McHenry County Blog

This morning the Daily Herald ran a story about how a two-bedroom Evanston condo owned by Republican congressional candidate Joe Walsh had been foreclosed upon about the time he was announcing his candidacy for Congress.

I note that no reporter was willing to have his or her byline on the Daily Herald article, at least on the electronic version I read.

Here is his reaction:

Statement by Joe Walsh Regarding Personal Financial History

Joe Walsh at the Thanksgiving Week GOP 8th Congressional District debate at McHenry County College sponsored by Patriots United and the McHenry County Young Republicans.

LAKE ZURICH, IL –   Our country faces critical challenges. I’m running for Congress to address those challenges. It is incredibly disappointing to me – and to the majority of voters in the Illinois 8th Congressional District – that the news media has focused not on these issues that matter to the future of our nation, but instead has consistently sought to ridicule, demean, and condescend to anyone who tries to challenge the status quo.

The politics of personal destruction is the reason we so seldom see legitimate “change agents” running for office.

I won the Republican primary by a large margin, despite being outspent because voters identified with my message. I feel like I’m losing my country and too few we’ve sent to D.C. are doing anything about it.

Here are the facts:

I am not a wealthy man – I never have been.  We have lived the past couple of years on a salary that averages $40K year, and which is more in line with the average family in the 8th. I believe that public service, including elective office, should be accessible to people of all income levels, not just the wealthy. Frankly, I believe that one of the reasons we have so many problems and we see so many bad policy choices made is because Congress is a millionaires’ club. Too many of our elected officials are insulated from the devastating financial impacts of the rules and regulations they impose on us.

I know all too well what 8th district families are going through to make ends meet because I’ve experienced some of the same difficult and humbling financial challenges. Like so many others in Illinois in recent years, and 1 in 9 Americans nationally, I know what it’s like to lose a home to foreclosure.

After graduating from the University of Chicago in 1991 with a Master’s Degree in Public Policy, I chose a career in public service, knowing that the salary levels would never make me wealthy. Instead, I got satisfaction from working as a social worker in inner city Chicago, teaching American history and government at community colleges, and running the non-profit Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund. After my first marriage ended in divorce, I purchased a condominium in Evanston to be my primary residence. This was back in 2004.

In 2006 I remarried  and realized that with our combined family of five children we needed a larger home. In 2006, I put the Evanston condo up for sale.

By 2008 with no buyers in a down real-estate market, I found myself struggling to keep up with two homes, and five children. I accepted responsibility for the situation and worked with my bank to foreclose on the condo.

It was my problem and I didn’t ask anyone to bail me out. Additionally in 2008, I tried to improve my financial situation by changing careers to work with a Chicago-based boutique banking group focusing on helping new and small businesses raise investment capital. I took responsibility for my circumstances and have endured the financial consequences while working diligently to abide by my obligations.

This experience helped me gain a better appreciation for the very real economic anxieties felt by 8th district families, many of whom are just a paycheck or two away from facing similar difficulties.

Frankly, the perspective I gained from this challenge helped me grow as a person and I believe will make me a better representative of working people’s interests in Washington.

I knew getting into this race that the local media would do Melissa Bean’s dirty work for her.

And the Daily Herald has now lived down to my expectations.

The media elites are part of a dysfunctional political establishment that has destroyed our economy in pursuit of reshaping America into a country working people don’t even recognize and cannot afford.

I got in this race to represent the people I grew up with, the people who go to work every day and who try to make ends meet.

While Melissa Bean hides from her constituents for fear that she would have to defend her radical left-wing votes for cap-and-trade and a government takeover of health care, I stand before the electorate in the light of day ready to present my views and answer all inquiries.

If enduring the ridicule of a few media types is the price I have to pay to demonstrate that a regular guy can stand up to the political establishment on behalf of middle class, working families, so be it.

The issues facing our country are too serious to allow a couple of cheap shots to get me off my message. I’m grateful for the support of  fellow Republicans, specifically Gene Dawson, who told me this morning, “I’m behind you 100%.”

I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing since the day I started this race – talking to real voters about bringing real change to Washington D.C.

Field Director Richard Cape is seeking volunteers to help remove Melissa Bean from Congress:

Hello to all,

Now that the smoke has settled and the primary is behind us, I would like to send out a sincere Thank You to everyone who helped make Joe’s victory a success. It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but in the end it all paid off.

We are in the process of building a well organized team to take out Melissa Bean. We plan on opening offices throughout the district in the very near future. We will need to expand our Army of volunteers to get the message to the voters and defeat Bean in November.

If you would like to join our efforts in taking the 8th district back, please contact me at rick@joewalshforcongress.com or rcape71@aol.com.

No matter what your abilities, schedule or location, we have a spot for you to help.

We are in motion now and we are not going to stop until we win this seat back in November.

Thank you for all your support,
Richard Cape
Field Director
Joe Walsh for Congress

The following press release has been received from 8th congressional district Republican candidate Joe Walsh:

Walsh: Wow, Bean just doesn’t get it
Republican Responds to Rep. Bean’s Daily Herald Interview

Joe Walsh speaking at the biggets political meeting during the 8th congressional district GOP primary campaign. Photo by Ryan Provenzano RyanProPhotos ryanprophoto@hotmail.com

(Lake Zurich, Illinois) – February 20, 2010 – Joe Walsh, Republican candidate for Congress in the Illinois 8th, today said “Melissa Bean is amazingly out-of-touch with her constituents. She arrogantly dismissed the economic hardships most of her constituents are going through right now and she dismisses their anger and activism at speaking up against this government’s spending,” in response to Bean’s comments published Feb. 19 in the Daily Herald.

Rep. Bean said there is not a current “conservative resurgence” and “doesn’t see the pendulum swinging back this year.”  As reported in the Daily Herald, Bean “bristled” at calling the tea party a “movement,” pointing to the attendance of only 1,000 people at the National Tea Party Convention in Tennessee. “I remember being on the (National Mall), there being 1 million people for the (Obama) inauguration. That is a movement,” Bean said. “I don’t see a comparison.”  Last September over 2 million Tea Party supporters marched on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

“She doesn’t understand what’s going on economically right now, she doesn’t understand the depth of voter anger and passion that’s out there, and she doesn’t understand at all the meaning of and power of the tea party movement,” Walsh said.

“The tea party movement has nothing to do with party,” Walsh said. “It consists of every Republican, Independent, and Democrat who has had it with this reckless spending. It’s too late for Melissa Bean. Last year when voters in her district first voiced their concerns, she hid from them. Now, that it’s an election year, she comes out and dismisses them. The train has left the station and Melissa Bean chose not to get on it and there is nothing she or any other Democrat incumbent can say or do this year that will change that.”

Democrat Melissa Bean voted yes for cap-and-trade, healthcare, bank bailouts, and two stimulus packages.

Note: Melisaa Bean interview Feb 19, 2010 with the Daily Herald editorial board: (http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=360335)

Joe Walsh at the Patriots United Thanksgiving Week Republican primary forum.

Melissa Bean

Popping into my inbox this morning is this Congressional Quarterly analysis of marginal congressional districts.

Better chances for Republicans nationally, poorer for Democrats.

Democrats defending 42 marginal districts, Republicans 7.

Locally, 8th congressional district incumbent Melissa Bean drew this comment:

“The ratings also upgrade the re-election prospects for…Reps. Melissa Bean (Ill.)…who were once in the crosshairs of GOP strategists but now seem safe.”

That is the district where Joe Walsh won a convincing primary victory capitalizing on TEA Party activists.

The only other Illinois districts mentioned were

• Illinois’ 10th — Leans Democratic to Tossup (Mark Kirk’s Northshore district)
• Illinois’ 13th — Likely Republican to Safe Republican (Judy Biggert)

Here’s what appeared in the Wall Street Journal about 8^th Congressional District Repubublican candidate Joe Walsh Saturday:

“The Tea Party movement boasts of at least one primary victory so far. Illinois venture capitalist Joe Walsh won a six-way contest on Feb. 2 to be the party’s nominee against well-funded incumbent Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean in a suburban Chicago swing district.

