Wednesday, September 30, 2009

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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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Better than Chris Wallace w/John McCain: Berkowitz w/ Cook County Board President Candidate Terry O'Brien; Cable and Streaming

The "Public Affairs," show featuring Terry O'Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (D-Chicago) and 2010 candidate for President of the Cook County Board in the Democratic Primary, is airing this week (Week of Sep. 28) in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot. The suburban airing schedule is included, below.
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Watch the show with O'Brien on your computer.
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Tuesday night (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 Tuesday night(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 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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The show with O'Brien also airs this coming Monday night throughout the City of Chicago at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21
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The show with President Terry O'Brien includes a far ranging discussion of the Cook County Board issues with show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz, including O'Brien's strong views about repealing the entire 1% Cook County Board increase in the sales tax. For partial transcripts and links to watch the show on your computer, please go here.
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For a discussion of Race, Politics, connections between the 7th CD race and the Cook County Board President's race in the Democratic primary and links to shows with the Democratic Primary Cook County Board President candidates, please go here.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Better than Krashesky w/Preckwinkle: Berkowitz w/David Hoffman discussing National Issues and politics on Cable in Chicago and Aurora; also streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: $500,000? One million? Two million? Give me a ballpark [of your net worth].
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Jeff Berkowitz: Card Check, yes or no?
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Jeff Berkowitz: So, the answer is you’re persuadable. If [President Obama] answered those questions in a good way, in a way that is persuasive to you- gave you the information, you’re going with President Obama, additional troops for Afghanistan?

David Hoffman [U. S. Senate Candidate in the 2010 Democratic Primary]: I am persuadable but I’m not promising thatI would because I think that we need to be hesitant before we put in our troops anywhere and before...
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David Hoffman: …We should turn the page on the corrupt politics and cozy relationships of the past. We need to nominate a candidate who doesn’t have ties to those things. Every candidate should make their case based on that standard. I’m going to make that case.

Jeff Berkowitz: Are you saying Giannoulias has mob ties?
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Jeff Berkowitz: But, with that provision, you would have supported NAFTA at the time?
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The "Public Affairs," show featuring U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago) is airing

(1) throughout the City of Chicago tonight, Sep. 28, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and

(2) on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.

This evening's "Public Affairs," show is perhaps the most in-depth TV interview to date of U. S. Senate Candidate Hoffman, who previously was an Ass't U. S. Attorney (in Chicago) for seven years and most recently was known as the "very independent," Inspector General in the City of Chicago.

After graduating from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School, Hoffman clerked for Judge Dennis Jacobs on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and was one of 27 individuals to be selected from law school graduates across the country to clerk at the U. S. Supreme Court (for Chief Justice Rehnquist). After his clerkships, U. S. Senate Candidate Hoffman (D-Chicago) worked in private practice for a year before joining the U. S. Attorney's office in Chicago. David Hoffman grew up in the Chicago Metro area and graduated from New Trier High School on Chicago's North Shore.
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For more about tonight's show, including partial transcipts and links to other transcripts and to watch the show on your computer, please go here.
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For yet another partial transcript of tonight's show (taped on Sep. 20, 2009), please read the below:

More U. S. troops in Afghanistan?

Jeff Berkowitz: So, the answer is you’re persuadable. If [President Obama] answered those questions in a good way, in a way that is persuasive to you- gave you the information, you’re going with President Obama, additional troops for Afghanistan.

David Hoffman [U. S. Senate Candidate in the 2010 Democratic Primary]: I am persuadable but I’m not promising that I would because I think that we need to be hesitant before we put in our troops anywhere and before we increase the number of troops. And, taking the surge rationale from Iraq and applying it to Afghanistan as if it is the exact same situation, I don’t believe is correct. I am not automatically against increasing the number of troops—

The Surge in Iraq?

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you have voted for the surge in Iraq when it came up?

David Hoffman: I think that was the right answer at that time. I mean once you’re in- and given that situation at that time, I do think that was the right move.

Jeff Berkowitz: So you disagree with now President Obama on that…

David Hoffman: …I think the Surge showed that putting more troops in-- in the right situation—allows us to bring our troops back at home more quickly and safely
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NAFTA and CAFTA

Jeff Berkowitz: But, with that provision, you would have supported NAFTA at the time.

David Hoffman: I would have supported it at the time. I think we need more enforcement now.

Jeff Berkowitz: CAFTA, Central American Free Trade Agreement, you would have supported that?

David Hoffman: Same thing. I feel that opening up our markets is good for American business and therefore good for American workers, but we need to make sure that the rules are being enforced properly.
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Card Check, good or bad for democracy in the workplace?

Jeff Berkowitz: Card Check, yes or no?

David Hoffman: I am in favor of Card Check because I am in favor of more democracy in the workplace.

Jeff Berkowitz: You think card check gives you democracy? It takes something, the …secret ballot and makes it open. So, you know the example that is given, the burly [union] guy stands at the door and says, “You gonna go with us or not? And, if you say not, you won’t sign his little card—that’s not exactly the secret ballot that we have in the United States—people say that [secret ballot] is the bulwark of democracy and you want to give that up and say [that is] for democratic reasons…?

David Hoffman: I think there have been abuses both ways. There could be abuses on the card check thing, but there have been abuses with regard to the secret ballot…I don’t see why you can’t have both or options for both. I would like to see the situation where there are enforcement provisions both with regard to the secret ballot and enforcement provisions with regard to Card Check but I tell you what, theoretically both can be good about figuring out the will of the workers and that’s what this should be about. But, ruling out Card Check because we are scared about the will of the workers writing things down- I don’t agree with.

Disclosing tax returns and Hoffman’s net worth

Jeff Berkowitz: If somebody says, I want to see your tax returns, do that?

David Hoffman: I don’t have a problem with that.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …Your net worth is?

David Hoffman: I don’t know approximately what it is, but I will be—

Jeff Berkowitz: $500,000? One million? Two million? Give me a ballpark.

David Hoffman: Well, it’s over a million dollars but it’s not anywhere close to where [U. S. Senate Candidate] Giannoulias numbers are. I am not going to have the same kind of resources that he has.
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Giannoulias’ family bank loans and alleged mob ties

Jeff Berkowitz: Alexi Giannoulias, you know [his] family bank, Broadway Bank made those loans—people say there are mob ties [based on those loans], what do you say about those loans that were made by Alexi Giannoulias’ family bank.

David Hoffman: Right, I am talking about myself here. I think every candidate-

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, yes or no, is that a concern? You’re a reformer. Should people look at that?

David Hoffman: …We should turn the page on the corrupt politics and cozy relationships of the past. We need to nominate a candidate who doesn’t have ties to those things. Every candidate should make their case based on that standard. I’m going to make that case.

Jeff Berkowitz: Are you saying Giannoulias has mob ties?

David Hoffman: I’m making the case based on me. I think every candidate should have to—

Giannoulias handling, as State Treasurer, of privately invested funds

Jeff Berkowitz: What about his handling [of privately invested funds], as State Treasurer? You know, big losses in the Bright Start fund. Should [Giannoulias] take the hit for that?
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Republican gubernatorial candidates Senators Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard air this week on the Illinois Channel

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Senator Dillard [Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate]: I just gave you my Republican credentials as ...the Republican Chairman of this place [DuPage County]... My wife’s Great, Great grandfather nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency, was the eulogizer at his funeral and buried him. So, I think I’m a pretty good Republican. Thank you.

Cisco Cotto: And, then [your wife’s Great, Great grandfather] went and gave a speech for [Stephen] Douglas, right? But, it was in the Primary. [LOL from the crowd].
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This week's Illinois Channel program features interviews with Republican Primary gubernatorial candidates Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) and Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont). These interviews will air this week throughout the State of Illinois from Monday thru Sunday on the Illinois Channel. You can watch them on the web through Sunday on the Illinois Channel website by clicking the picture relating to the Conservative Summit [That picture will display by late Monday morning] and also you can watch the show on the Illinois Channel's cable outlets.

The interviews were conducted at the Conservative Summit, which was held on September 4, 2009 at Carlucci's Restaurant in Downer's Grove and was sponsored by the United Republican Fund and WIND 560 AM Radio. The Summit consisted of interviews by Cisco Cotto, WIND 560 AM Radio of six individuals who had announced, at that time, as Republican Primary candidates for Governor: Senator Bill Brady, Senator Kirk Dillard, Senator Matt Murphy, Cook County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, Entrepreneur Adam Andrzejewski, and Political Consultant and Media Personality Dan Proft [See here for more about the Conservative Summit].

Since that time Senator Matt Murphy has announced he is running for Lt. Gov. on a ticket with Andy McKenna, who is expected to announce for Governor in early October. We anticipate the Illinois Channel will air, over the next few weeks, the interviews with the remaining gubernatorial candidates who appeared at the Conservative Summit.

The Illinois Channel cable outlets air a two hour, weekly block of programming on cable. The forty minute segment with candidates Brady and Dillard is the first of several segments airing on the Illinois Channel this week, and that segment will air starting at the very beginning of that two hour block of programming. Please click on Distribution at the Illinois Channel website or 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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The footage of the Conservative Summit airing this week on the Illinois Channel was provided courtesy of "Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz."
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Some examples of the scheduled times and channels for the segment with Gubernatorial candidate Brady and Dillard on the Illinois Channel this week of Sep. 28, 2009 ) are given below:

Galesburg, Cable Ch. 22, Monday-Sunday, 9:00am, 2:00 pm. 8:30 pm; Wednesday, 2:00 pm.

Bolingbrook Community TV, Cable Ch. 6,Monday and Friday, 6:00 am, Tuesday, 5:00 pm

Chicago CANTV, Cable Ch. 21, Saturday, 9:00 am
Chicago CANTV, Cable Ch. 19, Sunday, 8:30 am

DeKalb, Cable Ch. 14, Monday, 4:00 pm; Wednesday, 9:00 pm; Thursday, 6:00 am; Friday, 7:00 pm and Saturday, 6:00 am

Evanston, Cable Ch. 16, Sat., 12:00 pn,

Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, Cable Ch. 17, Monday, 7:00 pm; Tuesday-Friday, 9:30 pm

Naperville, Wide open west Cable Ch. 6, Monday, 11:00 am; Tuesday and Thursday, 5:00 pm; Saturday, 12:00 pm

Naperville, Comcast Cable Ch. 10: Monday, 11:00 am; Tuesday and Thursday, 5:00 pm; Saturday, 12:00 pm

Palatine, Comcast ch. 6, Tu., 12:00 pm; Wed., 6:00 pm; Sat., 9:00 am, Sun.,6:00 pm

Springfield, Municipal Ch. 18, M,W,F, 6:30 am; Sat. and Sun., 10:00 am

Springfield, Insight Cable Ch. 22, Monday-Sunday, 10:00 pm; Sat., Sunday, 8:00 am;

Westmont, Comcast Cable Ch. 16, M, W and F, 6:00 am, 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 6:00pm and 10:00 pm

To find the days, time and channel for which the two hour block of Illinois Channel programming begins in your village or municipality, 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. The show with Republican gubernatorial candidates Senator Brady and Senator Dillard begins at the very start of the two hour block of programming and runs for forty minutes.
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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. *************************************************************
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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Friday, September 25, 2009

Jon Stewart goes easy on Blagojevich: The liberal witness protection program

Text revised and links added on Friday at 3:40 pm
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Yes, we know that the Daily Show goes after Democrats as well as Republicans. But, when Stewart seems to relish eating Republicans for breakfast and then he pulls his punches with and swallows a lot of hogwash from a Democrat like Blagojevich, people begin to wonder what is going on here. I mean, fair is fair, right Jon?
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Tribune columnist Eric Zorn was disappointed with Jon Stewart’s performance in his sparring match-up last night with former Governor Blagojevich, who guested on the Daily show and promoted his book—with hopes of tilting many in the Cook County jury pool toward him. Zorn states:

Usually nimble host Jon Stewart, like so many talk-show hosts before him, kept the focus on the senate-seat issue -- potentially one of the weakest items in the bill of particulars -- and let Blagojevich prattle on about how once we hear all the tape recordings we'll realize he was only acting on behalf of the people of Illinois, not himself, and this is all some ghastly misunderstanding. [Emphasis added].

But Zorn went relatively easy on Stewart. It was a pathetic performance by the humorist who many youngsters view as a newsman. Part of Stewart’s problem is no doubt that his writers or he just have so much msm liberal bias that they can't really do a 100% effort against a Dem or a liberal, even a pseudo one. At one point, as Zorn laments, Stewart actually suggested that “Blago could be the hapless, falsely accused Richard Jewell of Illinois.” Sure, and I could be Queen Elizabeth. How lame can one get?

Stewart could have argued to Blagojevich:

Oh, so you just wanted to do good. That's why you said, “____ that when Team Obama offered you “gratitude,” if you would name Valerie Jarrett to the Obama U. S. Senate Seat. You wanted Universal Healthcare from Obama, right? And all that talk about getting a high level union job for yourself in exchange for the U. S. Senate Seat appointment-- that was just like Hillary getting Secretary of State in exchange for her agreeing to drop her fight for the presidential nomination? Sure Rod, same exact thing.

And your efforts to see how much money Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his friends could raise for you if he got the Senate appointment-- that was really about getting health care for the people of Illinois?

And, Rod, why didn't you subpoena the CEO from Children's Hospital [who you were shaking down for a campaign contribution] to testify at your impeachment hearing-- you could have done that, but you didn't subpoena anybody, not because they didn't let you, but because you have no witnesses that can make your case—because you have no case to be made.
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Just think, this journalist came up with the above-- off the top of my head. With four writers, we could have put plenty of comedy on that.

Instead, we got tired, warmed over, half shots from Stewart. As we know, this act is playing in the hinterland because the listeners or viewers there don't know squat and they heard very little of this crud the first time Blagojevich went around the block with it. Also, Blago is kind of funny looking and funny sounding, like a silly cartoon. But, remember who put Blago in office and re-elected him in 2006? Stewart’s friends in the Democratic Party. And, now many of those same people keep Stewart where he is. Small world, huh?

