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* Russell Lissau at the Daily Herald…
Of the more than 20 Republicans running for Congress in the North, Northwest and Western suburbs, just four said they agree with the Republican National Committee’s description of last year’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol as “ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”
Only one candidate outright rejected the RNC’s characterization.
Five candidates denounced the rioters but wouldn’t say if they agreed or disagreed with the RNC’s statement. Others refused to answer questions about the historic event or couldn’t be reached.
* Let’s plot some of this out. First up, the one candidate who rejected the RNC’s characterization was Gary Grasso, the mayor of Burr Ridge who has been endorsed by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and DuPage County Board Chair Dan Cronin. He’s running in the 6th District…
“The storming of the Capitol by force was not legitimate political discourse,” Grasso said. “It was a riot causing significant injuries and death, with deliberate destruction of sacred national ground.”
* And these are the candidates who agreed with the RNC’s characterization of the rioting insurrectionists as “ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse”…
Catalina Lauf
Rob Cruz
Chad Koppie
Mike Koolidge
Lauf is hoping to face Democratic US Rep. Bill Foster in the fall. And aside from saying a clarification was needed from the RNC, fellow Republican candidate Cassandra Tanner Miller would only say “These are not simple yes-or-no questions.”
Go read the whole story for more.
…Adding… From the Sun-Times interview of former Gov. Jim Edgar…
On Republican candidates who dodge answering questions about whether President Biden is the elected president and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was an effort to overturn the presidential election: “I think it’s a legitimate question. It’s a major issue, particularly if you’re talking law and order this campaign.”
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:43 am
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It is obviously profoundly sad that most Republicans can’t unequivocally condemn a violent insurrection. How do we go forward as a functioning democracy where this perspective is at the core of one of the two political parties?
Comment by slow down Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 9:50 am
Gee I wonder what the GOP response would have been if Democrats had done the same thing in 2016?
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:04 am
The way Trump did in the suburbs, one would think Republican candidates would gladly distance themselves from him and condemn the insurrection. Trumpless Trumpism might be the needle the GOP is trying to thread. Clearly the ILGOP supports Trumpism by having opposed impeachment.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:06 am
Republicans are afraid to denounce the events of January 6 for fear that it might get back to Donald Trump. Pretty pathetic.
Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:12 am
“in the North, Northwest and Western suburbs”
Now do the same for the republican candidates in the southwest suburbs.
You might have to check that you didn’t fall asleep and drive all the way down to southern Illinois.
But since that area is “shaw newspaper territory”, all you will see is PR from their campaigns directly printed as if was news.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:18 am
I’m sure Keith Pekau would be fine with the 1/6 people doing to Orland Mall what they did to the U.S. Capitol.
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:23 am
Well now there is one Republican, Mayor Grasso, that I can vote for. Let us see if there are any other DuPage Republicans that I can vote for?
Comment by DuPage Resident Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:24 am
Those who push and promote conspiracy theorists like Catalina Lauf need opponents like Gary Grasso to defeat the people tearing down the two party system.
I’m glad to see the support Grasso has in this race, even more pleased to read about Grasso’s thoughts.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:28 am
==The way Trump did in the suburbs, one would think Republican candidates would gladly distance themselves from him and condemn the insurrection.==
They way those districts are drawn, tho, few serious candidates want to run. So you’re stuck with a bunch of cranks.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:28 am
Edgar is correct. You can’t claim the law and order mantle if you see 1/6 as legitimate political discourse.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:34 am
Yes, that’s all well and good, but where did Grasso stand on Rauner refusing to pass a budget for 2 years and all the suffering and harm it caused?
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:39 am
Another question for the GOP candidates: Do you support Trump in his promise to pardon the Jan. 6 offenders?
Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 10:49 am
==I’m sure Keith Pekau would be fine with the 1/6 people doing to Orland Mall what they did to the U.S. Capitol.==
A couple dozen of Orland Park’s finest are harassing certain shoppers in the mall and around the parking lots on a constant basis, but when there was a large retail theft there last week, none of them could stop the one suspect involved and they had to call in State Police to assist and pursue.
“Tough on crime,” he’ll say.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:02 am
The GOP claim that defecating in the seat of our national government is “legitimate public protest” is a magnificent self own. When someone tells you who they are - believe them.
Comment by froganon Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 11:38 am
Grasso got trounced by Erika Harold in ‘18 Republican Primary for IL AG. What makes him think he can win R Primary for IL06? He claims he supports police but tried to disband the BRPD in his first term as mayor by consolidating it with other area police forces. He’s sued and demeaned his own residents. He can say what he wants about 1/6, but he doesn’t have the right stuff for Congress.
Comment by Anon60527 Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 12:13 pm
Anon60527 - yes Grasso ran for AG as good Republican. He supports Police. What he did was look into combining police departments to make them stronger and safve taxpayers money. Yes he sued a resident / for good and legitimate reasons
Comment by DuPage Resident Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 12:27 pm
I’m surprised there was even the one. Have you paid any attention to any GOP congressional candidacies recently? There’s one in Georgia whose campaign slogan is simply “Jesus Guns Babies.” In some GOP primaries it seems to be a contest of who can take a campaign photo with the biggest gun. They’re now discussing conspiracy theories about the Ukraine and Hillary Clinton. It’s like they’re having a race to the bottom of some kind of Qanon crackpot barrel.
Comment by Southern Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 12:54 pm
“These are not simple yes-or-no questions.”
“Voters don’t do nuance”
I’m not convinced both of those can be true.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 2:28 pm
“not a simple yes or no answer” yes it is a simple yes or no unless you are a far right wing Trumpster
Comment by DuPage Resident Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 4:11 pm
I think threading the needle is the right analogy for the ILGOP. They can’t win with the base and can’t win without them.
What remains to be seen is whether or not the select committee and/or potential civil and criminal developments will move the needle on any of this. November still feels like a long way off.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Feb 22, 22 @ 5:12 pm