May 18, 2011 - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky was a cohost this morning on the Don Wade and Roma show at WLS 890 AM (5:00 - 9:00 AM, Monday-Friday). She was sitting in for Roma, who is recupperating from minor foot surgery. I thought it would be appropriate to republish an open letter to Schakowsky from her former contender for the 9th District Congressional District. That letter was sent out on May 11.
May 12, 2011 - Do American youth think of the United States as a "loser," and are they as stupid as Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL 9th) seems to think they are? Her recent remarks have been interpreted that way, and it has set off a firestorm of indignation. Joel Pollak is one of those who is upset by Schakowsky's remarks on MSNBC's Hardball yesterday. Pollak ran for U.S. Congress in Illinois's 9th congressional district in 2010. He lost to incumbent Jan Schakowsky, a socialist Democrat.
Pollak wrote the public letter below on May 11, 2011 to Schakowsky in response to her recent comments calling America a "loser" and generally assuming that American youth are stupid and as equally disloyal as is she and her party.
Dear Rep. Schakowsky:
I noted with interest and alarm your comments on Hardball with Chris Matthews, which aired on MSNBC on May 11, as referenced in the Daily Caller (http://tinyurl.com/43jxfdg).
You stated that young people are “getting over this feeling that maybe America’s kind of a loser” since Osama bin Laden’s death.
You also described bin Laden’s death as a “murder.” No doubt that is a view shared by some on the radical left, but it is certainly erroneous--and irresponsible when expressed by a member of the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee.
Osama bin Laden’s death was not “murder.” It was justice, delivered by American heroes who benefited from intelligence that, had you had your way, likely never would have been available to them.
How dare you claim to speak for “young people” in America, after you made my age an issue in the 2010 campaign, highlighting my youth in your fundraising letters.
How dare you claim that young Americans had no pride in their country until now.
How dare you challenge anyone's patriotism when you retained a campaign manager and political director who referred to principled opponents of the Ground Zero mosque as "f***ing dumba**es." (http://tinyurl.com/5sqylto)
You evidently have little regard for the thousands of young people who proudly volunteer to serve their country.
You evidently have not taken the time to get to know young people like the Navy recruits I have befriended through my wife’s military service.
They proudly cheered the successful mission to kill bin Laden--not because it made them proud of America, but because they have always been proud of America.
I won’t question your patriotism. But I will question you, questioning theirs.
Proudly,
Joel B. Pollak
