I deleted yesterday’s diary about Democratic candidate John Laesch contesting the results of the IL-14 regular Congressional primary, because today the Chronicle confirms that he has withdrawn the recount petition.

Laesch certainly had a right to file the recount petition, and he couldn’t help the timing because of a combination of an abbreviated special election cycle and Illinois law pertaining to contested results. If Foster had been badly beaten last Saturday, it might have been perceived as brilliant, even.

Still, he’s got a way to go to mend fences and is not going to do it by floating the sorts of rumors I’ve heard from diehard supporters over the past couple days. Most of them I will not repeat. However, let’s nip the one about Laesch considering a run as an independent in the fall, in order to save his campaign from further embarrassment:

A candidate for whom a nomination paper has been filed as a partisan candidate at a primary election, and who is defeated for his or her nomination at the primary election, is ineligible to be placed on the ballot as an independent candidate for election in that general or consolidated election.

Some are arguing that state law doesn’t cover national candidates, but I beg to differ. This provision is connected to a paragraph of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/10‑3; from Ch. 46, par. 10‑3) associated with both statewide nominations as well as “of independent candidates for public office within any district or political subdivision less than the State” and which specifically mentions congressional candidate nominations. Most states have such a provision, and with rare exceptions it applies to all offices having a primary nominating process except for the presidency.

Oh, and it’s known colloquially as a “sore loser law.”

Just in case there’s anybody left out there who actually believes Jim Oberweis would make a dignified congressman, here’s quick clip of him making fun of Bill Foster’s oft-halting speech by stuttering:

You can’t see it in the clip, but Foster is seated right next to him.

[Updated: Make the jump for video of Oberweis explaining why his campaign used actors in the infamous campaign flyer, as well as expressing outrage that anyone thinks he has a problem with immigration(!)]

The Chicago Tribune endorsed Bill Foster and that might have been the end of their commentary, but it’s not. Ouch and double ouch:

Rob Wadsworth is a firefighter. His wife, Amanda, works as an office assistant. They live in Yorkville and get by OK on $73,000 a year. They have a mop-headed little boy and a cute little girl. Take a look at their photo here. Aren’t they just adorable?

Well, life’s not all rosy for the Wadsworths. Rob likes to hit the tavern with his buddies after work, so Amanda basically has two jobs because someone has to ride herd on the kids — one’s a chronic shoplifter, the other likes to play with matches and neither of them can recite the alphabet without prompting — and Rob says he’d come home if Amanda’s hag of a mother wasn’t there all the time …

Actually, we made up that last part … but who cares? Jim Oberweis made up the Wadsworths!

The editors are not going to forget about Oberweis’ made-up headline under the Chicago Tribune masthead in his smearing of Judy Baar Topinka in the governor’s race. Read the rest of this entry

I tried to stay away from the IL-14 race today, but this is hilarious. Rich Miller’s “Question of the Day” at Capitol Fax Blog is a contest for commenters to come up with lyrics to an “Oberweis” song using the tune to The Sound of Music‘s “Edelweiss.” Some of them are pretty good. Read the rest of this entry

Will you do it for Obama?

Read the rest of this entry

Veterans for Foster speak out for change in Iraq.

As veterans, we strongly support our troops and the magnificent job they have done. However, we firmly believe that the greatest and most important support we can give them now is to change course and bring them home from Iraq.

Having served in all branches of the US Military, we are intimately familiar with the need to maintain high morale and prevent our forces from being stretched too thin. The war in Iraq is hurting our military’s ability to stand vigilant against the threats we face at home and abroad.

Now is the time for a Congressman who is committed to changing course in Iraq. We have come together because we know that, on March 8, Bill Foster will become an immediate voice for change.

“Our military simply cannot afford to be guided by so-called leaders who will keep them in harm’s way, and overextended, in an unending war,” said Navy veteran Robert Reed, Co-Chair of Veterans for Foster. “Jim Oberweis wants to keep our troops in Iraq for another 10 years, and that is unacceptable.”

Air Force Vet Don Cassidy, who is also a member of Republicans for Foster, is co-chair of this new group.

Remember, you read it here first! Be sure to shoot me an e-mail (yinnATcitybarbs.com) if you are interested in this group and I’ll hook you up with Mr. Reed.

A couple weeks ago I told you about lifelong Republican and retired Air Force vet Col. Don Cassiday endorsing Bill Foster for Congress in Denny Hastert’s vacated seat. Cassiday described himself as a “retired Republican” and has now gotten together with others who are calling themselves “Republicans for Foster.”

Republicans for Foster eschewed party allegiances to support Foster because they see him as possessing the experience, background, and roots in thecommunity to represent 14th residents of all political stripes. Foster — a Democrat — joined the group of Republicans today [3/1] at Elgin Community College…Members of Republicans for Foster include William Bangs, Chuck Brown, Cassiday, Ed Fauth, Frances Fauth, Jill Hansen, Dave Johnson, Walter Joy, Bernadine Murphy, and Jim Volk. The special election to fill the seat vacated by former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is next Saturday, March 8.

I see that Foster nailed down the Daily Chronicle endorsement as well.