The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Lech Walesa Will Campaign for Illinois Republican

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The Spectacle Blog

Lech Walesa Will Campaign for Illinois Republican

By Robert Stacy McCain on 1.25.10 @ 9:06PM

It's not every day that a Nobel Prize winner becomes involved in a U.S. election, but Lech Walesa -- famed for his Cold War leadership of the Solidarity movement in Poland -- will be campaigning this week for a GOP gubernatorial candidate in Illinois.

The former Polish president will be the keynote speaker Friday at a Chicago luncheon fundraiser for Adam Andrzejewski, one of five Republican candidates for governor in Illinois.

"I applaud Mr. Andrzejewski's commendable effort to bring real reform to politics," Walesa wrote in a letter endorsing the 40-year-old businessman. "His insistence on transparency in public life are badly needed not only in the great state of Illinois, but in any democracy."

Andrzejewski is seeking the seat previously held by impeached Democrat Rod Blagojevich and currently held by Pat Quinn. He is backed by many Tea Party activists and has never previously held elective office -- a point in his favor, according to Walesa.

"I have heard that Adam's opponents criticize his lack of political experience," Walesa said. "I still remember when some 30 years ago, my opponents were similarly critical of my lack of political background. History has shown, however, that in order to create real change, new factors are sometimes necessary."

View all comments (20) | Leave a comment

Tom| 1.25.10 @ 9:23PM

It is an honor to have Mr. Walesa on board the Andrzejewski express. God Bless and let's make this happen!

Benson| 1.25.10 @ 9:37PM

Lech Walesa campaigning in the land of Lincoln. Amazing. God bless him.

Robert Stacy McCain| 1.25.10 @ 9:58PM

Lech Walesa campaigning in the land of Lincoln.

Don't forget a certain president who was native of Dixon, Illinois.

Paul Revere| 1.25.10 @ 11:28PM

And unflinchingly backed Walesa and Solidarity and stared down the Commies in 1982.

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.26.10 @ 10:54AM

Mr. McCain
He graduated from Eureka College. They have a museum library there now, and I just have to brag on my wife.
Her picture hangs right next to his on the Library wall.
She was awarded the 2007 "Lifetime Achievement Award" the same as he did (in a much different year of course, heh.)

Margie| 1.25.10 @ 10:19PM

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! It makes me very happy indeed. Thank you Mr. Lech Walesa!

victor| 1.25.10 @ 10:33PM

Another Son of Poland comes to America to help us out.
The original son was Tadeusz Kościuszko who came here at the start of the Revolution and stayed to help her become a nation.
He was rewarded with a general's rank, land in Ohio and citizenship.
Lech Walesa could do no worse than help us out in the Second American Revolution.
After all, he helped defeat the Russkies and create the modern Polish Republic.
And be her first president.
Now he comes to the US.
What a Country!

Heartlander| 1.25.10 @ 10:47PM

Will be notifying my relatives in Chi Town to be sure!

Guest| 1.25.10 @ 11:18PM

"It's not every day that a Nobel Prize winner becomes involved in a U.S. election..."

Except, y'know, it is now since Obama's got one.

Robert Stacy McCain| 1.25.10 @ 11:50PM

"It's not every day that a Nobel Prize winner becomes involved in a U.S. election..."
Except, y'know, it is now since Obama's got one.

Yeah. But I meant a real Nobel Prize -- one that reflects actual achievement like standing up to Soviet tyranny. As opposed to talking about Hope and Change or making bogus fearmongering movies about global warming.

cthulhu| 1.26.10 @ 12:45AM

I'm cruising the boards -- something I do every night. And I came across this story of a politician endorsing another politician. I didn't expect my reaction.

I well remember the early '80's. I remember the Poles' struggle for freedom, and the great personal cost born by Lech Walesa. I remember the US support of the noble Polish people, and how shackles across eastern Europe were broken.

And now, our friend Lech Walesa comes to help us in our own hour of need, to the center of the corruption that afflicts us. It shook me like a dog shakes a chew toy.

This is someone who is intimately familiar with the evils of socialism and statism -- someone who has stood against overwhelming force knowing that his is the right path. In those days of the Cold War, pale echoes of support from the US were some small part of what he used to sustain himself.

And I'm shaken, both by the unexpected reappearance of a Hero.....and also by the thought that he may here because he's needed.

chicagotrauma| 1.26.10 @ 3:47AM

please donate

http://www.adamforillinois.com/Donate/

as we try to rid Illinois of the GOP retreads

Cris| 1.26.10 @ 6:26AM

Front runner Mark Kirk has that position mainly due to name recognition. His record veers left and right , depending on the priorities of his top constituency, also Mark Kirk.
The round of polling after Walesa's visit should provide interesting numbers, Who says Andrzejewski is a neophyte pol? Sharp move, Andy!.

Indiana Alex| 1.26.10 @ 8:19AM

Kirk is running for Senate, Adam is running for Gov.

Sal| 1.26.10 @ 8:58AM

Adam Andrzejewski is a great conservative. As people get to know him, they wonder why they even considered anyone else that's running for Governor.
As for Mark Kirk, why would the people of IL vote for a R-Liberal when they can vote for a real Liberal in the Dem. running. Retired Judge Don Lowery is the the real conservative. He's gaining momentum as Adam is. www.AdamforIllinois.com and www.JudgeLowerey4USSenate.com

Marko| 1.26.10 @ 12:49PM

An interesting historical footnote is that Walesa has been accused (not by many in the West of course) of being a Communist stooge, and even of working for the Communists under the codename of Bolek.

This is widely reported as being only a rumor, but if one reads Golitsyn's book, New Lies For Old with a critical eye toward the "end of Communism" during the period Walesa was involved in Polish politics, one cannot dismiss these accusations as the product of only a demented mind.

There is also a piece, written in 1995 by Robert W. Lee called "The 'Former' Soviet Bloc" in which he describes much ongoing Soviet/KGB influence after the supposed collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. From that piece:

On August 12, 1994, Minister of Internal Affairs Adrzej Milczanowski, who was brought into government service by Walesa, appointed Marian Zacharski as chief of Poland's civil intelligence agency. Zacharski was forced to step down only five days later in the wake of a vigorous protest by the United States. Years earlier, Zacharski had been sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. for stealing military secrets for the Soviet Bloc. He was freed in 1985 as part of a Cold War spy swap. President Walesa praised Zacharski's "professionalism and many years of experience," but nevertheless called for his resignation because the nomination would make "Poland's process of integration with the West more difficult." The Washington Post reported on September 3, 1994 that "Zacharski will remain in a prominent position in the intelligence section of the Office of State Security, Poland's civilian secret service."

The Post also reminded its readers that Walesa's regime had "allowed and even encouraged Communists to remain in important police and security posts." For instance, "the deputy minister in charge of intelligence in the ministry and the director of the Office of State Security are former Communist operatives. Zacharski's appointment was just another move in that direction. The man he was supposed to replace, Janusz Luks, himself a senior intelligence officer during the Communist era, is reported to have been assigned to the Polish Embassy in Washington."

These are the things that make me go "Hmmm....."