Hastert at fault for loss of Oberweis

Republican candidate Jim Oberweis lost the special election for the 14th U.S. House District to fulfill former Speaker Dennis Hastert's term, but not all of the blame should fall on the negativity of the campaign between Oberweis and the winner, Bill Foster.

A very large portion of the defeat is the responsibility of Hastert, who endorsed Oberweis before the Republican primary election.

With that endorsement, Hastert eliminated Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and made it extremely difficult for state Sen. Chris Lauzen to compete with Oberweis.

Yet once Oberweis won the primary, Hastert disappeared.

During this special election campaign, there were no pictures of Oberweis and Hastert together at any rally. Hastert did not promote his selected Republican replacement in any media prior to the election.

Oberweis was able to have a photo-op with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, but only at an Aurora Airport hangar. Where was Hastert?

Foster had pictures with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and got a radio endorsement from Barack Obama.

No wonder Oberweis lost. His chief supporter failed him.

Thanks, Denny Hastert, for quitting early and failing to support your endorsed replacement.

Jack McCabe

Batavia