The Capitol Fax Blog » 6th District roundup

Friday, Feb 24, 2006

Tammy Duckworth got a little bad press today.

Thereâ€™s nothing Kathleen Yosko likes more than publicity for Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.

But not when itâ€™s tied to a political event.

Thatâ€™s why the CEO of the Wheaton hospital is clarifying Marianjoyâ€™s position following a highly publicized tour there Feb. 16 by 6th Congressional Democratic candidate Tammy Duckworth.

Duckworth, who flew helicopters with the National Guard in Iraq before being wounded, toured the building along with former Sen. Max Cleland, a Georgia Democrat. Both are veterans and double amputees.

The hospital gives frequent tours, and thatâ€™s all Yosko thought she was providing.

Instead, a posse of television, radio and print reporters followed Duckworth and Cleland around the hospital. Midpoint, the two held a news conference chastising the Bush administration for failures on health care issues.

Christine Cegelis was endorsed by Democracy for America.

Since granting its endorsement Wednesday, DFA said it has raised more than $5,500 for Cegelis from more than 200 supporters–a boost to a campaign that had the least cash on hand at the end of last year among three Democrats seeking the nomination.

That group knows how to raise money fast. And, despite what her supporters have been saying in comments here this month, Cegelis certainly needs cash.

Barack Obama will appear in a TV ad for Duckworth.

Playing one of her trump cards, congressional hopeful Tammy Duckworth began airing a television commercial featuring U.S. Sen. Barack Obama on Thursday — marking the freshman Democratic senator’s first appearance in a TV ad for another candidate.

And Bill Baar wants the Democratic Party to rebuke Lindy Scott.

Apparently, I forgot to post that the Machinist’s union has endorsed Cegelis, a former member.

- posted by Rich Miller

30 Comments

- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 9:29 am:
Rich, DFA has alot of strengths, but raising money isn’t one of them. If it was, Cegelis’s campaign wouldn’t be in the financial hole it is in.

And Duckworth’s been earning so much great press, I’d expect a media backlash at some point. Before the press sharpens their pens, they should review the record of Peter Roskam. My favorite? The interview where he bragged that Henry Hyde pulled strings to get him admitted to law school. When Roskam votes against the Governor’s plan to provide scholarships in Illinois, that’ll make a great story.

- Zach - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 9:49 am:
Even better…before the press goes after Duckworth they should go after Roskam. Before you get all hot and bothered over future Congressman Roskam, you surely have to realize he’ll get his fair share of press coverage both good and bad…and if Duckworth is the candidate, the Rahm smear team will be in full force…with YDD cheering them along no doubt.

- Bridget Dooley - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 10:27 am:
Wow, that story about Duckworth barging into Marianjoy is outrageous! Not only does it show an incredible lack of respect for the Marianjoy patients’ privacy and peace and quiet, the Duckworth camp took it upon themselves to jeopardize this organizations’ not-for-profit status!

The rules regarding political activities and non-profits are VERY explicit. Very much a political campaign 101 issue. I find it hard to believe that Duckworth’s staffers would be ignorant of this given her big-bucks, Rahm-in-a-box, canned campaign. They have the $resources$ to hire the best of the best (and have no choice as they have VERY little volunteer support in the district).

More than likely, her staff wanted to make this media circus happen at all costs and took it upon themselves to not inform Marianjoy CEO Kathleen Yosko as to the REAL nature of the day’s events. Undoubtedly, they knew full well that the answer would have been an emphatic NO.

Tammy Duckworth has ZERO political campaign experience herself (despite dubbing herself a so-called “political junkie”), so she has to rely on her staff, of which she is ultimately responsible.

How ironic that a candidate that has been touting healthcare so strongly would blatantly disregard the interests of one of our community’s top healthcare providers. Hopefully she will be more responsible in the future.

- Anon - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 10:55 am:
Political exploitation, “politics first” attitude, lying about the “event”, and abuse of privilege may be common practice in Chicago, but it won’t go down well in DuPage County. Roskam should feel free about using this incident should Duckworth get the nomination…it is a foretaste of how Emanual would steamroll over community values in the western suburbs if his puppet were elected Congresswoman.

- wjmaggos - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 10:58 am:
Glad to see you posted that article about Duckworth’s inappropriate photo-op, and also about DFA’s endorsement of Cegelis. (wish you would have mentioned IAM as well, but oh well…) Im biased as a supporter and volunteer locally for DFI and Cegelis, but to me, DFA is more important for the statement that the endorsement makes than the money.

It is about being part of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party, which means the center of the party instead of the center of the political spectrum which keeps sliding ever rightward.

But even more importantly, DFA is about encouraging more people to simply get involved in politics, doing the groundwork, as well as giving small donations when youre able. $5500 divided by 200 folks comes to less than $30 a piece, much different than a fundraiser for $250 like we saw for Tammy last week.

Cegelis fits us perfectly as we try to play by a different set of rules. Hopefully we are big enough already to have a positive effect in the 6th CD.

William J Maggos
Democracy for Illinois volunteer

- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 11:01 am:
I’m fairly certain that I posted the IAM story several days ago. Maybe I’m wrong, but I certainly intended to.

- Wumpus - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 11:01 am:
Perhaps they should ask why Duckie doesn’t even live in the district? Is there a problem with the sixth? She is a media darling, just like St. Obama. Roskan is not some old, out of touch Phil Crane or arrogant goofball Keyes.

- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 11:04 am:
Oh, come on, Wumpus. That story’s been written several times.

- Anon - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 11:06 am:
Rich, check back. I seem to have noticed that you didn’t post the IAM endorsement either. Wurf did, but I don’t think you did. I could be wrong, but I’d appreicate if you’d check and post if you didn’t. It’s a major endorsement in the district.

- Anon - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 11:11 am:
Rich, I went back through you Feb archives and searched for Cegelis, IAM, and Machinists and didn’t find any post. Maybe I missed it still, but don’t think so.

It would go a long way to assuading Cegelis supporters who have seen you coverage as biased toward Duckworth if you would post on this as well. It would be appreciated.

- The Don Quixote Candidacy - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 11:36 am:
Aren’t groups like DFA and the Progressive Democrats of America “outside of the district.”

Isn’t that what the Cegelistas said when Duck got the Citizen Action, AFL-CIO, SEIU, Senator Obama, and Senator Durbin endorsements?

Keep chasing those windmills!

- Gary Kleppe - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 11:55 am:
DQC, PDA is a national group but one which has a local chapter within the district which endorsed Cegelis before the group as a whole did. DFA has multiple local chapters that cover parts of the Sixth, most of which have also endorsed Cegelis.

Yes, Cegelis does have significant support outside the district. She also has significant support inside the district, which is the difference between her and Duckworth.

- The Don Quixote Candidacy - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 1:22 pm:
No, she has significant support among people who sit at their computers all day.

- Gary Kleppe - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 1:33 pm:
No, she has significant support among people who sit at their computers all day.

That’s nice for Duckworth, but she still isn’t going to win the primary.

- Anon - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 1:49 pm:
Don-
It’s called organization. Campaigning isn’t all field work. Or the field isn’t all in the real world anymore.

And, some people can both blog, canvass, and phone bank. All in the same day even!

- Bill Baar - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 2:18 pm:
Somebody predicted Duckworth with 60%… are there others forecasting on this one?

It’s the most interesting race… I don’t envy Roskam if he has to go against Duckworth.

- SenorAnon. - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 3:40 pm:
Boy, the demagoguery at on full throttle today.

- Curious - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 3:59 pm:
YDD…so what if Hyde got him in lawschool…any different than Rahm helping Duckworth along? Nice try though

- SenorAnon. - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 4:07 pm:
Having the head of the DCCC help your campaign for Congress (the second C in DCCC) is nothing like having someone get you admitted to a school you were less than qualified for. Nice try though.

- Anon - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 4:32 pm:
Can somebody tell me if Duckworth lives in the 6th District. I thought there was an article that said she lived in the 8th district.

- SenorAnon. - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 4:54 pm:
Can someone tell me if your brain lives in your head, because I’ve heard it lives in your kiester.

- Babe MacCavoy - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 5:06 pm:
Democracy for America! Wow! The REAL Democrats. Howard Dean had how much money and what size field operation in Iowa and was still handed his lunch. Democracy for America is not in touch with America!

- Philosophe Forum - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 6:30 pm:
Christine Cegelis also got an endorsement from MViMV. Naturally, the MSM chose to ignore it & decided Duckworth visiting a hospital was more important (abeit their presence was as tacky as it could get!).

Why would it matter if Christine Cegelis receives endorsements in or out of the CD? She gets villified for not receiving them, not getting the monetary support that comes from them, & being a mediocre candidate as a whole so she really doesn’t deserve them. Someone’s already commented (somewhere) that the DFA endorsement was “only” $5Kish in national donations, & Christine needs sooooo much more because she has the “least” COH.

It’s the same people arguing both sides. Damned if she does. Damned if she doesn’t. Get a grip. At least the endorsements she’s received weren’t results of arm-twisting — of any kind. Speaking of which, there has to be a LOT of rank & file ticked off at the AFL-CIO about now.

Now we have Obama’s taped endorsement ad for Duckworth. It’s a nice bit of fluff to add to an illusory campaign . First impression –> Ya know when a political campaign is doing poorly & the candidate’s whining to her recruiters for help. This is the Primary, not the General. Her expensive PR contractors get Obama for a little video time to increase her dismal numbers. And she expects IL-06 voters to buy into this farce?! Talk about the last act of a desperate campaign.

As for “chasing windmills”, maybe Christine Cegelis is doing just that — as alternative power source in areas that don’t interfere with migratory birds. Alternative fuel sources are an important part of her platform.

Trackback WurfWhile - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 9:23 pm:
Duckworth Battles For Healthcare, But Bruises Feelings

In May 2004 Republican Congressman Henry Hyde was honored at a black tie Marianjoy gala benefit launching a $10 million campaign for a new Marianjoy hospital facility. Yet Congressman Hyde has stood by while congressional Republicans voted for past Bus…

Trackback WurfWhile - Friday, Feb 24, 06 @ 9:49 pm:
Democracy For America Endorses Christine Cegelis In Illinois 6th Congressional

I meant to blog this earlier - and because I’ve come late to it others have taken much of what I might have said. Democracy for America’s endorsement of Christine Cegelis in the 6th Congressional District has thus far netted…

- Rolo Tomasi - Saturday, Feb 25, 06 @ 8:25 am:
Hiram- You got to be kidding.

- Illinois06 - Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 5:17 pm:
I find it unfortunate that the DCCC and Obama are putting so much effort in the campaign of a candidate whose only qualification for politics is her ability to take orders. Duckworth is out of touch with District 6 values, and she revealed this by storming into a hospital and using it as a political backdrop without the permission of that organization’s CEO. Out of touch, unhinged, this Duckskank, this Duckpuppet. She will lose the primary.

- NancyZ - Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 10:54 pm:
Why is Duckworth so afraid to come to the debates? Were Scott’s questions too tough for her? She missed the DuPage United on Sunday and the Winfield Forum on Monday night. By the way, Duckworth says she was against the war from the very beginning. Is there any evidence anywhere that she spoke out against the war? Scott and Cegelis both had the courage to act upon their convictions. Where was Tammy’s protest against the war four years ago? Has anyone seen any of her statements?

- forumresponse - Friday, Mar 3, 06 @ 4:28 am:
With Duckworth not present, her two opponents still referred to her. So who has the power and who is giving in to her? Are reporters seeking still more viewing of cegelis and scott or are reporters seeking the story of duckworth?

She’s real. Her skills are well defined.
Duckworth is capable, affable and unflappable.
Her range of endorsements is staggering: Senators Obama and Durbin, Emily’s List, DCCC, AFL-Cio, SEIU, IFTA. They represent bringing skill, real or potential donors. And would, realistically, either Cegelis or Scott, walk away from all that if they ever stood a chance at it? really???

Add in endorsements from Chicago Tribune and so many more. Well known national Dems supporting her include: Max Cleland, John Kerry, among others.

Duckworth is not like others. Her campaign isn’t like others.
Duckworth is the winner. She’s the one to prevail over the gop candidate.

- William the Wise - Monday, Mar 6, 06 @ 7:55 pm:
Here comes the Scott surge! Word on the street is that he got a couple of union endorsements today. If the Latinos, Greeks, Filipinos, and Indo-Americans turn out the vote, he will win by 2000 votes.
William the Wise

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