by Mark Silva
It's quiet at the White House today, and will be all day long, because President Bush is playing Peoria.
The president will fly nearly two hours out and back today for a fundraising luncheon for Republican Aaron Schock (pictured here), a young Illinois state legislator who already has raised a lot of money and is favored to succeed the retiring Rep. Ray LaHood (R, Ill.) in Congress.
Not much risk in this outing: LaHood carried the congressional district that ranges from Peoria and past Springfield and Decatur by 2-1 in his last reelection. Schock, 26, already is being described in the Washington political handicapping press as "a prodigious fundraiser and vote-getter.'' Tough race for Colleen Callahan, a farm broadcaster, the Democratic candidate.
Schock got an early start in politics: President of the Peoria School Board at 23 and youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly. In his "Schock to the System'' campaign message, he suggests that the Democrats didn't really win control of Congress in 2006 - but rather the Republicans lost control.
"The bad news is that voters who had been voting Republican, along with many life-long Republicans, were revolted by what they saw as Congressional Republicans' betrayal of core principles with massive overspending, no new ideas, stagnation and corruption,'' he contends.
"The good news is that Democrat takeover of Congress in the 2006 elections has been a complete flop. To win that control, many promises were made, and since Democrats assumed power, those promises have been broken. None of the major reforms promised have been enacted. Congressional Democrats have hit a brick wall--reality. ''
The president's fundraising ought to help the party's cause in Schock's district -- "Schocker:" No erosion for the Republicans there this fall - though Democratic leaders are sounding pretty confident about building their congressional majority in November.
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Comments
Your piece leaves out a lot about Aaron Schock, such as how he advocated sending nuclear weapons to Taiwan to threaten China, in his speech announcing his candidacy. So much for the maturity of this 26-yr-old. Callahan has a good chance to beat him and take this seat for Democrats. Bush's appearance is a sign of Schock's desperation to raise money.
Posted by: Elaine Hopkins | July 25, 2008 9:50 AM
What a colossal waste of taxpayer money for two hours time on the ground - unless this guy Schock is paying the costs of AF1 to fly Bush out to stump for him...
Posted by: lochnessmonster | July 25, 2008 10:19 AM
Aaron Schock is a once in a lifetime candidate handsome, articulate and he won election in a Democrat House seat 4 years ago by 200 and some votes. After 2 years he carried the state house district by 60 some percent in a formerly Democrat district.
This spring Schock beat two good opponents for the GOP nomination to replace popular House member Ray La Hood.
Colleen Callahan will not win. Schock is well financed and it is a safe seat for a Republican.Aaron is a dynamic candidate who will go far in Congress. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | July 25, 2008 10:44 AM
agreed.
aaron schock's fiscal conservatism, and charges of "massive overspending" in washington would seem more credible if i, and you, were not paying a MASSIVE chunk of change to have W fly out here.
Posted by: rob mccolley | July 25, 2008 10:48 AM
All of the costs associated with his visit - with the exception of the presence and assistance of local law enforcement - will be paid for with proceeds from the mid-day $500-per-plate fundraiser. That includes costs associated with flying into Peoria on Air Force One and all costs for food, flowers and rentals at the Weaver Farm event, said Schock's campaign manager, Steve Shearer.
Posted by: Just Replying | July 25, 2008 11:01 AM
All of the costs associated with his visit - with the exception of the presence and assistance of local law enforcement - will be paid for with proceeds from the mid-day $500-per-plate fundraiser. That includes costs associated with flying into Peoria on Air Force One and all costs for food, flowers and rentals at the Weaver Farm event, said Schock's campaign manager, Steve Shearer.
Posted by: Just Replying | July 25, 2008 11:01 AM
And how many people at $500 each will it take to pay for the AF1 flight? It's not going to end up being much of a fundraiser.
Funny this guy would associate himself with Bush, the guy who rubber stamped all that spending the Republican controlled congress put before him.
Posted by: DD | July 25, 2008 11:17 AM
Am I really supposed to be impressed that this guy has been a masterful manipulator and liar since he was a teen? Ohh he's young and pretty and has spunk let's vote for him.. even if he is just another whack job, twisting his surroundings to suit his personal quest for power. He's not the kid next door.. he's not a guy you want to have a beer with.. he's just another one of -them-.
Posted by: Seen 1 Seen 'em All | July 25, 2008 11:21 AM
The razor thin margin held by the Democrats after 2006 is never mentioned; only that nothing has been accomplished. Their mistake, however, is that they did not force Mr. Bush to use his veto repeatedly which would have revealed him as an obstructionist.
Posted by: Frank | July 25, 2008 11:32 AM
Ohh he's young and pretty and has spunk let's vote for him.. even if he is just another whack job, twisting his surroundings to suit his personal quest for power.
Posted by: Seen 1 Seen 'em All | July 25, 2008 11:21 AM
Just to be clear: You're not talking about Obama, right?
Posted by: JB | July 25, 2008 11:35 AM
I thought youth and inexperience were good things?
Posted by: JB | July 25, 2008 11:36 AM
For the record, Aaron Schock's campaign is paying for all costs including operating costs for Air Force One, local security, and fees related to background checks for all involved with the fundraiser. Washington and the taxpayers will not spend a dime on this event short of the President and his staff being out of Washington for a day, which is more of an indirect cost to begin with.
Posted by: SM | July 25, 2008 11:42 AM
Are they really paying the complete AF1 operating costs?
Probably not. By law, the President only has to reimburse the nation the cost of a first class airline ticket when he uses AF1 for campaign purposes.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/22/perks/index.html
Air Force one costs approximately $68,000 per hour to operate.
http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20060316113550-47530.pdf
Posted by: JT | July 25, 2008 12:23 PM
Why isn't he in the military? President Bush says our way of life is at stake. HE. IS. A. CHICKENHAWK!!!!!!
Posted by: jo | July 25, 2008 12:30 PM
Aaron will make a great U.S. representativie and I can't wait for him to take office so he can begin working for his constituents just like he has in the Statehouse.
Posted by: M. Myers | July 25, 2008 11:42 PM