Why Shimkus Walked

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Sep 10, 2009 8:20PM

Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill. leaves as President Barack Obama delivers a speech on healthcare to a joint session of Congress, Wednesday, Sept., 9, 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

In our post from earlier today about President Obama's health care reform speech, we had the above picture of Illinois Rep. John Shimkus walking out of the speech. According to an aid, Shimkus left because, "Congressman Shimkus was frustrated that the president was not offering any new ground and left with just minutes remaining in the speech...Regardless of the words the president used, the tone did not bring Republicans on board." [Tribune]