Yes, we know that the Daily Show goes after Democrats as well as Republicans. But, when Stewart seems to relish eating Republicans for breakfast and then he pulls his punches with and swallows a lot of hogwash from a Democrat like Blagojevich, people begin to wonder what is going on here. I mean, fair is fair, right Jon.
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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Terry O'Brien: Candidate for President of the Cook County Board: A race about race or taxes? Cable and Streaming

Terry O’Brien: I’ll release what relates to …the financial statement. I’ll release the financial statement.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, not your tax returns.[Watch the show w/Terry O’Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and candidate for President of the Cook County Board, Democratic Primary.
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Terry O’Brien: …Just had a couple forums not too long ago [where] a couple of people got up and said it’s out of control.

Jeff Berkowitz: Shouldn’t you, as the candidate, call up Chief Judge Evans, right now, and say you want to talk to Evans about that
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Next week's suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features Terry O’Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and candidate for President of the Cook County Board, Democratic Primary. For more about the race, please go here. To watch the show on your computer, please go here.

The Temporary Juvenile Detention Center: still a mess.

Jeff Berkowitz: …the Temporary Juvenile Detention Center, is that still a mess?

Terry O’Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and candidate for President of the Cook County Board, Democratic Primary: Yes, it is.

Jeff Berkowitz: …It supposedly is run by Cook County but it’s run by

Terry O’Brien: The Chief Judge [of Circuit Court of Cook County]

Jeff Berkowitz: Timothy Evans.

Terry O’Brien: …Just had a couple forums not too long ago [where] a couple of people got up and said it’s out of control.

Jeff Berkowitz: Shouldn’t you, as the candidate, call up Evans, right now, and say you want to talk to Evans about that
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The Temporary Juvenile Detention Center] has been a dumping ground.

Jeff Berkowitz …So, would you do that?

Terry O’Brien: Sure.

Jeff Berkowitz You’ll be calling up Timothy Evans this week?

Terry O’Brien: …I will call him this week.

Jeff Berkowitz: And report back?

Terry O’Brien: I will give you a call back.

Jeff Berkowitz … We’re having an impact here. This is reform.
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Jeff Berkowitz …would you release your tax returns?

Terry O’Brien: I would be happy to.

Jeff Berkowitz: Have you done it yet? Have you done it before running for President of MWRD?

Terry O’Brien: No, I have not been asked to.

Jeff Berkowitz So, it is just a matter of asking and nobody has asked. Now I ask and you’ll do it.

Terry O’Brien: I’ll release what relates to …the financial statement. I’ll release the financial statement.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, not your tax returns.

Terry O’Brien: The first two pages of the tax return is my financial statement.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, just to be on the safe side for people who want total transparency…I’m asking you, Terry O’Brien, would you release your tax returns, immediately?

Terry O’Brien: I will release the financial statement and…

Jeff Berkowitz: Are there schedules for your tax returns?

Terry O’Brien: There is.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you’re not releasing those either?

Terry O’Brien: That’s correct.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you think you’re setting a bad example?
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Differences between O'Brien and Preckwinkle

Jeff Berkowitz: You don’t have just President Todd Stroger? You’re also running against Ald. Toni Preckwinkle?

Terry O’Brien: Toni Preckwinkle.

Jeff Berkowitz: You see daylight between her views on taxes and your views on taxes?

Terry O’Brien: I do. She’s talking about gradually bringing them in…or gradually repealing it and I’m talking about repealing it immediately.

Jeff Berkowitz: She’s African-American and you’re white, do you see any difference there?

Terry O’Brien: No.

Jeff Berkowitz: Issue difference, right?

Terry O’Brien: It’s just on the issue, on the tax.
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Get a Job

Jeff Berkowitz: And, you’ve given a summer job to one of those kids [of yours]. Have you given [a job] to all three or just one?

Terry O’Brien: Just one. I helped out my son last year because…

Jeff Berkowitz: Is that setting a bad example?

Terry O’Brien: It is, possibly. It was probably poor judgment on my part.

Jeff Berkowitz: Does that mean you wouldn’t do it again?

Terry O’Brien: I wouldn’t, no.

Jeff Berkowitz: Take a pledge not to do it again?

Terry O’Brien: Yes, I would.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …What’s your net worth?

Terry O’Brien: …I’d say probably about half a million dollars. with the house and other assets.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Senate Candidate David Hoffman nibbles on ACORNs and much more: Cable and now Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: …the federal government has now severed relationships with ACORN for Census work, right?

David Hoffman [U. S. Senate Candidate in the Illinois Democratic Primary]: Um-um. I believe so. watch the interview with Hoffman here.

Jeff Berkowitz: If you had been there, if you had been in the Senate, where would you have been in terms of voting on funding or de-funding for ACORN?
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A Sunday Magical Mystery Tour with David Hoffman.

It was a fun Sunday afternoon. I had seen an interview, or two, with U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman [D-Chicago], but nothing really substantive [Not due to any fault of Hoffman, see, below]. It turns out David Hoffman is a very bright, thoughtful guy who knows the issues and seems to enjoy discussing them and applying his varied life experiences and philosophy to them. Unlike some candidates, he seems to listen to questions--answers them and takes them further, sometimes, than the interviewer intended. As I said, a fun time for a show host who likes discussing issues and learning from and with his guest.

WTTW’s Chicago Tonight: Where’s the intellectual beef?

Carol Marin did the usual issue-light, eight-minute discussion with Mr. Hoffman [that has come to mark her tenure at Chicago Public TV WTTW] a few days before; I’d say two quasi-substantive topics [healthcare and Wall St.] were raised with Hoffman by host Marin, unless you count-- Where did you go to college? To law school? And other interview oddities. A few weeks ago, WTTW’s Phil Ponce spent fifteen minutes with Senate Candidate Cheryle Robinson Jackson and managed to ask no substantive questions, e.g., the war, abortion, bailouts, etc. Of course, Phil did cover at length whether Ms. Jackson thought her tenure as Communications Director with Gov. Blagojevich somehow disqualified her from holding any public office, apparently irrespective of her views on the issues, which I suppose WTTW plans to start discussing around 2011.

Ideas have consequences.

In any case, if you think issues like the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the Economy, free trade, public financing of campaigns, healthcare reform, ACORN and much, much more matter, watch the interview here, go here to read more about the show and read below for a very small sample of the interview.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …the federal government has now severed relationships with ACORN for Census work, right?

David Hoffman [U. S. Senate Candidate in the Illinois Democratic Primary]: Um-um. I believe so.

Jeff Berkowitz: If you had been there, if you had been in the Senate, where would you have been in terms of voting on funding or de-funding for ACORN?

