Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Quinn’s latest diversion: Chief DGA fundraiser
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Quinn’s latest diversion: Chief DGA fundraiser

Tuesday, Mar 1, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Just what Illinois needs right now, another distraction for Gov. Pat Quinn

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is the new finance chair of the Democratic Governors Association, I’m told, responsible for raising millions of dollars from across the country to help bankroll upcoming governor contests.

Quinn was tapped for what is his first big national political role by DGA chairman Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. Taking on the finance chair chores means Quinn will travel more around the country to raise Democratic cash.

At one-time seen as reluctant to be involved in major fund-raising, Quinn stepped up to the plate when it came to his battle to win election on his own in 2010, after becoming governor after Rod Blagojevich was impeached in 2009. Quinn raised $23 million in what was a brutal Democratic primary and general election campaign against Illinois State Sen. Bill Brady.

There are four governor contests in 2011: Republicans are governor in Mississippi and Louisiana and Democrats hold the seats in Kentucky and West Virginia.

He really needs to finish fixing some of the bigger problems at home before taking on these added, partisan responsibilities. But, he’s tight with public employee unions, which contributed heavily to his campaign last year. And he’s spoken vigorously on their behalf during the Wisconsin/Indiana turmoils. For instance

“It’s a war on workers: You know, the people who teach our kids, who plow the snow off our interstates,” Quinn Monday said on MSNBC. “Those are working men and women and they deserve a decent pay and decent retirement. They’ve already given up concessions in that area.

“The right to have a union and collectively bargain – about your conditions, working conditions – that’s a fundamental American right,” he said. “So what Governor Scott Walker’s doing in Wisconsin is just plain wrong. and I think he’s going to realize it. The people of America are not on his side.

“He didn’t show up at our governors’ conference here in Washington,” Quinn continued. “I think that he knows even Republican governors – many of them know – that he’s on the wrong track and he’s not going to help working people and middle class people retain a good job in America.” […]

“We’re not going to give in and roll over here,” Quinn said. “The governor of Wisconsin is just plain wrong. I noticed today – this past couple days – many other Republican governors are not buying into this trying to bash unions, and bust unions, and hurt working people. That’s not what America is all about. We believe in hard work and rewarding that with decent pay and a decent retirement.”

Those unions have big bucks and the DGA will likely use Quinn to get their cash for Democratic candidates.

Also, it’s a bit of an irony that the DGA is tapping Quinn to raise money now, after having to run TV ads for him last summer because his campaign apparatus was stuck in low gear.

       

23 Comments
  1. - Responsa - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:21 pm:

    Once he gets going, Quinn’s persuasiveness, colorful vocabulary tics, and overall stellar communication skills will astound the DGA.


  2. - one day at a time - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:22 pm:

    Oh sure…..not one comment about PQ’s war on state employees and retirees in Illinois….its just those ‘other’ guys!


  3. - Pat Robertson - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:42 pm:

    He should subcontract this job to Blagojevich.


  4. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:46 pm:

    “In his spare time, Governor Quinn is in charge of …

    fundraising for the Democratic Governors Association

    Springfield’s Toastmasters - Speech Mentors Chairman

    The Illinois Association of Unaffilliated Groups, Useless Titles, and Organizations Organization - 2nd Vice President

    Association of Governors Organizing for Cool Titles - Secretary of Rockin’ and Rollin’

    The Association to Reduce Associations Associated With Titles That End With ‘Accociation’ - Scribe/Editor

    ….”

    Pat Quinn, with myopic focus, will be able to get Illinois on the right track …

    Or …

    They say politics is kinda like High School, so maybe Pat Quinn’s guidence counselor told Ole Pat to “get involved, join some clubs…”


  5. - Responsa - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:52 pm:

    OW–and used that old saw “it’ll look good on your resume”.


  6. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:56 pm:

    Responsa -

    You know it … that is in the “manual”


  7. - Wumpus - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:33 pm:

    Rich, when did CapFax become a competitor of the Onion? What is the next story, Scott Walker to speak at a pro-collective bargaining for State Employees Event?


  8. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:34 pm:

    Not a bad idea. I’ll ask Henry Bayer if he’d be up for it today.

    Heh.


  9. - Team Sleep - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:36 pm:

    One thing I will say in Quinn’s defense is that many D.C. officials wear two hats as fundraisers, political spokespersons, campaign committee chairpersons, etc. They too have daunting tasks ahead of them and also have to balance home lives in their districts and in D.C., and many of them have little children or family issues that also take up quite a bit of time. A lot of hard-charging politicos often stretch themselves too thin. One thing Quinn’s new commitment brings to the forefront is the need for his staff to step up and really show it can tackle the tough issues while their boss may be away on political business.


  10. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:43 pm:

    I will say one thing, Rich, that my first responses have been of a comic nature lately, not by your “spin”, “word choice”, etc., in the post titles, but of the Onion-like stories that have sprouted up in the last 9 months.

    You can’t make some of this up!


  11. - Seriously??? - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:45 pm:

    I guess with the diminishing numbers of Democratic governors across the country, Quinn was their best option of bad options. Kind of like his last election.


  12. - dupage dan - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:54 pm:

    So this is what happens when you miss a meeting - the attendees assign you some onerous duty - like fundraising.

    PQ outta respectfully decline with a short (!) speech about how he has to help the people of Illinois, that beautiful state next to the mighty mississip, that river of life that flows thru the middle part of this great nation - not dividing, but bringing us all together in our great national cause, freedom. I say freedom because we need to keep focused on the most important issues of the day, the need to protect those who need our help the most. I’m talking about the vanishing species of fish that inhabit that great, winding, river we call our great Illinois friend. That reminds me of a story……


  13. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:01 pm:

    Quinn could make a bundle for the DGA on the speakers circuit.

    Fee for speaking without notes: $5,000

    Fee for speaking from a strict script: $10,000

    Fee for sitting mute on a stage for 20 minutes: $20,000


  14. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:31 pm:

    word -

    Don’t forget the “Patron” level - $100,000, and you get to NOT show up to the event…


  15. - And I Approved This Message - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:51 pm:

    He’d better dial down his Land of Lincoln references when he’s in Kentucky.


  16. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:11 pm:

    –He’d better dial down his Land of Lincoln references when he’s in Kentucky.–

    Actually, Kentucky tourism makes a pretty big deal about being Lincoln’s birthplace. They also maintain a site about 100 miles down the road for Jefferson Davis’ birthplace.


  17. - jerry 101 - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:17 pm:

    Pat Quinn is head of fundraising for the DGA?!

    What in the heck? I guess they’re hoping that being close to Obama-central will make the fundraising easier, but yeesh.

    You’d think they’d just make it easy on themselves and tap Cuomo.

    Could be worse for the DGA - they could have tapped California’s new governor. I think Jerry Brown financed most of his campaign with some loose change he found in his couch.


  18. - Bob - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:57 pm:

    I Paid AFSCME dues for almost 30 years never had a choice. Never once got to vote for Henry Bayer. I guess he’s himself to be Illinois life time appointed dictator. So jump up and down and scream, its all about the Money for AFSCME and the Democrats. The public employees don’t have a choice!


  19. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:18 pm:

    its too bad the DGA isn’t a publicly traded security - if it was with Quinn in a leadership position it would make a great short


  20. - dumb ol' country boy - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:19 pm:

    The DGA must have been hurting for a body to put in this position, but on a good note Gov.Quinn will have something to keep him busy so he cannot come up with his silly ideas for illinois. Might not be a bad thing…..Wonder if Madigan arranged it….


  21. - Park - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 8:39 pm:

    As a Republican, I’m more than pleased by this appointment.


  22. - Anon - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 10:50 pm:

    Awesome. This will give Jack Lavin more time to stack the deck with Rezko cronies and “yes-men”. I’m all for it!


  23. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 7:08 am:

    Did they look at his D-2’s?


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Reader comments closed for the weekend
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* The Waukegan City Clerk was railroaded
* Whatever happened, the city has a $40 million budget hole it didn't disclose until now
* Manar gives state agencies budget guidance: Cut, cut, cut
* Roundup: Ex-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis testifies in Madigan corruption trial
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller