The big story now is that Aaron Schock notarized back-dated documents for his father seven years ago. The story states that neither “Schock or his parents benefited financially from using the incorrect date,” but that nevertheless, “using an incorrect date would be misconduct. Under the Illinois Notary Public Act, knowingly committing official misconduct is a Class A misdemeanor. Doing it through recklessness is a Class B misdemeanor.”
Schock’s response to the Journal Star when asked about it:
Schock told the Journal Star the information, released just weeks before the Nov. 4 primary, likely is the work of his “political opposition trying to paint me in a bad light.”
“Obviously, perception is everything and as a public official I have always worked hard and done my best both in public office and in private business. When you enter the public arena everything you do and say regardless of whether it pertains to public office is scrutinized. This is a case in point example of that,” Schock said.
I thought about exploring whether this issue is just political mudslinging or if it really does expose Schock’s character. But then I remembered that nobody cares.
We have a candidate for the 92nd district, Jehan Gordon, who shoplifted, was fined, but then didn’t pay the fine for several years — not until she was running for office. And yet she was nominated by the voters over Allen Mayer.
Schock earlier in his campaign had advocated selling obsolete nuclear weapons to Taiwan to try to intimidate China; he initially stood by his statement, then said it was a joke, then eventually said it was a mistake. And yet he was nominated by voters over Jim McConoughey and John Morris.
So official misconduct as a notary public seven years ago? Whoop-de-do. That won’t even be a blip on voters’ radar screens.
Hmm…. wonder where I could get some important docs backdated?
Yeah it matters.
I agree that Jehan Gordon is not qualified to be state representative, and I’ve stated that several times previously, but what does Jehan Gordon’s criminal record have to do with Aaron Shock’s unethical, criminal behavior? If a Democrat does something unethical &/or criminal, it cancels out the fact that a Republican did something unethical &/or criminal? I don’t think so.
Aaron Schock’s actions were clearly unethical and criminal, and he did it to help his parents evade taxes. You can make all the excuses you want, but those facts don’t change. I don’t see the Journal Star or anyone else blowing this out of proportion. I see Republican supporters trying to minimize and ridicule legitimate concern over Aaron Schock’s actions. I’m not saying that this one act disqualifies him from public office. However, it is undeniably a mark against him.