David Hoffman: Yeah. I would have voted to de-fund and I saw that in the House the Illinois delegation was actually split: some voted to defund, some did not. I think that accountability is important and I think accountability is important whether it is people in the government, whether it is people who get governmental money or whether it is folks in the private sector like important players on Wall St. And, I do think…I would have concerns about giving significant federal grant money to an entity where there now is strong evidence…I mean one of the things that I thought was compelling that on 100% of the times that the videographer went in, they got consistent advice to do something that was violation of law; so I don’t think this is a permanent ban on ACORN getting funding but I think until ACORN comes back and shows that it has put in place systems that are going to prevent this and insure that it is a law abiding place that gives out advice to follow the law-then I do think that it is appropriate to take money away. I also think, though, that we need to make that standard consistent across the board…on issues of how Wall St. acted…and how the big financial institutions acted; when we see greed and irresponsibility that led to …basically the collapse of the banking industry that then fell on regular folks both in terms of paying for the bailout and in layoffs and job losses; and Wall St. quickly going back to it’s same MO, both in terms of salaries and bonuses and in terms of activities with very little insistence on transparency or increased regulation. I see that as a problem, too and I think people want more accountability. Everyone is tight on money- whether it’s banks or the way our tax dollars are spent—we should demand it.

Jeff Berkowitz: Well, if you had been in … the Senate in the Fall of 2008, when the President, then Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed Chief Bernanke…
***************************************************** From Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz, taped on September 20, 2009.
*******************************************************
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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Monday, September 21, 2009

As good as Berkowitz with Obama? Berkowitz w/ U. S. Senate candidate David Hoffman on Healthcare, Gay Marriage and much more: Cable & soon streaming

U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago): ..I am in favor of equality. And, I think that means that marriage should allow any two people who want to declare themselves together for the rest of their lives equal under the law
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Four major Illinois Democrats go for gay marriage rights

Eric Zorn reports that on Friday Comptroller Dan Hynes became the third major Illinois Democrat in the last month to announce his support for gay marriage rights. Yesterday, David Hoffman, the “reform candidate,” for the U. S. Senate became the fourth major Illinois Democrat in the last month to announce his support for gay marriage rights.

Taping “Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz,” yesterday in a show that airs in the Chicago Metro suburbs this week [see schedule, below], former City of Chicago Inspector General and Ass’t U. S. Attorney (N.D. IL) David Hoffman said he is for same sex marriage. The Illinois Reform Commission member elaborated:

I believe we should not be discriminating in our definition of marriage or in our laws relating to marriage or other institutions that involve our personal relationships. The law should not intrude in this area. It is about equality. Religions can have their own definitions and I think we should make sure that that stays the same. But, in terms of what the law is, I am against discrimination. I am in favor of equality. And, I think that means that marriage should allow any two people who want to declare themselves together for the rest of their lives equal under the law. [And, see Zorn's update here].

The 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary candidates on Gay Marriage

During the 2008 Democratic Presidential candidate primary, Mike Gravel was the only candidate of eight to favor same sex marriage [Ed. Note: I believe that presidential candidate Bill Richardson may have eventually come out for same sex marriage, but I could find, by searching google, no corroboration of that belief]. President Obama, to this day, remains committed to a strong civil unions law that would grant a broad array of “marriage type rights,” to gays and lesbians but he has not come out for same sex marriage. Nor has he sought to push ahead with repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t tell.” During the 2004 U. S. Senate general election campaign in Illinois, then U. S. Senate candidate Obama said [on “Public Affairs,” that he thought that the same sex marriage issue would have to get discussed and decided on a state by state basis.

Giannoulias' main opponent?

Zorn, in the “Chicago Tribune Zorn Sunday page,” of yesterday, refers to Cheryl Robinson Jackson as “Giannoulias’ main opponent.” It isn’t clear as to what the criteria are for that judgment, but on that score, here is something to keep in mind. Hoffman is not only the “newest,” major candidate in the Senate race but also the first U. S. Senate candidate to accept an invitation to appear on “Public Affairs.” Yesterday, the former U. S. Supreme Court clerk engaged in a vigorous, exchange regarding his positions on a number of important domestic, foreign and cultural public policy issues. Unlike some candidates, he is not hiding from the tough questions and playing political “Duck and Weave.”

Who is ducking and weaving?

Cheryle Robinson Jackson has committed to tape our show in two weeks and this journalist looks forward to that discussion. Alexi Giannoulias committed twice as a State Treasurer candidate to tape Public Affairs- cancelled both appearances- and never did appear. One month ago he committed to do the show and last week his deputy campaign manager Tom Bowen told this journalist that Giannoulias would not “sit for Public Affairs.” Republican Primary U. S. Senate Candidate and 9th year Cong. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park, 10th CD) has not responded to our recent invitations to tape “Public Affairs,” and last appeared on the show circa 2003, after appearing numerous times in 1999-2000 when he was anxious for the “earned media.”

The Obama-Hoffman shared traits

By comparison, Barack Obama appeared on Public Affairs [as a State Senator and U. S. Senate candidate] five times from 2001-04. Of course, Obama went on to win the U. S. Senate seat Hoffman, Jackson, Giannoulias, Kirk and others are vying for. And, of course, he became President. I won’t go so far as to argue there is a cause and effect between Obama’s appearance on Public Affairs and his rise, eight years after his first appearance on the Program, to the Presidency. But, I will say that we can tell, among other things, something about a candidate’s true belief in transparency and reform—and his or her readiness for the office-- from that candidate’s willingness to participate in a tough, but fair, probing of her ideas and positions on the issues on a program such as Public Affairs. So far, these are character traits that Hoffman and Obama seem to share.

Who is waffling and who is not?

As candidate Obama said in 2003 on Public Affairs, Illinois can have as its U. S. Senator somebody who is for a war or somebody who is against a war. But, said Obama, what we absolutely can’t have is a U. S. Senator who waffles on the issues. And, before we can decide who is waffling, we have to see the candidates subject themselves to vigorous examination on the issues. On that, candidate Barack Obama and this journalist were in complete agreement. Over the course of the next fourteen months, voters should ask themselves which major candidates for office agree with Jeff Berkowitz and candidate Barack Obama on that manifestation of transparency? For now, you would have to put “David Hoffman,” on top of that list.
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We anticipate posting our show with David Hoffman on the Public Affairs You Tube page by tomorrow afternoon.
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Additional topics discussed on this week’s show with David Hoffman include funding of ACORN by the Feds, oversight of financial institutions, the proper role of government in our society, ethics reform, candidate independence, health care reform, the role of bankruptcy in our free enterprise system, the 800 billion dollar stimulus, how Hoffman would have voted in 2002 on the Iraq War Powers Resolution, how Hoffman would proceed with respect to deciding about more troops for Afghanistan, free trade, card check, Hoffman’s net worth, whether Giannoulias’ alleged mob ties is an issue in the Senate race, whether Giannoulias handling of the “Bright Start,” program is an issue in the Senate race, Cap and Trade, Public financing of campaigns, free TV time for candidates, abortion, bringing back the assault weapon ban and much, much more.
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule:

The show featuring U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago) is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

Tuesday night (tomorrow night) 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 night(tomorrow night) 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 on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
*************************************************************
Chicago and Aurora:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring U. S. Senate Candidate David Hoffman (D-Chicago will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, Sep. 28, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and on that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka 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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Next week's suburban edition of Public Affairs features Terry O'Brien, Candidate for President of the Cook County Board in the Democratic Primary and President for the last 13 years of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
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Better than Carol Marin w/David Hoffman: Berkowitz w/7th CD candidate Williams-Burnett on Taxes, Jobs, War and much more; Cable and Streaming

Darlena Williams-Burnett, Chief Deputy Cook County Recorder of Deeds and 7th CD Democratic Primary candidate:
…[T]his would be me talking to the President, I’d like to see the …American government look at utilizing more diplomacy and some of the things they are doing [in Afghanistan] in terms of creating these alternative crops and really working with the locals. I think we can really do some of those things without the guns and the boots on the ground. Watch Williams-Burnett.

Jeff Berkowitz: You want to bring the troops home. You would tell [the President] that? Bring those troops home?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: I am in favor of bringing the troops home.

Jeff Berkowitz: From Afghanistan and from Iraq, bring them home.

Darlena Williams-Burnett: Yes, I am.
*********************************
The "Public Affairs," show, featuring Darlena Williams-Burnett, Chief Deputy Cook County Recorder of Deeds and 7th CD Democratic Primary candidate, airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and tonight on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
*************************************************
You can watch the show with 7th CD Dem. Primary Candidate Darlena Williams-Burnett on your computer.
******************************************
For another partial transcript of the show with Darlena Williams-Burnett, Chief Deputy Cook County Recorder of Deeds and 7th CD Democratic Primary candidate, and more about the topics covered in the show, please go here.
***************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
**************************************************************
More than 100 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page , including very recent shows with 7th CD Democratic Primary candidates State Rep. Collins, State Rep. Ford and Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds Williams-Burnett;
*********************************************************************
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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Friday, September 18, 2009

Racial politics: The 7th CD and Cook County Board President races; Dr. King’s Dream; President Obama and his opposition;stopping racial discrimination

Revised text and links to shows with Cook County Board President Candidates and others added on Friday at 3:40 pm
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Cong. Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago, 7th CD) said he was “seriously concerned about the African-American community and…its political empowerment,” and he would not …”participate in any activity…that [would] fracture the African-American community and allow it to deny itself of a certain kind of representation.” [Listen here, about 15 minutes into the audio tape].
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Can State Rep. Ford have his cake and eat it, too?

Rich Miller reported yesterday in the print version of Capitol Fax that State Rep. LaShawn Ford [Watch here] would file for both his state house seat and the 7th CD Democratic Primary. Although Rep. Ford suggested last month on his radio program that he might circulate nominating petitions for both offices, it seems that an Illinois judicial ruling of about eight years ago that held [in a lawsuit brought by Frank Avila, Jr.] that Martin Sandoval could not run at the same time both for the State Senate and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board would probably apply even more strongly to a dual run by State Rep. Ford for both the State House and Congress. This reporter was unable to reach State Rep. Ford yesterday for comment.

Cong. Danny Davis-- the wild card: Feeding his ego or helping the people?

Of course, as Rich Miller notes, the wild card in the 7th CD is thirteen-year incumbent Democratic congressman Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago, 7th CD), who has been circulating re-election petitions for the House at the same time as he has been circulating petitions for Cook County Board President. Thus, the uncertainty among the would be U. S. Reps. in the 7th CD. Although Cong. Davis touts the 50K, or so, he has spent to open offices in support of his run for Cook County President, if the poll numbers turned against him, the opportunity to keep his current congressional seat might look pretty inviting. After all, 50 K or 200K, for that matter, in sunk costs shouldn't affect Davis' decision about the future.

If Cong. Davis decides at the last minute to abandon his Cook County Board President filing and run for re-election to Congress instead, it is likely most, if not all, of the current 7th CD candidates would fold their tents, in the same way the 4th CD congressional hopefuls did when Cong. Luis Gutierrez dropped his bid to challenge the Mayor in favor of running for re-election in 2006. At the end of the day, whether Davis' run for County Board President is about ego or helping the people, neither is helped if he can't win, and he clearly doesn't want to be known as the spoiler for one of the other African-American presidential candidates.

Rep. Collins: Playing the best option

State Rep. Annazette Collins, another 7th CD hopeful, taped “Public Affairs,” on August 30, 2009, as she had told this reporter weeks earlier that she was a candidate in the 7th CD Democratic Primary to replace Cong. Danny Davis. During the show, which you can watch here, Rep. Collins discussed almost exclusively national domestic and foreign public policy issues. But, if Cong. Davis decided to stay put in the 7th CD, Annazette would return her focus to state issues and her State Rep. seat, in a heartbeat. That's the way of the world.

The Danny Davis decision: Racial politics or political empowerment?

On State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford’s WVON Sunday night radio show, “The Voice of the People with LaShawn K. Ford,” (airs weekly 9:00 pm to 10: 00 pm) on August 23, Cong. Davis responded to questions from this journalist [co-hosting that evening] about why Davis was circulating petitions for both offices. Cong. Davis said he was “seriously concerned about the African-American community and…its political empowerment,” and he would not …”participate in any activity…that [would] fracture the African-American community and allow it to deny itself of a certain kind of representation.” [Listen here, about 15 minutes into the audio tape].

Race and the 7th CD race

On the program broadcast, this journalist thought Cong. Davis might be referring to the possibility of a non African-American candidate winning the 7th CD Democratic Primary. In addition to State Reps. Ford and Collins, it is currently thought that additional African-American candidates filing in that race might include Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds Darlena Williams-Burnett [watch here], Ald. Dixon, Senator Hendon and Rev. Hatch. Whites who may file include Jim Ascot (who has said he is running) and Ald. Fioretti (who has responded to this journalist’s inquiries about his interest in running in the 7th CD with a “no comment.”). Of course, in the event that Cong. Davis decides to run for re-election, it is doubtful that he would face opposition from any of the above candidates.

Race and the Cook County Board President’s race

However, after listening to and reflecting on the substance of the radio show, it is clear that Cong. Davis is more concerned that African-Americans could so split the vote for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary that a non African-American candidate could win that race. The currently announced African-American candidates for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary include President Todd Stroger, Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown and Cong. Davis. The only announced white candidate in that race is Terry O'Brien, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for the last thirteen years.

I believe it was Laura Washington who said of the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary in 2006 between Forrest Claypool (white) and the late John Stroger (The African-American who first won that office in 1994) that “once an office goes black, it never goes back.” Apparently, Cong. Davis is concerned that in 2010 the Cook County Board Presidency might “go back,” to someone who is white, or at least not African-American. The likely winner in the Republican Primary for that office is former State Senator Roger Keats, who is white, but who says he has a history of trying to assist low income blacks by supporting "enterprise zones," and other ways to empower the African-American community.

Dr. King’s Dream

When this journalist, quoting from Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous dream speech, questioned Cong. Davis as to whether he thought people should judge candidates “by the content of their character and not the color of their skin,” Cong. Davis essentially dodged the question, but did note that “race and ethnicity is not as much a part of the factors that individuals use to select factors and vote for people.”

Playing Survivor

Cong. Davis did make clear that “he guaranteed,” not all of the above mentioned potential candidates for Cook County Board President in the Democratic Primary—Davis, Preckwinkle, Stroger, Brown and O”Brien-- would actually file, but he declined to indicate which ones would not run. Cong. Davis did emphasize, “There are some people who know that they don’t have much chance of winning.”

