I am not a newcomer to Daily Kos. I am not a cool kid. I do not get my diaries recommended often, if ever. My comments are usually welcomed and I have been, from time to time, a trusted user. I like to think I have a measure of credibility on this site and with this community.
I am volunterring on the Pete Gutzmer campaign (
votegutzmer.org)for the Illinois Senate seat representing part of the Northwest Chicago suburbs (Palatine, Hoffman Estates, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, and Barrington). This is the seat once held by Peter Fitzgerald, unremarkable one term Republican senator, and the area that unfortunately gave Donald Rumsfeld to the United States Congress. The 27th district is by most accounts, one of the most Republican areas in the country...until recently. We are in the midst of a dramatic shift in the area, younger families from the city, immigrants, and Rockefeller Republicans are altering the political landscape of this area in ways unheard of 5 or 10 years ago. Change is in the air.
Pete is running for an open seat. The present senator, Wendell Jones, a moderate Republican who took the seat when Fitzgerald started his "career" in the US Senate, retires this year. Pete is a first responder, a firefighter/paramedic with 15 years of service in the Elk Grove Village Fire Department. Pete is also a union representative, fighting not only for the lives of the people of Elk Grove Village, but for the livelihood of his fellow firefighters and their families. Pete is married to a brilliant beautiful woman, Nelly, and has two great kids: Ethan and Adelle. Pete is a sportsman and a gun owner who understands the need for reasonable gun control. He is staunchly pro choice. He wants to open up Illinois' closed-door budget process and rationalize the tax burden away from property taxes to better fund our schools. Pete is exactly what this district and this state needs, someone from this community who is truly working on our behalf.
And now, it's time for the noise. I will write in ALL CAPS to punctuate my point. I apologize now for offending sensibilities or community standards:
THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD CARE. PETE'S GOP OPPONENT SUPPORTS A SOUTH DAKOTA STYLE BAN ON ABORTION. HE WOULD BAN STATE FUNDED STEM CELL RESEARCH. HE WOULD ALLOW OUR OPEN SPACES TO BE OVERRUN WITH SPRAWL. HE IS AGAINST AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.
DID I MENTION HE SUPPORTS A SOUTH DAKOTA STYLE BAN ON ABORTION?
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A THREE (3) SEAT MAJORITY IN THE ILLINOIS SENATE.
WE NEED YOUR MONEY. WE NEED YOUR IDEAS.
IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA, WE NEED YOU.
YES, ILLINOIS IS A BLUE STATE...LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY!
Thank you. Good night. (votegutzmer.org)