Blue Dog, AIPAC sock puppet, ConservaDem, Brad Schneider, will be my choice next November when, with one hand firmly pinching my nose, I vote for my Representative in the 113th Congress. I encourage all other voters in the Illinois 10th Congressional District to support Mr. Schneider with enthusiasm at least equal to mine.
Running in a contentious and crowded Democratic Primary field, Mr. Schneider's campaign portrayed him as a lifelong progressive, as he fended off a strong push from a much younger and genuinely progressive challenger. After winning the primary, the word "progressive" seems to have disappeared from Mr. Schneider's lexicon.
This poll suggests that Mr. Schneider can win this seat. First term Republican incumbent, Robert Dold, is vulnerable but will have formidable Super PAC support in the air war. Still, Mr. Schneider is likely to win in November. He will vote with the Democratic Congress and help give the Speaker's gavel back to Nancy Pelosi, where it belongs. That's good enough for me. I'm voting for Brad Schneider.
P.S. Regarding that AIPAC sock puppet thing, follow me out onto the back porch.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Mr. Schneider is an
active member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), including a founding member of the New Leadership Network (NLN)
I roamed around AIPAC's website, but couldn't really get much insight into how the outfit operates. I found a
reference in their style manual to "New Leadership Network" as a frequently used term, but little else about the "network" including at a link (mislabeled I think) titled "How We Work".
Then I discovered a job description in AIPAC's career page and things came more into focus. It turns out that AIPAC carries out its "education" programs, i.e. lobbying, through
two national political education programs, The New Leadership Network and the Congressional Club.
Mr. Schneider is running for Congressman as a business man and moderate Democrat who is strong on women's issues and equality (his "progressive" streak). But it seems that he is also a lobbyist for AIPAC.
I support a two state solution for Israel and have always supported pro-Israel candidates. I do not by any means think that AIPAC is wrong about everything, but, unlike Mr. Schneider, I cannot accept that AIPAC is right about everything. AIPAC will no doubt make many toasts the night, Brad Schneider, one of their own is elected to Congress with the help of my vote. At my house, the reaction to Mr. Schneider's election will be more bittersweet.