By Steve Rhodes
News and notes from the race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr., including Thursday night’s 20-person debate moderated by Fox Chicago’s Mike Flannery at Governors State University.
1. Deleting old Facebook posts is never a good idea.
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At the last debate, Debbie Halvorson said that standing up for principles and ethics is easy “When you know what you stand for.”
2. Dart for Beale.
I can only guess that Dart thinks Beale will be able to help him somehow in the future with votes from the 9th Ward if he runs for, say, mayor.
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Meanwhile, Robin Kelly announced she has won the endorsement of the 100 ministers who comprise the International Ministers & Community Alliance.
3. From last night’s debate.
Halvorson still opposing assault weapons ban. “It’s not a black and white issue.” Unfortunate way to put it.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Halvorson: “We need to have a true conversation, an honest conversation about the culture of violence.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Halvorson: “Commercial is very false.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
That’s the Bloomberg ad. Which part is incorrect? Fact-check, please.
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Halvorson: Talk about mental health cuts at state level – ask Hutchinson about that – and at city level – ask Beale about that.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
Good point. After all, they voted for budgets that cut mental health funding, right?
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Halvorson: Assault weapons ban less than 2% (?) of murders . . .
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
Good point for context; an assault weapons ban is not a silver bullet (no pun intended). In fact, it’s all too easy for Dems to support. Still, why not support it and move on? No reason not to outside of currying favor with the NRA. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: Hunters don’t need assault weapons, nor do those defending their homes. Assault weapons are for (massive) assaults.
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Hutchinson: Supports common sense safety legislation. Who doesn’t?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Flannery asking if candidates believe climate change is occuring. Next: Do you believe in gravity? Too soon to run out of questions.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Flannery bypasses chance to ask about Peotone. Strangely absent from campaign.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
Junior’s argument was always that a Peotone airport was the one project that could significantly affect the Southland and South Side economy and address economic inequities. Get a little of that O’Hare cheese while reducing gridlock and improving consumer competition. A regional solution. Do the candidates agree? How would they get there? Where have they been?
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Kelly: Waiting for borders to be secure before path to citizenship – president’s plan? – often just an excuse.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Flannery: Under Obamacare, Cook County Hospital will lose reimbursement for treating undocumented.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Flannery: When Social Security started, odds were you would be dead before you could collect. Really?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Beale: We’re constantly looking at working class to bail us out of problems rich people getting us into.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
So true. So will you introduce a financial services tax in the city council soon? Or back the mayor’s dormant campaign pledge to enact a luxury tax in the city?
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Flannery asks how many would keep some troops in Afghanistan. Doesn’t know 2nd Dist. well enough to ask local questions?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Flannery: Show of hands, how many favor Obama’s targeted killings? Halvorson: “That’s not a ‘raise your hand’ question.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Larry Pickens: “He’s president, not king. These are extrajudicial killings.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
On drones.
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Hutchinson: “I share some concerns about extrajudicial killings.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
Punt.
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Hutchinson: “We do have some problems when we start to erode foundational principles.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
Closer.
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Beale favors Obama policy. Have to make tough decisions.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
He’s allowed to have that view, but not sure he really understands the issue.
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Kelly: Americans are killing Americans right here at home. Punt.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
I know you want to ride gun violence to glory, but c’mon.
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Student question: How to improve quality of life in second district. Beale: Now we’re getting to the nuts & bolts of why were running…
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
Talked about job creation and development efforts in his ward.
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Halvorson: “I think we haven’t talked enough about our veterans.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
Well, we hadn’t talked at all about veterans yet tonight. But the question was about jobs, and shoehorning veterans into the answer is like Kelly shoehorning guns into her last answer. Too obvious.
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Kelly: My staff is going to laugh at me but I really think we need campaign finance reform. Fill us in: Why would they laugh?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
I’m still wondering.
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All candidates willing to release income tax returns. I wanna see Beale’s first.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
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Halvorson: “I will never say anything bad about any of the people seated at this table.” Until my next book!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 8, 2013
To wit.
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Conclusion: Halvorson’s performance was much stronger than at the Rich Central High School debate. She showed a command of the issues and drew on her previous work in Congress in displaying her experience and qualifications. But do second district voters like where she stands?
Hutchinson showed off her political gift of articulate evasion; she’s slick. But she has yet to differentiate herself on the issues aside from her “evolving” position on guns. That’s because she has no differentiation on the issues; she will be a dependable water-carrier if elected.
Kelly’s low-key style is steady and mature, but dry. Will it – should it – matter? She’s the relatively (this is Illinois) progressive candidate in the race and hasn’t been hit yet on her tenure as chief of staff for former state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, but perhaps that’s because her next job was as chief administrator for Toni Preckwinkle, who has endorsed Hutchinson. Who is Halvorson’s former chief of staff. Nonetheless, Kelly seems a little lacking in the sophistication department sometimes. (Once again, I must say, they’re no Junior.)
Beale can be a bit of a clown, and it’s not as if he’s distinguished himself as a leader on the city council. He just happens to live in the district and sees an opportunity. He’ll need to be more aggressive about policy proposals if he wants to get into this thing – and it may be too late seeing as how the election is February 26. Being from the city and not the south suburbs is a hindrance in this district, not a help.
The rest of the field? Forget it.
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Here’s the whole thing. Thanks, CAN TV!
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Previously: The Top Candidates To Replace Jesse Jackson Jr. – Plus A Lawyer Named Ernest B. Fenton – Held A Debate.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on February 8, 2013