Proft, Matune hit
Monday, Mar 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Click the pic to see a larger version of a new flier sent out in defense of Rep. Ron Sandack, who is in the fight of his life against GOP primary challenge Keith Matune…
Hat tip: Illinois Truth Team, which appears to be a HGOP-related creation.
* Meanwhile, Carol Marin wrote a column bashing Dan Proft for allegedly sending out a mailer blasting Sandack that featured two men kissing. Click here to see the mailer. But Proft didn’t send that mailer. It was sent by the Illinois Family Action PAC. Marin promptly apologized in a rewritten column, but added this…
Proft argues there is no excuse for my error. He is correct. There is not.
That said, there was more to the original column, and let’s consider that. In my view, some of the mailers sent by Proft’s own PAC, Liberty Principles, appear homophobic.
That includes a mailer against Sandack that shows Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a leotard and a line reading, “Now we know where Ron Sandack learned how to dance.”
Proft, in a followup email to me, writes, “I do not believe that Rahm is gay.”
Another image on a Proft mailer shows a photo of Sandack in the foregound and a gay activist in the background with the headline, “Strange Bedfellows.”
Proft argues I misinterpret that as well, saying the mailer “chronicled (the gay activist’s) radical activism, house being raided by the FBI . . . comparison of Scott Walker to Mubarak and the like.”
Proft adds in his email to me, “You want to make the race about gay marriage. I do not. . . . To accuse me of gay bashing is little more than conservative bashing.” Noting that he has supported two candidates who endorsed either civil unions or same-sex marriage, Proft maintains it is economic policy principles that guide his commitment to a candidate.
“I’m a gay basher?” he writes. “Utter and complete bulljive.”
Subscribers know much more about this race, including details of a blistering new anti-Matune TV ad.
- phocion - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:10 am:
“Criminals, hookers, and mobsters?”
Oh my!
- 47th Ward - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:10 am:
Criminals, hookers and mobsters, oh my! We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto.
Is that Proft as vampire? Priceless.
- Upon Further Review - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:12 am:
There is a “follow the money” mailing attacking Sandack online (Illinois Review). It seems as if he accepted substantially more campaign contributions from gay donors before changing his vote. Tens of thousands.
- Goya - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:14 am:
I think it was a mistake to include Proft’s name or picture. It’s the kind of thing that could confuse people. Better to just say Matune’s ally or chief financial backer because the goal is to get people to vote against Matune (last I checked Proft isn’t on the ballot)
- Upon Further Review - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:16 am:
The anti-Sandack and anti-Sullivan pieces are essentially the same in terms of layout. The only differences are the photos and variations in the contributions listed.
- justsayin' - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:17 am:
Rich, who funds Illinois Family Action PAC? I don’t see it at the state board of elections.
- MissSmartyPants - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:17 am:
Can someone explain to me why Proft doesn’t sue Marin & the Sun Times. I mean jeez….
- Smoggie - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:20 am:
Proft is not a gay-basher?
Sure, and the “dancing Rahm” piece had no undertones at all.
Sure Dan.
- justsayin' - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:23 am:
Illinois Family Action PAC - that’s David Smith’s group. He and Proft are joined at the hip - is the idea that Proft knew nothing about the mailer? That is a stretch. It seems like Proft is throwing Illinois Family Action under the bus and what is this that he has worked for officials that support same sex marriage. Who would those be? Many questions here.
- train111 - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:27 am:
Late last week, the HRO reported a major dump for Sandak in this race. $186K plus. That’s some serious coin to drop on 1 state rep race.
Sullivan-Bednar hasn’t seemed to ring up as much bucks being spent–yet.
train111
- Johnny Q. Suburban - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:28 am:
What a clown.
Guys like Proft probably profit the most from the ILGOP being little more than a rumor. If Republicans were on equal footing with Democrats his little shtick would be exposed in mere minutes and he’d have to find something else to do.
- William j Kelly - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:28 am:
Did I read that right, Proft supported two canidates that endorsed civil unions or same sex marriage? Who are the canidates? Is Proft for or against same sex marriage or is his position based on who is paying him?
- SonofSuperAbe2014 - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:30 am:
Proft supports noted gay basher Jeanne Ives and now Keith “Yuk” Matune. Dan, lets face it you are a dirty Cicero hack and gay basher.
- Siriusly - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:30 am:
I agree with Goya except that Proft is a wanna be media star and is likely known to some GOP voters. I do think the Matune hit piece is very well done. Nice job HGOPers.
- Upon Further Review - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:34 am:
$186K plus! Why that is more cash than the $145K that the husband of Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown’s spouse received from Governor Quinn’s “Anti-Violence Initiative” in 2010. Some serious coin to be sure.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:35 am:
Bad day at the the office when you have to eat crow served up by Dan Proft.
- Goya - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:40 am:
Also, after reading that mailer, I want to start posting under the moniker “Transvestite Billionaire”
- A guy... - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:41 am:
Looking at the migration of suburbanites, it’s reasonable to consider many people in the DG, Lisle and Woodridge area may have come by way of Cicero a generation ago. Calling the down derogatory names probably does more harm than good here. And calling him “Corrupt Cicero’s Candidate” is pretty weird to me. The HRO shouldn’t be in this kind of business. Let the candidate pay for this stuff and the party pay for the pro Incumbent stuff. This makes the party look suspect IMO. They’re making some very odd and curious decisions over there.
With regard to Carol Marin- The ST made her apology come on page 2. She’s lucky she’s still working there. She shouldn’t be for blowing this because of her personal issues. Not just lazy journalism; this is incredibly biased. It’s hard to imagine it was a mistake. I don’t believe her. I’ve dealt with her on several occasions and she’s never been straight. Never. She starts with a conclusion and works her way back. They’re cutting reporters for cost at the ST. They should have cut her for cause. They may after the election so as not to affect the outcome.
All that being said, I hope Ron Sandack survives this. His advocates need to quit throwing gas on the fire. They’re hurting him more than the people on the opposite side of this.
- William j Kelly - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:42 am:
I am sure Uline inc and Wls are loving the earned media, any publicity is good, right?
- Upon Further Review - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:46 am:
Not to argue the merits of SSM, but the optics look pretty bad when Sandack received over $50K and Sullivan collected over $47K before the vote.
The mailer linked above is the one attacking Sullivan, but it is very similar to the one used against Sandack. The print layout is almost the same, but there is also a photo of Sandack and Andy Thayer at some type of rally.
- Goya - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:47 am:
William Kelly - there was a woman host on WLS last night named Laura Kelly. To clarify, that’s not your wife right?
- Just Me - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 11:55 am:
That is a horrible flyer. I would never read something so ugly and wordy.
- justsayin' - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 12:15 pm:
Dan Proft deserves this. He has been using his PAC to take the potshots at his opponents. It is hypocritical with his background in Cicero. About time. The facts about Matune and his history have opened that door.
- Montrose - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 12:40 pm:
*Not to argue the merits of SSM, but the optics look pretty bad when Sandack received over $50K and Sullivan collected over $47K before the vote.*
I don’t know the specific timing of the donations and the vote, but both Sullivan and Sandack had gone on record supporting marriage equality many months before the vote. To imply those votes were bought is a bit much. To say that marriage equality supporters want to back someone that was on their side and was going to face a primary like the one that they are facing is probably more accurate.
- Upon Further Review - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 12:47 pm:
If you don’t know the specific timing of the campaign contributions, what are you talking about? Both members had also previously opposed marriage equality before changing course and supporting it. A combined total of $97K in new contributions from out of district donors raises flags under any circumstances.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 12:50 pm:
Proft and Uhlein may indeed have lots of gay friends.
It is still a campaign designed to appeal to anti-gay voters.
It is still no coincidence Proft is targeting the two lawmakers who voted for marriage equality.
How many GOP opponents of pension reform is Proft targeting?
Poppycock. Balderdash.
- Arizona Bob - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 12:51 pm:
HGOP should stay the heck out of primary fights. they’re completely controlled by the same folks who fund the Dems, LGBT activist groups and unions.