“‘I ran as a Tea Party candidate in the primary, and I’m going to run as a Tea Party candidate in the general,’ said Mr. Walsh, who spoke in Nashville. He said he is the candidate for voters who are ‘pissed off, scared, and angry’ at Washington.”

8th Congressional District Republican candidate Joe Walsh speaking to the McHenry County Concealed Carry Association in Lakemoor. Photos by Ryan Provenzano RyanProPhotos ryanprophoto@hotmail.com

“The whole point of this campaign was

‘Boy moving back home,’”

Joe Walsh told me when I asked if he was going to move to the district before the election.

Walsh grew up in Barrington, where his Democratic Party opponent, incumbent Melissa Bean, lives.

But she lives outside the district.

Walsh’s home is now on the North Shore and, while Congressmen don’t have to live in their districts (just in their state), Walsh told me,

“We are actively looking right now and we hope to be planted somewhere in the 8th district by March.

”That’s been the plan all along.”

I remember when Barrington’s Cathy Lee ran for Congress in the 16th District against Don Manzullo after I beat her for state representative in 1992.

She promised to move into the district, but never did. Of course, she lost and didn’t.

When I talked to him, Walsh said he was on the way to the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville, where he is speaking this afternoon.

The John Dawson campaign has shared the 8th Congressional District hopeful’s post card. You see it below:

This appears to be a localized mailing to the Woodstock part of what is now Democrat Melissa Bean's district.

Dawson has served on the Crystal Lake High School District 155 Board.

As the Chicago Tribune was endorsing Dirk Beveridge yesterday morning, the Chicago Sun-Times was endorsing Maria Rodriguez.

And, last night, Rodriguez sent out a letter to Melissa Bean that was so well written, that I post it below:

Congresswoman Bean,

I must admit it – you had me fooled for a while.

For years, you talked a good game.  You said all the right things.  You talked about how you were for fiscal responsibility…about how you would help those of us in local government to create new jobs and help get our constituents working again.

And then 2009 came.

I watched this year as, bill-by-bill, you started marching to the job-destroying agenda of Nancy Pelosi.

First was the incredible spending spree called the ’stimulus’ bill.  Have you met anyone who has gotten a job thanks to the stimulus?  I haven’t yet.  In fact, I haven’t met anyone who knows anyone who has gotten a job from that bill yet.  All we got was more debt for our grandchildren to pay off.

And then there was the vote for cap-and-trade – the largest energy tax in American history on every single household in the 8th district.  Is that supposed to help get our economy moving again?  We don’t think so.

Then the health care bill came up.  And if taking over the American health care system wasn’t enough, you even voted during the debate to use our tax dollars to pay for abortion!

Obviously, you’re out of touch.

You’re out of touch with the values of the 8th district and the reason you were elected to office.  Your true colors are showing, and we aren’t going to take it anymore.

I’m looking forward to February 3 and launching the campaign that will send you back to Barrington.  Don’t get too comfortable.

The biggest news in Illinois has endorsed Dirk Beveridge for Congress in the 8th Congressional District, which Melissa Bean now represents. The Beveridge press release follows:

Republican Candidate for Illinois’ 8th Congressional Seat
Builds Electability Profile for Battle
Against Vulnerable Democrat Incumbent, Melissa Bean

Barrington, Ill. – Today, the Dirk Beveridge for Congress campaign earned the Chicago Tribune’s Editorial Board endorsement.

“We are ready to take on Melissa Bean and the ‘Democratic machine’ in November,” said Dirk Beveridge, Republican candidate for the 8th Congressional Seat.  “An endorsement of this stature will take us far in our pursuit of the congressional seat on behalf of hard-working, conservative Americans in our district.” In their endorsement, printed January 19th, the Chicago Tribune said:

“The best is Barrington business owner Dirk Beveridge.”

