Does anyone remember when I posted that email from the CPA about the lawyers party? Here’s an excerpt:
Most Americans know that a republic in which every major government action must be blessed by nine unelected judges is not what Washington intended in 1789. Most Americans grasp that we cannot fight a war when ACLU lawsuits snap at the heels of our defenders. Most Americans sense that more lawyers and judges will not restore declining moral values or spark the spirit of enterprise in our economy.
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers, but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
Well, the GOP has a problem with RINOs running on the Republican ticket who belong to the lawyering class. If voters don’t take a close look at what the candidates are doing and saying and investigate where they stand on issues -we could all get stuck with more lawyers in office that don’t stand on conservative values and principles.
There is a Republican Renaissance going on in Illinois and make no mistake; career politicians that have lost sight of their constituents; the Illinois bipartisan combine; and those who steal votes under the republican banner but are simply not conservatives -are going to get a rude awakening this February and in the general election in November.
And that’s the segway to David Ratowitz who’s running for the Illinois nomination for the 5th District Congressional seat. David’s campaign just sent out a message saying:
“Be Assured: You did not collect signatures for my nominating petition in vain!
Friends,
Months of hard work by dedicated Ratowitz for Congress volunteers produced more than double the required signatures for February 2010 Primary ballot access. Confident that those signatures were obtained in a legal and honest manner, we were disheartened by the anonymous challenge to our nominating petitions initiated against our campaign earlier this week. Unfortunately, in the face of this apparent attempt to limit voter choice, tax our resources and rig the playing field, our campaign has been forced to issue counter objections against both of our opponents.“
That is complete and utter BS, and I’ll tell you why: He fully intended a shotgun challenge to every single one of both of his opponents’ signatures, BEFORE his petitions were pulled. This victim ploy is a ruse.
The timing of the challenges to any candidates petitions is a matter of public record; but David doesn’t grant those people working on his behalf or his opponents enough intelligence to be able to figure that out. Take a look at when his petitions were challenged; it’s out in the open for everyone to see!
His petitions were challenged at 3:00 PM; and not from either one of his opponents.
He filed his challenge to his opponents’ petitions at 3:22 PM. You’d have to twist yourself up into a pretzel to assume it’s completely reasonable that -1) he found out he was challenged 2) drafted objection papers against two different candidates 3) printed them out 4) travelled over to the board of elections 4) and filed his papers–ALL IN JUST 22 MINUTES!
Tell me another one, David.
When publicly confronted he said if anyone was going to challenge him, EVERYONE was going to get challenged back.
Does he realize that this kind of a maneuver costs the taxpayers money? And just what does he think he’s going to accomplish by doing it…get one of his opponents removed from the ballot?
Ratowitz just lost his credibility.
Oh, but wait: there is more.
THE CASE OF TWO BUSINESS CARDS
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I give you two business cards and ask you: which one of these is David Ratowitz passing out right now?
DING DING DING! It’s not the one where he self identifies as an immigration lawyer. The immigration lawyer card is the one he was passing out a year ago, but it’s inconvenient to come out and admit what he’s REALLY about on his cards right now, when he’s looking to get votes from voters who don’t agree with AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS.
But wait, there’s more!
It also turns out that he is a “Libertarian”; not a republican. He has held office as a Libertarian Party coordinator in Cook County and not only does he NOT stand for the things that republicans stand for; he is using the Republican Party to further his pro-illegal immigration agenda.
I’d like to know what the Campaign for Liberty PAC does, too. Yes, he is a member (former organizer) for this libertarian Ron Paulian non interventionist on foreign policy-lobbying group, but for what purpose I haven’t been able to determine. It does strike me, though, that libertarian principles are incongruous to the principle of AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS and do not support the WoT. As a former Army Ranger, you’d think he’d be on the side of protecting our borders; and support our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq- so the facts seem confused and contradictory.
