* Democratic US Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is being endorsed by SEIU this morning. But fellow Democratic hopeful David Hoffman’s campaign blog has a post today which rips into both Giannoulias and SEIU’s state leadership…
The National GOP is champing at the bit to make the 2010 U.S. Senate election in Illinois all about former Governor Rod Blagojevich. This morning, the Alexi Giannoulias campaign is serving them up a free punch, trotting out an endorsement from the union leadership that was Blago’s biggest supporter and whose president was completely enmeshed in the controversy over Rod’s attempt to sell this Senate seat. (He even appears on the infamous Blagojevich wiretap!)
You can bet Giannoulias will sit silently on the dais and smile broadly as he receives the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) leadership, just as he did when the Blagojevich controversy first surfaced. He doesn’t rock the boat, and he’s no doubt excited about stepping up to the same trough that netted Blagojevich more than a million dollars in campaign cash.
This kind of merry-go-round involving the same cozy insiders doing the same political dance is what’s wrong with Illinois politics. This is why David Hoffman– a true independent corruption-fighter with no ties to the scandals of the past– is running to be our senator. We deserve better. The SEIU members deserve better. David stands with them.
The National Republicans who are looking to take the President’s Senate seat next year are going to have a good morning with this endorsement.
Wow. You won’t see many statewide Democratic candidates say stuff like that. And for good reason.
SEIU most certainly does have a lot of explaining to do about its past support of Blagojevich. I can’t argue with that at all. However, I don’t think the FBI wiretaps show that the union’s leadership was “completely enmeshed” in Blagojevich’s alleged attempt to sell the Senate seat.
And, without that union, only a couple of those independent Chicago aldermen would’ve been elected in 2007. Those campaigns added up to a huge accomplishment which too many people have forgotten. The union was also the prime force which moved Speaker Madigan off the dime when he was refusing to raise the minimum wage. SEIU is currently plotting to oppose some of the dead weight in the House Democratic caucus come February.
Its serious Blagojevich blind spot aside, the union leadership has done a lot for causes that Hoffman supposedly espouses. It has worked on issues with good government types like Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, who has endorsed Hoffman. Sen. Schoenberg has received thousands of dollars in contributions from SEIU over the years.
I’ll be interested to see if this campaign post gets any media play. The Republicans will surely play it up.
* In other US Senate campaign news, I told you yesterday that Giannoulias had whacked Mark Kirk for missing a vote on extending unemployment insurance, possibly because he was too busy with campaign work. The Trib has more…
The Republican National Senatorial Committee waded in, noting that three prominent Chicago Democratic congressmen—Jesse Jackson Jr., Bobby Rush and Luis Gutierrez—also didn’t cast votes on the legislation, which passed on a bipartisan 331-83 roll call. Kirk, Jackson, Rush and Gutierrez were among 18 congressmen who didn’t vote on the legislation.
A Republican spokesman questioned whether Giannoulias and the Democrats are also suggesting that “their fellow Illinois Democrats similarly ‘turned their backs’ on Illinois families yesterday” and called the shot at Kirk a “desperate and ill-conceived” political attack.
Kirk spokesman Eric Elk said the congressman issued a statement into the record that he was “unavoidably detained” but would have voted for the jobless-benefit extension as he had in previous roll calls last year.
Giannoulias’ campaign wouldn’t back down when asked about this push-back. They claimed that Kirk, unlike the Democrats listed above, has voted against extending unemployment insurance several times before and wondered whether he purposely avoided the roll call. Conservatives believe, as a rule, that extending unemployment benefits keeps people from looking for work. Kirk has already taken lots of heat for voting against conservative orthodoxy on the so-called “cap and trade” bill.
* Other political stuff…
* Berrios and Shaw: Fetch the bellhop for baggage: I tried to stay calm Wednesday. Eight cups of coffee did not help. This morning at the South Loop Hotel, Robert Shaw will announce his candidacy for Cook County assessor. He and county wheeler-dealer Joe Berrios are running for the Democratic nomination… To show how far we’ve come since then, we have two candidates running for an important countywide office, both chiseled from the block of patronage, both shaped by a lifetime of the “old way.”
* Cook County assessor candidate to come out swinging today: “Anybody who lives in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones,” said Berrios, Cook County Democratic chairman and a Board of Review commissioner who considers property tax assessment appeals. “I don’t think he should talk.”
* Evanston gay alderman: Mark Tendam says voters are far more concerned with public issues than his private life - Other gay elected officials cite growing acceptance — but more progress needs to be made, advocates say
* Rauschenberger to host town halls on Illinois budget crisis
* Press release: Gubernatorial Candidate Adam Andrzejewski Responds to Bill Brady
* Long line forms for slim chance at becoming Illinois governor by default
* Truth Lost Amid the Din
LIVE session coverage...
- Anonymous45 - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:24 am:
good God, the Shaw brothers are attempting to stage a another comeback…
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:30 am:
Bill Shaw died, so it’s just one brother now.
- I'm just saying - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:36 am:
I find it wickedly ironic that he is the Inspector General for Dolton, talk about putting the Fox in charge of the Hen House :)
- Vinron - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:37 am:
Not just the trad’l Republicans are going to play up SEIU, the “crazy right wingers” Beck and Breitbart have jumped to SEIU now that ACORN appears to be exhausted as a topic.
- steve schnorf - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:38 am:
There’s no one on earth who can dissect and explain Illinois’ budget crisis better than Steve Rauschenberger. I hope he doesn’t get too caught up by orthodoxy to really explain to people what has to happen.
- Scooby - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:39 am:
Traditionally you say something like the leadership is out of touch with their members and rank and file union members believe in what I stand for and I believe I can still earn their support.
Or, I guess there’s always this option too.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:44 am:
The Hoffman attack is very interesting, but he needs to be pressed into talking about it directly, not just by tossing a press release stink bomb.
He should expand more on what he’s talking about. What are his specific problems with Alexi, the union and their relationship? He needs to be more clear about his concerns about the union and Blago.
The water cooler chatter in the U.S. Attorney’s office probably gives him a different perspective. Let’s hear it. Otherwise, it’s just cheap innuendoe.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:45 am:
With ACORN making the news, SEIU is going to catch a little flak too. With Blagojevich in the news, it isn’t that tough to link SEIU with these negatives to Giannoulais, who gets sandwiched between his personal issue predicaments and Blagojevich.
Hynes discovered that a weak leading candidate still has strengths. Hoffman has to be aware that the same applies to Giannoulais. We’ll see if Hoffman’s camp can do what Hynes’ blundering political advisors couldn’t.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 10:48 am:
Beck and Breitbart have jumped to SEIU now that ACORN appears to be exhausted as a topic.
Remember “60 Minutes”? Remember how they used to set up video stings? CBS paid for all of this, but I don’t remember anyone claiming that CBS was the reason for the illegal activities they videotaped.
Stay focused on the corruption, not those that report it.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:01 am:
There’s something unusual about that Hoffman posting. It tries to adopt almost a crime novel tone, ascribing mood and emotion to third parties. My advice: save it for the novel.
–The National GOP is champing at the bit…
–You can bet Giannoulias will sit silently on the dais and smile broadly…–
–He doesn’t rock the boat, and he’s no doubt excited about stepping up to the same trough…
- Vinron - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:03 am:
VMan, those reporting it is a large part of the story. Maybe it would be better to say that those NOT reporting it is the story. I don’t really care who reports it, my point was that it may well be a very good time for candidates to distance themselves from SEIU, if possible.
- colt 45 - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:03 am:
—Stay focused on the corruption, not those that report it. — RIGHT ON v man!
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:07 am:
In my opinion, the so-called “reporters” were also corrupt. Not to take away from the ACORN stuff, but they were specifically asked if they were reporters on at least one occasion and they denied it. That ain’t right.
- Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:09 am:
-The SEIU members deserve better. David stands with them.-
So the SEIU is corrupt but also deserves better? I know he’s referring to the leadership, but I can’t see the SEIU members feeling too warm and fuzzy about this statement.
- Brennan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:18 am:
It is going to be awfully difficult to separate ACORN from the SEIU in Illinois. Chicago ACORN created SEIU Local 880. 880 is now SEIU Health Care Illinois-Indiana. Their PAC knows how to “spread the wealth” around of its members to candidates from Obama to Radogno.
Rich is right about the aldermanic campaigns in 2007. Fioretti and Waguespack had little chance without the backing of SEIU money and muscle.
The Blago executive orders in 2002 for home health care workers look awful today.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:20 am:
“Not to take away from the ACORN stuff, but they were specifically asked if they were reporters on at least one occasion and they denied it. That ain’t right.”
Maybe so, but what have the “classic” undercover reporters of the past normally done in a situation like that? Or did they happen to never be asked whether they were reporters or not?
- regular democrat - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:25 am:
Hoffman must remind the electorate that this is the same old thing just repackaged. SEIU=Blago=Alexi. If he has the requisite amount of money he may get the message out and make sone hay. Not sure if it will work. Alexi seems to be the annointed one. How much will stick to him remanins to be seen.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:27 am:
===It is going to be awfully difficult to separate ACORN from the SEIU in Illinois.===
Only if you think people care. And, frankly, if you think SEIU Healthcare is corrupt, I’d really like to see your evidence.
- Scooby - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:31 am:
Rich you’re so silly. The evidence is because Glen Beck said so.
- anon - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:34 am:
Kirk always seems to be at least two steps ahead of Giannoulias.
- shore - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:38 am:
I actually liked what I had seen from Adam Andreski but if his campaign reads this I hope they do 3 things.
1. I saw his ad on fox last night. dude, unless your name is steve urkel, it’s not a great idea to wear your pants up to your chest. Image is everything.
2. when on t.v. slow down and communicate effectively, an ad isn’t a race to say 4,000 words in 60 seconds.
3. I heard you on the roeser show. neophyte candidates can get really exposed if they fail to understand basic things (bush got killed for not knowing the president of pakistan in 2000), you should know what is and isn’t a patronage worker if you are going to attack people.
I don’t care for Mary Mitchell in the sun-times but she makes a great point this morning that the Mayor is in copenhagen trying to get 15 year old chinese gymnasts here in 7 years while 15 year old kids on the south side are getting shot.
On the north shore the name laurie dann is still a big deal. I really can’t imagine why those folks on the south side would put up with the numbers of killed they see a year.
- Not so fast - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:42 am:
“Rich is right about the aldermanic campaigns in 2007. Fioretti and Waguespack had little chance without the backing of SEIU money and muscle.”
Know what the heck you’re talking about. SEIU had next to zero involvement in the Waguespack campaign; the campaign manager didn’t like or trust them, and did not want them involved in the race. Of course, that won’t stop them from trying to take the credit anyway.
- Rogers - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 11:48 am:
Has David Hoffman raised any money? 2010 is right around the corner and he has not done much fundraising. His blog posts are cute, but they are not going to win an election or sway many voters. Illinois is a state that responds to political advertisements, whether radio, tv or billboards, being pounded over and over into the minds of voters.
Money wins in Illinois more often then not. Has David Hoffman got that memo yet?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:03 pm:
=========
So the SEIU is corrupt but also deserves better? I know he’s referring to the leadership, but I can’t see the SEIU members feeling too warm and fuzzy about this statement.
=========
Word’s right about the tone of the posting. Hate to be critical, but it sounds like an idealistic saviour who’s planning to save everyone through dramatic prose, which frankly, could use some editing.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:05 pm:
=======
Illinois is a state that responds to political advertisements, whether radio, tv or billboards, being pounded over and over into the minds of voters.
=======
Haven’t you seen THE bus yet?
- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:07 pm:
Hoffman’s press secretary does his campaign little good with the histrionics. Dumping on SEIU does nothing to help him in the primary. And in the unlikely event he wins the primary, he’s cut off a powerful ally.
“SEIU had next to zero involvement in the Waguespack campaign”
+/-$31,000 in contributions ain’t nothing.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:09 pm:
Sorry. I’m going to stop now because I’m beginning to sound “catty”. In summary, same level of effort as seen in the beginning. Again, makes you wonder whether the Campaign’s peaked before it even really took off.
- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:13 pm:
“Kirk always seems to be at least two steps ahead of Giannoulias. ”
The evidence to this point would seem to the contrary, what with Kirk politicizing his military service and coming to grips that the “narrow interests” of his house re-elections are in direct contrast to the even narrower interests of winning a statewide GOP primary.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:23 pm:
SEIU Health may not be corrupt as traditionally defined, but they definitely were not above using threats from Governor Blagojevich to hospitals that refused their demands, namely that hospitals targeted for SEIU organizing efforts turn over their enitre list of employees addresses and phone numbers to SEIU, otherwise the Gov would come down on them and start looking into their not-for-profit status.
Corrupt?
- fedup dem - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:24 pm:
Is Hoffman a serious candidate? It is nearly impossible for voters to contact his campaign, other than by playing E-mail tag. I get the distinct impression that his handlers are trying to soak up every dollar they can up front, knowing he’ll be toast on February 2.
Pingback ArchPundit | That’s a New Strategy - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:26 pm:
[…] Rich also reminds us that they are also the only ones challenging Democratic incumbents in primaries and even applied enough pressure to Madigan that he has agreed in safe seats that he can live with that. That’s something we haven’t had in years. […]
- Brennan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:27 pm:
not so fast: Oh jeez. You’re going to have to go explain your position to the members of the local then. Perhaps Waguespack is just using them on questioning the LAZ deal, Chicago 2016, and the City of Chicago 2010 Budget negotiations.
Rich: Who said anything about corruption? It all looks like good organization to me.
The same AKPD Media that helped to put Barack Obama in the White House is now steering the David Hoffman campaign for US Senator. Axelrod’s moved on, but his former partners are all still there. The SEIU endorses Alexi and days later the Hoffman team drops the SEIU-Blago bomb on him.
I’ve got the same remote control out as you to see if any of this sticks with the voters. I am a little surprised to see it coming from the Barack Obama advisory team.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:30 pm:
Sorry, but I’m honestly having alot of difficulty with the term “politicizing military service” and who is doing that.
Some of our greatest leaders have served in the military, same was brought up during their campaigns (and even appointments), and is usually mentioned pretty much at the top of their bios and other data provided within our history books.
Are you suggesting that we should not be proud of our Candidate’s service record, his dedication to our Country, and what he’s done to help our Vets–or that we should just stay mum about it because it’s not politically-correct in your book?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:32 pm:
Anonymous 12:23, just so you know that handle has been taken. Please be kind enough to post under another. Thank you.
- laborguy - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:42 pm:
Man oh man, the haters are out today. First things first, Mr. Hoffman stands with the members of SEIU? Really? He has never met with SEIU or its members and hasn’t supported a single fight of theirs…ever. If SEIU is responsible for Rod Blagojevich then so is every other union in the state and every other Democratic elected office holder that supported him over the years.
The Executive Order that allowed home healthcare workers to organize was bad public policy? Really? Helping lift some 50,000 Illinois families out of poverty is bad for this state and its economy. Really?
I know you all are kinda bored and looking for something to talk about but at least get your facts straight when you do it.
BTW, ACORN closed its doors in Illinois 2 years ago because local leaders and staff stood up and fought the corrput national leadership. Go check out Mike Flannery’s story on the subject from last week.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:46 pm:
Oh, and JonShibleyFan: Just a heads-up that I’d be willing to stay up around the clock until I fall, debating this issue with you, if you’d like.
It seems to be least that I can do recognize–and defend, if necessary–the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make not only to defend this Nation, but to keep bullies from intimidating them into silence.
Go for it, bud, if you’re so inclined.
- bored now - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:50 pm:
there is another candidate in the race for county accessor: Ali El Saffar.
- Bill - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 12:57 pm:
This is a good time, I think, to point out that SEIU is Gov. Quinn’s biggest supporter as well.
- Boscobud - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 1:01 pm:
Is Robert Shaw a 72 year old man? Or is that a different Robert Shaw? I was looking for information on him.
- laborguy - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 1:08 pm:
I would also like to point out that SEIU is the only union in Illinois that supports real campaign finance reform. SEIU is a member of the CHANGE Illinois coalition and is in favor of a state campaign finance system based on the federal model, but until there is real reform in this state SEIU will continue to play by the rules as they currently exist.
- Anonymous45 - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 1:26 pm:
Bored now; the Assessor assesses…he/she does not access…Saffar is currently the Oak Park Township Assessor, and is indeed, running county wide…
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 1:48 pm:
I just can’t believe it took laborguy that long…
BTW, laborguy, drop me a note if you can at archpundit@gmail.com. Thanks.
- JonShibleyFan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 1:49 pm:
I have better things to do than “debate” with someone (or several people, who knows, since you don’t have a handle) who sets up strawman arguments.
Kirk’s service in the Navy is laudable. Kirk twittering as a candidate for US Senate that he is on duty at the Pentagon is not. And he knows it, which is why he offered Mark Kirk’s version of an apology (kind of a “sorry this makes you angry”) and promised not to do it again.
This was covered in this blog.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 2:10 pm:
Interesting how you’d equate something so basic as my concerns about Citizens being bullied into silence–specifically about military service–to a “strawman” argument.
Thank you, however, for recognizing Mark Kirk’s service. And to allay your fears about his “twittering” (again, nice choice of words), he didn’t spend any time in the brig for it.
As a matter of fact, not long afterwards, it seemed that required clarification on applicable Directives began taking place, which–most would understand–is actually a POSITIVE thing.
- dave - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 2:31 pm:
Wait… so because Kirk did something stupid and in turn rules are being clarified, Kirk’s stupid action was actually a good thing?
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 3:18 pm:
The Republican National Senatorial Committee waded in, noting that three prominent Chicago Democratic congressmen—Jesse Jackson Jr., Bobby Rush and Luis Gutierrez—also didn’t cast votes on the legislation,….
So the plan is to have Commando Crusts Kirk vote along with Cong. Jackson ….that should make all the wing nuts comfortable.
Smart move Commando
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 4:24 pm:
This is a good time, I think, to point out that SEIU is Gov. Quinn’s biggest supporter as well.
You are right Bill. Man - you have a one-track mind! Like a laser! Watching those Hynes buffoons blow his chance must be making you totally crazy! But like I said when Hynes was first considering running against Quinn - choosing between those guys is like choosing between Vanilla or French Vanilla, they are too much alike at the starting gate of this race, and Hynes’ batch of campaign bozos screwed up when they thought a comptroller could politically play against a governor. Like watching a chess player check a bishop with a pawn. Dumb!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 4:25 pm:
If it weren’t true, Second City couldn’t come up with anything funnier than Berrios and Shaw for Cook County Assessor, 2010.
- didjacall? - Thursday, Sep 24, 09 @ 5:13 pm:
@fedupdem: did you try calling them?
Number here:
http://publicaffairs2point0.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/establishing-the-hoffman-for-senate-brand/
Letus know what happens…
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 25, 09 @ 1:21 am:
Just got back. Things seem pretty quiet–at least for a while–in this farm yard of politics we call Illinois. I’m sure the hounds’ll be howlin’ again tomorrow!