*** UPDATED x1 *** Big buckaroos
Friday, Jan 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Conservative gazillionaire Richard Uihlein just contributed $1.5 million to Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC, which is now an independent expenditures PAC.
*** UPDATE *** Illinois Review…
When asked about this, Dan Proft, Chairman and Treasurer of Liberty Principles PAC told IR the organization’s resources will continue to be focused on state legislative races only. About Uihlein’s specific donation, Proft said:
“The investment represents Mr. Uihlein’s ongoing commitment to the economic liberty policy agenda and to Illinois state legislative candidates who share that commitment. Mr. Uihlein’s financial commitment is shared by a growing number of Liberty Principles PAC donors who understand the need for new political leadership in Springfield in order for Illinois to attract and retain businesses and grow jobs.”
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:04 pm:
The Agenda?
HGOP Primaries?
Help Rauner “stay above” the truly negative Ads about the Unions, and who is behind “smearing” Baron von Carhartt?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
Proft can also stay away from directly working for, or being a part of the Rauner Crew, keep the radio gig as a person “educating voters, not supporting any candidate” and make his percentages off the $1.5 Million.
I have no clue, pure speculation of connecting dots that seem to make sense(?)
- Smoggie - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:09 pm:
Wondering how much of that will go to defeating Sullivan and Sandack.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:12 pm:
LOL, why would anyone do that?
What has Proft ever accomplished except landing no-bid, taxpayer-financed contracts from mobbed-up Cicero? Or being just another interchangeable Rush wannabe on WLS?
His success in the electoral and policy arena is non-existent.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:14 pm:
- Smoggie -,
I am now going back and forth on this;
Encouraging conservatives to vote in the Primary is not what Rauner may want, but will help the Sandack and Sullivan opponents.
True it only 1/59th of the state, ginning up conservatives at this rate is not helpful for Rauner.
Maybe the question is, “Who is dictating the spending, Proft or Uihlein?”
- Powell - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:28 pm:
Proft was trashing Rauner this am.
- just sayin' - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:29 pm:
The question for WLS is…how much did Uihlein give them to put Proft on the radio in the first place. A review of the financials would be of interest. Would like to see them for the last few years. Would be terrible if that poor schmo Cotto lost his job bc of Proft’s political donor.
- just sayin' - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:30 pm:
Powell that is baloney. Proft and Tillman are in bed with Rauner full on. Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Policy Institute’s Andy McKenna, Illinois Policy Institute’s Elizabeth Christie (and Rauner finance chair) and don’t forget that $500K to IPI. Come on.
- just sayin' - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
In the business they call it “brokered time.” Dan “Brokered Time” Proft?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:34 pm:
Proft’s “cover” is to take on the “Unions trying to disrupt the Republican Primary”
Proft can trash Rauner on radio, and go full on negative towards the Unions attacking Republicans, and still have it both ways.
Possible.
Two House races, with $750K to take on incumbents, and throw in the Pihos challenge, that still leaves $500K, more than enough in 8 weeks to try to take out all three.
Lots of smoke, no fire yet.
- SonofSuperAbe2014 - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:42 pm:
Dan Proft may be the most inept Republican operative in Illinois and the well of IL Republican ineptitude is limitless.
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:52 pm:
wordslinger…
Not surprisingly there are GOPers who LOVE, L O V E, Proft…
- Bill White - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:52 pm:
Gosh, people sure are spending lots of money trying to get a gig playing for the Washington Generals.
- mokenavince - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
This should move Proft from 6th to 5th in the next race.
- mokenavince - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
One more thing he should donate to Proft’s side kick Chet Chit Chat to insure a higher finish for Dan.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
–Not surprisingly there are GOPers who LOVE, L O V E, Proft…–
Judging from the 2010 GOP primary, no more than 7.8%.
That’s about half of what Adam A. got. That’s far-and-away dead last in a field of Brady, Dillard, Ryan, McKenna and Adam A.
Still, if you can only sell yourself to a handful of voters, Uiehlein is a good one to have.
- DuPage Rep - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
Dan Proft is the guy that shared Wheaton’s gift of Jeanne Ives with the State of Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:26 pm:
If Proft is helping Jeanne Ives, and also funding against Rep. Pihos, I hope Leader Durkin and his Crew look into that …
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
Well, I certainly hope that it’s not too much to ask for Dan to keep the interests of our State and our Nation in mind as he rakes in the big bucks.
- too obvious - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:43 pm:
If you look at what Proft did with the last $500,000 received from Uihlein on the last day of 2010 right before the new contribution limits went into effect, you’ll see that Dan has clinged to that money like a miser (Uihlein gave it to Proft for Governor 9 months after Proft finished last for governor). Occasionally the Proft for Gov PAC will write a small check to another campaign, but if you add it up he doesn’t even contribute the investment interest earned on the original 500 grand. #tightwad
- DuPage Rep - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:49 pm:
Proft also received a ton of money for his Liberty PACs from Uihlein in the past, and spent that pretty freely.
- Bill White - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 2:57 pm:
Are there * any * Democratic primaries worth paying attention to?
On the GOP side we have ample drama
Governor
Treasurer
The race for Dillard;s current seat
IL House primaries
Ives
Pihos,
Sandack
Sullivan
Are there any Democratic races even remotely interesting to follow?
- just sayin' - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:00 pm:
Uihlein is apparently very easy to manipulate. That’s what you get with inherited wealth. Easy to give it away if you aren’t the guy who earned it in the first place.
- walker - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:13 pm:
Spend it on the locals. Signs, printing, creative, media, staff all from Illinois.
Income redistribution we can believe in!
- MrJM - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:33 pm:
It could be interesting to see if Tom Cullerton fails to unseat Arthur Biladeau as Committeeman of DuPage County’s York Township Precinct 55.
https://www.dupageco.org/Election/Docs/Election_Information/2014/Primary/43775/ (.pdf)
– MrJM
- just sayin' - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:42 pm:
Is Proft conservative? Not really seeing it other than lip service. He’s been soaking up establishment GOP cash for quite a long time. By that standard, Proft’s friend Larry Dominick is conservative.
- Bill White - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:46 pm:
@MrJM
Heh! A committeeman race headlines the Democratic primary.
Yup, it’s Globetrotters and Generals and folks are spending many millions of dollars fighting for a seat on the Generals’ bench.
Cool!
- DuPage Rep - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:47 pm:
MrJM,
You are truly a politcal junkie, and I am way out of your league. I will shut up now, with your permission of course.
- Soccermom - Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 3:50 pm:
MrJM, that was amazing. Well done, sir! Well done!