Posted on 03/11/2008 4:59:43 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
Commentary by Daniel T. Zanoza
Jim Oberweis' loss in the 14th U.S. Congressional District in Illinois is being reported as a huge defeat for the Republican Party by the national media and it is. However, the dominant press is saying the results of last Saturday's special election, to fill the remainder of former Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert's term, was an indication of things to come in November. Most reporting claims overall displeasure with Republicans resulted in the victory of Democrat Bill Foster over Oberweis, a wealthy dairy magnate. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reason Republicans lost the District was due to a rich man's ego, a departing legislator's greed and an Illinois Republican Party in full self-destruct mode.
Many conservative activists and conservative Republican leaders begged Oberweis not to enter the race. Long ago, most political observers knew state Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) intended to run for the seat, as soon as Hastert announced his pending retirement. In fact, many suggested Oberweis challenge a very vulnerable incumbent U.S. Senator, Dick Durbin. This would have been a perfect fit for Oberweis, but this advice fell on deaf ears, leading to last Saturday's disaster for Republicans. However, along the way, those who put personal interest ahead of good governance were planning what eventually turned out to be a catastrophe for all involved. I wrote numerous columns describing the trap which awaited Republicans, if Lauzen was challenged by another so-called social conservative in the Republican primary and, unfortunately, the worse case scenario became reality.
What led to the loss of a District Republicans have held for many years? Oberweis was desperately seeking a victory, in any race he thought he could win and the multimillionaire set his sights on a prize that rightfully was not his to be had. Though considered a maverick in the Party, Lauzen had paid his dues as a pro-family Republican. Combine this with the fact he already represented one-third of the District up for contention, and it was clear to see, for anyone with common sense, that the veteran lawmaker was a perfect fit as a replacement for Hastert.
Oberweis could not be stopped, despite the pleas from fiscal and social conservatives alike. He ventured into what turned out to be a horribly heated primary campaign against Lauzen, which ultimately divided and demoralized many Republicans in the 14th District. "Some Republicans just stayed home," said one resident. "Oberweis ran a nasty campaign against Lauzen and Lauzen had to respond. It was a clear cut case of divide and conquer and the Republicans were the losers."
But Oberweis cannot take all the blame. Dennis Hastert's political gamesmanship, demonstrated by his endorsement of Oberweis, played a significant role in what happened on Saturday. Many believe Hastert retired when he did, in order to remain eligible to be a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Oberweis loaded his staff with those who formerly worked for Hastert. It looked like dirty politics and, even if it wasn't dirty politics, appearances are often enough to turn off voters.
The national media is attempting to say Foster's victory is an indication of the influence of Sen. Barack Obama's political coattails. In reality, Obama, who was a strong supporter of Mr. Foster, looks like a big winner because of Republican ineptitude. Indeed, Obama seems to be a political kingmaker--even though he hasn't secured his Party's presidential nomination.
This view of the results in the 14th District is an over-simplification of what really happened. Yet, all the same, impressions are often more important than reality. Oberweis' loss surely will lead to a further demoralization of Republican fortunes regarding the upcoming November general election--where Oberweis and Foster will again face-off against each other.
Some have suggested Oberweis should bow out of the second battle against Foster. But few people believe this will ever happen.
Oberweis is a man driven by a relentless ego. He has now lost so many political races I have lost count and he is apparently determined to break some kind of record few would be proud of.
Many of us hoped the rumors of impending doom were not true and Oberweis would pull off a victory last Saturday. Even though Lauzen was a far better candidate than Oberweis, the millionaire expert in defeat needed to win, in order to prevent the Democrats from having an even larger majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sadly, the writing was on the wall long ago. Unfortunately, the Illinois Republican Party is in such disarray, it didn't have the power or wherewithal to call for common sense before the Party headed down the road to disaster. That road is becoming a well-traveled thoroughfare for Illinois Republicans in recent years. The sad thing is this needn't have happened and those who will suffer most are the residents of the 14th U.S. Congressional District in Illinois and, ultimately the people of the United States.
Last I heard, Oberweis had a lawsuit out, aimed at the DNC because they were running TV ads saying his dairy was using illegals as workers.
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