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6 Questions Republican Congressman Bob Dold needs to answer

Deerfield, IL — Republican Congressman Bob Dold (IL-10) has said voting for Hillary Clinton would be a “disaster” and that he would not support her over Donald Trump (NBC, 10/17/16). Every reasonable person knows that if Hillary Clinton does not become the next President, then the dangerous and unfit Donald Trump will.

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With that in mind, here are some questions for Bob Dold to answer. People having the opportunity to pose them to Dold at upcoming forums and debates or on the campaign trail at a different time should ask Dold the following:

  1. Does Bob Dold think Donald Trump, a person who threatened to jail his political opponent, who believes climate change is a hoax, who wants to abolish the EPA, who wants to punish women who have abortions, who thinks adding more guns prevents mass shootings, who’s boasted about grabbing women by their genitals, who’s been accused of inappropriate groping, and who wants to repeal birthright citizenship, would be a better President than Hillary Clinton? If so, please explain. If he thinks Trump would be worse — something Bob Dold has not even said — why won’t Dold endorse Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump?
  2. Does Bob Dold think America would be safer if Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump were commander-in-chief with access to the nuclear codes?
  3. Who would appoint better justices to the Supreme Court — Hillary Clinton, who wants to protect Roe v. Wade or Donald Trump, who has said he wants to appoint justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade?
  4. Bob Dold headlined a fundraiser called “Beat Hillary at the Distillery” for a pro-Trump group. How many anti-Trump fundraisers has Dold headlined?
  5. Why hasn’t Bob Dold publicly urged his supporters to not vote for Donald Trump?
  6. Why does Bob Dold think numerous Republicans who have served in Republican Administrations have endorsed Hillary Clinton for President but no House Republican up for election this fall, including Dold, has endorsed Hillary Clinton?

Bob Dold claims to be a problem solver, but either Bob Dold doesn’t think a Trump presidency would be a problem or he’s not interested in solving it, even though a Trump presidency would damage the lives of 10th District voters who care about women’s choice, the environment, immigration reform, and gun violence.

Voting is underway. Trump and Pence have not been stopped.

It’s clear that Bob Dold lacks the courage and/or the judgment to continue to represent the 10th District. This November, Dold will be voted out of the office he’s proven to put above the interests of the people of the 10th District.

Local Democrats: Bob Dold’s Pro-Trump Actions Undermine His Rhetoric

The Illinois Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) released the following statement:

“During this entire 2016 campaign cycle, Republican Congressman Bob Dold has been content with publicly posturing, like in his recent campaign ad, that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are equal. Away from the cameras, Dold has taken the shameful step of actually helping Trump’s cause by headlining a ‘Beat Hillary’ fundraiser for his Republican base.

Nobody who claims to be pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-immigration, and pro-gun safety reform would equate Clinton-Kaine with Trump-Pence.

Yet Bob Dold, like every other Republican in Congress running this fall, has refused to endorse Hillary Clinton, the only viable alternative to Donald Trump.

In 2012, Dold endorsed Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama, saying the election was about ‘the direction of the country’ and the ‘American Compact that is we leave our country better for the next generation than the ones we received from our parents and grandparents.’ That’s right—Bob Dold was willing to endorse Mitt Romney to get rid of President Obama for the sake of the country, but Dold is unwilling to take a stand between Clinton and Trump. Congressman Dold, how could President Obama be worth stopping but not Donald Trump?

Voting is underway. Trump and Pence have not been stopped.

It’s clear that Bob Dold lacks the courage or the judgment to continue to represent the 10th District. We’re confident he will be voted out of the office he’s proven to put above the interests of the people of the 10th District.”

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(above) Bob Dold headlined an anti-Clinton fundraiser for a group making Trump signs; (below) “Sold On Dold” campaign button on Trump hat at the group’s picnic a week later

Republican Congressman Bob Dold’s Mike Pence Problem

Bob Dold’s Embrace Of Pence Foreshadowed His Own Anti-Women’s Choice Record

dold on floor of gop conventionDeerfield, IL — Was it worth the money? When he tried to get into office during the Tea Party wave of 2010, Republican Bob Dold (IL-10) had no problem taking $1,000 from then-Congressman Mike Pence. This foreshadowed Bob Dold’s consistent willingness to go along with the worst anti-choice elements of his Republican Party.

Back in 2007, Mike Pence sponsored legislation in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood. Pence’s move sparked the battle over Planned Parenthood that shamefully continues to this day, in large part because Pence went after Planned Parenthood again and again and again.

Did Bob Dold not know or just not care about Pence’s anti-choice crusade when Dold took Pence’s money?

Now Bob Dold refuses to stop the destruction, especially to women’s reproductive rights, that would result from a Trump-Pence victory. In fact, rather than take on Pence, a darling of the Republican base that Dold needs to turn out in a competitive race, for his appalling record on women’s choice, Bob Dold headlined a “Beat Hillary” fundraiser instead. Why is Bob Dold trying to beat Hillary Clinton instead of stopping the only presidential ticket with someone — Pence — who signed eight anti-abortion bills into law?

And while Pence has garnered national notoriety for his radical right-wing agenda, Bob Dold has established a less high-profile yet harmful pattern of anti-choice behavior —NARAL said “Dold has spent his time in Congress obsessed with banning abortion and smearing Planned Parenthood”–that is out of touch with the 10th District:

  • Dold introduced a measure to withhold funding of Planned Parenthood for 90 days
  • Dold voted for the ‘Let Women Die’ Act that would have allowed hospitals to refuse life-saving care if it conflicted with their corporate religious beliefs
  • Dold has headlined campaign events for some of the most vehemently anti-choice Republican candidates in Lake County, including candidates supported by Pro-Life Victory PAC and Lake County Life PAC. This includes the legislator who led the effort to defund Planned Parenthood in Illinois. Nevertheless, Dold referred to this year’s Republican slate as “the strongest that I’ve seen certainly in my time in politics.”
  • Dold voted for the Conscience Protection Act — a bill praised by right-wing groups, it would undermine women’s ability to obtain safe, legal abortion care and put women’s health at serious risk in emergencies.

“Vulnerable politicians say a lot of things but true pro-choice advocates don’t do the things that Republican Bob Dold has done,” said Tenth Dems Managing Vice-Chair Barbara Altman. “People like Bob Dold enable people like Mike Pence. And the people of the 10th District deserve better.”

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October Newsletter – Follow the Campaigns in Words and Pictures

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In this issue of Tenth News:

Brad Schneider: A Study in Decency

State Representative Lou Lang Gives the Lowdown on Gov. Rauner

Congress Watch: Doubletalk Dold’s Smoke and Mirrors

Off the Mark

Hillary Clinton — Two Rivers

In the Doldrums

Why Hillary?

Knocking on Doors

Melinda Bush, Agent of Change!

Laura Fine’s Environmental Town Hall

Buttons, Buttons — We’ve Got ‘em

Remembering Terry Blaurock

Free Event:  Debate Watch Party

Tim Kaine

First Responders Endorse Julie Morrison

A Personal Perspective: Trump Makes My Head Spin Off My Shoulders

Donald Trump — Projection Personified

Democrats Celebrate September Holidays

 

Brad Schneider: A Study in Decency

By Eleonora di Liscia

Brad Schneider has a long list of qualifications to merit being returned to Congress.  He’s also an exceptionally fine human being, as those who know him can attest.

 

State Representative Lou Lang Gives the Lowdown on Gov. Rauner

By Steven Gan

A recent Tenth Dems University event featured State Representative Lou Lang, Deputy Majority Leader of the Illinois House, who engaged a capacity audience with the inside story about Springfield today and Gov. Bruce Rauner.

 

Congress Watch: Doubletalk Dold’s Smoke and Mirrors

By Laurence D. Schiller

Bob Dold hypes his supposed support for legislation 10th District voters favor while his Republican colleagues make sure none of it comes to a vote on the floor.  In the same vein, he withholds an endorsement for Donald Trump while actively helping his party fundraise to defeat Hillary Clinton.

 

Hillary Clinton — Two Rivers

By Anne Wedner

The candidacy of Hillary Clinton provides a unique opportunity to support someone who has devoted her life to public service—to promoting hope and opportunity over shame, sadness, and anger.

 

Why Hillary?

By Adrienne Kirshbaum

Another passionate endorsement of for Hillary Clinton to lead our nation focuses on Hillary’s superior qualifications, as well as the author’s unapologetic desire to see our country led by the first woman president.

 

Knocking Doors

Energetic Tenth Dems volunteers are knocking doors not only across the Tenth District, but also in neighboring swing states.

 

Melinda Bush, Agent of Change!

By Deborah Kadin

31st District State Senator Melinda Bush merits your support this November (and we have lots of reasons why); she also has a flock of endorsements (and we list a lot of them).

 

Environmental Town Hall

By State Representative Laura Fine

In cooperation with State Seator Daniel Biss and State Representative Robyn Gabel, the author, State Representative Laura Fine, hosted a Town Hall to educate constituents on a variety of environmental issues.  Representatives from the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council and local pro-environment organizations sent speakers..

 

Buttons, Buttons — We’ve Got ‘em

By Dottie Palumbo

Join Tenth Dems at the Bourse in Deerfield on October 23. You’ll see tons of campaign buttons, including Tenth Dems original designs.

 

Remembering Terry Blaurock

Tenth Dems lost a great friend recently. Let us tell you a bit about the extraordinary Terry Blaurock.

 

Tim Kaine

Our own Founding Chair was one of the luminaries to welcome VP candidate Tim Kaine to Chicago

 

First Responders Endorse Julie Morrison

Associated Firefighters of Illinois is just one of the many groups to recognize State Senator Julie Morrison for the work she has done to improve our state.

 

A Personal Perspective: Trump Makes My Head Spin Off My Shoulders

By Steven Gan

Our columnist tries to understand how promoting birtherism helped propel Donald Trump to national prominence.

 

Donald Trump — Projection Personified

By Georgia Carrasco

Did you ever notice that Donald Trump tends to accuse his opponents of committing his own sins?  That’s “projection.”

 

Democrats Celebrate September Holidays

Candidates celebrate Labor Day, Buffalo Grove Days, Fiestas Patrias, and other September events.

Rep. Dold chooses to “Beat Hillary” with pro-Trump group

Dold keeps his word to pro-Trump group, headlines anti-Clinton fundraiser

Double Talk Dold chooses to ‘Beat Hillary’, not to Stop Trump

Deerfield, IL — In a stunning display of campaign season hypocrisy, Republican Rep. Bob Dold (IL-10) recently headlined a “Beat Hillary” fundraiser for a pro-Trump group. This came after the vulnerable Republican politician tried winning praise by claiming to not support Donald Trump.

Bob Dold headlined the Lake County Republicans Central Committee’s “Beat Hillary at the Distillery” fundraiser on Saturday, September 10th, in Green Oaks. Dold was joined by fellow Congressional Republicans Peter Roskam, known for his role on the Benghazi Committee, and climate change denier Randy Hultgren. Dold also was joined by Chairman of the Lake County Republicans Central Committee, Mark Shaw.

Dold’s fundraising effort directly helps the pro-Trump group, a partisan political organization dedicated to supporting the Republican ticket. The group has purchased hundreds of Trump for President yard signs available on its website. At a minimum, Dold’s support can now buy even more Trump for President signs.

“Bob Dold can try but he isn’t fooling anyone,” said Tenth Dems Co-Chair Bonnie Berger-Neel. “Voters know when Dold and his fellow Republicans hurt Hillary Clinton, they help Donald Trump. And that’s just not the side 10th District voters want to be on.”

This is more of the same for Bob Dold. Despite attempts to publicly distance himself from other Republicans, Bob Dold recently attended a private fundraiser with Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan—a Trump endorser—and the head of Donald Trump’s fundraising operation in Illinois.

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(from left to right—Rep. Peter Roskam, Rep. Bob Dold, Rep. Randy Hultgren, Mark Shaw)

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(Chairman of the Lake County Republicans Central Committee Mark Shaw posing enthusiastically in a “Make America Great Again” hat next to a cardboard Donald Trump)

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(Trump for President signs paid for by Lake County Republicans Central Committee)

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(Rep. Bob Dold addresses the audience at the pro-Trump group’s fundraiser, “Beat Hillary at the Distillery”)

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(Trump for President sign paid for by Lake County Republicans Central Committee)