Nov 09, 2007

Peoria Journal Star - Congressional hopefuls at odds over nuclear arms views

Nov 9, 2007

Peoria Journal Star - Congressional hopefuls at odds over nuclear arms views

SPRINGFIELD - Congressional candidate Jim McConoughey on Thursday accused rival Aaron Schock of making "a very serious and reckless statement" when Schock proposed offering nuclear arms to Taiwan if China doesn't go along with U.S. policy toward Iran.

McConoughey said Schock's comments "reflect a level of inexperience and overall lack of judgment and poor leadership."

McConoughey, Schock and John Morris will battle in next year's Republican primary for a chance at the 18th District Congressional seat, now held by retiring U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria.

"A plan to reduce nuclear proliferation, in other words, fewer nukes, with an escalation of nuclear weapons is like teaching your child to hit harder than the bully," McConoughey said at a State Capitol news conference.

"Serving as a representative in Congress is a position that requires judgment, maturity and steadiness," he added.

McConoughey, 46, noted that he was alive at the time of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, when the Soviet Union built - and ultimately dismantled - missile installations in Cuba, less than 100 miles off the Florida coast.

Schock, 26, is the youngest member of the Illinois General Assembly.

Asked why he thinks Schock made the comments, McConoughey said: "My guess is, you know, he's 26. And it's a level of immaturity about what nuclear threat really can be to the United States and how it destabilizes the economic interests of the world."

McConoughey was reacting to a column published in

Thursday's (Springfield) State Journal-Register, written by political columnist Bernard Schoenburg.

The column described comments from a speech that Schock delivered on Oct. 27. While speaking about foreign policy, Schock said the U.S. government should put more pressure on China and Russia to go along with tougher economic sanctions against Iran.

"If China continues to be irresponsible about nuclear proliferation in Iran, we should tell them that if they do not care about proliferation - and since they are enablers of it in Iran - that if they don't change their position, we will sell Pershing nuclear missiles to Taiwan for their defense," Schock said in the speech.

On Thursday, Schock did not back down.

His campaign issued a news release bearing the headline: "Schock: It's Naive for My Opponents to Sit Still While Iran Builds Nuclear Weapons."

In the release, Schock said he does not plan to go to Congress "and sit idly by while Iran gets nuclear weapons."

"The fulcrum here is China. We need to introduce new diplomatic prods to China to get them to do what is right," he added. "The one thing that gets (China's) attention is Taiwan."

Schock said he doesn't want to sell nuclear weapons to Taiwan, but he does want "China's cooperation in dealing with Iran."

Schock accused his opponents of "operating cynical campaigns of being quick to attack while offering no substance on the issues whatsoever themselves."

In a phone interview, Schock campaign manager Steve Shearer added that Schock's proposal is "not just something that he pulled out of his pocket. . . . It's a deeply thought-out policy."

Morris issued a statement saying that members of Congress must be "very thoughtful in their statements."

"Giving away nuclear weapons is completely irresponsible," Morris said. "The best defense for America and freedom everywhere is for us to remain the strongest power on the face of the earth."

Also weighing in on the subject was Dick Versace, the lone Democrat to file for the 18th District seat.

"After eight years of reckless foreign policies coming from Washington, the last thing we need is another career politician who is willing to make dangerous proposals like this one without first considering the consequences," he said in a news release.

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