“Brookport”
Monday, Sep 29, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I believe this could very well be the strongest positive ad of the gubernatorial campaign to date…
* Script…
John Barr, Brookport Chief of Police: The city of Brookport was devastated by a F-4 tornado.
John Klaffer, Mayor of Brookport: There was 92 residences that were wiped out at our little town of 452 residences.
Tom Souders, Former Chairman of Massac County Republicans: The town most likely would have perished.
John Klaffer, Mayor of Brookport: I didn’t really know what I was going to do. Never been through anything like this. Nothing had happened yet. It was in the wee hours of the morning. And my phone rang. Governor Quinn, he saved this town. That is not rhetoric, that’s a fact. God bless him.
Tom Souders, Former Chairman of Massac County Republicans: This is one Republican that’s going to be voting for him come this next election.
This is a really good ad all around. The mayor, of course, is simply outstanding. The former GOP chairman is completely believable when he says he’ll be voting for Quinn. That’s not aimed at Republicans, by the way, it’s aimed at indies. And the photo of Quinn looking like he’d been up all night adds immense credibility to the spot’s claims.
We’ll get to Quinn’s new negative ad in a bit.
- Old Shepherd - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:05 am:
I saw this ad last night on our local CBS affiliate during “The Good Wife”, and my jaw about hit the floor. Very effective ad.
- MrJM (@MisterJayEm) - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:07 am:
That may be the platonic ideal of an incumbent’s positive ad.
– MrJM
- VanillaMan - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:12 am:
Good ad.
Cut the negative crap, btw.
- Walter Mitty - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:13 am:
Best Ad of the cycle …Period. It’s irrelevant that PQ has not done much to help the majority of this state. Or that he may be in trouble with the feds… If nothing substantial comes out, this does resonate. Negative works. This does too.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:13 am:
Wow.
Hadn’t seen it. I was actually riveted by the firsthand accounts.
Simple. Effective. Results. Wow.
“A”
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:15 am:
Obvious home run. Should play around the state.
Empathy for natural disaster victims is off the charts — who doesn’t want to hear a story with a happy ending?
- Conservative Republican - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:37 am:
Funny how the CF liberal commenters suppress their customary cynicism when a Democrat makes a craven pitch to the emotions.
I’ve heard that many downstate Republican leaders have continuing concerns about Bruce Rauner, a candidate they neither knew nor were inclined to support (Chicago area roots, lack of involvement in the Republican Party, unfamiliarity with folks downstate, etc.) Some pols have told me that that is mostly downstate sour grapes and that Rauner has not kissed enough rings there.
Is Tom Souders amongst that group? Who did he endorse for governor in the primary? Is this TV commercial appearance motivated by payback?
I think there is more to this than meets the eye. If a Democratic Party leader did the same thing for a Republican, the knives would be out in a heartbeat.
- Just Observing - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:37 am:
I don’t care that much, but I question the ethics of having the municipal police chief and police car (municipal property) featured in the commercial.
- Big Joe - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:38 am:
Best TV ad of the campaign, bar none. Positive, and shows that the governor actually did something to aid one of the forgotten towns that needed help, Big Time. Sure is a refreshing ad. Can’t imagine Bruce doing anything like that unless he could make a profit from it.
- William j Kelly - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:41 am:
Make that two republicans.
- JS Mill - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:41 am:
A- this is the stuff that can move the needle.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:43 am:
wow! wish we had that ad during “The Good Wife” up here…unless I missed it. something to balance out the agita from seeing Valerie Jarrett ham it up.
- walker - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:49 am:
A Plays to his unlikely, likeable strengths.
Undercuts any whining about him traveling by whatever means, and around the whole state.
Rauner will respond with some Dems no doubt.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:57 am:
==Comment by walker Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:49 am==
Rauner: “Here are elite political insiders supporting me from the other party! Here’s a story of how we spent tens of thousands on union busting!”
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:58 am:
Lol Amalia! That (not the ad) was a piece of work.
- Conservative Republican - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:04 am:
“Former Chairman”, missed that. He should be permanently barred from Party office anyway. The cost of betrayal.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:15 am:
@AA, she’s a piece of work, and not in a good way. the ad, as good as a classic Paul Konerko home run.
- Macbeth - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:20 am:
Superb. One of the best political ads I’ve seen.
Please. Run this more. Much more.
- Toure's Latte - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:22 am:
Boom! Great ad! Keep them coming!!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:22 am:
===“Former Chairman”, missed that. He should be permanently barred from Party office anyway. The cost of betrayal.===
Hours, not weeks, not days…hours…
Hours after winning the GOP Nomination;
“Democrats and Indies for Rauner”
“How dare….how DARE…they look outside GOP circles!”
If a Governor helps to rebuild your town, as the Executive if the State, you back him.
That’s how it works.
“Thanks for helping save my town and county, and doing the right thing, now I have to turn my back on you?”
“With friends like you…”
Dope.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:28 am:
=“Former Chairman”, missed that. He should be permanently barred from Party office anyway. The cost of betrayal.=
Yes, CR, absolutely correct. Any hint of independent thought that doesn’t blindly support the party through good candidates and bad should be banished. That’s definitely the way to bring more into the tent and ensure the continued electoral succes that has been the statewide Republicans’ calling card for a decade.
- phocion - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:29 am:
Good ad. This is one case where it’s good to be the incumbent.
- Stuff Happens - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:38 am:
I missed the “former chairman’ bit too; I wish there was a way to display it when he said he’d vote for Quinn.
Glad they’re airing it on TV; it took too long to get to the point as an internet ad.
- Ghost - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:44 am:
I feel like I am watching a professional boxer fight a guy from the crowd….
- Conservative Republican - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:50 am:
==Any hint of independent thought that doesn’t blindly support the party through good candidates and bad should be banished. That’s definitely the way to bring more into the tent and ensure the continued electoral succes that has been the statewide Republicans’ calling card for a decade. ==
This has nothing to do with “independent thought”. Souders, who, by the way, was interim mayor of Brookport, a fact not mentioned in the ad, and therefore had a different stake in seeking disaster relief, can vote for whoever he wants, and indeed can tell all his friends and neighbors who he is voting for. But if you put yourself forward as a party leader, you are making a commitment no matter how nicey-nice your Democratic friends have been to you.
You are mixing apples and oranges when you confuse standards for party leadership with attracting a wider group of attitudes, opinions, and communities to your support group.
BTW, rigid party discipline is what has given the Democrats control of this state for ten years, not your misinterpretation of Republican leadership. Neither Blago nor Quinn have been loved by either the rank and file or the leadership, but the Dems have held solid to drag them both across the finish line. Likewise, Madigan’s sole autocratic control has depended on supine fealty by Democrats across this state for decades. Talk about “blind” support…. You have it quite wrong.
- Way South of I-80 - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 10:58 am:
I’m sick of the political ads in general (counted 22 during dinner at home one night) but I really like this one and won’t mind seeing it over and over. Hopefully they will run it statewide and often!
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 11:08 am:
===You are mixing apples and oranges when you confuse standards for party leadership with attracting a wider group of attitudes, opinions, and communities to your support group.===
“Must. Always. Never. Only”
You are shrinking My Party. Thanks!
===BTW, rigid party discipline is what has given the Democrats control of this state for ten years, not your misinterpretation of Republican leadership. Neither Blago nor Quinn have been loved by either the rank and file or the leadership, but the Dems have held solid to drag them both across the finish line. Likewise, Madigan’s sole autocratic control has depended on supine fealty by Democrats across this state for decades. Talk about “blind” support…. You have it quite wrong.===
I remember the chorus of GOPers;
“How can they back Blago? We would never do that!”
“And you know what”, you’re doing it.
My Party … Is an ally to Bruce Rauner like Sen. Geary (Nevada) was a friend to the Corleone Family after that… “incident”
Bruce Rauner OWNS the ILGOP.
Owns.
My Party is Rauner’s until it isn’t.
Like Blago owned the Dems during all the time everyone wondered aloud…
“Why are all these Dems backing Rod? Why? Why don’t they stand up to Rod instead of lining up behind him?”
It’s Blago in reverse right now. It will be far worse if Rauner wins for My Party… Tom Hagen worse.
Finally…
===Is Tom Souders amongst that group? Who did he endorse for governor in the primary? Is this TV commercial appearance motivated by payback?===
If you don’t like the message, blame the messenger.
If you would take have your energy to look at reality raft you use to be a lemming, you would read the hypocrisy in your Blago history, and the lemming idea of backing Rauner.
- Demoralized - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 11:16 am:
Jeez @CR, you’ve got the victim thing down pat today.
- Gooner - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 11:29 am:
Not sure why, but this one did not connect with me.
We have an ad saying he made a late night call and saved the town. It left me wondering what he did that made them so thrilled.
Yes, the two people featured in the ad have great accents and they seem credible.
It might be a north/south thing.
I wish I could like this as much as others.
I give it a B.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 11:35 am:
===I feel like I am watching a professional boxer fight a guy from the crowd….===
Quinn is slowly beating Rauner into a bloody pulp, figuratively speaking. He is methodically “taking him apart,” and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy.
- Responsa - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 1:04 pm:
I liked the positive feel-good quality of the ad on initial view. I have give it a B-, though for its over all vacuity. My main question is, as several others here have already asked, (and I imagine many TV viewers will also ask) is just what the heck is it that Quinn actually did or said in his midnight call that “saved” the town? Commitment of money, moral support, prayers, offer to come drive a bulldozer, mow victims’ lawns? Perhaps there is an important backstory regarding Brookport, but this ad does not give viewers a clue what it is.