People should beware of the RINO and it looks like David Ratowitz’s dirty little secrets are coming out in the open along with his juvenile behavior; portraying himself as a victim in order to justify something he planned to do all along.
What exactly does David Ratowitz mean when he says he thinks “everyone should have ballot access”? Does that, in his mind, just apply to the races he is not running for office in? Leaders should stand on beliefs and principles–the 5th Congressional District race hasn’t even begun yet and Ratowitz just threw his under the bus.
Also read I’ve Been Attacked by a RINO–
David Ratowiitz who is running for Congress is:
1) Betraying the Libertarian principles he says he believes in that everyone should have ballot access
2) Proving to Conservative Republicans and Tea Party Types that you MUST research Candidates that call themselves Republicans!! OR you may just find yourselves with another Dede Scozzafava!
Previous here.
I met Ratowitz and his associate Lisa at an event, and they seemed like nice people. But there is no earthly excuse for this kind of willful dishonesty; especially in a political campaign. It illustrates how willing some candidates are to do and say what they think you want to hear (and hide the truth) just in order to get elected.
Update:
- Dan Ferreri Outs Himself As David Ratowitz’s Campaign Manager
- Warner Todd Huston talks to the Ratowitz Campaign at Red County regarding this post and the campaign’s response to the business cards and Ratowitz representing illegals as a lawyer
- Ratowitz puts out a press release clarifying his position on Illegal Immigration
- Rosanna Pulido Fires Back
Cao- The petition challenges were prepared as a contingency. The reason for the filing time, is that David was not going to file, unless someone filed against him. He spent the day sitting in the Board of Elections office waiting, and when his signatures were challenged, he handed his counter challenges in.
At least he had the guts to sign the challenges himself. Whichever opponent of his filed challenges, was scared to be found out, and had someone else do it for them.
In terms of being in favor of amnesty for illegals, this is simply not true. The fact that someone has practiced immigration law at some point in their life does not make them a proponent of illegal immigration.
As for the cards you have scanned here, neither are current. David’s law practice has moved mostly into employment law.
Also, since I’ve posted a comment on your blog, please feel free to contact me to clear up any misunderstandings. I know how this might look, but it was not a “ruse.”
Dan Ferreri
Campaign Manager
Ratowitz for Congress 2010
So he was prepared to file petition challenges against both of his opponents when neither of his opponents challenged him?
Leaders work through the challenges and take it in stride instead of fight gremlins.
Granted, he has new business cards, but why? Even the most recent one I showed there is as recent as May of this year.
I contacted you and will publish a response, as I’m sure everyone will be interested in how he manages to squirm out of this one….
His actions demonstrate that he doesn’t truly believe ‘everyone should have ballot access’.
I would be interested to see exactly what your proof is that the person who challenged his petitions is acting on behalf of one of his opponents.
Rosanna doesn’t act this way, and to my knowledge, neither does the other guy. In fact, every time Rosanna runs her petitions are challenged; and the Board of Elections even scratched her own father’s signature in the process, which is ridiculous.
This challenging petitions thing is a lawyer’s response and I don’t look upon it favorably no matter what the supposed justification there is for it. His sitting there with papers at-the-ready conjures up a very unflattering picture in my mind.
It might be looked upon favorably by other lawyers, but not as far as regular people/voters are concerned.
What say you about David coming out in conversation as a proponent for amnesty for illegals?
And I understand that you are the Campaign Operations Manager for the Chicago Republican Party.
Isn’t it a conflict of interest for you to be serving as David’s campaign manager-at least until after the Primary? What happened to the “big tent”?
I look forward to your response.
I am astounded at the lack of truth and spin that occurs here. While we are in the battle for our country, we are forced to deal with someone who is not revealing who they really are. Isn’t that the way America got in this hole in the first place?
We need people who stand on Principle no matter what challenges they face.
