Chicago History Museum (previously the Chicago Historical Society) with sixteen Democratic Governors, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for President, Senator Barack Obama, heard pleas for help with infrastructure, healthcare, college costs, mortgage assistance, new green technology and job creation.

Presidential candidate Obama seemed to say he would meet every plea for help, even as Senator Obama reminded Bishop Brazier last Sunday in his Father's Day talk at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago that he was the same state senator who got the church a parking lot-- after all, this is Chicago and as Kass would remind us, Obama learned his politics from those well familiar with, if not a part of, the Chicago Machine. Yet, Senator Obama appears to many to have come of age in politics as a Hyde Park reformer--welcome to the contradictions of Barack Obama.

It might sound to some as if, under an Obama Presidency, the era of Big Government is about to return; to others this is simply a reallocation of Iraq War spending and tax cuts for the wealthy to more spending by the states and by the federal government on non-national defense matters. Obama might call it a re-allocation of spending from a “dumb war,” and unconscionable tax cuts to needed public investment, job creation and assistance for the middle class.

Eye on some Democratic Veep hopefuls

In the crowd were at least three VP hopefuls on the Obama A list: Governors Ed Rendell (PA), Bill Richardson (NM) and Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas). Of the three, Rendell got the most media attention yesterday morning—perhaps because his name is getting a great deal of VEEP attention. Richardson got little attention from the media and he left the post game show early. Sebelius got some media play but nothing like Rendell. Gov. Ted Strickland (OH) reiterated that he has taken himself off the Veep List.

Chatting with Governors Sebelius, Strickland and Granholm

This reporter spent some time one on one with (a) Gov. Sebelius, testing her a bit on her approach to and fluency with the Iraq War and (b) with Gov. Granholm (MI), discussing Obama and whether the era of Big Government is about to return. [See below]. Gov. Granholm was one of the better and more personable speakers in the crowd and would probably be on Obama’s short list for VEEP, but for the fact that she was born in Canada and thus, as she put it, has a “constitutional ceiling.”

Take a listen to the post-game show:

Sebelius

Another reporter: Let me ask you a question about Iraq…do you think if events on the ground start to improve [Obama’s] going to have to really think about his position or is he locked in politically to promising to get out [of Iraq] for the duration of this campaign?

Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kansas): Well, I don’t think there is any question that if we put additional troops on the ground, we hope that violence will go down, that’s what the surge was about.

Jeff Berkowitz: Has that happened, though? Has violence gone down?

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: My understanding is it has gone down and that’s good news, that fewer-

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you say it’s working, the surge?

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: Well, the surge is working in that more American folks in Iraq for longer periods of time have lessened [violence] but what is not working is the Iraqis have not stepped up to take over and I think that’s really what is the problem and having those additional troops on the ground at surge capacity indefinitely, which seems to be the goal of the McCain platform, is unacceptable. It is the wrong war at the wrong place. It uses our treasure which we need here. It risks the lives of Americans and we’re not focused on where terrorism is occurring-- in Afghanistan and on the borders of Pakistan. It makes us less able to keep our country secure. So, could we put, you know, thousands of troops in any place and probably lower the level of violence? Yes, but I don’t think that’s the point. We can’t do that as a country.

Jeff Berkowitz: Have the Democrats now accepted that in the [U. S.] House because as you know there’s been a compromise, they’ve extended [Iraq War] funding for a year and apparently the Democratic majority in the House has agreed—they’re not going to require a deadline, they’re not going to require a date certain for troop withdrawal.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: I think they are going to work for a new President.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, for the next year, there is no date certain [for troop withdrawal] and the Democrats have accepted that.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: The Democratic majority, I can guarantee you, hopes that there will be a Democratic President, Barack Obama, taking the oath of office in January of ’09 and he has laid out a very clear plan of what he intends to do in consultation with—

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you be ready to serve with Barack Obama as Vice-President, if offered?

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: I am going to do whatever I can to help Senator Obama be elected.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, would you make a good Vice-President, do you think?

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: I think he is a great leader for the country. I am going to do whatever I can.

Jeff Berkowitz: Which would be serving as Vice-President, if offered?
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Granholm

Governor Jennifer Granholm [D-MI]: Are you set? You’re on it, man [Big laugh, this followed a series of other questions from Berkowitz].

Jeff Berkowitz: Talk just a bit about Barack Obama…is he ready to be President of the United States. He’s had essentially two years in the U. S. Senate because he was running in the third year and eight years in the State Senate; is America going to look at this person and say he is ready to be there in terms of national security because the whole morning was spent on domestic policy and working with the states. Talk to us about national security and why you think Barack Obama is ready to be leader of the Free World.

Governor Granholm: Let me just say that I don’t know that it is years as a politician that is the best requirement for being President. I think that you have to have great judgment and you have to be a person of great character and you have to be intelligent and you have to know how to bring people along and he has all of those qualities. You see how the world responded when he became the [Democratic] nominee. There was great enthusiasm in other countries and I think because of his intelligence and because he has this ability to connect with people and he’s got tremendous people around him, he is gong to be a tremendous leader, both domestically and internationally.
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Strickland

Mike Flannery [CBS-2 News Political Editor]: Did you favor Yucca Mountain? Burying the [nuclear waste there]. [ Go here to watch Mike Flannery's nicely put together video clip].

Governor Ted Strickland [D-OH]: I did. As a congressman, I did.
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Another Reporter: One last thing, Governor, are you still out of the running for Vice-President?

Governor Ted Strickland [D-OH]: I am.
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Granholm

Andy Shaw [ABC-7 News Political Editor]: And one more, if I may, Our Governor, Rod Blagojevich, is not here today— [Go here to watch Andy Shaw's well put together video clip].

Governor Granholm [D-MI]: He was here last night.

Andy Shaw: Right and a number of Republicans in Illinois are chomping at the bit to point out that this is a fairly dysfunctional Democratic state, at least legislatively and governmentally, what would you say to them as they look at the irony of Obama meeting with Democratic governors in Chicago and Illinois’ Governor is not here, in part because there is a certain embarrassment factor with the federal investigation and the dysfunctional government here?

Governor Granholm: Well, I am not here so I don’t know what is going on in this state—

Andy Shaw: We’re close, though.

Governor Granholm: Yeah, you’re close by, but I can tell you Democrats are really proud of this candidate. It is like a balm for the soul to hear a Presidential candidate talking about investing in our people and our infrastructure and our education system, making sure people have access to health care. These are things we have not heard; it’s been like we have been in the dessert and now when he speaks, it’s like we want to soak [Obama] up because it’s exactly the language governors want to hear. We know we’ve been feeling and our people have been feeling—

Andy Shaw: You don’t think the Governor of Illinois is conspicuous by his absence?

Governor Granholm: I don’t- I have no idea what his schedule was, I didn’t have a conversation with him about that, but I can tell you for us, the rest of us governors here and I’m sure for [Gov. Blagojevich] as well, having a partner in the White House, we’re going to help people in Illinois, and in Michigan and in Kansas and in Ohio, it is a tremendous relief and sense of excitement.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include this past Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), this past week's show in the Chicago Metro suburbs and this coming Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Better than Conaty and Placko w/Jarrett: Berkowitz w/ Sen. Cullerton on the Dems' Illinois Income Tax Increase, Cable and Streaming

State Sen. John Cullerton(D-Chicago): I’m sure you’re not going to mischaracterize it. I think I’ve made it clear.

Jeff Berkowitz: Oh no, you’re making it clear, right now. You’re betting on
a tax increase next year, income tax increase,[coming] partly from getting
additional Democrats elected who will support that, and partly from the downstate Democrats, excuse me, downstate Republicans who you’ve mentioned, Eddy and Mitchell.

State Sen. John Cullerton: Absolutely, no question about it. And of course you know, I’m sure, why we need a tax increase. The actual amount of money coming into the State Government--

Jeff Berkowitz: I don’t know that, and I mean, [many of] my viewers don’t
know that. They would be saying to you, why don’t you cut spending on
some things. Why don’t you live within your means?
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This week’s Chicago metro suburban edition of “Public Affairs,” features State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago). The show was taped on June 8, 2008

You can watch the show with Senator John Cullerton here.