Race and national politics

The manner in which race was discussed on last month’s show with Cong. Davis is an interesting contrast to the manner in which race has emerged as a national issue in the last few weeks. Liberal media pundits, e.g., Hardball’s Chris Matthews and a number of his guests (Politico’s James Martin) and those on the other MSNBC cable shows have been promoting for the last week or two the notion that much of the opposition to President Obama’s healthcare reform proposals is racially based or motivated. There seems to be little evidence to support that thesis but former President Carter has now joined the liberal media chorus on that issue. President Obama, on the other hand, has rejected the argument that his opposition is racially driven.

Race and local politics

Closer to home, we have Cong. Davis explicitly defend the selection of candidates based on race—as appropriate “ethnic or racial empowerment,” with citations to the history of reconstruction and its aftermath following the Civil War, as well as the Voting Rights Act as a justification for such racial politics. This journalist’s suggestion that we try to follow Dr. King’s goal of judging people and candidates by the content of their character [and ideas] and not the color of their skin was almost laughed at as hopelessly naïve.

How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

It seemed to this journalist that Cong. Davis is not convinced as to the significance of Barack Obama’s broad-based election, even though Cong. Davis reminded us that he was there to introduce Barack Obama, when he officially began his journey to the Presidency on February 10, 2007. I was left wondering how many Presidential elections does an African-American have to win before this nation can free itself from its racially troubled and divisive past, and from an obsession with skin pigmentation.

The answer might come from Chief Justice Roberts: “The only way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” President Obama might not agree, but this journalist thought that was the essence of his campaign, or at least it should have been. And, surely it would be nice to apply that principle of racial non-discrimination to the 7th CD and Cook County Board President races. An idea whose time has come. Politics that really would transcend race. Really.
*********************************************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," TV shows with Cook County Board President candidates on the Public Affairs YouTube page include a show w/ Circuit Court Clerk and 2010 Cook County Board President Democratic Primary candidate Dorothy Brown. a show w/ Cook County Board President Todd Stroger (D-Chicago)- a candidate for re-election in 2010, a show with Chicago Ald. and 2010 Cook County Board President Democratic Primary candidate Toni Preckwinkle, .

You can also watch the fastest five minutes on the web- a New York Times video about Obama-Berkowitz, and the second fastest five minutes on the web-a segment of Bill O'Reilly with Berkowitz discussing a clip of Obama from 2002 on Blagojevich and many more shows.
*********************************************************************
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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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Better than Phil Ponce w/Cheryle Jackson: Berkowitz w/7th CD Dem Primary Candidate Williams-Burnett on War, Bailouts and Abortion;Cable and Streaming

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you make your tax returns available to the Public?

Darlena Williams-Burnett, Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds in Cook County and 7th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate: Absolutely, there’s nothing there to hide.

Jeff Berkowitz: Would you tell people your net worth?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: Oh, of course, if they need to know.

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s your net worth?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: It’s probably about a million dollars, give or take.
****************************************
Jeff Berkowitz: Yes or no, would you like somebody to be able to own a handgun in his or her home?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: I don’t know that we need them in our home. They lead to violence in the home, as well.

Jeff Berkowitz: Abortion, you’re one hundred percent pro-choice?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: I am. I think that women should have choice, yes.

Jeff Berkowitz: Even on partial birth abortion? You know the federal government, the Congress, passed a ban on partial birth abortion. The Supreme Court upheld it. If you were there voting, would you have voted for that ban on partial birth abortion?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: That is very controversial.

Jeff Berkowitz: Yes or no. Which way would you vote?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: I don’t know.

Jeff Berkowitz: …Would you favor same sex marriage?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: I am not in favor of same sex marriage.

Jeff Berkowitz: Civil unions?

Darlena Williams-Burnett: What do you mean? Am I in favor of civil unions?
Jeff Berkowitz: Yeah.

Darlena Williams-Burnett: Well, yes.
******************************************
This week’s suburban edition of Public Affairs features Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds in Cook County Darlena Williams-Burnett, 7th CD Democratic Primary Candidate. The airing schedule for the Chicago Metro suburban edition of Public Affairs is included, below.
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You can now watch the show with 7th CD Democratic Primary candidate Darlena Williams-Burnett on your computer
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Darlena Williams-Burnett, 7th CD Democratic Primary Candidate, debates and discusses a broad range of domestic, foreign and cultural public policy issues with show host and Executive Legal Recruiter Jeff Berkowitz on a show taped on August 30, 2009. Although filing of nominating petitions for this race is not required until the first week of November, Williams-Burnett , as of now, seems likely to face five or more competitors in the Democratic Primary to replace Cong. Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago), who says he will will not seek re-election, but will instead run in the Democratic Primary for Cook County Board President. Cong. Davis is, however, circulating nominating petitions for both the 7th CD race and the Cook County Board President Democratic Primary.
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Topics discussed on this week's show with 7th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Williams-Burnett include the War in Afghanistan, whether each citizen or family should have received $10,000, or so, instead of bailing out the banks, how best to reform healthcare, whether everyone should have school choice, the economic stimulus plan, whether partial birth abortion should be legal, whether law abiding citizens should be allowed to possess guns in their homes and much, much more.
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Public Affairs Chicago Metro suburban airing schedule:

The show featuring 7th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Williams-Burnett is airing this week in the North and Northwest Chicago Metro suburbs in its regular slot:

Tuesday night (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 Tuesday night(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 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 pm on Comcast Cable Channel 19 in Bannockburn, Deerfield, Ft. Sheridan, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Winnetka.
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Chicago and Aurora:

The "Public Affairs," show featuring 7th Cong. Dist. Democratic Primary Candidate Williams-Burnett will also air throughout the City of Chicago this coming Monday night, Sep. 21, at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and on that same night on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka 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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Next week's suburban edition of Public Affairs features David Hoffman, U. S. Senate Candidate in the Democratic Primary
************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
*********************************************
More than 100 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page , including very recent shows with 7th CD Democratic Primary candidates State Rep. Collins, State Rep. Ford and Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds Williams-Burnett; 10th CD Dem. Primary Candidate State Rep. Hamos; and Republican Gubernatorial Primary Candidate Dan Proft.
******************
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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Gubernatorial Candidate Dillard on ethics, corruption and Gov. Quinn; The Ghosts of Christmas past: George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich

Dillard promises no fundraising for two years if elected Gov

Kirk Dillard, State Senator and Republican Primary gubernatorial candidate, held a press conference yesterday morning at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in the Chicago Loop to discuss his ethics reforms initiatives. The press conference consisted of a thirteen minute statement by the Senator about his ethics initiatives and his ethics record. Senator Dillard then spent about thirteen minutes answering a dozen questions from four radio correspondents and this journalist. The local TV stations were represented by their cameras or pool camera. [Watch Dillard discuss various state legislative issues].

The most significant proposal coming from Senator Dillard (R-Westmont) was his pledge to shut down his political operation for at least the first two years of his Governorship, should he win, and not accept campaign contributions unless and until he subsequently announced a decision to seek re-election. Dillard also would seek to move the primaries in Illinois back to late July, with all of this intended, said Dillard, “to send a clear signal to the public that the era of pay-to play is finally over.” Dillard has additional ethics reform proposals, discussed here.

Dillard to focus on the three Es: Economy, Education and Ethics.

Senator Dillard, who has five announced competitors for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, promised to devote during his first two years in the State’s top job “every ounce of strength he has to “governing the state of Illinois, not worrying about a political operation.” This would include, said Dillard, “turning our 48th ranking state economy around, improving our public schools and leading by example on ethics.”

Dillard says Gov. Quinn is not corrupt but is a weak leader.

Dillard said he was also “Very disappointed,” that we found out during the final days of the Spring, 2009 Springfield legislative session that Pat Quinn was “trying to have $10,000 fundraiser meetings off campus, off of, around the State Capitol.” “You’ve got to lead by example on ethics,” Dillard said.

When asked if he somehow was suggesting Gov. Quinn is corrupt, Dillard said Quinn was a “fine man,” but he was “very disappointed that [Gov. Quinn] turned his back on [his own] Collins Reform Commission,” and that he “waffled and capitulated with respect to the University of Illinois Trustees.” [Gov. Quinn backed down from his threats to remove them-- when two of the Trustees declined to resign].

Senator Dillard said he, on the other hand, was the first candidate for Governor to call for the dismissal of the Trustees of the Board of the University of Illinois, and said he didn’t need to spend a half million dollars to come to that conclusion. Dillard reiterated, “I don’t think Pat is corrupt…I just think Pat is a weak leader.”

Dillard: I won't apologize for George Ryan

When another reporter suggested ethical issues were perhaps bi-partisan, pointing to the last Republican Governor, George Ryan, who is now serving time for public corruption, Dillard said he would not apologize for George Ryan. However, he noted the Republicans did not re-nominate George to serve another term. Senator Dillard argued this contrasted with the Democrats who chose to re-run Rod Blagojevich in 2006.

Quinn's blessing of Blago in 2006

Dillard added, for good measure, that the Democrats did this “When everybody in the State…knew that [Blagojevich] had ethical improprieties, including Governor Quinn, who just days before the election, when Rod was about to run for re-re-election, said “I don’t see anything wrong with him.”

Did Dillard speak out against George Ryan

This reporter followed-up on that line of questioning by asking Senator Dillard if he “spoke out against George Ryan while he was Governor from 1998 to 2002.” Dillard responded that when he disagrees with any Governor, including the one he worked for, his self-described mentor, Jim Edgar, he speaks out-- so Dillard invited the media to go back and see what he said.

Following up further, this reporter questioned Dillard as to whether he was aware of George Ryan’s activities during that time period, and since Dillard said that Lt. Gov. Quinn should have spoken out against Rod Blagojevich, why isn’t it fair for people to turn that around and say, “you weren’t Lt.Gov. but you were an important State Senator, did you speak out against Governor George Ryan.”

Dillard had "Issues with the Ryan Administration."

Senator Dillard said that he was sure he could go back and find numerous instances where he had “issues with the Ryan administration,” and he has “even …voted against Gov. Edgar’s initiatives (after being his Chief of Staff),” when Dillard was a State Senator.

That answer didn’t quite respond to the point this reporter had raised. It isn’t a matter of whether Senator Dillard had “issues with the Ryan administration.” It is simply that Senator Dillard seemed to be arguing that Lt. Gov. Quinn should have spoken out, as Lt. Gov., about the ethical improprieties of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. If so, does Senator Dillard think that he, as a State Senator, had similar obligations to speak out about the ethical improprieties of Gov. George Ryan. If so, what did he know, when did he know it and what did he say?

Fair is Fair

I mean, fair is fair. Of course, while we’re at it, the media should ask candidates of all parties these questions, in the context of our broader ethics discussions. It was perhaps a little more timely and relevant in Senator Dillard’s case since he had just raised the issue of then Lt. Gov. Quinn’s blessing of Blago, when Quinn was his running mate in 2006.

Finally, conspicuous by its absence, was any advocacy in Senator Dillard’s initiatives of enhanced real time disclosure of campaign contributions. This reporter sought to raise that issue at the conclusion of the presser, but Republican gubernatorial candidate Dillard said he had no time for further questions and left, stage right, as quickly as he had entered.
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Monday, September 14, 2009

Better than Stephanopoulos w/Brooks, Will, Sam and Cokie; Berkowitz w/7th CD Candidate State Rep. Collins on War, healthcare and more:Cable&Streaming

Annazette Collins, State Rep. (D-Chicago) and 7th CD Democratic Primary Candidate: I think that the United States- we have not …done a great job in making sure that everyone is insured…if it comes out that the Public Option is the right thing to do, or the best option, then, yes, we should do that. But, if it comes out that we find a better plan, then yes, we should do that. But, everyone in this country should have healthcare and—we should do it at a fair price, for everyone, that everyone could afford. [Watch show w/Collins here]

Jeff Berkowitz: Is a fair price the same thing as the competitive price?

State Rep. Collins: Well, maybe, or maybe not.

Jeff Berkowitz: The competitive price might be too high?

State Rep. Collins: The competitive price might be too high.

Jeff Berkowitz: So, that means we should subsidize healthcare?

State Rep. Collins: I don’t know—

Jeff Berkowitz: For some people? All people?

State Rep. Collins: Well, for the people who can’t afford it…even now, it’s not fair. As you know…there have been many studies that if a black person and a white person go to the doctor, you are not treated the exact same way. Now, is that about price?

Jeff Berkowitz: Is that right? Are there studies that show that?

State Rep. Collins: Yeah, there are a lot of studies that show that…
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The "Public Affairs," show, featuring Annazette Collins, State Rep. (D-Chicago) and 7th CD Democratic Primary candidate, airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21(CANTV, aka Chicago Access Network TV) and tonight on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, ACTV-10, aka Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. *************************************************
You can watch the show with 7th CD Dem. Primary Candidate, State Rep. Annazette Collins on your computer.
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For an additional partial transcript of the show with and more about the topics covered in the show, please go here.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
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More than 100 of our shows from the last two years are posted on the Public Affairs YouTube page , including very recent shows with 7th CD Democratic Primary candidates State Rep. Collins, State Rep. Ford and Chief Deputy Recorder of Deeds Williams-Burnett;
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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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Friday, September 11, 2009

Berkowitz and Fox’s Goler debate the relationship between deficits, stimulus programs and the country’s 9.7% unemployment rate w/ CEA Chair Romer

Yesterday’s report from the Obama Administration’s Council of Economic Advisers (“CEA”) argues that countries like the U. S. that spent more than others on stimulus programs are achieving better than expected levels and growth rates of Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”). Fox News Channel’s Wendell Goler asked CEA Chair Romer: If that is the case, why is the U. S. unemployment rate higher than the 8% that the Administration promoted to the country as the peak that would occur if the Congress enacted the 800 billion dollar stimulus program. [the current U. S. unemployment rate is 9.7%]

Chair Romer explains how 9.7% unemployment is a success story

CEA Chair Christina Romer responded to Fox's Goler at yesterday’s telephone press conference that while countries around the world were all hit by a “shock,” in terms of the collapse of our financial system, a lot of that shock was “concentrated in the United States and our recession in many ways has been much more severe here than in other countries.” Chair Romer said, “the crucial thing is what would have happened in the absence of the Administration’s stimulus and we certainly were on an even more downward trajectory than a lot of other countries.”

Romer essentially argued that the U. S. outperformed, relative to our respective baseline forecast, other countries with smaller stimulus programs. She also seemed to argue that the over-all decline in U. S. economic activity that occurred -- irrespective of the stimulus program-- was worst than expected, and that surprise accounts for U. S. unemployment exceeding 8%, even though Chair Romer thinks the stimulus program was successful in making that rate lower than it would have otherwise been.

Chair Romer says U. S. Unemployment rate to peak at 10%

Although not coming out of the CEA Report discussed yesterday, Chair Romer said that the Administration’s recently prepared economic assumptions for the mid-session review of the budget projects unemployment to peak in the U. S. at about 10% toward the end of this year or early next year—and she added that she thinks “that is a very reasonable expectation.”

Berkowitz debates "Rational Expectations," and Keynesian economics w/ CEA Chair Romer

Concluding the presser with the last question of about fifteen, or so, that were asked by assorted media on the conference call, this journalist sought to explore what Chair Romer thought was the impact of the recently revised upward CBO estimates of the federal deficits for the next decade, from seven trillion dollars to nine trillion dollars. Under “rational expectations,” theories, economists might think the impact of long-term deficits could be substantial, even in the short run. Investors know that deficits are likely to result, eventually, in higher tax liabilities on those making investments, resulting in lower expected rates of return, lower levels of investment and thus lower growth rates of GDP and higher unemployment.

MIT and UC, Berkeley v. Chicago School of Economics

Chair Romer, perhaps reflecting her academic pedigree (MIT) and teaching experience at University of California, Berkeley, didn’t buy into the rational expectations theories so much (which might be more popular at the University of Chicago economics department than at Berkeley or MIT). She seemed to follow the more traditional Keynesian economic theories that look at investment as a function of current interest rate or borrowing costs, with less of a focus on the consequences on investment of the anticipated higher taxes resulting from efforts to deal with the projected, massive U. S. budget deficits.

Deficits and Crowding Out

Romer did note the more traditional “crowding out,” theory of budget deficits. That is, when the federal government runs large deficits, the Treasury goes into the bond market to finance the deficits. Assuming the Federal Reserve does not step up to monetize the debt and buy the bonds from the Treasury, the sale of the bonds to individuals or private institutions will “crowd out,” private investments. This theory was used by many Democrats to criticize the large Reagan Administration deficits in the 80s. Chairman Romer seemed to argue that since interest rates are relatively low now, not much “crowding out,” is likely to occur for the foreseeable future.

You can take the boy or girl out of MIT but...

In short, the Chicago School of Economics argues that real world economics and business behavior are different from that predicted by the conventional Keynesian analyses presented by Chair Romer yesterday, and from that presented in the CEA’s paper prepared for Congress.[For a general discussion of the Chicago School of Economics, Milton Friedman and Price Theory,please go here ]. If we could get Chair Romer’s colleague, Austan Goolsbee, on “Public Affairs,” or Chair Romer on the show, we could perhaps explore some of these economic issues.

CEA member Goolsbee is on leave from the University of Chicago Booth Business School, so perhaps he is a part of the Chicago School of Economics. On the other hand, Goolsbee, like Romer, got his Ph. D. from MIT. And, although you can take the boy or girl out of the Keynesian MIT, you can't take the “Keynesian MIT approach," out of the boy or girl.
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The transcript of the exchange between Chair Romer and your faithful correspondent is included, below:

Jeff Berkowitz: What’s the impact on the analysis you have done—I know it is not explicitly incorporated into it—of the revised expectations of deficits for the next decade from seven trillion dollars to nine trillion dollars (the estimate by the CBO). How does that factor in- in terms of looking at (because the President said last night how important it was not to add to the deficit when discussing healthcare insurance reform). So, with those large deficits over the next decade, nine trillion dollars, if you were looking at unemployment—the effect of your Recovery Act, with those larger deficits, what would you be looking at as a result of those deficits in terms of unemployment for next year, say, June of 2010?

Christina Romer, Chair, Council of Economic Advisers: I think the most important thing to realize is that in the short-run there is very little effect, or another way to say it-- why is it that certainly we and virtually every economist would say the right thing to do in a recession is to run a budget deficit—precisely because you know that’s a time when the economy is not producing at capacity and so actually needs the stimulus and so that certainly, you know, the President has never made apologies for running deficits now. It was something we needed to do. We needed to rescue the economy or the other way to say it, there is nothing that would be worse for the deficit than letting the economy go into free-fall. So, I think you do absolutely need to distinguish between the short-run and the long-fun and I think right now the government spending, the tax cuts are incredibly important, as our numbers suggest for helping the economy get out of this terrible recession and start growing again.

Where one worries about deficits is over the longer haul-that you fear that what it does is to raise interest rates, right, because the—usually we call it the “crowding out,” effect and that’s something of course that you have to be concerned about. We see no evidence of that happening now. Interest rates are at very low levels-- In part, because at a time of uncertainty, people find the United States a wonderful place and a very safe place to invest, but we’re absolutely committed to dealing with the deficit over the longer haul because we do think it can be a problem over the longer run and that’s why the President last night talked so about how important health care reform is because the number one thing that is going to make the deficit get big over the long haul is—get bigger—is our rising healthcare costs and we have also talked, you know the President has said he wants to cut the deficit that we inherited in half, put us on a trajectory for getting that thing down and we’re starting the 2011 budget process with exactly that in mind.

Jeff Berkowitz: But, if I may, Chairman Romer, don’t those large deficits, those expectations of large deficits deter investment now, even in the short-run, because investors look at those deficits as meaning higher tax rates, in one form or another, reducing the rates of return on those investments, so there is a short-run impact, isn’t there?

Chairman Romer: I think most economists would say there is not. And again, what we think people doing investment look at are things like the interest rate at which they are borrowing, they’re certainly—they’re looking at the Recovery Act and the fact that there are incentives for investment right now, like bonus depreciation, and I think one of the things we highlight in our report is the degree to which—if you say, what’s changed about GDP, what’s different? Well, in the first quarter [of 2009], fixed investment fell at 39%. And, in the second quarter, it still fell, but it fell at 11 %, right?

So, one of the things that we think we are exactly seeing is the investment sector turn around. That’s what the data on durable goods orders showed us. That is—shipments are up. Orders are up. All saying that people are actually saying, “It’s starting to look like a time to invest.” We’re even seeing residential construction turn up. Again, another kind of investment. So, I think when you look at what people are actually saying there-- is the sense of the idea that the economy is turning around and improved confidence. I think that’s incredibly important for investments, expectations-the sense that people want to start building things again in this country.
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Telephone Press Conference with CEA Chair Christina Romer, September 10, 2009 (Emphasis supplied).