Unfortunately, David Ratowitz is forcing me to waste a lot of time and taxpayers’ money because he is mad he was challenged. It was not by me, I wouldn’t do such a thing because I stand by my principle ” LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE” I was asked by an Official recently from the Republican Party…
I said “perish the thought!” The TEA Parties are all about “let the people decide!” “It is about time the Republican Party listen to the people!!”
David believes in His Libertarian views.. BALLOT access! LOL!!
But he refused to give me Ballot access…
David is a bleeding heart when it comes to illegal immigration, HOW do I know?
Well I have sat with David several times at the Tuesday Night Townhall meetings. He has told me he thinks my views on illegal immigration are off. He is an illegal alien sympathizer. It is through several conversations over dinner that I know this.
Of course David was not running for Congress then and had no image to uphold.
And with David being an Immigration lawyer, the evidence why they support illegal immigration is ALWAYS the same…………………..FOLLOW THE MONEY!!
Let me ask you a question, WOULD YOU have a business card that says you were/are an immigration lawyer if you were not??
His campaign manager is giving an excuse for David filing challenges but will not admit that they know I, Rosanna Pulido, have NOTHING to do with David’s challenge, but they continue to press the issue.
David’s Campaign manager refuses to acknowledge that I showed no ill will against David and this could all be over, All David has to do is DROP the Challenge to my petitions, but he refuses to DO THE RIGHT THING.
David problems stem from a source he already knows. But David Refuses to do the RIGHT THING and drop the Challenge against someone who is innocent.
If David will not do the Right thing, in the little things…HOW will David fair in doing the RIGHT THING in Big things?? The future of this country..It’s all connected.
I don’t think anybody has “misunderstood’ anything here, you’ve just been caught with your pants down, Dan. And David and Lisa, too. I can’t believe this…Log Cabin Republicans…amnesty for illegals…it’s no wonder the GOP is a mess.
Guys like Dan and David would do the party a big favor if they LEFT and stopped pretending they supported the GOP platform.
This is exactly what is wrong with the GOP in this country – dishonest lawyers vying for position in government; and GOP insiders helping them do it.
I think you’re all missing a very important point – that it is SUPPOSED to be difficult to get on the ballot! If that weren’t the case, every nutcase and his neighbor would fill the ballot with hundreds or more names for each office. I believe the rules are quite simple AND FAIR: get a minimum number of valid signatures from registered voters in the district you want to run in. If you can’t handle that simple of a task, you don’t belong on the ballot. (Nor would I think you’d be intelligent enough to fulfill the requirements for the office you seek.) It’s that simple.
For anyone to claim that it’s unfair (or even “blatantly illegal” as I’ve read) simply doesn’t understand that these rules are for EVERYBODY, not just those who choose to follow them. It IS fair and balanced – for everyone.
Not every candidate’s petitions are challenged, Jim. That’s a little different than the board of elections reviewing petitions to make sure Donald Duck didn’t sign them. Do you think that someone that didn’t challenge Ratowitz who is in Ratowitz’s race should have been challenged?
This is not a “*** for tat” game. However, for anyone who’s been around Chicago and Cook County politics for any length of time understands that this is just how the process goes. Petitions are challenged if: 1) It is believed the challenger can knock the opponent off, and 2) IF the challenger WANTS the opponent off. (This second option comes into play simply because there are times when a challenger is desired to be kept ON the ballot, if only to “split the vote” between two or more opponents. There is one Dem MWRD candidate who isn’t registered where his Statement of Candidacy lists, however it was decided to keep him on for that very reason.)
As one who is familiar with these cases I can safely say that Ratowitz’ challenges hold no merit, as they’ve been “shotgunned”, that is he simply challenged every signature as not valid without even LOOKING at them. This tells the B of E officials that he has no respect for them nor their valuable time, and that angers them. Ratowitz will leave the hearings after having been admonished (they absolutely HATE shotgun challenges!) So Pulido and Lad have nothing to worry about (except for additional legal fees), but Ratowitz won’t make the cut himself.
In conclusion, the advice any Cook County candidate should follow, is to simply get at least three times the minimum signatures, and make sure your filing is looked at by an election attorney before filing. But for Ratowitz – an “election attorney” – when he gets bounced he’ll have to take “Elections” off his business card or risk being humiliated any further.
Jim,
Thanks for putting the whole hearing thing into perspective. I hope you’re right about this. I wish I were a fly on the wall to see RATowitz’s face if this admonishment happens.
Like many, I have a suspicion that most petition challenges are cowardly (and soooo Democrat Partyesque… which is cowardly exemplified as it happens). But, I think Jim made a good point that we shouldn’t too easily dismiss. I, for one, would not like to see an election process where dozens of candidates end up on the ballot for a given race. We must make it at least a LITTLE hard to get on the ballot in order to avoid this fate. To many on the ballot and we drift toward democracy (little “d”) and that augers against our ideals of a representative republic.
Lastly, if some feel Ratowitz is pro-illegal, then that is a question that should be put to him in a public forum, one we as voters should REQUIRE that he answer. So, that is what I will call for. I don’t have a whole lot of interest in the petition challenge question. Mr. Ratowitz’ immigration stance is far more important.
Thank, WTH; let’s find out if the candidates in the 5th district are going to have a candidates forum and make sure some of us are in attendance to make sure that important question on immigration is posed to him.
My concern about him at this point is- whatever the question is; can we trust that whatever his answer is–would it be the truth, or merely that which is politically expedient?
Thanks to everyone who jumped in and left a comment.
I have been given a response to the immigration issue by the Ratowwitz campaign:
http://www.publiusforum.com/2009/11/14/where-does-ratowitz-stand-on-immigration/
Thanks WTH, but I’m more interested in what will happen at the BOE with his shotgun challenge.
I am hopeful we can keep his feet to the fire and find out the answers to all our questions. THIS is the best dof what blogging s for, don’t you think?
…sorry I meant “THIS is the best of what blogging is for,” above. Sloppy typing.
No actually WTH I have already stated David’s stance when he WAS NOT running for Congress……..
David is a bleeding heart when it comes to illegal immigration, HOW do I know?
Well I have sat with David several times at the Tuesday Night Townhall meetings. He has told me he thinks my views on illegal immigration are off. He is an illegal alien sympathizer. It is through several conversations over dinner that I know this.
David has told me over and over where he stands on illegal immigration over dinner at Townhall meetings.
Yes, and WTH didn’t mention it at all, did he, Rosanna?
I’m troubled by a number of things about Ratowitz’s campaign including the Log Cabin Republicans meetup group and the connection to Ron Paulian non interventionist truther types.
The fact is – the guy has been and is currently involved with some nutty people and is connected to that artificial creation (like most political committees) – the Chicago GOP, which has a heavy *** influence and is known as an assortment of bad people.
Nothing Ferreri says or WTH writes will change those simple facts.
Let’s not start turning our guns on each other, here Cao. Your last reply made it seem as if I am siding with Ratowitz and against you. I am doing neither here. In fact I emailed Rosanna to see if she wants space on my blogs to have a formal post on the subject (plus I’ve posted her several comments on those posts). I want ALL the facts out there.
I just got the Ratowitz campaign’s latest on his stance on immigration. You can see it at: http://bit.ly/3DDjhs
We all should keep the discussion going and I am not trying to hide anyone’s info in favor of the other party’s. We need this info out so we can make an informed decision at the polls.
I want all the facts out there, too; Warner. I just am not convinced that the Ratowitz campaign is telling the truth as evidenced in the comparison that Rosanna made here between what the campaign manager said and what was in the press release.
Rosanna said some things here in comments that you didn’t include, that struck me as somewhat curious.
I am curious why you feel it is your job to email Rosanna to clarify her position when she’s already made it clear, and it’s clear that I’m in touch with her? In fact, I was contacted by an associate of the Ratowitz campaign that wanted to know if I was, in fact, Rosanna Pulido! What an absurd accusation! But they are desperate to find someone to blame for the challenge to his petition signatures!
Why do you think it’s necessary to mediate, Warner? Do you think I’m being unfair to the Ratowitz campaign, or – what is your motivation here? What is your connection to them?
I’ve already published Rosanna’s response.
I am speaking as an associate and supporter of the Minuteman groups (Chicago, Midwest, the Minuteman Project, etc.) and Chris Simcox, Rick Biesada and Jake and MJ – and I have been very forthcoming on my views on the subject; and if you go through my archives, you can even find my interview with Rosanna on my blog talk radio show.
You can go through the “open borders and immigration” category here and find a lot of videos and articles not only about what has happened on this subject in the Chicagoland area (courtesy of Jake and MJ) but across the nation- including the once active “blogs for borders blogbursts”, mostly written by Heidi at Euphoric Reality.
What is your position on immigration, Warner? Or is your purpose in all of this merely to be the ‘objective reporter’? (because I am always interesting-but biased)?
I have to tell you, I am a bit exasperated that you’ve decided I am the enemy here. I never said you were being unfair, I never refused to publish any of Rosanna’s comments, nor have I ignored them from your blog and I am not supporting Ratowitz.
In FACT, I attended Rosanna’s organization meeting when she tried to run for that same seat that Ratowitz is now running for. Yep, got in my little car and drove all the way downtown.
I’ve contacted Rosanna to give her a full post to say her piece on the issue so that she has the respect of an open forum on my blogs and is not just being relegated to the comments section. That is on my bogs. What you do on yours is not my concern nor do I have any problem with it. I have enjoyed your point of view and have been following this issue.
My stance on illegal immigration is pretty well developed through my writing as yours is for you. I am against it. I am 100% for the building of the wall, I am against sanctuary cities, I am against cops being stopped from asking if a suspect is a legal citizen, and I think that amnesty is a horrible idea. I think employers should be fined and prosecuted for hiring illegals and I think that no child of an illegal should be allowed to go to school as if he were a citizen. I am also against the Census counting illegals and against the state paying health bills for illegals.
As to Ratowitz, I met him once. I am not part of his campaign. I am, however, the editor of the Cook County pages on RedCounty.com and have been charged to talk about ALL the GOP candidates for the Cook County area and the surrounding communities. This controversy makes for good copy and that is why I want all sides covered.
I have to say, though, I am somewhat sorry I so innocently came here to join in the discussion not realizing that I would be attacked as some apostate to the cause… especially since I did not even pronounce my opinion on this whole matter but have simply reported all sides as the issue has played out. (All I said is that the petition aspect of the story didn’t particularly interest me) Apparently, one cannot even report what the other side is saying without being accused of being a monster around here!
In any case, Rosanna has agreed to drop me a line about her side of this tale and I am happy to post it on my site in a formal post. Just as I was happy to link to your post about it all on my site.
To each his own, I guess. I have no control over your being offended or exasperated, that’s your choice; although I think it’s just a teeny bit bizarre that you’re so thin-skinned that you can’t just answer a few simple questions without taking it so personally.
I don’t mean anything personal by it.
These days it appears that approaching things as delicately as possible in everything you do should be the primary concern-and emotion rules the day; not facts.
You’re not the enemy; I’ve never believed you were “the enemy” whatever that means- I know who you are -or at least I THOUGHT I did up until this moment…you and I are both registered contributors at STOPTHEACLU.com!
I appreciate that you came by and am very flattered by it – as I said on that interview with you on my blog talk radio show – I respect your work, and think very highly of your writing.
Rosanna should have every opportunity to talk about this thing with Ratowitz; and I’ve said my piece over here. You should certainly have every opportunity to do your own analysis.
Please don’t be offended if I link to your site if you do that, I would like readers to be able to follow what’s going on, and it helps me to follow what’s going on, too.