From Roll Call
In 2004, while running to replace retiring Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R- Ill.), Oberweis aired a controversial television ad in which he flew a helicopter above Soldier Field to show how many immigrants without the right documentation enter the country through legal channels every week -- roughly 65,000. He now admits it probably wasn't the best idea. "The commercial did not communicate our position well enough," Oberweis said. "The tone was harsh and the American public was not ready for the message four years ago. " But timing, again, appears to be in Oberweis' favor. With parochial anger in the GOP base running red-hot, his identification with the issue may tilt the race in his favor.
Let's remember that commercial here:
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============================================A Republican source close to Hastert said Oberweis was "ahead of his time" on the immigration issue but failed to understand that few voters cared in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Oberweis' shortsightedness, the source suggested, has been a liability for the sometimes undisciplined candidate. "[Oberweis] has a tin ear and doesn't know how to use issues appropriately," the source said. The Hastert confidant also suggested that the former Speaker was less than pleased with having to make a choice between either Oberweis or Lauzen, a longtime political rival. But ultimately "Denny does care about what happens after he's gone." The source said the former Speaker picked the more even-handed Oberweis, who "has better temperament, better judgment and a better ability to work and get things done for the district." "Unfortunately the field is one of these two idiots," the source said. "If you just look at these two, Oberweis is the more practical choice in that he certainly has a good chance in winning and he's someone that'll try to work to get some things done and bring people together, than be a lightning rod all the time."
What’s great about this is Oberweis has his moments of craziness too such as his description of pro-life advocates as the American Taliban. He then turned his entire Gubernatorial race over to Jack Roeser and the crack staff surrounding the Family Taxpayer Network including Matt Barber and Joe Weigand who has a claim to fame of dressing as a chicken to criticize former Gubernatorial candidate and genuinely decent person Jim Ryan.
On the other side we have the thin skinned wonder of Aurora in State Senator Chris Lauzen who most recently went off on the Tribune
State Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora), who is running for Congress, said he’d planned to go to the Rose Bowl with his wife and family, including one son who is a freshman at USC. But Lauzen said he would call this morning to cancel his order for six tickets.
“I should cancel it, and I’ll take that away from my family too,” Lauzen said.
Lauzen said he did not use a connection to get the tickets, but did call the university president’s office to ask how to go through the process.
“Sure, where else am I going to call?” Lauzen said.
But Lauzen called it “horrible” that “you would judge that there is anything inappropriate.”
“If you’re asking a question, it becomes a story,” Lauzen said.
Lauzen said he made a mistake running for office 16 years ago, saying politics is a “crappy business” that has cost his family millions of dollars.
“So I’ll, I don’t want any more trouble for me or my family,” Lauzen said. “This is really a horrible, horrible business. This is horrible.”
Lauzen also referred to his Republican opponent, Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove, in the race to succeed former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) in the 14th Congressional District.
“Just think what Oberweis will do with this,” Lauzen said.
Saying he was a “little bit sensitive,” Lauzen provided his home phone number to a reporter who asked how to reached him with any follow-up questions.
“Why don’t you call me at home and then maybe you can talk to one of my family members who won’t be going?” Lauzen said.
Lauzen is the genius who after fighting in a primary over his credentials with another candidate sued the man for defamation and attempted to change his name to Chris Lauzen CPA
His wife wrote a very odd letter on his behalf earlier this cycle
Lauzen, himself, wrote one of the most bizarre open letters to Hastert to encourage him to not endorse anyone in the 14th race.
You have demonstrated through your recent action of early resignation that you wish to set aside the public duty to which we elected you. At first, I was very concerned that your health was failing somehow, and I sympathized with you and your family. But, you have assured us repeatedly that there is no health problem and we are relieved on your behalf.
Many folks express their wonder to me about the apparent necessity to spend $1 Million of taxpayer funds that could better be spent on national security, healthcare, or education, on the March 8, 2008 Special Election. Now that you are stepping away from your official duties, I believe that citizens and voters would be distressed if you reassert yourself and use your considerable clout to influence the outcome of an impending primary.
So really whomever wins the Republican primary, the big winners are the bloggers who get to have fun with these freaks.