The media in Illinois has shown their complete and ugly bias against Republicans once again by letting the “Bill Foster held his wife hostage” story slide and wish to allow citizens of Illinois Fourteenth district to vote for a man who’s wife swore under oath that he “physically abused” her and she “feared for her safety” and the judge in the case accused Foster of “Holding his ex-wife Hostage”
I wonder if Barack Obama knows that he is supporting an accused wife beater and if he would have cut the commercial for Foster had the media done its job and reported the facts.
-ROI
“IRONIC ENDORSEMENT – U.S. Sen. Barack Obama this week endorsed Democrat Congressional Candidate Bill Foster. Obama was first elected after his main GOP rival dropped out of the race, following salacious media reports about his divorce. Potentially damaging details are also contained in Foster’s divorce records (Image from Foster campaign website).
The testy divorce proceedings of Illinois millionaire Bill Foster, including allegations the Democrat Congressional hopeful physically abused his wife during their marriage, have appeared in an unusual forum: the liberal activist website DailyKos.com.
Foster’s campaign to succeed retired House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert in Illinois’ 14th Congressional district has received widespread attention at the Democrat website, including critics who favored the millionaire’s primary opponent, John Laesch.
Foster eked out a narrow victory in the district’s February 5 Democrat primary, despite outspending Laesch by a better than 10-to-1 margin.
In an entry posted Tuesday, one of Foster’s critics, a user named Deeborneblue, posted highlights of the Foster’s contentious divorce proceedings, claiming they were forwarded to him by “a former reporter, who sent me some stuff that didn’t print before leaving that job.”
Details of the Foster’s divorce were first reported by majorityap.com, including an allegation that Foster “pushed, shoved and caused physical abuse and emotional harm…putting her in fear for herself (and the couple’s) minor children.”
Following majorityap.com’s investigation, Foster’s ex-wife Ann disputed the report.
“Any rumors are just false. I know,” she told Roll Call newspaper last week.
But the so-called “rumors” are contained in a motion Ann Foster filed in Kane County Circuit Court, asking that Foster be removed from the home they shared, claiming Foster’s continued presence “jeopardized” the “physical and mental well-being” of her and their children.
Ann Foster’s claim of abuse was made under oath.
Illinois law states “a person commits perjury when, under oath or affirmation, in a proceeding or in any other matter where by law such oath or affirmation is required, he makes a false statement, material to the issue or point in question, which he does not believe to be true.” Perjury is a Class 3 felony, with a possible prison term of between two and five years.
OTHER POSTINGS IRONIC
The posting of Foster’s divorce proceedings came the same day as two other features that were particularly ironic. The website highlighted the endorsement of Foster by the Chicago Tribune, which led a 2004 lawsuit to gain access to sealed California divorce records of onetime GOP Senate candidate Jack Ryan.
The Tribune was harshly criticized over their decision to publish salacious details of Ryan’s divorce from one-time Star Trek:Voyager and Boston Public star Jeri Ryan.
In a series of columns and articles, Tribune writers and editors defended their decision to publish the particulars of the Ryan’s divorce which, unlike Foster, contained no allegations of abuse.
“Voters need information about the views, background and character of the people they elect to office. Voters can’t make informed decisions about a candidate’s positions or character without such information,” explained a June 25, 2004 editorial headlined Why The Tribune Went to Court. “That’s why, as part of their coverage of candidates for political office, reporters seek a wide range of documents and opinions to help voters understand the candidates.”
A Tribune Editor, Don Wycliff, took defense of the paper a step further. “It is one thing…to have access to public records and another thing to print them,” he wrote on June 27, 2004. “I think the Ryan story belonged in the newspaper.”
The paper and other Illinois media outlets further defended their decision by pointing to the fact Ryan had not been forthcoming when asked about his divorce.
FOSTER OMITS DETAILS
Similarly, Foster was less than forthcoming by drawing attention to his own divorce, claiming on his campaign website the couple “agreed to live within a few blocks of each other in Batavia (IL)” following their 1996 divorce.
Court records indicate Ann Foster’s decision to live in Batavia was not voluntary.
