I never dreamed I would wasted my time posting about State Senator Bill Brady. Oh, before I forget, Bill Brady is the Republican nominee for governor of Illinois. And he recently made a statement to Politico that struck my funny bone. As John McEnroe would say, "You cannot be serious."
Bill Brady, the Republican Party's nominee for governor of Illinois, is confident that the GOP can capture the top office in President Barack Obama's home state this year.
Between a punishing economic environment and years of escalating political scandals among state Democrats, Brady told POLITICO that it would be a rough year for the president's party in Illinois even if they literally had Obama on the ballot.
"I think I could beat the president running for governor in Illinois today," Brady, a state senator, said during a visit to Washington this week, pointing to Obama's record on government spending.
Senator Brady, I don't know quite how to say this to you, but allow me to try. You couldn't beat President Barack Obama in any kind of political race, and especially not in Illinois. President Obama will be tough to beat nationwide in 2012 and if my prayers come true, Obama will run against a ticket of Sarah Palin and Rand Paul.
Dare I dream!
But I digress.
I will flatly tell you that if Obama were running for Governor today against Bill Brady, Obama would get at least 80% of the vote. Brady could not defeat Obama on Obama's worst day and if Brady was at his best.
Bill Brady, I am afraid, is just not a quality candidate. And I will get into his stand on the issues, or lack thereof.
But if Senator Brady persists in this fantasy of being able to defeat Obama, let me point some thing out. In 2006, Brady ran for Governor in the Republican primary, amd was a distant third. And in the 2010 primary, Brady won by less than 200 votes. That is not a typo. 200 votes. A real powerhouse in the state of Illinois. Brady's opponent could have challenged the results, but his opponent is a good party loyalist and knew a challenge was a lose-lose proposition. And that opponent, State Senator Kirk Dillard, is a friend of President Obama's. Dillard actually endorsed Obama in 2008 for the Iowa caucus.
On the issues. You voted against minimum wage. But it passed anyway. Thankfully. The Family Medical Leave Act that gave 12 weeks of coverage for an infant. You opposed and voted against that. Again, thankfully it passed. There's more. Brady wants to eliminate the Illinois State Board of Education. He really has it in for the children. Those that cannot help themselves.
Opposes gay marriage, and by extension, opposes extending benefits to gay partners. He opposes extending health benefits to unmarried dependents. That bill passed.
The last thing I will say today is that Bill Brady is not what he professes to be: a businessman. Brady was exposed by the Chicago Tribune recently. Reporters David Heinzmann and Rick Pearson called him out and his claim that he benefits by his business experience. And that Brady is a part-timer.
The interchange represents the crossroads of Brady's political and business careers. As the first part-time politician running for governor in nearly 30 years, Brady contends that his experience running a successful business will help him solve the state's financial problems.
"I think people are looking for someone who understands the intricacies of business, how you manage people, how you perform services," Brady said.
But his family firm's recent struggles and the failed Champaign development offer voters a more complicated picture.
And one more thing. Brady talks about solving the fiscal problems of Illinois by a favored Republican: cutting programs that benefit people, especially children. I am supporting Patrick Quinn for Governor of Illinois. He likes kids.
Chicago City Hall Examiner and The Chicago Grassroots Political Examiner. John is the author of a book published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon.