Deirdre Hirner of Springfield, Illinois Challenges Aaron Schock, Washington's Most Eligible Closet Case

This is Deirdre; Aaron dresses more flashy

Here at DWT you never hear much about Aaron Schock beyond the fact that he's a slimy closet queen voting against gay people... and that he wears lavender and chartreuse shirts with pink belts and white hustler pants. But he's actually an exceptionally bad congressman representing working families who really need a good and competent person to speak up for them in Washington. I want to introduce you to Deirdre Hirner today, the former Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, the progressive Democrat who's stepped up to the plate to take on Schock-- and with no help, of course, from the DCCC. "DK" Hirner comes from a working family and understands having to work to make ends meet, the kind of candidate we like around here. She has over 20 years of senior-level experience in government and industry, working to bring disparate parties together to achieve resolution on complex matters through meaningful discussion and compromise. She has served on the senior staff of two Missouri governors, and understands the role government plays in our day-to-day lives. As a member of Congress, she told me this morning that her goal is to continue that practice and find solutions for problems, not to engage in partisan bickering. She refused to comment on Schock's "private" life. I asked her to write a guest post about why she would be a better representative for Illinois' 18th CD than Aaron Schock. Give it a look-- and if you like it consider giving her a hand to get her message out.

I am running for Congress because I believe the working men and women of Illinois’ 18th
congressional district and their families deserve a representative who will fight for them-- one who puts their interests above corporate interests, their interests above self interest. I am that person.

This district has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent, greater than the national average, and in some parts, the rate is over 12 percent. Congressman Schock’s own home town of Peoria has suffered tremendously in this recession, enduring a number of mass layoffs. More than 100,000 people, including 39,000 children seek emergency food supplies from the Central IL Food Bank.

As of today, 16 of the 20 counties in this district are on a Poverty Watch and Warning List. More than 50,000 people are unemployed people in the 18th district and more than 25,000 people live in extreme poverty.

At the least, Mr. Schock’s multitude of media appearances-- as on Top Chef, in GQ magazine and the New York Times Style section, walking the red carpet at the Country Music Awards-- is insensitive and disrespectful of the struggles that the people of IL’s 18th District are now engaged in.

Not only has Mr. Schock fiddled while Rome burns, he has walked in lockstep with the Republican Party and opposed any legislation that might ease the suffering of his constituents. Either way, he is uninformed or uncaring. And certainly not deserving of a second term.

What can I do? I wouldn’t turn away federal stimulus funds for IL. (Or have the gall to take credit for funds that flow into the district, as Mr. Schock has). I wouldn’t have opposed the extension of unemployment benefits or opposed health care reform or voted down assistance for small business loans.

Ask yourself-- what is really behind this slick media machine. I venture to guess not much. Just last week, his congressional office sent out a glossy brochure about his support of veterans. Not only did it cost the taxpayers $75,000, but in reality, the American Association of Military Officers, a non-partisan, independent organization devoted to improving military benefits, gave Mr. Schock a zero rating for his legislative efforts in support of veterans. And how duplicitous to spend tax dollars on a purely promotional effort like that when he recently took to the airways to decry the cost of signs for stimulus projects.

He is young man in a hurry-- but what we need now is a steady hand who has real life experience and long and hard-won wisdom.

I’m in this race because I know that there are worse things than losing an election, and that’s not having good representation in Washington for the good people of the 18th district.