BY MIKE CETERA
Dennis Hastert was all sunshine when talking about his friend Jim Oberweis earlier this week. The former speaker handed his endorsement -- "for me, the choice is clear" -- to the Aurora businessman.
But it wasn't that long ago that Hastert was using words like "stumbled" and "demogogue" to describe Oberweis and his aspirations for office. Hastert was clearly disappointed three years ago in the positions and postures that Oberweis made in his several failed attempts at elected office.
On Thursday, Hastert tried to mute his past criticisms, saying he was concerned more with the tone of Oberweis' past campaigns, not the positions he took. It seems to me that's a bit of subtle revisionist history on the former speaker's part.
Let's review.
Hastert in 2004:
"I thought Jim was the best of the candidates (in 2002). But he did not run a great campaign last time. He didn't get his message out, and he kind of stumbled on what he really stood for. Obviously, I didn't endorse him this time."Hastert added that he's "disappointed" in Oberweis for taking such a strong stance against President Bush's recent immigration-reform proposal. Oberweis has called the plan "blanket amnesty in disguise," a comment that doesn't seem to sit well with Hastert.
"He's trying to demagogue the immigration thing," Hastert said. "I wish he would talk about other issues that are important in this race, but I guess that's what he thinks will get more talk going."
More from 2004:
Aurora dairy owner Jim Oberweis' hard-line stance against illegal immigration, one that clashed with programs proposed by President George Bush, made him unsuitable for the nod to replace Ryan, Hastert said. Oberweis finished second in the March GOP primary."Oberweis wanted to get on the ticket, but, again, I think there were some flaws in that campaign," Hastert said. "If he ever wants a future, I think it's probably good for him to sit out a time, for his own good."
But, Hastert said, the Oberweis name, already identified in the Fox Valley with home-delivered dairy products, could still appear on future ballots.
"Jim's got a lot of great qualities and has done a lot of good things for the community, and I think he could have a good political future," Hastert said. "But he probably ought to sit this election out."
Lauzen is a hypocrite. He said previously that he would welcome Hastert's endorsement, then he criticized Hastert for endorsing Oberweis' candidacy...I think an apology to Speaker Hastert is long overdue. Lauzen's cheap personal attacks should be stopped now.