Illinois congressman weds daughter of former dictator (Republican)

[ISUGRADIA]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-11-21-congressman-guatemalan-wed_x.htm?csp=34

"They met during a trade mission, and despite controversy over their engagement, U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller of Illinois and the outspoken daughter of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt tied the knot Saturday in a civil ceremony.

...

Weller's opponents criticized the engagement because Rios Montt, a retired general who seized control of Guatemala for 18 months in 1982-83, is accused of leading one of the bloodiest campaigns in the nation's 36-year civil war, which killed 200,000 people.

This sounds like something from the Onion but is true. I'm sure his new father in law can give him some governering tips he can appreciate as a Republican.

[Tweed]

1. Weller's opponent broke the 40% mark, '06 could be interesting

It should be interesting to see how this plays out. I'm sure it was less of an issue in the election because it was just an engagment. Tari Renner, the Democrat who ran against him, got 41% of the vote in Illinois 11. If this got more play in '06 and the Republicans steer us toward disaster even more, I could defintley see a 9 1/2% point swing. Is Renner damaged goods though? Melissa Bean won after losing her first time. If anything, it helped her having lost in '02 and in '02 she got 43% of the vote. A better place to start, but I wouldn't rule out knocking Congressman Weller out especially with this. As Renner put it "Why in the world would you get involved in a family like that?"