Topics discussed this week in the suburban episode of "Public Affairs," with Senator Cullerton include Impeaching the Governor; Jack Roeser, Bill Brady and is Illinois a high tax state? Pat Brady, Andy McKenna, Jr., Kjellander and the State GOP; Budget Deficits, Income Tax Increases, Pension Bond schemes and Fund Sweeps; Topinka, Chicago Tonight and Speaker Mike; School choice, the loss of Federal matching funds and a Capital Budget; Go here for more about the Senator.

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 Senator John Cullerton 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. Or, watch the show with Senator Cullerton here.
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Next week's "Public Affairs," show in the Chicago Metro Suburbs features Scott Harper, the Democratic nominee for the 13th Congressional District seat.
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A partial transcipt of the show with Senator Cullerton is included, directly, below:
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The Source of a portion of the State Budget Deficit: House failure to pass the sweeps and the pension bond plan [scheme]?

Jeff Berkowitz: host of Public Affairs: The sweeps [of dedicated state funds not being spent] would give you about half a billion dollars, five hundred million.

State Sen. John Cullerton [D-Chicago]: Same thing is true for the pension obligation bonds [16 billion dollars of bonds to be sold would allow the Blago administration to “book,” a gain of about 500 million dollars].

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s an additional one billion dollars [of revenue for the operating budget] that you passed in the Senate that the House didn’t pass, so that explains why you’re a billion dollars short, but what about the other billion?

State Sen. John Cullerton [D-Chicago]: Well, as I said, it’s based on estimates of revenue for the coming year.

Jeff Berkowitz: No, but you know it’s not there. I’m trying to be fair, here

Is there an increase of the state income tax from 3% to 4% in your future?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Jeff, I’m trying to be fair, too. Next January when we come in, in the middle of the fiscal year, and we pass the one percent increase in the income tax that I just talked about--the effective date would be January 1st of 2009—that will bring in more than enough money to balance the budget for this fiscal year [a net increase for the state of about three billion dollars].

Jeff Berkowitz: So this is the plan. Because, people haven’t been talking about, you are making news here--

State Sen. John Cullerton: It’s one of the options.

Jeff Berkowitz: John Cullerton, you’re making news here today.

State Sen. John Cullerton: It’s one of the options.

Five new State House Democrats in 2009 would mean an increase in the state income tax?

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re telling the Illinois electorate, go out and elect five more Republicans to the state house—

State Sen. John Cullerton: Five more Democrats.

Jeff Berkowitz: Excuse me. You wouldn’t be telling [us] to elect five more Republicans.

State Sen. John Cullerton: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: Elect five more Democrats, and you’re basically voting for a substantial, large—a very large tax increase.

State Sen. John Cullerton: You really jumped to a conclusion there. That’s not fair.

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s what’s going to happen if you get five more Democrats.

Will downstate Republican educrats support an increase in the state income tax?

State Sen. John Cullerton: No, not at all. We believe that we need a three-fifths vote. Even if there’s not more Democrats in the House, we’ve been talking to downstate Republicans to vote for the income tax increase.

Jeff Berkowitz: Can you name them? So [Republicans] can go ahead and run somebody independent against them. Tell me the five Republicans downstate who are going to support an income tax increase.

State Sen. John Cullerton: I said three.

Jeff Berkowitz: Three.

Do Republicans Roger Eddy and Jerry Mitchell support an increase in the state income tax?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Roger Eddy and Jerry Mitchell are two that I’m sure—

Jeff Berkowitz: They’ve signed on? Publicly?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Not signed on publicly. I said we’re talking to them.

Jeff Berkowitz: Eddy and Mitchell. Who else? Who’s the third?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Because they are school people.

Jeff Berkowitz: Who’s the third?

State Sen. John Cullerton: I can’t remember the name.

Do Eddy and Mitchell represent the Teachers’ Unions or their constituents?

Jeff Berkowitz: So, these guys are basically in the pocket of the teachers’ unions. They call themselves Republicans, but--

State Sen. John Cullerton [D-Chicago]: Just the opposite. They’re school
administrators and they know that—

Jeff Berkowitz: They make their living from the tax dollars that people pay--

State Sen. John Cullerton: They’re educators.

