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Rauner Internet ad pairs Quinn with Blagojevich
Friday, Sep 19, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller * Keep in mind that this is only a Web ad…
* The video… * The script…
* There’s a reason why this isn’t on TV. The message probably won’t work on a mass scale. People don’t like patronage, they don’t like using government money to benefit a political campaign, but they generally don’t think the other party would be any different. And since Rauner didn’t use the spring and summer to pound a “Quinn is corrupt” message home with millions of TV dollars, it may be too late to effectively start that track now. So, throw it up on the Web and get some media coverage. * Plus, there’s a key difference here between what RRB did and what Quinn’s IDOT and Quinn’s top staff (and, maybe Quinn himself, we don’t know yet) did or are accused of doing. Patronage is a civil issue. It became a criminal offense in Chicago because the patronage operation there did clearly illegal things, like claim a job applicant was interviewed on the same date the guy was actually out of the country. The Illinois Attorney General conducted a massive investigation of Blagojevich’s hiring practices, but the US Attorney asked her to shut down her probe and forward him the results. He never used the info. * From Steve Schnorf in comments last night…
* And as far as NRI goes, from what we know so far the corruption was mostly at the bottom of the rung. Now, the Quinn administration could very well be hiding something. Right now, though, there’s nothing in the documents released that connect any illegal dots directly to him. Was the anti-violence program designed to help Quinn get reelected? Sure. But politicians do this sort of thing all the time. Bridges, roads, new facilities, new programs, new grants, whatever. And most people get that. * This isn’t meant to be a defense of Quinn. It’s just a look at the realities of Illinois. If you want people to believe that Quinn the “reformer” is actually corrupt, you’d better spend a ton of money to do it. And spend it early. So far, neither has been done. We’ll just have to see what happens. If that video goes viral, then maybe Rauner is on to something and it’ll wind up on TV. …Adding… The Quinn campaign passed along this link to a 2007 interview with Rod Blagojevich where he claims that Lt. Gov. Quinn wasn’t part of his administration.
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- D.P.Gumby - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:26 am:
Thank you Schnorf for reasonable analysis.
- Big Joe - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:30 am:
No doubt in my mind that if Rauner wins, there will be a LOT of his friends and relatives of business associates that get state jobs. And his business partners will get some added income from the charter school networks that he favors.
- William j Kelly - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:33 am:
Rauner is in deep denial over the fact that nobody is buying into the idea that Quinn is anything less than an honest guy. Part of the reason Rauner’s attacks are falling so flat is the fact that nobody knows, likes or trusts rauner.
- walker - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:35 am:
Great comments from Rich!
“Cut from the same cloth” is just too much of a stretch to get much traction. This direct identity-linking with Blago will only appeal to the already convinced. Their personalities, hair, and images are just too far apart.
Rauner’s best shots along these lines, with movable voters, are incompetence and broken promises. “Quinn said he’d fix corruption, but he just made it worse.” “He lied about taxes, and now this!” “Quinn let us down.”
This still is Rauner’s best negative path: directly at Quinn’s previous strength.
Rauner’s general messages should remain about failing economy/state.
- Chris - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:35 am:
“How do you know the clouting was political, not personal, in each case?”
The phrase that pays is “appearance of impropriety”. And the reason it matters is that PQ has made many claims about how he is against the practice, and has ordered everyone to follow the rules.
- Ghost - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:38 am:
The problem is the anti-rauner ad’s with the corp corruption;edicare recipients not getting care etc etc, to me is a harder blow. In comparison this seems pretty tepid.
From my antecdotal encounters people are still angry about the large banks and the wealthy throwing extravagant luxury training sessions and so forth while taking bail out money and paying out multi-million dollar bonuses.
Enron, bernie, these all elicit a visceral reaction in people who fear these things happneing to them; and the anti-rauner ad’s are currently tapping into that fear IMHO. This anti-quinn ad does not home on that level.
- steve schnorf - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:39 am:
Chris, does someone recommending you for a job give the “appearance of impropriety”?
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:40 am:
well, they have that 100 years ad about Quinn, Madigan, Cullerton, around the internet so who knows what they think is right to do.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:45 am:
Classic! Love how true Blago-clone RAUNER accuses QUINN of being the Blago-clone!
Yeah, everybody remembers just how tight Blago and Quinn were.~ Years would go by and they didn’t even speak to each other.
Saying something is true doesn’t make it true, but that’s the kind of detail that would never cause Bruce to even hesitate.
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:46 am:
==The phrase that pays is “appearance of impropriety”.==
Recommendations or clouting or whatever you want to call it aren’t illegal. Do some of you live in fantasyland and not realize this is standard practice in all of the working world?
- Ghost - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:49 am:
Schnorf I will go you one better. The courts have actually held thier is a first ammendment right to make a purely patronage recommendation for a hire. So for example a county chairman has a consitutionaly protected right to request one of his/her people be given a job.
The potential unlawful act would be giving a job that does not need the person to be polticialy loyal (rutan covered) in response to the recomendation. The recomendation itself is perfectly fine, personal or political.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:50 am:
The video is fine filler for Rauner’s web site and it almost certainly resonates with most of those who will see it there. Everybody else? Not so much.
We’re shocked, shocked to find that patronage goes on at IDOT.
Same as it ever was.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:50 am:
Powerful spot. It would add credibility to ID the speakers at the top with cutline graphics, but that’s a small thing.
I’ve never understood why GOP media whiz kids didn’t just wear out that stupid quote on Blago by Quinn.
You can’t use the video because you can see the hint of sarcasm, but it was a dumb thing to say and fair game all the way.
Only took them eight years to figure it out.
This will go on TV. They have to do something. Regular Joe doesn’t work and has become self-parody. Unemployment continues to fall.
This sells the corruption theme a lot better than “100 years.”
- too obvious - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:53 am:
Desperate.
Rauner’s credibility has been so destroyed at this point that I see no hope for him in trying to convince a majority of voters that anything he says is worth listening to anymore.
- Anon - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:55 am:
If the last three Republicans governors had never engaged in patronage at IDOT, perhaps Republicans would have standing to express shock and outrage. I am confident that most GOP party officials are hoping to get back at the IDOT patronage trough ASAP.
- walker - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:55 am:
==”does someone recommending you for a job give ‘the appearance of impropriety?’”==
It does when they then say “don’t tell anyone.”
[chuckling]
Is it a biggie? Depends on who is recommending to whom, and if others are cut out of competing for opportunities.
Is it the “crime” some make it out to be? Not even close, if normal American society is to be our guide.
- Mason born - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 11:56 am:
–. If you want people to believe that Quinn the “reformer” is actually corrupt, you’d better spend a ton of money to do it. And spend it early. So far, neither has been done.–
Rauner is living proof that Pride goeth before the Fall.
He had almost 5 months to paint Quinn with this brush and himself as the great savior of IL all while Quinn didn’t have the money to respond. the Hubris of sitting back and allowing Quinn to have a shot at controlling the narrative will be the nail in the coffin of his campaign. Should have kept your foot on the gas till November 6th.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:00 pm:
Does it even take an ad to connect the two at this point?
Anyone who reads or hears a story about IDOT, NRI, or anything similar will naturally draw the connection between the words “Illinois” “Governor” “Corruption” and Blago.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
How much money did Rauner kickback to people who got him his gigs playing with pension money?
- Gooner - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:22 pm:
Quinn backers need to face the fact that although Quinn is not Blago, there are some uncomfortable parallels between the two. Both have a history of rewarding political pals.
And then you have the whole “running mates” and “never dropped a dime” matter.
I think this line of attack carries a lot of weight.
Unfortunately, I don’t think this particular ad was all that great. I found it sort of confusing. It needs a few more edits to make it more effective.
I give it a B-. I like the idea and line of attack, but it needs work.
A note on the comments by Schnorf and others — while I respect Steve, sometimes the perception of people who have spent time on the inside is significantly different from those who have made a career outside Springfield. What Steve sees as a routine, a lot of people outside Springfield see as crossing a line.
Is this business as usual? Maybe. But a lot of people outside Springfield think business as usual should be different.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:26 pm:
===Both have a history of rewarding political pals.===
That’s what you got? LOL
I haven’t met a virgin in a very long time. So happy to make your acquaintance.
- Niles Township - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:29 pm:
I still think the corruption line is the wrong one for Rauner to push. Quinn has had 40 years to build up the anti-politican good guy rep. Rauner may be able to chip away at tQuinn’s rep (as Quinn has done himself, but it won’t be anywhere near enough to win. The winning argument is still the state is not managed well, and we need a good manager who gets things done to be guv. The contrast Quinn’s record of management issues. I just don’t get why Rauner’s people are so obsessed with the Blago, corruption line.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:31 pm:
Did the watch without sound test.
Are there really no pictures, even from 2002, of Quinn and Blagojevich standing side by side holding hands smiling on a stage together?
The only clips they have linking the two are begrudging greetings? Not very effective for the message.
What’s also not effective for Rauner’s message: our last Republican governor went to prison too.
Rauner needs to sell voters he’s the guy to get jobs to Illinois. No one believes an Illinois governor will be 100% clean any more than they believe a guy who owns 8 houses drives a 20-year-old van everyday.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:36 pm:
First and foremost, - steve schnorf - frames the argument, Rich tips it in. It’s not defending, it’s looking at the realities, and assessing the truth to bluster.
Once again, well said - steve schnorf -.
To the Post/Video,
What Rich said about the squandering.
Man o man, you have the dough, and from March 18th, you had the time.
This video reinforces the shaky Rauner supporters and brings them solidly back in the fold.
If you have moved on from the late linking of Quinn/Blago in this manner, it may not sway you back to that thinking. Could be more “Meh.”.
It’s good, it has significance, but the time for it was May, not September.
- Archiesmom - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:41 pm:
It’s been said here before - many, if not most, voters, see patronage as the way things are done in Illinois. It just won’t stick unless and until Quinn is shown to be personally involved in serious wrongdoing. And to a lot of those same people, they couldn’t have even told you who Blago’s lieutenant governor was. Too little, too late. When you think you’re falling behind, this is what your campaign puts out.
- Gooner - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
Rich,
With all due respect, you may need to spend more time with people outside your line of work.
While they may acknowledge that “business as usual” exists, they don’t like it.
Rauner seems to get it.
I’m not sure others here do.
- William j Kelly - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:44 pm:
I predict rauner will go the way of Al Holfield, does anybody remember Al Holfield? Because I can’t even remember how to spell his name. I mean not even close!
- nothin's easy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:48 pm:
Politics in a democracy is transactional: Politicians seek votes by promising to do things for voters, who seek promises in exchange for their votes.
George Will
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_will.html#V0qIvyHB4OuCwXvT.99
- Mason born - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:53 pm:
Is there really no sound of Quinn saying something similar?? Find it put it on Radio like you should have months ago.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 12:56 pm:
Bruce Rauner got rich off managing pension money.
Bruce Rauner gave enormous amounts to Richie Daley and Rahm Emanuel.
I don’t see Rauner as being a particularly credible messenger that some jobs at IDOT were given based on political connections.
Rauner ain’t offering to return the money he skimmed from Illinois pensions, is he?
- Ahoy! - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:01 pm:
–There’s a reason why this isn’t on TV. The message probably won’t work on a mass scale. –
Maybe not yet, but remember all the Topinka ads and George Ryan? “What’s she thinking”?
This might be the first of many trials to find out what if anything works on the corruption/blago angle.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:02 pm:
===While they may acknowledge that “business as usual” exists, they don’t like it.===
Exactly right, and it’s exactly what I wrote. So bite me.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:03 pm:
===This might be the first of many trials===
It’s September. Rod’s ads started in April.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:03 pm:
===but remember all the Topinka ads and George Ryan?===
Yes, well. Wake me when Rauner puts up the video of Quinn and Blago dancing the polka.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
===but remember all the Topinka ads and George Ryan?===
Meh. The most effective anti-JBT ads tied her to W and Rove.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:15 pm:
Gooner
=While they may acknowledge that “business as usual” exists, they don’t like it.=
This little chestnut from Sangamon County neatly sums up why people usually don’t vote for change even if “they don’t like it” …
When ex-Senator Larry Bomke was appointed to the Senate, he offended a great many Republicans locally. During his first general election, a caller to a local radio show was again criticizing Larry. When the host pointed out there was an opponent, the caller stated “WHAT - vote for a Democrat? NEVER!” (And the 180 degree opposite happens in other parts of the state.) As long as that mentality persists, things like IDOT won’t move the needle very far.
- Anonymoiis - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:19 pm:
“(T)he Governor does the right hing all the time” - P Quinn, Sept 2006
…seems like I’ve heard him say something similar recently…oh, right, just this week:
“I do the right thing all the time” - P Quinn, Sept 2014
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:26 pm:
Some may say I’m a dreamer (I may be the only one), but are there ANY elected officials out there who care so much about serving the public that they hire based on functional need and hire the best qualified applicant based upon ability to provide good service to the public, rather than who they can recruit to work on some campaign or being able to solicit campaign contributions?
Call me Diogenes, but I haven’t seen that kind of public service from an elected official in a school Board, municipal or county government. or CERTAINLY in Springfield.
Does NAYONE KNOW of such a person, or must I continue searching with my lantern?
- Cassandra - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:27 pm:
I don’t think the issue here is patronage…or not.
I bet not that many likely voters are reading beyond the headlines on what is mostly a rather boring, if ever-present issue in Illinois politics. Linking Quinn with Blago could have an effect, though. Doesn’t much matter about the details if the link is broadly plausible. And if the electorate is generally grumpy and irritable in November, and looking to punish somebody, well, there’s Quinn. Voting is an emotional process. We’ll see how the Rauner ad-makers do going forward.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:28 pm:
Mostly good conversation here. Schnorf, I believe I inspired this remark highlighted today. Happy to help when I can! lol
- steve schnorf - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:34 pm:
Anon 1:26 Any elected official who fails to hire competent people to carry out the responsibilites of the office puts himself/herself at risk in the next election
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:36 pm:
===If you see this as institutionalizing corruption===.
Schnorf, I do continue to see it this way. What I don’t do is lay it entirely at the feet of the Democrats or even those of the past 10 years. It’s the franchise of both parties. It is ingrained at such a level that only being on the brink of disaster can re calibrate the way our citizens will even think about it. They accept it because they perceive it as being way bigger than they are. My own approach would be to continue to chip away at it until we finally make it stand out instead of being part of the status quo.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:37 pm:
Rauner is just doing what a challenger does, and in this case, there is a lot of nasty ethical issues surrounding the incumbent.
I found it pretty surprising how badly the GOP miffed their opportunity to run this kind of ad in 2010. Rauner is definitely out to win, unlike Brady.
- too obvious - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
How’s that working out VannillaMan?
Rauner’s going to lose by a lot more than Brady. Brady had the puppy baggage. We’re talking real people with Rauner, the elderly and the disabled.
Good luck with it though.
- steve schnorf - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 1:51 pm:
guy, , you are correct. As you well know, the comment from yesterday was directed at your comments on the blog. You have called for getting rid of all those hires who are still on the payroll, and my questions were directed to that. Why all? And you still haven’t answered the questions above. Unless you know the answers, why all?
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:14 pm:
–Does NAYONE KNOW of such a person, or must I continue searching with my lantern?–
Somebody throw a bucket of water on the burning martyr.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
== or must I continue searching with my lantern? ==
Better invest in some additional lantern oil. That search will take some time.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
Word earns the comeback of the week award! Hilarious.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:20 pm:
===Linking Quinn with Blago could have an effect, though.===
I think it’s worked in one race, a legislative race involving Rod’s House floor leader. Other than that, it just hasn’t stuck on anybody. Rod is an Alien. People get that.
- Shark Sandwich - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
“Appearance of impropriety”
Reminds me of another phrase: “honest services”. Everyone knew pretty much what it meant, but the court threw it out as unenforceably vague. It’s right up there with pornography- we know it when we see it - but good luck getting everyone to agree on what it is.
- Snucka - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:46 pm:
I don’t think this ad will gain traction. Four years ago, everyone knew that Quinn was once Blago’s running mate. There’s nothing new here, and certainly nothing that would indicate that Pat Quinn is engaged in anything remotely similar to Blago’s criminal conduct. It’s like seeing a guy jaywalk, then running an ad comparing him to John Wayne Gacy because both committed crimes. I get that the luster is off of Pat Quinn’s “reformer” image, but nobody believes that he is “just like Blagojevich”. The two men each have their flaws, but they are not the same flaws.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
Schnorf, Sincerely and respectfully, isn’t that a little more responsibility than a voter and a citizen should have? The charge has been made, it’s being investigated, why aren’t we seeing evidence suggesting no unethical behavior? Isn’t that where the burden is right now? If the explanation were easy and ethical, common sense dictates we’d have it. We don’t. How come? It’s been over a year, right? Some were canned, others weren’t. Someone knows why. Why?
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:52 pm:
Keep in mind… a great answer could get you into the spotlight dance again on Monday. I’m here for you man. lol.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:57 pm:
A Guy, you’re spinning yourself so silly that you can’t keep things straight.
As Rich pointed out earlier: NRI is the subject of grand jury investigations, not IDOT.
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 2:58 pm:
==why aren’t we seeing evidence suggesting no unethical behavior==
We have seen ZERO evidence that these individuals personally did anything wrong. You seem to want to blame the individuals for the process and I don’t understand why.
- Under Further Review - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:00 pm:
Quinn has labored mightily to construct a public image for himself as a populist reformer. It is not necessarily an accurate depiction, but the media has accepted the narrative for so long that it is almost indelible.
The governor’s relationships with Dorothy Brown and the questionable anti-violence initiative and the ongoing scandals at Chicago State University (where the political dictator stooge running the asylum has just denied the existence of the faculty senate) are a result of Quinn’s appointees treating the campus like a patronage pit tell a different story.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:03 pm:
Sling, I’m looking at you with kaleidoscope eyes. Is no one looking into the IDOT situation? That first group was fired because no one asked, just Pat Quinn being pro-active. Got it.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:04 pm:
===Is no one looking into the IDOT situation? ===
As far as we know, the IG was the only one who looked at it.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:04 pm:
Who do you claim is investigating IDOT?
- Mister M - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:05 pm:
Demoralized - been through this before. There are no inncoents in this. Ignorance is not a valid excuse, and the people that were hired knew what was going on even if they were ignorant of particular Rutan requirements. It is distressing, however, that this focus is on the employees to the exclusion of those who manipulated the rules to get them and moved from position to position.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:05 pm:
Demo, you’re hanging on to this one like a pit bull man. If they can all or any be cleared, why aren’t they? You’re convinced of complete innocence all the way around. I’m not. I could be though.
- A guy... - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:06 pm:
Mr. Miller answered Sling.
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:11 pm:
==If they can all or any be cleared, why aren’t they==
Be cleared of what? I wasn’t aware that these individuals had been accused of anything other than taking the job.
==You’re convinced of complete innocence all the way around==
Unless and until somebody shows me a shred of evidence that these individuals personally did something wrong then yeah, I’m convinced of their innocence, though I don’t even think that’s the right word because they haven’t been accused of anything.
And I’m hanging on to it because I think what you are saying is totally absurd. Dude, if you want to beat somebody up beat on Pat Quinn or the Secretary of IDOT or the individuals who approved the classifications of the positions. You don’t aim the gun at people who’s only “crime” was taking a job.
- Demoralized - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:13 pm:
==people that were hired knew what was going on ==
Knew that they were being hired because of who they knew? Probably. But there’s nothing unethical or criminal about that.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:23 pm:
No, A Guy, try to keep up with yourself. Rich answered you, who claimed IDOT is being investigated.
- Cassandra - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:25 pm:
Yes, but Quinn doesn’t have to be Blago for grumpy voters to feel like things haven’t changed much. And the grumpy ones might feel like going to the polls and punishing somebody. I actually think that’s the only chance Rauner has, given voter demographics and other factors.
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:32 pm:
Just throw everything at the wall at this point see what sticks.
Embarrassing to think with all that money and 2 years of watching and planning this is what the last 48 days will come down to.
- steve schnorf - Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:44 pm:
Come on, guy. I know full well there is a high probability that some of them deserve to be let go. You assert they all should. I posed the questions. Defend your lack of answers. And if you think I do this so my comments can be highlighted, bite me!