DUers! Meet Tammy Duckworth today on THIS WEEK. . .don't prejudge her!

A lot has been said of Tammy Duckworth who will be challenging Christine Cegelis for the Democratic nomination in the 6th Congressional District of Illinois. She has been called a neocon (so have I), although she came out in the Sun-Times and said the war was a mistake. She has been called pro-life even though she is not. So if you have a few minutes check your local listings and watch her on THIS WEEK.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sweet18.html

Wounded vet: War 'a mistake'

December 18, 2005

BY LYNN SWEET SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Wounded Iraq war vet L. Tammy Duckworth, who launches her Democratic campaign for Congress today, said she would have not voted to authorize the war that cost her both of her legs and mangled her arm.

Though President Bush's decision was a "bad one," the Army helicopter pilot said in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times she was "proud to serve."

Duckworth, 37, a political rookie, faces a three-way March Democratic primary battle for the 6th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.). Her main rival is Christine Cegelis, who won the Democratic nomination in 2004 and campaigned against Hyde with grass-roots support built on her opposition to the Iraq war. Wheaton College teacher Lindy Scott is also running.

National TV interview

The Duckworth campaign, orchestrated by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chief of the House Democratic political operation -- who nationally has been recruiting Iraq vets for House races -- will be boosted by Illinois Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama.

"I'm just solidly in Tammy Duckworth's corner," Durbin said Friday as Obama, standing at his side, nodded in agreement.
-snip-

Barometer issues

Duckworth said she supports abortion rights. She backs bans on assault weapons. She's for some kind of "basic safety net" universal health coverage. She's against drilling for oil in Alaska.
-snip-

:kick:

Watching now.

. . .she thinks going into Iraq was a mistake. She volunteered to go to Iraq, but if she were in Congress she would not have voted to go to war. She thinks its ironic she was shot down a year and half after "Mission Accomplished."

Cegelis is anti-this war as well. But the decision is made, she gets the nod...Ramn wins this round I would imagine.

If Duckworth wins, and she most likely will, then it is not a win for the grassroots..it is a loss.

You don't have to be a wounded soldier to have credibility, you know. Other people do as well.

She will probably win, most likely.

. . .accused Tammy of being pro-war and pro-life both of which are not true (I can give you links to the threads with these allegations), I and others who have welcomed a Duckworth candidacy have never ever made up stuff about Cegelis, I focused on the issue of campaign management and the ability to beat Roskam in the general election. As a grassrooter (I was a member of the "Draft Clark" movement, and went on to lead his effort in Illinois) I respect any candidate who can do what Cegelis has done, however if we can do better with a different candidate who has the backing of the establishment then I will support that candidate.

A lot of shit has been thrown at me for backing Duckworth and through it all I have never ever attacked Cegelis with false accusations. Also I will go on record to say I will back the Democratic nominee from the 6th Congressional District of Illinois regardless of who wins the primary.

I'm kind of concerned about your resignation to a Duckworth victory, I want Tammy to win however I would like to think those in the Cegelis camp believe enough in their candidate, in their grassroots efforts to see this thing through. A hard fought primary that does not go NEGATIVE benefits the eventual nominee be it Cegelis or Duckworth.

Please do not spin any kind of Duckworth victory as a loss for the grassroots because you do not speak for the entire grassroots community. As we move closer to the 2006 general election we need less "us" v. "them" within the party. First of all because its going to hurt our ability to come together and secondly because I don't many us truly know who is "us" and who is "them."

every single word for a while was taken as making fun of a wounded veteran. I did not see the words "pity puppet", and perhaps they should not have been said.

However, they put her into the race against a viable candidate, they ARE fundraising for her...have been. Her campaign people will be sent by the DCCC. She will get what Cegelis should have gotten.

So yes, the Fighting Dems IS using that factor to a degree. It is shame this happened, really. But perhaps Rahm pushed so hard on this one that people will notice.

Here is an article from the Sun-Times about the packaging.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet16.html

. . .in learning more about her.

I am sorry but it is not pre-judging, it is righteous anger that a good candidate was not supported.

I think Cegelis has a chance, but small. Party machinery already got Duckworth on major TV to announce. AND though they interviewed Christine, I gather they did not show her today.

There should NOT have to be a hard-fought campaign at all. They should have backed the other candidate this time. How many military do we need to have running?

Yes, it is a loss for the grassroots. I could name others who have had to drop out for a DCCC candidate to enter the race. In other words, they tell them they will get no support from the party....words of death to a campaign. The words I won't say out loud yet have to do with loyalty. It is like the elephant in the living room, we all know it is there....but no one wants to mention it.

I correspond with several of the Fighting Dems. I respect them a lot. I disagree with many of their views, and I think they are being media-trained by the establishment party leaders.

As Christine wrote in her post at Kos last night...she is disappointed the DCCC inserted itself in the race. She will urge the voters to check out her views on business, CAFTA, and several other issues.

"The voters in IL-06 need to know Maj. Duckworth's positions on job creation, education, and a woman's right to choose. How would she vote on CAFTA and free trade? Where does she stand on the O'Hare expansion? Does she support the Patriot Act and its accompanying infringements on our civil liberties? I assume Maj. Duckworth and I agree that cutting veterans' benefits is no way to reward the men and women who are sacrificing for our country, and I look forward to a public discussion on how to provide those benefits to veterans in District 6. My hope is that the public discussions we have on the issues will be healthy and constructive, giving the voters the information they need to choose the candidate that best represents their views.

I'm disappointed that the DCCC chose to get involved in a primary, to support a candidate to run against me. But here's the positive outlook: the DCCC involvement demonstrates that this is a winnable and viable seat. They know that the 44% I earned in 2004 was an indicator of the change that has occurred in my district. Everyone understands that the Republican candidate is someone who would not be the agent of change that is sorely needed for this country. Most of the country now believes we are going in the wrong direction. It is going to take common sense leadership to start to move us on a different path."

the election even gets started. She is like a lamb being led to the slaughter...

What?

. . .yesterday I was lectured by you about whether or not Duckworth was tough enough politically, it seems like she is not the one who has to worry about toughness. I don't think Christine Cegelis or who supporters should pack it in, if anything this should be a fresh new start for them.

Are you saying that Rahm Emanuel has been trying to just get anyone but Cegelis running? We know others have been talked to as well, but it sounds like this is an anti-Cegelis thing.

That really bothers me because we supported her as Dean Dozen...she got 44% against Hyde.

. . .against Cegelis is that we are concerned about her campaign management. Not to beat a deadhorse but since your brough it up, many of us who have been paying close attention to the 6th CD have been concerned about a candidate that raises $158,000 in a quarter and has less than $50,000.00 cash on hand plus $30,000 plus in debts. This to me and others is a serious problem considering the Republican opponenent has $500,000.00 cash on hand. We keep hearing about the "grassroots" well part of the grassroots appeal is that it should require less money, if so what in the hell is Cegelis doing spending over $100,000 in one quarter over a year before the election, was she doing an ad buy or something?

You can revisit my and other people's motives for looking to support an alternative, however we have that right. You are looking for reasons to be bothered and I will just accept that. Should Duckworth get elected and serve multiple terms honorably you will still be looking for something to be bothered with . . LOL

And we lose.

Pyrrhic Victory.

I concede.

Here is an idea, why don't you just wait until the primary, I'm willing to let the voters of the 6th CD of Illinois decide are you? I think its pretty damn childish to spin a possible Duckworth victory has pyrrhic, after all the people still have to vote and they will choose the Democrat they think will represent them best in the general election. If I'm Cegelis, I would be more than a little pissed off about the so-called supporters who are accepting defeat just because Duckworth has thrown her hat in the ring.

with not a fucking thing to show for it.

Other Democratic non-incumbent House candidates typically spent between $3,000-$7,000 in this non-election year.

That is so wrong. I said you win. You won. What you guys won is another thing though.

It was a win for arrogance and establishment power. But you won. Give Rahm and yourselves a pat on the back.

You started the thread they were dragged out in....

Cegelis spent $121,000 (THREE-QUARTERS of all her fundraising)in a year when there was no primary nor general election and when she did no advertising that anyone can point to....Non-incumbent Democratic candidates around the country generally spent between $3,000-$7,000 in her shoes.

He has been doing this from day one.

what sort of fighting has she done, pray tell....

You know so much..let it out.

and thanks for confirming that her waste of money WAS proven....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2314643

Just keep on.

But then the beauty of the "progressive purists" is their relentless honesty (snicker)....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2314643#2315883

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2314643#2315925

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2314643#2316102

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2314643#2316015

And the grassroots does not have that power yet, it will take a very long time. Dean even said that himself...decades to really bring change. I think it is because when he referrred to the Republican wing of the party....he already knew exactly whereof he spoke.

So when I say you won, to Benchley and Wndycity, it is a true statement.

Dean's Wrong: I Don't Have the Power
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/8/21132/5760

Now, my hubby and I just donated $100 to Cegelis, with more to come next year. If she stays in the fight, she will get more. We did it because it speaks to changing the way our party works.

Read the diary, enjoy. It is a heartwrenching one. He is naive about how little power we have right now to have a voice in the party.

But he has something the advocates of the DLC (which includes the leaders of the senate and house committees)don't have....the guy who wrote the diary really cares, he is sincere in his love for the country. He is indicative of many coming into the party now.

It will take a while, but it will happen. The neocons in our party want a one-party system....much more conducive to corporate control. It will take time to change that.

"Approximately 1,400 people donating an average of $120 each have funded the Cegelis campaign. "
And none of the 1,400 wonder why she spent $90 out of that $120 before there was even a primary opponent, more than a year before the election? That sure IS heart-wrenching.

I read your words, and they are so cold and calculating. The coldness of people like you in the party are showing now, bigtime.

"I read your words, and they are so cold and calculating."
Yeah, but I consider the source.

. . .LOL It does not seem that she is the one with that problem.

Its rich

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2318146&mesg_id=2318263

Here is what I said.

"Let's not play the pity game. I would not want her to use her injuries that way. I highly respect her for serving our country, and I am sorry that Bush led us to war on lies.

But that is not an issue that should be used for political gain. I highly respect our military, and I am angry as hell at all the deaths and injuries."

Fair statement.

You two are very cute giggling between yourselves.

"9. Political toughness is another matter."

Keep it real please, I am.

She needs to be politically tough. What is happening is that the folks working for her accuse anyone who differs of being disrespectful. Now that is just wrong. Keep it real.

. . .by someone who has declared that Duckworth's win would be loss for the grassroots is pretty damned funny.

for seats in 2006.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet16.html

"With a campaign totally packaged by some of the nation's leading Democratic strategists in Washington and Illinois, wounded Iraq war vet Tammy Duckworth will announce a Democratic congressional primary bid Sunday."

The Duckworth campaign is entirely orchestrated by a team of political professionals with ties to Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the chief of the Democrats' House political organization.

Duckworth will talk about her run for the first time today, in a series of interviews timed to coincide with her campaign rollout.

Her announcement Sunday will take place in Lombard, where her headquarters will be located. The lease was supposed to be signed Thursday.

Duckworth's official entry into the 6th Congressional District race sets up a three-way Democratic battle where her main rival will be Christine Cegelis, who won the Democratic nomination in 2004. Lindy Scott, who teaches at Wheaton College, also filed.

However, Duckworth's campaign-in-a-can brain trust showed their interest in turning her into a national figure -- before establishing her local credentials -- by booking her last week as a guest this Sunday on ABC's "This Week" program."

They recruited her at the hospital.

"Duckworth, making her first political bid, was recruited to run by Emanuel and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who met her while visiting wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington."