Krishnamoorthi: DiCianni should take stance on Trump
The presidential bid of Republican businessman Donald Trump has become a point of contention in the race for the suburbs' 8th Congressional District seat.
Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg is criticizing his Republican rival, Pete DiCianni of Elmhurst, for not taking a stance on the GOP's White House nominee.
DiCianni said his own candidacy is the sole focus of his campaign, but Krishnamoorthi argues that as a potential member of Congress, he shouldn't sidestep a divisive issue relevant to the job.
“I've endorsed Hillary Clinton and I think Donald Trump is an absolute disaster,” Krishnamoorthi said. “I'm heartened that serious Republicans have come out against him, including in our own state.
“I'm very distressed that my opponent refuses to take a stand,” Krishnamoorthi continued. “It's cozying up to (Trump's) extremist positions while not publicly embracing them. In some ways that's more insidious than publicly embracing them, because my opponent knows better.”
DiCianni said he has offered positions on immigration and other issues that differ from Trump's. As a member of the DuPage County Board and former mayor of Elmhurst, DiCianni said breaking from his party on particular issues is nothing new for him.
“I'm my own guy, and I think that's what we need in Washington,” DiCianni said. “We need people who are independent, that will cross the aisle and get things done.”
Krishnamoorthi said that if he and Trump both win election Nov. 8, he would stay true to his own principles without actively pursuing a gridlock agenda.
“I will work with any president to advance the interests of my constituents,” Krishnamoorthi said. “That said, I would fight for working families and strongly oppose any policies that hurt them or the values that make America special, including its devotion to equality, nondiscrimination and respect for the law.”
The 8th District is roughly centered in Schaumburg and includes areas of northwest Cook, northeast Kane and northeast DuPage counties