Let them eat cake...

PEORIA -- Here's a clever stunt.  It will be interesting to see if any of the local media cover this. And there's some news value here -- the statistics on poverty in the 18th District.

From the news release:

Deirdre “DK” Hirner, Democratic congressional candidate for IL’s 18th District, will be at the West Mark Food Pantry, at 1504 West Moss Ave., Peoria, at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, September 13th, to serve cake.

Hirner is angry that the incumbent, Rep. Aaron Schock, has turned his back to the glaring needs of his constituents. In the 18th District, more than 50,000 people are unemployed and more than 25,000 people live in extreme poverty. Demand on food banks has risen 30 percent.

“Schock appears on TV on Top Chef, sampling elaborate hors d’oeuvres, when people in his own district are forced to go to food banks to survive? His callousness and shameful legislative record tell the real story here. Clearly, he is content to have his constituents ‘eat cake’,” Hirner said.

Walking in lockstep with his party, Schock has voted against more federal funds reaching the district,  against legislation that would extend unemployment benefits, assist small business, make health care more accessible, allow first-time home buyers tax credits, and keep jobs from going overseas --- all measures designed to improve the lives of his constituents in a practical and concrete way.  

And to top this all off, Schock moves about the district taking credit for public works and programs funded by legislation he voted against. With 16 of the 20 counties comprising the District on the poverty watch or warning list, Hirner intends to travel throughout the 18th speaking out against poverty until Election Day.

On Monday, September 13th, former First Lady Laura Bush will be appearing at a high dollar fundraising event in Peoria on behalf of Schock.

“He has almost half a million dollars in his campaign war chest. He doesn’t need more money. The right thing to do would be to take the proceeds of this event and walk them over to the food bank,” said Hirner.  -30-

Comments

[Dennis in Peoria]

Well, fortunately there was local media when I was there...WMBD-TV 31, WMBD Radio 1470, and me, CAPtions. Hirner's main point was about how far a $250 ticket would go toward feeding a family on foodstamps; also, how much poverty there is in the 18th Cong. District.