Should we target Dennis Hastert as part of a national strategy?
My name is John Laesch and I am running against Dennis Hastert in IL14. I consider this to be an uphill, but winnable race and I believe that taking on the Speaker of the House should be part of a national strategy that the DCCC is not yet considering.
I believe that I fill 10 of the 10 requirements for this endorsement and I believe I would make an excellent candidate for a netroots endorsement. During the 1994 Republican Revolution, Speaker of the House, Tom Foley (D) was beaten by George Nethercutt (R). During the 2006 DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION, I feel that it is our responsibility to defeat their Speaker, Dennis Hastert
Please read my application and let me know what you think...
1) Must be running against a Republican incumbant:
I am running against the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert (R).
2) Is there a Democratic Primary?
I won the March 21st Primary Election with 66% of the vote. My opponent had name recognition and a small campaign structure from a his 2004 run for this same seat. In less than 6-months we raised more money and built a strong grassroots campaign in the district.
3) Is this a top-tier race?
Democrats have written off this district for the last 20 years. That being said, I have already raised $60,000, which is more than any Democrat has raised against Hastert since he first went to Washington in 1986. (Doug Mains, a physician, came closest by self-financing a $125,000 race in 1996).
This will not be a top-tier race because too many Illinois Democrats are depending on Hastert to bring money to Illinois for the expansion of the O'Hare airport and other projects. I need help from outside of Illinois.
4) Do I have a strong record as a Democrat?
I have been campaigning for Democrats since the war in Iraq started in 2003 and I proudly accept the label, Progressive Democrat. I was a paid staff member for Dennis Kucinich in the 2004 Presidential primary election and I also managed the 2004 campaign for Dr. David Gill who also ran for Congress in Illinois' 15th District.
5) Is Hastert any different than Tom DeLay? Here are some good examples:
* The thing that makes Hastert most vulnerable (other than John Laesch) is his proposed Prairie Parkway. If you don't live in the district, you just won't get it, but read this "missed diary." Local Republicans have come into my office because they are sick of what is known as Hastert's Highway.
Oh yeah, here are some other reasons why "Denny" is vulnerable:
A) Hastert sought to protect his good friend, Tom DeLay by watering down House ethics rules when DeLay was facing an indictment.
B) Hastert has held roll call votes open for hours until he had enough votes to pass CAFTA, MEDICARE PART D and last December's budget.
C) Take a look at where Hastert gets his contributions.
D) Hastert has said/done some pretty stupid things without "lightning rod DeLay" on the front page.
Imagine this statement regarding Hurricane Katrina... while people were still waiting for help:
"It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed," the Illinois Republican said in an interview
Wednesday with The Daily Herald of Arlington, Ill.
After Exxon reported record profits in Oct. 2005, Dennis Hastert said:
"Oil and gas companies are enjoying record profits. That is fine."
Yesterday (May 18), Dennis Hastert advocated for more millionaire tax cuts:
`If You Earn $40,000 a Year and Have a Family of Two Children, You Don't Pay Any Taxes'
6) Is this a blue-leaning district?
More than 86,000 residents have moved out of Chicago and into Illinois' 14th District suburbs.
There is an active Democratic Party across the district. In 2005, Democrats won Mayoral seats in the 4 largest cities in IL14, including: Aurora, Elgin, DeKalb and Dixon. Aurora, IL is the second-largest city in Illinois.
This district will be blue with a credible candidate. While others have run this race before, nobody has raised enough money to do any damage. Remember that this district was cut for Hastert and I am not under any illusions about how much work lies ahead, but together we can do this!
7) Existing netroots?
The answer is no. We are working on it, but even I am new to the netroots. I am an aggressive grassroots campaigner and I am starting to apply my grassroots skills to the netroots (you will see at YearlyKOS).
8) Do I try and use netroots/grassroots?
I am here asking for your help because there has been such a positive response to this campaign from the netroots. I do read some of the strategy commentary for advice as it is useful dialogue. There are some very bright people out here in the blogosphere.
9) Does this race fit into a larger, national strategy?
We can't run against George Bush and Tom Delay is gone; leaving Denny Hastert (third in-line to the President) - can we get any more national?
Most importantly, Hastert raised money for over 200 other Republican Congressional candidates last election cycle and he is on pace to do so again. See this piece in The Hill.
10) Do I pass the partisainship litmus test?
Does candidate 'distance himself' from the party and/or its leaders, or is he proud to be a Democrat?
I put the word "Democrat" on my yard signs and see this race as an opportunity to define the Democratic Party.
Does he talk like a bureaucrat or like a regular person?
I live on a farm and work as a Union carpenter with Local 195. I sound like a regular person and relate to people from all walks of life.
Does he make it clear that he opposes Bush and the Republicans?
Yes - you can read my diaries.
Does he back down when the corporate press/media or Republican pundits attack him, or does she stand by her words?
During the primaries, I was attacked by a local paper that called my ideas for expanding human rights as, "ideology masquerading as a solution." We shot back by saying, "The American people want an idealist who believes in the same values that they do: affordable healthcare, renewable energy ideas and a strong economy."
Does he sleepwalk through the campaign, or does he act like he wants to win?
Again, looking at our list of media accomplishments on the Website only covers some of the things we have done.
We have also played a significant role in recruiting and training precinct commiteemen. I am a strong believer in the following formula: candidate + message + stratagey + money + structure = victory. We have worked progressively towards achieving all of these things.
Thank you for reading this post and please consider recommending my candidacy for a netroots endorsement or supporting our campaign to unseat Dennis Hastert.