The Illinois Republican Party today is asking State Senator and Congressional Candidate Debbie Halvorson if she can identify issues in which she and Barack Obama disagree.

In April, numerous mayors from throughout the 11th Congressional District sent a letter to Senator Halvorson asking questions regarding where she stands in relation to Senator Barack Obama and his comments that small town people cling to their guns and religion because they are bitter.

In what has become a typical move for Senator Halvorson, she simply refuses to answer the question.

Today we reiterate those questions the mayors asked in April and add one more: Can you identify issues in which you and Senator Obama disagree?

April 16, 2008

State Senator Debbie Halvorson
241 West Joe Orr Road
Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411

Dear Senator Halvorson:

You have been a zealous supporter of Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. In February’s primary, you ran to be one of his elected delegates to the Democratic national nominating convention. You have willfully chosen to tie yourself closely to him:

“I am excited. He can go to the White House and I can go to Congress and we’ll make history.” (Kankakee Daily Journal, 2/16/08)

Surely you are now aware of the strikingly elitist comments he made recently about families in “a lot of small towns in the Midwest” - comments he made at a high-brow San Francisco campaign fundraiser.

Each of us represents the hard-working people of the Midwestern small towns Obama spoke of - and you are now running to represent us.

As elected representatives of your potential future constituents, we pose just a few simple questions that are raised essentially not by us, but by your willfully close association with Senator Obama:

- Do you believe that those of us in small towns “cling to guns” because we are “bitter” and don’t know any better, as Obama believes, or do you respect our culture of exercising our 2nd Amendment rights as law-abiding citizens?

- Do you believe that those of us in small towns “cling to…religion” because we are “bitter” and don’t know any better, as Obama believes, or do you respect our sincere belief in a loving God?

- Do you believe that those of us in small towns “cling to . . . antipathy to people who aren’t like [us],” as Obama believes, or do you believe we are just as kind and open-minded and big-hearted (if not more so) as the West Coast elites to whom Obama was speaking?

- Do you believe that those of us in small towns “cling to . . . anti-immigrant sentiment,” as Obama believes, or do you believe that we are merely concerned about the costs and consequences of illegal immigration - rather than hostile to immigrants themselves?
Senator, you cannot have it both ways. You cannot, in good faith, hitch yourself to Obama’s bandwagon when he is up, and then fall silent when he is down. The earnestness with which you have fastened yourself to him requires a clear denunciation of any remarks he makes with which you disagree - especially remarks that condescend to voters in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District.

We deserve to hear from you urgently - as potential future constituents, and as small-town families who were the targets of offensive and hurtful remarks made by the person with whom you plan to “make history.”

Perhaps we would not have to ask these questions if you had previously demonstrated a respect and affinity for small-town values. However, comments that you made while kicking off your congressional campaign after returning from Washington caused us to question just what sort of values you hold dear - and what sort of people you hold in the highest esteem. Speaking of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), you said:

“She is the classiest woman in the whole wide world” (Southtown Star, 10/3/07)

Senator - here in these Midwestern small towns that Obama dismisses and Pelosi doesn’t understand - we think we’re pretty classy, too.

We anxiously await your answers to our questions.

Sincerely,

David Boelk
Mayor of Mendota, Illinois

Keith L. Cain
Mayor of Princeton, Illinois

Danny L. Green
Village President of Bonfield, Illinois

State Senator Debbie Halvorson’s ties to Governor Rod Blagojevich are well documented whether it’s voting for the Gross Receipts Tax, stalling ethics reform, waffling on a recall amendment, or voting herself and Rod Blagojevich a pay increase.

“Even though I find it hard to believe that Senator Halverson has had no contact with the Governor during these meetings, I find it more troubling to think that someone with that kind of leadership position hasn’t used it to stand up for people or against a governor who is taking the state in the wrong direction,” Radogno said.

The Illinois Republican Party today is asking the American people to take a glimpse into what America will be like under a Barack Obama presidency, as Chicago today claims the highest sales tax in the country.

Much like Barack Obama will do if elected president, Obama’s pick for Cook County Board President, Todd Stroger, fought vigorously to ensure Chicago became the highest taxed city in the nation.

“Barack Obama’s vision for America is playing out daily in his hometown, especially when it comes to tax policy,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna. “With a struggling economy, this is not the kind of change Americans need.”

Under Barack Obama’s plan for America he would:

- Double the capital gains tax
- Double the dividend tax
- Raise the top tax bracket to nearly 40%
- Raise the cap on the payroll tax

“It’s pretty clear that Barack Obama’s friends like Todd Stroger are giving a glimpse into what life will be like under an Obama presidency,” said McKenna. “I have to believe if Senator Obama felt differently he would have spoken against this tax increase.”

“How can we expect Barack Obama to bring change to Washington if he cannot bring change to Illinois?”

BACKGROUND

Obama Voted In Favor Of The Democrats’ FY 2009 Budget, Which Would Raise Tax Rates For Americans Earning $31,850 Or More:

Obama Voted Twice In Favor Of The Democrats’ FY 2009 Budget Resolution.(S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85, Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Obama Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #142: Adopted 48- 45: R 2- 44; D 44- 1; I 2-0, 6/4/08, Obama Voted Yea)

The Democrats’ Budget Would Raise Taxes On Individuals Earning $31,850 Or More. “Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.” (Andrew Taylor, “Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget,” The Associated Press, 3/13/08)

NOTE: Obama’s Vote For The Democrats’ Budget Is At Odds With His Rhetoric On The Campaign Trail, Where He Claims He’ll Provide Tax Relief For Working Americans. Obama: “I’ll give a tax cut to working people …”(Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Rally, Denver, CO, 1/30/08)