As Capitol Fax noted yesterday, 14th District GOP congressional candidate has started running a negative TV ad against Rep. Bill Foster, hitting him for supporting the Wall Street bailout package. Yesterday, Foster hit back with a spot that briefly highlights the new "negative attacks" from Oberweis and whacks him on Social Security. Watch it:
Oberweis Swipes Biden Line: Bailout "Doesn't Represent Change," Just "More Of The Same"
by Josh Kalven on October 28, 2008 - 10:44am
As Capitol Fax noted today, 14th District GOP congressional candidate Jim Oberweis appears to have violated his pledge to run a positive campaign with a new negative ad hitting Rep. Bill Foster for his votes on the Wall Street bailout package. Also of note is a new two-minute radio ad he's running on WLS (and perhaps elsewhere). The spot is narrated by Oberweis himself, who criticizes the bailout at length while never mentioning Foster's name. What's interesting is this passage:
OBERWEIS: This plan is a product of everything that's wrong with Washington: the special interest lobbyists, the campaign contributions to favored members of the key committees, the rush to action with too little consideration of alternatives or consequence. This bailout plan doesn't represent change, it represents more of the same.
Sound familiar?
Daily Herald Endorses Morgenthaler, Kirk, Foster
by Josh Kalven on October 24, 2008 - 9:33am
Congressional Endorsement Round-Up (UPDATED)
by Angela Caputo on October 23, 2008 - 12:41pm
Editorial boards at some of the state's largest papers have begun announcing their picks for Congress. The Beachwood Reporter's Steve Rhodes makes a good point when he says some of the choices will probably lead readers to check the front page to see if they've got the right paper
The Sun-Times, which describes the paper's editorial voice as "The Progressive Independent Conscience of the City," is backing Republican candidates in three out of the five most contentious congressional races it's weighed in on thus far. Meanwhile, the Tribune board is endorsing some liberal Democrats in three out of five of the state's most heated congressional contests. Following is a run-down (updated on 10/29):
Two New Congressional Ads
by Josh Kalven on October 22, 2008 - 9:01am
Two Democratic congressional campaigns have new television ads out this week. First, here's a spot from 18th District candidate Colleen Callahan hitting Republican opponent Aaron Schock over "Notarygate":
Third Quarter Fundraising Figures
by Josh Kalven on October 16, 2008 - 9:11am
Speaking Of Foster Endorsements ...
by Josh Kalven on October 12, 2008 - 11:42am
No sooner had I posted the previous item on the Esquire endorsement did I notice a much more relevant media outlet's decision to back Rep. Bill Foster: the Chicago Sun-Times. From today's editorial:
Our earlier reservations about Foster concerned his style and substance. During a meeting back then with the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, he struck us as unprepared on many issues, and he spoke softly and tentatively, hardly like an obvious leader. The staunchly conservative Oberweis, in contrast, argued his views forcefully, which we had to respect, even if we didn't always agree. We overlooked his contentious edge.
But much has changed in seven months. We have watched Foster in action and taken a better measure. He knows his stuff, though he remains soft-spoken, and has been effective in Washington.
Esquire: Foster Reelection Symbolizes The End Of The "Bush Era"
by Josh Kalven on October 12, 2008 - 10:53am
In its November issue, Esquire magazine backs a candidate in every congressional race nationwide. Their endorsement of 14th District Rep. Bill Foster, however, is notable for its broad context:
We’re not big on symbolism, but we’ll bow to it here. Foster defeated Oberweis earlier this year in the special election to replace former Speaker Dennis Hastert, the man who served as valet for the disastrous GOP shift to extremism in the 2000s. Foster’s reelection in November will make it official: The Bush era is over. Esquire endorses: Foster
Oberweis Joins The Community Reinvestment Act Chorus
by Adam Doster on October 01, 2008 - 1:51pm
We've done our part to point out that the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) did not -- I repeat, did not -- lead to the current economic crisis. But the myth just keeps cropping up in conservative circles. Last Friday, the Daily Herald
published a bevy of interviews with suburban
congressional candidates, as well as those at the statehouse level. Lo and behold, when asked
what steps Congress should take to promote economic recovery, 14th District Republican candidate Jim Oberweis blamed the CRA for all the nation's problems.
Foster Campaign Releases First Ad
by Josh Kalven on September 23, 2008 - 9:54am
Rep. Bill Foster's reelection campaign released their first TV ad today. Watch it:
As you may have noticed, the ad represents an interesting shift in messaging from Foster's special election campaign earlier this year. During that race, his tag line was: "Scientist. Businessman. Democrat For Change." Here's the new line: "Scientist. Businessman. Independent Solutions." The word "Democrat" at no point appears on-screen or in the script of the ad. Indeed, the closest they come is when the announcer says Foster "broke with his party to support fiscal responsibility."
I'm curious what readers think about this shift. Is emphasizing his "indepedent" credentials really necessary for Foster's long-term viability in the 14th District? What does he lose by dropping the "Democrat" label in his ads?