31 Comments - Siriusly - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:10 am: He can start by paying for a re-construction of the Obamalac ! - Bill Baar - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:12 am: I’m far from an Obama supporter but a Presidential Library would be a great thing for Chicago and Illinois. I’d like to see it somewhere other than U of C which is a powerhouse enough. Rauner’s kicking into fund it not much of an issue. They’ll be plenty of stuff to poke around in that library and it would be nice to have it a Metra / L ride away. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:16 am: “As I’ve already told you, Madigan’s idea polled horribly with the public from the start.” In my view, this is the problem with Illinois. We don’t want to pay for what will really help us. Per a Lynn Sweet article a few months back, the Obama library would be a cash cow for us that would bring us economic benefit far above what we’d pay to build it. It would pay for itself over and over, and draw even more tourists, business and revenue into the state. As far as Rauner personally contributing now , it’s like a flip flop. It seems now that Rauner just says things to get elected, like this and his newfound support for a minimum wage increase. What’s next, full support for Medicaid expansion? - Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:17 am: Man I wish this stuff would get a lot of play downstate. Combine this with him wanting to force school districts to consolidate and you’ll keep about 25% of his downstate base at home…. - Coffee Cup - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:20 am: My guess is that Rauner was thinking “he’d personally contribute” (but only “if he had to” or if he knew that his contribution would win him additional votes on November 4th from African-American voters and the liberal left). In Quinn’s case, he seldom has an original thought so if Mike Madigan says something is okay, then “it must be okay”. However, once Quinn sees that public opinion is overwhelmingly against a Madigan edict—-then Pat Quinn jumps over to the other side of the boat rather than put his political career in jeopardy by upsetting the vast majority of voters. Pat is a partisan-type of guy until he sees that Madigan is putting Pat’s personal career in jeopardy. Then, “Pat Quinn looks out for Pat Quinn”. - too obvious - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:21 am: Rauner’s campaign seems like it’s floundering, but don’t worry. He’s pawning off the toxic parts to a confused elderly man in a nursing home who doesn’t know what he’s getting. - Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:22 am: I agree that an Obama library would be a boon for the city and state, but there’s also no reason it should be a public funding priority. Last I looked, the President has been the most prolific political fundraiser in history. He can find the money privately and plenty of wealthy individuals and corporations will line up to contribute. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:24 am: ==In my view, this is the problem with Illinois. We don’t want to pay for what will really help us. == Pretty much every other Presidential Library has been able to be financed privately (except Lincoln, who, understandably, was not available to help raise the funds), and bring the same benefits without public money. Why should Obama be different? This is why it polls poorly. - Norseman - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:25 am: Oh, to have so much money you can spend some on a project honoring a person whose policies you oppose. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:26 am: The $100 million in state money was always goofy. It won’t be needed and I suspect city residents would rather have $100 million for school air conditioning or some other pressing capital need. - Steve Brown - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:31 am: The AP story mistakenly reports the “no public money” myth about the other Presidential libraries. All of the venues have some form of public money. They are build on public universities, or city owned property etc. so let’s try to get over that notion. It might also be noted that none of other sites had multiple cities/states vying for selection. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:36 am: Still believe that $60 million raised, $40 million bonded out, to be paid back by the Foundation, and be paid before any other bills are paid. Get the Library to commit to 60% before a dime is committed and being paid back first seems reasonable. We should all support the Library, the shame of it all is Rauner’s own double-talk taints, what should be, a wonderful gesture to honor a native son, period. - Shemp - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:38 am: I don’t think the Rauner stance is that out of line. Respect the position if not the stances of the person. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:39 am: ==The AP story mistakenly reports the “no public money” myth about the other Presidential libraries. All of the venues have some form of public money. They are build on public universities, or city owned property etc. so let’s try to get over that notion.== Quantify that ‘use of public land’ in dollars, then compare it to $100 million, then find a new argument. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:47 am: Also, not all Libraries are on public universities. George W Bush is at SMU, Carter is associated with Emory, and if Obama is a U of C, last I checked that’s not a public university. - wndycty - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:48 am: As Rauner bangs Obama for being “anti-business” Bloomberg runs this story: “Corporate U.S. Healthiest in Decades Under Obama With Lower Debt” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-02/corporate-u-s-healthiest-in-decades-under-obama-with-lower-debt.html - Nony - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:49 am: As for Rauner’s views on Obama and his support of the library- you don’t have to like the guy or his policies (Obama) to recognize that it would be good for Illinois. However, I think it would be totally irresponsible for the state to put any money into it, given the ridiculous fiscal crisis the state is in. - walker - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:49 am: Rauner’s position on the library is fine. His statement about Obama to potential supporters last year, was plain stupid, and false by almost any rational measure. So Rauner pandered to the wings in the Primary, then moved toward the center for the General. So what? Not unusual for career politicians. - Norseman - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:54 am: wndycty, shhhh! You’re ruining the corporate narrative. - Mason born - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 9:58 am: I can’t ding Rauner on this. If the state gets the library it is a win. Even if you despise the man (BO) it is too big of a win for IL. At the same time not one Public Dime for the library. For the Love. The Dems spent 919 mil in the 2012 election according to huffpo pretty sure funding the library isn’t an issue. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/obama-2012-campaign-spending_n_2287978.html Now the Question Rich, if i may be so bold, is will Rauner still donate if it is built in Hawaii or Cali?? - Been There - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 10:04 am: I think the library will cost a couple of hundred million once you consider building it and the area around it. So Quinn may be ok in saying a “majority” should be private. I think using state funds for the seed money that gets repaid is ok. Also the infrastructure costs like roads, sewers and parkways leading to it would benefit an area bigger than the library’s own footprint. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 10:22 am: I just love it when people with no experience in business tell business people they have no right to tell their governments how to help businesses. It is like the parasite telling its host, “I can’t be that much of a problem - you are still alive and gaining weight!” It isn’t about profits, except to those who haven’t a clue. Next, these folks are going to start telling doctors not to worry about diseases because they still see pregnant women. YES - you can still earn a profit while suffering under anti-business government policies. That doesn’t mean the government isn’t anti-business. If that is the only way you define being anti-business, then you don’t know business. - Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 10:31 am: OK VMan. We’ll just all keep our mouths shut because you tell us to do so. Thank you once again for telling us all what we should do. I don’t know how we could all survive without your direction. Normal people with common sense view things a bit differently than you VMan. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t complain on the one hand that government is anti-business and then say with a straight face that record profits are not the “fault” of the government. Which is it? Either the government plays a role or it doesn’t. You can’t have it both ways. - Walter Mitty - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 10:47 am: Wow… The guy is rich… He is giving money for a project that will help our state. I think the committee should reject his money. It was made with profits from TRS gains in a poor economy when his fund was managing. And frankly, his money is too green. Liberal, Conservative, Democrat, Republican. If you want to give your money to have our President to have a library in Chicago, Thanks for giving… I wish I had some extra money to give. It’s a good thing. And I didn’t vote for him… - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 10:59 am: –It isn’t about profits, except to those who haven’t a clue.– What clue would that be, Rockefeller? What are you in business for except to make money? Please tell us more about your wide-ranging business experience and how it’s not about making money. - Under Further Review - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:13 am: I am inclined to locate the Obama Presidential Library in the Quad Cities which would allow tourists and scholars the added convenience of being able to make an easy commute from the Obama library to the Herbert C. Hoover presidential site across the river in Iowa. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 11:17 am: Either the government plays a role or it doesn’t. No one is saying it doesn’t. What clue would that be, Rockefeller? Were you the kid who ran the lemonade stand, or were you the kid who told those kids that they were being greedy for charging for the lemonade? - How Ironic - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:30 pm: @VM “Were you the kid who ran the lemonade stand, or were you the kid who told those kids that they were being greedy for charging for the lemonade?” Let me guess, you were the kid that got free lemondade supplies from your parents, a table to use for free, a few quarters, dimes and nickles to break the occasional bill. You made a couple of dollars, and were allowed to keep it all. And yet, your parents didn’t allow you to set up your stand between the sidewalk and the street, but rather behind the sidewalk for safety. And for this your parents, were the most “Anti-Business” parents ever. Sound about right? - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 12:39 pm: VMan, I don’t know what your’re talking about with lemonade stands, but I thought you were going to explain this. –It isn’t about profits, except to those who haven’t a clue. – What in business is “it” about, if not profits? You claim to have a “clue.” If you’re on to something here, the next Nobel Prize in economics is yours. Because up to now, businesses the world over forever have sought to maximize profits as the reason for being. But you and some of the other “economists” here have a theory that record corporate profits translates into an “anti-business,” “hostile,” environment. Lay it on us, professor. Start with that “clue” you’re talking about. - the oracle - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 1:15 pm: What’s up with the partisan stuff? Rauner’s position is that it should not get tax payer funding, but he personally will donate to the project. Whether you like the president or not, he is a historical figure and the library will bring revenue to the state via tourism and intrastate interest. Why is this a quandary? It actually shows that he is not a partisan hack. - walker - Thursday, Oct 2, 14 @ 2:50 pm: VMan: The irony in your argument is that it is central to Conservative ideology, that the key standard for business behavior and success is profitability, and that the market will automatically correct any dysfunction that narrow focus might cause. Liberals tend to argue that businesses in society should be judged by more than profitability, and that the market doesn’t always self-correct. Reflective and experienced business leaders know that the second statement might be true, but like to champion the first. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.