DuPage Fundraiser Stirs Controversy
DuPage Fundraiser Stirs Controversy
by Andrew Davis
Copyright by The Windy City Times
2007-08-22
An Aug. 25 DuPage Democratic fundraiser featuring State Rep. Paul Froehlich has raised the ire of one local community leader who feels that the official’s political stances are at odds with being a Democrat.
A Glendale Heights parade and DuPage Democratic fundraiser will be held in Bloomingdale. The fact that the latter event will feature Froehlich—who recently defected from the Republican to the Democratic Party—stuns Terry Cosgrove, president and executive director of the Chicago-based pro-abortion group Personal PAC.
In an e-mail to Windy City Times, Cosgrove said that “Rep. Paul Froehlich’s opposition to legal abortion, even in cases of rape and incest; opposition to embryonic stem-cell research; and support of pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control and HIV drugs for ‘moral’ reasons should be offensive to anyone with a sense of decency. His reward for aligning himself with religious extremists has been the glowing endorsement of every right-wing organization in Illinois. His positions on these issues were repulsive when he was a Republican and now they are just as repulsive since he has become a Democrat.”
( Indeed, a Nov. 2006 Illinois Citizens for Life sheet listing political candidates’ stances showed that Froehlich was “fully pro-life.” In addition, a Culture Campaign Voting Guide—dated the same month—revealed, among other things, that Froehlich also supported a state marriage amendment “that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.” )
When asked by Windy City Times about his positions, Froehlich’s answers fell in line with Cosgrove’s claims. Regarding abortion, he said that he is pro-life. Concerning gay rights, he said that he is against same-sex marriage, but would like to see the civil union bill, adding “I think that [ gay ] people should get basic rights regarding visitation in hospitals and financial benefits.” ( He also said that he is supports the environment, immigrant rights and labor. )
Froehlich said that he is progressive on many issues but that being all the way to the left in his area is political suicide. “I guess I’m a hybrid,” he said. “If somebody wants someone who’s 100 percent progressive, that’s not me—but someone who’s 100 percent progressive might have trouble winning, at least in the short term. I’m the only Democrat in the House who represents DuPage County. Some of these issues are not clear partisan issues; some would say that Tom Cross is more pro-choice than [ Democratic House Speaker ] Mike Madigan.”
Incidentally, Froehlich cited several reasons for his party defection, including that he “wasn’t getting along with too many Republicans, both locally and in Springfield” and that he “was already voting with Democrats on many issues.” He also said that his district “prefers to be run by moderate Democrats. Melissa Bean carries my district comfortably.”
Windy City Times contacted several members of the DuPage Democrats, but none had responded by the press deadline.
by Andrew Davis
Copyright by The Windy City Times
2007-08-22
An Aug. 25 DuPage Democratic fundraiser featuring State Rep. Paul Froehlich has raised the ire of one local community leader who feels that the official’s political stances are at odds with being a Democrat.
A Glendale Heights parade and DuPage Democratic fundraiser will be held in Bloomingdale. The fact that the latter event will feature Froehlich—who recently defected from the Republican to the Democratic Party—stuns Terry Cosgrove, president and executive director of the Chicago-based pro-abortion group Personal PAC.
In an e-mail to Windy City Times, Cosgrove said that “Rep. Paul Froehlich’s opposition to legal abortion, even in cases of rape and incest; opposition to embryonic stem-cell research; and support of pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control and HIV drugs for ‘moral’ reasons should be offensive to anyone with a sense of decency. His reward for aligning himself with religious extremists has been the glowing endorsement of every right-wing organization in Illinois. His positions on these issues were repulsive when he was a Republican and now they are just as repulsive since he has become a Democrat.”
( Indeed, a Nov. 2006 Illinois Citizens for Life sheet listing political candidates’ stances showed that Froehlich was “fully pro-life.” In addition, a Culture Campaign Voting Guide—dated the same month—revealed, among other things, that Froehlich also supported a state marriage amendment “that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.” )
When asked by Windy City Times about his positions, Froehlich’s answers fell in line with Cosgrove’s claims. Regarding abortion, he said that he is pro-life. Concerning gay rights, he said that he is against same-sex marriage, but would like to see the civil union bill, adding “I think that [ gay ] people should get basic rights regarding visitation in hospitals and financial benefits.” ( He also said that he is supports the environment, immigrant rights and labor. )
Froehlich said that he is progressive on many issues but that being all the way to the left in his area is political suicide. “I guess I’m a hybrid,” he said. “If somebody wants someone who’s 100 percent progressive, that’s not me—but someone who’s 100 percent progressive might have trouble winning, at least in the short term. I’m the only Democrat in the House who represents DuPage County. Some of these issues are not clear partisan issues; some would say that Tom Cross is more pro-choice than [ Democratic House Speaker ] Mike Madigan.”
Incidentally, Froehlich cited several reasons for his party defection, including that he “wasn’t getting along with too many Republicans, both locally and in Springfield” and that he “was already voting with Democrats on many issues.” He also said that his district “prefers to be run by moderate Democrats. Melissa Bean carries my district comfortably.”
Windy City Times contacted several members of the DuPage Democrats, but none had responded by the press deadline.
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