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Posted on 12/09/2002 5:36:47 PM PST by ambrose
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| December 09, 2002 |  |
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Why senator ending up more isolated
"My campaign begins Nov. 6," said Fitzgerald, alluding to the very morning after the latest election. He was right. Not only are several Democrats lining up to oppose him, but fellow Republicans of both liberal and conservative stripe are mulling a run against the freshman senator from Inverness. How did Fitzgerald land in this situation, increasingly a man on his own political island? Talk to some of his fellow politicians and political observers, and their answer is that Fitzgerald put himself on the island by taking a hands-off approach back home and picking the wrong fights in Washington. "Peter's been missing in action for the last four years," said Congressman Ray LaHood, a Peoria Republican who vows to find a primary challenger for Fitzgerald. "He prides himself on being independent. My point is maybe he ought to think about running as an independent." Fitzgerald's autonomy irks the political class and even some conservatives who typically would be counted in the senator's base, but it may appeal to average voters. Fitzgerald disputes any notion he's not effective, citing his appointment of an independent U.S. attorney for Chicago and the suburbs to root out corruption. His colleague, Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, has scratched his head as Fitzgerald clashed with Republican U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert on federal funding for Illinois projects. "He has a very unusual approach to people and politics. I've found it hard to understand many times," said Durbin, of Springfield. Fitzgerald contends those who say he hasn't been attentive enough to Illinois concerns "don't know what they're talking about." "I have been as active as any U.S. senator I think humanly could. I work seven days a week, 12 months a year," Fitzgerald said. "My family suffers quite a bit because of that." In fact, Fitzgerald dismisses recent criticism of his approach and record as simply the result of his new feud with LaHood. LaHood recently told his Republican congressional colleagues he would find someone to run against Fitzgerald in the March 2004 GOP Senate primary. LaHood's animosity toward Fitzgerald stems from a fall 2000 flap over federal funding for the Abraham Lincoln presidential library in Springfield. At the time, Fitzgerald questioned the ethics of Hastert and Gov. George Ryan for trying to block his attempts to require stricter guidelines to prevent insiders from getting construction contracts. Hastert spokesman John McGovern said Hastert has no involvement with LaHood's candidate recruitment efforts. Still, McGovern described Hastert's relationship with Fitzgerald as "distant, but respectful." LaHood and Durbin both say they remain puzzled over Fitzgerald's refusal to sign a letter for the White House aimed at securing federal money for Illinois projects. The rest of the state's congressional delegation signed it. Fitzgerald said he refuses to be a "rubber stamp" for anyone's request to spend taxpayer money. But Illinois lags behind other states in its return on the tax money it sends to Washington, giving opponents a reason to raise questions about Fitzgerald's effectiveness. But Fitzgerald cites a recent trip he made to the Oval Office to watch President Bush sign into law a measure he sponsored to improve federal testing standards for child booster seats and to require auto makers to change their car safety features to make it easier for parents to use the seats. Bush also has signed Fitzgerald legislation to make permanent tax exemptions for people who receive Holocaust reparations payments, and he acknowledged Fitzgerald's role in getting a new "dot.kids" Internet domain created for children. But, Durbin noted, Fitzgerald's opposition to O'Hare International Airport expansion in Congress stopped a bill that would have assured the project. Fitzgerald's O'Hare opposition could cost him support among business leaders who are trying to recruit businessman Andrew McKenna Jr. to run against him. But it also forms a pretty solid base of support in DuPage County, argues Pat Durante, the Addison Township GOP chairman. He notes Bush, who will be on the 2004 ballot with Fitzgerald, is not likely to want intra-party squabbles as he tries to win Illinois. "Anybody who thinks that Fitzgerald should leave ought to have a lobotomy," Durante said. "We need another primary like we need a hole in the head." Greg Baise, president of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association who was active last year in recruiting a social liberal to run for the GOP governor nomination, said Fitzgerald votes with business on most issues, so the group "has no grave concerns about his re-election." The perception in the political world, however, is that Fitzgerald is ripe for a strong challenge in 2004. Democrats including Comptroller Dan Hynes, former Chicago school board president Gery Chico, wealthy financier Blair Hull and Carol Moseley-Braun, the candidate Fitzgerald defeated in 1998, each are weighing a run, with Chico already a declared candidate. Some Republicans don't want Fitzgerald as the party's nominee. McKenna and Jack Ryan, a wealthy investment banker who now is a city teacher, each have called LaHood to talk about challenging Fitzgerald. In addition, there are "a lot of conservatives" mad at Fitzgerald for not keeping in touch with them, said Jack Roeser, who leads the conservative Carpentersville-based Family Taxpayers Network. After a recent meeting of conservatives, several leaders told a Roeser staff member they'd consider backing a GOP Fitzgerald foe, Roeser said. All of which means a potential mess for the new chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka. "I'm always discouraging of primaries because they're divisive," said Topinka, who also admits she probably doesn't have the power to prevent one. Fitzgerald has his personal wealth from his family's banking fortune, which allows him to be more politically independent than candidates who have to raise money from special interests. And being perceived as independent by scandal-weary Illinois voters is a good quality to have these days. "He's got the ear of the great unwashed," Roeser said. "They don't pay attention until three weeks before the election, but they've got the impression that he's an honest guy. And that's rare in Illinois." For his part, Fitzgerald welcomes a primary challenge, saying his 1998 primary helped him become stronger. "I think that a primary process is good for our party," he said. "And I think it's healthy." Race: Senator's private money allows some freedom
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So they're after his neck because he stood in the way of some cozy sweetheart deal... courtesy of the taxpayers. Amazing.
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