The Capitol Fax Blog » Breaking: Schock backs off nuke missile threat

Breaking: Schock backs off nuke missile threat

Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007

* The heat may have been getting too much for Schock’s “deeply thought out” position…

State Rep. Aaron Schock today admitted he was wrong to suggest selling nuclear arms to Taiwan as a bargaining chip with China to go along with U.S. policy toward Iran.

Schock held a news conference at his campaign headquarters to retract a statement he made during an announcement speech last month. The Congressional candidate said he “overstated the remedy with regard to telling China we would sell Taiwan nuclear weapons if China continued to stall on voting for the third set of sanctions on Iran as the time for Iran producing nuclear weapons gets closer and closer.” […]

“… When I make a mistake, I’m going to be mature enough to explain it and come forward and say that … but that doesn’t mean that Iran is not a threat, that doesn’t mean that China is not the entity stopping us from a third set of sanctions, that’s not to mean that we shouldn’t find a way to encourage China to come along with those economic sanctions,” Schock said.

I loved this line from the piece…

Schock’s comments follow intense scrutiny he’s received the past few days from his opponents and the press following published reports of his plan to sell nuclear missles to Taiwan for their defense.

That “intense scrutiny” was coming from everywhere but the Peoria Journal-Star, of course.

Also, there was more coming. Schock took a trip to China that was partially paid for by the Chinese government.

Plus, you gotta figure the folks at Caterpillar (who essentially rule the Peoria political world) choked when they saw his initial comments…

According to the Wall Street Journal, Caterpillar sold more than $1 billion of goods in China in 2006, and hopes to quadruple that number by 2010.

…Adding… Here’s Bill Dennis’ take…

First, he said it. Then he defended saying it, adding that opponents who disagreed weren’t being tough enough on terrorism. Then he said the plan was being misinterpreted.

He also said that anyone who disagreed with him was running in the wrong primary and compared himself to Ronald Reagan. Schock went way, way out on a limb on this one, only to walk it all the way back today. For his sake, let’s hope he learned some lessons.

- posted by Rich Miller

27 Comments

- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 4:50 pm:
Interesting coverage by the PJStar. What happened to critical reporting? No wonder newspaper readship continues to decline.

As a side note, below Rich quotes the PJStar “Schock is doing what he thinks voters want, giving details. Thus far, at least, other candidates have only scratched the surface on any issues.”

Last week on this blog I suggested: How will the PJStar cover the news conference? Headline: “Schock Fosters Debate on Taiwan”

Maybe they will bring me on board.

- JonShibleyFan - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 5:10 pm:
An embarrassing lack of knowledge followed by a crippling flip-flop.

Not good.

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 5:13 pm:
I’m not sure I would’ve used the word “mature” in my press release. That goes right to his biggest vulnerability and he brought attention to it.

Still, it’s much better to get out of that position now before the TV ads start flying. We know about this stuff already, but most people in the district don’t.

- Max - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 5:30 pm:
Mr. Schock gave a talk last year in Hennepin, IL at which he stated his belief that the Democratic Party intentionally creates client-voters by discerning groups of voters who can become wards of the state and giving this group federal bucks. Buying votes by providing federal cash. This IS immaturity, and bespeaks a candidate unfamiliar with American history and politics. I have a hard time believing people in the Peoria area feel he’s a credible candidate: I should note that at one time, Ray LaHood was my congressman. . . would that he had run against blagovitis and won.

- GoBearsss - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 5:50 pm:
Max -

That goes right to the heart of what a lot of people in Peoria and other parts of this country believe.

They think the lazy poor people vote for Democrats so they can stay on the dole. … To paraphrase.

- True Observer - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 5:55 pm:
American history and politics shows that people were expected to be self-reliant or depend on the charity of their neighbors.

Now we have Sect.8 grants, public housing, food stamps, medicare, SSI, and many and numerous other handouts.

Please, layoff the corporate welfare line.

These handouts basically sap the vitality and energy of a large part of the population.

For example, at one time there was segregation, but there were also thriving middle classes among black communities. They had their own businesses.

All gone because of these handouts. Excuse me, entitlements.

So we have huge segments of the population enslaved to a mediocre existence, all courtecy of the do gooders who actually think they are doing good.

The handouts and the votes keep coming.

- GoBearsss - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 5:56 pm:
My point proven….

^
^
^

- Levois - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 6:01 pm:
This was a good move that could derail him if he wanted to move up in politics. And I don’t know why using mature would have been a problem. I wish that term would enter into the vocabulary of many politicians.

- scoot - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 6:31 pm:
I have decided to vote for Jim Mc. for congress after all of this from the Schock camp.

- BillDennis' Shadow - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 6:31 pm:
“Nukes” has got me worried. He may not be able to skate into Washington after all.
Maybe he needs to buy a dog or get married
It worked for Thompson.

- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 7:08 pm:
Shadow, this kid couldn’t clean up the dog crap for Thompson on a good day. No comparison at all.

As one who once had the “Guv” pooper scooper detail, AA knows whereof he speaks.

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 7:10 pm:
Enslaved? Really? Do you think that little of people?

- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 7:16 pm:
And that’s a kinda whacked view of the decline of the black inner city, if you ask me.

Blaming everything on one factor is almost always wrong. We don’t live in a right/wrong, up/down, black/white world, as much as many simplistic minds fervently believe or the political ads “inform” us.

And if you think our government enslaves its citizens, try visiting a place that actually does.

- the wonderboy - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 8:00 pm:
“In a phone interview, Schock’s manager Steve Shearer added that Schock’s proposal is “not just something that he pulled out of his pocket … It’s a deeply thought-out policy.”

So deeply thought out that he admits a few days later that he was wrong? Wow. This is beautiful.

Isn’t this the same Shearer who swore up and down that Weller was running again? Sounds like the guy has a problem with telling the truth. Of course, some of us already knew that. The man they call the Karl Rove of Peoria is developing a reputation for questionable maneuvers like his role model.

It’s going to be fun watching the Schock apologists try to spin this thing. One day they were defending his statements, but now the golden child has pulled the rug out from under them. Uh oh.

- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 8:41 pm:
I don’t profess to be all that bright or mature myself, but Schock’s well thought out position, then retraction, scares the hell out of me. Perhaps that is why few 26 year olds are elected to Congress.

- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 8:46 pm:
TO states the case in an extreme manner, but there is a kernel of truth there.

Before the Clinton-era welfare reforms, there were generations of a burgeoning underclass (not only black and inner city) raised to become dependent on the dole, with little incentive to get off of it unless personal pride intervened to strive for something greater, or for the fortunate welfare mom who could marry out of it.

I come from a perspective of a former welfare kid and being acquainted with many welfare moms and families in my younger days. Fortunately, the nation has slowed and maybe reversed its chronic welfare dependency problem to a large extent. I truly believe in temporary help for those who need it, and permanent help for the disabled, but I am always wary of a promise of “something for nothing” as a way of life.

- fredburd - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 9:12 pm:
Maybe Mr. Schearer can set up the bachelor with the daughter of a Central American dictator in order to help him learn something about foreign policy. Oops. Already did that.

- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 10:05 pm:
Hey TO-
“Now we have Sect.8 grants, public housing, food stamps, medicare, SSI, and many and numerous other handouts.”

Are they “handouts” if our Grandmas get Medicare, live in a subsidized senior housing development (hopefully the landlord ain’t Rezko or “No Conflict” Allison Davis) or if our military is treated so shabbily that grades up to E-4 can qual for food stamps based on family size?

- Peoria Pauline - Tuesday, Nov 13, 07 @ 10:27 pm:
wonder boy unfoiled? Simply a case of Schock not being congressional material. He needs more seasoning. I’m voting for somebody who can do some real thinking.

- JSF - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 7:12 am:
Yeah, TO, that’s it. Fortunately Bush has done his part by getting rid of a lot of the health care handouts that were enslaving those lazy veterans.

Seriously, what about the “client class” of corporations who are on the “public dole?”

Going bankrupt? No fear, the government will bail you out. Don’t want to compete with foreign grain and sugar interests? Subsidies all around.

Schock’s speech wasn’t insightful - it was more demagoguery meant to scare small town and rural folks into voting for Republicans (watch out…the scary Blacks, Mexicans and Gays are gonna git ya and take money that is rightfully ADM’s -er- yours).
He pushed his fear tactics one step too far, and he deserves to lose.

- Undercover - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 7:55 am:
Imagine if Schock had been on the floor of Congress spewing this garbage on CSPAN for the world to hear. That’s all we need!

Me thinks lil’ Aaron’s Capitol Hill dreams are a pie in the sky at this point.

- Bill - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 8:28 am:
3 billion Chinese are breathing a sigh of relief now that “Nukes” has backed off.

- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 9:14 am:
“I’m going to be mature enough…”

Speaking of maturity, aren’t you pretty young to be a congressman?

I guess someone didn’t give him my advice. He is supposed to run against his opponents as having the most experience in government and being a professional. This offsets concerns about his maturity.

“I’m experienced enough to see that I had made a mistake when I suggested…”

I think that is air I hear leaving his overinflated self-worth.

- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 9:18 am:
I would like some confirmation regarding Mr. Schock’s Hennepin comments. You just don’t make statements like that and expect to propel yourself into a higher office. Aaron obviously has big dreams, and I would be surprised to hear those words coming out of his mouth.

- Can't believe it - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 9:21 am:
OH MY GOD, Is this kid for real?

- True Observer - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 10:00 am:
Shearer-

Won 7 campaigns for Weller in a swing district that was previously held by a Democrat.

The biggest achievement may have been winning the first primary which was a contest to remember.

Currently managing a Campaign for a candidate who may well be the most guaranteed to be elected to congress from an open seat in 2008.

Sherer won the primary for Schock by driving out Darin LaHood who was the only real opponent to be concerned about.

Political acumen.

Show me such another.

- the wonderboy - Wednesday, Nov 14, 07 @ 11:05 am:
True Observer…please go by your real name, Steve.

I’m not sure I would call upon the hallowed name of Gerald Weller as proof of Shearer’s quality work. Not exactly a class act.

You can defend the guy all you want. Those who know him and the candidates he works for have a different opinion of the guy. Political acumen does not equal character or ethics, and typically people of his particular type of acumen end up getting figured out after a little time. It appears that such is the case here.

Won the primary for Schock by driving out Darin Lahood? Maybe…but let’s wait a couple of months until the votes are counted. It may still happen, but he hasn’t won anything yet. And it is FAR from “guaranteed” as you like to say.

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