PEORIA -- How distressing that two incumbent members of Congress from neighboring downstate Illinois districts, Phil Hare, and Aaron Schock, are so different in their campaigns as well as their ideology. And that the public puts up with Schock, even when he votes against their interests.
Phil Hare, 60, has represented the 17th District, which includes the Quad Cities, Macomb, part of Quincy, even Decatur, for four years, and is seeking a third term.
A Democrat, he's in a tight race against an apparent Tea Party Republican, a pizza parlor operator with no political experience, whose campaign has engaged in smears and character assassination against Hare including a notorious YouTube video which took what Hare said out of context, a dirty trick.
Aaron Schock, 29, the youngest member of Congress, represents the 18th District which includes Peoria, Jacksonville and parts of Springfield. A Republican, he faces two opponents, Democrat D.K. Hirner of Springfield and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer of Peoria. (Schafer's website soon will post the only major joint appearance of the three candidates, a TV event on WTVP, Channel 47.)
Both of these candidates are running low key, grass roots races. They have little money to spend but instead appear at community forums where they meet and greet anyone who shows up and speak to the public. They are well informed on the issues and either one would make a good member of Congress.
As a candidate, Schock has shunned community forums where he meets the public, stiffed the Peoria League of Women Voters, a non-partisan group which always runs candidate forums, (see story below) and is flying around the district in a helicopter apparently owned by a wealthy backer.
He has held several high profile, expensive private fund raisers and has acquired millions in his campaign chest. Speculation has it that he plans to run for US Senate as soon as he's old enough.
On this date, Oct. 29, five days before the Nov. 2 election, Schock is in Kentucky backing a Republican candidate there, instead of campaigning in his own district.
In Congress Schock has followed the GOP line, voting against the stimulus bill, then taking credit for the spending and jobs it has generated.
He voted against extending medical coverage to all children without it, voted against extending unemployment benefits, including to 50,000 people in his own district, voted against Wall Street reform, and supports a host of other Republican ideas that favor the rich.
Phil Hare could not be more different. He is open, friendly, appears at community events large and small, and vigorously defends the Obama administration's efforts to improve life in the USA and save the nation from a 21st century Great Depression.
On Oct. 28, Hare appeared at an event on the Western Illinois University campus, where he talked with suppporters and discussed his campaign. He said his opponent, Bobby Schilling, wants to privitize Social Security, and said a better solution is slightly increasing the cap on which Social Security taxes are levied. Experts agree with him.
"If we raise (the cap) up 25 percent, that will keep it solvent and increase benefits," he said.
"He (Schilling) wants to give $100,000 more to millionaires."
If he's reelected, Hare said, he will introduce a bill to forgive student loans for college grads who work in low income areas. The line generated applause.
The program would allow young adults to stay in their home towns and reinvigorate them. It likely would pay for itself in increased earnings and productivity, he said. "You've got to try something different," he said.
The government should be investing in people, he said, instead giving of $28 billion to "big oil."
"This election is so important," Hare said. "There's a lot at stake."
Hare said he has friendly relationships with some Republican members of Congress who are people of integrity. But GOP leaders are not friendly to them, because they have Democratic friends. He told stories of how the leadership snubs them.
Some campaigns this season "play off people's fears and anger," he said.
If Congress "flips" to the GOP, he said, "their agenda is tax cuts, cuts in Social Security, more money for the Afghan war" and roll backs of financial reform and health care coverage.
Voter turnout is crucial, he said.
Amen.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Actually, Hare says schilling wants to increase SS taxes. Can you do a modicum of legwork before you spout propaganda?
Posted by: Bob paulson | October 30, 2010 at 10:37 AM
I do not spout propaganda. (Avoid attacking the messenger, please!)
I did not hear Hare say that about Schilling.
Like other Republicans, Schilling MAY be calling to increase the deductibles seniors must pay on Medicare. Dunno. Do you?
Posted by: Elaine Hopkins | October 30, 2010 at 11:47 AM