Meet Johnny Hap, primary challenger for Rahm Emanuel

[Greeby]

http://www.johnnyhap.com/home.htm

Hi, I am Johnny Hap, welcome to the website, thanks for visiting.

We at Hap for Congress are working to unseat Rahm Emanuel in the March 21st Democratic Primary. Yes I am a Democrat and so many ask “Why are you running against Rahm? Isn’t he doing a good job?” The simple answer is no, he is not doing a good job. If you examine his record, his positions on important legislation and his actions as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), you will see a much different Representative Emanuel than the one you see in the glossy newsletters that he sends out.

We can start with the war in Iraq. I support legislation to bring home our troops from Iraq. Emanuel does not. The bill is HR 4232 End the War in Iraq Act and you can read more about it at the issues section of this website. Not only does Emanuel continue to support this war but on Meet the Press in January 2005, he said he would have voted to give President Bush the authority to invade Iraq even knowing there would be no weapons of mass destruction. I support HR 4232, as does Representative Jan Schakowsky from Chicago. More on Iraq - click here.

Next we can look at the Patriot Act. In December 2005, Emanuel voted to make the Patriot Act permanent even before bi-partisan reforms were made. I stand with Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin on this issue. The powers granted to agencies within the Executive Branch with no judicial or congressional oversight are dangerous to our democracy.

Next we can look at National Health Insurance HR 676. I support it and will sign on as a co-sponsor as your Representative. Congressman Emanuel does not support HR 676. You can read more about this at the issues section of this website - click here.
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Edit - I'm kicking myself that I never heard of this guy till today, so if there's anyone here in IL-5, I'd ask you to vote for this guy :bounce:

[LPSJGMAN]

1. I Live in Illinois 5

Ive never heard of this guy. Heck, when I moved from IL 13 to IL 5, I didn't bother to change my voting registration for the primary because I didn't think their were any important races.

I think Rahm is doing a good job so far. Seeing how IL 5, post Rostenkowski, seems to change hands from one Dem to another ( Honestly, I dint think Rahm is going to stay in the House for long), Id say that Johnny, keep waiting in the wings or run for something else. You also should go to a Democratic Party meetup at Goose Island brewery on Clybourn in Lincoln Park to meet some activists if you haven't done so already.

Illinois's 5th congressional district is basically the North Side of Chicago. Its encompasses Lincoln Park, De Paul University, Wrigleyville, and goes as far west as O'Hare airport. I think it goes almost as far north as Loyola University, where Jan Schakowsky's district comes into play.

This district is strongly democratic. Rod Blagojevich used to represent here, following some random one term Republican class of 94 tool, who followed Rostenkowski.

[KharmaTrain]

2. I'm In IL-8...Never Heard Of Him Either

How ironic this is posted today...the day of the Illinois primary.

I'm next door to the 6th where Rahm and the DCCC is pushing Tammy Duckworth over local, homegrown progressive Christine Cegalis. This is the district just west of O'Hare and is the old Henry Hyde area...covering a lot of DuPage County and runs up against Dennis Hastert on the West. Losing the 6th would be a major emabarassment to Hastert and a big feather in the cap to Rahm...either way at least there's some Democratic interest in an area where none existed when I first came out here in the early 80's.

The 5th is the "Chicago" seat in the House. Be it Rosty or Blago (and with the exception of Flannigan...the one termer Repugnican...who wasn't even a Repugnican) or Rahm, it's the most important seat in the Illinois delegation. And yes, I suspect that Rahm is only keeping the seat warm while his intentions are on something bigger and better in a future Democratic administration.

A lot of the anger is not due to debate on key issues, but on the hardball politics involved. Both candidates in the 6th are against the war, both are pro-choice and will be a far greater alternative to Henry "Pantload" Hyde".

[Greeby]

3. I thought the whole Cegelis/Duckworth argument

Centered around the fact that Duckworth isn't saying "Get out of Iraq". :shrug:

[newyawker99]

4. Hi LPSJGMAN!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: