After ‘Proudly’ Endorsing Him, McCain Now Claims Ignorance About Jim Oberweis
After ‘Proudly’ Endorsing Him, McCain Now Claims Ignorance About Jim Oberweis
Republican congressional candidate Jim Oberweis recently lost Dennis Hastert’s seat for conservatives in part because he espoused staunch anti-immigrant views. John McCain is now acknowledging that the anti-immigrant wing of his party is turning off voters:
We just had a loss of Denny Hastert’s seat out in Illinois. The Republican candidate out there, I am told, had very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric also, so I would hope that many of our Republican candidates would understand the political practicalities of this issue.
McCain is now claiming ignorance about who Oberweis is and what he stands for. But Politico notes, “McCain campaigned for Oberweis last month, helping the campaign raise about $257,000.”
Moreover, McCain left the clear impression that he was endorsing Oberweis’ immigration approach during the campaign:
– The Daily Herald reported that McCain and Oberweis expressed “shared views on issues including immigration reform.”
– The Beacon News reported, “Oberweis took the opportunity to point out the issues on which they agree. Both candidates want to see the borders secured.”
– Chicago Public Radio reported, “In a joint appearance, Oberweis compared himself to McCain, saying they both favor smaller government and want to crack down on illegal immigration.”
While attending a campaign event on Oberweis’ behalf, McCain said last month, “I’m proud to be here with Jim Oberweis to begin the Republican march back to a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
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62 Responses to “After ‘Proudly’ Endorsing Him, McCain Now Claims Ignorance About Jim Oberweis”
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WOW, a guy who flips and flops better than a gasping fish on a hot sidewalk.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:34 pmWhile attending a campaign event on Oberweis’ behalf, McCain said last month, “I’m proud to be here with Jim Oberweis to begin the Republican march back to a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Guess that "march" got slowed to a dirge ; similar in beat and timing it requires for you to disembark from an airplane , you stupid old douchebag..........
March 18th, 2008 at 9:39 pmI think senility is already kicking in on poor ol' John.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:44 pmJohn Mccain disavows the racists of yesterday so he can embrace the racists of tomorrow!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:50 pmMcFlip/McFlop's comments are not surprising. There is a long newsreel of instances where he will say what is best for the moment and most appealing to that particular audience. Seldom has he held any single position longer than one could hold a greased pig.
Here is part the of this specific comment that disturbs me most:
"...so I would hope that many of our Republican candidates would understand the political practicalities of this issue [strong anti-immigrant rhetoric]."
What McCain is saying here is for Republican candidates to not say anything about this issue. They may believe in it, they may think it, and if elected they may go ahead and act on it, but just don't say anything anti-immigrant before the election.
That's obviously what he is planning to do. It's Play Book Chapter 1.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pmI'm still waiting for the thread on Obama's speech to show up. I'm not holding my breath any more though.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:10 pmHe lost, so he's no longer useful to McCain, so he's already cast him aside. It's really very Republican actually, they've done it to the US people for the last 7 years
March 18th, 2008 at 10:18 pmjim oberweis.
he's a milk-man!
March 18th, 2008 at 10:26 pmMcCain for smaller government after being knighted by the bigger gubberment guy?
Baaa Bwaaa Bwahahahaha.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pmIt's the way he plays his politics.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:44 pmShayne Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I’m still waiting for the thread on Obama’s speech to show up. I’m not holding my breath any more though.
Unlike most of the pro-obama blogs that are full of constant cat fighting and hopium idiots blathering on stupid nonsense, this blog has largely stayed above the fray. Dailykos, huffpo, americablog, etc., have all melted down from the anti-hillary rhetoric that has now blown back at them.
I can tell you that I was thoroughly disappointed by Obama. He ridiculously blamed the media and white people for the rhetoric of his extremist church. Plus he flip flopped now saying he did know his minister was a bigot, a direct contradiction of his lie last week. It's just one more cases of his dishonesty and poor judgment. I'm very glad I voted for Hillary. Obama always smacked me as one of those overly religious naive types, and based on this week I was so right! But I'm amazed at how many people that he's still duped, it's really sad to me how cult like people's adoration of him is... It's completely unwarranted.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:44 pmMcPander Bear rides again. This guy is getting to be a real joke.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:00 pmNeed another reason why McCain is unfit for the presidency?
He can't even keep track of who he raises $250M for!
Oberweis lost because he is a nasty and unlikeable person, who does espouse anti-immigration, but the conservative district did not vote against him because of that -- it was the mobilization of the blue-collar/immigrant voter who defeated Oberweis.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:02 pmUnlike most of the pro-obama blogs that are full of constant cat fighting and hopium idiots blathering on stupid nonsense, this blog has largely stayed above the fray. Dailykos, huffpo, americablog, etc., have all melted down from the anti-hillary rhetoric that has now blown back at them.
No, the people who run this site are Hillary backers. Because of this they have a complete news blackout on both candidates so that they can't be accused to being pro Hillary.
I can tell you that I was thoroughly disappointed by Obama. He ridiculously blamed the media and white people for the rhetoric of his extremist church.
You obviously didn't listen to his speech because he did no such thing.
Plus he flip flopped now saying he did know his minister was a bigot, a direct contradiction of his lie last week.
Again, he did no such thing. He said he had heard Wright say some controversial things but none of the divisive speech he has heard in the tapes that have been played constantly on the news for the last couple of days. He clearly spoke out against that kind of offensive and divisive speech.
I’m very glad I voted for Hillary.
It has been very obvious here for a long time that you are a Hillary Rove Clinton fan.
So, what are you going to do once Obama is the candidate? Are you going to vote for McCain? How about Nader? Or are you going to sit home and pout because your candidate got handed her head on a platter.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:05 pm#11 rhf
March 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pmYou are in the minority. The Obama speech today was probably too high-minded for you. He is not an angry man, he did not blame anyone, in fact he validated and legitimized reasons why people of all colors feel the way they do about race - he simply laid out the facts of racism in this country.
People like you are locked in your own mind set and I hope that the fog will clear one of these days -- the rest of the nation is moving forward.
republicans hate facts Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
So hate, there are lots of sites out there where people allow their bigotry to shine through. Why don't you go join them. You will fit in quite well.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pmAnd Bilbo is correct -- TP has leaned toward Clinton, but overtly doing so would turn off the majority here, so they tactfully do not post threads devoted to either candidate.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:10 pmSome of us make our comments about candidates while discussing other issues, but the Democratic candidate is never the subject of the thread.
Both ThinkProgress and McCain are lying when they intentionally try to confuse opposition to illegal activity with opposition to lawful immigration.
For TP to be telling you the truth, Oberweis would have to be opposed across the board to legal immigrants. That's false, and TP is lying.
We know why McCain is lying: he's corrupt. Why o why could TP be lying? Gosh, could they be corrupt too?
March 18th, 2008 at 11:11 pm#18 immigration
See #13
March 18th, 2008 at 11:14 pmThe beauty of having Alzheimer's is that each day you can have a different policy position yet they always seem fresh and honest to you.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:15 pmObama/Clinton
Lot's of tention here these days....I posted this earlier in a different thread and it's just a few of my thoughts on the subject. I probably won't bring it up again so if you disagree .......just disregard it.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
#20, Badmoonman
You are so right! My f-in-law is deep into senile dementia and whenever we tell him good news, he is so happy to hear of it -- even if we tell him every five minutes -- it's fresh good news every time!
Ask me if I think he would be fit for the Oval Office.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:19 pmWe can't afford to trade a stubborn, obtuse ignoramus for McCain, a man losing his cognitive abilities.
Wow, my post went crazy....my apologies
March 18th, 2008 at 11:20 pmYou have to admit that Oberweis is a great name for a Republican. Should be Oberweiss, of course, but it's close enough. Jawohl!
March 18th, 2008 at 11:20 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
He did no such thing. And you are such a tool.
I wonder if McDepends even knows what he's doing day to day.
http://manifestlyso.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/mcdepends/
March 18th, 2008 at 11:23 pmFred, at #21
March 18th, 2008 at 11:24 pmYou are right, of course. We just tend to get worked up about things sometimes.
Marie Says:
Fred, at #21
You are right, of course. We just tend to get worked up about things sometimes.
I'm embarrased to admit that in the past I have behaved much worse than you guys.....keyword is past. I just decided that I couldn't stay angry all the time....
March 18th, 2008 at 11:29 pmMan, I didn't mean to kill the thread.....
How about them Bulls?
March 18th, 2008 at 11:43 pmKen Lay? Never heard of him.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:44 pmI just decided that I couldn’t stay angry all the time…-=Fred=-
Anger produces little useful solutions.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:47 pmI don't know, Fred. I am angry all the time. But my anger is aimed towards the people in this administration who are ruining our country more and more as each day goes by.
I am angry with people who support Obama or Clinton to the point of exclusion of any other thoughts. I liked both of them. I hate all the negativity of late. I hope that passion continues towards whichever dem gets the nod.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:54 pmOoops, sorry X, my last comment was for you.
p.s. Can we get the whole Airbus/McCain thing in the news again please?? (I was just perusing your blog again)
March 18th, 2008 at 11:56 pmWe should be resolving this contest in private. Not before the prying eyes of the republicans who will use it against us.-=Fred=-
They depend on the echo-chamber to spread their views, however untrue it may be. And it has, with the internet, began to work against them. Truth, although unable to spread as fast as the media rhetoric, yet thru the internet is viable with no backroom discussion.. kinda like Tortoise and the Hare. The (R) Hares take all kinds of shortcuts and engage in fancy Luntzian emotional rhetoric while the turtles plod along, and eventually win.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:02 amFred Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Man, I didn’t mean to kill the thread…..
