BY MIKE CETERA
The timing of Kevin Burns' announcement that he's dropping out of the race is curious. Did he think he had a shot at gaining former Speaker Dennis Hastert's endorsement? If so, did he have reason to think this?
Burns gave no indication he expected Hastert's endorsement in announcing his campaign "suspension," either during an interview or in a subsequent press release. But you have to wonder if he was wishing for Hastert's blessing to keep his flagging campaign afloat.
The announcement leaves Jim Oberweis (endorsed by Hastert) and Chris Lauzen in a two-horse race to win the Republican nomination. An unknown, Michael J. Dilger, is also on the ballot.
Everything I have heard about Jim Oberweis is positive. He's a wonderful businessman. I simply LOVE Oberweis' turtle candy sundaes. They are delicious. I believe his investment acuity is exceptional, too. Some of his funds are highly rated and his son (I think it's his son??)is featured on Consumer News Business Channel CNBC. I also think that if he had served as an alderman or mayor or perhaps on the Kane County Board, or as a County Clerk, that he would have some experience to have laddered him up to the critical, extremely important legislative position of U.S. Congressman.
But...he doesn't, to my knowledge, have any experience in an elected post. For this very reason, he would probably spend the bulk of his short time in office learning the ropes. And maybe by the end of his term, he would, not only a great businessman, but a great congressman.
Do I have an agenda? Well, sort of, but not really.
I do want Chris Lauzen to be elected, but not because I hold any ill will toward Oberweis, or have any ties to Lauzen. I don't. And I will say nothing negative about Oberweis.
I must admit that I was disappointed in the letter Chris Lauzen wrote to Hastert, requesting that he refrain from endorsing any candidate. It didn't look very good, and I imagine it was written in a moment of great emotion, knowing the weight an endorsement from Hastert would have.
It must be very very difficult to imagine you could lose a race because of a fickle public who is fed an incessant diet of half truths and sound bites--especially when your public service of almost 2 decades qualifies you to be a revered and esteemed public servant.
I won't offer any rhetoric. I am not involved in Chris's campaign, but I know of his intense involvement and concern for this district. He has demonstrated in all areas that he is a man of character and integrity. But more than that, he gets things done and his responsiveness to his charges is UNPARALLELED.
I believe that Chris may be disliked by some party stalwarts. Chris is known to stand up to the old guard and refuses to play the game of politics which he disdains. In his almost 2 decades of service he has never sold his soul. He can be counted on always to care to a great degree about us. For that reason and so many others, I support Chris Lauzen for U.S. House of Representatives, a clear choice!
Those are indeed very good questions. And if you had asked them of Burns, you would know the answers, and you would know that Hastert's decision to endorse Oberweis was not a snub of Burns.
Jill, you're wrong.
Chris Lauzen is not concerned about you and me. Chris Lauzen is concerned about Chris Lauzen. Chris Lauzen doesn't stand up to the old guard. Chris Lauzen is an obstructionist.
Have you noticed that in the 15 years he's been in Springfield, Kane County has nothing to show for it? Nothing. Why? Because Chris Lauzen can't play nice. He treats people like crap, shoving his finger in their faces and swearing at them, losing his temper at the drop of a hat. The rest of Springfield hates his guts because he can't treat anyone with respect.
Do you know why so many other state senators and legislators are backing Chris in this run? Because they want him out of Springfield.
This congressional run is nothing but a humongous ego trip. Chris Lauzen couldn't care less about the average person. He'd rather cow-tow to Jack Roeser.
Here's a good example. In 2007, there were five pieces of Legislation that were developed and written constituents of his Senate district. They were introduced by Schmitz and Lindner. Three passed through the House and Senate and were signed into law. Of the five, do you know how many Lauzen signed onto as a sponsor? ZERO! So much for working for your constituency.
You can defend his individualism all you want, but answer this one question: Tell me one tangible thing he has done in Springfield to benefit the Fox Valley.
Chris Lauzen is the type of Republican that the voters threw out of Washington in 2006. And if he wins, the rest of the country will wonder how in God's name we could replace Denny Hastert with a guy like that, and the 14th District and all of Illinois will become a laughingstock.
I wonder if the Geneva Township Republican Organization's "unanimous rejection" of Kevin Burns's candidacy was the real reason why Burns dropped out? Just asking....
Kevin Burns is a terrific guy and has a great future. It is odd, because he got caught up in a very high-profile primary and was kind of lost in the shuffle at the beginning. I like Kevin a lot and think he has a good shot at being a State Senator or even future Congressman. My impression is that Kevin is counting on the demographic of the 14th District to change significantly. Kevin wanted to make a good impression on Hastert to earn a future endorsement for higher office - not a bad strategy.
But the problem is that I am confused as to whether he and Oberweis were running for Hastert's endorsement or a Congressional seat. The timing is just plain odd - it gives Hastert way to much credit. The few people I have talked to in the last 24 hours are mystified by Hastert's decision to drop out and throw his weight behind Oberweis - the whole thing seems totally orchestrated and just plain icky. I'm not sure Lauzen's letter to the editor/Hastert was the ideal approach, but he has a point (made in a roundabout way). Seriously, did anyone think Hastert was ever going to endorse Sen. Lauzen? He's not an establishment guy at all! I'm undecided as to which primary I'll vote in - but the Hastert endorsement thing doesn't do a whole lot either way, in my opinion. It just seems like Denny trying to install his successor.
Hastert's choice of Oberweis may have an unintended consequence. In order to compensate for the snub, Lauzen may shift his stance further to the right in order to claim a piece of the conservative base which makes up the heart and soul of the GOP in the 14th. It could turn into a race to see who leans further to the right. Or he might go on the attack, reminding voters of some of Oberweis' extremist views. If successful, Lauzen might weaken Oberweis' hold on conservatives. But at the same time he'll risk losing moderates and independents who've grown tired of the dogmatic, uninspired leadership of the Republican right. Either way, they'll divide Republicans at a time when the mood of the country is leaning away from the GOP, and the district, while not looking to go blue, is a lot closer to purple than red.
To the guy who thought that the Geneva Township GOP had anything to do with it? Get a grip. You are but one grain of sand on a very large beach when it comes to a congressional race.