I have an excellent candidate I'd like to introduce you to

[WilliamPitt]

Her name is Christine Cegalis, and she is running for Henry Hyde's old seat, District Six in Chicago. Ms. Cegalis is a lot of the reason why I can call it Hyde's old seat; she ran against him in 2004 and got 44% of the vote, which was enough to convince Henry to retire for greener pastures.

One of the things I really like about Ms. Cegalis is her pragmatic approach to the needs of her district. Yes, she is opposed to the war. Yes, she stands for all the progressive issues that affect the national debate. But she is wise enough to know that she must focus not only on these national issues, but on the issues that affect the people in the Sixth.

"I have always believed," says Cegelis, "that you are supposed to hand over the country to your children in better shape than you received it. We are not doing that. I went to a state college and worked a minimum wage job for $2.50 an hour. Even with that small wage, I was able to afford an apartment, a car, tuition and books, and was able to graduate in four years with no debt. That is impossible now, and that has to change."

Cegelis has specific plans for the development of economic vitality in her district. "This district is losing jobs for the first time in 50 years," says Cegelis, "and a lot of that has to do with O'Hare Airport. O'Hare has been the economic anchor of this district for years, but thanks to Henry Hyde, the airport stopped expanding and those jobs disappeared. O'Hare used to be the transportation hub for the country, but we have fallen behind, and I intend to change that."

"I see the development of alternative sources of energy as another job creator for this district," says Cegelis. "We have one of the largest bases of light manufacturing in the country here in this district, and some of the best engineering schools to be found anywhere. Developing an alternative energy industry in the Sixth District will not only help the environment, but will create many jobs for the people here."

Progressive Democrats of America endorsed Ms. Cegalis on January 13th. You can read that endorsement here. Our work for her to date has raised her a fair chunk of money, but she will need more. The powers-that-be at the DCCC are running candidates against her, pretty much specifically because they don't want another anti-war Democrat mucking up their middle-of-the-road plans.

We need to take 15 seats in the House to regain the majority. If you're looking for a candidate to help, I cannot recommend anyone more highly that Christine Cegalis. Her campaign website is here.

Ms. Cegalis sent PDA a warm letter of thanks the other day. It reads:

---

January 19, 2006

Dear Members of the PDA,

Friday the 13th is my lucky day! Good things always happen to me on the 13th of the month. Both my sons were born on the 13th, and one was even on Friday the 13th. The PDA's Friday the 13th endorsement of my candidacy could not have come on a better day.

Since that endorsement I have received nearly $10,000 in donations from over 360 people. It is a testament to what the grassroots, progressive wing of our Democratic party can do when we band together for a common cause.

In 2004, when I took on a fight for the Congressional Seat in Illinois' District 6, the incumbent was Henry Hyde. Hyde was practically a household name -- not just in my district, but around the country. I ran then as a progressive Democrat and garnered more than 44% of the vote. That's more than any Democrat earned since Hyde had been elected 30 years before.

I always knew that I would have to run twice and I started my campaign literally the day after the election. Now the whole country knows that this is a seat that is a possible pick-up for the Democrats. That realization has brought new challenges as well.

This race is not just about the direction of our country, but the direction of the Democratic Party. We need to have more strong progressive voices in our party and our Congress. I promise to be that voice for you and I am proud to have your endorsement. Thank you for all of your support.

Sincerely,

Christine Cegelis

[tavalon]

1. Site bookmarked for later reading

Thanks.

[KoKo]

2. Bookmarked, K & R.

[acmejack]

3. Thank you, Will!

I have been frothing at the mouth for some time now, nothing against Ms. Duckworth, who is undoubtedly a fine candidate. Mr. Emanuel's high handed tactics need to be shoved back at him in the hardest manner possible possible displaying the will of voters in that district. The people in Ms. Cegalis's District has toiled mightily to get her to the point where she drew 44% of the vote against Mr. Hyde & she earned this shot and bringing in an out of district candidate is simply reprehensible.

I have shared these views with the little twit (Rahm) as well.

[mopinko]

7. duckworth so far

has really disappointed me. one of her first press releases, with positions, was about college loans and the alternative minimum tax. this is why she wants to go to congress? to straighten out the amt?
she had a statement about choice, which she has since removed from her website, saying that she would reflect the views of the district on this issue?!? maybe she does not realize that the district elected the king of the anti-choice movement for umpteen years. hmmm....
to be fair, i heard her on majority report, and couldn't find much to bitch about. but, really. i did not hear a real change maker.

[cantstandbush]

19. DUers with relatives and friends in her district should contact them

and get the word out for them to support her and turn out to vote.

[mopinko]

4. but, but, but, she is running against a veteran! with no legs!

and, and, and, she lost last time, and, and, and, rahm doesn't want her to run!

thanks so much for this, will, and pda. she can win. she is a fantastic democrat, with a solid progressive platform. hopefully, the primary race will be a model of ethical campaigning that will make us all proud to be democrats. then christine will go to congress.
she really deserves this endorsement.

[il_lilac]

5. can you find us a progressive candidate

for the third district to run against Lipinski? Yeah, I know he's a dem (or dino) but he continues to vote for "staying the course" and the patriot act- ugh

[mopinko]

10. hmmmm

wonder why they chairman is not beating the bushes for a candidate for this district. NOT.

[Robeysays]

21. how about you?

i'll donate.

[quiet.american]

6. Well, this New Yorker sent Sen. Obama money; why not Ms. Cegalis, too.

Very exciting candidate!

[Jane Austin]

8. Can you back this up?

"The powers-that-be at the DCCC are running candidates against her, pretty much specifically because they don't want another anti-war Democrat mucking up their middle-of-the-road plans."

This isn't a flame - - I'm genuinely interested to know if there is anything to this.

I think I heard Duckworth deny that charge flat out on the Majority Report the other night.

Also, about O'Hare Airport: I was in Chicago for a trade show last October and I thought I heard that O'Hare was undergoing a significant expansion. No?

[mopinko]

9. i think that primary evidence is the fact that

there are unopposed, or barely opposed republicans all over the state, yet rahm has made a very public show of finding someone to run against cegelis. he has engaged in, imho, some slimy moves, designed to undercut her campaign. he went to the gossip columnists, and said he does not think she is raising enough money, is spending it too fast, and wants another candidate. makes it kinda hard to get support and money when your chairman is telling everyone who will listen that he wants to replace you.
she really has run a smart shoestring campaign, following melissa bean's example, and is doing great. meanwhile, denny hastert and don manzullo have a couple of unsupported challengers of the sacrificial lamb variety (no disrespect intended), and judy biggert has none.
so, you gotta ask why the chairman has found a "great candidate" and put her up against another dem, even when she does not live in the district. hmmmm.

[Jane Austin]

11. But can you back any of this up?

These are serious charges against Rahm Emmanuel, and I'd like to know if any of it is true.

If he's done these things, he needs to be stopped and reprimanded.

Do you have any links that will back up your assertions?

Thanks.

[WilliamPitt]

12. Here's some

In the last election progressive candidate Christine Cegalis actually got 44.2 per cent of the vote against the sixteen-term Hyde, despite being outspent $700,000 to $160,000 in a conservative district with no elected Democrats at all.

Following this commendable showing, Cegalis figured that with Hyde retiring and the Republicans melting down, she stood a better than even chance of garnering the seat in 2006.

However it seems that in Emmanuel's opinion, Cegalis stinks. Never mind that excellent record against the giant Hyde, forget her well-crafted support network in the Chicago district, Cegalis has not yet raised a million dollars and, even more damningly, she is calling for troop withdrawal from Iraq. So Emmanuel set out to recruit a more suitable candidate. Initially, he approached two millionaires and urged them, serially, to run against Cegalis in the primary.

They refused. Now he is pinning his hopes on a double amputee women Iraq veteran, Tammy Duckworth

Duckworth, who is not from the district, has ignited hopes at DCCC headquarters that she would campaign on a "pro-business/centrist platform". Queried by a Chicago Sun Times columnist for her opinion on the war, she replied, "There's good and bad in everything".

That sort of equivocation must certainly have commended her to Emmanuel, who greeted Congressman Murtha's fervent and well-informed denunciation of the war with the words "Jack Murtha went out and spoke for Jack Murtha" and has declared that "At the right time we will have a position" on the war.

Cegalis' position is clear: "I support Jack Murtha", she tells CounterPunch. "If Jack Murtha is calling for withdrawal, then I go with that."

If Emmanuel and his like succeed in displacing Cegalis and similar candidates, thereby undercutting any claim the Democrats might have to either principle or votes, he will only be concluding the work he began in the 1990s.

http://www.counterpunch.org/andrew12092005.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. You forgot to mention Ms. Cegelis' poor fundraising

According to her last report, she only had $48,972, while having debts of $39,179.

http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/cgi-win/x_candpg.exe?DoFn=H4IL06096*2006

This is not very impressive for someone who has essentially been running for the past three years. If she can't raise enough money to get her message out, she will be swamped in this GOP-leaning district.

[WilliamPitt]

17. No doubt

But thanks to the DCCC, Duckworth can afford Axelrod to do her PR, which leads to fundraising etc.

Which is why PDA has jumped in.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. So perhaps her stance on the war and other issues has nothing to do

with the DCCC's support.

[WilliamPitt]

20. It isn't a chicken-and-egg thing

The DCCC's choice to bring someone else in there is part of a broader push to bring centrist Dems into the game, in seats they think can be picked up, and to capitalize on the Iraq-vet wave started by Hackett. They made this decision in the 6th before the fundraising really got underway. Once the DCCC showed up with their candidate, and got Axelrod's people to do the promotions, it sucked the air out of the fundraising balloon.

I'd rather have Cegalis than Duckworth. If Cegalis loses, I'll pull for the Dem to pick up the seat.

[mopinko]

23. her raising and spending are not out of line

with other non-incumbent candidates. it is sure head and shoulders above the other candidates in illinois. she has already raised more than the last whole cycle, and is getting more and larger contributions. she also has a whole pack of volunteers, and has been a major force in growing the local parties. (which barely existed 3 years ago.)
she is doing everything that the chairman has said the party should do, indeed, her campaign mirrors dean;s dnc moves.
and if all politics is local, rahm has pushed this veteran into a local meat grinder. the budding parties in these suburbs want somebody sent from chicago like they want a good case of the clap.
so, why doesn't rahm just have a couple of meet and greets with her and his fat friends if he is so worried about how much money she has? or get obama and durbin to send out a fancy fundraising packet, paid for by?? (her last minute entry in the race means duckworth's contributors will not be known until after the primary.)
really, this is not democratic enough for the democratic party.

[EuroObserver]

24. You guys make your political system sound like a Casino

(or worse) - All about raising money.

Sure, that's the way things are right now, but, is there no way there could ever be a level (purely political agenda) playing field there?

[mopinko]

29. i think this is the most important intra-party issue.

how do we have a fair and democratic process. i have no problem with a primary challenge, i just want it on the up and up. the victims of circular firing squads never seem to be rich, powerful white guys.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Why not compare her to other 2nd time candidates?

Lois Murphy ran a close race last time and is running again. She isn't having the fundraising problems that Ms. Celegis is having:

http://www.fecinfo.com/cgi-win/x_candpg.exe?DoFn=H4PA06045*2006

[mopinko]

26. linkee no workee

but why is this the issue? because it is not the issue, that's why. her replacement didn't even need to gather her own signatures, let alone raise money. if she had raised $5k, maybe i would want to talk about that. but it is a smokescreen that her detractors can't seem to let go. that is all they talk about. not party strategy, not party building, not UNOPPOSED REPUBLICANS RIGHT NEXT DOOR!!!, not choice, not war, not the environment, not education, not o'hare airport, nothing, nothing, nothing. just fundraising.
riddle me this, batman. why do you think that is??

[mopinko]

13. go to the illinois forum, and read up.

there are quite a few threads about this. they are easy to spot, they have a zillion replies.
and fyi, wndycty, who posts on the rahm/duckworth side, is an employee of the governor.
i don't have time right now to post links, but i will later today.

[Jane Austin]

14. I thought you could give me some links to support the facts you assert.

I have to leave for a meeting and I really don't want to read he said/she said accounts.

Are there any links that will point to the facts of Emmanuel using these anti-democratic tactics?

If there is more than supposition and rumor, Democrats need to protest his behavior.

We cannot have Democrats undermining each other like this.

[WilliamPitt]

15. Happens all the time

The DCCC picks the candidates. When outsiders come in to try and take those seats, there is always a mudfight.

[dogman]

34. Who are the outsiders?

Seems like a relative term here.

[mopinko]

22. in most of the threads, there are links to lynn sweet columns

in the chicago suntimes. they are either in the op, or the first or second reply. there are a half dozen or so threads.
i find the tactics that have been seen here, at kos, and elsewhere to be as disturbing as anything. mr benchley and clones, all over the net, spouting narrow and misleading talking points. and some real slurs, like calling her an incompetent boob, and her supporters, suckers. no real discussion, and as yet not ONE answer to repeated questions about the lack of opposition to half dozen republicans. real neocon tactics.
i will dig a little shortly.

[mopinko]

27. some memorable threads from the illinois forum

for gluttens for punishment who want more info about this. it should be noted that several such situations are happening around the country. so this is not just about rahm's back yard.


illinois du ers, please tell rahm emmanuel to get fucked
Decorated Black Hawk pilot to Congress?
For those blaming Rahm, Durbin was the 1st to back Duckworth in 6th CD
tammy duckworth smells funny.
Illinois candidate will appear on This Week with George Stephanopoulous
some background on the district demographics

how democratic is rahm? this thread seems to point to a desire to be the next hammer.
Emanuel off a plan to try to grab more House

[dogman]

30. She was recommended to Rahm by Illinois Senator Dick Durbin.

That is according to local newspaper accounts. Obama has also given her support. It seems to be a question of the Illinois Democratic leadership and local PDA which has brought in outside support by appealing to PDA at the national level. As an Illinois Democratic Party member I'm inclined to trust Durbin, Emanuel, and Obama over outsiders. If Cegelis wins the Primary I would have no problem supporting her but for now, my money and support are going to Duckworth. The ultimate decision is up to the Primary voters in the 6th District. Since they have previously given great support to Obama and Durbin in the National races we will have to see if that carries weight in '06. BTW in '04 Kerry out polled Cegelis so her support might not be what some here would have you believe.

[mopinko]

31. i wouldn't bother sending duckworth money.

i'm sure she is raking in plenty, now that rahm has "turned the key" for her.
look, i like obama ok, although i wish he had a stiffer spine. in ordinary times, he would be perfect. and i love durbin. he too is pretty centrist, tho. but, i wouldn't substitute their judgment for mine on a pair of shoes, let alone a congressional candidate. both are long time illinois politicians. i do not fault them for helping the dccc chair. what else are they going to do?
i still have a hard time believing that when durbin put her forward as a candidate he meant for her to run against another dem. but, i doubt we will ever know that.
at any rate, the fact remains that a truly democratic party would conduct fair primaries on a level playing field. rahm is acting like he wants to be the next hammer. we do not need to sink to their level, and that is what this is about.

[bleedingheart]

28. Wait til I show my mom this...she will send money because Cegelis

is of Lithuanian descent and a Democrat...

[mopinko]

32. an update from my local dfa

Last night ERP (Edgewater/Rogers Park) DFAers Donna Conroy, Jim Ginsburg, and I attended the IVI-IPO endorsement session in Des Plaines where they were making their decision about who to support in the 6th District congressional race. A representative from the Lindy Scott campaign was there and made a very credible presentation for his candidate. Christine Cegelis was there and made her own very polished presentation, which included an extensively prepared questionnaire (for those who don't know, the IVI-IPO questionnaire is one of the longest, most in-depth ones out there). Tammy Duckworth did not attend, or send a representative, or submit a questionnaire. I am pleased to announced that Christine received the recommendation from the local group with a unanimous vote, and that recommendation will be voted on by the state group tonight. Congrats!!!

and this from lynn sweet-"When the invitation went out, Tuesday's fund-raiser for Democratic House candidate Tammy Duckworth was to be held in the office of a Washington lobbying firm. On Monday, the location was switched -- after I mentioned where it was going to be in a column that ran that morning. Sunlight, the saying goes, is a strong disinfectant. <...> Duckworth's first foray into D.C. as a candidate comes with an event hosted by the party's top fund-raisers: Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), who runs the House political operation and was instrumental in putting together Duckworth's campaign <...>"


yeah, that's what this party needs! our own hammer!!

[AtLiberty]

33. Christine Cegelis is the real thing --

She's passionate, intelligent, hard-working and a true force.

Remember her name.

She may not have air (broadcast) troops, but she's got ground troops. One cannot win a campaign without ground troops.

Btw, the Dem who wins that district will be up against the Rick Santorum clone, Peter Roskam. He makes Henry Hyde look moderate.

Thanks for this thread, Will.