The Chicago Tribune stated “Congress needs more people who understand what it takes to put people to work and how government puts up roadblocks to employment.”  Beveridge’s proven leadership, integrity, and initiative are among the characteristics separating his candidacy.

The Chicago Tribune endorsement is on the heels of last week’s Pioneer Press Newspaper endorsement of Dirk Beveridge:

We find Beveridge to be the best at representing the views of all members of the party…Beveridge will do the best job of attracting voters that Republicans need to win in November.

Dirk was also endorsed last month by the Cuba Township Republican Committee and was chosen as a “preferred candidate” by the Schaumburg Township Republican Organization.

“Following intensive interviews and presentations from all Republican candidates, Dirk Beveridge rose to the top for his smart, commonsense stand on re-building the American dream,” announced Tom Gooch, Chairman, Cuba Township Republican Committee.  “In addition to his priority position on fiscal responsibility and limited government, Cuba Township republicans recognize Beveridge as a strong candidate with an organization in place to beat the Democrat incumbent, Melissa Bean.”

Dirk Beveridge is a common sense conservative dedicated to returning the U.S. economy to hard-working Americans, restoring the American Dream by cutting reckless spending and political earmarks, “Big Government” intrusion and restoring America to a culture of independence, not dependence on Government entitlements.

Just two weeks ago, the Beveridge Campaign announced endorsements from a wide variety of industry leaders and entrepreneurs: “Dirk understands business issues and job creation,” explains Ron Bullock, Chairman and Owner, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. and 2009 Chair, Illinois Manufacturers Association.  “Our current Representative doesn’t, and we can change that. Dirk Beveridge will represent the 8th District with common-sense conservative values.”

“I am convinced that Dirk Beveridge can beat Melissa Bean and has what it takes to get the job done right in Washington,” explained Andrew Berlin, Chairman and CEO, Berlin Packaging and recipient, Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame and a “Job Creators Coalition endorser.”  “Dirk is a proven leader; he knows how to be effective and how to make a real difference.  I know when he is in Washington, he will act on his convictions and a strong moral compass to restore our American dream.”

Dirk Beveridge (48), of Barrington, is the owner of a small business who helps large national organizations grow and expand.  Dirk is known as a private sector champion and a valued community problem solver for his leadership of  ‘We Do Care,’ a six-year-old nonprofit organization that supports, thanks and celebrates veterans, soldiers and their families.

It the Northwest Herald gets its way, Maria Rodriguez will face off against 8th District Congresswoman

At least that’s what a press release (complete with link to the editorial) from Rodriguez tells me.

I don’t make a practice of reading its editorials, but I guess it’s news whom its editorial board endorses.

Rodriguez recently caught some flak on the comment board of the Daily Herald for pointing out that one of her advantages was being the same gender as Bean.

Since 1966 I can show you contests in the Northwest suburbs where women had about a five percentage point advantage when running against a man.

I first noticed it when I ran against Carla Fortier for McHenry County Treasurer in 1966. I think she was a secretary at the First National Bank of Chicago. I had finished the coursework for my master’s degree in public administration and had an economics degree from Oberlin College and had worked for the United States Bureau of the Budget (now, the Office of Management and Budget).

I ran about five percentage points behind the Republican county ticket.

There are many other examples, e.g., Betty Lou Reed regularly polled more votes that her fall running mate Don Deuster when they were both state representatives from the same district.

In any event, Rodriguez spoke the truth about there being a gender gap in electoral politics in our neck of the woods.

Bean has run against a man three times and three times has won.

I figure each male candidate spotted her five percentage points in their match-up.

Why?

Here’s my hypothesis of why women running against men have an electoral advantage.

It comes from watching crooked politicians in Illinois since 1966.

They are mainly men.

It is male faces that are showing up on the front pages of newspapers and on TV.

Sure, there have been a couple of women. Cicero’s Betty Loren-Maltese is probably the most recent. There has been at least one female Chicago Alderwoman.

But most of the crooks have been men.

So, besides those women who think women are underrepresented in the halls of government, add those men and women who think, other things being equal, a woman in government is more likely to be honest than a man.

The odds are certainly there for all to see.