Thank you! I thought I was the only one who was fed up with the tsunami of negativity! Ilya could have gained my respect if he had spoken up against it. But he has been silent through it all.

One of the few reasons my home phone is off hook for the next few days..Couldn't stand that guy's phone calls anymore. Granted the messages are still being left on my VM, but I can hit delete after it's over.

Karin, I'd say I feel your pain except I am fortunate to be living with my wife at her grandmothers house, and Grandma is a Republican - thanks to that blessing-in-disguise I have avoided getting any mail or phone calls from any campaigns. We got a robo request from Newt a few months ago for donations, but nothing since.

Mud slinging is part of how politicians act now-a-days...unfortunately. The word "distortions" has been used to describe what those who are supporting Sheyman say about Schneider. What these folks say is that Schneider has donated to Republicans and who has voted for Republicans in the past, that is not a "distortion; that is the truth. Without taking sides with this comment, I for one do not wish to see anyone running on a democratic ticket who even comes close in any way, shape or form with another having any connection---tenuous or otherwise---with those who wear the mantle of republicanism. Look what Republicans have been, are doing, the asserting they wish to continue to do with health care for all citizens, female health care, education, energy, and, well, you name it! If Rep. May wants to vote for Mr. Schneider, that is certainly her right. But just because she is an elected representative representing us in Springfield is no basis whatsoever for others to follow her lead.

I am disappointed in Ms May. I grew up in a state to whose right wing senator Brad gave a healthy donation. What does that say to the Democrats in that state? Equally demoralizing to Dems here is Brad's support of Kirk, which is to say he worked against them. And he wants to lead the 10th District? Not when he played against the home team. Ilya is telling the truth about Brad's contributions. This isn't negative campaigning. It's the facts.

I have trouble with the appelation of "smear campaign" in discussing the Sheyman camp's response to Schneider's contribution record. "Smearing" would be saying he had an affair or something. This is factual, and admitted to by Mr. Schneider. As for robo calls, I have heard complaints from many (including Neil Steinberg) that Brad's campaign has inundated them with calls.
So why is Ilya vilified for this?
I agree with Miles that Republicans are increasingly representing a war on women, a war on health care, and a war on SS and Medicare. A "progressive" Democrat who supports these candidates makes one pause as to their sincerity. Brad has attacked Ilya on numerous occasions. Neither Ilya nor his campaign have called him names in response. I have worked on campaigns since Gary Hart ran for president - and have found this one to be the most honest, ethical and courteous - while making the contrast necessary to define himself against his opponent - with facts. I have great respect for Ms. May, but I disagree with this endorsement.

Why would anyone care who Karen May is voting for, are we supposed to be lemmings and do the same cause of that? This is news? If that is her reason for voting for Mr. Schneider than thats no better than the logic of a 12 year old.

How anyone can support an alleged Democratic who supports Republicans with large donations (more than once) sounds too much like another Joe Leiberman to me. He was first a Democrat, then an Independent when his Republican beliefs started to show too much and due to that he lost his place on the ballot .

If Mr Schneider loses the election to Ilya, then are we to expect the same and see him on the ballot later this year as an Independent? Then what will Karen May do.

PIck a side and stick with it, and best to keep your decisions personal. This is not news last I checked.

Karen May's logic in voting for Brad makes no sense! She does not like it that Ilya criticizes a fellow Democrat. The fact that Brad supports Republican candidates should be the reason she is not going to vote for him. Brad is NOT a loyal Democrat. I suspect May knew who she would vote for all along and is just using this tactic to smear Ilya Sheyman. My vote is WITH Sheyman.

I agree. I don't care who Karen May supports. If Brad Schneider voted with Republicans he has lost my vote. The war on women continues and I will not support anyone who supports that. Go Sheyman!!!

For a bunch of people who don't care, you all seem freaked out enough to post your supposed apathetic sentiments. Seems to me that Ilya has more of his out of state cronies doing drive by comments. Yeah, Ilya cares.

Aren't enough Indies in this district to make up for the Dem deficit that will occur if Brad runs in the fall. Dems, by and large, do not trust Brad. Might have something to do with the little Truth-in-Advertising problem he’s having with his message. You just can’t say, “I gave money to Kirk,” and then turn around and say, “I am a lifelong Progressive!”
When people hear these two statements coming from the same mouth, well, they just know what (or who) to believe anymore.
Go away, Brad. You were a detriment to your Party when you chose to support Kirk over Seals (or whoever the Dems had on the ballot) in election after election from 2002 thru 2008, you were a detriment to your Party when you chose not to rally your fellow Kirk-Democrats to help get Seals into office in 2010, and you continue to be a detriment to your Party when you misrepresent yourself--“I am a lifelong Progressive!”--and then have your minions throw insults at us (“Liar!”) when we call you out on it.

House Rep. Karen!
In case you missed it here’s a link to you man’s mud pie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFnxhuGFDo
This ad has all the classic symptoms of negative advertising:
Overt distortions:
“He can’t win on his record.”
Sure Ilya doesn’t have a “record,” but what **voting** record does Brad have?
(Other than his record of political donations, which is very telling indeed, and which, I might add, forms the entire basis for the Sheyman “mud”)
Quotes out of context:
“Attacks so absurd, the Tribune called them ‘bogus’”
(Trib had nothing to say about Sheyman's “attacks.” They did, on the other hand, think highly of Brad’s contributions to Kirk. How could they not? Trib LOVES Kirk, as we all know.)
Outright lies:
“They’re spreading lies about true Progressive, Brad Schneider.”
A of all Brad’s history of donations PROVES he is not a true Progressive. And B, the Sheyman campaign is not spreading lies! (They are, on the other hand, confronting the Brad camp on their false-- and yes, deceitful—use of the word “Progressive” in their effort to steal votes away from Ilya, who is the true Progressive candidate in this race.)

Here is the transcript of the Brad ad:

Who is Ilya Sheyman?
He’s funded by out-of-state special interests.
He can’t win on his record, so they’re spreading lies about true Progressive, Brad Schneider
Attacks so absurd, the Tribune called them “bogus”
Democrat Brad Schneider, supported by Melissa Bean, Julie Hamos, and Susan Garrett for being pro-choice, endorsed by the Daily Herald and Tribune.
Show Sheyman and his allies:
We don’t like being lied to.
Brad Schneider for Congress.
I’m Brad Schneider and I approve this message.

I don't think the question is "who is the most loyal Democrat?". The more important question is "Who can defeat Rep. Dold?" All this political back-and-forth about party loyalty may result in electing the most loyal Democrat, but what if you lose all of us Independents over it? That will only help Dold's bid for re-election.

Karen May voted to increase my income tax, then slinks off rather than face her constituents at the polls, and then speaks up with an endorsement. It's time to rid IL-10 dems of Lauren Beth, Karin, Susan, Terry and the rest their hangers-on. From the looks of things, Sheyman has a big broom. Scarry stuff, isn't it?

That's hilarious that you call Brad's commercial negative! He is defending himself from Ilyas attacks- What is he supposed to do sit back and and let this kid start horrible websites, send fliers with crime scene tape,and attack commercials. Yes he had to respond to his lies and attacks. Brad gave money to 69 democrats and 5 republicans he never denied it it's public record.Julie Morrison was a one time republican now turned democrat she was endorsed by Lauren Beth Gash the head of the Tenth Dems and every other local dem out there yet no one seems to care about that.

Again - the honesty question - Julie was honest about her Republican past, and explained why she became a Democrat. She also doesn't describe herself as a "lifelong progressive". Veritas!

I'm glad Karin endorsed Schneider. That cinches my decision. I will vote for Sheyman.

Gosh – as an independent it is remarkable to me that the Democrats seem prepared to nominate Ilya Sheyman. I might vote for Schneider in the general election but why would I vote for someone like Sheyman who has no interest in the fiscal problems of this nation? Why would I vote for someone who doesn’t want to compromise with others on the other side of the isle? Is that how we are going to get out of this mess? No changes to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid? Really, Ilya? We are going to bankrupt this nation if we don’t adopt some combination of tax increases and benefit cuts. You can’t ignore this fiscal critique just cause you don’t like Republicans – it won’t go away. We need candidates who will support Bowles-Simpson. Dold hasn’t compromised, Sheyman won’t compromise – perhaps Schneider will.

Re - earlier comments on State Senate race, "honest" is not a word I would use to describe Morrison. Just look at her video on the income tax issue. A vote for Milton Sumption is a vote for leadership, integrity, and results. Let's put the political establishment in their places...out of office!

I would rather Ms. May decry the use of negative ads on both front-runners for the Democratic slate, and give the voters the information so we can make our own choice. That would lend some credibility to her position. As for her vote's value, I am glad that she has exercised her Constitutional right to cast her one vote.