They bought Cross when he was the Minority leader, he spread the bucks they gave to other House GOP sellouts, and he turned his back on anyone to the right of Karl Marx in the GOP.
Just another reason fro conservatives not to support ANYONE at the state level leadership in the Illinois GOP.
The GOP barrel in Sprinpatch is full of rotten apples. It’s time to go directly to the tree.
- DuPage - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 12:52 pm:
A Proft Robo-call keeps calling me up to remind me to vote for Jeanne Ives. I wish it would stop.
- Big Muddy - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 1:20 pm:
Matune wins Madigan plays in the 81st in the general and wins the seat. BOOK IT. Still need Proft to explain how shrinking the tent is winning. Oh, that’s right, all in the name of “purity.” What a dope.
- Montrose - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 1:29 pm:
“If you don’t know the specific timing of the campaign contributions, what are you talking about?”
I am talking about the assumption that the campaign contribution bought their votes. I owned that I was not sure when the money came in, but we cannot jump to the conclusion they changed their votes because they got that money. If you show me the timing of the contributions versus when they publicly backed marriage equality, I will say your narrative has merit. Until then, I will stick with my gut.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
– Calling the down derogatory names probably does more harm than good here.–
Lot of warm nostalgia for Cicero politics out in Lisle and Downers, huh?
Dude, people in Cicero hate Cicero politics unless they’re on the payroll. While living there, many are afraid to voice it — and for very good reasons.
- Walker - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 1:39 pm:
It’s just possible that Reps actually vote their individual consciences on an issue like this.
What a shock that would be to all the cynics!
- Jack - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 1:42 pm:
–Proft maintains it is economic policy principles that guide his commitment to a candidate.–
I wonder what economic policy principles guided his opposition to Ron Sandack. Hmm. Sandack voted against the income tax increase and cigarette tax and medicaid expansion. He voted for school choice. He has a near perfect voting record with the IPI. Kind of ironic that something called “Liberty PAC” would be so opposed to libertarian principles like allowing same sex marriage.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 1:59 pm:
===HGOP should stay the heck out of primary fights. they’re completely controlled by the same folks who fund the Dems, LGBT activist groups and unions.===
Nope. Leader Durkin and his Members made a Pact;
The HGOP elected Leader Durkin unanimously. Leader Durkin, through the HGOP political arm, are committed to every Member, unless Purity and Slytherin ways pits Caucus colleagues against each other, with one Member trying to defeat the other.
I love that commitment. I love how Durkin goes about his business. Durkin is committed to his colleagues, and will, if need be, use some “reminders” to those trying to destroy the commitment they all made to each other.
===Just another reason fro conservatives not to support ANYONE at the state level leadership in the Illinois GOP.===
Slytherin Special of Purity. Shrinking My Party will make the voters even more leery of the ILGOP, not more welcoming to GOP candidates.
Dope.
- West Side the Best Side - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:01 pm:
Going back to the days of Al Capone, and probably even before, Cicero has had a less than stellar political class, to put it mildy. But to call out the whole town as being filled only with criminals, hookers and mobsters is really over the top. Is it the 19th yet? No wait, we have to get through to November.
- train111 - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:07 pm:
I agree with OW on his analysis of HGOP standing up for its memebers. One of Madigan’s successes in building his caucus is the knowledge by his members, that he has their back–even if you’ve been taped on the wire taking a $7,000 bribe. The GOP caucus will never gain any traction until the members know that their leadership has their back as well. How can you have any cohesiveness, when you fear that if you make the wrong vote somewhere, Dick Uihlein will dump 1.5 mil into a PAC that will run crazy adds that lambaste you and you don’t have any party support backing you up.
I count the HGOP backing of Sandak as a good first step in building up their caucus.
train111
- Upon Further Review - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
Cicero had a reputation before Capone, but the arrival of the Chicago crowd overwhelmed the local thugs.
- Bill White - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:10 pm:
My #1 take home point is that that same local political fault lines that exist today existed in the 2012 primary and will exist in the 2016 primary.
Of course the HRO needs to see this through, they made a commitment. I get that.
Woodridge mayor Bill Murphy did the same thing. Back in 2012, Mayor Murphy endorsed Sandack early on and refused to budge.
But last week he endorsed Matune and said he has known the Matune family for decades, implicitly repudiating the college pranks line of attack.
- SonofSuperAbe2014 - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
Was Mayor Murphy a school teacher and superintendent? Yep. Maybe his change of heart had to do w/ the pension vote.
Bill, you line that Keith’s behavior was a college prank has been proven false.
- Bill White - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:18 pm:
William Murphy was mayor of Woodridge from 1981 until 2013. He endorsed Sandack in 2012 and Matune in 2014.
The new mayor of Woodridge today endorse Keith Matune and she also said she has known the family for decades.
- SonofSuperAbe2014 - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:20 pm:
So we are left to conclude that both mayors accept gay bashing and are fine w/ a man convicted of a sex offense.
- Bill White - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:24 pm:
Last comment and I will walk away from the computer for a while
What I truly most want is for BOTH sides to lose and for this never ending local war between pro-DGCA folks and anti-DGCA folks to end.
It’s like the Wars of the Roses from 15th century England with the House of York and the House of Lancaster battling and battling to a bloody draw. At least until the House of Tudor came in and ended things.
- A guy... - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
Wordslinger, I know you want your post to be a “here’s the real truth, grasshopper- moment”. The problem is that there are a lot of people who came from Cicero who have fond memories of the town. I get the whole Al Capone/Maltese/Dominick references, but there are plenty of folks who have very strong parish connections and town connections there. Calling the town names like this insults every person who currently lives there or has ever lived there. I don’t know where you live Slinger (nor do I even care), but no one likes their community slandered. While you’re above it all, it don’t play well on Cermak. And there are plenty of folks who live in that area who have migrated into the DG, Woodridge and Lisle area. Try to be humble with all that great knowledge, eh?
- Woodridge REsident - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 2:55 pm:
Bill, considering Woodridge is a democratic town, its a little surprising that their current mayor, Gina Cunningham, would get involved and back a tea party, anti-gay marriage candidate in the Republican Party. She may have to reconcile that with her base going forward.
As for former Mayor Murphy, considering his son’s run-in with the law and subsequent requirement to report as a sex offender, I am sure the former Mayor was more open-minded about Matune’s past, and much more minor transgressions. But I don’t think it “implicitly repudiate[es]” Matune’s criminal background.
- Bill White - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 3:03 pm:
One reason I am anti Team Sandack is that I have seen the DGCA uses the same tactics now being used against Keith Matune in local park board, school district and village council races.
Hard ball smash mouth politics in local non-partisan elections.
And since my larger political views largely align with Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Wendy Davis, the next governor of Texas, I am no political fan of Keith Matune.
- SonofSuperAbe2014 - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 3:08 pm:
Bill,
It is OK to be a Democrat and deplore Keith’s behavior. But you seem to equate Sandack’s behavior w/ Matune’s. Sending hate filled mailers w/ two men kissing to arouse hatred is unacceptable. Dan Proft, David Smith and Keith Matune are dogs w/ fleas.
- Jake From Elwood - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 3:10 pm:
Wow, the dirty politics and ads from both camps certainly do resemble Cicero. Message for both campaigns: nobody wins in a race to the bottom of the drain.
- Smoggie - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 3:11 pm:
Bill,
The same tactics?
You mean pointing out that the candidate is a criminal who lied about his record to get a position teaching and then is backed by rabid homophobes?
Does that sort of thing come up often, Bill?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 3:11 pm:
Woodbridge, DG, Cicero, whatever anyone thinks…
The big picture is the HGOP Political, HGOP Caucus commitments, Jeanne Ives, Sandy Pihos, Peter Breen, Dan Proft, Paul Caprio, “Purity” runs, and “who runs who”; Durkin’s Crew or the Proft/Caprio Crew when it comes to the HGOP, political and governmental.
All, all about HGOP, Durkin, and going about the political business to control the governmental business and build a majority.
The rest is a side show. I won’t get sucked in.
- Big Muddy - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 3:32 pm:
I’m going to call this race for Sandack. Reason? No contested democratic races in his district. Indy’s and Dem’s cross over enough to push Sandack to victory. Proft is gonna love that outcome. He’s really not that good at strategy or really thinking past step one. Wouldn’t you do a background check on a guy if you are going to drop a load of cash on him? Dope is right.
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 3:53 pm:
@A guy:
Cicero’s reputation in politics has been earned. I don’t think anybody is disparaging the citizens. The politics on the other hand . . . definitely. To play victim here is wrong.
- ERB - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 4:07 pm:
Are Equality Illinois and other LGBT groups that support Sandack okay with his team attacking Proft with “Gets $$$$ from Transvestite Billionaire James Jennifer Pritzker”?
Curious if HRO did this piece, I don’t see the “Paid for by” line on what’s posted.
- SonofSuperAbe2014 - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 4:28 pm:
It is not an HRO mailer…They have been consistent about Matune and his criminal past. The mailer gets off the message.
- Oh Come On! - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 7:13 pm:
We are all for tolerance and inclusion until it comes to winning elections.
Shame on those dirty Republicans for using techniques that worked well for Democrats as recently as 2006 when a certain Congressman supporting Nancy Pelosi saw the chance to pick up a seat in Florida by outing a closeted GOP House Member by revealing his emails. I think the Congressman went on to become a mayor someplace.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Mar 10, 14 @ 7:40 pm:
I’ll be glad when this one’s over so I can get my internet back.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Mar 11, 14 @ 5:09 am:
@Oh Come On! -
Congressman Mark Foley was not “outed.” He was sending sexually explicit e-mails to minors, and it was Republicans who demanded his resignation, not Rahm.
Foley, you recall, had publicly crusaded against child pornography.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 11, 14 @ 8:57 am:
–The problem is that there are a lot of people who came from Cicero who have fond memories of the town–
So that makes them fans of Dan Proft and The Outfit?
Lot of good places to eat in Cicero. The bungalows are magnificent. But the politics are mobbed-up and corrupt beyond redemption.
No one called out the folks or their churches. You’re lousy at spin. Lazy.
- A guy... - Tuesday, Mar 11, 14 @ 9:22 am:
Right WS, Lazy. I’m not spinning. The fact is that a lot of people’s roots go back to Cicero (or Chicago for that matter- did you love the whole Beirut by the Lake moniker, or was there room to be offended). Look at the piece again dude. It completely smacks the people of Cicero with one broad brush. Thought that was the kind of thing that ticked you off. But only sometimes I guess. The problem with your version of tolerance is you are selectively tolerant like 2 putt’s good pal. Everyone you don’t like is Slyterin. You’re a smart person, no doubt. Judgmental to a fault; your prerogative. I guess your best quality to me as that you take it as well as you dish it. Lazy misses the mark.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 11, 14 @ 9:31 am:
- A Guy… -,
Slytherin Republicans are easy to point out. If you agree with me, 80% of the time, with no Litmus Test, we can get along.
I don’t think Tom Cross would call me a “friend” or even call.
Don’t drag me into your discussion with - wordslinger -, and especially don’t drag me in those discussions when you lack an understanding of what I do, why I do it, and fail to see consistency.
You poke at bears quite a bit, and like Rauner, you play the victim after. Get better schtick, get better arguments, or be prepared to be called out to defend your stances.
- Smoggie - Tuesday, Mar 11, 14 @ 9:32 am:
A guy,
Great to see you are more concerned with the people of Cicero being insulted for electing some pretty shady characters than you are with Proft and company running a gay-bashing campaign to support a teacher who lied about his criminal record.
You’ve got your priorities, AG.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 11, 14 @ 9:38 am:
Once you start, acknowledgingly, voting against your Better Self, making excuses comes easier I guess to be… consistent in voting against that Better Self, creep factor notwithstanding(?)
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 11, 14 @ 9:44 am:
A Guy, I think lazy is about right. You don’t bring a compelling argument.
You assert homilies as a position, usually without any empirical evidence, and then lash out at those who question them. I wouldn’t pick you for my team.