"A NATION THAT CONTINUES YEAR AFTER YEAR TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON MILITARY DEFENSE THAN ON PROGRAMS OF SOCIAL UPLIFT IS APPROACHING SPIRITUAL DOOM."

- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

"IF CIVILIZATION IS TO SURVIVE, WE MUST CULTIVATE THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS - THE ABILITY OF ALL PEOPLES, OF ALL KINDS, TO LIVE TOGETHER, IN THE SAME WORLD AT PEACE."

- FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

"I LOOK FORWARD TO A FUTURE IN WHICH OUR COUNTRY WILL MATCH ITS MILITARY STRENGTH WITH OUR MORAL RESTRAINT, ITS WEALTH WITH OUR WISDOM, ITS POWER WITH OUR PURPOSE."

- JOHN F. KENNEDY

“WHAT IS OBJECTIONABLE, WHAT IS DANGEROUS, ABOUT EXTREMISTS IS NOT THAT THEY ARE EXTREME, BUT THAT THEY ARE INTOLERANT. THE EVIL IS NOT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR CAUSE, BUT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEIR OPPONENTS.”

- ROBERT KENNEDY

"MANKIND MUST PUT AN END TO WAR OR WAR WILL PUT AN END TO MANKIND."

- JOHN F KENNEDY

"THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH AMERICA THAT CANNOT BE CURED BY WHAT IS RIGHT WITH AMERICA."

- WILLIAM J. CLINTON

"IT IS TO BE REGRETTED THAT THE RICH AND POWERFUL TOO OFTEN BEND THE ACTS OF GOVERNMENT TO THEIR OWN SELFISH PURPOSES."

- ANDREW JACKSON

"I HAVE LONG ENJOYED THE FRIENDSHIP AND COMPANIONSHIP OF REPUBLICANS BECAUSE I AM BY INSTINCT A TEACHER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH THEM SOMETHING."

- WOODROW WILSON

"HAVE WE NOT COME TO SUCH AN IMPASSE IN THE MODERN WORLD THAT WE MUST LOVE OUR ENEMIES - OR ELSE? THE CHAIN REACTION OF EVIL - HATE BEGETTING HATE, WARS PRODUCING MORE WARS - MUST BE BROKEN, OR ELSE WE SHALL BE PLUNGED INTO THE DARK ABYSS OF ANNIHILATION."

- MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

Recent News - 6/12/06

Emanuel: Phil Hare the Right Choice for Illinois Families

(Washington, D.C.) - Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel today released the following statement on the selection of Phil Hare to be the Democratic nominee in Illinois' 17th district.

"In nominating Phil Hare, Illinois Democrats have chosen someone who will continue the heroic efforts of Lane Evans in fighting for the needs and priorities of working families, seniors and veterans," said Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "His opponent, Andrea Zinga, has proved that she's out of step with Illinois families by embracing the Bush agenda, including trade agreements that undermine American workers. This November, Illinois voters will have a chance to put the needs of working families and seniors at the top of our national agenda by sending Phil Hare to fight for them in Congress."

The 17th District:

The 17th district, being vacated by retiring Rep. Lane Evans' is a Democratic district that has voted for Evans consistently, with large margins of victory, and for Democratic presidential candidates.

Phil Hare is a Democrat Who Can Win in Illinois 17. Phil Hare is a long-time Illinois Democrat who has worked for Lane Evans since 1982. Hare won a resounding victory, capturing the nomination with more than 17,000 votes. His vote total was more than twice that of his closest primary opponent.

The Republican nominee in the 17th district is Andrea Zinga, a right-wing candidate who was held below 40% by Evans in the 2004 congressional election. After a tough primary campaign, Zinga has only $3,740 cash on \ hand. Zinga's extreme views are out of step with the families in the district and in the last campaign, Zinga used Evans' health as a campaign issue - even speculating about the possible long term effects of the illness that Evans is still fighting. Her tasteless campaign was resoundingly defeated.

Andrea Zinga's Views Are Out of Touch With Those in the District.

Zinga Supported NAFTA. In her 2004 campaign, according to the Galesburg Zephyr, Zinga supported NAFTA. She said, "We're in a global economy. We can't close our borders; we have to be prepared to compete in the world." [Galesburg Zephyr, 7/15/04, http://www.thezephyr.com/zinga071504.htm]

Zinga Supports the GOP Medicare Prescription Drug Bill. On her 2006 campaign website, Zinga said, "I support the recently passed federal program that extends prescription drug benefits to our seniors who are on Medicare. With this brand-new legislation, I will actively work with our leaders in Washington to perfect it and make it viable for all senior citizens." The Republican bill Zinga supports made sweeping changes to Medicare that will give billions of dollars to businesses and the health care industry, while forcing seniors to accept annual increases in premiums and deductibles and a growing gap in coverage for the prescription drugs they buy. [Zinga Campaign website, 2006; Associated Press, 11/26/03; Washington Post, 11/24/03]

Zinga's Political Philosophy Aligned with Bush. In 2006, Republican Rep. John Shimkus said that Zinga stands as a formidable candidate because her political philosophy is aligned with President Bush. [Register Mail, 5/16/06]

The 17th District is a Democratic District. In the last two congressional elections, Evans received over 60% of the vote, holding his opponents under 40%. The district voted for Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election with over 55% and supported Senator John Kerry in 2004 with a majority of over 51% of the vote.

Zinga Lost Badly to Evans in 2004. In 2004, Zinga lost to Rep. Lane Evans in the general election by a 61-39% margin. [www.cnn.com]

Zinga Politicized Lane Evans' Health. In her unsuccessful run for Congress in 2004, Zinga made Rep. Evans' health a key issue in the campaign. Zinga even maliciously speculated about Evans' mental capacity without basis or proof, saying, "People who are on the medications he is on may have trouble with judgment, which can be worsened by excitement or stress." [Belleville News-Democrat, 10/24/04; Chicago Tribune, 8/12/04; Copley News Service, 1/21/04]

Zinga Won Her 2006 Primary By Less Than 300 Votes. Zinga narrowly won a harsh three-way primary for the GOP nomination to run in the 17th district. She received 42% of the vote while her closest competitor received 41% of the vote. Zinga won the election by just 274 votes with 13,058 total votes and has yet to reunite the Republican Party. [www.wqad.com]

Zinga Has a Poor Fundraising Record. In her 2004 campaign and again in 2006, Andrea Zinga's fundraising has been less than stellar. Her 2006 record has been poor thus far. She raised $54,000 but she was forced to spend $52,000 through her March primary election, and as of March 1, 2006 had just $3,740 cash on hand. [www.tray.com]