Subscribe to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here     Contact Rich Miller
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here. Subscriptions are $350 per year. To advertise on the Capitol Fax Blog, please click here.
Congressional updates *** UPDATED x1 ***

Friday, Sep 5, 2008

* The DC publication RollCall takes a look at possible cabinet appointments in an Obama administration and comes up with one somewhat surprising name

Transportation Secretary. Possibilities from Congress include Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Aviation

That’s the first time I’ve heard Costello’s name mentioned for the cabinet. Thoughts?

* So, do these two TV ads look alike to you?

Oberweis Dairy ad…


Jim Oberweis congressional campaign ad…


It’s probably no surprise that both eerily similar ads were produced by the same company, Aspect Media Inc.

* From a DCCC press release…

Resorting to his old tricks of using his ice cream empire to get ahead in politics, in recent days, Jim Oberweis is under fire again for releasing campaign ads resembling those of his Oberweis Dairy ads and the production company just happens to be the same for both. According to the Federal Election Commission, Aspect Media Inc was paid thousands to produce ads for Oberweis. Aspect Media Inc also produces commercials for Oberweis Dairy […]

* The FEC has previously sanctioned Jim Oberweis and Oberweis Dairy and fined them $21,000 for illegally using corporate resources for campaign purposes. [Associated Press, 7/27/07]

That sort of ad campaign really makes me uncomfortable.

Then again, the Oberweis campaign ad is one of the stronger ads I’ve seen from him to date. I’m not sure if the rebranding program will work, however.

* Meanwhile, up until now, both sides in the 11th Congressional District race have been doing mailers, robocalls and cable TV. Today, though, Democrat Debbie Halvorson’s campaign hits network broadcast TV

Friday the race will go before a much wider audience, however, with a new commercial by state Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, set to run on Chicago broadcast stations, her campaign said Thursday.

Halvorson’s aides gave few details of the 30-second spot in advance of the initial airing, including the size of the purchase or duration of the run, other than to say it will be a positive portrayal of Halvorson and her top issues.
While her Republican opponent Marty Ozinga, of Homer Glen, has already aired three cable ads and two more have come from the independent expenditure wing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee,

Friday’s spot will be the first on broadcast television by either of the candidates or an outside group. The move will put the Halvorson ad in more than 80 percent of the district and reach cable and non-cable television viewers, although the vast majority of viewers will not be in the 11th District. While Ozinga has bought ads on cable systems serving similar or higher percentages of the district, those ads have not reached broadcast-only and satellite television viewers.

The commercial will also mark the beginning of Halvorson’s paid communications effort. Up to now she has relied on personal campaigning, with the DCCC airing television and radio ads and producing mailers in support of her candidacy and against Ozinga.

*** UPDATE *** Here’s the Halvorson ad…


* The Tribune takes a look at how GOP “moderates” are viewing the GOP convention…

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) says she is excited about the ultimate selection of Palin for the slot, because she’s a woman who “busted the old-boy network.”

Still, she said she was disheartened by repeated avowals this summer that McCain would suffer if he selected a candidate who supported abortion rights.

“It always bothers me that they say they can’t choose this person or that person for a running mate because they’re not pro-life,” said Biggert. “I respect all members of the party no matter what their views are, but [that attitude] does make it a little harder for us.”

Rep. Mark Kirk struck strategically at the convention, flying in briefly for a round-table discussion before heading back to Illinois to start a collection drive for hurricane victims. Like many GOP officials who are skipping some or all of the convention this week, he has a tough re-election campaign going on back home.

* Earlier this week, Congresscritter Kirk offered praise for John McCain’s veep pick

Kirk, a leading GOP moderate, praised the Palin pick but cautioned that her socially conservative views wouldn’t play well in his affluent district in the northern Chicago suburbs.

Instead, he urged her to emphasize her record of taking on ethically tainted Republican officials in her state and challenging the controversial “bridge to nowhere” earmark.

