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Thursday, September 22, 2005

IL-08: Bean Loses Critical Support From Labor

Posted by Tim Tagaris

I guess it was only to be expected after her vote for CAFTA:

Businessman David McSweeney (R), who is challenging freshman Rep. Melissa L. Bean (D) in Illinois's 8th District, was the special guest at a "get to know you" event last week at the National Republican Congressional Committee.

What made it different from the dozens of other meet and greets on Capitol Hill is that it was hosted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the International Association of Fire Fighters -- two major players in organized labor. It was the first such event for a Republican challenger the groups have hosted since the November election.

This is going to be a close election. Illinois' 6th CD certainly leans Republican (although trending Dem), and Bean's defense in 2006 will be her first. The biggest question out there for Congresswoman Bean is how much support from Democrats will she be able to retain after questionable votes on the bankruptcy bill and CAFTA (among others)? She has already lost one block, the netroots, after the votes. In 2004, bloggers like Atrios helped move essential resources in her direction for her historic upset of dinosaur Phil Crane; she now occupies the top spot on his "List of 31 Losers." Now Labor is jumping ship. It was only a month ago that Bean's "Person of the Year" award was taken back by The Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor and it's 20,000 members.

Posted at 08:44 PM in Illinois | Technorati

Comments

How about a link that actually goes to the list of 31 losers?

Posted by: Samson at September 22, 2005 11:38 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

My apologies. I see it in the sidebar now.

Posted by: Samson at September 22, 2005 11:43 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Well, I suppose we could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in 2006. I will never understand this need to completely destroy someone because they did or said something that you didn't like.

So..Melissa Bean voted a different way than you would have preferred...so what? If we keep demanding perfection from our elected officials we are going to be disappointed every time. Every time I see this, it reminds me of the ultra conservative, social conservative wing of the Republican Party. You either agree with everything we say or you are the enemy.

I think its time to take a collective deep breath and stop assisting the GOP with reelection efforts in 2006. We can win this, however, it our current state, we won't.

Posted by: Columbus Donkey at September 23, 2005 11:01 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

So a better question might be what to do when you have a Democratic incumbent you're this angry with. Because replacing her with a Republican won't help the situation.

I know we'd like to impart the fear of God, but cutting off our nose, not even to spite our face, but rather in the hopes that Melissa Bean will faint at the sight of blood?

The aim can't be to be rid of Melissa Bean. The aim has to be replacing her with someone better. Anybody got a plan, or are we just here to throw rotten tomatoes?

Posted by: Kagro X at September 23, 2005 12:22 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

The point, gentlemen, is that it behooves her little if the netroots valiantly stand by her, if she has already lost the support of organized labor in her district.

Publicizing the situation at least gives us the advantage of showing other Democrats what can happen if they insist on casting anti-labor votes. It's not a constituency they can take for granted.

Posted by: Steve M at September 23, 2005 03:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

You know, Kagro... I have written about finding potential Democratic challengers to Melissa Bean's seat in the past. Unfortunately, working for a sitting Congressman, it isn't something I can really explore too publicly on the front page of blog that a few people read. Sucks that it works that way, but I gotta do what I gotta do. I have even had people email me asking if I was considering running (that would be funny).

I am actually from her district, and know a few people that I would have loved to help recruit were I in a position to do so. Sue Walton, chair of the Palatine Township Democratic Party, immediately jumps into my mind if anyone is interested.

Tim

Posted by: Tim Tagaris at September 23, 2005 05:29 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment