I wonder what Julie's family think about the statement that their business was "unprofitable" and Brad turned it into a sucess. The company had a very long history and was very well known long before Brad married Julie. Nice try at managing the public perceptions, but too late and not very good.

You spoke to a person that currently works with Julie (she is listed as an employee at Meserow) and a friend of Brad's. Where are all the companies that Brad worked with and helped? Why have there been zero ads with people saying how Brad helped their company grow or add jobs? The silence speaks volumes.

If a multimillionaire Republican refused to disclose his tax return s and was this vague about his business background the media would have eaten him alive. This is not being open and transparent,this is called spin.

Schneider was been less than honest about his background and about Cadence Consulting which he reported zero revenue for three years.

Mr. Sadin, I'm a bit disappointed in your ad for Schneider. No mention of his past failed businesses and how Schneider was only brought into the already successful family biz because of his past failures? And the acceptance of Schneiders arguments of not releasing his families' tax returns is embarassing. Last I checked in a marriage family income is family income regardless of who earns it.

Not taking sides, but a thought: No HR director in his or her right mind would hire an employee without a full job history and references. We hire (vote for) candidates, especially first timers, based pretty much on their party affiliation and positions, rather than any real vetting for qualifications. I'd love to see independent references regarding the actual performance in prior roles of all candidates, but then where do you find unbiased opinions? Just a thought.

Also folks, if you want an investigative piece, Mr. Sadin probably isn't your guy. However, he seems to be equal opportunity when it comes to candidates feeding him lines to use in his writing.

We need to find out if Schneider paid his employees overtime.

Marv Rotstein is or was married to Schneiders sister in law. That's not a tough endorsement to get, I'm sure if we ask his mommy, she will say he is great also.

Ok this is borderline stupid, Brad Schneider lied about his business record. All throughout the primary he declared himself a 'experienced' businessman. But all he has to show for it is some quotes from family members?

There are no paper documents that show he is a businessman by any means. This is disturbing. Elect Dold to keep sanity in the 10th.

Not releasing your taxes because you want to protect your wifes privacy? You better not run for office! REALLY.....please don't vote for this guy - sounds like he has nothing better to do with his time. Also what's with the Schneider - Dann thing...was his name not good enough to take on, or they're just trying to appeal to their constituancy!

I'd still rather know what kind of human being the candidate is, instead of blathering over this artificial (except to the Mittster and his ilk) measure of success, the almighty dollar, or yen, or euro, or whatever is trading up this week.

I have watched some of the debates and, while I’m voting for Dold, Brad Schneider seems like a decent guy to me. The amount of crap both Dold and Schneider have taken – on Patch and in attack ads – makes me wonder why any civic-minded person would run for office.

As this article points out, Schneider has some business experience – surely enough for him to have some understanding of the impact of taxes and regulations on small businesses. Judge him and Dold on their policy ideas and what each of them will do to move the country forward.

Agreed, I'm sure both are decent guys. Schneider is a nice guy, just not who you would want in government. He has nothing to bring to the table.

What an incredible non-issue!!! Can't believe how people let campaigns drag them away from true ideas and direction into this garbage.

Bringin'......It is a real issue because this guy claims to know what he's doing based on business experience. It now looks like there is no business experience and he's just another liberal, who is doing well, and now feels guilty......so his solution is to tax everyone who works hard, so it makes him look good and he calls it compassion.

I will never vote for a liberal democrat for anything. Never bring anything to the table except more entitlement programs that they say are "fiscally sound" or "deficit neutral" but then the truth comes out and they eventually go bankrupt. Then they criticize all others who offer a plan to save their program, but offer no solutions themselves, except "tax the rich more." This sounds a lot like the U.S.S.R., doesn't it? The few paying for the entitlements of many. No thanks!!! (and I am NOT rich by the way!) Vote Dold.

George.....way to go! I'm not rich either but someday if I happen to earn 10M a year and I pay 3.5M in taxes - I think I've done my share. By the way, the liberal mind set you refer to is called socialism and it's a death sentence for any Country who aspires to be great instead of mediocre! Take a look at France and their mess..........vote Conservative!

Oh I have no choice but to vote Conservative. I'm not allowing the Democrats to run up the national debt to $30 trillion. I'm not sticking my kids with that kind of burden because my generation was so damn selfish. (Obama called the $8 trillion debt in 2008 immoral. It's now $16 trillion! Goodbye!)

Bringin'......Yeah we're disgusted by the 8 trillion left to Obama...but that's no reason to double it. Are you as disgusted by what Obama has done? Put a businessman in office to deal with economic issues as a President should be doing NOT a professor who only cares about social issues!!!!!

Mr. Sadin,...shame on you.

Anyone - your example of a businessman as president? Harry Truman, the haberdasher? Obama - no, Bush Jr. - not really, Clinton - no, HW Bush - no, Reagan - no, Carter - sort of, Ford - no, Nixon, - no, Johnson - no, Kennedy - no, Eisenhower -no, etc.

Here's a list of presidents and their pre-presidantial occupations:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0768854.html

I work everyday with people who run small businesses. I don't see small business owners as having any better or worse chance of being successful leaders of our government and country than I do firemen, school teachers, professional athletes, stay at home moms (or dads), engineers, former military personal, attorneys, doctors or even accountants, etc. We should be electing people with ideas and energy; the ability to think for themselves as well as collaborate, the ability to listen and learn; hopefully people with an understanding of needed short term change but with a vision far into the future. We are not electing people to sell a product - even to make a payroll - both very important skills that may come in handy, but not any more so than the skills developed and enriched through all sorts of life experiences. We need people that understand the diverse needs of the people of our district, state and nation. Yes, we need someone who understands the needs of business owners, but also someone who understands the needs of everyday people, the needs of the impoverished, the needs of those born, or who have become, less fortunate than others – whether because of poverty, or disability, or physical or mental health issues. We need someone who understands how difficult life might be for those looked at or treated differently, because of their upbringing, their race, gender, etc. Of course, in a congressman we also need someone with an understanding of international issues.

Harry...good point BUT I didn't comment on past presidents occupations - I spoke of what we need now. In a tough Economic time you need a businessman to run the Country like a business - NOT a civil rights law professor whose overmatched for the job! Roosevelt had an economy in trouble and he had the war stimulate the economy. You know how I feel and my position. I assume you voted for Obama, how do you feel about HIS 8 trillion, his forgetfullness that people need jobs, his focus on social issues (really) and his lack of leadership? I was upset with Bush at the end - how do you feel about Obama now? Four years is a long time.....what has he done that impresses you? Please be honest!

I'll take someone who has created 1 job. Heck, held a job! Balanced a budget. Heck, MADE a budget. No thanks to utopian green robin hood communist socialists. That formula brings countries down, and after watching "Obama's America 2016" that's just want they want. Not a country, but a "global society." BARF!!

HEY!!! Give Dold Credit---he must have made a fortune selling Lake Michigan to the oil cartels.

Hey George, last time I checked the United States was on this planet, you know, the only one we've got. Talk about protectionist, insular, narrow thinking. Why is socialism such a dirty work to y'all? Don't ya just hate when we, as a society, do something that we couldn't do individually? You know... public education, public safety, good roads, sewers and safe water. We are a social species. Individualism goes only so far. You don't get to the moon on capitalism, you get there with a cooperative, coordinated effort, because there are some things more important than profit, when it comes to a society.

Let me get this.....??? utopian...green.......communist.......socialists, George---you forgot BLACK

Johnny has demonstrated the last desperate technique always "employed" (ha) by the liberals: when liberals fail miserably and soil all over themselves and have no argument, they play the RACE card!! Yippee! Public education in this country sucks! Roads suck too! Unemplyment sucks. Poverty is up 15%. 1/5 of the citizens are on food stamps! The few are blamed for the doldrums of the many. We need American energy independence and American jobs. Not Earth energy and Earth jobs. So It's koo-koo planetary society time. Oh boy, I can't wait to work hand-in-hand with those crazy Iranians, Al-Qaeda, Lybia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and don't forget China and North Korea. Yes they will all come around to our way of thinking. U.S.S.R. tried that. Failed!! I'll take Freedom, Free Markets, free competition, free enterprise and Prosperity, thanks! Private business has created, invented, and innovated every awesome product, service, and modern convenience you take for granted. It employs you and gives you your prosperous life. The ONLY thing the government does best is National Defense. And we're going to need it when all the idiots get Nukes thanks to Mr. Wonderful.

D'skidoc No profit equals running in the RED at any level ...do you not know that?....Do you need a gov't to take care of you? That's what socialism is.......... List me anything Obama has done right in the l;ast 4 years

John Obama being black shouln't matter NOR should it give him any kind of a free pass...please list me anything he's done in 4 years

Harry It was a nice speech, just like what Obama is good at, but again, list me anything he's done well the last 4 years

Try these - I'm sure you'll disagree with some, but . . .

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/march_april_2012/features/obamas_top_50_accomplishments035755.php

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/06/1128093/-President-Obama-s-Accomplishments-So-Far

Thanks Harry. btw..DFR.just my opinion, but based on facts. The developed countries with the more socialized health systems have healthier populations as measured by a number of different indicators and do it for far less that we do here in the US. Why does it threaten you that more people can be healthier for less aggregate cost? The only people who should fear that are the CEO's of health insurance companies. Again....Why is socialism such a dirty word. Without social contracts we would all be just beating each other over the head with sticks and rocks for the best grubs. Can't have civilization without civility and society.

Dold: given his house by his dad. Given a company not to run but to pick up a payckeck as "president of the company." Smart move...Dold needed to be sold as a "small business owner" in the upcoming political campaigns...Dold-fake man. The only thing this cockroach cares about is tax breaks for milionares like him. Vote for him, maybe he makes overtime payment illegal, in addition to healthcare for anyone making less in a lifetime than what he makes in 5 years.

There are 3 types of liberals (socialists) - those like John who must need everything provided to them by the gov't. and who think socialsm is the way, those like "Dold's supporter" who are jealous of people who do better than them and those like Harry who can't separate those that truly need help from those that expect everything given to them.

Harry - I think you have it backwards. Obama, Pelosi and Reid are the ones with the short term agenda. If they had a long term agenda, they wouldn't be hurting our grandkids by borrowing from China and increasing our debt! Who's going to pay for that? What about all those people collecting unemployment because it's more profitable than working because our gov't has made it easier to not work.
You can't have one part of our society working hard to get a house, pay for insurance, pay for college and save for retirement and then those who don't put the effort in are simply given these rewards because they shouldn't be left behind! Why work if the gov't is going to make everything equal anyhow. Also, it sounds to me that you are either a social worker or a lawyer. I AM a small business owner with 40 employees. As a business owner in a tough economy you MUST focus on the short term every day to keep revenue coming in and people busy. You keep an eye on the long term and new strategies and hope your plans get you there.
Limit your compassion to those who deserve it!

Well put, Deerfield Resident. Another example of democratic short term thinking: Medicare will be insolvent in 12 years. Obama/Schneider are quick to criticize anyone who proposes a plan (including their own Simpson-Bowles commission!). But yet they offer NO plan to fix Medicare. Their thinking is CLEARLY short term, as in 5 days til election!!! In the past four years, the deficit has grown by $6 trillion. Where did all that money go? And what would it be like after four more years of this? I dont want to find out. Obama must go! would like to add that Medicare, Social Security, and the deficit are the three biggest proble

But the first step toward solving all these problems is JOBS JOBS JOBS. Mitt Romney knows what to do to allow businesses to open up the hiring. Period. Everything I,Obama has done is bad for jobs. Period.

After Obamacare repeal, long term certainty on taxes, lower capital gains rate, repeal of Dodd-Frank, maybe this country stands a chance to grow our economy and restore more tax revenue which should be earmarked for paying off the Obama stimulus waste.

capital gains rate at regular income rates during the Clinton years were fine and most everybody prospered. bush lowered and what happend? rich are richer and the middle class is getter smaller. oh and as far as the deficit goes i agree it is bad but how quick we forget that the 800million in costs was never put in the books when bush started now the changes in medicare he passed.

Harry....your'e not the Harry Steindler from deerfield, partner in a law firm? Hmmmm....
But you are a small business owner with 40 employees too (like me) and don't look at the short term in a bad economy? Hmmmm...... Also, what's with the tax crap again.....I pay my 30% + or - do you pay your 30%? How much do you want people to keep giving. Again, if and WHEN I make 1M a year and I pay $300,000 in taxes ..DON'T YOU THINK I'VE PAID ENOUGH????? You sound like a typical liberal, probably living very comfortably, but have such guilt?????? that you have to criticize those LIKE YOU who are sucessful just to look good. How's the law firm?

Harry... (I just can't help myself question a liberal when I have one on the other end) ....so maybe you are a small business owner and you have an employee
who doesn't pull their weight and after repeated talks he/she doesn't get it. Do you keep them on because you feel "life is stacked against them" or do you fire them for the good of your company? This is what I'm talking about with our scoiety and the liberal views in general. Sure we MUST take care of those who truly need help but the rest...those who constantly have their hand out, refuse to get jobs or think obamas "change" means they're on easy street need to receive no more help what-so-ever. You liberals just don't see that.....

DF - what percentage of the federal budget do you believe goes towards the types of programs you are talking about (whatever they may be) and of that, how much do you think goes to the lazy cheaters who you are pointing to? Who are these lazy cheaters? Should we cut everyone out because of a few bad apples?

By the way - it seems that you know me - you ought to know I'm a CPA then, not an attorney or social worker. I have a pretty good job so I guess I'm comfortable - because I have children with special needs I have benefited from federal and state tax dollars supporting special needs education.

Between seeing children and young adults with special needs and doing work for social welfare organizations, I know there are plenty of people who would have no chance of surviving, forget thriving, without taxes supporting these people and services.Add an aging population and the need for social service spending will continue to grow. Those of us who are "comfortable" need to keep sharing to help those who have not yet reached that point and to help those that have no chance of getting there. I realize many people donate time and money to help - but that's not nearly enough. Some of the taxes we pay go to help those that need that help - that not only gives these people a chance - it also makes the United States and all of us better. And no, my partners and I never just look at the short term - that wouldn't be fair to our staff. our clients, or society in general.

By the way - I don't believe that Romney has any concept of how the tax system affects people. His "plan" to cut marginal rates and limit itemized deductions will not have nearly the positive affect he is expecting on lower income workers. The huge bulk of tax paid by lower earners consists of regressive taxes such as sales tax, state income taxes, utilities taxes, gas tax, social security and Medicare, real estate taxes, etc – not income taxes. His tax plan will lead to a large reduction in income taxes for a vast number of higher earners though. The theory that lower taxes for higher earners will flow down to the rest has not come to fruition over the past decade of incredibly low income tax, dividend and capital gains tax rates. Fortune 500 companies had record earnings in 2011and many small companies are experiencing high profits yet job growth is slow. Companies have found that they can make it with fewer workers due to productivity gains and the willingness of workers to work more hours. They’re not interested in hiring – despite very generous depreciation laws, job credit opportunities and the aforementioned already low tax rates.