“If she goes out and says, ‘I threw out of office another corrupt, old bull Republican,’ my voters will think anti-[former Illinois Gov.] George Ryan; they’ll like it. ‘Then I killed the bridge to nowhere’; then they’ll hear fiscal conservative,” said Kirk. “On the other hand, if we emphasize the social issues, [the voters] won’t be there.”

Kirk is facing a serious challenge from Democrat Dan Seals, one of the best-financed candidates in the country.

* That brought a strong response from a women’s political group in Kirk’s district

To the women of the 10th District, there is nothing encouraging about Palin’s extreme political views, including her opposition to a woman’s right to choose even in the cases of incest and rape, equal pay for equal work, and gun control. Nor is her support for abstinence-only sex education, teaching creationism in our schools, and banning books from our public libraries.

- posted by Rich Miller


14 Comments
  1. - Glam-Or-Party - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 10:25 am:

    Jim, Jim, Jim …..where is the helicopter to save us from the influx of illegal immigrants going to Bears games? He has two kids that respect their elders and are nice to people? That’s congressional.


  2. - Reality - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 10:33 am:

    I’m no fan of Obie but these two advertisements aren’t that similar. Certainly not enough to warrant a press release from the DCCC.


  3. - wordslinger - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 10:37 am:

    Wow. Where were the spots filmed, Mayfield? I expected Ward, June, Wally and the Beav to drive up in the DeSoto. Is there nostalgia for the 50s that never really existed anywhere save TV in the district? Very curious spots.

    Come to think of it, Oberweis does remind me of Eddie Haskell.

    I saw Halvorsen’s spot. She was a single mom who couldn’t make ends meet. I think Ozinga’s rich, right?


  4. - archpundit - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 11:06 am:

    Obama would appoint an unindicted co-conspirator?

    My friends, that would not be change we could believe in….


  5. - VanillaMan - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 11:33 am:

    You people were making light of my frustration with anti-Ozinga reporters and the Democrats constantly referring to him negatively as a “magnate”, “baron”, and “tycoon”. Now they have convinced themselves that they’ve said it enough to start portraying him wearing Monopoly-guy get-up and cigars!

    The DCCC hates those who are successful businesspeople. They do not trust people who earn profits. The like politicians like Halvorson. It comes so natural for them to believe that Ozinga is evil because he owns something. When will this anti-capitalist crap stop? Where do they think we live?

    Andy Sere needed to have his staff phone any reporter who fell into the DCCC Ozinga-speak when describing him and straighten them out. No one should have been allowed to refer to him this way. I even once read a quote from an Ozinga staffer falling into this trap.

    Halvorson and her Beltway buddies are closing that trap now.


  6. - Levois - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 11:36 am:

    LOL!!! I think I like both of those ads, but I wonder how far the tubes Obi had to go for those to now be effective. Perhaps his sons should be in politics.


  7. - Cassandra - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 12:01 pm:

    I was under the impression that Ms. Palin initially supported the infamous bridge, then changed her stance when it became unaffordable for her state’s treasury. If so, I would, if I lived in Alaska, be grateful that she pulled out of the deal in favor of the taxpayers. Alaska appears to be a state which prospers economically by ripping off the federal treasury (that is, the rest of us) via massive earmarks. I doubt any politician could survive for long there without going along with this outrageous annual raid on federal dollars, at least to some extent. Alaskans are, well, big time moochers.

    And will the Democrats change this rather uneven distribution of federal benefits if they win in November. Don’t count on it, despite all the hype
    about governing on behalf of “the people.”


  8. - Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 12:24 pm:

    Cassandra,

    Alaska has done very well with return of federal dollars vs. sending of dollars to DC ever since statehood. By my count, that’s 5 Republican and 4 Democratic presidents (not counting Ike whose term was ending as AK was admitted). No radical change expected here. To be fair, AK has more than its share of military installations being on the Russian front, and it has the least developed transportation infrastructure of any state.


