The Fox News Channel reports the National Enquirer’s Edwards' love child/mistress story [Edwards' Chappaquiddick?]

It has a taken a while, but the story that John Edwards, former Democratic Primary Presidential candidate, has a love child and a mistress, has now made its way to the mainstream media, if you call Brit Hume and the Fox News Channel MSM, and this reporter certainly does. [For an amusing and candid discussion of the media’s treatment of the Edwards love-child story, listen to the final segment of this Slate audio gabfest], hat tip to Chicago Tribune columnist and blogger, Eric Zorn.

MSM sings “Let it be,” when it comes to reporting on Edwards alleged “Love child.”

This reporter’s prior analysis [see here] suggested that the fact that Edwards, in contrast to Senator Larry Craig, hadn’t done anything to get himself on the police blotter, seemed to persuade the MSM to “Let the story be.” There was also the apparent fact that the reports of Edwards’ sexual peccadilloes, true or not, had removed Edwards from the Obama Veep list and probably as well, from a high level Obama cabinet appointment, e.g. attorney general.

Well, the latter hasn’t changed. Indeed, Edwards is now even more of a public non-entity than he was just a few days ago. But, the police blotter thing was ratcheted up when two National Enquirer reporters, Alan Butterfield and Alexander Hitchen, filed a criminal complaint recently with the Beverly Hills police, asserting that a hotel security guard “threatened to break their camera,” and that the officers “violated several statutes of the California penal code.”

FNC finds a way to report the Edwards Lovechild

Brit Hume, the former ABC White House correspondent and current (but not for long) FNC anchor of the popular and serious daily, national news show Special Report, used the report of the criminal complaint being filed to tell the story of John Edwards being accused of having a mistress and love child. Hume read the following copy, apparently fighting back a chuckle, on the “political grapevine,” portion of Monday night’s, FNC Special Report show:

[National Enquirer] Reporters Alan Butterfield and Alexander Hitchen say they cornered Edwards in a bathroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel early last Tuesday morning. They say this was after Edwards visited a woman The Enquirer says is his mistress and the mother of his love child.

A security guard who was on the scene confirmed to Fox News that the encounter did take place and that he helped Edwards escape.

The Enquirer reports that Edwards was trying to leave the hotel when the reporters, who were staying there, spotted him and began asking questions. The reporters say Edwards ran down a hallway and hid in a men's room and that is when hotel security intervened. They say that one guard threatened to break their camera and that the officers also violated several statutes of the California penal code.

Edwards, meanwhile, is refusing to comment on the story. [See the FNC report here].

Rest of the MSM ignore FNC and its story about the Edwards Lovechild

The fallout from FNC reporting the Edwards love child story on its prime time national news show appears non-existent. This reporter can find no subsequent reports or stories by other MSM outlets. It appears the MSM attitude continues to be: Edwards is no longer a public figure and there is no news here In the unlikely event that Obama nominates Edwards for VP or AG, you can bet the love child story will be all over the MSM, and that’s one good reason why Edwards will continue, for the foreseeable future, to be very much a non-public figure and not an Obama nominee for anything. The Enquirer report of his love child, true or not, has been Edwards' Chappaquiddick.
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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, a recent edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, Monday night's City of Chicago and Aurora edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica, our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is our show withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the "Public Affairs," show featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , Monday night's Chicago and Aurora editions of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols. Soon to be posted is the show we taped this past Sunday with 16th CD Democratic Nominee Robert Abboud, Barrington Hills Village President, who is taking on 16 year, 16th CD Republican incumbent, Cong. Don Manzullo. Cong. Manzullo is scheduled to tape "Public Affairs," on Sunday.

Better than Chicago Fox's Conaty and Robinson: Berkowitz w/ Peraica on Daley, Devine, Alvarez and torture cover-ups, Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: What happened from 1984 to 1989 when Richard M. Daley was State’s Attorney?

Tony Peraica, Cook County Board Member and Republican Nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County: Nothing happened.

Jeff Berkowitz: [Daley] covered it up?
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Berkowitz: You’re saying [Anita Alvarez] knew there should have been an investigation, and there wasn’t? That’s your allegation?
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Now posted on our Youtube page (top left hand corner] is this week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Tony Peraica, Cook County Cmsr. and Republican Nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County. Watch the "Public Affairs" show with Tony Peraica.
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Tune in to this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," to watch a discussion of torture of criminal defendants by Chicago police to obtain "confessions," what Cmsr. and State's Attorney Republican Nominee Tony Peraica says Daley and Devine knew and when they knew it, what Peraica says prosecutor Anita Alvarez knew and what she did about a torture cover-up, what Peraica has to say about public corruption prosecution by the State's Attorney office, or lack thereof; potential legal conflicts of interest in the State's Attorney's office; Cook county tax hikes and many other Cook County Board and State's Attorney issues discussed and debated by Tony Peraica with Show Host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz.

You can watch the show with Cmsr. Tony Peraica on your computer, 24-7. State's Attorney Democratic Nominee Anita Alvarez was invited, prior to the taping of our show w/Candidate Peraica, to appear on "Public Affairs." Alvarez has yet to respond with a date when she is available. Alvarez did appear on the show during the 2008 Democratic Primary for State's Attorney. Watch Anita Alvarez here.
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The Public Affairs suburban airing schedule is included, below.
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A detailed list of show topics is included, below.
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A Partial Transcript of this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs, featuring State's Attorney Republican Nominee and Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) is included, below:
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Peraica accuses Mayor Daley and State's Attorney Devine of a cover-up.

Jeff Berkowitz: Mayor Daley—now Mayor Daley, Richard M. Daley—became State’s Attorney when, in 1983?

Tony Peraica, Cook County Cmsr. and Republican Nominee for State’s Attorney of Cook County: 1982 or 1983, yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: 1983, I think. [Ed. note: Richard M. Daley was elected State's Attorney of Cook County in November, 1980]. The torture stuff started going on when?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: It went on from 1979 to 1984.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, it was going on while Richard Daley was State’s Attorney.

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: For five years, by Jon Burge. Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Part of that time, Daley was the State's Attorney.
Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. And then the investigation, and cover-ups, if there were cover-ups, occurred when?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: It went on from the time it was discovered-

Jeff Berkowitz: Which was?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: In 1984.

Jeff Berkowitz: It was discovered in ’84?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: 1984, let’s say early 1985. And then it was just covered up, in my opinion, with the Egan/Boyle appointment.

Jeff Berkowitz: What happened from 1984 to 1989 when Richard M. Daley was State’s Attorney?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Nothing happened.

