Pollak Throws Pie In Schakowsky's Face

The Ladies Love Joel Pollak

Joel Pollak is running the most brilliant campaign that I have ever had the pleasure to observe. His opponent in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, incumbent Jan Schakowsky, must be having fits on a daily basis. That's about how often Pollak hits "The Schak" with new campaign punches, often throwing Schakowsky's own words and actions back at her to his own good advantage.

One of those actions is a call by Schakowsky's campaign to disrupt a Pollak event this coming Sunday. Rather than ring his hands about it, Pollak has ingeniously turned it around and tossed it right back at The Schak - like a pie in a clown's face. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Pollak campaign welcomes Schakowsky supporters to “Women For Pollak” event on Sunday, August 22

August 20, 2010 - A political action committee from outside the 9th District that supports incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky has told its members to “show up” and disrupt Joel Pollak’s “Women for Pollak” campaign event in Skokie this Sunday. 

The Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC PAC), which is based in the 10th District suburb of Highland Park, sent an email to supporters accusing Pollak of running a “smear campaign” and asking recipients to “show him we know better.”

Pollak, the Republican nominee for the 9th district congressional seat, welcomes JAC PAC’s attendance. “While our event will be devoted to issues facing women from the 9th District, we welcome members of JAC PAC to participate in our discussion," he said. "We are a diverse community, with diverse views, and all will be treated with mutual respect." 

The “Women for Pollak” event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 22, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 5300 W. Touhy Ave., in Skokie (MAP). Award-winning journalist Mary Laney will host, and entertainment will be provided by celebrity comedian Caryn Bark.

Click here to see the JAC PAC email.

POST SCRIPT: I received this insightful email from a friend who is a local political insider. He describes himself as a Democrat. He was asked recently whether he thought Jan Schakowsky is too powerful to beat, "given the fact that she usually racks up nearly 70% of the vote." He wrote to me about that:

"Not really. All that means is that Schakowsky's good at getting out her loyal followers to vote. Don't forget that the turnout is typically pathethic - 30% most of the time and rarely approaching 50% of registered voters. So that doesn't mean that most of the "eligible voters" in the 9th are in favor of her candidacy, it only means that she's good at getting out HER people to the polling place."

Schakowsky, of course, is a darling of the local Chicago Democrat Machine. She also has heavy union support (SEIU, for example) and can count on money and foot soldiers from them. Pollak has an uphill battle, certainly, but his campaign has been so well run and gotten such good publicity that it's safe to say he has strong name recognition in the 9th Congressional District. Perhaps enough people in the 9th are fed up with the insane Schakowsky-supported super-sized federal government and its totalitarian approach to legislation that this Novemember - just maybe - Schakowsky will be defeated.