Very simple and short diary.
Aside from showing the severe dysfunction of the filibuster rules in the Senate... aside from showing himself to be concerned only with parochial matters.. aside from showing that big corporations are buying his vote...
... Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama may have just given Alexi Giannoulias an issue to run with - protecting American jobs.
More below the fold.
Richard Shelby's overplay of his hand to tip the balance of a competitive bid for a government contract towards a foreign company - EADS - should become an issue in the IL-Sen race between Alexi Giannoulias and Kirk.
Why?
Because a few years ago Boeing, the American company bidding against EADS, relocated its corporate HQ to Chicago from Seattle.
Not only does Shelby's bullying force Republicans to come out in favor of earmarks, but it also undermines a great American company, one which will provide not only jobs, but tax revenues, thus creating a double beneficial outcome for the economy as a whole.
If I were involved with the Alexi Giannoulias campaign:
- I would be proactively complaining Shelby is trying to rig a fair bidding process against an Illinois-based company and standing firm in Boeing's corner,
- my calls would be out to the press right now so they ask Kirk if he will support Shelby and his GOP Senate brethren here, also bringing up Kirk's brazeness in speaking on U.S. economic policy to China earlier this year
- I would be doing a photo op outside of Boeing HQ in downtown Chicago and painting the GOP as the party that abandons American companies and workers.
The idea is to put Giannoulias on the offensive and Kirk on the defensive in a race where the issue is more about Alexi Giannoulias's potential shady ties and less about the harm another GOP Senator could bring to the Democratic agenda. It makes Giannoulias look strong on protecting American jobs and Illinois jobs and tax revenues.
Thoughts?