* Just imagine the TV ad this’ll inspire…
In a newly unearthed radio interview, Republican private equity investor Bruce Rauner admitted earlier this year that he once favored the outright elimination of Illinois’ minimum wage. […]
While acknowledging that he once supported an elimination of the minimum wage, Rauner said later in that Jan. 10, 2014, interview on Bloomington-based WJBC-AM that either ending or reducing the state’s minimum wage to the lower national standard, as he advocated during a candidates’ forum in the Quad Cities last December, was ill-advised on his part.
“I have said, on a number of occasions, that we could have a lower minimum wage or no minimum wage as part of increasing Illinois’ competitiveness. I’ve said that many times,”
“It’s a mistake for me to focus on lowering the minimum wage or eliminating it because there are better ways to increase Illinois’ competitiveness,” Rauner said at the time.
Yeah, he claimed his earlier position was a “mistake,” but he said what he said and it’s now fair game.
* I was out with a totally non-political friend last night who makes the minimum wage caring for the developmentally disabled at a central Illinois group home. I received a text from the governor’s campaign about the story and read Rauner’s quote aloud.
It didn’t go over well. At all. The first thing my friend said was, “That’s just great, I’m getting a pay cut.”
* Raw audio. Start listening at about the one-minute point…
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the DGA…
“This is the most revealing moment of Bruce Rauner’s candidacy. Throughout this campaign he has been a master of disguise - veiling his elitist and exploitative philosophies with flannel shirts and a cheap watch. But Rauner can’t hide from his own damning advocacy against real people living from paycheck to paycheck. By supporting the elimination of the minimum wage, Bruce Rauner has distinguished himself as the most dangerous candidate that Illinois’ working families have ever seen.”
From the Quinn campaign…
“We’re not surprised to learn that Republican billionaire Bruce Rauner advocated to eliminate the minimum wage this year.
“This is his real position, the one he’s trying to hide from voters to get elected.
“While Mr. Rauner originally said his comment about cutting the minimum wage was ‘flippant,’ this little-noticed audio clip proves otherwise. This is the real Bruce Rauner and this is what he truly believes.
“Whether he’s dropping $140,000 on a luxury wine membership or pushing to eliminate the minimum wage, Bruce Rauner is the most out-of-touch candidate for Governor in Illinois history.”
No major-party gubernatorial candidate in modern Illinois history has openly advocated for eliminating the minimum wage. Bruce Rauner is an out-of-touch Republican billionaire who got rich at the expense of the rest of us. His plan for Illinois would benefit the very wealthy like him while hurting working people. Bruce Rauner isn’t looking out for us.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Illinois Freedom PAC…
Rauner Again Caught Lying About Minimum Wage Position
Chicago, IL - This morning the Chicago Sun Times reports on billionaire Bruce Rauner’s admission he has advocated for eliminating the minimum wage on multiple occasions. Rauner made the admission during a January 10th radio interview with WBJC and also said he’d advocated for lowering the minimum wage. From today’s Sun Times …
“I have said, on a number of occasions, that we could have a lower minimum wage or no minimum wage as part of increasing Illinois’ competitiveness. I’ve said that many times,” Rauner told WJBC host Scott Laughlin.
However, he told the Chicago Sun Times at the very same time that he’d never called for cutting the minimum wage. From the January Sun Times piece…
“I never said that. I said we should tie the minimum wage in Illinois to the national minimum wage. I didn’t use numbers. I didn’t use $7.25. I didn’t say any of that,” Rauner said.
“Billionaire Bruce Rauner has been exposed once again for his blatant, repeated falsehoods and his disdain for hard working families,” said Neal Waltmire, Communications Director for Illinois Freedom PAC.
Rauner has been caught giving false and misleading statements when it comes to his budget, his outsourcing record, his Cayman Islands accounts, and the clout scandal involving his daughter’s admission to an elite public school.
*** UPDATE 3 *** IFT President Dan Montgomery…
“The more voters learn about the Real Rauner, the less we like,” said Dan Montgomery, President of the IFT and a high school English teacher of nearly 20 years. “The news that Bruce Rauner favors eliminating the minimum wage is appalling and demonstrates how completely out of touch the billionaire is with working families. He talks a good game in his empty TV commercials, but Bruce Rauner owes Illinois voters a real explanation for this extreme position and his fairy tale budget proposal, which would blow an $8-billion dollar hole in the state budget and force larger class sizes and devastating cuts to our public schools. Illinois families deserve better.”
