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IL-2 Notebook: Facebook, Dart & The Governors State Debate

By Steve Rhodes

News and notes from the race to replace Jesse Jackson Jr., including Thursday night’s 20-person debate moderated by Fox Chicago’s Mike Flannery at Governors State University.
1. Deleting old Facebook posts is never a good idea.


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At the last debate, Debbie Halvorson said that standing up for principles and ethics is easy “When you know what you stand for.”
2. Dart for Beale.
I can only guess that Dart thinks Beale will be able to help him somehow in the future with votes from the 9th Ward if he runs for, say, mayor.
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Meanwhile, Robin Kelly announced she has won the endorsement of the 100 ministers who comprise the International Ministers & Community Alliance.
3. From last night’s debate.


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That’s the Bloomberg ad. Which part is incorrect? Fact-check, please.
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Good point. After all, they voted for budgets that cut mental health funding, right?
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Good point for context; an assault weapons ban is not a silver bullet (no pun intended). In fact, it’s all too easy for Dems to support. Still, why not support it and move on? No reason not to outside of currying favor with the NRA. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: Hunters don’t need assault weapons, nor do those defending their homes. Assault weapons are for (massive) assaults.
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Junior’s argument was always that a Peotone airport was the one project that could significantly affect the Southland and South Side economy and address economic inequities. Get a little of that O’Hare cheese while reducing gridlock and improving consumer competition. A regional solution. Do the candidates agree? How would they get there? Where have they been?
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So true. So will you introduce a financial services tax in the city council soon? Or back the mayor’s dormant campaign pledge to enact a luxury tax in the city?
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On drones.
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Punt.
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Closer.
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He’s allowed to have that view, but not sure he really understands the issue.
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I know you want to ride gun violence to glory, but c’mon.
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Talked about job creation and development efforts in his ward.
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Well, we hadn’t talked at all about veterans yet tonight. But the question was about jobs, and shoehorning veterans into the answer is like Kelly shoehorning guns into her last answer. Too obvious.
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I’m still wondering.
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To wit.
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Conclusion: Halvorson’s performance was much stronger than at the Rich Central High School debate. She showed a command of the issues and drew on her previous work in Congress in displaying her experience and qualifications. But do second district voters like where she stands?
Hutchinson showed off her political gift of articulate evasion; she’s slick. But she has yet to differentiate herself on the issues aside from her “evolving” position on guns. That’s because she has no differentiation on the issues; she will be a dependable water-carrier if elected.
Kelly’s low-key style is steady and mature, but dry. Will it – should it – matter? She’s the relatively (this is Illinois) progressive candidate in the race and hasn’t been hit yet on her tenure as chief of staff for former state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, but perhaps that’s because her next job was as chief administrator for Toni Preckwinkle, who has endorsed Hutchinson. Who is Halvorson’s former chief of staff. Nonetheless, Kelly seems a little lacking in the sophistication department sometimes. (Once again, I must say, they’re no Junior.)
Beale can be a bit of a clown, and it’s not as if he’s distinguished himself as a leader on the city council. He just happens to live in the district and sees an opportunity. He’ll need to be more aggressive about policy proposals if he wants to get into this thing – and it may be too late seeing as how the election is February 26. Being from the city and not the south suburbs is a hindrance in this district, not a help.
The rest of the field? Forget it.
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Here’s the whole thing. Thanks, CAN TV!

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Previously: The Top Candidates To Replace Jesse Jackson Jr. – Plus A Lawyer Named Ernest B. Fenton – Held A Debate.
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Comments welcome.

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Posted on February 8, 2013