Hastert's long-shot Dem opponent suddenly has media spotlight

[Rose Siding]

....It's always a wonder why people mount these long-shot campaigns for Congress against entrenched incumbents, "long-shot" being a charitable characterization given the near certainty of defeat in districts drawn to give one party an overwhelming advantage.

Is it an abundance of idealism or ego? Did they get dropped on their heads as children, or as in the case of Laesch, spend too much time exposed to the West African sun, where his Christian missionary parents raised him from birth until age 12?

After spending some time Friday with Laesch, I'm leaning more toward the idealism explanation, though I don't discount the sun as a contributing factor.

Laesch said he got involved in politics for his younger brother, Pete, an Army sergeant stationed in Baghdad who he said joined the military out of economic necessity. Sitting across from me in an Aurora pancake house, he teared up at the mention of his brother, whom he hasn't heard from in several days.

"I think about all the people I have talked to who have lost kids. It's what gets me out of bed, and I go right to work. If there's anything about Washington that disgusts me it's that they don't look at it that way," said Laesch, who served as a Naval intelligence analyst in the Middle East between the gulf wars but discouraged his brother from enlisting. "I'm in politics until the war is over."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/87798,CST-NWS-brown08.article

http://www.john06.com/johns_blog

[Monkeyman]

1. There on in the Trib too

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0610090087oct09,1,7950512.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[babylonsister]

2. Now wouldn't a politician with ideals be refreshing, IL? Go, Laesch! nt

[whometense]

3. Ed Schultz has had him on the show

a bunch of times lately:

Oct. 5: http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/100506LaeschJohn.mp3

Oct. 4: http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/100406LaeschJohn.mp3

Sept. 26: http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/92606LaeschJohn.mp3

[gasperc]

4. I believe also Young Turks had him on

[frogcycle]

5. kick - Chicago Reader Article

...32-year-old Democrat Jonathan “John” Laesch is playing David to Hastert’s Goliath this election year. He’s a Jeep-driving navy veteran, the son of Lutheran missionaries and brother of a GI currently on duty in Iraq, and an aggressive, confident campaigner with a door-to-door strategy. He may be a long shot, but a Democratic victory here would be an upset of biblical proportions. ...

Full Article

[Divine Discontent]

6. wouldn't that be nice! n/t