Sauerberg: Durbin Hates America

By Kevin Robinson in News on Jul 18, 2008 5:00PM

GOP Senate challenger Steve Sauerberg called Dick Durbin's patriotism into question during a taping of a radio broadcast to air Sunday morning on WBBM 780-AM. Noting Durbin's opposition to a constitutional amendment banning flag burning, Sauerberg said the founding fathers "never had to deal with ultra-liberal Americans who hate their own country." When asked if he was referring to Durbin, he said "I think he’s an ultra-liberal. Whether he hates his own country, I cannot determine for the gentleman,” but that he "wonders a lot" about Durbin's patriotism.

Sauerberg also attacked Durbin for a speech he gave in 2005 condemning an FBI report on American treatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Durbin compared the detainment to the kind of treatment people experienced under "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags" and something worthy of Pol Pot. Durbin apologized for the comment, but Sauerberg has called that statement an "unforgivable sin against the brave men and women who serve our country in uniform," and "nothing short of treason." Durbin spokesman Joe Shoemaker responded, saying "I don’t think that’s what people are looking for. I think people are looking for constructive discussion on issues and not scorched-earth, old-style politics."

Photo courtesy of Steve Sauerberg