Judge Mikva clarifies his prior decision not to endorse anyone in the IL 10th CD Democratic Primary. Could Judge Mikva reconsider? Why the confusion?
Former Judge Ab Mikva said to Dan Seals: “Well, I endorsed you when Julie [Hamos] was not a candidate or even thinking about running and you have to treat it as a non-operative endorsement at this point.” So, what does that mean, Mikva said…
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Judge Abner Mikva confirmed yesterday, somewhat ironically during a press conference in which he endorsed, unequivocally, David Hoffman for the U. S. Senate in the Democratic Primary, that he was not going to endorse in the 10th CD Democratic Primary between the two leading candidates: State Rep. Julie Hamos [D-Evanston] [Watch here] and third time candidate Dan Seals[watch here, at about 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 23:00 into the program]. The former Illinois state legislator, 10th CD congressman, D.C. Court of Appeals Chief Judge and White House counsel to President Clinton clarified, perhaps, how Seals might have misunderstood him and mistakenly announced recently that Mikva had endorsed Seals in his current quest to be the Democrats’ nominee in the 10th CD.
Judge Mikva endorsed Seals in his 2006 and 2008 runs in the 10th CD. And, as Ab Mikva responded to a question from this journalist yesterday, “Back in January, 2009 or whenever, [Seals] told me he was going to run again and he said, ‘Will you help me?’ and I said, ‘Of course.’” Mikva added, “At that time, Julie [Hamos] had not even indicated she was planning to run for the seat up there in congress.” Mikva elaborated:
Then, all of a sudden, Julie decided she wanted to [run in the 10th CD]. I go back a long, long way with her. Her husband [Former State Appellate Justice Alan Greiman] is my oldest political friend in Illinois. I have known Julie since she was first in public office and it became very uncomfortable for me, obviously, and when Seals called me and said ‘What about it?’ I said, ‘Well, I endorsed you when Julie was not a candidate or even thinking about running and you have to treat it as a non-operative endorsement at this point.’ So, what does that mean? I said, ‘Well, I don’t want to make a bad story for you by withdrawing my endorsement, but just understand I am not going to be doing anything in the campaign.’
And, [Dan Seals] misunderstood. And, his press release, in fairness to him—he tried to talk about the endorsement as if it had been in the past. But, obviously, it became an issue and I tried to make it clear that I was not endorsing him; I was trying not to be a factor in the campaign.
The moral to the story? When a former federal appellate judge tells you an endorsement “is non-operative,” that probably means you shouldn’t send out a fund raising letter touting that former judge’s endorsement. Because if you do, he is going to rule against you. Better to let “sleeping dogs lie.” What does that mean? Don’t try to make those “inoperative endorsements,” operative, Dan Seals.
And, that’s the final word on this story. How do I know? Because sometimes a recovering lawyer gets the final word. Even in Judge Mikva’s courtroom. Unless, of course, Judge Mikva changes his mind and decides to pick between old friends and his newer friend. Could that happen between now and Feb. 2, 2010? Although unlikely, it's possible. You never know, for sure, what will happen in the 10th CD. Just ask the current occupant of the seat, Cong. Mark “Cap and Trade” Kirk (R-Highland Park), who you might have thought would have been a likely casualty of the Democratic Tsunami in 2006 and then, for sure, knocked off by the Obama blitz in 2008. But, it just didn’t work out that way. Ask Dan Seals. Those predictions became "inoperative," a word Dan Seals is beginning to understand quite well.
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More than 110 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page . *********************************************************************
Also posted on our YouTube page are two recent WVON 1690 AM Radio shows:
(1) an August 23, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with Cong. Danny K. Davis (Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary) and call ins. The show focuses on issues related to the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary.
(2) an August 30, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with, with Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft, ABC-7 Political Editor Charles Thomas , Terry O'Brien, President, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary, and call ins. The show focuses on gubernatorial race issues, including state spending, tax, education and school choice; and Cook County Board President race issues of race, taxes and much more.
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Judge Abner Mikva confirmed yesterday, somewhat ironically during a press conference in which he endorsed, unequivocally, David Hoffman for the U. S. Senate in the Democratic Primary, that he was not going to endorse in the 10th CD Democratic Primary between the two leading candidates: State Rep. Julie Hamos [D-Evanston] [Watch here] and third time candidate Dan Seals[watch here, at about 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 23:00 into the program]. The former Illinois state legislator, 10th CD congressman, D.C. Court of Appeals Chief Judge and White House counsel to President Clinton clarified, perhaps, how Seals might have misunderstood him and mistakenly announced recently that Mikva had endorsed Seals in his current quest to be the Democrats’ nominee in the 10th CD.
Judge Mikva endorsed Seals in his 2006 and 2008 runs in the 10th CD. And, as Ab Mikva responded to a question from this journalist yesterday, “Back in January, 2009 or whenever, [Seals] told me he was going to run again and he said, ‘Will you help me?’ and I said, ‘Of course.’” Mikva added, “At that time, Julie [Hamos] had not even indicated she was planning to run for the seat up there in congress.” Mikva elaborated:
Then, all of a sudden, Julie decided she wanted to [run in the 10th CD]. I go back a long, long way with her. Her husband [Former State Appellate Justice Alan Greiman] is my oldest political friend in Illinois. I have known Julie since she was first in public office and it became very uncomfortable for me, obviously, and when Seals called me and said ‘What about it?’ I said, ‘Well, I endorsed you when Julie was not a candidate or even thinking about running and you have to treat it as a non-operative endorsement at this point.’ So, what does that mean? I said, ‘Well, I don’t want to make a bad story for you by withdrawing my endorsement, but just understand I am not going to be doing anything in the campaign.’
And, [Dan Seals] misunderstood. And, his press release, in fairness to him—he tried to talk about the endorsement as if it had been in the past. But, obviously, it became an issue and I tried to make it clear that I was not endorsing him; I was trying not to be a factor in the campaign.
The moral to the story? When a former federal appellate judge tells you an endorsement “is non-operative,” that probably means you shouldn’t send out a fund raising letter touting that former judge’s endorsement. Because if you do, he is going to rule against you. Better to let “sleeping dogs lie.” What does that mean? Don’t try to make those “inoperative endorsements,” operative, Dan Seals.
And, that’s the final word on this story. How do I know? Because sometimes a recovering lawyer gets the final word. Even in Judge Mikva’s courtroom. Unless, of course, Judge Mikva changes his mind and decides to pick between old friends and his newer friend. Could that happen between now and Feb. 2, 2010? Although unlikely, it's possible. You never know, for sure, what will happen in the 10th CD. Just ask the current occupant of the seat, Cong. Mark “Cap and Trade” Kirk (R-Highland Park), who you might have thought would have been a likely casualty of the Democratic Tsunami in 2006 and then, for sure, knocked off by the Obama blitz in 2008. But, it just didn’t work out that way. Ask Dan Seals. Those predictions became "inoperative," a word Dan Seals is beginning to understand quite well.
*************************************************************
More than 110 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page . *********************************************************************
Also posted on our YouTube page are two recent WVON 1690 AM Radio shows:
(1) an August 23, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with Cong. Danny K. Davis (Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary) and call ins. The show focuses on issues related to the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary.
(2) an August 30, 2009 Voice of the People show with State Rep. (and 7th CD Dem Primary Candidate) LaShawn K. Ford, co-hosted by Jeff Berkowitz, with, with Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft, ABC-7 Political Editor Charles Thomas , Terry O'Brien, President, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and Candidate for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary, and call ins. The show focuses on gubernatorial race issues, including state spending, tax, education and school choice; and Cook County Board President race issues of race, taxes and much more.
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