* From a press release…
Downstate Democrat Mike Frerichs, candidate for State Treasurer, is calling on his Republican opponent Tom Cross to drop his party’s effort to knock Libertarian candidates off of the November ballot. The Libertarian Party has called for a criminal investigation into allegations of voter intimidation by armed security guards working on behalf of Cross and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner. A Sangamon County judge rejected efforts by the Illinois Republican Party to force Libertarians off the ballot on Thursday, but the GOP has refused to say whether they will continue their legal challenge.
“I find Tom Cross and the Republican Party’s tactics outrageous,” says Frerichs, who at age 26 ran against a candidate backed by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. “I know politics can be pretty rocky, but when Republicans sent men with guns to people’s homes and intimidated them, they crossed way over the line.”
Throwing Madigan under the bus, eh? That’s an interesting little turn of events. I covered that race. The Madigan guy went on to lose the general. Frerichs might’ve done better, were my thoughts at the time.
* They have a local angle as well…
The Frerichs campaign is also calling on Tom Cross and the GOP to drop plans to restrict voter access on college campuses and in minority communities on Election Day. Frerichs notes that the Republican Party has a long history of blocking student voter participation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), which Frerichs represents. On campus, Republicans have required college students to provide multiple forms of identification in order to cast ballots, generating long lines at the polls and discouraging voting.
* And then they tie him to ALEC…
Tom Cross has a history of opposing voter participation in Illinois. Cross voted against legislation in 2013 sponsored by Frerichs (House Bill 105) that encourages student voter participation. Republicans staunchly opposed the bill when it was amended to allow same-day voter registration to ensure that Illinoisans aren’t denied their vote simply because they had moved recently because it benefits students and poorer families. Cross was also one of only 22 conservative House lawmakers to oppose House Bill 226, a measure that allowed 17 year-olds to vote in the primary elections provided they turn 18 before the November general election.
Tom Cross is also affiliated with national efforts to block voter participation, according to the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), a nonpartisan watchdog group. The CMD website, Sourcewatch.com, says Cross is a leader within the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a rightwing corporate think tank. According to CMD, ALEC has led efforts to disenfranchise “students, African Americans, low-income, and older citizens” by passing voter identification laws across the country.
CMD also notes that Cross is a leading member of ALEC’s committee on civil rights. In 2011, Cross participated in an ALEC conference aimed at restricting the rights of women, racial minorities, gay Americans and older workers in all 50 states to sue for wrongful termination, workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.
“When the cameras are on and everyone is paying attention, Tom Cross says nice things and even occasionally votes the right way,” says Zach Koutsky, campaign manager. “When Tom Cross is exposed in the back room, it is a different story. The public should visit Sourcewatch.com to find out what Tom Cross and ALEC really stand for.”
Discuss.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:51 pm:
Madigan, eh? Interesting choice.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:54 pm:
@FakeMikeFrerichs - at this point, if I take on “Blago’s Buddy” and remind everyone I beat MJM, then I won’t seem like a shrinking violet all the time #SpeakerSaysYoullBeFine
- Adam Smith - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:55 pm:
Um, seems like a pretty lame attack.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
@FakeMikeFrerichs - I wanted to take on Pres. Cullerton too, but President Cullerton know I stand tall for IL #YeahOkSaysNoOne
- bucktown phil - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
What is wrong with Frerichs? This is getting really sad to see.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:08 pm:
Why lead with the Libertarians? If you’re going to ring the bell, go with the so-called GOP “voter integrity” project.
- Mango Beer - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
Who was the Madigan guy Tax Hike Mike ran against?
- truthteller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
How come Rauner doesn’t picture Cross in those ads with Blago?
Everyone knows Cross was closer to Blagojevich than Madigan and Quinn ever were
- LincolnLounger - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:11 pm:
Bizarre.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:15 pm:
Frerichs seems to be under the impression that the Treasurer’s office is at the top of the ticket.
- circularfiringsquad - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:19 pm:
Btw…GOPies sent ChopperJim out talk voter suppression apparently no one noticed….toobad
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:19 pm:
Wordslinger:
The GOP has a voter integrity project?
Isn’t that like putting the Scottish in charge of protecting scotch?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:22 pm:
@47th Ward -
Cross seems to be under the impression he is running for Attorney General.
Or am I wrong, Willy?
- Barney - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:23 pm:
I remember Frerichs first race too. He ran as a pro-life candidate.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:26 pm:
===Cross seems to be under the impression he is running for Attorney General.===
Probably as much a Sheila Simon thinks Comptroller is Attorney General.
While Cross’ record and stances are beyond fair game, Frerichs not understanding his own record, and having stances he forgets his record doesn’t reflect, that’s fair fame too I guess.
- flipflips - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:27 pm:
It’s very interesting reading to see where Michael Frerichs stood on the issues in the not so distant past.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:29 pm:
Yeah Mike, we’ll get back to you on that. Thanks for callin’.
Oy.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:29 pm:
circularfiringsquad:
I am sorry I missed that one. General Pinochet? Do you have video?
To the post:
Yesterday, Tom Cross was endorsed by a Democrat.
Today, Tom Cross is linked to efforts to protect employers who discriminate against women, African Americans and gay Americans.
It seems both sides understand the battleground: Tom Cross is trying to distance himself from the GOP and Mike Frerichs is trying to tie him to the GOP.
The lucky thing for Frerichs is, it will say Republican next to Cross on the ballot.
- flipflips - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
Quick question-
Does anyone know if Big Debbie is running this race too? It seems that he’s caught on to the same petulance infected the Ann Callis campaign and the rest of the Champaign Democrat crowd.
Is there a normal person in Champaign in either party any more?
- Anon - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:40 pm:
Gotta say, the ALEC stuff is troubling…not a very moderate group to be associating with…
- too obvious - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:43 pm:
Oh come on, how can you expect someone like Tom Cross to win without use of firearms?
Next you’ll suggest he should have to rely on his record and skill.
- Almost the Weekend - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:44 pm:
These constant attempts at trying to get the media interested in the Treasurer’s race is pathetic. Everyone in the state, and major news outlets around the country, will be watching the governor’s race. Primarily because Obama’s home state could potentially lose a US Senate and the Governor’s seat under his watch. Know your role and help out the ticket while you can. Don’t take charge when you are the last statewide race listed on the ballot. Quinn’s started to resonate with voters, enjoy his coattails and keep raising money. It has been the one advantage the Frerichs’ campaign has maintained.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
===These constant attempts at trying to get the media interested in the Treasurer’s race is pathetic===
Oh, come on. They’re not just gonna give up. Reporters ought to be writing about these races more often, including myself.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
Anon -
To a point, but it has to be hammered home. You can’t just say ALEC-Koch Brothers - “Vulture capitalists”
You gotta give ALEC credit. This sounds really nice: ‘The Employer Good Faith and Safe Harbor Act’
Then you read it:
i) a process to avoid and resolve:
i.Wrongful or unlawful termination or discharge claims,
equal pay claims, breach of employment contract claims,
long term employee claims, employment settlement
negotiations and other employment related claims;
ii.age, disability, gender, national origin, race, sex or sexual
orientation discrimination;
iii.noncompliance with Americans with disability act and age discrimination in employment act;
iv.sex, gender, sexual or discriminatory harassment;
v.retaliation and retaliatory termination;
vi.whistle-blowing;
vii.failure to pay wages, including overtime wages;
viii.termination without good cause;
ix.meal and rest periods;
x.employee misclassification as exempt;
xi.unlawful termination or discharge due to serious medical
condition;
Man. Wow.
Frerichs should have used that make it easier to fire whistleblowers stuff.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:57 pm:
too obvious:
I’d say Cross could have beat the voters over the heads with clubs, but Willy tells me he can’t hit anything with his clubs.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
===…but Willy tells me he can’t hit anything with his clubs.
===
When he tossed my golf bag, clubs and all in the pond, after that Par 3, I haven’t played golf with him since. I call, he calls, we just can’t make the time…
…then there was one or two comments here, but I don’t think he, or Staff, read any (whew!)
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
=== I don’t think he, or Staff, read any ===
They are probably too busy IDing plusses for Election Day.
- Roskammed - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:20 pm:
lame attack by desperate Frerichs campaign
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:32 pm:
@Roskam -
LOL. You are letting your inner Brooke out.
- cal city crew - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:57 pm:
Why shouldn’t MF attack Cross? Cross is a reasonable guy and usually a moderate, but if your votes don’t reflect your persona - fair game?
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:06 pm:
I’ve seen stuff out of the race about balancing the budget. And then there’s this little tidbit above. They are going to talk about actual duties of the Treasurer sometime soon, right?
- Anon - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:08 pm:
Being on the ALEC committee is not good for Cross.
ALEC is the group that pushed the freaking Stand Your Ground laws across the country, and had that ridiculously racist immigration bill in Arizona that caused a national outcry…and Cross is on the Civil Rights Committee? Not good.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:09 pm:
@Demoralized:
Yes, because reporters love writing about the duties of the Treasurer’s office.
LOL.
- jim - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:36 pm:
should have said Chub got in the race because Frerichs, among others, asked him to do so.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:38 pm:
@Anon
ALEC was Stand Your Ground?
Oh.
I did not know that.
I just always thought they were shills for Big Business.
I didn’t realize they shilled for the wing nuts.