Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow

Check out this point made by RedState’s Erick Erickson at John King USA:

Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL) is a backbench Democrat who should be safe, but is imploding in Illinois, now filing an FEC complaint against a veterans group. If Phil Hare is not safe, there are many Democrats in “leans Democrat” districts who will disappear after November. Just how big is this swing going to be?

So James L. Moody, the Chairman of the Sangamon County Democratic Party, has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Committee, sniveling about the fact that Veterans For the Constitution don’t support his buddy, His Phatness.

In footnote 9 of the complaint, Mr. Moody cites this post from QC Examiner.  Proof that, to the extent they can read, Hare’s supporters are following QCExaminer’s yeoman’s work!!  Congrats!!!

As evidenced by this petty filing of the FEC complaint, methinks His Phatness is getting worried…  Every day, it’s looking more and more like we’re gonna have a Bald Congress!

Just over a month ago, Maggie Depoorter laughed off a poll showing Bobby Schilling leading His Phatness by 13 points by saying 

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. 

Well, I wonder what Ms. Depoorter will say now, when the same independent organization finds its largest lead ever for Republicans?  As stated by Gallup:

Republicans lead by 51% to 41% among registered voters in Gallup weekly tracking of 2010 congressional voting preferences. The 10-percentage-point lead is the GOP’s largest so far this year and is its largest in Gallup’s history of tracking the midterm generic ballot for Congress.

In addition, the same independent organization finds that:

Republicans are now twice as likely as Democrats to be “very” enthusiastic about voting, and now hold — by one point — the largest such advantage of the year.

Not so ridiculous any more, is it Ms. Depoorter?  I would not be surprised to see Schilling beat Hare by 13 points.

From The Hill:

Much like the surprising loss of Rep. Sue Kelly (R-N.Y.) in 2006, a district like Hare’s could be the tipping point between solid Republican gains in 2010 and a crushing GOP wave that wipes out the Democratic majority.

Hare is going down, brother.  Can’t you just feel it?

Hat tip:  QC Examiner

So says the latest poll, apparently commissioned by the Schilling camp.  Has Bobby within 2 points.

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.

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!