Actors, wrestlers, porn stars, football coaches ... seems anyone can run for office wihtout taking too much heat for it. Unless you're a slimeball trial lawyer Democrat, that is.
Hilarious.
New name tossed into Senate mix: Mike Ditka
By Kristen McQueary
DAILY SOUTHTOWN
Could "Da Coach" pursue a new title as "Da Senator?"
A group of grass-roots GOP loyalists is trying to recruit former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka to run for U.S. Senate, or for the Illinois Republican Party chairman position in December.
But are they serious?
"Dead serious," said Tom Pence, of Oswego, a Kendall County GOP committeeman who co-founded the Web site www.draftditka.com.
The goal of his group is to gather 10,000 signatures to convince Ditka to lead the Republican Party after current Chairman Judy Baar Topinka ends her term.
"I think Judy has done a great job bringing new people to the party," Pence said. "There are some young Republicans interested in rebuilding the party, and who better to lead than the coach of the only Super Bowl Chicago Bears team?"
A separate group, sparked by "draft Ditka" supporters, took the movement a step further and commissioned a poll to test Ditka's viability as a U.S. Senate candidate.
The 504 likely Republican voters polled in an unscientific Internet survey picked Ditka overwhelmingly from a list of possible contenders to replace GOP nominee Jack Ryan. Ryan announced last month he would withdraw. (better to have a former football coach than a guy who enjoys the odd public blow job, I guess, eh? Haha.)
The poll got the attention of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington, D.C., which has been involved in the vetting process for a Ryan replacement.
In fact, the chairman of the national committee, U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Virginia, has a personal connection: His father, Pro-Football Hall of Fame coach George Allen, coached Ditka.
"We're aware of (Ditka's name) being out there, but ultimately, we know the people making the decision will be the State Central Committee," said Dan Allen, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
A spokesman for Ditka did not return phone calls.
Ditka has been involved in Illinois GOP politics for the last decade. Two years ago, he hosted a fund-raiser at his downtown Chicago restaurant for Republican attorney general candidate Joe Birkett and later introduced President Bush at a DuPage County Republican rally.
"It would certainly elevate the national stature of our race, and he could be an Arnold Schwarzenegger-type of candidate," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, a member of the State Central Committee, which will chose Ryan's replacement on the ballot. "If Mike Ditka's professional schedule would allow him to campaign, I'd love to talk to the coach."
The Ditka poll was conducted by 21st Century Campaigns, a consulting group that deals in Internet-based campaigning. The poll was funded by Allan Hug, a suburban businessman and supporter of Jim Oberweis, of Aurora. Oberweis came in second behind Ryan in the March U.S. Senate primary election.
In the poll, Ditka took 58 percent of the vote compared to the next runner-up, Oberweis, at 16 percent.
Ryan announced last month he would withdraw from the race after allegations from his divorce file became public. His ex-wife alleged during a custody dispute he took her to sex clubs and wanted to have sex with her in front of other people.
The State Central Committee — a group of elected representatives, one from each of Illinois' 19 congressional districts — is interviewing potential replacements. To avoid another setback, the committee is conducting background and credit checks on all applicants.
That "character test" could be a problem for Ditka, who is well-known for losing his temper. He apologized and was fined for flipping his middle finger at New Orleans Saints fans and grabbing his crotch as he left the field in a 1999 game. He also was banned from a casino after police said he threw a cigar at an employee at a craps table.
But fans of Ditka like his no-nonsense approach. After the middle-finger incident, he apologized and said he was "dead wrong" for doing it.
"There are no excuses for what I did, and I don't make one," he later told ESPN.com. "I didn't control myself."
Dillard — who met Ditka through GOP events and has a picture of the coach on his office wall — said Ditka is sharp and well-read.
"From finances to workforce issues, he's very well-informed. You don't make it as a spokesperson on TV at the level that Mike Ditka is at without being intelligent," he said.
Kane Cty.
Fair
Flood of
2004
FEATURED
ADVERTISERS
Hilarious.
New name tossed into Senate mix: Mike Ditka
By Kristen McQueary
DAILY SOUTHTOWN
Could "Da Coach" pursue a new title as "Da Senator?"
A group of grass-roots GOP loyalists is trying to recruit former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka to run for U.S. Senate, or for the Illinois Republican Party chairman position in December.
But are they serious?
"Dead serious," said Tom Pence, of Oswego, a Kendall County GOP committeeman who co-founded the Web site www.draftditka.com.
The goal of his group is to gather 10,000 signatures to convince Ditka to lead the Republican Party after current Chairman Judy Baar Topinka ends her term.
"I think Judy has done a great job bringing new people to the party," Pence said. "There are some young Republicans interested in rebuilding the party, and who better to lead than the coach of the only Super Bowl Chicago Bears team?"
A separate group, sparked by "draft Ditka" supporters, took the movement a step further and commissioned a poll to test Ditka's viability as a U.S. Senate candidate.
The 504 likely Republican voters polled in an unscientific Internet survey picked Ditka overwhelmingly from a list of possible contenders to replace GOP nominee Jack Ryan. Ryan announced last month he would withdraw. (better to have a former football coach than a guy who enjoys the odd public blow job, I guess, eh? Haha.)
The poll got the attention of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington, D.C., which has been involved in the vetting process for a Ryan replacement.
In fact, the chairman of the national committee, U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Virginia, has a personal connection: His father, Pro-Football Hall of Fame coach George Allen, coached Ditka.
"We're aware of (Ditka's name) being out there, but ultimately, we know the people making the decision will be the State Central Committee," said Dan Allen, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
A spokesman for Ditka did not return phone calls.
Ditka has been involved in Illinois GOP politics for the last decade. Two years ago, he hosted a fund-raiser at his downtown Chicago restaurant for Republican attorney general candidate Joe Birkett and later introduced President Bush at a DuPage County Republican rally.
"It would certainly elevate the national stature of our race, and he could be an Arnold Schwarzenegger-type of candidate," said state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, a member of the State Central Committee, which will chose Ryan's replacement on the ballot. "If Mike Ditka's professional schedule would allow him to campaign, I'd love to talk to the coach."
The Ditka poll was conducted by 21st Century Campaigns, a consulting group that deals in Internet-based campaigning. The poll was funded by Allan Hug, a suburban businessman and supporter of Jim Oberweis, of Aurora. Oberweis came in second behind Ryan in the March U.S. Senate primary election.
In the poll, Ditka took 58 percent of the vote compared to the next runner-up, Oberweis, at 16 percent.
Ryan announced last month he would withdraw from the race after allegations from his divorce file became public. His ex-wife alleged during a custody dispute he took her to sex clubs and wanted to have sex with her in front of other people.
The State Central Committee — a group of elected representatives, one from each of Illinois' 19 congressional districts — is interviewing potential replacements. To avoid another setback, the committee is conducting background and credit checks on all applicants.
That "character test" could be a problem for Ditka, who is well-known for losing his temper. He apologized and was fined for flipping his middle finger at New Orleans Saints fans and grabbing his crotch as he left the field in a 1999 game. He also was banned from a casino after police said he threw a cigar at an employee at a craps table.
But fans of Ditka like his no-nonsense approach. After the middle-finger incident, he apologized and said he was "dead wrong" for doing it.
"There are no excuses for what I did, and I don't make one," he later told ESPN.com. "I didn't control myself."
Dillard — who met Ditka through GOP events and has a picture of the coach on his office wall — said Ditka is sharp and well-read.
"From finances to workforce issues, he's very well-informed. You don't make it as a spokesperson on TV at the level that Mike Ditka is at without being intelligent," he said.
Kane Cty.
Fair
Flood of
2004
FEATURED
ADVERTISERS
