Posted: January 02, 2010

By Doug Ibendahl

 

With Andy Martin and Judy Baar Topinka also running for office this year, Bill Kelly caught something of a break. Kelly has a chance to be only the third looniest candidate running as a Republican on the statewide primary ballot this year.

 

Kelly is running for Illinois Comptroller - the person who handles the state's checkbook - your checkbook.

 

But it's looking like Bill Kelly has decided third place in the loon category isn't good enough.

 

Most Republicans have by now recognized that Bill Kelly has some serious issues. I'm not a psychiatrist so I won't speculate about what those issues might be. I can only observe that Kelly's obsession with getting the media spotlight turned his way leads him to do goofy things on a near daily basis. And I also have to note that it's all too often clearly under the influence of alcohol.

 

Kelly wouldn't even give it a rest over Christmas. On December 23rd he embarrassed conservatives by tampering with a display in the State Capitol. Police had to escort Kelly out of the building.

 

But this past week Kelly pulled one of his most harebrained stunts yet. Kelly accused his Republican opponent Jim Dodge of "smearing" him.

 

The evidence? Well, it seems Jim Dodge is the bad guy because he has directed people to videos of Bill Kelly.

 

Now you're probably thinking the videos in question must be some undercover videos that invaded the privacy of Bill Kelly, poor unsuspecting victim.

 

But of course you would be mistaken. The videos Jim Dodge's campaign has passed along are clips from VIDEOS BILL KELLY HIMSELF POSTED ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB!

 

Yes, that's right. Bill Kelly is complaining about his own video content. And no sane person would conclude it becomes a "smear" simply with the addition of some reasonable editorial remarks. You're bound to have your own.

 

Here is one for example: watch video. It should be required viewing for every Republican voter in Illinois.

 

Kelly also complains that the Jim Dodge campaign is presenting these to Republican voters as "Playboy videos." I haven't noticed or seen that portrayal myself - but that would certainly be an accurate description.

 

In one part of the video linked above, Kelly is at a Playboy party in Chicago. And I'm not such a buzzkill that I don't recognize that woman Kelly's getting a little lapdance from as Kendra Wilkinson. She was a Playboy model and one of Hef's multiple live-in girlfriends for awhile. She was part of a reality television show on the subject until very recently.

 

And by the way, I'm not even going to get into how I sometimes wonder if Bill Kelly may be trying to overcompensate for something with all the attractive women he tries to hang out with in his videos. That would be wrong.

 

Here's more of Bill Kelly in action: watch video. Again, that's compiled from footage Kelly himself posted, that he now considers a smear. And if you need to hear more of Kelly's drunken singing prowess, that's here.

 

But the most despicable thing Kelly has done yet is to accuse respected conservative leader and our Champion News Publisher, Jack Roeser, of also trying to smear him. Kelly also recklessly accuses Jack of being "part of the smear campaign against U.S. Senate candidate, Rep. Mark Kirk."

 

These are all outlandish lies by Bill Kelly. Jack Roeser hasn't smeared anyone. A candidate for U.S. Senate (Andy Martin) lifted some material from our radio show without consulting us. But Jack Roeser has and wants nothing to do with Andy Martin. Further, Jack stands behind what he said with respect to Mark Kirk on our radio show. Jack spoke the truth - specifically that it's a fact that rumors have been widespread for a long time with regard to Mark Kirk. That's a fact, not a smear.

 

And with respect to Kelly - not only has Jack Roeser never smeared the guy - Jack has on numerous occasions gone out of his way to help Kelly. In fact just this past November, Jack wrote a piece setting the record straight on the time Kelly was detained by federal authorities back during Bill Clinton's reign. Jack did that at Kelly's urging.

 

Jack Roeser has known Kelly for at least 20 years. Jack was not only instrumental in getting Kelly out of the federal lockup back in 1993, he's helped Kelly out in other ways that are frankly none of anyone's business, including mine. But the point is, Jack has bent over backwards numerous times on Kelly's behalf in the past. And while I can't speak for Jack - I'm quite certain he would have been happy to remain friends with Kelly - even as Jack recognized early on that Jim Dodge was by far the best and most qualified candidate to be Comptroller.

 

The lying and bad behavior from Kelly directed now towards Jack Roeser is not only shameful beyond belief - it's truly the most appalling example of ingratitude I've ever witnessed.

 

I've mostly been ignoring Bill Kelly because I viewed him as a goof not worthy of much copy. Even if Kelly doesn't have the decency to drop-out prior to February 2nd, he's not going to get more than 1% or 2% of the GOP primary vote. Jim Dodge is the serious candidate, the qualified candidate who deserves to win. Dodge's focus has to be on stopping the unacceptable (but better known), Judy Baar Topinka. Kelly and his buffoonish behavior are an unneeded distraction in this race.

 

But Bill Kelly's lying and disgusting behavior have officially gotten out of control. Look for another piece in the coming week from me on Bill Kelly and his campaign. There is more that Republican voters need to know.

 

 

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).