Jeff Berkowitz: I thought they were also supposed to be representatives.
Which is it? Are they working for the teachers’ unions or are they working
for their constituents?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Oh no, look, you can go talk to these
Republicans yourselves, but when I talk to them what they seem to be
concerned about is improving education in their area, in their state rep
districts. They also want a capital bill. They also want to pay the debts
of the state, as I indicated, which is what the income tax bill would do.

Jeff Berkowitz: All right, so there’s that news coming out of this show, that
you’re sort of betting on a tax increase.

State Sen. John Cullerton: I’m sure you’re not going to mischaracterize it. I
think I’ve made it clear.

Jeff Berkowitz: Oh no, you’re making it clear, right now. You’re betting on
a tax increase next year, income tax increase,[coming] partly from getting
additional Democrats elected who will support that, and partly from the
downstate Democrats, excuse me, downstate Republicans who you’ve
mentioned, Eddy and Mitchell.

Does the State need a tax increase or a spending decrease?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Absolutely, no question about it. And of course
you know, I’m sure, why we need a tax increase. The actual amount of
money coming into the State Government--

Jeff Berkowitz: I don’t know that, and I mean, [many of] my viewers don’t
know that. They would be saying to you, why don’t you cut spending on
some things. Why don’t you live within your means?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: When their revenue is insufficient for their expenses, they
don’t have the ability to go out and raise taxes. They cut spending.

State Sen. John Cullerton: Exactly.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, they’re saying to you, John Cullerton, why doesn’t
the Democratic majority do the same thing?

Is Illinois State Government growing or shrinking?

State Sen. John Cullerton: Because we have. We have the lowest ratio of
state employees to population in the nation, by far. We’ve cut thirteen
thousand state employees since the Governor’s been there—

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s what the Governor says, but the suspicion is that
he has added consultants and other people who are not full-time employees.
Spending is going up. It doesn’t matter how many employees you have.
Spending is going up.

State Sen. John Cullerton [D-Chicago]: If the spending has gone up, it’s
gone up for healthcare, which is obligated by the federal government
through Medicaid, and for schools. We pass through the money to the school
districts.

Would cutting tax rates lower the burden on state government? What do the
Republicans and Senator Bill Brady say? What do the Democrats and
Senator Cullerton say?

Jeff Berkowitz: The Republicans would say, [Senator Bill] Brady would say,
“cut taxes, bring in more jobs to Illinois,” and then you can have the private
sector pay for health insurance.

State Sen. John Cullerton: Yeah, I know. I like listening to Brady. Under
Senator Brady’s plan, I think Senator Brady believes we’d get the most
money if we had zero taxes.

Jeff Berkowitz: No.

State Sen. John Cullerton: If we had a zero [tax] rate.

Jeff Berkowitz: No, let’s be fair, [Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington)] is
not saying zero taxes, but he’s saying lower tax [rates] and you get more
jobs.

State Sen. John Cullerton: When he ran for Governor, I followed his
positions, they were so phenomenally inconsistent. Unbelievable…
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Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs."
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State Senator John Cullerton, now completing his third decade of service in the General Assembly, debates and discusses the issues with “Public Affairs,” show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. Senator Cullerton is in the running to become the next Senate President, should current Senate President Emil Jones become Ambassador to the country of his choice, if Senator Obama becomes President Obama.

Senator Cullerton, who started his legal career as an Ass’t Public Defender, is now with the St. Louis based, 350 attorney firm of Thompson Coburn. In addition to St. Louis, Thompson Coburn has offices in Washington, DC, Chicago and Belleville.

Topics discussed on the show featuring Senator Cullerton include the 7% increase in spending in the State’s operating budget-- is it unconstitutionally unbalanced? Is there really a two billion dollar hole in the budget? If so, it that deficit typical of prior budgets, adjusting for inflation? Did Governor Thompson, the current lawyer for Campaign Blagojevich, face similar, unbalanced budgets. If so, how did he handle them?

How does the 16 Billion dollar pension bond scheme/sale figure into things? If Cullerton had been Governor, what would have done differently, starting in ’03? Would Judy Baar Topinka have raised the income tax if she had won in ’06? Does the answer to that question explain why she, and not Senator Rauschenberger, is now providing commentary on Chicago Tonight?

Does Speaker Mike Madigan, along with all the other legislative leaders, want a Capital Budget? What would Speaker Mike prefer as the revenue stream for the Capital Budget? Would there be more support in the General Assembly for an increase in the income tax if the legislators were confident they could limit the uses of the money to education, financing the capital budget and reducing the payment cycle for Medicaid?

Must a Capital Budget be passed this year to avoid Illinois losing federal matching funds?

With Pat Brady being installed as the new Republican Committeeman, is Kjellander back in the saddle? Did Kjellander work with McKenna to achieve that? Would the Dems be more afraid of Senator Rauschenberger leading the charge against them than Pat Brady?

Are the Dems anticipating a five-seat pick up in the State House in November? Will the Dems raise the Illinois income tax if they get that kind of pick up in the House? Can Cullerton name downstate Republicans who will support an increase in the income tax? How much of a net increase in state tax revenue is Cullerton talking about, come 2009?

Is School Choice like “Change,” or does it have real meaning? Are charter schools more saleable in Illinois than school vouchers? Are charter schools a good way to introduce competition into the provision of educational services, especially when you consider the political angle? Were the state caps on charter schools modified by the General Assembly this year? What about the teachers unions’ efforts to clamp down on the expansion of charter schools by limiting the number of campuses per charter school? Did the teachers unions get their way?

Is Jack Roeser right when he says the public schools in Illinois ought to be able to live on $250,000 per classroom? Where did he get that number? Does that mean that the public schools don’t “need,” more tax revenue? Does Senator Cullerton know Jack Roeser? Doesn’t everybody?

Is Senator Bill Brady right when he argues that lower tax rates will result in more private employers providing their employees more health care, and that would place a lower burden on the state to provide health care?

Is Illinois a high tax state? In general, and specifically with respect to gasoline taxes?

Should Governor Blagojevich be impeached? Will the State House vote to issue articles of impeachment?
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This week’s suburban episode of Public Affairs with guest State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago) 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, this past Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 past Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), this week's show in the Chicago Metro suburbs with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Way Better than Krashesky's NewsViews w/ Rauschenberger and Durkin: Berkowitz w/ Sen. Kwame Raoul on cable and streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: Would it be the case that Speaker Mike Madigan and Governor Rod Blagojevich hate each other?...
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Jeff Berkowitz: Speaker Mike Madigan related this story. Once when he was speaking just with Rod Blagojevich and they were negotiating something, Speaker Mike suddenly realized Rod wasn’t talking to him, he was talking to the two thousand people behind the Speaker. There weren’t two thousand people, of course, but that’s how Mike Madigan sees Rod Blagojevich...
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Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) . The show with Senator Raoul 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 Of Barack Obama, Trinity Church,the sixteeen billion dollar pension bond sale, the enhanced penalty for illegal gun sales and the battle over the operating and capital budgets between Speaker Mike, Senate President Jones and Gov. Blagojevich on tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago). Go here for partial transcripts of tonight's show, as well as for 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 June 1, 2008, with Senator Raoul(D-Chicago) here.
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A partial transcript of tonight's show is included, below:

Rod and Speaker Mike: They hate each other's guts?

Jeff Berkowitz: Would it be the case that Speaker Mike Madigan and Governor Rod Blagojevich hate each other? Would that be too strong?

State Senator Kwame Raoul[D-Chicago]: I can’t speak for them—

Jeff Berkowitz: Does it appear that way? You’ve seen them up close. Up close.

State Senator Kwame Raoul: They’re not too fond of each other.

Jeff Berkowitz: Not too fond of each other. And Senate President Emil Jones and Speaker Mike Madigan, they don’t get along too well either.

Senate President Jones and Speaker Mike: they seldom feel the love.

State Senator Kwame Raoul: I don’t think it’s [strained] to the same extent the relationship between the Governor and the Speaker is strained. I think there is residue from last year when the Speaker felt that the President betrayed him on a promise to override the budget. And there’s animosity on the President’s part because he felt like the Speaker was meddling in his caucus.

Jeff Berkowitz: [The tension between Jones and Madigan] is not quite as personal as it appears to be between Speaker Mike and the Governor.

State Senator Kwame Raoul: Right.

Speaker Mike: Plotting for Lisa?

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s a personal distaste. Maybe some of it is because Rod’s looking at Speaker Mike Madigan with his daughter the Attorney General, who everybody has always thought would like to be Governor. He may be suspicious that Speaker Mike, whatever he’s doing, may be doing to help his daughter become Governor, as opposed to execute good public policy. That’s how Rod may look at it. The Speaker may look at it and say Rod’s not serious about public policy. He says it’s like the permanent press conference [or permanent campaign for Rod]. Speaker Mike Madigan related this story. Once when he was speaking just with Rod Blagojevich and they were negotiating something, he suddenly realized Rod wasn’t talking to him, he was talking to the two thousand people behind him. There weren’t two thousand people, but that’s how Mike Madigan sees Rod Blagojevich, I think, and that’s the problem he has. He doesn’t see him as somebody who’s seriously involved in governing. When you put it all together—Jones, Madigan, Blagojevich, Illinois Democratic government—and that’s what it is, because Democrats have it all. They have the House. They have the Senate. They have the Governorship. Some would say they have the state Supreme Court. It’s all dysfunctional.

State Senator Kwame Raoul[D-Chicago]: I would agree that our government, all together, comprehensively, Democrats and Republicans, are dysfunctional. One other thing—

Do Republican Leaders Cross and Watson matter?

Jeff Berkowitz: Why do you include the Republicans in that? What do they have to do with it?

State Senator Kwame Raoul: Let me explain that. Too often people focus on partisan politics. And the greatest divide is not the partisan politics, it’s the regional politics. The number one lesson I learned when I first went down to Springfield after Barack was elevated was, outside the city of Chicago, there’s the state of Illinois, and the two are not the same, as far as it’s viewed in Springfield. There’s a strong anti-Chicago animus from legislators, from their constituents—

Jeff Berkowitz: From downstate.

State Senator Kwame Raoul[D-Chicago]: And that’s stronger than the partisan politics. So often times, you have measures that are not passed on a partisan basis, but more so on a regional basis.
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Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of tonight's show.
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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, tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), this week's show in the Chicago Metro suburbs with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Bob Kjellander: Berkowitz’ Friday night show. Were Kjellander and McKenna plumping for Brady to be the Republican National Committeeman? If so, why?

Below is a partial transcript of an interview Jeff Berkowitz did late in the day on Friday with Bob Kjellander, Illinois’ controversial Republican National Committeeman who is a long time friend of Karl Rove and is involved in planning the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

Kjellander contacted Berkowitz to complain about statements included here that Kjellander claims are inaccurate. That discussion was the first part of the interview and will be reported in a later post on this blog. Also to be reported in a subsequent post will be the Berkowitz-Kjellander discussion about the assertion that Kjellander has emerged as a key figure in the on-going probe of Illinois public corruption.

The Friday Night Show:

Kjellander’s Complaint.

Jeff Berkowitz: Other than this thing about the embrace [between Pat Brady and you after Brady won the Republican National Committeeman position] that I wrote about, [and both Brady and Kjellander have denied that the embrace occurred], is there anything else that I have written that you thought was inaccurate? Also [I wrote] that Rauschenberger had claimed he had nine votes at one point, and you claim he was lucky to have four votes for Republican National Committeeman—you thought he only had three…is there anything else that I have written about this stuff that you think was inaccurate.

Bob Kjellander, Illinois Republican National Committeeman: Oh, yes, yes. This business about people’s jobs being threatened on behalf of Pat Brady-- I think that is a complete fabrication.

Jeff Berkowitz: How would you know since you just told me you don’t know anything about what Andy was doing; you don’t know what the Illinois State GOP staff were doing. You said you are completely out of it- you are up there in St. Paul,

Why Pat Brady won the RNC race?

Bob Kjellander: I was at the [State GOP] Convention on Friday [June 6] and I talked to people and I didn’t get any sense whatsoever that anybody was being threatened or that there was any overt effort because the difference here is that Pat Brady went out and worked. He called and met with members all over the state because I’d get calls from people—they’re trying to figure out what to do and I still have a number of friends in this Party despite everything else and—

Jeff Berkowitz: And, what did he tell them? What did Pat Brady tell them as to why they should vote for him instead of Rauschenberger? Your friends? The people you talked to? What did they tell you [he said]?

Bob Kjellander: Oh, that he was going to be very aggressive in raising money for the Party. That he was part of the McCain operation and hopefully McCain was going to be elected and the national committeeman is the representative of the State to the National Party and certainly having somebody who was intimately involved in the McCain Campaign be Illinois’ Representative on the National Committee is a very beneficial thing.

Did Brady do a lot for McCain?

Jeff Berkowitz: How much money had Brady raised for McCain in 2000? You know?

Bob Kjellander: I have no idea.

Jeff Berkowitz: How much money did he raise in 2008?

Bob Kjellander: I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, isn’t that relevant because you said that was the most important thing to do and he’s telling people he can raise money and nobody asked him how much money did he raise?

Bob Kjellander: Jeff, I am not an encyclopedia. I don’t know how much money individual people raise.

Pat Brady’s record with the State GOP

Jeff Berkowitz: Has he done anything for the Republican Party that you know of in the last eight years? Pat Brady? Has he? Tell me. What has he done, eight years? He run for office? Help elect anybody? Walk a precinct? Name one thing.

Bob Kjellander: He has worked on a lot of different campaigns. I can’t remember them all. He has worked on a lot of campaigns.

Jeff Berkowitz: Give me one campaign you would say he was intimately involved in—in which he had a significant involvement to elect a Republican. Just name one.

Bob Kjellander: I don’t- I don’t know. I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, if this guy did all this—calling people and—

Bob Kjellander: Wait a minute, but you know what, all Rauschenberger cares about is himself.

Rauschenberger’s record with the State GOP

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, I don’t know. He was a State Senator for fourteen years, so at least he got himself elected.

Bob Kjellander: Yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: He did that. He kept getting elected. He ran for Lt. Gov. He tried to run for Governor. He ran in the U. S. Senate. He came in third out of seven candidates. He beat the guy [Andy McKenna, Jr.] who is the State GOP Chairman who you’ve told me is great in raising money and who spent 4.5 million dollars [on his own senate primary campaign including 2 million dollars of his own money]. Rauschenberger raised $800,000 and got twenty- one per cent of the Republican Senate Primary vote.

Bob Kjellander: Um um

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you’re telling me an objective guy like you Bob, and you’ve forgotten more politics than I’ll ever know…you know this stuff..so if you’re objective, you’re looking at Pat Brady, you’re looking at Andy McKenna, Jr., the guy who you are spitting at is Rauschenberger and I just don’t get it. Okay? I just don’t.

Bob Kjellander: You’re in love with him and I—

Why Kjellander prefers Brady and McKenna, Jr. to Rauschenberger

Jeff Berkowitz: No, I am not in love with anybody. I am trying to understand you. I am giving you a shot. Tell me, why is it you like a guy [McKenna, Jr.] who gets fourteen per cent of the vote [in the 2004 Republican U. S. Senate Primary in Illinois, won by Jack Ryan], but not the guy [Rauschenberger] who gets twenty-one per cent? Why is it you like a guy [Pat Brady] who has never run for an office [actually he ran once and lost], never helped elect anybody that you can think of but not the guy who was a state senator for 14 years…

Bob Kjellander: Being a state senator and a failed statewide candidate on two occasions is not a good description of a national committeeman. Steve is not a team player. Steve is about Steve.

The United Republican Fund and Denis Healy—Do they count?

Jeff Berkowitz: Is he President of the United Republican Fund of Illinois? is that what his position is? Rauschenberger?

Bob Kjellander: I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: I think it is. Is that an unimportant position? Would you say those people don’t count? United Republican Fund of Illinois ("URF"). What do you think of them? They made him their President.

Bob Kjellander: Did they make him President? I don’t know. The URF used to be a very important fund raising apparatus in the party. It’s been—

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s that guy’s name? Healy?

Bob Kjellander: Denis Healy, yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: Yeah, Denis Healy, I think he is a part of that, right? Is he a good Republican? Denis Healy?

Bob Kjellander: Yeah, Denis Healy is a fine guy.

