conservativeBrand

2.26.10. Even Fred Barnes, executive editor of the Weekly Standard magazine, took notice when Northfield businessman Robert Dold soundly defeated State Rep. Beth Coulson in the February 2nd primary for the Republican ballot spot for U.S. representative in the 10th District. And this victory was in the face of Coulson’s much-touted (by her) name recognition and record as a “fiscal conservative” (according to her campaign literature.) Actually, this blog listed some facts from her 13-year legislative record before the election, a record that proved to be in agreement with Democrat State Rep. Julie Hamos 87 percent of the time - and the newly awakened electorate did pay attention.

Barnes said in his Weekly Standard article (http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/rebels-right), “The success of Dold in the House seat being vacated by Representative Mark Kirk ‘came out of nowhere,’ Representative Aaron Schock of Illinois told me. Schock had endorsed the favorite, Coulson. Dold defeated Coulson, 39 percent to 30 percent, in a multiple candidate race.”

“Once again, the winner ran against Washington and excessive spending. Dold labeled Coulson ‘a Springfield insider’ as a legislator and one who voted for ‘tax and spend’ bills.”

Hmmm … maybe we need to let Fred Barnes (as well as status quo-accepting politicians like Schock) know a few more details about that primary election - such as the 50 percent-plus turn-out in Dold’s home precincts that make up New Trier Township. And the reason for that amazing turn-out? It was the massively excessive ($174 million plus interest) tax increase referendum that was on the ballot and lost by a two to one margin. Like their Washington counterparts, the New Trier High School Board assumed that taxpayers would buckle down and pay up whatever the board wanted, which in the case of the referendum included goodies like new 900-square-foot classrooms and an underground parking garage.

So it really isn’t too surprising that a multi-partisan and virtually leaderless group of taxpayers formed a “committee” to oppose the referendum. A single issue, a bunch of energized taxpayers, and an open and honest analysis of the realities of the current needs of the high school - all combined to create a perfect storm against the referendum. Sounds like the tempest from a Tea Party, pure and simple.

The fall-out for other candidates like Robert Dold was a whole lot of voters who were mad at the arrogance of government - in the midst of a recession that touches just about everyone, whether it’s foreclosures or unemployment or high taxes. Let’s hope the folks in Washington are listening to the lessons of February 2nd in Illinois.