A provision of the couple’s settlement stipulated that if Ann Foster moved outside of the Batavia School district prior to their daughter’s eighteenth birthday, “wife shall pay to husband the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000).” Circuit Court Judge Keith Brown, who presided over the couple’s divorce, seemed stunned.
“I have never seen a provision as this, such as $50,000 payment if someone moves out of the school district,” he said in a transcript obtained by majorityap.com. “I’m not sure if that’s – let’s say when that day comes, the enforceability of that provision would be an issue.”
The judge said of Bill Foster that “it almost sounds, on the initial surface, as if you are holding someone hostage to stay within any school district, which is not in the law of the State of Illinois.”
Despite filing suit to gain access to a Republican candidate’s out-of-state divorce records, neither the Tribune nor any other traditional media outlet has written about Foster’s divorce, which is public record – and easily accessible – under Illinois law.
OBAMA BENEFITED FROM REPORTS
Another story at DailyKos, submitted by a Foster campaign worker, boasted of a television advertisement featuring an endorsement of Foster’s candidacy by Presidential hopeful and U.S. Senator Barack Obama.
Obama was locked in a tight race with Ryan during his first and thusfar only campaign for the U.S. Senate. Ryan dropped out of the race following media reports about his divorce, and Obama cruised to victory over conservative activist Alan Keyes.
MORE IRONY
Foster’s onetime primary opponent vowed to support him in Illinois’ March 8 Special Election, a courtesy Laesch was not extended when he was Hastert’s Democrat challenger in 2006.
According to Kane County, Illinois, voting records, Foster didn’t vote in the 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002 or 2001 general elections.
The MSM has yet to pick this up, if Foster was a Republican the press would be all over it, I really hate it when the press shows their biases, even though it seems the local press is starting to figure out that Foster is a empty suit that is so out of touch with the 14th district that he would be a disaster as a Congressman. Just what the people of the 14th need is a congressman that has no answer for anything except for blame bush but is too afraid to publicly face an opponent in a debate.
Pretty sad really.
Tough enough to shove a woman around but not man enough to stand up and show people how empty your suit really is.
A mention was made in Roll Call:
February 26, 2008 By Emily Heil and Anna Palmer,
Roll Call Staff
Pretty much every politician’s Web site touts adoring endorsements of his or her bona fides for public office. But a politician getting an ex-wife to sing his praises on his campaign Web site is a rarity.
It’s no political ex-wives’ club for Illinois Democrat Bill Foster’s ex-wife, Ann. Actually, Foster, who is running in a March 8 special election for the open 14th district seat previously held by former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R), has a secret weapon in his ex. Things weren’t always so rosy between the Fosters, who divorced in 1996. In typical divorce fashion, the pair had quite a messy separation, according to court documents. Unsurprisingly, the Republican blogosphere has gleefully picked apart the salacious details in hopes of keeping Hastert’s old seat in Republican hands. Though the blogs aired some of the allega-
tions Ann made against her husband at the time, HOH won’t do the same.
HOH will say that it appears that more than a decade later, the pair has let bygones be bygones. Foster’s campaign site states: “Bill and Ann are both very proud of remaining on good terms and making things as easy as possible for their kids, who seem to be doing well in life!”
Ann, who works as a software engineer for her ex-husband’s company, concurs.
Hopefully we will see more of this, the people have the right to know if they are voting for a wife beater.
“For those of you hoping to make the trek to the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin on Wednesday to see congressional candidates Bill Foster and Jim Oberweis go one-on-one — you’re out of luck.
The Foster campaign turned down the Elgin League of Women Voters’ invitation to participate, according to Janet Poyner, president of the LWV. The Oberweis campaign had agreed to the debate, but now it’s been canceled, Poyner said.
“I’m very disappointed as a voter and a League member,” she said. “We have wonderful forums in Elgin. We would have filled the place.”
There are less than two weeks left before the March 8 special election to fill out the 14th Congressional District term of retired Rep. Dennis Hastert, and it’s looking less and less likely that voters will get to see Foster and Oberweis square off, live and in person. The Foster campaign on Monday released their schedule of upcoming joint appearances, and they number only five — and all of them will take place behind closed doors.
The appearances include three editorial board meetings, including The Beacon News meeting today, and two televised interviews. Foster and Oberweis will appear tonight on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, and will tape NBC5’s City Desk program on Friday morning.
And that’s it, according to the Foster camp.
Oberweis spokesman Bill Pascoe said there have been other opportunities for face-to-face meetings, and while the Republican’s campaign has accepted every invitation, the Foster campaign has said no. He cited the pair’s last scheduled appearance on Chicago Tonight, shortly after the primary — Foster didn’t show, and Oberweis fielded questions on his own.
Foster’s team has not responded to repeated invitations from The Beacon News to set a date for a debate like the ones sponsored by The Beacon News and CBS2 at Aurora University ahead of the primary election. Oberweis did respond to The Beacon debate proposal, and his campaign staff was open to scheduling suggestions.
“Bill Foster has clearly shown that he is not a man who believes that engaging with the public is a necessary part of campaigning,” Pascoe said. “The question is, would he behave this way were he elected to Congress?”
This isn’t the first time Foster has been criticized for not attending public debates. His Democratic challengers in the primary, John Laesch and Jotham Stein, took Foster to task for missing repeated forums during that election.”
This is also pretty big news, Bill Foster knows he has something to hide given the fact that his divorce proceedings have come to light and that he was accused of Holding his ex-wife Hostage, apparently the campaign team has decided to keep Chicken Bill under wraps in hopes that he dosent have to answer questions about his past history of spousal abuse.
Here is the text copied from the majorityap website it looks like a scan of the Bill Foster divorce record but is not included in the email that we previously posted.
“That in the last sixty (6) days, the defendant (Foster) has pushed, shoved, and caused physical abuse and emotional harm of the Plaintiff, thereby putting her in fear for not only herself but also for the parties minor children.”
This kind of thing is a campaign ender, wife beaters rarely appeal to the female demographic.
No matter what you think of Oberwies this news should seal the deal.
Court records dispute Foster’s campaign claims Illinois Democrat accused
of holding ex-wife “hostage”
Portraying a warm a fuzzy family image is nothing new for politicians
seeking to curry favor with voters. But Illinois Democrat Bill Foster,
seeking election to Congress in the district once held by former House
Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, has taken things a step further – boasting on
his campaign website of the amicable relationship he enjoys with his
ex-wife, who divorced him in 1996.
“Bill and Ann are both very proud of remaining on good terms and making
things as easy as possible for their kids,” Foster wrote on his
candidate biography.
But according to Illinois court records obtained by the Majority
Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com), the Foster’s were far from
being “on good terms” during their testy divorce proceedings.
In fact, in a motion filed in Circuit Court in Kane County, his
then-wife Ann claimed Foster “pushed, shoved and caused physical abuse
and emotional harm…putting her in fear for herself (and the couple’s)
minor children.”
Ann Foster asked the court to remove her husband from the home they
shared, and that the court “issue a temporary restraining order against
(Bill Foster) from calling, harassing or touching (Ann Foster).”
Equally troubling is Foster’s claim that “Bill and Ann agreed to live
within a few blocks of each other in Batavia.” Court records indicate
Ann Foster’s decision to live near her soon-to-be ex-husband was not
voluntary.
A provision of the couple’s divorce settlement stipulated that if Ann
Foster moved outside of the Batavia School district prior to their
daughter’s eighteenth birthday, “wife shall pay to husband the sum of
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000).” Circuit Court Judge Keith Brown, who
presided over the couple’s divorce, seemed stunned.
“I have never seen a provision as this, such as $50,000 payment if
someone moves out of the school district,” he said in a transcript
obtained by majorityap.com. “I’m not sure if that’s – let’s say when
that day comes, the enforceability of that provision would be an issue.”
The judge said of Bill Foster that “it almost sounds, on the initial
surface, as if you are holding someone hostage to stay within any school
district, which is not in the law of the State of Illinois.”
There is some evidence the Foster’s once acrimonious relationship has
improved.
Ann Foster has since moved from the Batavia School district, and now
draws a paycheck from her ex-husband. According to Foster’s campaign
website, she “works as a software engineer for Bill’s company in
Wisconsin.”
Below is my first attempt at a campaign ad, I had a lot of trouble getting a youtube account this morning so thank you to my friend ROM for posting it on my behalf hopefully I will get my own account soon but I was in a rush to introduce my new ad to the world.
Illinois Review picked up this NRCC release about Bill Foster and it made me chuckle, kudos to those guys I hope they can help push Oberweis across the finish line:-ROI
A Liberal Scientist’s Laboratory of Extreme Left-Wing Positions Exposed
From the NRCC:
Bill Foster, scientist by profession and liberal Democrat candidate for Illinois’ 14th Congressional District, has concocted a number of radical, left-wing liberal positions and is clearly out of step with Illinois’ voters. Foster’s toxic formula would have disastrous effects on working families if he had his way.
Take a closer look at scientist Bill Foster’s maltreated liberal experiment:
No Einstein on the Economy:
Bill Foster is a strong believer in tax hikes. Foster supports letting the current federal tax cuts expire which would result in a whopping $3,914 tax increase per taxpayer in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. (Chicago Daily Herald, 5/31/07, www.heritage.org)
As if there was any doubt about his tax-and-spend agenda, Foster refused to sign a tax pledge vowing to oppose any tax increase or reduction in deductions or tax credits. (Chicago Tribune, 2/7/08)
Extreme Practice on Abortion:
Bill Foster was “happy” to have received the endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice America, one of the nation’s leading pro-abortion advocates. (www.foster08.com)
Planned Parenthood proudly endorsed Bill Foster for the 14th Congressional District. (www.foster08.com)
Faulty Theory on Healthcare:
Bill Foster has allied himself closely with the policies of leading liberal Democrat Presidential candidates, especially when it comes to government-run healthcare. Foster supports “proposals similar to those being put forth by major Democratic candidates…” such as “Hillarycare.” (www.foster08.com)
Dangerous Equation on Troop Funding:
Foster is a key proponent of the “power of the purse” and would cut-off funding for the troops as they continue to courageously execute General Petraeus’ successful change in strategy in Iraq. Foster supports military appropriations language that explicitly states, “this money is not to be used for ongoing combat operations…” (Democratic Candidates Forum, 10/23/2007)
In other IL-14 news the Democratic primary is still not settled in our estimation, John Laesch who is about as radical leftist as they come is still holding out hope to be the Democratic nominee to face Republican Jim Oberweis in November. Laesch may be a better candidate for the Democrats in November because Bill Foster is a pretty creepy guy in general.
AURORA — Democrat John Laesch knows at least one outstanding vote for him that hasn’t appeared in any election totals.
“As of today, my brother’s vote has not been counted,” Laesch said, referring to Peter Laesch, a sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany.
As long as all outstanding provisional and absentee ballots are counted around the 14th Congressional District, Laesch doesn’t care if his brother is the only supporter he has left, Laesch said Friday morning at his Aurora campaign headquarters.
Laesch trailed former Fermilab scientist Bill Foster by 355 votes on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in the regular Democratic primary election in the 14th District.
“We still don’t have a final number,” Laesch said of how many ballots are unaccounted for. “We have no choice but to await the final results.”
Earlier last week, Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham explained that those ballots, if properly postmarked before Tuesday of this week, can be counted until Feb. 19.
Based on state law, the primary results must be certified by March 7.
Having lost by several thousand votes in the special primary for the 14th District, Laesch acknowledged his support for Foster against Republican Jim Oberweis in the special March 8 election to determine who will serve the remainder of retired Rep. Dennis Hastert’s term.
Flanked by his wife and dozens of supporters and campaign workers, Laesch took the podium Friday morning to chants of “Every vote counts.”
“I have stated consistently that I will remain involved in electoral politics until every single U.S. soldier is safely home from Iraq,” he said.
Laesch said he talked with Foster by phone Thursday, describing the conversation as “friendly.”
On Friday, Foster offered his first comment on his primary opponent, saying Laesch “ran a tremendous race.”
“I’m thrilled to have his support in the special election,” Foster said. “Every vote must and will be counted, and the result will be a united Democratic Party behind my candidacy to change Washington.”
Rightofillinois Politics 
