I could not bring myself to vote for Bill Foster, for many reasons, and I did not. The biggest reason is that I am tired of the choice between Republican and Republican-lite.
So many people told me, "But, he comes from a Good Democratic Family, and he'll be a Good Democratic Vote in Congress." To which I usually responded, "I'll believe it when I see it."
Unfortunately, I haven't seen it. IL-14 has another Republican representative. The only difference is, he has a D after his name. We have effectively traded Hastert for someone the likes of Emmanuel or Bean.
"But, wouldn't you rather have one of them than Hastert or Oberweiss?" you might ask?
And the answer is no. I knew what I was working with when I had Hastert. Foster's little D after his name does nothing more than get my hopes up, just to see them dashed when it matters most.
My local paper, the DeKalb Daily Chronicle, had an article about him. His first act in Congress was good, I will give him that. He voted for legislation to create an independent ethics panel.
However, then he went on to vote against the House budget. Why?
...he pledged during his campaign to be fiscally responsible and felt the proposed fiscal plan needed more work - especially in its lack of funding for the war.
(emphasis mine)
The article goes on to talk briefly about Foster's communication with Hastert.
He has spoken with Hastert - whom he called a "class act" - and said he hopes to do so again in the near future because Hastert knows so much about the issues facing the district.
I don't trust any democrat who can call Hastert a "class act" with a straight face and then go to him about advice on issues facing the district. Why not talk to those who know that subject best - YOUR CONSTITUENTS! Be a representative! Talk to the people. Hold town hall meetings. Find out what we really care about and need!
I'm afraid that George W. Foster (yes, that's his real name, as he was fond of saying at the beginning of EVERY campaign speech) will be just as out-of-touch with our needs as our former "representative".
Rahm and the DCCC have failed the Democratic base yet again by interfering in a race where a true progressive had a real shot at winning, and the netroots got behind him simply because of the D behind his name and the cash in his pockets. When will we learn?