Oberweis descends into the campaign gutter with Trump

Jim Oberweis, Republican candidate for Illinois’ 14 congressional district, should withdraw his ad accusing his opponent, incumbent Lauren Underwood, of condoning violent protests. When Underwood tells the Sun Times Editorial Board that protests were ‘beautiful’, she’s referring to the peaceful protests undertaken by millions of Americans, including me, to stand in solidarity against institutional racism. But Oberweis is taking his campaign cue from President Trump, who’s warning affluent suburbanites that Democratic supported minority mobs will be ‘wilding’ in the suburbs. So instead of addressing issues that matter in the 14th, climate change, pandemic response, alleviating economic collapse, health care for all, and yes, institutional racism, Oberweis, relies on Trump style racial fearmongering. Underwood’s support for those overwhelmingly peaceful protests is heard over visuals of violence. Oberweis has spent much of his $600,000 donation to his campaign in a massive ad buy on all local stations and cable news to hammer this single, false, misleading claim. What does he offer district voters? Nothing except fear and loathing. Only two folks can take pleasure in the offensive ad: Jim Oberweis…and his mentor Trump.