- How Ironic - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
@Responsa,
Sometimes it’s just knowing that someone, anyone has your back at a critical time that can ’save’ you.
The town was in shambles, and Quinn called to say “We’re here for you. Tell us what you need, and we’ll work together to overcome the tragedy”.
Did Quinn rebuild the town by himself? No of course not, but he gave everyone the support they needed, when it was needed. That’s what ’saved’ the town.
- Responsa - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
== he gave everyone the support they needed, when it was needed. That’s what ’saved’ the town.==
Touching but not entirely convincing, Ironic. Details would have helped. I already said I liked the ad. I think it could/should have been much better crafted. Pat Quinn is neither God nor superman. He’s governor. We’re asked here by Rich to critique political ads. Ads need to be able to stand on their own merit and strength whether the ad is touting one’s preferred candidate or the opponent.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 1:56 pm:
===Details would have helped===
The ad is meant to be emotional, not detailed. Plus, you got 30 seconds.
- Anonymous - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 2:01 pm:
As the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey…
Replace all negative ads with positive ones!
- former southerner - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 2:07 pm:
@Anonymous 2:01
=As the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey…=
In the alternative universe in which Raunerites live, the word money substitutes for honey.
It was a well done ad, the right amount of positive thrown into the media mix to offset the stark message of the hard-hitting negative ads.
- Birdseed - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 3:36 pm:
== Did Quinn rebuild the town by himself? No of course not, but he gave everyone the support they needed, when it was needed. That’s what ’saved’ the town. ==
And the millions of $ sure didn’t hurt either.
- How Ironic - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 4:09 pm:
@Birdseed,
What kind of ’support’ did you think I meant? I doubt he was passing out dinner mints and lottery cards to those in need. Of course it was money.
I’m not sure exactly how to read your comment. Are you suprised? What do you think the Feds do in a National Disaster? They provide emergency food, water and money for rebuilding.
So does the IEMA.
- crazybleedingheart - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 4:45 pm:
===I feel like I am watching a professional boxer fight a guy from the crowd….===
Yep. A pro boxer with one heck of an entertaining hook (love the cameo by 2010 “issue” Jonathon Monken).
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 5:37 pm:
@ Gooner, you are just in a bad mood because of the tie with the Spuds. I hear ya!
- Gooner - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 5:50 pm:
Amalia,
The second half in particular was painful.
Alexi Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, and Mezut Ozil, and they can only score once?
And then there is the issue of defensive midfielder. No sir, we didn’t need to sign one of those. Mr. Flamini and Mr. Areta will be just fine! No need to bring in Khedira. Nope, none at all!
So yes, Amalia, I am feeling a bit bitter.
And come to think of it, I’ve bashed this ad, the Madigan ad, and the sock puppet ad today. So maybe it is still having an impact.
- wordslinger - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 7:53 pm:
–Funny how the CF liberal commenters suppress their customary cynicism when a Democrat makes a craven pitch to the emotions.–
It’s all part of the Big Conspiracy. You’re the only one who’s on to it.
Still, when Rauner starts running all those testimonial ads about the Main Street jobs he saved when he was running GTCR, I’ll have to call them home runs, too.
Any day now….
By the way, I don’t think you know what the word “craven” means.
- MyTwoCents - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 8:09 pm:
I’ll give Gov. Quinn a lot of credit for working to provide disaster relief to communities and stepping up when FEMA bailed. That’s something he should be promoting and this ad does a good job of that.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 8:39 pm:
Gooner, on the plus side, no comments here from Spuds fans! perhaps there are no other fans of the football on the board.
Must add big body to midfield and end the streak of players to hospital. p.s. the name Flamini in my mind will always sound like a part of Monty Python’s Doug and Dinsdale Piranha madness.
- Gooner - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:05 pm:
Think I’m bitter now? We’ve got Chelsea Sunday.
Fabregas sure is playing well for them, and Wenger turned down the opportunity to sign him this time. Thought he and Ozil played a similar role. I just can’t believe that Sanchez will do more for them than Fabregas would.
I may have to start drinking early on Sunday.
- Amalia - Monday, Sep 29, 14 @ 9:38 pm:
I’m drinking already! Diego Costa nightmares. all one can hope for is that FIFA financial rules finally get Chelsea and Man City, with their lend back Lampard go around the rules.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Sep 30, 14 @ 7:41 am:
The Peoria Journal Star reports that Gary Manier, the mayor of tornado-devastated Washington (and a GOP delegate for Mitt Romney in 2012) has cut a similar pro-Quinn ad.