* Rauner paid over $56K for the steer and is donating it to the U of I’s ag college…

The Republican candidate for Illinois governor placed a winning bid on a champion steer at the Illinois State Fair.

Bruce Rauner is a Winnetka businessman. His campaign says he and wife Diana, as well as the Friends of Pike County 4-H bought the Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Steer at the Governor’s Sale of Champions at the fairgrounds Tuesday. His spokesman says Rauner is vacationing in Montana, so the bid on the steer was made by others on his behalf.

The auction was hosted by Rauner’s Nov. 4 election rival, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

No irony there.

Heh.

* Meanwhile, this is from a press release…

Today is Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair. But for the second year in a row, Pat Quinn and Illinois Democrats won’t hold their traditional all-out rally. Why? With a laundry list of broken promises, record job losses and multiple criminal investigations, Pat Quinn and his allies have little cause to rally.

If Pat Quinn won’t share his record on Governor’s Day, the Illinois Republican Party will do it for him throughout the day. The ILGOP begins this morning by launching PatQuinnocchio.com, a website dedicated to exposing Pat Quinn’s broken promises – from raising taxes and cutting education to record job losses and Blagojevich-style corruption.

“As a career politician, Pat Quinn has broken almost every major promise he’s made,” Illinois GOP Chairman Tim Schneider said. “After saying he wouldn’t raise taxes on middle-class families, he increased taxes on everyone by 67% and now wants to make his tax hike permanent. Pat Quinn promised he’d invest in education, but cut it by $500 million instead. And he said job creation was a top priority, but Illinois leads the Midwest in job losses. Illinois has had enough of Pat Quinnocchio’s lies, and we’re going to hold him accountable in November.”

The ILGOP will advise of further Governor’s Day activities later this morning.

The photo you see at the website…

Oof.

       

71 Comments - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:23 am: Why did Bruce Rauner buy a steer? Because nobody is gullible enough to buy any bull this governor is trying to sell. *rim shot* - Truthteller - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:24 am: Did Rauner donate to the U of I to help his daughter get in? - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:25 am: Rauner might want to bring that bull out to Montana. Maybe he can get that ranch to turn a profit so he won’t continue to take the business losses as a tax dodge. - Nearly Normal - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:29 am: Wordslinger, steers are castrated bulls. Makes them more docile and put on weight. No chance there for breeding!! - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:29 am: Finally!!! A little red meat from the Rauner campaign!!! - Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:31 am: Looks like an audition shot for Roxanne: The Sequel - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:32 am: Smart. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:36 am: Wordslinger: Quinnsters might want to start referring to that property in Montana as an “estate,” not a “ranch.” Ranches are owned by cowboys, and Native Americans aside, most people like cowboys. Estates are owned by barons. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:39 am: is it on loan can he ride it to springfield? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:39 am: If the ILGOP and Rauner can own the day, the Steer purchase, the website, the images will all be worth it. If Quinn’s Crew can make this partisan day a rally cry to arms, and truly fire up his base with sequestered and toned down targeted events, they could own the day. In reality, both can happen, and both can own the day for their own purposes. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:44 am: they can study cow tipping now - OneMan - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:47 am: Anonymous at 10:44 wins the internet today. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:47 am: I’m sure I’m not the first to note this, but the “he increased taxes on everyone by 67% and now wants to make his tax hike permanent” - Bruce Rauner’s wife was part of the coalition to get that passed. Such baloney. Hypocritical. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:47 am: The champion Hog went for $52,000. Sounds like Rauner’s camp low-balled the champion steer people! Sticking it to the middle-class again! - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:49 am: Buying the steer at the governor’s auction is hilarious and it should have been a possibility the governor’s staff considered before it happened. Just that happening tells an observer like us that Quinn’s staff isn’t doing such a great job. Any staffer worth his wages should ensure that any public event involving the governor be a good one - or at least one that doesn’t embarrass him. You don’t throw out videographers. You don’t let his political opponent upstage your event. Governor’s day during an election year is important. NOT holding a public rally when it is expected only opens up an opportunity to answer the question most is asking, “where is the traditional campaign event?” - in the worst way. - dupage dan - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:49 am: === If Quinn’s Crew can make this partisan day a rally cry to arms === Uh, don’t you have to show up at the rally first? - Anon - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:51 am: Much of the public believes that Quinn broke his promise on taxes, as Schneider claims. Yet Quinn campaigned in 2010 in favor of a permanent hike in the income tax. What the legislature sent him after the election was a mostly temporary hike. What would really be a broken promise is if governor-elect Rauner were to ask the legislature to postpone the scheduled drop in the income tax rate. - Linebacker II - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:52 am: Rauner is going to win this election. Just watch. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:52 am: ===Uh, don’t you have to show up at the rally first?=== (Sigh) The full comment to that… “If Quinn’s Crew can make this partisan day a rally cry to arms, and truly fire up his base with sequestered and toned down targeted events, they could own the day.” Sequestered. Like 1400 in the room right now hearing Quinn. Reading is hard sometimes. - Dry Blanket - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:53 am: Good point, Yellow Dog. No self-respecting baron would wear a barn jacket. - Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:58 am: ==Sounds like Rauner’s camp low-balled the champion steer people! Sticking it to the middle-class again!== Sounds like you don’t understand how auctions work. - OneMan - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 10:58 am: OW – But no big rally like the parties used to do in the past. Is this thing even at the fairgrounds or is it at the Holiday Inn? - Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:01 am: ==Is this thing even at the fairgrounds or is it at the Holiday Inn?== I heard it was at the Crown Plaza on the other end of town. Nothing says you stand with the people like holding your rally miles away from them. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:07 am: “@davemckinney123 -You get sense this crowd today, by its size & enthusiasm, has put aside its differences w/Quinn in favor of common goal of defeating Rauner.” Mock at your own peril. Quinn demonizes Rauner, rallies the base, could get interesting. For Quinn’s Crew today, it needs to be about “Governor’s Day”; rallying amongst themselves for the greater good to defeat Rauner. Nothing. Else. Period. That’s all they got for today. - Black Ivy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:08 am: The photo of Quinnochio is startling, but effective. #stoplyingtous - walker - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:09 am: Of course he did! Campaign money well-spent. Maybe Bruce is a farmer after all. - Mason born - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:12 am: ==Sounds like Rauner’s camp low-balled the champion steer people!== The Steer usually goes high. I suspect Rauner was going to pay any price the true shame is no one ran him up could have got high 6 figures. - ChinaTown - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:17 am: Wait, he’s back in Montana again? - Union Man - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:17 am: Pat Quinn can now get a little closer to MJM. - dupage dan - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:26 am: ===Sequestered. Like 1400 in the room right now hearing Quinn === But for the second year in a row, Pat Quinn and Illinois Democrats won’t hold their traditional all-out rally. Yep, reading is hard. I can get it done, tho. Which one am I supposed to focus on, OW? Perceptions have meaning. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:28 am: You can’t low-ball a steer. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:28 am: That Quinn photo is right on the nose. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:32 am: ===Perceptions have meaning.=== Like the rallying of the Chairs, and the Unions, that Booed Quinn, now giving standing ovations, rallying around the the belief that “no matter the differences, we need to defeat Rauner” Read the tweets. I would have done what they are doing; Rally around the base, the party faithful, like a locker room before the game, reminding them that Rauner is bad for Democrats. That’s it. Simple. Quinn was booed by the Union workers attending last time, Quinn got a standing “O”… what Quinn needs. This is the best the Quinn Crew can do, and it can be effective. If the Dem voters stay home, Quinn loses. Can Rauner help bring them home to vote? The Quinn Crew hopes so… - anon - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:34 am: We don’t need Rauner or his castrated bull in Illinois. No more bull - even a castrated one. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:42 am: MJM is playing it smart today. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:42 am: Agreed Willy. You have to wonder why “Billionaire Bruce Rauner” hasn’t been replaced with “Billionaire Republican Bruce Rauner.” You cannot remind voters enough that Rauner is a Republican, and what that means. - Skirmisher - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:55 am: It would have been useless or worse than useless for Quinn to appear at the State Fair today. He has long ago lost a goodly portion of downstate voters, and no amount of rallying will bring them back. However, he may do himself some good by firing up the party faithful at a hotel safely removed from the growling mob. I doubt if he or anyone cares very much if Rauner upstages him at the fairgrounds. Those people who would notice do not constitute his target audience anyhow. I compliment Oswego Willy for pointing this out to us. - Don't Worry, Be Happy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:57 am: They weren’t auctioning off any chickens? - Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:04 pm: These campaign kiddies love their cartoons and funny faces. - Redux - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:37 pm: Well put, Norseman. Childish in times of serious concerns. - A guy... - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:37 pm: === Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 11:42 am: Agreed Willy. You cannot remind voters enough that Rauner is a Republican, and what that means.=== Oh great Dog, you just started the “launch sequence”. lol - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:38 pm: “I’ll bid on the steer for you, Bruce!” “Evelyn, stay off the fairgrounds. Last warning!” - George O. - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:39 pm: I think it’s shortsighted to think the Quinnsters didn’t consider that this would happen. I also think it’s shortsighted to think this is a huge negative for them. It may be a trivial example, but it’s not a bad thing to add to the list of what Rauner has bought in this election. Can he buy Illinois, too? - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:43 pm: - AA -, that is some funny, lol (Tips cap, humbly, to - Skirmisher -) - YDD -, I would bet it gets more politically partisan after Labor Day, … by Labor themselves too. - Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:43 pm: == It may be a trivial example, but it’s not a bad thing to add to the list of what Rauner has bought in this election== “Rauner paid more for the Steer than anyone else was willing to, then donated it to the U of I! We all should be outraged* at this!” Yeah, run with that, Quinnsters - JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 12:55 pm: - Anonymoiis -==Sounds like Rauner’s camp low-balled the champion steer people! Sticking it to the middle-class again!== Sounds like you don’t understand how auctions work. Uhhh…it was a joke, been to plenty of auctions especially livestock auctions. Lighten up! - PublicServant - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 1:11 pm: If I were Quinn, I’d say Bruce Rauner just spent $52,000 to buy a steer at a State Fair auction that I was hosting. That was funny, but how many of you have enough to be able to spend $52,000 on a practical joke? Oh wait, I forgot. He had that extra cash because he paid $0 in social security taxes, unlike both you and I. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 1:21 pm: Get off the cash on this steer purchase. The pivot is Slip and Sue and cow tipping. “Now Slip and Sue can really step in it” “The steer was cheap, insuring Slip and Sue to be near the steer…” “Slip and Sue wanted a pony or a cow, we got her a steer…” “Rich Bruce Rauner has a ranch, Ching, Ching, Ching, Ching, Cash! And on that Ranch he has some Chickens…” “The $58,000 was less than Slip and Sue would have made working in the Quinn Administration.” - Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 1:25 pm: ==That was funny, but how many of you have enough to be able to spend $52,000 on a practical joke? == I believe it said he bought it in partnership with a 4-H group to the benefit of 4-H and the U of I, so I’m not sure that’s exactly a good row to hoe if I’m Quinn. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 1:39 pm: Anon 1:25 - Agreed. Pick your battles. I would thank him for his gift, but point out the Rauner budget would mean devastating cuts to the budget of U and I and other public universities. That might not mean much to a guy who has buildings named for him at his Ivy League school out east…. - Wally - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 1:52 pm: Yep YDD, cause things have been peachy the last 10-11 years at public institutions of higher learning in IL. You may want to go back and check out costs to attend the U of I in 2003 and compare them to 2014. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:02 pm: If I were Quinn and felt the need to chime in I would thank Mr. Rauner for joining him and supporting a worthy cause. Statesman like, probably out of his league though, given their bumbling so far. BTW- 10% of sale proceeds go to 4-H, 10% go to FFA, the rest goes to the kid. Not a bad deal all around. - Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:11 pm: ==the rest goes to the kid. == There he goes again, trying to buy votes, this time kids in Pike County. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:12 pm: “If I were Quinn…” …I would do exactly what they have been doing today, and focus on the points he wants Democrats to rally around, and working with the Unions to reinforce it. Let Bruce buying the steer speak for itself, as Quinn speaks to his narrative(?) - Wally - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:16 pm: OW, how many people were in the Crowne Plaza Ballroom? - OldSmoky2 - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:18 pm: JS Mill: “If I were Quinn and felt the need to chime in I would thank Mr. Rauner for joining him and supporting a worthy cause. Statesman like, probably out of his league though…” Uh, have you missed the times Quinn’s worked together with Judy Barr Topinka on pet adoption, tornado relief, etc.? Or Quinn with Tom Cross working for diabetes research and awareness? Quinn has shown a lot more willingness over the years to cross the aisle for a good cause than most Republicans these days. - zatoichi - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:19 pm: The Quinnochio stuff was kinda humorous the first couple of times. Now it is just a predictable time waster with no heat behind it. The Gov simply needs to thank Rauner for his support to 4H, FFA, and the owner. - Wally - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:24 pm: Per the U of I website—-Tuition in 2004 for full time undergrad students was $6460 annually. Tuition in 2014 for full time undergrad students is $12,036 annually. I didn’t even bother looking up housing and food plans but clearly they would be much higher. Yep, the Blago/Quinn administration held down the cost of a college education alright! - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:28 pm: - Wally -, According to the Pantagraph, “…Quinn led more than 1,000 Democrtats in chanting…” - Jaded - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:35 pm: Keep it up Bruce. You don’t have to buy all the votes, just one more than half. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 2:46 pm: =Uh, have you missed the times Quinn’s worked together with Judy Barr Topinka on pet adoption, tornado relief, etc.? Or Quinn with Tom Cross working for diabetes research and awareness? Quinn has shown a lot more willingness over the years to cross the aisle for a good cause than most Republicans these days.= Uhh…have you seen the disaster that our finances are in? Work harder at crossing the aisle on the big things, that is what a real leader does. Do not misconstrue my statements as support for Rauner. I believe he will be worse for Illinois in the long run. I am just pointing out missed opportunities, this election could have been an easy win for Quinn, following Ryan and Blago was a golden opportunity to look competent and ethical and he missed on both and our finances are still a disaster area. 5th largest economy in the nation and 16th largest in the world and we cannot even pay to keep the lights on. Real leaders actually get it done no matter the obstacles. - Skeptic - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 4:13 pm: Wally: Tuition went up 50% during Ryan’s administration ($3727 to $5303). That’s more (in percentage) than in any 4-year period during either Blag and/or Quinn. - JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 4:19 pm: I just talked to someone I believe is knowledgeable about the Governor’s auction (owned one of the champion animals being auctioned). Quinn and his supporters bought the grand champion steer for $100,000. It wasn’t Quinn’s money but he did the bidding (maybe some of it was). Rauner put up $35,000 of the $56,000 that went for the steer (Lincoln land Champion) his group bought. - Wally - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 4:23 pm: If your numbers are right, it is an increase of 42.3%. And, as the base number gets higher, usually the % gets lower unless there are massive increases. In 4 years apparently tuition went up $1576. From 2004 to 2006, tuition went up $1248. But, I was addressing YDD talking about what Rauner would do to public education. The last 10-11 haven’t been good have they???? The state owes a lot of money to the U of I system which causes tuition, fees, housing and meal plans to shoot up. Students and their parents have to take out loans and this is why student debt is a HUGE problem for this economy. - Skeptic - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 4:30 pm: Wally: I looked at the wrong cell, I meant to quote $3546″ as the lower figure which works out to %49.5 (close enough to 50 for government work.) I think I also misread your point…you’re saying that even without cuts to taxes and spending (under Quinn) UofI tuition has skyrocketed, and under Rauner’s plan, that will get worse? (I’m asking, not trying to put words in your mouth.) - wordslinger - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 4:53 pm: –Students and their parents have to take out loans and this is why student debt is a HUGE problem for this economy.=– That’s a concern for you, Wally? I’d have never guessed. What’s the game plan to solve this HUGE problem? More Pell Grants? More state funding for higher ed? All ears, cousin, lay it on me, and the funding sources. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 5:28 pm: Me too, Wally. word and I have some skin in the game, so to speak, and I would love to hear how I can pull down the $35k all-in cost for UIUC. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 5:53 pm: Wally - I am well aware of the cuts to higher education. It was George Ryan who started us down that path by pledging 51% of all new revenue to K-12 education. Republicans opposed every single new source of revenue that would have boosted higher education over the past decade. You cannot with any intellectual honesty blame budget cuts over the past decade on Democrats, particularly Quinn. Not only will that dog not hunt, it can’t even get off the porch. - PublicServant - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 6:50 pm: Intellectual honesty hasn’t seemed to bother Wally that much in the past. I’m thinking you haven’t successfully shamed him here, YDD. - Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Aug 13, 14 @ 9:13 pm: I agree. All those nasty education funding cuts are the fault of all those Republicans who hold veto proof majorities in the House and Senate and who also hold the Governors Office the past decade! Oh, wait . . . . No one complaining that Billionaire Bruce will follow the law and deduct this outstanding donation from his income taxes? What a cad! - A. Nonymous - Thursday, Aug 14, 14 @ 2:16 am: Saw a “Dump Quinn. Elect Bruce Rauner.” bumper sticker on a $75,000 Cadillac in Lake Forest this morning… No irony there either. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.