Posted: November 02, 2009
By Doug Ibendahl
There are two debates this week featuring the Republican candidates for Governor.
At the risk of playing favorites - I'll just say the first event on Wednesday night is for patriotic, God-fearing, real Americans. The second one on Thursday night is for poor souls who want to throw their hard earned money away to a faction that continues to divide and destroy our once proud Republican Party.
First, here are the details on the recommended event. And the price is right. It's all FREE (with cash bar).
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE FORUM/TOWN HALL
When: Wednesday, November 4th, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: DiNolfo's Banquet Hall, 14447 W. 159th St., Homer Glen, Illinois
Hosts: Homer/Lockport Tea Party and the Joliet Tea Party
Confirmed GOP Candidates: Andrzejewski, Brady, Dillard, Proft and Schillerstrom
(McKenna and Ryan have been invited, but as of this writing are not yet confirmed)
More Details: http://www.homerlockportteaparty.com/ and in the news here.
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM - The Fun Begins
"Get there early and meet the candidates."
Live Music with T-Bird Huck and Debbie K & Freedom Band
Tea Party Slide Show - Featuring Local Tea Parties & September 12th DC Rally
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Candidates Forum
Questions & Answer Forum with candidates
9:00 PM - Meet & Greet Session
Talk with candidates one-on-one
And if you can't attend in person, they'll be streaming the event live at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/homer-lockport-tea-party.
I haven't been much of a tea partier myself, but these folks are doing amazing work. I'm a big fan. The hosts of this event are the same organizers who turned out 10,000-plus at a Tea Party in New Lenox back on Labor Day.
And as you can see from the schedule above, this is also a group that knows how to have fun. But they are also serious about improving their country and Illinois. I would expect some REAL questions to be asked of the candidates at this forum. And audience members can participate directly.
Organizers say they expect as many as 2,000 to attend. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they reach that goal. I don't think they need much help, but let's help spread the word anyway.
The second debate is hosted by the Illinois Republican Party's new Chairman, Pat Brady. If you're a chump and have $250 to throw away, this is the event for you:
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DEBATE
When: Thursday, November 5th, 6:30 PM Debate - Reception to follow
Where: Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois
Hosts: Chairman Pat Brady and the Illinois Republican Party Finance Committee
Cost: Individual ticket $250
Even with Barack Obama as President it's still mostly a free country and people can do what they want. But I would recommend saving your money and skipping this event.
For one thing, I know for a fact that at least some (if not most) of the hosting members of the State Party's Finance Committee are squarely in the camp of Andy McKenna for Governor. (I know what you're thinking - what's more annoying than wealthy white guys with no clue about Illinois politics.)
I'm not positive where State Chair Pat Brady stands on the race for Governor - but we do know he has publicly endorsed Mark Kirk for U.S. Senate. Brady was one of the first to do so - and everyone knows that he wouldn't have been jammed into the Chairman post in the first place if he wasn't part of the Kirk team.
And it's also no secret that the debate's assigned moderator (and screener of any questions from the audience) is in Mark Kirk's camp. Yes, I realize that's a difference race, but the point is you're not likely to hear much about core-GOP Platform issues when Mark Kirk's people are running the show.
I can just imagine tough questions like: "So tell us, what do YOU hate the most about Rod Blagojevich and his hair?"
More to the point, I would advise withholding any contribution to the Illinois Republican Party until SB600 is passed and some accountability is restored to that organization.
Until that happens, my advice would be to just give directly to the worthy candidate(s) of your choice, or donate to a GOP organization that's actually doing something productive.
But until SB600 is passed and there is some serious adult supervision, you're just wasting your money with our State Party. (Of course what do I know, I was only the State Party's lawyer years ago.)
Here's just one example. It's the tip of the iceberg - but it's a good illustration.
According to the Illinois Republican Party's own disclosure reports that it filed with the Federal Election Commission, $3,507.25 of donor contributions went to the Washington, D.C. law firm of Patton Boggs LLP on September 1st. Our State Party has in fact paid this firm on a pretty regular basis.
This might not be a big deal except for the fact that Patton Boggs LLP is the law firm that then-Party Chairman Andy McKenna enlisted earlier this year to threaten a frivolous lawsuit to try and squash support for SB600.
If you want to waste your money on Washington, D.C. lawyers at a mostly Democrat-controlled law firm who threaten to sue you for even thinking about reclaiming your right to vote - then go ahead. I think most people would conclude you're out of your gourd - but go ahead.
And in case you're interested, in addition to the Illinois Republican Party, Patton Boggs LLP's client list includes the governments of Kuwait, Pakistan and Venezuela.
And in 2008, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was on the receiving end of Patton Boggs' biggest contributions to any single member of Congress, at just over $11,000 in total. Of course that's chump change for a huge firm like Patton Boggs. Thanks to your generous contributions to the Illinois Republican Party, you can help the firm's lawyers grease the doors of access to Nancy in no time.
I also have serious concerns about putting any money into Pat Brady's control - a guy who only has the State Chair post in the first place thanks to the corrupted way our State Central Committee is picked (only those 19 members get a say in picking the Chairman).
Republicans saw the real Pat Brady in action last month. He wouldn't be honest with us regarding SB600 and then he got mad when we wouldn't accept the lies. I'm not giving a penny to a guy who not only thinks we don't deserve a vote - he doesn't think Republicans deserve honesty either.
Let's keep working to get honest leadership and accountability restored to our Illinois Republican Party. Until then, don't waste your hard earned money.
Republicans can also still have some fun with some really decent people who do have their heads on straight. Hope to see you in Homer Glen this Wednesday night for what promises to be a truly spirited debate.
Doug Ibendahl is a Chicago Attorney and a former General Counsel of the Illinois Republican Party. He is Co-Founder of Republican Young Professionals (RYP).