- Just The Way It Is One - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 2:53 am:
And the beat goes on…! At this rate, Rauner is digging himself into such a deep hole on this critically important, key, and extremely relevant issue of his seemingly daily WORSening stance on lambasting the Minimum Wage, that he might just want to jump INto that same Hole and save himself the grief of waking up on November 5TH–or just buy out and take OVER the Shovel Manufacturing Company to try and make a profit, because at this rate, he might want to seriously start thinking about the options available to him in his private and business life AFTER the Election he’s now placed himself into a position to very well lose now with THIS latest Debacle Remark…! The Quinn folks are just going to eat this UP!No Baloney, really–once the Word gets out on him taking such an exTREME position, he may just not be able to recover from the Truth coming out about this latest Gaffe….
I mean, having openly touted a stance like this–an outright elimiNATION of the Minimum Wage–is simply just not gonna sit well with a LOT of Average Illinoisans, who, quite frankly, are just gonna think he’s NUTS, off his Rocker, and about as cold-hearted, a “Mr. Potter-like” figure one could ever imagine–and certainly, as such, NOT someone who they will support as a result!!! And in this tight Election, as a Republican, he needs EVery last vote he can get!
- Informed Voter - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 4:03 am:
Thank you Illinois Democrats for saving Illinois from the likes of Bruce Rauner.
A million times thank you!
- Chi - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:17 am:
He still thinks the minimum wage should be eliminated. He never said he changed his mind about eliminating it. His mistake, according to him, is focusing on its elimination.
It’s not like he had an epiphany about the effect it would have on people. He just realized it might lose him the election.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:34 am:
And those 8 hour days, weekends off, sick leave, paid vacation, exempting children from the workforce, preposterous! These taker benefits make business non-competitive in this nanny state. I know I have to tamp down the way I really feel to con them into voting for me, but you and I both know the hammer and shake is coming…wink, nod.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:39 am:
I’ll vote for anybody outside of the status quo. Beats the alternative.
- A guy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:51 am:
It’s a shame we have to even have to have a minimum wage. I can completely understand why people earning it would be taken back by any discussion of it, but it’s the wrong wage for us to focus on. Better jobs all the way around with better wages, well above the minimum should be the focus. That would improve all wages.
- circularfiringsquad - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:55 am:
Perhaps the newsies can folo up with Mitt on what clubs he holds membership in besides his little frat
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:56 am:
Couple first thoughts;
The timing of the story is perfect for the Quinn Crew to dove tail off the continued narrative that has been striving to paint Bruce Rauner as unsympathetic and out of touch.
Bruce Rauner’s own words will haunt him.
Also, all this campaigning Rauner does and his fear of trackers catching Rauner saying something Dopey…it was a radio show that “got him”. How deliciously ironic. That was a Staff unforced error…or worse, Rauner going off-script…on a radio show!
Finally, the quote himself is painful, but the realty is that the quote makes Rauner even more of a caricature, and more of a hollow person and persona. The only thing genuine about Rauner is the genuine baloney he has refused to admit to, time and time again.
If I were Rauner, I would have my running mate step out and defend him, instead of defending himself, and have his running mate take the tough questions and lay the groundwork for Rauner to face the media scrutiny…
But Bruce has ole Slip and Sue…
“And the hits just keep on coming”
A radio interview, not a tracker, could begin the sinking of the ship.
Someone pour Bruce some wine. “Wine?” Oops, my bad.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:00 am:
===I’ll vote for anybody outside of the status quo. Beats the alternative.===
According to that, you would follow anyone who would March you off a cliff, as long as it beats the alternative. Are you calling yourself a lemming, blindly following no matter what you learn?
Drive-bys are hard.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:08 am:
Isn’t Illinois heading off a cliff now?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:16 am:
===Isn’t Illinois heading off a cliff now?===
I thought Illinois was broke, turning into Detroit, and the state freezing property taxes, and spending more state money on roads, and spending more money on education, while all this sound thinking is wrapped around cutting the income tax, after you raise the income tax …back …to where it was and saying it should roll back…then plan to bring it back up…but…
That solution? lol
- 618662dem - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:33 am:
Rauner is a terribly painful example of how truly atrocious Republicans have become. Take from the poor to give to the rich, straight out of the Gospels.
- Gooner - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:47 am:
Between his sales tax which will kill demand and abolishing the minimum wage, the IL employment numbers would be so bad that wages in IL would be lower than in some places where Rauner thinks jobs should be created.
- Amalia - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:54 am:
so Bruce at his core believes that the market should rule, that the minimum wage should be gone. And his wife is in commercials for him, says she’s a Democrat but she gives most of her political donation money to conservative candidates and interest groups. Oh, right, do as I say I’m doing now not as I really believe so may well do. Can’t trust the Rauners.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:55 am:
==I’ll vote for anybody outside of the status quo. Beats the alternative.==
Yep. The grass is always greener on the other side. Must be nice living in that black and white world where no thinking is required.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:56 am:
Take this and run with it and pound it home hard. Nothing more damning than your own words. He’s stepped in it many times on the issue of minimum wage. Time to make him pay for those mistakes politically.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:13 am:
bring back the indentured servant
- Excessively Rabid - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:14 am:
Looks like somebody’s comment dragging the Bible into this got deleted. Here’s a reference anyway, just for the sake of contrariness.
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. KJV, Mark 4:25
- Bill White - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:15 am:
=== Isn’t Illinois heading off a cliff now? ===
The 5% income tax has expired.
But now, rather than declare victory, Bruce Rauner wants to reinstate it so he can phase it out gradually. He is for a 5% income tax so he can be against it.
That tells me the cliff is further away than Team Rauner has been telling us.
- foster brooks - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:25 am:
When will the quinn campaign run with it? Not to impressed with what they are doing now. Beating an out of touch billionaire should be a cakewalk in Illinois.
- sue - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:30 am:
For the vast majority of voters (who are not public sector union members), who own a house and pay real estate taxes driven in large part by public school costs- if you are honest with yourself, Rauner is the only candidate- Quinn has proven incapable of turning the State’s finances around or the overall employment picture- We are losing out to our neighbor states- Maybe Rauner has said inartful things but he is a proven executive and has a business perspective- we desperately need someone to get down to Springfield and best attempt to turn things around- Quinn has failed- lets give someone new a chance
- Toure's Latte - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:32 am:
So far these openings result in mind numbingly long pressers. Quinn’s campaign is stuck in the ‘what’ and needs to talk to voters about the ‘why’. In one sentence, WHY does this matter?
(fade in on Group home. quick fade to TOM, caring for disabled)
I help the helpless in Illinois.
(shots of Tom doing his work)
I make minimum the wage and barely get by. I know I’ll never be rich enough to afford
(cut away shots of RAUNER in both)
a Carhart jacket and an eighteen dollar watch, but Pat Quinn thinks people like me should be able to make a living.
(more shots of TOM doing his work)
Bruce Rauner wants to make sure I don’t make enough to barely get by, wants to make sure the helpless are truly without help or hope.
Governor Pat Quinn wants to keep people like me helping the helpless.
(cut to outside home TOM stands with Group Home members, and with PAT QUINN who is smiling benevolently)
Join me voting for Governor Pat Quinn.
(stay on cover shot)
PAT QUINN: I’m Pat Quinn and I approve this message.
Get it together Quinn campaign. Quit squandering the unforced errors.
- Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:40 am:
No, Sue, Rauner is not my candidate. Dawn Clark Netsch is my candidate. Her proposal 20 STINKING YEARS AGO was the right prescription for what ails Illinois and our woeful property taxes. Edgar painted her as a “tax and spend liberal” and won running away. Rauner’s proposals, on their face would constitute malfeasance. He is dangerous to the Illinois economy and our social safety net. Period.
- Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:42 am:
And Sue, Illinois is not a business. Government is not business. That approach fails most of the time.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:44 am:
Just a simple example of how technology brings past statements back to life.
Two other angles:
Angle One - Our company just lost a job to China. Our long time Illinois customer got an offer they could not refuse. New owners said we could bid for the job. The company in Shanghai can have retail shelf ready product in the new owner’s warehouses (overseas shipping included) at $.50 cheaper than we could make it. This product is sold in the Walmarts and big box stores nationwide. Low prices also require very low manufacturing costs. Can’t compete with $2 hour labor. The Tom Friedman ‘World is Flat’ scenario is very real.
Angle two: That friend in a group home, will the organization he works for see a rate increase when minimum wage goes up? The Fed minimum is not going away and if Illinois goes to $10-$13 an hour, state-wide that’ll easily be a $20M+ increase in state costs to DHS for existing group homes. That does not count the coming huge increase in group home numbers as SODCs like JDC/Murray close and the Ligas lawsuit moves on. Also does not include many direct service staff in community based programs. One of those ripple effects to min wage increase that almost never gets discussed.
- Try-4-Truth - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:50 am:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-cohen/germany-adopts-the-worlds_b_5555501.html
- Amalia - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:52 am:
Hey Sue, I’m that voter. And I will not trust Rauner with my tax dollars to run the government. Heck, I wouldn’t even trust him to run a business, what with those guys getting nabbed for doing bad things at his finance company. Oh, but Bruce says, what, he doesn’t know anything about that/they are gone, whatever. He’s a typical super rich person who can’t remember which state he’s in what with all those houses, what policy will help whatever private venture he’s into, whatever buys his phony work gear. Nope, I won’t trust him to run the government.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:54 am:
Wow, sue managed to hit all the talking points without saying “shake up” Impressive.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 8:54 am:
===We are losing out to our neighbor states- Maybe Rauner has said inartful things but he is a proven executive and has a business perspective- we desperately need someone to get down to Springfield and best attempt to turn things around-===
Illinois is not Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, or Minnesota.
Well said - Try-4-Truth -,…Government is not a business. Running government like a business is not feasible as “same”.
There is no CEO in state government. There is an Executive, co-equal with the Legislative and Judicial. Co-Equal.
The Rauner talking points that fly in the face of reality are tiresome.
- Norseman - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:01 am:
Note to the kiddies running Quinn’s media op: this is a juicy soundbite for ads on TV and radio. Do not waste it on an Internet video.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:02 am:
I wonder how much Rauner pays for these nonsensical posts in favor of him that happen to not have anything to do with the subject, or reality for that matter. $.10 a post would really light up that Capfax don’t ya think?!
- Peoria guy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:06 am:
I am a long time Republican and probably fall on the conservative side of the party. I can’t stomach voting for Quinn. It goes against every fiber of my political being. That said, the same holds true for Rauner. He is a fraud. I will have to sit out the governor’s race this year on election day—and I have never done that.
- Cook County Commoner - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:10 am:
As the astute posters point out, government is not a business. And, unless I am mistaken, Governor Quinn or wannabe Rauner do not have the power to unilaterally raise, lower or eliminate the minimum wage.
So when do the folks who know a lot more about what an Illinois governor can do than me start talking about what Rauner could do or what Gov Quinn should have done?
- Stones - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:15 am:
Peoria Guy -
I think many people feel the same as you. I know I do. Normally I lean D but I can’t deal with the hypocrisy of PQ but I also believe Rauner is trying to sell us smoke and mirrors. It’s sad that the nation’s 5th largest state has these two candidates to choose from.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:17 am:
=== And, unless I am mistaken, Governor Quinn or wannabe Rauner do not have the power to unilaterally raise, lower or eliminate the minimum wage.===
So supporting someone who had advocated the elimination of the Minimum Wage is nothing to fret about?
It’s part of a much, much larger narrative of Bruce Rauner saying one thing, believing another, re-calibrating, then choosing the best polled position, even if the way Bruce Rauner lives, worked, made money, ran a business…
It’s one thing to flip-flop, and those get dinged pretty good. It’s completely another thing to live such a hypocritical life that the farce of the caricature of the Carhartt and watch have gone too far in the charade.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:25 am:
Can you imagine how much Medicaid money Bruce could have siphoned out of his nursing homes if he didn’t have to pay the staff at all? He must go to bed dreaming of a world like that.
- low level - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:27 am:
“Increase Illinois competitiveness”.
While increasing poverty as well, thereby making taxpayers subsidize corporate profits when those working full time are in need of LINK (food stamps) assistance.
That would be some competitiveness!
- AnonymousOne - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:29 am:
Why oh why would anyone think that Rauner has any conscious understanding of what it is like not to have millions? He us clueless and represents people in Illinois just like him. It is so interesting that his version of the way out of our economic mess is to take more away from those who eke out a living rather than asking more of those who have it to toss to the wind. But that’s not surprising. And, I fully agree with A Guy’s post at 6:51. By better wages(at least for public employees) how much would you like your taxes to increase, Guy?
- Roadiepig - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:30 am:
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:39 am:
I’ll vote for anybody outside of the status quo. Beats the alternative.
That’s they type of mindset that gave us Blago after Ryan’s conviction.That work out so well for the taxpayers of this state , didn’t it? People have amazingly short memories.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:30 am:
For a “savvy” business guy — or a guy that claims to be savvy — he makes a remarkable number of “flippant” comments.
Eliminate the minimum wage. “Wait, no — I mean, you know, I advocate … um, pro-business reforms. Yeah.”
Shutting down government. “Wait, no …”
$140K for a wine club? “Well, I belong to a lot of clubs. But, yes …”
Clouting a daughter into a school that forced a deserving kid out. “No, I didn’t … well, yeah — okay, I, uh … yes. Yes — and so what? So what?”
The 1% versus the rest of us. “Actually, I’m the .01% — and so what? So what?”
Rauner is a fool. An ideologically driven fool who can’t even articulate the ideology. That’s worse than a fool, IMHO.
- qcexaminer - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:32 am:
Stones comment “It’s sad that the nation’s 5th largest state has these two candidates to choose from”, reminded me of something I saw in a previous CapFax post (don’t remember which one) from Kent Redfield about the LAST Illinois gubernatorial race of Quinn v. Brady:
“You’ve got two accidental candidates…What are the chances that even one of these guys would be the nominee,,,And now we have both of them.”
So it seems Illinois is in the habit of nominating gubernatorial candidates that nobody wants.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:40 am:
tax the minimun wage employer more,than if he paid $10 outright
- OLK 73 - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:46 am:
Everyone needs to read Kristen McQuearys piece in the Tribune. I really enjoyed her point that someone who is singe, making 185K, has a generous pension, driver, bodyguards and a free house somehow has the gall to paint someone else besides himself as “out of touch” with the common man. Enough stunts on the minimum wage. Get educated, get experience, get skills and get more money.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:48 am:
===It’s a shame we have to even have to have a minimum wage. I can completely understand why people earning it would be taken back by any discussion of it, but it’s the wrong wage for us to focus on.===
You should tell that to “Your Guy” - A Guy…-, since now one if the Bruce Rauners, I don’t know which one, now want to raise the minimum wage, won’t vote for the ballot initiative, and feels there shouldn’t be a minimum too.
You going to go door to door telling voters, “Yeah, It’s a shame we have to even have to have a minimum wage. I can completely understand why people earning it would be taken back by any discussion of it, but it’s the wrong wage for us to focus on.”
lol, good luck with that.
===That’s they type of mindset that gave us Blago after Ryan’s conviction.That work out so well for the taxpayers of this state , didn’t it? People have amazingly short memories.===
Restaurant Quality there - Roadiepig -, well said.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:50 am:
- OLK 73 -, I would take time to read the piece you are trying to make this discussion about, but I am listening to Rauner tell me that there should be no minimum wage, lol.
- Chris - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:51 am:
PQ *signed a budget* that allowed the income tax increase to expire. Has he so much as called that a “mistake”?
Sure, Rauner can’t take advantage of it, bc it would focus on the fact that he, too, has stated his support for “raising taxes”, but Quinn is at least as disingenuous as Rauner.
- olddog - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:59 am:
@ Frenchie Mendoza 9:30 am
Here’s another one, from Diane Ravitch’s education blog:
“After the awards ceremony, Ms. Kohl held a small dinner at the exclusive Chicago Club. There were two tables, 8 people at each table. I sat across from Bruce and of course, we got into a lively discussion about charter schools, a subject on which he is passionate.
As might be expected, he celebrated their high test scores, and I responded that they get those scores by excluding students with serious disabilities and English language learners, as well as pushing out those whose scores are not good enough. Surprisingly, he didn’t disagree. His reaction: so what? “They are not my problem. Charters exist to save those few who can be saved, not to serve all kinds of kids.” My response: What should our society do about the kids your charters don’t want? His response: I don’t know and I don’t care. They are not my problem.”
http://dianeravitch.net/2014/01/16/candidate-rauner-in-illinois-supports-charters-lower-minimum-wage/
- West Sider - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:59 am:
Frenchie Nails it-
—– Frenchie Mendoza - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 9:30
Rauner is a fool. An ideologically driven fool who can’t even articulate the ideology. That’s worse than a fool, IMHO.—–
G.W.Bush 2.0 . But hey that worked out OK, right?
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:02 am:
“Thou shall not question the Minimum Wage!”
Rauner didn’t get the message that to a lot of people in politics, the minimum wage is like a holy script which touches an elemental truth of economic life.
He got that message now, but the true believers are surrounding him with torches and shouting that he is an apostate according to their political beliefs!
“OH the heathen Rauner! Burn him at the stake! He questions our god! Although he now claims to be a believer - he had not so long ago, allowed his tongue to question the Minimum Wage! Our minds are closed upon this, our credo!”
“He lies! He is a blasphemer! He questioned the saintly goodness of our economic faith!”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:05 am:
- VanillaMan -,
I’m confused by your comment;
Bruce did, or didn’t want to eliminate the minimum wage? lol
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:09 am:
Bruce did, or didn’t want to eliminate the minimum wage?
Sounds like he was being open minded, and then discovered that in Illinois, questioning it in public is like questioning the Virgin Birth for some.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:13 am:
It’s sounding like the kind of government we as Americans fight against(at least in other parts of the world). The almighty ruling, wealthy class exploiting those who don’t have…dismissing them as just numbers in the masses. Aristocracy rules, peons slave. Isn’t that what the peons are for? To serve……and gladly?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:15 am:
@VMan:
Reasonable people aren’t “open minded” about eliminating the minimum wage. And it isn’t just in Illinois. No politician in his right mind would EVER advocate totally eliminating the minimum wage (nor should they because that is just silly).
- leprechaun - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:19 am:
Its over, its over, crown PQ the winner this will doom Rauner for sure…..
Pllleeeeaaaassse are you kidding me? Yes its a Gaffe no doubt, but if you think enough voters will change there mind to make up a 8 point deficit on this issue alone think again.
Campaigns are daily battles gain some ground, lose some ground.
But just remember a few minor issues PQ needs to deal with in the next 7 weeks.
1.NRI
2.IDOT
3.Federal Investigation of NRI
4.Hearings on NRI
And now for the two most important.
5.Rauner won the Dance contest at the JRW rally
6.Now that Ken Griffiths dosent have to give the lovely wife a couple million a month at least for now he can throw it Bruces way….
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:19 am:
Stupid comment that will haunt him to the end of the election.
But what blows my mind is that the minimum wage in Illinois could have been easily raised this past legislative session, with a veto proof majority in the House and Senate, and a Governor who is campaigning for an increase, and all the Democrats did was place an “advisory” referendum on the ballot for them?
Allowing the suffering to continue for another year? Vote to reelect us and THEN we will raise your minimum wage? Heartless behavior. Cynical with a capital “C”. Those comments using the “heartless” sword against Rauner cut both ways.
And then explain the Mayor of Chicago and his compliant City Council failing to take action? Those ballerina lessons paid off, he’s been dancing all over the place on that topic.
You believe in it? THEN DO IT!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:23 am:
So - leprechaun -,
Did Bruce say that there shouldn’t be a minimum wage?
You may be right about the dancing…
- sal-says - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:24 am:
== I will have to sit out the governor’s race this year on election day… ==
Yeah, I’ve thought about that. Some time back, Casandra said something like: ‘Our choices in the 2014 Illinois gubernatorial race are shaping up to be very, very bad.’
A wise man I used to work with said: “Every decision has its consequences.”
So, maybe picking the least ‘worst’ and voting is better than nothing?
- Jechislo - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:26 am:
This makes good press, but it doesn’t look like it’s sticking like Quinn wants it to.
All of the news articles are stating that Quinn is surging/gaining momentum according to the lastest We Ask America poll.
I just went to RealClearPolitics and looked at all of the polls they have listed in the Illinois Governors race. Not all of the polls are listed; including this last one.
In the 6 polls listed, Quinn percentages from newest to oldest is as follows: 38%, 39%, 43%, 40%, 39%, and 41%.
His percentage in this poll that supposedly shows him gaining ground is 37.09% - a lower percentage than any poll listed. Not much of a surge in my book.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:30 am:
===at least for now he can throw it Bruces way===
I’d rather we leave this divorce battle out of the blog. But just this once, I will say that Griffin’s attorney might frown on a huge contribution during active divorce litigation. Could throw fuel on the legal fires. And I’d speculate that he might have contributed so much money early for just this very reason.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:31 am:
“Leprechaun and others, you’re right, just stay positive and listen to WAA, it will all be ok!”
Senator William E. Brady - Bloomington
- Gooner - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:32 am:
Hey Leprechan,
Take another look at your list. I think you inadvertently left BENGHAZI! off your list.
/snark/
- Norseman - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:33 am:
To Peoria Guy and others disenchanted by the lousy candidates, come join the Oswego Willy for Governor write-in effort.
- walker - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:38 am:
I am giving Rauner credit on this one, for openly saying what he really thinks. It is a help to the voters to actually know where he stands.
Rauner, like a lot of political types, has been caught between what a simplistic view of economic theory might imply, and what the real economics mean in the real world.
- Madison - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:40 am:
At the rate this race is deteriorating…yeah they better keep the Libertarian and Green Party candidates off the ballot.
Yeah its a drive by comment, but both the Democratic and Republican nominees look just awful here. Rauner may have an address in Illinois, (several really) but has nothing in common with the electorate. The hapless Pat Quinn cannot put any sort of plan together for this state and was last seen making minimum wage shining Mike Madigans shoes.
Whats a voter to do here people?
- Leprechaun - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:44 am:
Oswego- Yes he said it but then corrected it as even Rich points out. In political races, candidates as you well know make mistakes. I just don’t see this as the big game changer that the Diehards do. That’s why I enjoy the banter between you, Rich and others on here. You for sure aren’t a Rauner backer, but you also point out Quinns flaws as does Rich. There is a big difference between a realist and a optimist, and there lies my point.
As for the dance off I believe it was voted on here and Rauner won by a nose.
BTW how did you vote on that?
I went with Rauner because Quinn looked like a guy that was never ever on a dance floor. At least Rauner stayed away from the middle of the dance floor.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:44 am:
As for those who keep saying “Illinois is not Wisconsin, Indiana, et al.” — you can say that until you are blue in the face, but it does not change the fact that these states are close enough (neighboring states) or appealing enough (Texas, Florida, etc.) to pull businesses and residents away from Illinois. While we do not necessarily have to slavishly copy their taxation and business policies, we can’t totally ignore them either.
- How Ironic - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:44 am:
Didn’t we have some sort of war in 1861 that settled the ‘no minimum wage’ question? I mean look what the ehhem…’free market’ supported before that thorny question was put to rest.
- Leprechaun - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:48 am:
Sorry Rich will leave the X out of it from here on out. Your point well taken on why so much so early, good thinking I agree…..
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 10:52 am:
===. In political races, candidates as you well know make mistakes.===
“I’ve been successful at everything I’ve done” - Bruce Rauner
It’s all good, no worries, the discussion is the driving force.
Who did I vote for?
===- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 25, 14 @ 3:28 pm
Ok, to the Question,
“Entertaining”
Rauner’s attempt is painfully entertaining. It’s like you are hoping he is having more fun than painful, physically.
Quinn’s attempt is silly-entertaining. Quinn kinda governs like he dances; all over the place.
Voted Quinn, because the power of the incumbency has to be good at some point, why not spontaneous dancing(?)===
Much respect - leprechaun -
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 11:04 am:
so he can change,does this include taxing ss?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 11:10 am:
- Norseman -,
That Labor Day meeting was exactly what the campaign needed. What a turnout! It had everything, and I look forward to the bus tour…oops, I said too much.
To - Secret Square -
The idea that those opportunities may be more appealing or have better numbers or growth currently, the real premise that those states aren’t Illinois is to remind the “Simple Solution” folks that wishing or thinking the same sets of variables exist here and elsewhere, so being more “them”, less “us” is a winning formula.
We need more Illinois in Illinois, not more of other states to be better. We need to see how Illinois is governing not wishing our governors or GA mirror others, and our laws need to make Illinois better, not embrace laws that make this state lose the edges it has.
That’s the rub.
- Sunshine - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 11:43 am:
One good thing about the minimum wage is that it is for working people, which is a positive in and of itself. Personally would find it difficult to live on the minimum wage.
Still, I prefer Rauner, not because of any genius aspects, but because there is no way we will move any direction but down with Quinn. The man can’t make a decision, does a masterful job of throwing others under the bus, and simply cannot lead. Therefor I would prefer the unknown. Don’t think it could be worse?
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 11:53 am:
Rauner’s Property Tax Freeze so frightens Pat Quinn that today they are unleashing Rauner’s comments regarding their sacred cow, the Minimum Wage.
The Minimum Wage is Pat Quinn’s Property Tax Freeze.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
===The Minimum Wage is Pat Quinn’s Property Tax Freeze.===
That might turn out be true in the rhetoric, you are on it - VanillaMan -. Great observation on the two.
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 12:23 pm:
“Nothing is over until we say it’s over….was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”- JB
See everyone makes mistakes
- Interesting... - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 12:26 pm:
And these are the type of messages that the DEMS will need to pound home if they want to make this interesting…
“Billionaire Bruce Rauner has been exposed once again for his blatant, repeated falsehoods and his disdain for hard working families,” said Neal Waltmire, Communications Director for Illinois Freedom PAC.
Rauner has been caught giving false and misleading statements when it comes to his budget, his outsourcing record, his Cayman Islands accounts, and the clout scandal involving his daughter’s admission to an elite public school.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 12:56 pm:
- any direction but down with Quinn. -
You mean like the unemployment rate and state debt? Then you’re right.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 1:45 pm:
Willy:
I am beginning to think you underestimated Rauner’s ambitions and the Governor’s mansion is a mere stepping stone to the White House in his mind.
In DC, he could of course work to abolish the minimum wage.
What is the saying? A ‘gaffe’ is when a politician gets caught saying what they actually believe?
Does anyone honestly believe that after a lifetime in business formulating his world view, Bruce Rauner was visited by an Angel of the Lord who convinced him that rather than abolishing the minimum wage, we should actually raise it?
Voters are smarter than that.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
- YDD -,
You may be right, I don’t know, so it’s possible, but if this dress rehearsal run for Illinois Governor is the precursor to a bid for the White House, it’s a play that would stay off Broadway and get horrible reviews.
The ego is there, but so are the tapes, interviews, quotes…
Ask Mitt.
- Secret Square - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 2:06 pm:
“We need more Illinois in Illinois, not more of other states to be better.”
I get what you mean — e.g. we can’t just assume that because Florida and Texas get by without an income tax, or because Indiana enacted right to work, that we should too. But at the same time, I think repeating the “We’re not (name of other state)” mantra ad nauseam sounds, to me, like saying “We have nothing to learn from what has worked (or not worked) elsewhere and we do not need to change anything.”
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 2:09 pm:
Bush is the play book I was looking at:
Bounce in, pass some silly stuff, then split town before the whole thing blows up.
Rauner would be to the left of Romney, to the right of Bloomberg, and in the same tax bracket when it comes to fundraising.
Better to get it out in the dress rehearsal.
As governor, he would intro a minimum wage with all sorts of strings attached, when it doesn’t pass, claim he tried.
Problem is he already term limited himself, and half of the Senate Republicans will be exploring a run for statewide office again, running to the right of Bill Brady.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 2:10 pm:
Bruce Rauner has a shot at the White House when the phrase, “Illinois Governor”, is no longer a joke punch line across the United States and Western Europe.
Bruce is already too old for that to ever happen during his lifetime.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
- Secret Square -,
Appreciate you understanding. Texas oil, Florida tourism, etc., is not going to make our financials work.
Your thoughtful response, and understanding, is completely lost in others who default to “Indiana!” or “Wisconsin does…” or my personal favorite, “Just look at Texas…”
The point here in the comments reminding those who go off the reservation is to simply…simply remind…that their cute idea that pegs and holes match is just not so.
Well done, and well said.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 4:22 pm:
Joan Rivers’ news ought to push this off the front pages and off most news.
- Enviros-Anon - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:29 pm:
Why would someone support the elimination of the minimum wage?
“…I think that the most likely reason of all
may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”
- low level - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:35 pm:
Louis - huh? Does he support a minimum wage or not?
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 6:54 pm:
All offense intended, my fantasy league robot writes better scripts than most of the react stuff put out by Quinn people and allies.
- low level - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:09 pm:
Fantasy league not doing so hot?
If you’re referring to me, you are mistaken. I’ll be voting for Quinn with nose held. I don’t think they will be able to use it effectively as someone mentioned before.
Dillard or Rutherford just might have gotten my vote I am so fed up with Quinn’s inept handling of the legislature.
That being said I don’t think Rauner really bothered to learn anything about state govt before he decided to run.
- low level - Thursday, Sep 4, 14 @ 7:12 pm:
Michelle - never mind. I re read the comment from the Quinn campaign. You are absolutely correct. It sounds like an intern just out of high school wrote that!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 5, 14 @ 6:54 am:
@VanillaMan:
Check your newsfeed. “Illinois Governror” has been bumped by Virginia Governor and Texas Governor.
- low level - Friday, Sep 5, 14 @ 7:07 am:
YDD - Indeed. Oh how some of the once promising Teapublican Governors have fallen!