Copyright 2006 Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago TribuneFebruary 27, 2006 Monday
Chicagoland Final EditionSECTION: EDITORIAL ; ZONE CN; Pg. 14
LENGTH: 965 words
HEADLINE: For Democrats: Duckworth
BODY:
Veteran Rep. Henry Hyde is one of the most respected members of Congress, an eloquent and intellectual powerhouse, one of the great voices of conservative thought. After 32 years, he’s calling it quits. In most districts, that might prompt a quiet succession. Hyde is a Republican in a Republican-leading district and he supports state Sen. Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) as his successor. Roskam does not face a primary challenge.
But Democrats, encouraged by the success of Rep. Melissa Bean in a nearby district, think they have a chance to win Hyde’s seat. They are engaged in quite a tussle to decide who will get the chance to face Roskam.
Christine Cegelis, a software engineer, picked up 44 percent of the vote against Hyde in 2004. She’s running again. But Democrats have a better candidate in Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq war who has fresh and pragmatic views on trade, health care, taxes and other issues. Duckworth was an Army National Guard major when she was grievously injured in Iraq, losing both of her legs. She has some well-considered views on how the U.S. and Iraqis can finish the job there and bring American soldiers home. Duckworth is endorsed over Cegelis and Wheaton College professor Lindy Scott.
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Copyright 2006 Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago TribuneOctober 19, 2006 Thursday
Chicago Final EditionSECTION: EDITORIAL ; ZONE C; Pg. 28
LENGTH: 964 words
HEADLINE: Melissa Bean’s moxie
BODY:
In 2004 the Tribune endorsed Melissa Bean over the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House, with the expectation that she would be a pro-growth, pro-trade congresswoman. She has delivered.
Rep. Bean has recognized the need to listen very carefully to her constituents–she’s a Democrat in a district that gave 56 percent of its vote to President Bush in 2004. She has charted a moderate, independent course and earned the support of Republicans and Democrats. She has been strong on national defense. She took a risk by voting for the Central America Free Trade Agreement. She knew that would anger some in organized labor–but that it would help businesses in her district expand and create jobs. She is an advocate for small business, gaining her the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She has the Tribune’s endorsement for a second term in the 8th Congressional District.
Her opponent, Republican David McSweeney, is not a bad fit for this district; we endorsed him in the GOP primary. His campaign efforts to make Bean out to be a liberal fall flat, however. Bean is endorsed over McSweeney and Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst.
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Copyright 2004 Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago TribuneOctober 11, 2004 Monday
Chicagoland Final Edition
SECTION: EDITORIAL ; ZONE CN; Pg. 20LENGTH: 944 words
HEADLINE: Time for Crane to retire
BODY:
When Republican leaders passed over Rep. Phil Crane for the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee in 2001, it was a clear signal that they didn’t trust him with a prominent role in Congress. Crane might have taken the hint–after three decades of modest achievement in the House, it was time to leave. But he didn’t.
The Tribune has admired and supported Crane’s strong advocacy of free trade. But it has become evident that Crane’s interest in serving his constituents has evaporated. He has used his seat in Congress as a cozy sinecure. In the last four years he has taken more than $109,000 in trips to spots around the world paid for by lobbyists and other private interests. Republican leaders privately acknowledge that Crane has gotten lazy and is out of touch with his constituents. The leaders have not been successful at shaking him out of his lethargy. It’s time for a change.
The Tribune endorses Melissa Bean, an energetic, pragmatic Democrat from Barrington, in the 8th Congressional District. Bean, a business consultant, is not quite the ardent free-trader that Crane is, but she understands that free trade creates opportunities for U.S. firms and that foreign competition ultimately strengthens U.S. markets. She has sound views on tax policy, health care and education reform. She will, unlike Crane, pay close attention to the folks back home. Bean is endorsed.
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What’s the Deal Dold? We all know you are going to endorse Kirk and that’s fine–that’s the Trib–but why not take Seals and Footlik on about their issues instead of what you seemed to think was a non-issue previously?
Arch, it’s the Trib! All they are doing is behaving like the Trib.
Kirk tried to make it an issue in 2006, and Footlik opened the door by attacking Seals on the issue at the Tribune endorsement meeting, even though he’s never even lived NEAR the district for the last 20 years. Jay-spin now is that he’s been commuting from DC, but insiders know that he was just visiting his brother who lives in the district.
The real irony is that no one cared when Kirk ran for office, listing his father’s address as his own, when he, like Footlik, hadn’t lived in this area since he was in high school. Dan is the only one who really lives in the Tenth, with his kids in school in the district, his wife working in the district, the only candidate with a real understanding of life in the Tenth. Kirk has a little unused apartment and Jay has a temporary rental, with an opt out clause. If either of them were really concerned with serving the Tenth, they’d talk about real issues – and I don’t mean using Israel as another manipulative tool.