Don Rose, The Chicago Sun-Times
There is a remarkable progressive running with a record of words and deeds that puts him head and shoulders above the rest . . . As a resident, my vote goes to labor lawyer Tom Geoghegan, author of several important books. His law partner is former Ald. Leon M. Despres, a father of progressive reform in Chicago, which speaks volumes in itself.
Recently Geoghegan (pronounced gae-gun) won a huge class-action suit against Advocate Health Care that will, according to the Sun-Times, “result in free or reduced-price care for low-income patients at Advocate hospitals.”
That’s typical of his successful fights for poor and working people — translating the ideas of his books into tangible action. His record and economic ideas might just resonate in the working-class parts of the district.
Editorial, The Chicago Sun-Times
Tom Geoghegan is “impressive and thoughtful . . . has devoted his career to fighting for the little guy.”
Editorial, The Nation
[. . . ] Geoghegan is running for Congress in Illinois’s 5th District, the seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel (the all-important primary is March 3). It is an honor for this magazine to give him our full endorsement. We’re not the only ones who feel this way; since he threw his hat in the ring, a broad and eclectic group of progressive activists, union officials and writers have sung Tom’s praises.
. . . Geoghegan’s platform should be a model for Democrats in the post-meltdown era. He advocates increasing the payout on Social Security so that those who have watched the stock market gobble up their life’s savings can retire with dignity; single-payer universal healthcare; and full nationalization of the failing financial sector instead of the ghastly corporate welfare that characterizes the no-strings-attached TARP bailout. Geoghegan is a dark horse in a crowded field with thirteen others, some of whom are competent public servants. But none have the vision, the passion or the real-life experience of fighting for people left behind by our post-Reagan economy like Geoghegan. We urge our readers to support him.
Thomas Frank, The Wall Street Journal
[V]oters in Mr. Emanuel’s district, largely composed of Chicago’s North Side, will have the chance to redeem their state’s reputation. They will likely have the chance to elect, out of a crowded race, a true reformer in Thomas Geoghegan.
Hendrik Hertzberg, The New Yorker online
The political news from the Windy City has not been especially uplifting of late, but here’s a bulletin that promises change you can believe in: as of today, Tom Geoghegan is running for Congress!
You may ask: who is Tom Geoghegan?
Well, like a certain other Chicagoan, Tom Geoghegan is a tall, lanky Ivy League law school graduate who chose to forego the big corporate bucks in favor of quietly advancing the interests of working people at the local level. Also like that other guy, he is a writer of genuine literary merit . . . Geoghegan’s candidacy gives the people of the Fifth the opportunity to continue the sharp upward trajectory of the quality of their representation.
Katha Pollitt, The Nation
[Geoghegan is] a true progressive, honest, prochoice and pro-gay marriage, and if elected he would push, knowledgeably and aggressively, for all the right, important things. . . . Sick of timorous, dithering Democrats? Tom could be the next Paul Wellstone.
James Fallows, The Atlantic Monthly online
Day by day for several decades he has been a lawyer in a small Chicago law firm representing steel workers, truckers, nurses, and other employees whose travails are the reality covered by abstractions like “the polarization of America” and “the disappearing middle class.” Geoghegan’s skills as a writer and an intellectual are assets but in themselves might not recommend him for a Congressional job. His consistent and canny record of organizing, representing, and defending people who are the natural Democratic (and American) base is the relevant point . . . the Congress would be better if Tom Geoghegan were part of it.
Digby, Digby’s Hullabaloo
If you want to know what a real progressive candidate looks like, this is the guy. . . He’s a lawyer who actually reads and understands the constitution as a document meant to protect democracy and freedom. . . . If there was ever a time when the Congress needed a voice like that, it’s now.
Michael Tomasky, The Guardian online
In his writing and in his legal work, Tom is man of unfailing integrity . . . The Congress of the United States should be so lucky as to have Tom be a member. He’s really top-notch.
Howie Klein, The Huffington Post
There may well be other decent candidates for Emanuel’s old seat, even “progressives,” but Tom is the choice of so many Chicago activists because he isn’t just a dependable liberal vote. He’s a man with ideas and he’s a proven leader . . .Tom Geoghegan isn’t some starry-eyed hick whose going to be swept off his feet by the trappings of congressional power. He’s already accomplished more in his life than most committee chairmen ever will.
Christopher Hayes, The Nation online
[Geoghegan is] a brilliant, fresh and idiosyncratic thinker, a graceful and stylish writer and a mensch who’s spent his career as a labor lawyer fighting for working people. I simply cannot imagine a better member of the United States Congress.
David Sirota, The Huffington Post
One of the greatest living progressives in America . . . The reason his writing is so good is because he’s so simultaneously brilliant, progressive and politically savvy - all skills that would make him a congressional powerhouse.
Mickey Kaus, Slate
Occasional Slate contributor Tom Geoghegan is running for Rahm Emanuel’s congressional seat. He’s a friend of mine, a terrific writer and a man of honor. I’m for him even though I’m sure he’s for card check.
Henry Farrell, Crooked Timber
I can’t imagine anyone more likely to contribute more to American political life than Geoghegan.
William Greider, renowned economics journalist, author of Secrets of the Temple
We are at a decisive break point in the American story when the country desperately needs political leaders and politicians with the brains and guts to think anew about how our economy should operate. People should check out Tom Geoghegan because he does this smartly and bravely. Other politicians should listen to how Geoghegan talks — unvarnished clarity and directness — then learn to copy him.
Students for a New American Politics (SNAP), Endorsement
Tom is a bold progressive. In the context of our economic crisis, Tom is articulating a vision of a new government commitment to the economic security of every American – a new pension system, real health care reform, smart and stringent regulation of the financial sector and changes to our labor law regime. His voice sounds completely different from all those in Washington and there can be no doubt that even as a freshman representative, he would be a national leader. . .
Our endorsement of Tom marks the first time SNAP has endorsed in a primary. As we enter a period of at least two years of Democratic government, SNAP feels that creating progressive change will require us to support progressive leaders at all stages of the electoral process. Where we can help build a better Congress in the general election, we will be there. When we can add progressive heroes like Tom to Congress by entering a primary, we will be there too.
