Illinois is facing a massive budget deficit and a structural problem with State Pensions that are crippling the State’s economy.  So what better time for the incumbent media to take up a mind numbing campaign of “gotcha” to go after Bill Brady, the Republican nominee.

Eric Zorn is beyond the pale of a professional journalist, simply cutting and pasting Pat Quinn’s campaign statements as a substitute for substantial thought.  Zorn (or is it Quinn?) catches Brady opposing embryonic stem cell research, which Zorn (or is it Quinn again?) thinks is extreme.  Let’s see the State is Billions in the hole, so we should invest in a failed biology project that is morally heinous.  That should be just the thing to fix the budget gap!

Rick Pearson obsesses about details in Pat Quinn’s early release program, which was also supposed to save the State a bunch of money telling us “Bill Brady finds himself standing in a harsher light”, in this case a light lit by Rick Pearson. Pearson skips the part where Brady proposes some type of notification for early release.  Maybe the specific details were incorrect, but does anyone dispute the early release program needs reform?  Rich Miller wanted to extend the Republican Primary to combat confusing details of the early release prisoners.  Yes, Rich, we could finally fix the budget pit with just a few more months of recounts.

The Tribune on Sunday then turns it around on Brady and chastises the candidate for dwelling on trivial matters such a veterinary practices and inmate release programs.  Of course, the Tribune might take note that Rick Pearson and Eric Zorn are employed by the Tribune and are quite delighted to yammer on about anything but the important issues i.e. Pensions and Finance.  Bill Brady was pretty clear at his press conference on Friday; his priorities are Jobs and Reform, which seems to me to be a pretty good political tonic to Illinois’ problems.

Today, Rich Miller, grudgingly notices that Brady is consistently talking about the budget and economy, but can’t resist linking to an article claiming “Anti-Gay Gubernatorial Candidate Captures Ill. GOP Primary”.  Brady is purportedly anti-gay because he supported a bill that would allow practices such as allowing the Catholic Church discretion in NOT hiring transsexual high school teachers (“outside of the mainstream” per the article…transexual hires are mainstream).

Not to be outdone, Chicago’s one woman media monopoly, Carol Marin snips that “Brady Needs to Do His Homework” , where she cleverly drops a “Note to Brady: preparation, preparation, preparation” meaning *you must talk to Carol Marin because I declare I am the only serious person in the Chicago media*.  Or Carol could attend Bill’s press conferences, read his campaign statements, and do the research generally necessary to make an informed statement about politicians.

If Bill Brady was simply campaigning on popular issues, he would stick to opposing abortion and promoting Second Amendment Rights, both issues which have broad appeal and the backing a majority of Illinois voters.  However, as Brady has said, the focus on this years campaign will be on improving the economy, Jobs and Reform, as he has repeated to the media.  Brady has offered a general 10% cut across the board, which is better than anything his competitor has delivered in the last year.

There is plenty of time in this election cycle to get more detailed on economic plans (and education reform, and pension reform).  There has to be a better economic development method than shipping terrorists to Thomson for military tribunals.  There has to be someone more qualified to lead economic development in Illinois than Tony Rezko’s CFO.  Bill is an experienced politician and a successful businessman. First and foremost, Bill Brady should not give the incumbent media the opportunity write the narrative for his campaign.

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John Powers is the President of the Chicago Daily Observer