No sweat Fred. Another story about a "lapse" by McCain isn't compelling. However, here's my two bits.
Every time I hear Obama, I like him a little more. Every time I hear Hillary, I like her a little less. That's my, purely subjective, opinion and isn't based on a dissection of their lives. I think that either are capable, though Hillary probably knows where more "bodies are buried" and has a longer list of favors to call in. But, I still can't seem to like her.
That being said, I'm more concerned about Congressional races. It's long past time to remove the cancer from our legislative body and, I think, the best way to start is by electing a "Super-Duper Majority" then holding the new representatives' feet to the fire.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:08 amp.s. Can we get the whole Airbus/McCain thing in the news again please?? (I was just perusing your blog again) MsJ
[no new posts today, Its my BD!! [Very Very Drunk]
I dont know if that opportunity will arise...I hope so and will write about it. But I do agree that McCain should support Boeing as it would give the US much needed jobs. The Boeing Kc_135 has served our armed forces well since 1954. These aircraft, today, have low flight hours and will not meet their airframe time limits until 2040. McCain wants to spend billions on unproven Airbus aircraft when the Boeing series have proven themselves highly reliable for five decades.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:13 amHappy Birthday!!!!
Come join us chatting at the Zoo. We're on the Perfect Union thread.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:17 amThat's the winning game plan right there. Keeping everybody focused will get harder and harder.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:19 amWell, MsJ I dont know how much truth there is to the Mcdepends post [[I posted: I read this article from TBRnews.org and dont know if its true, GOD help us if it is, but found it sadly amusing. Some people just love parody…and Follies]]
It was an amusing story not of my making. See you at the Zoo MsJ
March 19th, 2008 at 12:22 amThat’s the winning game plan right there. Keeping everybody focused will get harder and harder. -=Fred=-
I got one eye closed because I was seeing double, how much more focused ken Ah Git? Heh.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:24 amI don't care if it's true...it's soooooooooooooo possible!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:26 amPoor Johnny can`t seem to remember much these days,does he. He actually has to think about which side of his yap he is talking from.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:31 amFred Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 12:19 am
That’s the winning game plan right there. Keeping everybody focused will get harder and harder.
Actually, this is where the continuing campaign, by the Dems, works to our advantage. (I don't identify myself as a Dem. When someone asks which party I support I say "the opposition".) So long as Clinton and Obama are both in the race, it should serve to keep up interest. And, unless something really devastating comes up, the eventual winner should emerge stronger.
I really don't see how God Himself could save the Reps. However, their best chance is if the young, and pissed off, voters get bored and stay home on election day. That's the real danger. If turnout is low, the "Religious Right" (I prefer "Psyco-Christians) become a formidable block. That would be dangerous since McCain seems to be collecting every Bible-thumping wacko he can find.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:32 amRepublican loyalty and Friendship like no other. Grandpa McCain just campaign for a candidate now that he lost McCain doesn't know who he is. The Republicans are throwing each other under the bus every day. I guess this is what they mean by Christian Values.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:51 am.
McWho?
.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:00 amMcCain campaign staffers must be too busy lobbying to do their homework on Oberweis' anti-immigrant rants. This doesn't bode well for a McCain presidency.
In Oberweis' failed 2004 Senate run, he ran TV spots of himself in a helicopter hovered over Soldier field claiming "Illegal aliens are coming here to take American workers' jobs, drive down wages and take advantage of government benefits such as free health care, and you pay," Oberweis says in one of the spots. "How many? Ten thousand illegal aliens a day. Enough to fill Soldier Field every single week." (Just go to Utube, type "Oberweis Helicopter" and watch for yourself.)
And in Nov. 2005, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and the Chicago Workers Collaborative, who filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor on behalf of two undocumented workers, Jorge Ibarra and Rosa Ramirez. These groups produced video tapes that showed the two workers had been cleaning Oberweis Ice Cream surburan stores and had been paid $3.23 an hour.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:05 amFree healthcare. HA!
March 19th, 2008 at 1:26 amPennsylvanian ANTI WAR Murtha endorses Hillary Rodham Clinton
March 19th, 2008 at 1:50 am# pete Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Fred Says:
March 18th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Man, I didn’t mean to kill the thread…..
No sweat Fred. Another story about a “lapse” by McCain isn’t
compelling. However, here’s my two bits.
Every time I hear Obama, I like him a little more. Every time I hear Hillary, I like her a little less. That’s my, purely subjective, opinion and isn’t based on a dissection of their lives. I think that either are capable, though Hillary probably knows where more “bodies are buried” and has a longer list of favors to call in. But, I still can’t seem to like her.
I have the opposite experience. The more I see how bad Obama's judgment is, the more I realize how bad of a nominee he is. He's unprepared, inexperienced, and way to racist and homophobic for my tastes. Then lets couple that his platform is actually less liberal than Hillary's.
His speech today was preachy, condescending and blamed everyone else for the racism and his own poor judgment. He also didn't address his lie last week that he had never heard the controversial statements. From where I sit, he's just another politician, and probably more dishonest because of all of his change rhetoric. His house purchase is in reality what whitewater was claimed to be but wasn't. So for me it's yet another example of bad judgment on his part. Hillary is a far stronger, and far better candidate. Hopefully the crazy hopium addicts won't bail from the party like many have been threatening to do, and they'll grow up and do the right thing.
That being said, I’m more concerned about Congressional races. It’s long past time to remove the cancer from our legislative body and, I think, the best way to start is by electing a “Super-Duper Majority” then holding the new representatives’ feet to the fire.
As long as the Obama people don't cry like babies if he isn't nominated and take their ball and play with Nader this won't be a problem.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:33 amI must be slipping into senile dementia, I can only remember the last names of 40 presidents. :(
March 19th, 2008 at 4:01 amMake that 39!
March 19th, 2008 at 4:02 amJim who ???
_AIO_
March 19th, 2008 at 4:11 amMcCain is getting to be more disgusting by the day. We need our country back, hence we can't afford this guy as president.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:27 amMcCain will be appearing less and les in public as we approach November. Any day now, the GOP noise machine will become the mouthpiece for McCain who every day shows he's at least a big a dullard as Bush. The "debates" will be easy for McCain: "lower taxes, no cut and run, and Dems are weak on defense" then let the Matthews, Russerts, and Morning Joes say he is a "Maverick" and very "presidential."
March 19th, 2008 at 7:06 amObama has a much better chance of healing htis country than either McCain or Hillary, both indebted to corporations and the establishment far more deeply than Obama. His speech yesterday was historic, brilliant, and a harbinger of a Democrat with principles. He's no racist, in fact, the very opposite. Obama also has a better chance of defeating Mccain than Clinton, since he has shown a remarkable talent for appealing to the grass roots, and connecting with young voters. Those who buy into the republican spin and lies about his association with the pastor, who was right on the money with his preaching, by the way, are being snookered once again by KKKarl Rove.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:45 amThough Obama supporters, including me, will not find this article encouraging, Ted Rall offers a view of Obama from a very different perspective. Obama's approach may not have been perfect, but neither was the criticism. Otherwise, #53 has made my case.
http://www.uexpress.com/tedrall/
March 19th, 2008 at 7:56 am#55 If you really understood what "progressives" stand for, and what "intelligent" means, you would understand that we do not march in lock-step to demagogues. We still have two candidates because we want to hear about differences, indeed, count on hearing all sides to problems before making decisions. We have had enough of simpering, patronizing" loyalty" to Bush and one-lane neoconservative ideology.
#54 After finding the text and reading in full Obama's speech, I believe that he has answered Rall's criticism. The speech is at T R U T H O U T.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:26 amThis guy is as changeable as the weather and a schizophrenic. If American elects this knee-jerk abusive father model to the presidency they deserve him.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:40 amOberweis?
March 19th, 2008 at 8:42 amIsn't that some kind of beer?
...McCain Now Claims Ignorance...
I agree.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:42 amNevar Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Oberweis?
Isn’t that some kind of beer?
No, too much beer makes people going quickly Overweis, I mean, overweight.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:43 amUs and them. Repubs versus dems. Vicious, mean-spirited politics. And that's what the republicans have done to our country. And they've done it for profit. Not for country, not for the citizenry, but for the green. Flying here and there and kissing lobbyist ass. You can talk all you want about bickering, but I'm gonna talk about the ruination brought upon us by gas prices, housing fallout, abandonment of our brothers and sisters in New Orleans, criminal spying on all, and I say, all of us, kidnapping and unlawfully imprisoning people and worst of all calling it all good and for the safety of Americans. You jus' gotta look at all that and say bickering ain't all that bad.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:48 am5 years Iraq: Bush' speech prerelease
http://ccoaler.blogspot.com/2008/03/5-years-iraq-bush-speech-prerelease.html
(CNN) -- President Bush will mark the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war on Wednesday by calling the debate over the conflict "understandable" but insisting that a continued U.S. presence there is crucial.
"The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around; it has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror," he will say, according to the excerpts.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:55 am