Rahm and Rauner: Montana vacation buddies?
Thursday, Oct 3, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bruce Rauner is already taking a bit of heat from his Republican gubernatorial rivals over his very close ties to Mayor Rahm Emanuel...
It’s Rauner, after all, who advised Rahm in the late ‘90s to make his fortune as an investment banker and who hired him to represent GTCR in the purchase of a home-security company from SBC Communications. Proceeds from that deal, among others, put the Clinton operative, who had no prior business experience or education, on the fast track to earning $18 million in under 3 years. Fortune in place, Rahm sprinted down the road to elective office.
Rauner’s genuine chumminess with Rahm will not help the venture capitalist in the Republican primary, and neither will Rauner’s contributions to Rahm’s campaigns.
* Carol Felsenthal digs up another…
On April 17, 2012, before Rauner announced his exploratory committee for governor, the American Jewish Committee, at a dinner at the Ritz Carlton Chicago, honored Rauner with its Civic Leadership Award. More than 400 people attended, a AJC record. Mayor Emanuel introduced/roasted Rauner and presented him with the award.
Two people who were there that night told me that Rahm was extremely funny and that he mentioned that he and his family vacation at Rauner’s ranch in Montana.
That would be a nice little advantage for Rauner next fall, but, needless to say, not so much during the primary.
* Also, I did a quick Google search for the two men and found this speech by then-Congressman Rahm Emanuel in the Congressional Record on June 1, 2004…
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my good friend Bruce V. Rauner of Chicago and the Rauner Family Foundation for being honored by the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, which is awarding Bruce with its prestigious Humanitarian Award at the Second Annual Hometown Heroes Awards breakfast. […]
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois and indeed all of Chicago, I am privileged to congratulate Bruce V. Rauner and the Rauner Family Foundation for this impressive honor, and I applaud the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago for bestowing this celebrated award on such deserving recipients.
It’s just the usual congressional boilerplate stuff, but the glowing language praising Rauner might not look so good when it’s referenced in a negative TV ad - that is, if anybody ever runs one.
…Adding… Frank Zappa’s “Montana” has been in my head since I wrote this post. I forgot how great the guitar solo is…
Gonna be a dental floss tycoon
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 10:54 am:
Montana vacations, huh? Where was that up on Broke Union Mountain?
- Pete - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 10:57 am:
First to run a negative add opens the flood gates.
It’s a standoff until then.
I expect that the GOP is working to slim down the field behind the scenes. By Dec. 2nd the primary may not be as large as it as the moment.
- As if - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 10:57 am:
Bill Daley orchestrated Rahm into the mayors office and apparently cleared the field of democrats in an attempt to assist Rauner.
- OneMan - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 10:58 am:
wordslinger….
100 Internets for you….
- Just Observing - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:00 am:
Is Rauner Jewish? Not to say that the AJC can’t or wouldn’t honor a non-Jew. I’m just curious (and Jewish myself).
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:00 am:
===Mayor Emanuel introduced/roasted Rauner and presented him with the award.===
Hope there is a picture of that beautiful moment…
Further, do we have some “art” like Rahm taking pictures, maybe of Rauner’s ranch, or FROM Rauner’s porch…that would be fun too.
The Congressional Resolution stuff doesn’t bother me.
Attention Brady, Dillard, and Rutherford:
Anytime you want to start with a leaked picture from the OR file, just to gets some buzz going, especially during petition time, I won’t stop you, honest.
- siriusly - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:01 am:
Does Rauner vote in Montana too?
- Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:03 am:
Anyone else see this Crains story suggesting Rauner may have been handling the Port of Chicago deal for Rahm?
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131001/BLOGS02/131009966
- Samurai - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:08 am:
Rauner: I just want to say two words to you. Just two words.
Rahm: Yes, sir.
Rauner: Are you listening?
Rahm: Yes, I am.
Rauner: Venture Capital.
- LincolnLounger - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:09 am:
@Pete: I expect that the GOP is working to slim down the field behind the scenes. By Dec. 2nd the primary may not be as large as it as the moment.
Sorry, Pete. If you had any idea how dysfunctional that group is, you’d stop speculating. Nobody listens to anybody, and there is no muscle to get anything done. The kooks and the RINOs don’t talk to each other.
- Norseman - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:10 am:
Great one Word!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:12 am:
–Bill Daley orchestrated Rahm into the mayors office and apparently cleared the field of democrats in an attempt to assist Rauner.–
Who did Daley clear from the Dem field (other than himself) and how would that help Rauner?
- Darienite - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:15 am:
If you run anything now, most voters will forget about it by the Primary. It will be interesting to see which candidate capitalize on it first, though.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:20 am:
=== ===Mayor Emanuel introduced/roasted Rauner and presented him with the award.===
Hope there is a picture of that beautiful moment… ===
Question answered.
I am sure one of the THREE has it.
===I expect that the GOP is working to slim down the field behind the scenes.===
Political Parties try to do that, however, between the Slytherins and the Tea Partiers, eveeryone thinks they are the leaders and should be followed, and no one is following because they are too busy thinking they should be the one leading…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:22 am:
- Darienite -,
You are missing the point … got to start the narrative in the precincts, and what a beter time to do that when petitions are out, and people are asking about the “whos and whats”…
I like “art”, says so much, with so little.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:25 am:
You have to think that if Rauner is his guy, Emanuel will, sometime after the holidays, give an unsolicited ringing endorsement of Quinn.
He’d be risking a major cerebrovascular accident, but, hey, Rauner made him a millionaire. Emanuel owes him.
- John Galt - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:26 am:
You don’t even need real visuals for the ads. Just a badly photoshopped headshot of Rahm and Rauner slapped on some cartoon bodies paling around on vacation. “R & R getting some R & R”. Either play up the rich boy venture capital luxury vacation angle, or just the cozy relationship generally.
I don’t see Brady being viable at this point, so I see it as either Dillard or Rutherford vying for the anti-Rauner slot. And if neither one pulls ahead of the other, Rauner wins by default.
As for the negative ad retaliation–if an unaffiliated super PAC funded the ad buy so the fingerprints of the other candidates aren’t on it, I don’t see how Rauner could reasonably counter attack. Unless he just unleashed hit pieces on all three…..
- Hank - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:37 am:
Which house does Rauner’s wife keep her wedding dress stored at?
- Hmmm - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:39 am:
There are possible ethics issues with the vacations. It was a part of the ryan trial. Not saying that there was absolutely wrongdoing. But it deserves further inquiry.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:40 am:
The congressional record item makes Rauner’s residency issue even more interesting. Various reports by Greg Hinz and others have Rauner living in Wilmette until 2008 when he established residency in Chicago in order to clout his kid into Payton HS. And of course he just switched back to Wilmette so he’s not running for governor as a Chicagoan. But this was in 2004 when he supposedly lived in Wilmette, yet Rahm identified him as being from Chicago. Hmmm.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:42 am:
Careful, careful, - Hmmm -,… no snark.
Thinking that the “guys down the street” need to look at something is a bridge you can walk across alone, thanks.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:47 am:
I remember from being at several Zappa shows that he would conduct his orchestra. We all thought that was cool. I saw him at North Central College in ‘74 or ‘75, I think. It was held in the gym and Climax Blues Band backed him up. No chairs, no aisles in the gym, the acoustics were terrible. Zappa in the school gym. Amazing.
I really miss him.
Who cares if Rauner and Rahm are buds? Emanuel comes off as more of a fiscal hawk anyway - what’s the diff?
- Mr. Grassroots - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:51 am:
I am rooting for a Quinn versus Rauner race, because it makes for a great lead-in to the 2015 mayoral election.
Since I don’t have a dog in this race, that would be great fun.
Not sure at this point of what impact Quinn versus Rauner has, although there will be one. Any one of the four R’s can win. Not a compliment.
If Kirk Dillard could ever figure out the code, he would be formidable against Quinn, but it doesn’t seem like he will get there on his current path. If Illinois was open primary, maybe.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:52 am:
- dupage dan -,
Huge difference in the Primary, a “Meh” difference in the General, depending how Quinn plays off Rauner’s Anti-Union, “state is broke, career politician” rhetoric …
But, in the Primary, Payton Prep Clouter Bruce Rauner’s closeness to Rahm. to Rich Daley, to Arne Duncan …yeah, it’s kinda a big deal.
But Rich is On Point. These three Rauner is facing do not have the financials to get the connections out as … intense … as may be needed.
Still doesn’t mean it’s not a big deal, however, it just means that people might not know these things at a level to make a difference come March.
With respect …
- Keyser Soze - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 11:52 am:
Sorry, money aside, Rauner just doesn’t resonate. And, his association with Rahm may better define him than all of the anti-public union media buys.
- OneMan - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
The image of the two of them in their Carhartt coats checking on cattle on the back 40….
- Mr. Grassroots - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
At this point Rauner appears to be an above average novice politician. But Peyton Prep is a problem or could be. His ant-AFSCME and anti-union rhetoric doesn’t sit well and it shouldn’t. However, all four are very bland and none of them rise to the top of the pack.
- b - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 12:18 pm:
if only Rauner would bash corporations like he does the unions, then he might have my vote. but something tells me that isn’t very likely to happen. LOL.
- dupage dan - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 12:22 pm:
OW, I agree. I think there is no clear path for the GOP right now so it may be hard to get the electorate, in the primary, to care much. How to galvanize the folks during that time? Gonna take a boat load of cash or a really good walking tour with a bright colorful bandana.
- From the 'Dale to HP - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 12:39 pm:
Rauner being close to Rahm might hurt him in Cook more than people think (and Quinn taking on Rahm might actually help him). Lots of time of course. BTW, I’d love to see Rahm’s negatives, they’ve got to be through the roof these days.
- Mr. Grassroots - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 12:46 pm:
The negatives against Rahm: Start with the obvious. The Chicago Teachers Union. Fraternal Order of Police. Firefighters Union. SEIU. AFSCME. The African-American voter. Overburdened and overtaxed homeowners. Want more! Very unscientific though.
- Rollo Tomasi - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 2:20 pm:
Rahm does not want buddies only admirers.
- Shore - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 3:06 pm:
Mike Huckabee used a term rudy mcromney in 2008 to say that rudy, mccain and romney were all basically the same guy and I think simply calling rauner Rahmner would stick the same way. He also said that rauner was the guy that likes to fire you and a similar line could be used against him.
From afar I think brady has the best shot to employ this attack and hope he uses it.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 3:19 pm:
The hits just keep on coming. What’s next?
- Bemused - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 3:31 pm:
If there is one thing Zappa did not want to be was Commercial. Montana was about as close as he got. To have it in the same thread with Rauner and Rahm is interesting.
- Nearly Normal - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 3:50 pm:
Dumb and Dumber?
Oscar and Felix?
Would love a photo of the Montana digs. Rustic or Modern?
- cover - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 4:14 pm:
= Would love a photo of the Montana digs. =
How about a photo(shop) of Rauner using zircon-encrusted tweezers to reach into the pockets of retired teachers?
- Bill Wick - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 4:39 pm:
Look for pictures of Rahm holding a Chipmunk rifle just before the next Mayoral election.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 4:45 pm:
===Look for pictures of Rahm holding a===
…Rauner?
Tomorrow.
- Bill Wick - Thursday, Oct 3, 13 @ 4:57 pm:
LOL, we’ve already seen Rauner’s hunting pictures, I did mean Rahm.