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POLITICAL ASYLUM: Terrorism fears, sleepy governor

Associated Press - November 23, 2009 4:14 AM ET

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Talk of terrorism suspects energized politicians from both parties. A sleepy governor was attacked by his opponent. Hair, apparently Illinois' top political symbol, emerges in yet another race.

A look back at the week in Illinois politics:

TERROR & POLITICS

Depending on which politicians you believe, housing terrorism suspects in an unused prison is either a once-in-a-lifetime economic opportunity or an engraved invitation for al Qaeda to attack Illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin, both Democrats, chose to focus on jobs, not security questions. They claim that selling a state prison in Thomson to the federal government would create some 3,000 jobs. Many of those jobs would be military or federal prison jobs that aren't open to local residents, and experts question the number of local spin-off jobs that could be created.

Most Republicans went the opposite direction, discussing safety questions in the most dramatic possible terms. They warned of Illinois becoming "ground zero" and of "terrorists in our neighborhoods." Rep. Don Manzullo said the prison would attract followers of "a savage religion."

Democrats attacked such comments as fearmongering. At least one Republican, former FBI agent Rep. Jim Sacia, also thought the remarks went too far.

"I saw (Senate candidate) Mark Kirk making some comment about potentially a terrorist attacking Chicago," Sacia told the Huffington Post. "For Christ sakes. Chicago is 150 miles from Thomson ... I'm very upset about (his rhetoric)."

PLANS & PROMISES

Bob Schillerstrom, a Republican candidate for governor, called for a special legislative session to discuss the Thomson proposal. He said this would provide solid information, which was missing when the proposal was first announced.

"In the absence of answers, speculation and worst-case scenarios dominated discussion, fueling greater anxiety," said Schillerstrom, chairman of the DuPage County Board.

STICKS & STONES

Anybody who has ever struggled to stay awake during an endless meeting or dull college class can sympathize with Quinn.

Rival Dan Hynes' video camera caught the governor yawning and nodding off during a debate last week, their second debate of the day. Hynes - who has accused Quinn of taking cheap shots in his campaign ads - quickly posted footage on the Internet (http://tinyurl.com/drowsyquinn ).

Hynes noted Quinn was yawning during a woman's story about health care problems. The video ends with the tagline "Illinois can't afford a governor who is asleep at the wheel."

Quinn said Hynes was slinging mud with a deceptively edited video. He also claimed he was simply taking notes, not drifting off.

The governor's people released a video of their own (http://tinyurl.com/quinnhealth ) showing Quinn talking warmly to the woman who related her personal story and offering to help.

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Forget buttons and bumper stickers. One legislative candidate launched his campaign by offering "free complimentary recession hair cuts and eyebrow arching."

The idea was a natural for Kenneth Williams, a South Holland resident running for the Illinois House. Williams says he founded two barbershops in the Chicago suburbs, as well as a barber college to provide employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Hair seems to be a potent political symbol this year, with Republican Andy McKenna using it to represent corruption and Quinn getting a testimonial from his barber.

WHERE THEY STAND

The Senate is moving ahead on health care reform legislation, and Democrats running for President Barack Obama's former seat are worried the bill may contain significant abortion restrictions. But they're divided over what to do.

Cheryle Jackson and David Hoffman said they would vote against a Senate health care bill if it contained the same restrictions included in the House version. The House bill would prohibit a government insurance plan from covering most abortions and would bar any plan receiving federal subsidies from offering abortion coverage.

Jackson called it "an insidious way to take us back to the dark ages, before Roe v. Wade."

But Alexi Giannoulias and Jacob Meister said if they had no other option, they would vote for a Senate bill even if it had abortion restrictions.

"Ultimately it's a matter of choosing between health care for 40 million people or having insurance for abortion," Meister said.

Kirk, the leading Republican Senate candidate, voted for the House bill with the abortion restrictions.

MONEY TALKS

Senate President John Cullerton held a fundraiser in Washington recently to raise money for Democratic candidates for the state Senate. Washington was also the site of a Pat Quinn fundraiser.

Both events had at least one common denominator: Gary LaPaille was credited with putting them together. LaPaille was once chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party and a top aide to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

He left Illinois years ago and has become a lobbyist in Washington.

The Cullerton fundraiser had a little Republican flavor to it. Bernie Robinson, who lobbied for Illinois during Gov. George Ryan's administration, helped raise money for Cullerton's senators.

ALLIES

Dan Proft's campaign for governor has been picking up some endorsements over better-known and better-financed opponents. The public relations consultant has won support from Republican groups in New Trier Township, Niles Township, Schaumburg Township and southern Will County.

These aren't powerhouse organizations than can single-handedly change a race's momentum, but the endorsements may mean that some Republican activists like what the little-known candidate has to say, or that they're not thrilled with more prominent candidates.

WHAT'S NEXT

It could be a quiet week politically if the candidates decide the public's attention is firmly planted on Thanksgiving.

Associated Press Writer Dennis Conrad contributed to this report from Washington.

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