Jeff Berkowitz: If Healy likes Rauschenberger, does that tell you anything? … You don’t like Steve and apparently Steve doesn’t like you. And, I’m trying to understand that. You like Healy; Healy apparently likes Rauschenberger. Rauschenberger is a part of an organization that Healy is instrumental in. And I say, what does that mean to you and you say, “I don’t know.”

Bob Kjellander: Well, I don’t know that Rauschenberger is President of it. If you tell me he is—I don’t know. I thought Healy was head of it.

Jeff Berkowitz: I think Healy is the financial guy behind it [Healy is the United Republican Fund Chairman, Rauschenberger is the President, See here.] …

Bob Kjellander: Rauschenberger has never been able to raise any money so why they would make him head of the URF, which is a fundraising apparatus, doesn’t make much sense to me.

Jeff Berkowitz: Did Rauschenberger raise 800K when he ran for Senate in 2004… I think he did. …if that’s right, does that count for something…

Bob Kjellander: No, $800,000 in a U. S. Senate race is nothing.

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay.

Bob Kjellander: Nothing.

The McKenna fund raising magic
Jeff Berkowitz: What is it that enables Andy McKenna to raise 2.5 million dollars in that 2004 Senate Primary] race? Charm? Intelligence? Looks?

Bob Kjellander: Bob Kjellander: I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: It’s money, Bob. Come on. You know that….people who have money can easily trade money back and forth… [for example] when they have benefit events, one gives to the other and the other gives back to them. Okay?

Bob Kjellander: Okay?

Jeff Berkowitz: His father has built a business and has got a lot of moneyed friends. The father’s name would be Andy McKenna, Sr. Okay?

Bob Kjellander: Yeah, Jeff.

Jeff Berkowitz: This is what you respect?

Bob Kjellander: Now, wait a minute. Jeff. Now, look. In your little diatribe.

Jeff Berkowitz: It’s not a diatribe. I am being accurate and I am being factual.

Bob Kjellander: Wait a minute, the thing that you are condemning McKenna for—

Jeff Berkowitz: I didn’t condemn him, I gave you facts.

The Gidwitz-McKenna comparison

Bob Kjellander: Is exactly what Ron Gidwitz was all about in his campaign that Steve was hooked up with and yet you refer to Gidwitz as a reformer. And Gidwitz is the quintessential rich guy trading contributions with his friends. Come on.

Jeff Berkowitz: In terms of raising money and how he does it, Ron Gidwitz [is] quite similar to Andy McKenna, Jr. If I implied anything differently, I didn’t mean to.

Bob Kjellander: Well, here you are.

Jeff Berkowitz: On that score, they’re the same.

Bob Kjellander: You say Rauschenberger agreed to run for Lt. Gov. in the Republican Primary on a ticket with reformer Ron Gidwitz, Well—

Jeff Berkowitz: You can be a reformer and still have the ability to raise money in the same way Andy McKenna, Jr. does.

Bob Kjellander: I am just pointing out that you are not being consistent. You are attacking McKenna for the very thing Gidwitz does and yet you call Gidwitz a reformer and you are attacking McKenna.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you call McKenna a reformer?

Bob Kjellander: Pardon?

Jeff Berkowitz: Is McKenna, Jr. a reformer? I mean Gidwitz ran on a campaign of reform. He may not have won but he ran on that. I didn’t invent that term, Bob. That was Gidwitz’s phrase. And, I think he was accurate in terms of the views he was espousing. Okay?

Bob Kjellander: Okay.

Jeff Berkowitz: Maybe McKenna ran a “reform,” campaign. But, I don’t think I ever heard him say that word in 2004. He says it now… you’re mixing up things, Bob.

Bob Kjellander: No, I am not. I am pointing out that you are being very, very inconsistent.

Kjellander ready for Public Affairs?

Jeff Berkowitz: Come on our TV show [Watch Public Affairs here] this Sunday. We’ll do a show on this.

Bob Kjellander: …I am not going to be in Chicago for a while. I will do your show sometime. I’m happy to…[but] I can’t promise you when because my commitments in Minneapolis-St. Paul are very, very time consuming, so I am up here almost every week for several days.
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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 State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); last week's show in the suburbs with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), our prior shows with State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), 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 Chicago metro suburbs with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), next week's show in the Chicago Metro suburbs with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols