Wow. Somebody really got his facts wrong.

Foster’s ads claim he is also a businessman who does not outsource anything to foreigners, and I was curious as to what kind of business he has. According to his Web site (www.foster08.com), the company is Electronic Theatre Controls Inc. However, in contrast to his attacks on Oberweis for dealings with Asians and taking U.S. jobs, the Electronic Theatre Controls Inc. Web site proudly lists the company’s 1995 accomplishments as: “ETC expands into Asia with opening of Hong Kong office” and “ETC expands into Europe, acquiring the lighting control division of London-based distributor ARRI GB.” How hypocritical!

ETC has over 600 employees and more than 500 of them are employed at its plant in Middleton, Wisconsin–most in good old-fashioned manufacturing jobs. The foreign jobs are in sales and distribution of products made in the USA. Read the rest of this entry

This comes straight from the Bill Foster campaign. They are saying that one of Jim Oberweis’ TV ads was pulled out of WGN and WMAQ lineups for breaking Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules.

The ad in question contains multiple failures to comply with disclaimer requirements, representing an attempt on the part of Oberweis to evade responsibility for the allegations levied against Mr. Foster contained in the ad.

Politically incorrect possible translation: “He lied like a rug and got caught.” Remember, this is the guy who used fake headlines in a TV ad against Judy Baar Topinka during the 2006 primary season. I am having a hard time seeing why anybody would want to send such a person to Congress.

Looks like Jim Oberweis may be in trouble with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) for violating a part of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act known as the Millionaires’ Amendment.

The provisions of the Millionaires’ Amendment may, in certain circumstances, increase the contribution limits for House and Senate candidates facing opponents who spend personal funds in excess of certain threshold amounts. The threshold amounts and the triggers for increased limits for House and Senate candidates differ. For House candidates, the threshold amount is $350,000.

Whether contribution limits are actually increased depends on the pattern of campaign spending in a particular election cycle. What’s not in dispute is that as soon as the candidate puts $350,000 into his/her campaign s/he is obligated to notify within 24 hours both the FEC and the opposition candidate.

Oberweis deposited $300,000 into his campaign on February 7 and another $340,000 on February 11, which triggered the reporting requirement.

The FEC has penalized Oberweis once before. Last year he was fined $21,000 for a television ad played during the 2004 Senate race that was ruled to be a corporate contribution prohibited by law.

You can listen to audio of this debate between IL-14 candidates Bill Foster and Jim Oberweis on WBBM 780′s “At Issue” program.

Last chance for early & absentee voting for the special general is March 1, 8:30-12 at the County Clerk’s office. Otherwise, see you at the polls on March 8!

[Update 2/14: "Campaign Physicist's" get-out-the-vote (GOTV) "Turf-cutting Kit" from the Patrick Murphy for Congress campaign that Foster helped with (.pdf alert.) Also: looks like a Veterans for Foster group is forming. For more info, e-mail me at yinnATcitybarbs.com.]

This story hasn’t come to DeKalb yet, so:

Lifelong Republican and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Don Cassiday stood alongside Foster at a news conference Monday at Foster’s Aurora campaign office to break ranks and endorse Foster.

“I think that Mr. Oberweis’ stand of continuing to support the Bush administration in Iraq is very unwise and I think the future of this country depends very heavily on our getting out of there,” said Cassiday, an Aurora resident. “That’s my reason for supporting Bill.”

Meanwhile, the Foster campaign released results of a poll of 525 “likely voters,” more of them Republican than not, which shows Oberweis ahead in the race 45%-43%.

That’s not a good sign for Obie, who has the greater name recognition in a district that leans Republican. Read the rest of this entry