Mud flies in Democratic Senate debate
Democrats running for U.S. Senate tried mightily to tie each other to Illinois scandals during their first televised debate Tuesday, all the while insisting they wanted to stick to other issues voters care about, like jobs.
"I hear how fed up people are with our corrupt politics. We need to change the system," said former Chicago Inspector David Hoffman in his opening statements, before launching a lengthy slam of challenger Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois' treasurer.
For much of the hourlong debate aired on ABC 7 Tuesday night, Hoffman challenged Giannoulias' character, handling of college savings funds and relationships to political insiders.
Meanwhile, Chicago attorney Jacob Meister focused his wrath on Hoffman as well as former Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson.
Burr Ridge radiologist Robert Marshall ripped them all.
"They are throwing mud at each other and not telling you what they are going to do for you," said Marshall, a perennial candidate who ran as a Republican in the 1990s. "This mudslinging doesn't affect you."
Giannoulias defended his handling of the college savings program Bright Start, conceding the plan lost money under his watch but pointing out it was because the outside fund manager was making risky investments without authorization. Giannoulias did win back about $70 million of $150 million lost in a settlement for college savers.
"Your attacks are reckless," Giannoulias said to Hoffman, adding that he thought the former federal prosecutor was "trying to make a name" for himself with the negative attacks.
Jackson meanwhile had to answer questions about her four years as a top spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Jackson left his administration in 2006, two years before Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges and then ousted.
Jackson said she was fooled by Blagojevich's claims that he was in it to fight for working families.
Meister dug at Jackson, alleging she could become a figure in Blagojevich's upcoming trial.
Jackson didn't respond to the remark, but she has told the Daily Herald she wasn't sure if she would be called to testify for either the prosecution or defense.
Jackson argued she was the only candidate to have worked with people "in the trenches" fighting mortgage companies and providing jobs as head of the urban league for the last three years. She also pointed out she is the only black female in the race.
Hoffman said his work investigating the Daley administration and prosecuting gangs will take the ethics issue "off the table" for Democrats if he wins the primary.
Giannoulias said he has shown voters in his first term as treasurer that he can help them, including by saving jobs when he pressured a bank to make a loan to a Des Plaines suit company going out of business.
Meister said he knows where the "rubber meets the road" when it comes to government programs because of his experience as a commercial attorney and working on foreign trade. As a gay man, Meister said he will "make sure the last bastion of discrimination comes to an end."
Marshall went after military spending, said he supports reversing gun control measures and opposes cap-and-trade legislation aimed at reducing global warming.
Tuesday's debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Better Government Association. Today Channel 7 will air a debate of Republican candidates for governor at 11:05 p.m. Republican candidates for Senate will debate Thursday night, and Democratic candidates for governor debate Jan. 19.
The primary is Feb. 2