Progress Illinois

Last week, the news coming out of Sen. Dick Durbin and GOP challenger Steve Sauerberg's appearance before the Tribune editorial board was that Sauerberg "backtracked" from his attacks on the senator's patriotism.  Courtesy of the Tribune website, we now have video of the full exchange.  And Sauerberg really looks ridiculous.  Watch it:

When questioned about his patriotism charges, Sauerberg first attributes them to faceless residents of Illinois, whose sentiments he is simply repeating. He says that he himself has "no idea" if Durbin is patriotic, adding, "He probably is a patriotic guy, I would think."  When one of the board members presses him further, Sauerberg says of his charge against Durbin, "Maybe that's fair, maybe it's not."  But if it might not be fair, why he is repeating it over and over on the campaign trail?

When the discussion turns to support for our veterans, Sauerberg compliments his opponent's work on the issue. Durbin responds, "Pretty good for an unpatriotic senator."  Sauerberg answers, "It is pretty good for an unpatriotic senator."  The expression on Durbin's face says it all.

Later, the same board member asks Sauerberg about his separate charge that Durbin's first TV ad "exploit[s] our troops."  He responds, "Maybe that ... was a little bit too strong.  I think I may take that one back a little bit." Huh?

Finally, Sauerberg questions whether "Durbin is responsible" in any way for the scandalous conditions at the Veterans Administration hospital in Marion, IL -- an issue that Durbin has worked tirelessly to investigate and remedy.  At this point all Durbin can do is shake his head in disbelief.

The Tribune reported that, following the meeting, the two shook hands and Sauerberg stated, “I apologize for any offense.”  But after all his hedging and hiding, his backtracking and apologizing, Sauerberg returned to the well at a debate Thursday night.  From the Tribune report:

Only days after backtracking on questioning Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's patriotism, Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg reheated the issue Thursday by accusing him of actions that "emboldens the enemy" and "puts our soldiers in danger" in Iraq. [...]

[I]n the last debate before the Nov. 4 election, Sauerberg told an Illinois Radio Network audience that he was only voicing a frequent concern of voters by questioning Durbin’s patriotism.

"I have not apologized for my criticism of him on this issue. I did apologize for hurting his feelings," said Sauerberg, a "amily practice physician from Willowbrook. “I don’t want to hurt his feelings about this issue, but I do not apologize for bringing to the attention of the people of the United States of America his behaviors that I think have probably led to possibly more troop hazard in Iraq than if he hadn’t made them. This emboldens the enemy. This probably puts our soldiers in danger." [...]

"You're digging this hole so deep, now suggesting that comments that I made may have made it more dangerous for our troops in Iraq," said Durbin, a two-term senator. "I will tell you doctor, I don’t know where the bottom is anymore in your campaign. … I know you're new to this business. I know you're new to politics, but I will tell you, common decency still works, not only in politics but in medicine and real life."

If you're going to make incendiary charges from a stage, you better be strong enough to stand behind them when sitting elbow-to-elbow with your opponent before a small group of respected journalists and opinion-makers.  But watching Sauerberg wilt in the Tribune editorial board meeting, then lash out again at the debate 48 hours later, one word comes to mind.

Weak.