McHenry County Blog

Yesterday I speculated that the Chicago Sun-Times might endorse Jesse Jackson, Jr., opponent Isaac Hayes.

Endorsing an Republican in a solidly Democratic Party district.

Imagine that.

Starting last summer “running on character and values, but also on jobs. better school and safer neighborhoods,” Hayes notes that hasn’t happened under Jackson’s leadership.

Hayes told WMAQ Channel 5 that he would not have supported the bailout of the banks.

Hayes has finally caught the attention of Chicago TV stations. Channel 7, the most watched station Tuesday and NBC Wednesday.

“There are a lot of people who have supported the Congressman and now they are guessing that decision. I just want to provide an alternative,” he told the interviewer.

“It’s good to finally hear from the press…It was hard prior to yesterday to track down the press and now I’m getting calls,” Hayes explained.

“I don’t expect the press to do me any favors, but I’m glad to let people know what I stand for.”

Asked about contributions, Hayes said they were increasing as well.

It’s probably because I met Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s GOP opponent Isaac Hayes at the Family PAC cruise last month that I am following with more than casual interest the deteriorating political fortunes of the incumbent.

Today, the Chicago Sun-Times ran the third negative front page article on Jackson.

In addition, there was an editorial entitled,

Time for Rep. Jackson

to speak up, clear air

Will the next time Jackson’s name appears in a Sun-Times editorial be the one saying that the paper cannot endorse someone like him, even though they know he will probably win re-election?

If so, that doesn’t happen very often.

So, you’re running for Congress in a district which the New York Times’ elections’ econometrician says has 100% odds of electing a Democrat.

And the Democrat on the ballot is tarnished Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Jackson is so tarnished by the allegations that his people were willing to raise $6 million if disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich would appoint Jackson to fill out Barack Obama’s U. S. Senate term that one would think he would just keep his mouth shut.

But he doesn’t.

When rumors surface that the Feds are still looking at him, Jackson says,

“Bring it on.”

You’re name is Isaac Hayes and you are a principled young man without a mistress or other bad marks on your name except that you running on the Republican Party ticket and, gasp, you believe in traditional family values. (See “Isaac Hayes Calls Out Jesse Jackson, Jr.“)

Now Washington hostesses for you.

What can you do to get people to notice you?

Wait for your entrenched opponent to screw up.

And, that’s exactly what Jesse Jackson, Jr., did.

Besides egging on the Federalies, he apparently caught the attention of crack Chicago Sun-Times’ reporters Natasha Korecki, Chris Fusco and Lynn Sweet.  That led to the following front page coverage:

Here’s Jackson’s statement about the continuing investigation about his seeking the U.S. Senate seat and his presumed mistress:

“The allegations about fundraising and the Senate seat are not new. I’ve already talked with the authorities about these claims, told them they were false, and no charges have been brought against me. The very idea of raising millions of dollars for a campaign other than my own is preposterous. My interest in the Senate seat was based on years of public service, which I am proud of, not some improper scheme with anyone.

“The reference to a social acquaintance is a private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago. I ask that you respect our privacy.

“I know I have disappointed some supporters and for that I am deeply sorry. But I remain committed to serving my constituents and fighting on their behalf.”

We’re on board now for the Family PAC cruise.

Before we left the dock, I was downstairs getting a Diet Coke.

That’s when I figured out that Fox TV media star Cedra Crenshaw was on board.

I didn’t figure it out from her name.  Her tag had a district number on it, which, to me, meant nothing.  I asked where her district was and she mentioned Bollingbrook and another town on I-55.  It wasn’t until she

Needless to say, she will need money to stand a chance. She probably needs money to pay off the attorneys who got her on the ballot when two Will County Democratic office holders knocked her off for partisan reasons.

You can contribute on her web site.  I hope she follows my suggestion and starts handing out envelopes at events like this.

Another candidate I met below decks was Richard Hamen.

His campaign handout has a broom with the slogan,

“Let’s Clean House!”

How reminiscent of House Speaker Mike Madigan’s Illinois State Fair Talk in 2002 after George Ryan had decided not to run for re-election during the run-up to his indictment.

We were off to Lake Michigan.

I started making jokes about how we were doing what people feared the Asian carp would do.  There were lame, probably blocking the dismay I shall feel if our generation allows the Asian carp into Lake Michigan and it ends up dominating its ecology.

We passed the lighthouse.

It is across the locks from Navy Pier.

Barrington’s Jim Finnegan wanted me to remind McHenry County readers that State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) personally prevented the Choose Life license plates from getting a vote in the committee he chairs in the Illinois House of Representatives.

We headed north past Navy Pier where I got a couple of shots of the John Hancock Center.  It was a bit dark for good ones and the rocking boat added another difficulty.

United States Senator Jim DeMint had finished his talk on the top deck and came down below.

I went back upstairs.

There I heard two candidates for Congress, Randy Hultgren and Isaac Hayes.

Hultgren is running against Bill Foster in an expansive Kane County-centered district.

Hayes is running against Jesse Jackson, Jr., on the South Side of Chicago.

They spoke while we were in the lock next to Navy Pier.

On the way off the board, Chicago Tea Party Director Steve Stevlic introduced himself.

It was late.

Close to 11 o’clock when we hit the highway.

The latest we have ever gotten a3ahy from a Family PAC cruise.

I had brought my I-Pass transponder and was so tired by the time we reached the O’Hare Toll Plaza that I forgot to hold it up.

That meant I had to call the 800 number to add the car which was giving me a rid to our account.

We’ll see if it took or whether I have to make another call after my friend gets a threatening letter.

Yesterday, I started telling you about my annual Family PAC cruise. I ended that installment before we boarded the boat.

Before walking up the gangplank, I got a couple more politicians’ photos. Next was Randy Hultgren.

I met Rich Morthland and his wife Betsey on the dock.

He’s the only Republican on the Rock Island County Board, but he flexed his political muscles and managed to get “dramatically” higher salaries for his countywide candidates completely rolled back. I think this was during the time that Governor Pat Quinn was raising his employees in the 20% range. He must have gotten great local press.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady arrived.

You can guess that Brady was a big attraction.  He stayed for the whole cruise.

Trying to find the politicians, I stood next to the gang plank.  There I found Richard Grabowski, who is running for state representative in the Oak Lawn area.

Next came Issac Hayes, the man bold enough to run against Jesse Jackson, Jr., for Congress. Hayes called Jackson “Senate candidate number 5″ when he spoke.

Even those no longer holding or seeking office could not escape the camera clicker.  Next was Family PAC Executive Director Paul Caprio’s long-time friend and former Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander.

Former Huntley School Board member Shawn Green was next up the boat ramp.

I caught Kirk and Stephanie Dillard before they made it to the walkway up to the boat that would take us out for a Lake Michigan cruise.

More tomorrow.

In any fair world, Isaac Hayes, the Republican opponent to Congressman Jesse Jackson, Junior, would be getting some attention.

The South Side Republican gave a rousing speech to those on the Family PAC cruise on a completely delightful summer evening on Lake Michigan Tuesday night.

“Senator Number Five,”

was the way Hayes referred to the man whose father was called “Jesse James” by an afternoon female WBBM Radio news reader last week before the CBS News at the top of the hour as he was calling for Mayor Richard Daley to create 1,000 new policeman out of an empty budget.

Regardless of his ability to give a speech that stirred Republicans on the boat, Hayes’ election effort is being ignored by the great “mentioners” in Chicago’s media.

Even though Rod Blagojevich’s brother Rob is wishing out loud that Jesse Jackson, Jr., had been forced to answer questions on the witness stand.

Even though everyone thinks Jesse, Junior, is dead politically.

Except in his own congressional district, where, apparently, the mainly white “mentioners” don’t think he will have any problem whatsoever getting re-elected.

If a suburban Republican had had as much evidence of wrong-doing revealed as Jesse, Junior, he or she would be being attacked daily by the Chicago media.

Or even less.

Wait, that’s what’s happening this year to Mark Kirk.

Coverage has strayed so far from the issues that Kirk has being attacked for not remembering what happened when he was in a sail boat accident at age 16.

With the allegation that Jesse, Junior’s Indian-American supporters were talking about buying the Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat for their man, wouldn’t you think reporters would be looking closely at other campaign contributions and how they relate legislative actions?

But Chicago reporters don’t do that to liberal Democrats, do they?

They have barely touched the surface with 8th District Democrat Melissa Bean, for instance.

Where’s the call she give back the money that she took from ethics-challenged Charlie Rangel?

Have I missed it by not reading the editorials of the Daily and Northwest Heralds unless someone cuts and pastes them into an email they send to me?

Somehow, I doubt it.

Thanks for showing the Republican flag, Isaac Hayes.