Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow

That’s what we will all be saying on November 3rd.

For now, we still have to listen to His Phatness, and his silly remark on the (never-ending) extension of unemployment benefits:

“Thank goodness this political charade is over and working families can get the assistance they so desperately need. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. When it comes to providing modest help to people in need—many who are worse off because of their economic policies—they continually chose obstruction over action. This speaks volumes about how Congress would operate if they regained control.”  

What a moron – as I noted last time the clowns in charge extended the unemployment bennies, if a person is “working” presumably they do not need yet another extension of unemployment.  So please explain, Mr. Hare, how does the extension of benefits to the unemployed help “working families … get the assistance they so desperately need”? 

And why do so many families “so desperately need” unemployment?  Because of the ruinous economic policies of His Phatness and President Obama, which have driven our unemployment rates to historic levels.  Where, Mr. Hare, are the jobs that were promised?  As Governor Jindal said recently, in a slightly different context:

“I want us to send a clear message to Washington, D.C. today – our people don’t want a BP check, our people don’t want an unemployment check, our people want this arbitrary moratorium to end so they can go back to work.

Mr. Hare – the people of the 17th Congressional District do not want an unemployment check (except one with your name on it); they want JOBS.  Where are they?

Finally, do you see how Mr. Hare is now starting to incorporate fear of Republican control?  (“This speaks volumes about how Congress would operate if they regained control.”)  Wonder why, if the Democrats are doing such a great job?  Wasn’t it just the other day that his mouthpiece laughed off a poll showing His Phatness trailing his challenger?  Why on earth would he now make a comment about “if” the Republicans regained control; isn’t that laughable?

Let’s see, the Democrats have been in charge of Congress since 2007, approximately when everything hit the fan.  And we’re supposed to be afraid of Republican control?  Geez, man, the Congressional approval rate is at 11%, an all-time low for any governmental institution!!! 

Methinks Monsieur Hare is hearing phootsteps…  

Phootnote:  What has become of Hare’s supposed devotion to PAYGO?  Guess that’s yet another charade that will end in November…

Phurther phootnote:  Wouldn’t that make a great campaign prop for Schilling?  A big phat unemployment check made out to Phil Hare, dated November 3, 2010.

Good gravy! Check out this poll, which shows Bobby Schilling leading Phil Hare by a whopping 45-32 margin.

The poll notes:

Phil Hare’s image rating is “upside down,” with 27% of voters having a favorable opinion of him, and 41% having an unfavorable opinion of him.

Among all voters, 27% approve of the job Phil Hare is doing and 43% disapprove.

Among all voters, only 24% responded they would reelect Phil Hare, 50% think it is time to give someone else a chance to do a better job and 26% are undecided on the question.

“If the election for Congress was being held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were Bobby Schilling, Republican, or Phil Hare, Democrat?” Among all voters, Bobby Schilling leads Phil Hare, 45% to 32%, and 23% are undecided. The bulk of Bobby Schilling’s support is being driven by male voters. Among men, Bobby Schilling leads Phil Hare by 28 points, 54% to 26%. Among women, it is a much closer race, with Bobby Schilling leading by 1 point, 37% to 36%, and 27% are undecided.

“Friends of Phil Hare” political director Maggie Depoorter furiously spins:

“This poll isn’t worth the paper it was printed on. It’s a Republican automated poll—plain and simple. It is no surprise that Mr. Schilling is trying to create the illusion that he is winning this race, but a 13-point lead doesn’t even pass the laugh test. The fact that this partisan poll was released just as the independent Gallup organization shows Democratic candidates for Congress ahead by six points nationwide makes it even more ridiculous.  As everyone knows, the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day and Congressman Hare intends to win that one comfortably.”

Funny that right before she says that “the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day,” Ms. Depoorter cites another poll.  (“Polls are stupid – and the one we prefer, shows us in the lead, so there!”) As for her assertion that Schilling’s “13-point lead doesn’t even pass the laugh test,” I am reminded that even before the health care debacle became law solely with Democrat votes, other smart people were noticing that many Illinois Democrats were running well behind what would historically be expected.

Back then — before the health care crap sandwich, before the oil spill, before the “it’s not a tax, oh yes it is a tax” health care mandate, before the Illinois unemployment rate remained stuck in double digits, Phil Hare was only leading Schilling by 7%. 

Schilling’s camp responded to Depoorter’s whistling past the graveyard thusly:

“With the unemployment rate having doubled, the national debt having risen by over $5 trillion and more taxes being pushed on to the middle class, it’s no wonder why the Hare campaign seems so testy and defensive. Maybe they should release their own internals showing otherwise. This isn’t the best year to be an unapologetic tax and spender.”

That’s hilarious – by the way, where are Hare’s internal polls?  According to this poll, His Phatness sports a 27/41 favorable/unfavorable rating.  And by a margin of 52/9, his constituents think “the economy and jobs” are more important an issue that “health care.”  As Jim Geraghty noted a few months back:

Then there’s the matter of those polls conducted by Hare’s campaign but never released. What could they have shown? How good could they possibly have been for Hare if he’s decided to keep them under wraps, even after needling from GOP challenger Bobby Schilling? 55–45? If it were, say, 57–43, wouldn’t Hare have released them to show he’s still in fine shape?

Late last year, a poll found only 40 percent inclined to reelect Hare; in March, another poll found Hare leading Schilling 39 percent to 32 percent, a not-quite-so-daunting margin.

Even if the 13% margin is not solid, one thing is clear:  “This isn’t the best year to be an unapologetic tax and spender.”

Hat tip:  QC Examiner

…from Unions, Lawyers and other congressional clowns.  Phil Hare raised $170,000 in the second quarter.  His campaign trumpets:

…79 percent of Hare’s donors were individuals.
 
“Congressman Hare remains in the driver’s seat when it comes to resources in this race,” said Maggie Depoorter, political director for Friends of Phil Hare. “This 2nd quarter report went above and beyond our greatest expectations, once again demonstrating the enthusiasm for Congressman Hare and his agenda. The fact that so many people contributed, especially in this tough economy, shows that voters support the Congressman’s efforts to invest in the 17th District, create jobs, and hold Wall Street accountable. We expect to have nearly $1 million at our disposal to spread Congressman Hare’s record of accomplishment this fall.”

While his campaign committe acts as if all the money was contributed by individuals, it was not.  Instead, the vast majority of Hare’s money has always been contributed by labor unions, law firms, political action committees and other congressional campaigns.   In this article, Bobby Schilling’s campaign points out “that $120,000 of Hare’s funding came from special interest groups from outside the district, accounting for 2/3 of Hare’s total second quarter fundraising.”

Clicking here shows that almost all of Hare’s donations come directly from the aforementioned groups, most outside of the 17th District, and hardly any individuals.  It also states that Hare had only 187 contributions – wow, what a groundswell!   In fact, I ran a search at opensecrets.org, and it doesn’t appear that even Maggie Depoorter, political director for Friends of Phil Hare, has ever donated $200 or more to Mr. Hare. 

By way of contrast, Schilling raised over $125,000 from individual donors and around $13,000 from political action committees. 

It seems the people support Mr. Schilling, while the entrenched interests who hope to use Mr. Hare as their continued tool to exploit said people for their own gain support His Phatness.

to be a Democrat, and have the press always covering for you.  I mean, Bush’s poll numbers were in the toilet after literally years of day-in, day-out pounding for the war, Katrina, etc.  Can you imagine what Obama’s poll numbers would be like if the press came after him even half as hard?

Anyway, I was reminded yet again of the butt-covering the press will do for their favored class, Democrat politicians when I saw this article in the Galesburg Register Mail.  One quote:

The campaign for the fall elections has already turned nasty on a number of occasions. Hare believes he was unfairly ambushed by supporters of Schilling at an event in Quincy this year. The supporters taped an argument with Hare about health care reform in which he said, “I don’t worry about the constitution.”

But the quote was taken out of context. Hare meant that he didn’t think the health care reforms he ardently supported were unconstitutional.

How do you like that?  The quote was simply “taken out of context,” nothing to see here, move along.  The paper simply accepts as fact — and reports as fact — the claim that Hare was taken out of context.  But is it a “fact” that Hare was taken out of context?

At the time, I noted the exchange:

When questioned where in the Constitution he is granted authority to mandate health care, Hare responded: 

“I don’t worry about the Constitution on this to be honest.” 

Hare then tries to recover and quotes the “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” phrase and when corrected that those words come from the Declaration of Independence, says “It doesn’t matter to me.”

Then, when clearly asked again where the Constitution grants authority for mandated Health Care, Hare admits “I don’t know, I don’t know.” 

Hare was asked where the Constitution grants him authority to implement and mandate health insurance, to which he replied he did not “worry about the Constitution on this…”  Nothing provably out of context.  And yet the press is reporting as fact that Hare was taken out of context, and adds helpfully that “Hare meant that he didn’t think the health care reforms he ardently supported were unconstitutional.”  How do they know what he meant when he spoke?  He did not say that, so how do they know?  Simply repeating talking points is not reporting.

Like I said, it must be nice.  What a joke the press in America has become.  Don’t they have any shame?  Did the R-M ever bother to ask Hare about his premeditated and deliberate slander of a constituent?  Nah…. once again, nothing to see here, please move along.

But people are voting with their wallets, one reason newspapers are dying.  And if Americans vote with their wallets this November, the Democrat control of the House will be dead, as well.

Just a quick link to this article, regarding Phil Hare’s claim to be a veteran.  I don’t care too much about the semantics of the use of the word, but the claim does seem a bit disingenuous. 

What troubles me more is Hare’s reaction to the incident:

“After I pointed out that according to the law he is not a veteran, he became very upset and demanded to know my name. I refused to tell him my name, saying that this was about his claim of being a veteran and not about me.

Mr. Hare then told one of his aides who was with him, to follow me to my car and get my license plate number so he could find out who I was. I have since been told that Mr. Hare’s daughter works for the DMV.

I then asked Mr. Hare if he was going to stop telling people that he was a veteran. Mr. Hare again demanded to know my name, and again told his aide to get my name or to follow me to get me license number so he could find out who I was, so he could tell the former reservists what I said.

I asked Mr. Hare if he as a public official was going to use his official office to run name checks on private citizens, in order to intimidate them into not asking questions he did not want to answer.

As Mr. Hare was turning to walk away from me he paused, and turning back to my direction, he glared at me intently, and while leaning forward pointed his finger at me, and in a threatening and intimidating manner said, “I’ll find out who you are!”

Unbelievable.

So says Jim Geragthy!  He notes about Hare that “anyone who thinks he’s a safe Democrat is, I suspect, extraordinarily mistaken.”

Agreed.

Why?  According to Geraghty, “in most cities in Hare’s district, unemployment is close to double what it was the last time he faced the voters.” 

Then there’s the matter of those polls conducted by Hare’s campaign but never released.  What could they have shown?  How good could they possibly have been for Hare if he’s decided to keep them under wraps, even after needling from GOP challenger Bobby Schilling?  55–45?  If it were, say, 57–43, wouldn’t Hare have released them to show he’s still in fine shape?

*****

Of course, Hare can always rely on his raw charisma, charm, and dashing good looks to carry him to victory.

Now THAT’s funny!

Wow.  What a total goofball.  After driving the unemployment rate up over 10% (despite the so-called stimulus), Phil Hare now calls it an achievement when the unemployment rate rose to 9.9% for April.  From Hare’s press release:

“Just one year ago, the unemployment rate hit a 25-year high. Now, due to the policies we adopted including the Recovery Act, our economy is creating jobs again and more Americans are back in the market looking for work. This is certainly good news, but with millions of Americans still unemployed, we cannot rest on our laurels.”

Question – was the skyrocketing unemployment rate for the past seventeen months also “due to the policies we adopted including the recovery Act”?  Can you believe these clowns?  He expects us to believe that the prior sixteen months of job losses — well beyond the promises made, if we would only enact the stimulus — had nothing whatsoever to do with the “policies adopted,” yet takes credit for one month of job gains, due in large measure to hiring for the constitutionally mandated census.  And even then, the unemployment rate rose to 9.9%!

Rest on our laurels, (i.e., “to be content with one’s past or present honors, achievements, etc.”) indeed!

 But what have you done, Mr. Hare?  What “laurels” can you rest on?  If destroying jobs and diverting nearly a trillion dollars from the private economy to your public sector union buddies is “laurels,” then please, rest! 

Let’s see what “laurels” Mr. Hare wants to rest on.  From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

* In April, the number of unemployed persons was 15.3 million, and the unemployment rate edged up to 9.9 percent. The rate had been 9.7 percent for the first 3 months of this year.

* Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for whites (9.0 percent) edged up in April, while the rates for adult men (10.1 percent), adult women (8.2 percent), teenagers (25.4 percent), blacks (16.5 percent), and Hispanics (12.5 percent) showed little or no change.

* The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) continued to trend up over the month, reaching 6.7 million. In April, 45.9 percent of unemployed persons had been jobless for 27 weeks or more.

* The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was about unchanged at 9.2 million in April. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.

That’s quite a list of laurels, Mr. Hare!  No wonder you don’t want to rest on them.

Hare’s latest solution?  Spend more of your money, of course!

Hare discussed two pieces of legislation he believes will speed up job creation. The first is the Local Jobs for America Act, a bill that would create one million public and private sector jobs by providing funding to local communities across the country. The bill would provide $75 billion over two years to local communities to hold off on planned cuts or hire back critical workers like teachers and emergency personnel.

More funding for more useless public sector “workers”…  what a joke.  Funneling money we don’t have at jobs that don’t sustain themselves is not job creation, it’s self-delusion.

So says Jim Geraghty at National Review.  He compiled a list of 99 House races, and then broke them down by categories of difficulty.  Geraghty lists Hare in the easiest-to-beat category, the first time I’ve seen a prominent figure come out like that on the race.  I agree though, this guy is going to lose.  Just look at him.

Hat tip:  Illinois Review

Mr. Hare’s press release is titled (believe it or not), “Earth Day Should be Jobs Day.”  I personally think every day should be Jobs Day, and that every day the government should get out of the way of the private sector so it can create jobs.  But I don’t think that’s what Hare means.  I think he means “let’s destroy our economy and manufacturing sector by artificially limiting our productivity in sheer obeisance to the religion of global warming, and somehow this will create, rather than destroy jobs.” 

But I suppose Earth Day will create about as many jobs as the Stimulus — that is, none.

At the end of the press release, Mr. Hare throws out this little nugget:

“We must also use Earth Day as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to combating climate change.  Our nation’s scientists have overwhelmingly declared that climate change is a threat to our way of life and the Defense Department has deemed it a national security risk.  We owe it to our children and grandchildren to pursue policies that reduce climate change and get us off of our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.”

If you truly want to end “our dependence on Middle Eastern oil,” Mr. Hare, there is an easy solution.  And it doesn’t involve taking over our lives and economy.  Just drill, baby.

And when are you going to reduce our children’s and grandchildren’s dependence on government?  Never?  That’s what I thought.  The real threat to our way of life (as opposed to the faux threat, global warming  — oops! I mean “climate change”) is over-reaching and unconstrained gov’mint.

Well, it turns out that Hare’s office has admitted that it screwed up.  As noted previously, the allegedly racist paper handed to Hare by Quincy resident Allie Lymenstull was not racist at all; Hare’s office just said (falsely) that it was.  While it was over-the-top, it was NOT racist. 

But given that Hare was backpedaling for his political life, that didn’t matter.  The press release issued by his office explicitly stated, and placed in quotation marks the supposed quote from the paper that “The White House is No Longer White.”

Hare’s office left this slander out there for at least a whole week.  Then, after it had served its purpose (namely, making his opponent’s supposed racism the issue, rather than Hare’s stupid statement) his office silently changed the press release to conform to the truth.  (Initially, the office obviously simply cut and pasted the true quote over the falsehood, it even left in place the initial period, thus, the sentence ended with an exclamation mark and a period – they have since changed this.)

When called on it, Hare’s office then sought shelter in the comforting arms of its cheering section — the press.  The Springfield Journal-Register willingly obliged with a puff piece, which paints Hare’s detractors in the worst possible light, while refusing to ask the most basic questions of Hare and his alleged mistake:

After the video started circulating — portions have been shown on various Fox News programs, and a short version has logged more than 325,000 views on YouTube — Hare’s communications director, TIM SCHLITTNER, issued a statement saying that what Hare said was taken out of context. What Hare meant, Schlittner said, was that he is not worried about the new health-care law being ruled unconstitutional.

Hare repeatedly said at the meeting that he supports the Constitution, Schlittner said.

“Congressman Hare served six years in the Army Reserves. He needs no lectures on fighting for the Constitution,” Schlittner added.

Schlittner also accused Hare’s Republican opponent in the 17th Congressional District, BOBBY SCHILLING of Colona, of politicizing the Quincy event by sending supporters to be disruptive.

Schilling denies that and says Hare’s trying to change the subject. He also accused Hare of an “out-and-out lie” that implied agitators against Hare were racist.

Schilling has a good point. Schlittner’s statement said that at the meeting, “Congressman Hare was called a Nazi. He was called a liar. He was handed a piece of paper that said ‘The White House is no longer White.’”

Actually, the flier, handed out by 88-year-old ALLIE LYMENSTULL of Quincy, who calls himself “100 percent radical American,” carried a picture of the White House above the words: “America’s White House? Not any more!”

The flier also shows drawings of flags with a swastika and a hammer-and-sickle and pictures of ADOLF HITLER, JOSEF STALIN, FIDEL CASTRO, BENITO MUSSOLINI, NANCY PELOSI, HARRY REID and President BARACK OBAMA. The American flag is turned upside down, Lymenstull told me, to indicate “distress.”

Lymenstull said he considers members of Congress who voted for the health-care bill to be “communist, socialist, Marxist, fascist traitors.” (Lymenstull gets his own health insurance through his elevator construction union, a line of work he was in for 38 years, and Medicare — which, of course, is a government insurance program.)

Nonetheless, he said, the president’s race had nothing to do with the wording on the flier.

“We did get the wording on the flier wrong,” Schlittner said of the “White House” line.

That’s all folks — we got the wording wrong.  Nothing to see here.  Go home to your families. 

Any reporter worth his salt would ask the obvious follow up:  how did that happen?  But not the Journal Register!  They simply parrot the theme pedaled by Hare’s office.

A few other obvious questions, questions any fifth grader would ask, if trying to get the real story:  You placed the erroneous racist comment in quotes – why?  Who did it?  How did it happen?  Where did the erroneous quote actually come from?  Was it manufactured in your office?  We know it was not on the actual piece of paper, so where did you get it?  Why did you not correct it right away?  Why did you not issue a retraction, and an apology?  How is it that the remark just so happened to fit the Democrat talking points (also now disproved) that the “tea partiers” were racist?

Inquiring minds want to know.  The Springfield Journal-Register apparently doesn’t.  And some people wonder why newspapers and news are dying.