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Republicans'
Solution to State Government Problems: "Retire Rod
Blagojevich"
Republican
candidates for governor were united in one thing in last
night's live televised debate, co-hosted by the Illinois
Chamber of Commerce:
Beating Rod Blagojevich is the first step in fixing the
state's problems.
Most audience
members agreed that the "take-away" line from the debate was
delivered by State Senator Bill Brady. Responding to a
question from an audience member on how to address the
skyrocketing health care costs Illinois citizens are
facing, Brady answered "My
answer is to retire Rod Blagojevich!". The one-liner received
a round of applause from those in
attendance.
In the second
televised debate co-hosted by the Illinois Chamber of
Commerce, NFIB, and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, (and the
only scheduled downstate TV debate), the four GOP candidates
took on issues facing the economy and jobs in Illinois. Candidates
responded to questions from the media and business people
in attendance on taxes, health care, ethics, and
transportation issues.
The event capped off the 2006 Business Summit for the
three organizations.
The debate also
highlighted the growing controversy on political attack ads
that Jim Oberweis' campaign has leveled against Judy Baar
Topinka. At one
point, as Oberweis was suppose to respond to a question on
statewide public smoking bans, he instead went back to earlier
questioning on allegations that the Treasurer had documents
shredded in her office by a subordinate. The
move drew boos from the audience.
As the candidates
head into the final two weeks of the primary campaign, the
question remains:
Will the Republican nominee emerge from the primary
with a unified party ready to take on Rod Blagojevich, or be
damaged goods from infighting and
attacks? |
