Congressional Elections

America is Speaking Out but Peter Roskam & GOP Turning a Deaf Ear

On August 2, 2010, in America Speaking Out, Congressional Elections, Energy, Financial Sector, Global Warming, Healthcare, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, Regulatory Reform, Republican Party, Unemployment, by RSR
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It’s hard to be a Republican like Peter Roskam. The dilemma is always how to sell a package of pro-corporate policies to working people whose votes you need, when those very policies make the lives of those voters more difficult. In the past, the Republican party has turned to wedge issues like abortion and homosexuality, and to scaring the living daylights out of people  by making them believe there’s a terrorist lurking around every corner. Those gimmick are losing some of their effectiveness. America is much more comfortable and accepting of gay people than it used to be and the public feels rightly burned by the experience of the George W Bush Presidency and its lawless “War on Terror”.

This year the Republicans in Congress have a new gimmick. It is called America Speaking Out. It is an interactive website that allows users to submit and vote on ideas in a variety of categories such as “National Security” & “Fiscal Accountability”. The site is being heavily promoted by Peter Roskam and other Republican members of Congress through their Twitter accounts and in their Town Hall meetings with constituents. The Republicans say they want to use the site to solicit input to help them formulate their policy agenda:

This is an open forum, however, where all Americans are welcome to respectfully offer their opinions, regardless of party affiliation and whether we endorse them or not. It is our hope the active engagement of the American people will produce a robust debate that will aid in the construction of a new American agenda.

There’s a catch or two though. Early on, many of the submissions were down right silly, as reported by the Washington Post’s Dana Milbank:

“End Child Labor Laws,” suggests one helpful participant. “We coddle children too much. They need to spend their youth in the factories.”

“How about if Congress actually do their job and VET or Usurper in Chief, Obama is NOT a Natural Born Citizen in any way,” recommends another. “That fake so called birth certificate is useless.”

“A ‘teacher’ told my child in class that dolphins were mammals and not fish!” a third complains. “And the same thing about whales! We need TRADITIONAL VALUES in all areas of education. If it swims in the water, it is a FISH. Period! End of Story.”

“Build a castle-style wall along the border, there is plenty of stone laying around about there.” That was in the “national security” section of the new site.

“Legalize Marijuana, cause, like, alcohol is legal. Man. Also.” That was in the “traditional values” section.

“I say, repeal all the amendments to the Constitution.” (“American prosperity” section.)

“Don’t let the illegals run out of Arizona and hide. . . . I think that we should do something to identify them in case they try to come back over. Like maybe tattoo a big scarlet ‘I’ on their chests — for ‘illegal’!!!” (Filed under “job creation.”)

Since then, the webmasters have been removing stuff like this, but they have, to their credit, not been removing popular ideas simply because they are contrary to GOP policy. For example, decriminalization of Marijuana is polling well:

The site doesn’t always function too well. We have been able to successfully submit ideas and they have been retained on the site. But when we try and cast votes, 9 times out of 10 the site “clocks” and we give up. We don’t know whether or not that malfunction is related to what we vote for. We haven’t wanted to lend any support to GOP platform planks in order to test it.

The problem with all this is that voluntary polls have no statistical meaning. The results on the site can’t be used to draw ANY statistically valid conclusions about the desires and opinions of the American public. And yet Roskam and the GOP say they want to use this information to determine what America wants. The submissions are heavily skewed toward the Conservative because the site has been promoted exclusively by Republicans. And the GOP has reserved the right to promote the ideas it chooses regardless of what America has to say on the site, according to reporting in the Washington Post:

“This isn’t ‘American Idol,’ ” said [Rep Kevin] McCarthy, adding that the top vote-getting idea on the site might not be adopted by the GOP. Referring to the party’s broader platform, he said, “we are in the process of creating ours, so it’s based upon our principles.”

So what America Speaking Out amounts to is a campaign gimmick. It creates noise in support of the GOP platform that allows the party to ignore statistically valid measures of public opinion while marketing their ideas to their base. And, ironically given their ant-spending rhetoric, this is all being done on the taxpayer’s dime. The money comes out of the Minority Leader’s budget and the GOP isn’t talking about how much this all cost us, despite all their protestations about transparency. So the taxpayers help fund the GOP campaign now so there’s more money left to spend on smear adds in October. Pretty clever in an evil sort of way. We think the site should be re-branded as “Republicans Speaking Out” to provide for truth in advertising.

Meanwhile the news from legitimate polls doesn’t indicate strong support for GOP plans:

  • On  the Bush tax cuts: The National Journal’s Congressional Connection poll of 7/22 found that only 30% of Americans believe that all of the Bush tax cuts should be extended. 58% believe that either all of the cuts, or those on the wealthy alone should be repealed.
  • On health care reform: The Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 50% of Americans have a positive of the new health care law. Independent voters polled at 48% positive. Only 35% of Americans hold a negative view of the measure.
  • On stimulus spending for job creation:  According to a Gallup poll from June, a clear majority of Americans favor additional government spending aimed at creating jobs
  • On financial regulation: A Washington Post / ABC News poll in April found that Sixty-five percent of Americans backed proposals to rein in banks and the financial industry.
  • On offshore drilling: In a Pew Research Center poll in June, 52% of Americans indicated opposition to more offshore drilling
  • On global warming: A WSJ / NBC news poll taken in June found that Americans favored comprehensive energy and carbon pollution reduction legislation by 63 percent to 31 percent – a two to one margin – even if it meant an increase in the cost of energy.

So yes, America IS speaking out. But it appears that the GOP and Peter Roskam have gone deaf.


 

Ben Lowe Challenge to Peter Roskam Called One of Top 50 to Watch by CNN

On August 2, 2010, in Campaign Finance, Congressional Elections, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, by RSR
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We were pleased to find this in our in box this past Friday:

For Immediate Release:

CNN Announces 6th District on the Top 50 House Races to Watch

Lombard, IL – July 30, 2010 – CNN has announced the house race for the 6th Congressional District of Illinois as one of the top 50 races to watch. Candidate Ben Lowe (D) agrees that this race is a one which people need to keep their eye on this year.

“This district is a lot more moderate than Peter Roskam’s voting record. Like many in our community, I am frustrated by the broken status quo of politics. I am stepping up as an Independent Democrat to set an example of a different kind of politics, one that we can be proud of,” says Lowe.

CNN has identified both the top 50 House races as ones worth watching and the top 50 vulnerable House seats. Each race will be profiled at random up until election day.

About Ben Lowe

Ben Lowe is the Democratic nominee running in IL-6 to hold Peter Roskam accountable. An author and community organizer, Lowe is highly regarded in circles of clean energy, faith outreach, and environmental conservation. Ben Lowe is running to restore our moral and offers a fresh and honest alternative to a Congress held hostage by special interests, partisan obstruction, and fear-mongering.

Defeating Peter Roskam this fall and winning a voice for working people in the 6th District is an uphill battle, to be sure. But take this as just one more small sign that Ben Lowe is starting to make inroads, despite Roskam’s campaign chest chock full of corporate cash & ready access to corporate media.

People all over the country are fed up with incumbents and it is no exception here in the 6th district. Our Representative, Peter Roskam, doesn’t listen to our concerns. Instead he “markets” the GOP’s pro-corporate platform back to us, ignoring the need for robust health reform, strong financial regulation, regulation of carbon emissions to stave off catastrophic climate change,  and government aid to help the jobless and promote job creation.

This year may be our very best opportunity to rid ourselves of Roskam. We can’t afford to let it pass us by. Please get to know Ben by visiting his website. Send him a few bucks if you can to help him keep getting the word out about his candidacy.

 

Peter Roskam Opponent Ben Lowe’s Announcement on Special Interest Money

On July 13, 2010, in Campaign Finance, Congressional Elections, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, by RSR
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Yesterday we wrote about Ben Lowe’s decision to refuse special interest money in his campain to unseat Republican Peter Roskam this fall. Today we received a formal announcement of his decision from the campaign and decided to share it with you in its entirety:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BEN LOWE ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT TO REFUSE SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY

Lombard, Illinois – July 13, 2010 – Democratic nominee for congress Ben Lowe announced his commitment to refuse campaign donations from Political Action Committees and Corporations today during a standing-room only event at his campaign headquarters. Lowe has committed to paying for campaign expenses with contributions from individuals alone.

Lowe’s commitment to finance his campaign with donations from individuals comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on Citizen’s United vs. Federal Election Commission, which ruled that corporate funding of political broadcasts cannot be limited.

Lowe decided to make this commitment after meeting with community members in the 6th District as part of his Lowe-Down Listening Tour. He states: “We are tired of special interests buying out our elected leaders, and tired of our leaders lacking the moral courage to take a stand when it risks their campaign funding. I’m committed to serving the interests of the 6th District, even when it conflicts with the interests of lobbyists in Washington. I also believe that change starts with me, which is why I am refusing money from special interest groups, so there is no doubt that I serve on behalf of our community.”

Ben Lowe’s policy of refusing money from special interest groups contrasts to the policy of his competitor, Congressman Peter Roskam. As of June 13th in the 2010 election cycle Roskam had collected $614,803 in donations from PACs that represent special interest groups.

About Ben Lowe

Ben Lowe is the Democratic nominee running in IL-6 to hold Peter Roskam accountable. An author and community organizer, Lowe is highly regarded in circles of clean energy, faith outreach, and environmental conservation. Ben Lowe is running to restore our moral and offers a fresh and honest alternative to a Congress held hostage by special interests, partisan obstruction, and fear-mongering.

Contact info: Dan Salcedo-Director of Communications. (773)-570-0096. info@loweforcongress.com

 

Ben Lowe Pledges to Refuse PAC Money While Peter Roskam Rakes in Corporate Cash

On July 12, 2010, in Ben Lowe, Campaign Finance, Coal Industry, Congressional Elections, Financial Sector, Lobbyists, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, Utilities Industry, by RSR
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We had the pleasure this past Saturday of attending the opening of Ben Lowe’s campaign headquarters in Lombard. Ben, of course, is the Democratic candidate challenging Peter Roskam in the Illinois 6th Congressional District this fall. We had a chance to meet briefly with Ben and his campaign staff, but only briefly as turnout was great and Ben and his team took time to meet everyone. As on our first visit, we were very impressed with Ben and amazed at what he has accomplished running a campaign on a shoestring.

Notably, as Ben spoke to the crowd, he announced a pledge to accept no corporate or PAC donations, but rather to run his campaign solely on donations from individual concerned citizens.  This is is a tough way to go, but we were pleased as we have plenty of experience of what it is like to have a Congressman beholden to big corporations and industry lobbies.

Peter Roskam, in contrast, has raised $1,343,340 in the current cycle (and still we got an email message pleading for “a generous contribution of $100, $250, $500 or more” at the end of the 2nd quarter). Over $600,000 of that is PAC money, with the largest chunk coming from the financial sector, followed by healthcare and energy industries.If you want to know how Roskam will vote, just follow the money. He has voted against increased regulation in the financial sector & against health reform legislation opposed by the healthcare industry. Roskam opposes legislation to combat the threat of catastrophic global climate change that is opposed by energy industries and has lobbied against increased regulation of hazerdous coal waste.

It is clear that if we are to resolve our nations most pressing problems, we must replace legislators like Peter Roskam, who obstruct progress in the interests of corporate sponsors, and replace them with people of integrity who are not bought and paid for by the multinational corporations.

Fortunately, we in the 6th District are blessed to have such a candidate in Ben Lowe. But Ben needs our help. He is entirely dependent on concerned citizens to help get his message out. We hope that you will consider making a contribution to Ben’s campaign and/or helping the campaign out as a volunteer or by hosting an open house to help Ben get to know your friends and neighbors, or by putting up a yard sign. You can make a donation online at Ben’s website.  You can contact Ben’s campaign by phone at (800) 630-0684.

We can make no progress in putting the unemployed back to work, in preventing catastrophic climate change, in ending our dependence on fossil fuels, or in reigning in Wall Street corruption unless we throw out legislators like Roskam who cater to corporate interests. Please help Ben win in November.

 

Democrat Ben Lowe Responds to Peter Roskam’s Hysterical Funding Pitch with Gentle Humor

On April 4, 2010, in Ben Lowe, Congressional Elections, Peter Roskam, Peter Roskam's Corporate Agenda, by RSR
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We received a breathless fund-raising email from Peter Roskam last Monday. Apparently his huge stash of corporate cash is not sufficient for him to buy enough attack ads this fall to crush his unfunded grass roots Democratic opponent and he needs to beg his constituents for their hard-earned dollars so that he can return to Washington and vote against any bill that might actually help them. Here is the way Roskam’s message began:

The Democrats are out of control. Never in my life did I anticipate serving in a Congress that is poised to take over 1/6 of our nation’s economy through the procedural slight-of-hand known as reconciliation. With the Democrats’ passage of the Senate bill in the House of Representatives, the stakes for our country have gotten even higher. But the fight to defend our healthcare system from a government takeover is far from over – in fact, it has just begun.

Because that is what this election year will be – a fight against a Democrat political machine powered by liberal “back room” politics and I believe Americans like you and I have seen enough. We’re tired of watching the Administration cut deals with members of Congress to secure votes on a health care bill that the vast majority of Americans know to be irresponsible, misguided, and even harmful. Here in the Illinois 6th district, we know dirty Chicago politics when we see it, and it’s time to put an end to this madness.

Just a tad over-dramatic, no? We think Roskam should at least get some sort of literary award for fitting so many slurs into two short paragraphs. Roskam is, of course, ridiculous. There is no government takeover of healthcare, only an insurance regulation bill that will float a lot of new business to the insurance companies. Reconciliation is a parliamentary technique that Roskam’s own Republican party has used repeatedly when they held the majority. And Roskam’s Democratic opponent this fall can only wish that he had the support of a “democratic political machine” – he is, so far anyway, pretty much dependent on a small band of volunteers from the district who are fed up with Roskam’s obstruction and bullshit. If you want to see a political machine, look instead to the Republicans who control Du Page County Government and the big corporations like Exelon and Bank of  America who fund Roskam’s campaigns in expectation of influence over his votes on environmental legislation and banking regulation.

Anyway, we got a smile when we received a fundraising email in response from Roskam’s opponent, Ben Lowe of Wheaton. Bent sent this out on April 1st and his message displays a great deal of plucky humor approopriate to the day:

Hi, I thought I should introduce myself.

My name is Ben Lowe.

I’m the out-of-control, liberal, left-wing, big-government, backroom deal-cutting, game-playing, dirty Chicago politician, engaged in a hostile, irresponsible, misguided, harmful, insane government takeover of health care, that your Congressman, Peter Roskam, warned you about in his recent fund-raising letter.

My naive mother is crushed to learn what I have become since I left the gentle protections of her tender bosom, for the corrupting influence of Wheaton College, the twisted machinations of suburban Wheaton, and the left-wing radicalism of a Midwestern evangelical church. My pastor-father cannot figure out where he went wrong! It must be the extreme liberalizing result of Wheaton College’s student life policies, with its exuberant embrace of swing dancing. Or perhaps the consequence of a nature-goddess worshiping environmental-studies college major and profession. Or maybe the effect of a socialist-inspired radical experiment in communal living among the drug-addled, prostitution-riddled projects of blighted Wheaton and Glen Ellyn.

Fortunately for you, Congressman Roskam is not alarmist, but reasonable, commonsensical, and conservative.

Albeit hard-up for funds. After all, he currently has only $547,000 or so left in his campaign war-chest after spending as much on an uncontested primary, and that may not be enough when stacked up against my whopping $2,000 campaign account balance. It certainly is not enough to finance limitless television and radio ads, and a steady stream of life-enhancing robocalls. Donate big, donate often, for the free government postage granted to Washington politicians, the free publicity generated by news media interviews, and the other perks of incumbency are not enough to overcome the threat that I pose to our town, our district, and our American way of life.

This is going to be a tough race. True, Obama won this district with 56% of the vote. And though his national approval rating has fallen to 46%, one can never be too careful in defense of our country from liberal political schemes and harmful government borrowing and spending (which are immeasurably more insidious than the private-sector plagues of deregulation-induced, recession-causing, finance-industry implosions of our economy, or the oil-and-power-company pollution of our environment, the health-industry abuse of the uninsured poor, or the lawyer-enriching tort-cases with enormous verdicts against medical professionals).

Health care reform, in particular, has progressed at break-neck pace in the century since that radically-liberal, communist-inspired, former-Republican Teddy Roosevelt first proposed it in 1912, along with his other nefarious strategies, such as occupational safety, child-labor laws, minimum wage, and Sundays off.

We’ve got to slow this speeding snail before it breaks the sound barrier!

Now is the time for incremental reform!

I urge you to reduce government spending today by contributing to Congressman Roskam’s campaign fund!

Or join us instead, and help bring reason and common sense back to congress. We cannot win without your support.

Yours,

Ben Lowe

Advocate for informed political debate

Democrat for Congress, 6th District Illinois

Ben is a fine person. We’ve met him. We’ve read his book. We are certain he would make an excellent Representative for the 6th District. If you are tired of the Republican obstruction and corporate money that is crippling our nation’s ability to cope the very serious problems it faces, please consider giving your time and/or money to help Ben’s campaign.

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6th District Congressional Candidate, Democrat Ben Lowe, Reacts to Jobs Numbers

On April 2, 2010, in Ben Lowe, Congressional Elections, Economy, Peter Roskam, Unemployment, by RSR
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We received this statement today from Daniel Salcedo, Director of Communications for Ben Lowe, the Democratic candidate running to replace Peter Roskam this fall as U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 6th Congressional District:

Wheaton, IL April 2, 2010. Candidate for Congress Ben Lowe released a statement regarding the job report published today by the Labor Department. The report shows that the US economy added 162,000 new jobs in March, with less than 30% (48,000) being temporary census positions. This result is in stark contrast to the over 700,000 jobs that were being lost this time last year, and signals the largest creation of jobs in the past three years.

“Today’s job report clearly shows that, in spite of Republican obstruction, the strategic steps taken by the Obama administration have indeed turned the tide of the economic recession that began during the Bush presidency. The economic stimulus, while enormous by all measures, was necessary to stabilize the damage that rampant deregulation of financial markets had wreaked upon the entire economy. The stimulus saved the country from a repeat of the 1930’s depression era, and the eventual profits from the TARP program infused even more funds into small businesses, generating new jobs.

While today’s employment report is encouraging, it shows an economy that continues to struggle, with businesses of all sizes wary to expand, lest the recovery is fleeting. The best economic forecasts available, and taking into account the costs and savings of the healthcare bill, offer confidence that the economy will continue to grow following the steps that the Democratic Party has been implementing and the Republican Party has been largely rejecting.”

We agree with Ben’s assessment and are growing weary of Peter Roskam’s trash-talking about the economy and about Democratic initiatives. Roskam is not interested in constructive solutions but only in sabotaging economic recovery for his own short-term political gain. His conduct ill serves the people he was elected to represent, working families who are now struggling because of the economic crisis provoked by failed Republican policies of deregulation and discredited ideology of trickle-down economics.

We encourage our readers to visit Ben’s campaign website to learn more about his candidacy and to make a donation to help Ben fight Roskam’s campaign of misinformation so heavily funded by banks and insurance companies.

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