The GOP’s star recruit to replace retiring Rep. Ray LaHood, 26 year-old state Rep. Aaron Schock, sure isn’t living up to the hype. First came his widely-panned “genius” idea of selling nuclear missiles to Taiwan in order to persuade China to go along with U.S. sanctions against Iran. And now it looks like Schock has landed in hot water with LaHood himself, by using the congressman’s name in his campaign materials without permission:
LaHood said “there’s been at least seven references” to his name in Schock’s materials, and within the last week, he asked his district chief of staff, Tim Butler, who has also worked on LaHood’s campaigns, to call Schock’s campaign manager, Steven Shearer.
“He hasn’t called back,” LaHood said.
Oops!
But wait, there’s more! It seems that LaHood is none too pleased with Schock’s half-baked policy positions, either:
In his announcement address in late October, Schock said that if China didn’t work to persuade Iran away from development of nuclear weapons, “we will sell Pershing nuclear missiles to Taiwan for their defense. Non-proliferation will either be enforced universally or not at all – it is their choice. The Chinese will come around, I have no doubt.”
“My advice on that is that he should have done his homework, and I think it’s an outrageous statement to be making,” LaHood said, “particularly when you have as your No. 1 employer in the Peoria area Caterpillar (Inc.), that has developed many, many relationships with the Chinese, including establishing facilities in China.
“To make a statement that you’re going to arm one country with nuclear weapons to attack China I think shows a fairly high level of not doing your homework, and… immaturity and not using good political sense.”
With ideas like these, perhaps Schock would be better suited to run for the presidency of his local College Republican chapter?
Burned.
since we don’t have a candidate running.