Jeff Berkowitz: He covered it up?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Did [Daley] know of it and he covered it up?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: I believe that the State’s Attorney, Richard Daley, knew about the torture. I believe that his chief of staff, or first deputy, Dick Devine, current State’s Attorney, knew about the torture, and I believe the third-in-charge, Bill Kunkel, who is now a judge, knew about the extent of this torture.

Jeff Berkowitz: What do you have to support the allegation that Mayor Daley and his first assistant, Dick Devine, knew about the torture at that time?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: The Egan/Boyle report—the two gentlemen who were appointed by the chief judge of the criminal justice division, Biebel, showed that these two hundred or so African-American citizens of Cook County were tortured by Jon Burge and his men repeatedly, into confessing to crimes that they didn’t commit. And in fact, some of the tortures involved putting typewriter covers [over their heads] and asphyxiating them, attaching car batteries through wiring electrodes to their genitalia, and parts of their face, eyebrows, nostrils. It was just horrific stuff.

Jeff Berkowitz: When did the Egan report say that Daley first learned of this?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: This went on, and during the time that the statue of limitations did not expire. The state’s attorney’s office could have taken steps to investigate, convene a grand jury, prosecute this, take testimony from various individuals. It wasn’t done. And, it wasn’t done by accident. It was done on purpose, yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: You say that about Mayor Daley—he could have done it and he didn’t do it. He didn’t have his First Assistant do it, Dick Devine.

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Correct.

Peraica accuses Prosecutor Alvarez of being complicit in the Cover-up?

Jeff Berkowitz: And, how does Anita Alvarez get caught up in this?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Anita Alvarez was a part of that office from 1986 up until the current time.

Jeff Berkowitz: She’s a junior prosecutor. Could she really be expected to turn around what Daley and Devine were doing? I mean, let’s be fair.

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: She could have raised her voice in indignation. She could have demanded that her superiors do something about it. She could have resigned.

Jeff Berkowitz: So you’re saying she knew about it.

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: She could have had a press conference.

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying [Anita Alvarez] knew there should have been an investigation, and there wasn’t. That’s your allegation?

Tony Peraica, Cook County Cmsr. and Republican Nominee for State’s Attorney of Cook County: Absolutely. There’s no question about it, and some of the other things that took place, beyond and besides the Burge torture of African-American citizens of Cook County, such as the involvement of, now her finance chairman, Robert Clifford, who sued the CHA on the Girl X case, that Ms. Alvarez prosecuted, was one of the prosecutors on, and now all of a sudden he’s her finance chairman, is raising money for her, when there was in fact a relationship between the two offices- the State’s Attorney office

Jeff Berkowitz: Is there a conflict? Isn’t that over now? There’s no longer a legal conflict.

Peraica alleges Conflict of interest between Alvarez and attorney [and WTTW sponsor] Robert Clifford?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: I believe there’s a conflict [of interest] when the State’s Attorney’s office prosecutes a criminal defendant who had brutally, physically abused a young girl and left her for dead after horrific physical abuse and that testimony and that investigation is turned over to a private attorney who then goes ahead and sues the Chicago Housing Authority and obtains a thirty five million dollar judgment.

Jeff Berkowitz: On behalf of?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: On behalf of the estate of this young girl. Yeah.

Jeff Berkowitz: The estate, or Girl X?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Well, she was rendered disabled, and they had to have a guardian appointed for her.

Jeff Berkowitz: She’s still alive.

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Yes. Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Number one, did they do anything wrong when they turned that over? Should they have fought or resisted having Girl X have her day in court? Through Robert Clifford?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: It’s not a question of resisting, obviously those who engage in criminal conduct should be held accountable, but that’s another example where Ms. Alvarez, who had the responsibility to handle that case, provided very sensitive information to a personal injury attorney who is now her finance chairman, who obtained for his law firm, a thirty five million dollar judgment.

Jeff Berkowitz: She provided it without the force of a subpoena, right?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: I don’t know exactly how they did it, but-

Jeff Berkowitz: If he didn’t subpoena, couldn’t he have gotten it anyway? I mean, did she just short-circuit that?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Perhaps. Perhaps.

Jeff Berkowitz: So in that sense, no harm, no foul. If that’s the way it happened.

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: It raises, it raises-

Jeff Berkowitz The Chick Hearn rule of torts. You know that rule of torts? No harm, no foul? [Ed. Note: Chick Hearn was a college basketball play by play sportscaster during the 70s who would invoke that “rule of torts,” frequently during his “call,” of basketball games, and Richard Epstein, University of Chicago Law School Professor, would reference Hearn often during Epstein’s conduct of his torts class during the 70s].

Peraica accuses Alvarez of Appearance of Impropriety

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: It raises the appearance of impropriety, Jeff, when you have a government employee who is prosecuting a criminal defendant turn over documentation to a private attorney who is suing a government entity and gets a thirty five million dollar judgment that you and I have to pay, and all the citizens of Cook County.

Jeff Berkowitz: So you think maybe Clifford is supporting her for that reason-- is that what you’re suggesting?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Robert Clifford has made hundreds of millions of dollars by suing the citizens of Cook County.

Jeff Berkowitz: He [the Clifford Law Firm] sponsors things on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, Chicago Public TV

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Wonderful.

Jeff Berkowitz: You wouldn’t say they-- I mean WTTW announces occasionally that [Clifford’s] a sponsor of WTTW [when a Clifford law firm attorney is on a WTTW panel], but they hardly ever say there’s any conflict. Do you think they possibly--

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: Robert Clifford has sued the Oak Forest Hospital, County of Cook, on behalf of a woman who was severely injured by an anesthesiologist, and has obtained a thirty six million dollar judgment in that case. He has sued the [Cook] County taxpayers regarding the fire at 69 West Washington, for in excess of a hundred million dollars.

Jeff Berkowitz: You’re saying Clifford feeds off Cook County, and now he’s trying to be a part of Cook County?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: That’s right. And the State’s Attorney’s office-

Jeff Berkowitz: He’s trying to be a part of Cook County by supporting Anita Alvarez?

Cmsr. Tony Peraica: He’s trying to cover both sides of the equation, and that’s inappropriate.

Jeff Berkowitz: Covering all bases? Is that-

Tony Peraica, Cook County Cmsr. and Republican Nominee for State’s Attorney of Cook County: When you have a personal injury private attorney suing the County of Cook—that the state’s attorney’s office has the responsibility to defend, and they settle these cases and get hundreds of millions of dollars, and now all of a sudden he’s using that same money to finance Ms. Alvarez’s campaign. I have a problem with that.

Where is Anita Alvarez? Silent on the issues?

Jeff Berkowitz: And, we’ve asked Anita Alvarez to [be on this show]. We contacted her this week, as we contacted Cmsr. Peraica. We contacted her at her personal number: we never heard back. We contacted her campaign: we never heard back. So, if they are out there, we’re fair and balanced. We’d like to have Anita Alvarez on, as the Democratic nominee for State’s Attorney of Cook County, both separately and together with Cmsr. Peraica. So, she’s not here, but that’s her choosing. She didn’t return our calls.
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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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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show with State's Attorney Republican Nominee and Cook County Board Member Tony Peraica is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

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 (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 Cmsr. Tony Peraica this coming Monday night.

The "Public Affairs," show with State's Attorney Republican Nominee and Cmsr. Tony Peraica will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, Aug. 4, 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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Tony Peraica, Cook County Board Member and Republican Nominee for State’s Attorney of Cook County debates and discusses the issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. Topics discussed include whether Peraica’s focus on private sector legal practice is a plus or minus for the State’s Attorney position; was illegal torture of accused criminal defendants occurring under State’s Attorney Daley’s watch? Did State’s Attorney Daley and First Ass’t Devine know about the torture in 1984? Did Daley and Devine know about the torture in the mid and late 80s and fail to prosecute Chicago cops involved in these activities? Should Anita Alvarez have done something about the failure to prosecute in the 80s?

Additional topics include the following: is there a legal conflict of interest between Democratic State’s Attorney Nominee Anita Alvarez and her Finance Chairman Robert Clifford relating to the Girl X civil and criminal cases? Did Anita Alvarez improperly authorize only misdemeanor negligent driving charges in a case involving an off duty, inebriated police officer driving a car that killed two young Hispanics in an auto accident? Is this an instance of politics influencing how the State’s Attorney office chose to prosecute, as Cmsr. Peraica argues?

Democratic State’s Attorney Nominee Anita Alvarez did not respond to invitations by show host Berkowitz to join Cmsr. Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) to discus and debate the issues on “Public Affairs.” It would have been good to have her there to get her views about the State’s Attorney’s office, as well as her responses to specific issues relating to her raised by Republican State’s Attorney Nominee Peraica. Should a candidate for State's Attorney be willing to appear on public policy TV shows to debate the issues?

Additional topics include the allegation by Peraica that politics is used to determine who is hired, promoted, as well as to influence many other important decisions in the State’s Attorney office; is there a corruption tax in Chicago, Cook County and the State of Illinois and is this due in good part, as Peraica argues, to the failure of the State’s Attorney of Cook County to prosecute public corruption; Is Peraica’s lack of experience as a prosecutor an issue in the State’s Attorney race? Is Anita Alvarez “one of the boys.” Did Alvarez have implicit support from Mayor Daley, Speaker Mike Madigan and Ald. Ed Burke, as Peraica argues, in her primary?

Additional topics include whether street crime is out of control in Chicago and Cook County? If so, who is to blame? Did Anita Alvarez look the other way, as Peraica argues, when it came to prosecuting pubic corruption? Does the State’s Attorney’s office focus on the low hanging fruit- the self abusers, as Peraica argues, giving the folks running the drug operations, the pushers, a pass?

Has the Gang of Four on the Cook County Board been reduced to the Gang of Two? What happened to Suffredin and Quigley? Did President Todd Stroger win in his battle with the reformers? Is Cook County just not ready for reform? Are Peraica and Claypool blood brothers? Will the Cook County Board roll back the Stroger sales tax increase? Can Peraica win the State’s Attorney of Cook County race? Can Republicans win in Cook County?
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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, a recent edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, Monday night's City of Chicago and Aurora edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica, our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is our show withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the "Public Affairs," show featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , Monday night's Chicago and Aurora editions of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols. Soon to be posted is the show we taped this past Sunday with 16th CD Democratic Nominee Robert Abboud, Barrington Hills Village President, who is taking on 16 year, 16th CD Republican incumbent, Cong. Don Manzullo. Cong. Manzullo is scheduled to tape "Public Affairs," on Sunday.

Better Than Monday night football: State Rep. candidate Tim Stratton, Cable and Streaming; Where is Rep. Karen May?

Tonight's Chicago and Aurora editions of Public Affairs airs in their regular Monday night slots: Through-out the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 and in the City of Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. Go here for a partial transcript of the show, more airing schedule details, show topics and information about our guest.
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Posted on our Youtube page is tonight's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [watch here].
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Yet another partial transcript of tonight's show is included directly, below.
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Supply side financing of Capital Plan?

Jeff Berkowitz: Capital plan. People are talking about a thirty four billion dollar capital plan, and the Governor seems to suggest, as do others, that they could finance it by a gaming bill, expand gaming, perhaps have a Chicago casino. If that were the case, would you support a capital bill plan and have it financed by gaming, expanded gaming?

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe; 58th Dist. State Rep. Candidate]: No, I would not.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would not. So you differ with Tom Cross. He’s your leader and he seems to support it.

Tim Stratton: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: You say to Tom, you respectfully disagree.

Tim Stratton: I do.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you want a capital plan?

Tim Stratton: I absolutely want a capital plan.

Jeff Berkowitz: How are you going to finance it?

Tim Stratton: I think that is an area where we could do some bonded indebtedness to finance a capital plan.

Jeff Berkowitz: But how are you going to pay for the bonded debts?

Tim Stratton: Sure. Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: The gaming bill was supposed to pay for that. You say no gaming. How do you pay for those bonds?

Tim Stratton: I think we pay for the bonds by looking at ways to increase our revenues across the board.

Jeff Berkowitz: How are you going to increase revenues? You don’t want to increase taxes.

Tim Stratton: Sure. Not increase taxes.

Jeff Berkowitz: So what do you do to increase revenues?

Tim Stratton: Look. As the state starts to grow and we start to turn things around, we’ll have more sales tax revenue. We’ll have more of those types of dollars coming in, from increased business, increased payroll taxes.

Jeff Berkowitz: So jobs and growth—more people working, more people paying income taxes.

Tim Stratton: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s the way. Natural growth? Not increasing the tax rates, [but] increasing tax revenue.

Tim Stratton: Absolutely.

Where’s Rep. Karen May?