  9. - Just My Opinion - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 12:38 pm:

    There will be NO Obama administration.


  10. - One of the 35 - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 12:40 pm:

    Rich: Is it possible that Obama would select Carl Hawkinson as Attorney General? They were somewhat close due to their Harvard background.


  11. - Team Sleep - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 2:08 pm:

    I think Costello would be an interesting cabinet choice. He’s a likeable guy and gets stuff done. Isn’t that what we want/need in our public servants?!


  12. - Wumpus - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 2:56 pm:

    Is it me or has Ozinga been running more ads on the radio as well?


  13. - VanillaMan - Friday, Sep 5, 08 @ 3:54 pm:

    ==There will be NO Obama administration.==

    When he becomes our next governor in 2010, there will be!

    Then he goes after the prize in 2012 with real experience this time. With his need for a perfect record as governor, we would have a great 24 months. Or maybe not, you know how he would need to start campaigning right away - so perhaps he would be gone as much as he is gone now.

    Bleh! These political celebrities! Like moths to flames!


  14. - Chris in the western suburbs but not Iowa - Saturday, Sep 6, 08 @ 9:06 pm:

    Cassandra, Palin favored the bridge when it was politically expedient for her to favor it, and then opposed the bridge when it became politically expedient to take that position. She had fudning for it cut off under the veil of darkness without telling any of the local officals it would affect, instead choosing to announcing it by sending a press release to east coast media outlets early in the morning.
    I have a feeling that once this “barracuda” — in the Webster’s definition of the term — finally starts taking questions from those media that are not in the GOP back pocket, her sticky-sweet image will take some considerable hits.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


ON THE BLOG TODAY...
* Echoes of Rod and more budget friction
* Sympathies and a get well soon
* Question of the day
* Madigan does it again
* Duffy had second ticket at the same light; Plus, a Statehouse roundup
* Kudos to Joan Rivers; Plus an unfair hit on Graham
* Quinn steps in on Aging lease
* Morning Shorts
* Study: Revamping Illinois’ Telecom Laws Necessary to Create or Save 105,622 Jobs
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Your morning video: Quinn grilled on Chicago Tonight
** Yesterday's blog posts

Support The Capitol Fax Blog
Visit our advertisers...

Search This Blog...

Search the 96th General Assembly By Bill Number
(example: HB0001)

Search the 96th General Assembly By Keyword

Quick Links


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Polls

Archives
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0
WordPress
 

  
  » Navigon releases MyRegion apps for U.S.
  » Review: Zepi for iPhone
  » Google announces AT&T-compatible Nexus One
  » Opera Mini 5 For BlackBerry Now Out Of Beta
  » Verizon Launches Droid BOGO Sale — Are They Making Room For The Nexus One?

  » Magic Mouse, Fixed Makes Your Magic Mouse More Ergonomic [Stuff We Like]
  » Best Tax Preparation Tool: Turbo Tax [Hive Five Followup]
  » Kill Desktop Clutter by Banishing Truly Transient Stuff [Clutter]
  » Make Firefox Extensions Compatible with a Simple Hack [Firefox]
  » Format Customizer Hides Unused Formats in Dialog Boxes [Downloads]

» Some Consolation...
» Buehrle just trying to build up innings
» Buehrle extends himself against Royals
» Pair of White Sox prospects opening eyes
» Jenks encouraged after bullpen session

 
     


502 Bad Gateway

502 Bad Gateway


nginx/0.8.20


  » Ill. House Republican arrested for DUI
  » Illinois St player charged with assault
  » Terrorist suspect to plead guilty
  » Winfrey due in Philly for 2-week defamation trial
  » DePaul ready to make coach 1 of Big East's richest
  » Kraft CEO slammed by UK pols, union leaders for not attending hearings
  » Chicago-area man gets 27 months in jail for shooting nude videos of ESPN reporter
  » Abbott CEO White's total compensation fell 13% to $21.9M in 2009
  » Discover, Diners Club cards travel farther with Global Payments deal
  » Schawk swings to 4Q profit by managing costs

  » Tweet, tweet! It's Rich Daley
  » Group offers "no-tax-hike plan" to balance state budget
  » Say no to 96 teams in NCAA tournament
  » Versus, DirecTV agree to deal
  » Civic groups give City Hall a D on performance


502 Bad Gateway

502 Bad Gateway


nginx/0.8.20


  » Woman charged with murder in Schaumburg hotel shooting
  » Huberman suspends union campaign events at CPS buildings
  » Chicago alderman's SUV impounded after traffic stop
  » McHenry man charged with assaulting 3 females years ago
  » Cab company offers $10K reward in driver's stabbing
  » White Dolton police officer alleges discrimination
  » Mumbai terror attack suspect expected to plead guilty
  » Cook jail guard charged with having contraband
  » Judge won't stop extradition of Tennessee teen
  » Cops: Man used candy to lure child on NW Side


  » Chicago Childhood Obesity Rates Slim Down
  » Chicago Urban League's Cheryle Jackson Moves to Private Sector
  » Illinois Could See More Nuclear Power Plants
  » Inside and Out: Full-time School for Only Half the Kids at St. Charles
  » Surplus All But Gone for Indiana
  » Facing New Rules, Elections Board's Budget May Get Slashed
  » Keats Labels Preckwinkle "Insider Alderman"
  » Feds: Don't Move Blagojevich Trial Date
  » Changes to No Child Left Behind Welcomed, Scorned
  » Inside and Out: A Look Inside St. Charles


  » Aging director says lease was budget distraction
  » Ameren offers payment plan
  » Ameren to combine Illinois companies
  » Man robbed in parking ramp
  » Bar allegedly violates liquor law
  » Handguns taken from car
  » Taxi’s security cage kicked out
  » Audit: ISU lax in protecting sensitive information
  » Driver leaves gas pump with nozzle still in car
  » $3,500 in items stolen from house


  » Group proposes alternative Illinois state budget
  » Goldman: Despite some wins, SIUC's financial outlook grim
  » Hit-and-run victim doing O.K. in St. Louis hospital
  » Mental health service providers on Quinn's chopping block
  » Woman killed in crash near Mulkeytown


» Dist. 57 suspends transportation director
» Man gets 15 years for molesting child
» Most of murder suspect's statements to police thrown out
» 71-year-old man arrested on 1995 sex assault allegations
» Cops: Elgin man spit blood at officer


  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 16, 2010
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 15, 2010
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 14, 2010
  » GOPUSA ILLINOIS Daily Clips - March 13, 2010
  » Legislative scholarship reforms head to governor

» Health Care Fight Erupts Outside Melissa Bean..
» Healthcare rallies target Congresswoman Bean ..
» Health care foes 11 votes shy of defeating bi..
» The man with two tough jobs - The Hill
» Exclusive Interview: Rep. Anthony Weiner - Ro..
» Dems tout policy; GOP attacks process - Moder..
» Ex-Park National Bank community development l..
» Kirk Celebrates The "Party Of No" - Progress ..
» Shimkus Encourages Illinois to Opt Out of Hea..
» Sebelius confident health care bill will pass..

» EDUCATION | An important Senate debate on the.....
» Compliance scorecard - SecurityInfoWatch...
» Chicago Home Foreclosures Up 16 Percent - Chi.....
» Glenn Beck: Are Progressives Exploiting an 11.....
» The NRF Wants Dodd To Carry the Interchange-R.....

» Dems highlight GOP abuse of filibuster - UPI......
» DADT: Study or stall? - Bay Windows...
» Senate Dems launch protest of GOP filibusters.....
» Arguing in our spare time - Chicago Tribune (.....
» Touche, Eric - ChicagoNow (blog)...

502 Bad Gateway

502 Bad Gateway


nginx/0.8.20


Header Photos...
Wayne Bretl & UIS


Hosted by MCS