Durbin supports McMenamin for Congress
Democrats in the 19th Congressional district think John Shimkus is more vulnerable than ever this year which is why three candidates are running in the Democratic primary. So far only one, Joe McMenamin, shows signs of being a serious threat to Shimkus.
One indication of his strength as a candidate is the support he's receiving from Senator Dick Durbin. Durbin states in a letter on McMenamin's campaign website:
"Joe thinks the ideas presented by Virginia Sen. Jim Webb's 2007 Response to the State of the Union address represents a powerful political agenda: bringing this recklessly entered war in Iraq to a close; keeping our manufacturers and workers on U.S. soil; and empowering a faltering middle class by addressing such issues as rising medical costs and tuition rates.In addition to support from Democratic leaders, McMenamin showed early organizational strength by collecting petitions to get on the ballot from all 30 counties in the district. That's a significant accomplishment in a district as large as this one. His FEC quarterly report shows he raised over $71,000 by the end of September and he has been fundraising aggressively since then.Joe represents a new wave of Democratic Veterans becoming involved in politics. Having recently served our country in Afghanistan he cares deeply about U.S. foreign policies. He thinks the Iraq War was a huge historical mistake and is aware of its negative impact on our international reputation. He believes we need a new national purpose. Global issues such as climate change and creating alternative energy sources are also motivating him to get active."
Joe has two opponents in the primary. One is Daniel Davis who raised only $5,152 by the end of the last quarter and shows little evidence of an organization. He has what might be the most peculiar website I've ever seen for a Democratic Congressional candidate. The site, http://www.runwithgiants.com/ is well designed but he's oddly preoccupied with giants. That's right. Giants.
His other primary opponent didn't raise enough money to file a report in the last quarter and once lost badly running against Shimkus in the Republican primary.
McMenamin is off to a good start and has strong support. What he needs now more than anything else is to raise more money by the end of this reporting period which ends December 31. The holidays are a tough time to give but donating now instead of waiting until next year will make a real difference for his campaign.
Comments
Even though I can't vote for Joe (I live in Springfield, in the 18th), I'm one of Joe's supporters in Sangamon County. As a peace activist and advocate, I like that Joe wants to cut funding for the war, as he recently told a meeting of the College Democrats at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS).
Before the war began in 2003, Joe and other Springfield citizens approached the city council, trying to get a resolution passed that would condemn the saber-rattling and pre-emptive strike by the Administration. Those efforts failed, but this shows that Joe did not come late to the movement.
After Congress declared war in 1941, a large number of Congressmen and Senators--Democrats and Republicans--enlisted and served in the military. There were so many on active duty that the Congressional leadership couldn't call quorums. Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., a Republican from a famous political family, even resigned his seat to serve actively after the War Department ordered all elected officials to inactive status.
What does this have to do with now, particularly Joe and Shimkus? While Lt. Colonel Joe McMenamin served in Afghanistan and has been committed to the Illinois Army National Guard for 26 years, John Shimkus--also a Lt. Colonel--has never seen combat and still insists on sending 19th District men and women to fight and die in a war and occupation he once compared to a Cubs-Cardinals baseball game.
Back in the 1940s, Republicans declared war and then joined those they sent off to war. Sixty years later, Shimkus voted for the war, voted to cut veterans' benefits and continues to endorse war funds--all while staying safe and out of uniform.
Shimkus is a sunshine soldier.
Joe served and continues to serve America. He opposed the war in Iraq before it started and he opposes it now. I know Joe would like everyone's help on his campaign. Go Joe!
Posted by: MichaelZiri | November 30, 2007 5:36 PM