Jeff Berkowitz: We’re going to continue to speak as the credits roll, but I very much want to thank our guest, Tim Stratton. He is running for state rep in the 58th district. That includes a number of areas on the North Shore. He’s running against Karen May, the incumbent for the last eight years. We’ve invited Karen May here. We hope she’ll accept and come and give her point of view here. That’s what democracy is about—listen to the Democrat, listen to the Republican, listen to anybody else, see what they think. Right? [Ed. Note, to this date, Rep. May has shown no interest in scheduling a time to appear on “Public Affairs.”]

Tim Stratton: Absolutely.

Pro-Choice on Abortion

Jeff Berkowitz: Very quickly, cultural issues. Gays, God, guns, abortion. Not necessarily in that order. Abortion. You’re pro-choice?

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe, candidate for 58th Dist. State Rep.]: Pro-choice.

Jeff Berkowitz: You support Roe v. Wade?

Tim Stratton: I do.

Parental Notice w/ judicial bypass

Jeff Berkowitz: But you would like to see parental notice laws, with judicial bypass?

Tim Stratton: I would. With proper judicial bypass, I think that parental notification is something that most moderate families want in Illinois.

Jeff Berkowitz: You support basic gun control?

Tim Stratton: I do.

Ban on Assault Weapons

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support a ban on assault weapons statewide?

Tim Stratton: I would.

Civil Unions and bans on discrimination based on sexual orientation

Jeff Berkowitz: Same-sex marriage. Would you support same-sex marriage?

Tim Stratton: No, I would not support same-sex marriage.

Jeff Berkowitz: Civil unions?

Tim Stratton: I would support civil unions.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you support the bills that have passed that ban discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation?

Tim Stratton: Correct. Correct.

A moment of silent reflection

Jeff Berkowitz: Is there enough God in the schools, or is there too much God in public schools?

Tim Stratton: I think that-

Jeff Berkowitz: You know, there was the moment of silence [bill].

Tim Stratton: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: It was kind of overturned by a court. Some people say it’s not praying, it’s just giving the kids time to reflect. How would you have voted on that moment of silence?

Tim Stratton: From what I know, I would have probably supported it. I think there are some problems with the legislation of enforcement and how mechanically you make that work, but I don’t personally have a problem with taking a silent moment for reflection.

Jeff Berkowitz: As long as it’s not mandated prayer, you would support that?

Tim Stratton: As long as it’s non-secular. I would not support publicly mandated prayer.

Ban on partial birth abortion

Jeff Berkowitz: What about the ban on partial-birth abortion? Would you support that?

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: I would support a ban on partial-birth abortion.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would there be an exception for, not just the life, but the health of the mother?

Tim Stratton: There would be an exception for the life or the health of the mother.

Jeff Berkowitz: So with those two caveats, you would support that ban?

Tim Stratton: With those two caveats. Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: But you’re running more on economic issues than on social issues?

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: Absolutely. We’ve got to get the economic situation under control.

Jeff Berkowitz: Reform? Would you say that’s part?

Tim Stratton: Absolutely. We need comprehensive ethics reform.

Karen May says no to More Refineries?

Jeff Berkowitz: And on environmental issues, there was a bill for expediting the permit process for refineries. You supported that?

Tim Stratton: Correct. I would support that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Karen May was one of the few state reps to oppose that?

Tim Stratton: She was one of twenty two or twenty three state reps to oppose that.

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s her problem with it?

Tim Stratton: Not sure. I’m not sure.
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Thanks to "Public Affairs," intern Amy Allen for preparing a draft of the above partial transcript of tonight's Chicago and Aurora editions of "Public Affairs."
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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, a recent edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, Tonight's City of Chicago and Aurora edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica, our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is our show withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the "Public Affairs," show featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , tonight's Chicago and Aurora editions of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this coming week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

John Edwards: A cheating heart, perhaps, but not a family values hypocrite; MSM to Enquirer: it’s a “private affair.”

Since the Edwards “love child,” story broke again earlier this week, the real interest has been the betting whether the news item would make its way onto the MSM. It looks like as far as it gets is some MSM blogs [see here] and some MSM dot coms. See here and here. Apparently, the MSM think there is no justification to drag their readers through the Edwards’ muck. Putting it in University of Chicago terms, it’s plain “icky.” [As some U of Chicago faculty members once characterized an affair between a Law School Dean and his development assistant].

Moreover, Edwards is done. You can stick a fork in him. He has no shot at becoming Obama’s VP or winning a place in his cabinet, or holding any other future public office or position, for that matter. All were realistic possibilities until Edwards decided he would pay a late night visit to the Beverly Hilton and then play peek-a-boo with the press who were involved in a stakeout of the former U. S. Senator, 2004 Dem VP Nominee to Kerry and 2004 and 2008 Dem Presidential Primary candidate. It was Gary Hart’s follow me dare to the media, without the dare.

A Slate columnist [Shafer] tried to argue the MSM should cover the report of an Edward’s love child not for the prurient interest or even for the “public’s right to know,” but for the hypocrisy angle-- trying to argue Edwards is a hetero version of U. S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), but with a much better hairdo (and quite a bit more hair). But, that dog won’t hunt.

One, as Slate columnist Shafer acknowledges, there has been no arrest of Edwards, nothing on the police blotter. Moreover, Senator Craig made a bit of a career out of bashing gays legislatively, only to admit implicitly, “I are one.” Edwards, albeit having involved his wife centrally in his 2008 Presidential campaign, was hardly a “family values,” candidate.

No, if Edwards was to be covered by the MSM, it was for his “cheating heart.” Unlike Larry Craig however, Edwards is neither a sitting U. S. Senator nor even a public figure at this point. The Enquirer's report of Edward's peculiar late night visit to the Beverly Hilton accomplished the latter status, or lack thereof. Further, no hypocrisy to look at here, folks. At worst, just a cheating heart. The MSM conclusion? There’s nothing to see here, folks, “just move on, please.”
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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, a recent edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this past week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this coming week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica, our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is our show withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the "Public Affairs," show featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this past week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this coming week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with Cook County Cmsr. and Republican State's Attorney Nominee Tony Peraica and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

John Edwards' Enquirer story seeps toward the MSM, amid a blog report of a non-denial denial

The John Edwards love-child, mistress National Enquirer story [See cite herein] continues to bubble just below the MSM surface. Yesterday the story made it’s way into a MSM left of center blog [Opinion LA Times] and conservative online magazine [National Review] and the [Hill]. Edwards went about his business holding a Denver presser related to his efforts to end poverty] and there was one uncorroborated report that someone questioned Edwards at a presser about the Enquirer report, with Edwards said to have given a non-denial denial.

Chicago WLS 890 AM radio show host Tom Roeser argues in his blog that The Enquirer wouldn’t risk a defamation lawsuit from plaintiffs’ PI lawyer Edwards unless it was confident of the truthfulness of its story. Moreover, the significant “environmental” detail included in the Enquirer report, e.g., how Edwards was dressed, etc. tends to support, at a minimum, that Edwards was at the hotel for some kind of a late night meeting. Further, reports that Edwards entered the hotel thru a side entrance, went to a lower level elevator, avoiding the lobby, hid from reporters in a bathroom, etc. would presumably be verifiable by hotel security cameras.

Politically, the important point is that if Edwards was on the Veep short list, the Enquirer story, true or false, most likely made the list a little shorter. All in all, it looks like Edwards is on his way to focusing on a private life, purportedly directed at ending poverty —until the next political opportunity presents itself-- and the Enquirer will, no doubt, tuck its story away for another day.
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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 week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is our show withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include the "Public Affairs," show featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

The John Edwards ride, RIP

This reporter is not in the habit of reading the Enquirer, let alone relying on its articles. However, the mag seems to have nailed John Edwards, so to speak.

Senior NATIONAL ENQUIRER Reporter Alexander Hitchen asked Edwards why he was visiting Rielle and whether he was ready to confirm that he was the father of her baby.

Shocked to see a reporter, and without saying anything, Edwards ran up the stairs leading from the hotel basement to the lobby. But, spotting a photographer, he doubled back into the basement. As he emerged from the stairwell, reporter Butterfield questioned him about his hookup with Rielle.

Edwards did not answer and then ran into a nearby restroom. He stayed inside for about 15 minutes, refusing to answer questions from the NATIONAL ENQUIRER about what he was doing in the hotel. A group of hotel security men eventually escorted him from the men's room, while preventing the NATIONAL ENQUIRER reporters from following him out of the hotel.

On the other hand, one would think if you were going to stake out Edwards, you’d have a camera in tow. Yet, no pictures to support this story. Notwithstanding that nagging doubt, it appears that Edwards has reached the end of the line. A mistress and a Love Child? Even if the whole story is not true, something is not right if Edwards was anywhere that hotel, Rielle and the stairwell. Perhaps Mr. Bill could survive that. John Edwards? I don’t think so.

He would have made, some close to Obama and some in the MSM thought, a solid VP choice for Obama. Edwards is your prototypical attack dog and a great debater. He has roots in the south, although distrusted by many in his home states of North and South Carolina. And, he is much more of a populist than Obama.

Yes, he is short of military experience and national gravitas. But, Obama-Edwards would have oozed youth, energy, charm, smarts and confidence in the future. In a new age election, this ticket wasn’t balanced; it didn’t even try. Instead, it was all about electrifying the country. It was less like JFK and LBJ than it was JFK running with JFK.

And, if Edward’s military and foreign policy shortfall was a problem, Obama might like Edwards as his Attorney General. Edwards was like that. He was a trial lawyer who didn’t know from losing. In 2004, he came this close to surging at the end to take Iowa. And, if he had won there, who knows. Coming up short, he was still the VP nominee.

In the 2008 Presidential Dem Primay finals competition, Edwards rounded out the Obama-Clinton-Edwards Mod Squad. Of the three, John Edwards was widely thought to be the best natural politician. Yet, Obama would summarize it well from the podium when he would look around and say, “we got a woman, we got an African-American and we got John Edwards.” As Obama implied, Team Edwards was overwhelmed by two organizations whose time had come. As they say-- In politics, timing is everything.

Perhaps Edwards sensed all along this would be his last "picture show," and timing just wasn’t with him. And now, even his trial lawyer skills can’t work their magic. A love-child would seem to be the ultimate nanny problem. Good-bye John Edwards. It was an interesting ride, while it lasted.
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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 week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is last Monday night's show in the cities of Chicago and Aurora withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include this past Monday night's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; 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 Hume-Abrams-Hannity-Oprah-Couric: Berkowitz w/State Rep. Candidate Stratton (R-Glencoe), Cable and Streaming; Where is Karen May?

Jeff Berkowitz: Some people characterize it as a sixty-six percent increase [in the income tax]. And [the tax swap would] lower property taxes somewhat, but there would be a net increase in revenue by House Bill 750, or similar plans, of six to seven billion additional tax dollars.
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Jeff Berkowitz: You oppose that?

Tim Stratton [State Rep. Candidate (R-Glencoe)]: I oppose that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, [Rep.] Karen May [D-Highland Park], you know her position?

Tim Stratton: I’m not sure what her position is. When she was asked by the Pioneer Press about her position on that, her response was that we would have to wait and see what leadership came up with...

Jeff Berkowitz: She [Rep. May] might be for it?

Tim Stratton: She may be. I am not sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Karen, if you’re out there, come on Public Affairs, and we’ll get your position straight-- right from you.
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Now posted on our Youtube page (Third to your right from top left hand corner] is this week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton(R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), Watch show with State Rep. Candidate Stratton.
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Does Eight-year Democratic State Rep. incumbent, Karen May, lack focus on the fiscal issues of the State, as asserted by her opponent, State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe]? Tune in to this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," to watch that and many other key state legislative issues discussed by 58th Dist. candidate Stratton.

You can watch the show with Glencoe Parks Commissioner, Ice Miller senior counsel and Republican State Rep. Candidate Stratton on your computer, 24-7. State Rep. May [D-Highland Park] was invited, prior to the taping of our show w/Candidate Stratton, to appear on "Public Affairs." Show host Jeff Berkowitz spoke with Rep. May and two of her staffers after the taping of the show and invited, Rep. May, again, to appear on "Public Affairs." She has yet to respond with a date when she is available.
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The Public Affairs suburban airing schedule is included, below.
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State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe) on Speaker Mike, Blagojevich, Pres. Jones, budget deficits, education, town meetings, pension commitments, possible Democrat plans for a 2009 tax increase and/or tax swap, a capital plan/budget, gaming, gays, guns, God and abortion.
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[See a more detailed list of show topics, below].
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A Partial Transcript of this week's suburban edition of Public Affairs, featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) is included, below:
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Illinois Democrats plotting to raise income taxes in 2009?

Jeff Berkowitz: …people are saying that Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is planning to handle the deficit by [electing more Democrats in November, 2008 ]…right now the Democratic margin in the House is 67-51, Madigan would like it to be veto-proof.

State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.]: Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: Then it is expected the Speaker would favor [and pass in 2009] an increase in the income tax, perhaps get the Senate to go along with that. The Governor says he opposes that, but …his veto would be over-ridden.

Tim Stratton: Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think that’s the scenario? Are the Democrats plotting to raise taxes [in Illinois] in 2009? Raise income taxes?

Chicago Sun-Times wants to elect more Republicans?

Tim Stratton: Sure. I think if you look at what history has shown us, that that is a distinct possibility. And, I think there is a reason why the Chicago Sun-Times came out just last week, saying that we need to elect more Republicans to state government.

Jeff Berkowitz: The Sun-Times said that?

Tim Stratton: The Sun-Times said that.

Jeff Berkowitz: You expect to get them to endorse you over your opponent?

Tim Stratton: I will work to get their endorsement.

Stratton would not support higher taxes?

Jeff Berkowitz: We’ll see what they have to say about that. Okay, so you wouldn’t go along with that income tax increase under any circumstances?

State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.]: No, I would not.

Jeff Berkowitz: You would look to cut spending?

Tim Stratton: I would look to cut spending.

Jeff Berkowitz: But on education, you say you have to be careful, and you want to avoid significant cuts?

Tim Stratton: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: But you might cut the rate of growth, in spending, for education?

Tim Stratton: I might cut the rate of growth in spending. We might have to do that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Although, mostly, the local education, kindergarten through twelfth grade, in your area-- a great percentage comes from property tax.

Tim Stratton: Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: So it’s really, in large part, not affected by what you do in the state. True?

Tim Stratton: Correct. Now there is legislation that is pending which would—and this has been floated around for some time—which would swap local property taxes with a corresponding income tax increase.

Jeff Berkowitz: Which would raise the income tax from three percent to either four or five percent?

Tim Stratton: Five percent I think was the number that I heard.

Jeff Berkowitz: Some people characterize it as a sixty-six percent increase [in the income tax]. And [the tax swap would] lower property taxes somewhat, but there would be a net increase in revenue by House Bill 750, or similar plans, of six to seven billion additional tax dollars.

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: Sure.

Does Tim Stratton support a Tax Swap? Karen May?

Jeff Berkowitz: You oppose that?

Tim Stratton: I oppose that.

Jeff Berkowitz: Your opponent, [Rep.] Karen May [D-Highland Park], you know her position?

Tim Stratton: I’m not sure what her position is. When she was asked by the Pioneer Press about her position on that, her response was that we would have to wait and see what leadership came up with, to make sure it wouldn’t hurt our school districts.

Jeff Berkowitz: She [Rep. May] might be for it?

Tim Stratton: She may be. I am not sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: We don’t know. Karen, if you’re out there, come on Public Affairs, and we’ll get your position straight-- right from you.

Who supports local control of schools? Stratton? May?

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: And I oppose that [the tax swap], by the way, partially on the basis of local control of school districts. I think residents I’ve spoken with in the 58th district understand that we have some of the best school districts in the state, if not the nation. They’re willing to pay for that quality education, and they oppose the notion of putting Springfield in charge of our school finances, which, in essence, this bill would do because the monies would be collected by the state.

Jeff Berkowitz: And you don’t want to put Springfield in charge? You want Glencoe to be in charge of Glencoe? New Trier in charge of New Trier?

Tim Stratton: Exactly. I want Lake Forest in charge of Lake Forest schools, Deerfield in charge of the Deerfield schools, Northbrook in charge of the Northbrook schools.

Jeff Berkowitz: Local control. You believe in local control?

Tim Stratton: I do.

Jeff Berkowitz: Karen May, you’re not so sure [of her position]?

Tim Stratton: Not so sure.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, again, we’ll ask Karen May when she’s here, if she comes on, and she can speak for herself.

Who supports reforms in education? May? Stratton?

Jeff Berkowitz: Reforms. You’d like to see some reform in education?

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: I would. I would.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, in Chicago, where there are more, perhaps, non-performing schools, schools that don’t perform well than on the North Shore—four hundred thousand students or so, many say half are in failing schools. They’re spending fourteen thousand dollars per kid, per year. Pretty hefty amount, not so much, perhaps, as on the North Shore, a but decent expenditure. Should there be more charter schools available, more options in the city of Chicago?

Tim Stratton: I generally believe we should have more options, more charter schools.

Jeff Berkowitz: More choice?

Tim Stratton: More choice.

Jeff Berkowitz: More competition?

Tim Stratton: More competition. I think we have to make sure that the organizations that are running the charter schools are properly certified, accredited, and the children are getting-

Jeff Berkowitz: The people are on waiting lists for these charter schools. Don’t you think they can make the decisions as to whether these schools are accountable and good?

Tim Stratton: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: Because if they don’t like the charter schools, they can always go back to the public school.

Tim Stratton: Exactly. Exactly.

Jeff Berkowitz: So wouldn’t we rely on them for whether it’s doing a good job?

Should Government or You make the important choices?

Tim Stratton: In large part, I believe in the market.

Jeff Berkowitz: You believe in individuals making choices for themselves?

Tim Stratton: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: Is this the Republican message? To get distracted for a second. What is the Republican message coming out from [Republican House Leader] Tom Cross, from [Senate Republican Leader] Frank Watson, and from you and others running for the state House and state Senate? What’s the State GOP message?

Tim Stratton[R-Glencoe]: I think the state GOP message is that, look, we’ve got to have more personal responsibility, personal decision-making, first and foremost. I think that that’s an excellent point. I think the other economic message that we’re getting out is that, look, we know Illinois is broken. We know that people expect more out of their state government. And, we have to be prepared to give it to them. And that means encouraging job growth and investment in Illinois, not treating business as the enemy and driving jobs out of the state.

How to encourage job growth.

Jeff Berkowitz: What do you do to encourage job growth?

Tim Stratton: I think we make for a more favorable environment.

Jeff Berkowitz: How do you make it a more favorable environment?

Tim Stratton: Specifically, what we need to do is get our tax and fee situation under control. My opponent supported some of the largest tax and fee increases in the state’s history, with the various Blagojevich budgets which have been enacted.

Jeff Berkowitz: That impairs business development, that’s your point? Economic development? Growth by businesses?

Tim Stratton: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: Less growth, fewer jobs?

Tim Stratton: Absolutely.

Jeff Berkowitz: Keep taxes low, attract more companies, more jobs?

Tim Stratton: Correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: That’s the message coming out?

Stratton’s websites:

Tim Stratton: You know, another thing that folks can read about on my web site is-

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s your website?

Tim Stratton: It’s TimForIllinois.com…

Jeff Berkowitz: And you’ve got a blog as well.

Tim Stratton: I do. I’ve got a blog—it’s ChangeIllinois.blogspot.com And we’ve got a lot of important state issues and material there.
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Tim Stratton, Candidate for State Rep. (R-Glencoe, 58th District) debates and discusses state legislative issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz. Topics discussed include whether the problem in Springfield is a hateful relationship between the Speaker of the Illinois House and the Governor or is the problem a two billion dollar budget deficit; how much does the fact that there is no love lost between the Senate President and the Speaker compound the problem? What role do the Republicans play in the budget process?

Should the State issue sixteen billion dollars worth of pension obligation bonds? Should there be an across the board cut in spending by State Government? Does the eight-year Democratic incumbent, Rep. Karen May, lack focus on the fiscal issues of the State? Can a freshman State Rep. expect to have an impact on the way the Legislature handles fiscal issues?

Additional topics discussed include whether Rep. May, in the name of democracy, ought to be willing to do five town meetings with Tim Stratton and whether Rep. May ought to be willing to come on “Public Affairs.” Should Illinois keep its commitment to pay prior pension commitments? Even if that means raising taxes significantly to fund those pension commitments. Should lllinois move toward defined contributions instead of defined benefits for its public employee pensions?

Further topics discussed include whether Speaker Mike Madigan and other Democrats are planning to raise taxes in 2009? Would Stratton support any net increases in taxes? A tax swap? House Bill 750? How would Rep. May respond to those issues? Should there be local control of school districts? Should parents in Chicago have more charter school options and choice? What is the State GOP message? How do you improve the business climate in Illinois? Should there be a Capital Budget/Plan? How to finance the bonded indebtedness for a Capital Plan? Expanded Gaming?

Yet even more topics discussed include Gays, Guns, God and abortion? Is Stratton Pro-Choice on the issue of abortion? Does he Support Roe v. Wade? Does he support Parental Notice with judicial bypass? Support basic gun control? A statewide ban on assault weapons? Support Same Sex Marriage? Civil Unions? A silent moment for reflection at the beginning of the school day? A ban on partial birth abortions? Ethics Reform? An expedited permit process for refineries in Illinois?

About our Guest: State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton

State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) is a Senior Counsel with the 250 attorney, multi-office firm of Ice Miller, working out of its Chicago office. His practice focuses on Public Finance and Municipal Law. Tim has lived in Illinois for the last ten yours and in Glencoe, with his wife and young daughter, for the last five. He is an elected member of the Parks Board in Glencoe. To find out more about candidate Tim Stratton, please go here.
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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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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule.

The show with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton [Watch here] is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

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 (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 State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), this coming Monday night.

The "Public Affairs," show with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, July 28, 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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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 week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this coming week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is last Monday night's show in the cities of Chicago and Aurora withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include tonight's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; 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 Monday night football: U of Chicago v. Princeton, Berkowitz with RCP's Tom Bevan on Obama and McCain, Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: So, why couldn’t Obama go? What was the point?

Tom Bevan [Executive Editor and Co-Founder, RealClearPolitics.com] I don’t know. I think it was a missed opportunity for him and I think his people were sort of—

Jeff Berkowitz: Maybe it was unintentional? Maybe he just prefers hoops to politics for a day?
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Tonight's edition of Public Affairs airs in its regular Monday night slots: Through-out the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 and in the City of Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10 [Go here] for a partial transcript of the show, more airing schedule details, show topics and information about our guest, Tom Bevan. Go here for another partial transcript of tonight's show.
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Posted on our Youtube page (at top left hand corner] is tonight's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Tom Bevan, Executive Editor and co-founder of RealClearPolitics.com. [Watch show with Bevan here].
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Yet another partial transcript of tonight's show is included directly, below.
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Obama courts the Hillary voters

Tom Bevan: …and, this is the big question, right? These Hillary Clinton voters. These sort of white, working class Democrats.

Jeff Berkowitz: Where do they go?

RealClearPolitics' Tom Bevan: Well, Obama’s support drops among those folks from sort of the generic pool of Democrats in the poll [at] roughly 80%. When you talk to a Hillary Clinton voter, it drops to about 65% (the percentage who will commit to Obama, as of now).

Jeff Berkowitz: And, is it just sour grapes (felt by the Hillary supporters) and that will change, as the bitterness of the primary campaign heals, or is it something else?

Tom Bevan: …there will probably be some of those folks who come home, but some of them won’t and some will be in the middle or waiting for Obama to make that connection with them: make that effort, make that outreach, show them some respect. He certainly missed an opportunity by not going to the DLC, which was here in Chicago.

Obama disses DLC voters

Jeff Berkowitz: That was the Democratic Leadership Council, sort of conservative, centrist…for the Democratic Party

Tom Bevan: Right.

Jeff Berkowitz: It was held in Chicago, we’re taping this on July 6th, 2008-- it was held on June 28-30, 2008 in downtown Chicago.

Tom Bevan: That’s right.

Jeff Berkowitz: Obama was in town, at home—

Tom Bevan: Got his haircut, played hoops

Jeff Berkowitz: He just didn’t go over there [to the DLC]. Was that an intentional slap at those guys, so that DailyKos wouldn’t get annoyed?

Tom Bevan: Well, actually, Marcos Moulitsas, who runs DailyKos, was there and spoke on a panel, and I think Harold Ford is—

Jeff Berkowitz: So, why couldn’t Obama go? What was the point?

Tom Bevan: I don’t know. I think it was a missed opportunity for him and I think his people were sort of—

Jeff Berkowitz: Maybe it was unintentional? Maybe he just prefers hoops to politics for a day?

Tom Bevan: I don’t think the Obama folks are that—

Jeff Berkowitz: So, there was some reason he didn’t want to be a part of that?

Tom Bevan: Yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Be a little too centrist? Wouldn’t help him much?

Tom Bevan: Apparently. I mean people were saying well, look, it is an organization that has been historically closely tied to the Clintons, but I don’t even necessarily buy that.

Obama runs to the Center like any other pol?

Jeff Berkowitz: …Let’s flip it over to Obama. What does he have and what do you pick up on the polling that are Barack Obama’s ideological problems, as we talk in the first week of July, people are saying Barack seems to be doing some flip-flops. He seems to be moving toward the center. Some speculate he figures he’s got the left. He’s got the DailyKos. They’ll give him some leeway. They know what he has to do to get elected, as long as he comes back [to them] in January, 2009. Am I being too cynical?

Tom Bevan: [Laughter]- it’s not possible to be too cynical.

Jeff Berkowitz: …my saying is: I try and try to be as cynical as these folks [the pols], but I just can’t keep up. Right?

Tom Bevan: …that is, I think, Obama’s big problem. [His] big challenge is that he has to—he’s not seen as sort of your typical politician. I mean, people view him as- not through the cynical lens—

Jeff Berkowitz: not just another pol.

Tom Bevan: And he risks that by some of these moves.

Jeff Berkowitz: Like what?

Tom Bevan: Well, I think the Left will give him a pass in certain areas. But, I think they have sat up and taken notice of his move to the right on the FISA bill…
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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 week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, this coming week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward)...and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is last Monday night's show in the cities of Chicago and Aurora withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include tonight's Chicago and Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan , this week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols

Berkowitz joins Ralph Martire on Roeser's Political Shootout tonight

Jeff Berkowitz will join Ralph Martire as a guest tonight on Tom Roeser’s weekly, Sunday, call-in radio show, Political Shoot-out, WLS 890 AM Radio, from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
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You say you don't live within the WLS broadcast area? Not to worry. You can go here to listen to the program, live, on the web.[You may encounter some technical problems in signing on-- allow five minutes, or so, for following the prompts for technical difficulties, and you should be able to hear WLS live on the web] See here for Tom’s Blog which has Tom's thoughts on a great many matters, political and otherwise.

Upset with something Berkowitz said on his show [www.PublicAffairsTv.com] or the [Public Affairs YouTube.com page], something he wrote on this blog or just the way he looks? Tom Roeser’s show on Sunday night is your chance to fire back. A free fire zone, so to speak. Also, you can help shape the show and its topics by calling in with your questions and comments—312-591-8900. Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Centrists, Independents, Peronistas, Communists [no collect calls, please], Putin followers, elitists, clingers to religion and guns, outside agitators and others are, of course, all welcome.

Tonight's show may touch on the Springfield six-ring circus, including whether Speaker Mike Madigan is setting the table for a Januray, 2009 massive income tax increase, is Ralph Martire salivating at that prospect, the possible impeachment of Governor Blagojevich and whether there is credible evidence of an impeachable offense by Blago [Watch here the Public Affairs show with Rep. Durkin [dealing in part with this topic], the Blagojevich meltdown and the toxic tone in Springfield among Dems which might help the Republicans be resurrected in Illinois; Are the Republicans in Illinois now the party of ethics and better jobs [[Watch here this episode of Public Affairs with Senator Dillard dealing in part with this topic], will there be a capital budget, should there be state government provided healthcare insurance for all low income and middle class individuals in Illinois who need it? Should there be a Chicago casino, should there be more gaming and perhaps additional casinos in Illinois,For a look back at how the more things change, the more they stay the same, See here for a March 25, 2007, retro TV interview with Illinois Chief Operating Officer John Filan about Gov. Blagojevich's long defunct Gross Receipts Tax, archived shows with State Reps. Mary Flowers [D-Chicago] and Jim Durkin [R-Western Springs] discussing State Budget and Tax issues ].

Who knows, we may even discuss education, economics, school vouchers- school choice, recovery in New Orleans, Governor Bobby Jindahl's chances to be McCain's VP, charter schools, jobs and free lunches .

This reporter doesn't know the topics for tonight—they are determined by Mr. Roeser, with some incisive suggestions, no doubt, by his lovely, energetic and intelligent wife Lillian. However, an educated guess is that the questions will consist of various Illinois and Presidential political issues, possibly selected from the following questions, some of which are holdovers from prior episodes of "Political Shootout," or "Public Affairs."

Of course, you can call and ask any of the below questions or whatever you like. As with University of Chicago Ph. D. prelim questions in economics over the years, many of the questions on Political Shoot-out stay the same each week, only the answers change [or do they?]. And you are Free to Choose, so to speak, as this is the land of Milton Friedman, the late, great Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics from the University of Chicago [WWMFS, i.e., what would Milton Friedman say? is the question we classically ask, followed with:

--What would the last five years have looked like in Illinois under a Governor Vallas? the next five years?

--Could Ald. Sandi Jackson be the next Mayor of the City of Chicago? the next Cong. from the 1st CD? from the 2nd CD?

--WasChicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington correct, once upon a time, to be concerned that "concealed carry," would put a dangerous person with a gun next to her in a movie theater, or is that more likely to be the case without a concealed carry law?

--Was Barack Obama Emil Jones' show pony, as Senator Rauschenberger contends? [watch here]

--Was Obama way too cautious in his handling of the Pastor Disaster?

--Is Obama's cautious nature both his strength and his weakness?

--In light of what has transpired about Rev. Wright, Rezko and Ayers, does Sen. Dillard reqret the TV ad he cut for Obama last year. [Watch Sen. Dillard discuss this topic].

-Will the state GOP cave in the next few months on its hostility to increased taxes? Will House Republican leader Cross lead the capitulation?

-Will 2006 10th CD Democratic nominee Dan Seals come back to beat Cong. Kirk [R-Highland Park] this year? Does Obama's almost certain presence at the top of the ballot result in an almost certain loss for suburban agenda Kirk? Are both Seals and Kirk playing a prevent defense?

-Is WTTW's Chicago Tonight in need of an aggressive political interviewer to boost its sagging ratings and its lack of balance? Which cable TV personality in the Chicago Metro area could provide it?

-Is it past time for a change in leadership in the State GOP?

- Could Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (D-Des Plaines) upset first term Republican incumbent Cong. Peter Roskam in the Illinois 6th CD? Watch Morgenthaler go after Roskam here. Is Roskam hiding from Public Affairs?

--Could Scott Harper upset ten year Republican incumbent Cong. Judy Biggert in the Illinois 13th CD. Watch Harper go after Biggert here. Is Biggert hiding from Public Affairs?
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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 week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with RealClearPolitics.com's Tom Bevan, next week's suburban edition of Public Affairs with State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.), our prior shows with State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda), Ald. Sandi Jackson(Chicago, 7th Ward), 13th CD Democratic Nominee Scott Harper, State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic Nominee Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*************************************************************
Now included on the Public Affairs YouTube page is last Monday night's show in the cities of Chicago and Aurora withAld. Sandi Jackson. Additional very recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include this past week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan and next week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Rep. Candidate Tim Stratton (R-Glencoe, 58th Dist.) and our recent show featuring State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Wauconda). Other recently posted shows include our shows featuring 13th CD Demoratic Nominee Scott Harper, Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- ; State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols