Great-grandfather Adlai Stevenson I, then a student, later vice president of the United States, told of grandfather Jesse Fell proposing to Senator Stephen A. Douglas joint discussions of slavery in the territories with a young lawyer-legislator named Abraham Lincoln, and the "cordial" conversation with Lincoln that followed. After this series of debates -- each lasting three hours -- brought to Lincoln national attention, he wrote and gave Fell his "autobiographical sketch" which Fell used to promote his candidacy for president. Fell was next tasked with organizing for Lincoln the Illinois Republican delegation to the 1860 National Convention. That was my family's first and last Republican convention -- and the beginning of its tradition of service to Illinois.
Adlai I acquired from Lincoln a practice of recording anecdote, jokes and stories -- like Jesse Fell's role in Lincoln's rise -- in a loose-leaf binder that expanded over the succeeding generations into a black binder that became known as The Black Book. Like my father before me, I have used this treasure trove of wit and wisdom to enliven and inform speeches, and to find strength. It's amazing to see what has changed -- and what hasn't -- in politics over 150 years.
And so it is keeping with family tradition of service to Illinois -- and with a copy of The Black Book in hand -- that I am giving my support to Dan Hynes for Governor. My hope is Dan can restore the politics, little remembered, that made the Land of Lincoln a great state rather than an object of national mockery. We are met with challenges unseen in decades, but we will emerge stronger with steady and principled leadership. Dan is the right man for the moment, and I am proud to support him for Governor.
Dan shares the progressive values that have guided my family for generations, and he has a clear vision and the requisite skills and experience to get our state back on track. Dan's experience as Illinois Comptroller uniquely qualifies him to meet this challenge. As important, Dan understands that it's a false choice between cutting vital services that provide for those who are most in need, and burdening working families who are already struggling to get by. Dan is equipped from Day One to put our house back in order, and lay the foundation upon which we can be the society we wish to be.
Of course, Dan's record of responsible fiscal management speaks for itself, and I know it will serve him well as Governor. I am lucky, however, to have come to know Dan well over the years, and it is his personal judgment and decency I admire most. Dan is honest, thoughtful and smart, and these are qualities that have been in depressingly short supply at the Governor's Mansion in recent years.
My support for Dan does not mark opposition to anyone else. I support him because Illinois can -- and must -- do better.
This campaign will not be easy, but I am sure that Dan will stay true to progressive principles. I hope he finds wisdom, and no small amount of wit, in The Black Book, and remembers my dad, Adlai Stevenson II, who stood for his principles even when doing so proved unpopular. And those principles -- progressive to the core -- have stood the test of time.
Certainly my father's vision of America was validated when another progressive Illinoisan was sworn in as our nation's 44th President last January. But the work is not done, and before we can talk with confidence of hope and change in Illinois, we need to elect Dan Hynes Governor.
The republicans are even are acting against their own interests just to see the Obama Admin implode. Opposition to healthcare debate has gotten personal. Amazingly Bush and Cheney were treated as liberators here at home as they were failing the nation. Where were the militias when we needed them most, for instance confronting the Iraq lies and protesting Hurricane Katrina 'heckuva job',
We can theorize and fantacize behind our computers on how Obama can be another FDR, but he is facing one of the most daunting tasks in history. Will he survive... not known! I personally wish him great success. His success is America's success!
Would the Republicans use this against him and trot on to victory?
Some of us southern Illinois democrats are tired of the "Chicago" politics.
I like Quinn.
But there is nothing wrong with the governor we have right now. Finally, at last. Nothing.
Let' all stop the political crap and stand behind someone who, for once, cares more about the people of Illinois then he does about himself or his hair.
Pat Quinn is an honest, thoughtful and smart leader.
It's a shame that Illinois Democrats will be divided in this gubernatorial primary.
So, I can understand where Stevenson is coming from. And, you can be sure he is not alone in his thinking.
All hope is not lost for the democrats provided they get behind Hynes and support his candidacy, as he has dealt with the state's financial crisis for the past seven years (6 with Rod as leader and now 1 year with quinn in office). Hynes has remained calm, steady and collected, as his office gets all of the complaints from those waiting to be paid by the state. Illinois will be very fortunate to have a governor (hynes)who shows up for work and doesn't exploit his office or the people of illinois with unnecessary and excessive press conferences.
If Dan Hynes is making an effort to put pressure on Obama to be the progressive that he promised to be, he might be worth election.
Although I will never vote for a Republican even if his name was Abraham Lincoln IV, I'm going to remember something at this next election.
I'm going to have to remember the last Chicago politiican who tricked me into voting for him because he promised change. It wasn't just his promises. He got my active involvement and support because there were so many high-level Democrats that endorsed him.
With those endorsements, I sincerely believed that the high-level Democrats would hold him accountable and hold him to what he said that he would do during the election.
That isn't happening.
Now, even with this endorsement, it's going to be hard for me to forget the last Chicago politician who tricked me into voting for him.
I share your deep Illinois roots and devotion. I'm sure my Republican ancestors would share the same abhorance of the current GOP manifestation as yours.
I was particularly impressed with Dan Hynes' comportment at his loss of the nomination for U.S. Senator to Barack Obama. I take your endorsement of him in utmost consideration.