New to my inbox:
FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT
COMING TO CAMPAIGN FOR AARON SCHOCK(PEORIA) Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Dennis Hastert is coming to campaign for Aaron Schock in the primary for Congress in the 18th District on January 25th in Peoria.
Hastert served as Speaker of the House from 1999 until January of 2007, making him the longest serving Republican to hold the office of Speaker of the House.
Hastert took an interest in Aaron Schock a couple years ago when he signed a fundraising letter for Schock. Then in August 2006, Hastert came to Peoria to campaign for Schock in his race for re-election as State Representative in the 92nd District.
Hastert has said, “Aaron Schock is one of the most exciting Republicans in the nation today.”
In his 2006 campaign appearance for Schock, the former Speaker said, “There is no question about it, this race is one of the most important races in the state. Aaron is our future.”
The Speaker said he took note of Schock in his first campaign for State Representative and was impressed with how hard Schock worked and his ability to wage winning campaigns against the odds.
“It was an honor to have the third highest national leader campaign for me in 2006 and it helped my campaign a great deal then as I’m sure it will in this primary,” said Schock. “I have tremendous admiration for Speaker Hastert’s role in history and his momentous accomplishments for the people of this country.”
The former Speaker is expected to elaborate on the history of his role as Speaker to a group of major donors to Schock’s campaign for Congress. Before that, the former Speaker will express his reasons for endorsing and coming to campaign for Schock at a news conference in Peoria. (Details to be announced later).
Last fall, Hastert led five other Republican Members of Congress from Illinois in hosting an event for Schock in Washington, DC. At the outset of this race, Hastert urged Schock to run and pledged his support, saying Schock had all it takes to be an outstanding Member of Congress.
The support for Schock in the primary from one of the former top leaders of the nation comes on top of an impressive array of endorsements Schock has earned. Schock has received the official endorsement of the Illinois Federation for Right to Life, the Chicago Tribune, ABATE, and the Sangamon County Republican Central Committee-the only county party organization in the 18th District that will make an endorsement. Schock has been endorsed by 14 of 20 Republican County Chairmen; neighboring Congressman John Skimkus; The Number Four House Republican Leader, Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia who is the House GOP Chief Deputy Whip; Congressman Kevin McCarthy of California; Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross; former Governor Jim Thompson; State Senator Gary Dahl; seven fellow State Representatives from the 18th Congressional District-Representatives: Rich Brauer, Bill Mitchell, Don Moffitt, Raymond Poe, Keith Sommer, Jil Tracy and Jim Watson; and numerous mayors, county officials and city council members, including the mayors and entire city councils of East Peoria and Metamora.
Tags: Aaron Schock, Dennis Hastert
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Hastert spent the country into bankruptcy. He allowed the corrupt Tom Delay (who gave Schock money through his PAC)to run the Congress. He allowed Mark Foley to spend all his spare time flirting with the male pages. All things considered, this endorsement makes a lot of sense! In fact, it sounds like Hastert and Aaron could be soul-mates!
Schock never received a dime from Tom Delay or any PAC he was associated with. Where do you come up with this stuff?
On one hand you have Mary Alice Erickson, the state central committeeman; on the other you have the Speaker of the House(former) and the (then) third in line of sucession. Too young? Too inexperienced? Apparently not to the man that Lahood was constantly praising at every turn. Perhaps MAE’s a little out of touch.
First Oberweis, now Schock.
How appropriate.
Hastert did allow the House Republicans to spend the country into a mess – totally against any reasonable interpretation of Republican principles. But this endorsement is right on the mark since Schock voted for Blago’s universal healthcare bill for Illinois.
Now, after losing the majority in Congress, he’s backing Jim Oberweis and Aaron Schock? Seems more like continuing to torpedo the future of the party rather than helping it.
Schock is the complete prototype of what you get with youth, energy, money and aggressive campaigning — amazing packaging.
Sort of like the awesome pictures in fastfood commercials compared to the smashed thing you actually get when you buy one. Hopefully voters in the 18th won’t be so gullible come Feb. 5th.
pro choice
pro gay marriage
for universal healthcare
bad at international relations…or at least jokes about it…
sounds like the future of the republican party to me.
Noah,
That is the most outrageous and inaccurate set of statements regarding Aaron Schocks positions on key issues I have read this entire race.