Illinois: Steve Greenberg Baits Serbs

Maiden name turns into campaign issue

Republican challenger Steve Greenberg circulated a news release Wednesday referring to the Barrington Democrat U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean as Melissa Luburich Bean, adding her Serbian maiden name.

The news release blasted Bean for not supporting Kosovo’s move to separate from Serbia and her backing by pro-Serbian organizations.

Greenberg defended the news release Wednesday, saying her maiden name was fair game and her support for http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3789 in the Eastern European country.

“I think ultimately when you run for office you are being vetted many ways — your middle name and last name and you get called many names,” said the Long Grove businessman. “If we are thin-skinned about it … we are probably in the wrong business.”Bean has a long record of supporting Serbian groups and Serbia’s efforts to prevent a Kosovo succession. The position is in conflict with the official stance of the Bush administration and that of several key Western European allies.

The attack on the embassy was reportedly carried out by rioters upset with the U.S. support of a separate Kosovo state. The Serbian government denounced the attack.

Bean was not available for comment Thursday, but her spokesman did issue a one-sentence statement.

“As a rule, the congresswoman does not respond to ethnically and religiously divisive statements,” Jonathan Lipman said.

So if you are an American of Albanian origin and support Kosovo’s in-dependence then what? I am pretty sure Albanians have killed more Americans in the past 9 years then Serbs have. Also, Serbs aren’t the ones that broke international law on the 17th. Unfortunately Serbs get no credit for *not* killing people and *not* breaking international law. I’m not worried. If they (the mainstream media) want to turn the torching of a few buildings into an issue and ignore the theft of a country’s heartland then let them. This wont be decided with words, unfortunately. Unfortunate because we had such a good case and the last thing that should happen is a war between Serbia and the United States for the sake of a few drug dealers in Pristina.

http://serbliberationblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/only-if-serb-does-it.html

2008-03-19