* So, earier today, I received this press release…
Billionaire Bruce Rauner has operated and overseen plenty of companies that have engaged in bribery, outright fraud, deadly neglect and other schemes to game the system and pad their pockets.
So how about a board game devoted to Rauner’s troubling business empire-and his own drive for money and power-at the expense of others? As the all-new “Rauneropoly” teaches us, “If he wins - you lose.”
Mr. Money Bags, in a new Wed ad, introduced Rauneropoly Friday
* The Web ad…
* Script…
Mr. Money Bags: “Welcome to Rauneropoly, the game that billionaire Bruce Rauner is playing to become governor. With one roll of the dice, you can see for yourself how to make a fortune on the misfortune of everyday people.
“The game is simple: use taxpayer money to buy companies, load them up with debt, lay off workers and then get the cash and run before they go bankrupt. It’s educational too: learn how to make millions without paying Social Security and Medicare taxes and how to stash cash in the Cayman Islands to avoid paying more taxes. Rauneropoly is cutthroat.
“You’ll have to outsource jobs across the Pacific, squeeze millions of dollars out of nursing homes and cook the books. Even if the people running your company have to go to jail. But you can have fun with your 9 houses and your 11 - yes 11 - golf courses. And don’t worry about free parking - you’ve already got a $100,000 parking space. All of this is just a game to Bruce Rauner - but if he wins, you lose.”
* But Rauner pivoted hard soon afterward…
“And I’ve heard, I’ve heard just this morning about this Rauneropoly game. I think it’s pretty humorous actually.
“You know what, I wasn’t born on Free Parking and I’ve worked hard my whole life. I’ve done well and I’ve given back millions of dollars in the community.
“And Pat Quinn has been rolling the dice with taxpayers’ money.
“And after years of Quinn corruption, the US District Attorney looks like he is about to hand Pat Quinn the worst Monopoly card there is: ‘Go to jail, go directly to jail.’”
Ouch.
* Watch…
*** UPDATE *** From the Quinn campaign…
“Bruce Rauner knows a thing or two about going to jail, since that’s how he has to visit his hand-picked executives and business partners who committed crimes in his name, for his profit and under his nose.
“Whether it’s Stu Levine, who received secret payments in exchange for pension business, or executives we learned about just this week who bribed the mayor of Detroit, or the ongoing trial of deadly nursing homes that he controlled, Bruce Rauner is directly linked to corruption, fraud, waste and abuse.
“Bruce Rauner’s bizarre and offensive comments today are a guilty move meant to distract from his own direct ties to corruption.”
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* And on a related front…
Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor Paul Vallas on Friday unveiled Republican billionaire Bruce Rauner’s “crime tree,” a visual representation of the complex web of neglect, fraud, bribery and criminal corruption that Bruce Rauner and his GTCRauner buyout house have woven.
The release comes the same week that GTCRauner’s oversight of one of the biggest public corruption prosecutions in American history was revealed in the case of the Houston-based sludge company Synagro, which was found to have bribed former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Media reports have shown a pattern of mismanagement, criminal probes and lack of accountability in businesses owned and controlled by Rauner. This includes the deadly nursing home chain that is facing federal trial in Florida this week.
Bruce Rauner has become a broken record, falsely claiming time and again that he knows nothing about businesses he has controlled for decades.
For example, Rauner and his firm ran Detroit-based Lason before the company “imploded,” providing his wealthy pals with substantial profits as employees lost their jobs and investors lost $285 million. (GTCRauner took $32 million and took off as the firm collapsed.) ConvergEx, meanwhile, profited off of money meant to be used for charities and charged illegal fees, leading to indictments for fraud earlier this year.
“Not only is Bruce Rauner associated with one of the biggest accounting frauds in American history, we have come to find his business oversaw one of the biggest public corruption schemes in American history,” Vallas said. “With scandals of that magnitude happening under his watch, Mr. Rauner took the profits and never looked back. That is not the kind of leadership we need in the Governor’s Office.”
* Click on the “Crime Tree” for a larger image…
You gotta figure this is gonna show up in a TV ad.
- Stones - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:29 am:
Is it November yet?
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:30 am:
Is it just a coincidence that Mr Moneybags looks a lot like Kirk Dillard?
- Frenchie Mendoza - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:33 am:
Actually, according to the recent radio interview with the author of the Chicago mag profile, Rauner *was* born on free parking. The author indicated that Rauner had an extremely privileged childhood — but that he conveniently neglected to tell her the whole story.
This was one of the more disturbing revelations of that interview. Rauner’s image is a phony one — at least when it comes to his supposed “hardscrabble” childhood. He had it good — very,very good.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:35 am:
how do you know that obama didn`t write a get out of jail card yesterday
- Jeepster - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:36 am:
Growing up in Lake Forest and attending Dartmouth probably does qualify you for “Free Parking” or at least “Park Place” or “Boardwalk”. Looks like the Quinnsters (and all of the bad press on his shady business dealings) are getting Rauner’s skin.
- walker - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:36 am:
Very cool reaction by Rauner.
Quinnsters could have a copywright problem on their hands. But probably want to get noticed.
Rauner’s lengthening list of controlled companies with real ethical, fraud, transparency, executive, and accountability problems raises the question:
When does “looks pretty bad” become “is bad” in the minds of voters?
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:39 am:
Creative attack with an even more creative response.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:40 am:
Awesome pivot by Rauner & Crew;
The Rauneropoly is fun…
When you have to get up at 5:30 am, do to events with the Principle, one event has a small glitch, you get back to the campaign office, there is only a half a donut, no coffee and a bean burrito from yesterday in the kitchen, then you go to another event and get pigeon-holed on something you have said three times you know nothing about, and head back to start up a phone cable with three phones empty, and close that phone back to head to the watering hole to have bad bar food and three domestic bottles, two of which are warm…
…that’s when Rauneropoly is funny and a good idea.
- Bill F. - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:41 am:
…I wasn’t born on free parkin’ …Pat Quinn has been, uh, rollin’ the dice. Droppin’ his Gs. Bruce must be Downstate.
- wndycty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:42 am:
So when Bruce Rauner says that Pat Quinn is will “go to jail, go directly to jail” shouldn’t there be a follow up question asking what exactly Quinn will be charged and then ultimately convicted of?
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:45 am:
What is also funny is the glancing over the real issue. What if Rauner is correct? Who EVER talks when the Feds are looking? You can push any narrative you like. Facts may soon be a very stubborn thing for PQ.
- Gooner - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:45 am:
I hate when they do characters. They always seem ridiculous and creepy.
The web ad gets an F.
Absolutely terrible.
Rauner’s response was solid for a change though.
Give him a B. I would have expected him to respond with an odd laugh or a claim of desperation (and he had been asked to comment, rather than releasing a statement, that likely would have been the result). Using words to form thoughts is a step in the right direction for that team.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:52 am:
That was actually a good, funny retort by Rauner. He needs a lot more of that.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:53 am:
I think Bruce has hit on the magic formula… laugh off everything and say your opponent is one step away from jail. It’ll work as long as nobody questions him on it.
- AFSCME Steward - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:53 am:
What a lame response by Rauner. This was an open opportunity for Rauner to prove he’s not what Quinn says. Bring out some examples of businesses he’s rescued, jobs he’s created. Nothing but empty meaningless words again.
I find it interesting when Rauner responds to specific charges about one of his companies he answers with long legalistic gobblygoop that is boring and largely incomprehensible to non-lawyers. A silly ad, instead of Rauner showing us that Quinn is exagerating or falsifying, gets more market research tested buzz words and no real credible rebuttal. It is becoming increasinly apparent, Rauner is not ready for primetime.
- Jocko - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 11:57 am:
I agree with Gooner. The ad felt like something Joel McHale would put together on “The Soup”.
With 30 days to go (and a debate next week), Rauner can’t cobble together ONE success story that won’t make voters cringe? Heck, I bought a box of Girl Scout cookies and the troop made enough to go to an overnight camp.
- Rahm'sMiddleFinger - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:01 pm:
This is the first time I’ve seen Rauner (or anyone for that matter) suggest that Pat Quinn is going to jail. What a joke. That reeks of desperation.
Rauner has been unable to find his footing since this race tightened. They are getting increasingly desperate and increasing the intensity of their negative attacks. The problem for them is that the more negative they get the more credibility they lose.
- William j Kelly - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:02 pm:
How is it possible that rauner is so rich and yet so poor as to never having seen citizen Kane? http://youtu.be/uNaDrnxp3L0
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:11 pm:
For the record… I am not looking through the political lens.. I am looking through the lens.. We are all losers if we go 3 for 3 on either jail or indictments of our Governor.
- OneMan - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:16 pm:
If you are watching the twitter, Rauner’s response seems to have tweaked the Quinn folks a bit…
- The Five Family Heads - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
We can learn from this guy Rauner.
- Mason born - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:21 pm:
Good response by Rauner. Short sweet and perfect soundbite.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:26 pm:
the only card being handed out is luxury tax
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:27 pm:
@Walter Mitty: So if Quinn goes to jail we get Paul Vallas as governor, arguably the man who wed be better off if he had won 12 years ago. What happens if Bruce goes to jail? Does Evelyn compare well?
Also just got to say nice job taking advantage of McDonalds Monopoly month promotion with this hit. Lol
- Mighty M. Mouse - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:35 pm:
Are we having fun yet?
- William j Kelly - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:38 pm:
I hope this isn’t too terribly inappropriate but I think I just fell in love with hisgirlfriday. nnr
- wndycty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:40 pm:
Reposted here after posting in wrong thread. Sorry for the duplication:
Speaking of jail I see Bamani Obadele is supporting Rauner. Does anyone believe he is working for free?
“Rauner has also accepted support from more unlikely sources.
One of those is Bamani Obadele, an activist and former aide to the now-imprisoned Blagojevich. Obadele himself was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to pocketing state funds he steered to companies in which he had a stake.
In an interview, Obadele said he worked for Rauner’s campaign before the March primary. He and a crew hung up posters and handed out leaflets on the South Side. He said he paid about 15 workers from his own pocket but never was himself paid for his efforts by Rauner’s campaign.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bruce-rauner-black-votes-20141003-story.html#page=2
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:42 pm:
wow bruce is an avocate for justice,who knew?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
“You know what, even here, you insinuate someone is going to jail, you get hammered and shook, and you know what, reading that part again, it shows Bruce Rauner is horrible on his feet, and you know what, Rauner should have said ‘Quinn Administration may face…’, and you know what, Bruce Rauner is looking less and less the cool, calm, customer, and you know what, reckless words come back to haunt..,”
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:44 pm:
hisgirl… I agree on the running mate issue.. But it ain’t Rauner they are looking at… Facts are stubborn things.. Do you really believe voters will vote Quinn in if anything substantial comes out? It’s Illinois, so I answer my own question… But I do want to have faith that it would not happen. Again, if you substitute Rauner for Quinn in this.. Your response would not be the same. You would be as upset as many are that OUR money was spent without control. That should not be partisan, but clearly I am naive.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:47 pm:
i wasn`t born on free parking,it was goal pay day every day
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:55 pm:
evelen conger up a vision for bruce, it is close to holloween
- Amalia - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 12:56 pm:
Pass the popcorn!!!!
- DuPage Moderate - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:01 pm:
Sad that someone as smart and competent as Rauner is falling for childish campaign antics of Quinn’s political hacks. Politics drags everything down the lowest common denominator. Thought Rauner was better than that. Romney fell for it too. I guess that’s why we can’t ever have anything nice.
A Quinnopoly board with empty spots and a few filled with government jobs would be good. It’s hard to have business associates that perform bad acts when you’ve never been engaged in business.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:01 pm:
The web ad is a waste of time. A cease-and-desist will be forthcoming. Those Parker Bros. don’t play (actually, I think it’s Hasbro now).
I used to work for a creative director who tried to use a Monopoly game board once a year; always got the cease-and-desist.
It took at least two times getting whacked by Fox for the Quinnsters to stop using Mr. Burns. Get a clue.
And for what’s it’s worth, you don’t collect money on free parking. Read the rules. Can’t the Baron play it straight on anything!
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:05 pm:
OW… I agree 100%… Except, you are not judging the facts at this point. Are you saying PQ has nothing to worry about next week? You yourself said constantly, and correctly, Lawyer up with the Rutherford issue. Dorthy did. And that attorney said talk, even when the Feds are listening. There is an utter lack of objectivity on THAT issue. It is really the only issue at hand for this election. If she implicates anyone closer to PQ or PQ himself how is that not THE issue. I am asking to understand. Today, most folks are responding like the candidates. Not giving a straight answer to a straight question… I mean all due respect.
- Demoralized - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
I’ve been out there criticizing Rauner for his horrible performances on the fly with the press. But you have to give him props for this one. What a great comeback to the Rauneropoly thing.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
I dinged Senator Frerichs for not being truthful yesterday, so I’ll stay as consistent as I can.
Mr. Rauner needs to just own up to the fact that his childhood was pretty good and that he had great opportunities as a result. There’s nothing wrong with that. It looks disingenuous at best to suggest otherwise. My dad had a pretty good job and put my brother and me through college. We never grew up needing or wanting. I’m eternally grateful, and I’m proud of how parents raised me and thankful they provided for me.
But the second half of Rauner’s retort is pretty good.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:16 pm:
@Walter Mitty - What “substantial” thing are you expecting to come out that I would forgive in Quinn and oppose in Rauner? How am I supposed to answer an undefined hypothetical?
But anyway considering the last GOP governor wound up in prison too, sorry but Rauner supporters don’t get to pretend only the Democratic lt gov matters.
- Anon. - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:22 pm:
Absolutely hilarious that the Quinn campaign should talk about former “partners” in jail and specifically mention Levine. Someone should dub that statement over Claude Raines exclaiming he’s shocked to discover that there is gambling at Rick’s. I’ve been wondering about not voting for either candidate, but if this nonsense keeps up, I may not vote for anyone in the 2018 governor’s race, either.
- Thunder Fred - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:26 pm:
This ad makes yesterdays dress ad look profession and well thought out by comparison.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:28 pm:
- Walter Mitty -,
It’s all good. Much respect.
===Are you saying PQ has nothing to worry about next week? You yourself said constantly, and correctly, Lawyer up with the Rutherford issue. Dorthy did. And that attorney said talk, even when the Feds are listening. There is an utter lack of objectivity on THAT issue. It is really the only issue at hand for this election. If she implicates anyone closer to PQ or PQ himself how is that not THE issue.===
Here is the simple “Rub”;
If you are running to be governor, of any state, let alone the 5th largest state in America with recent governors either in or were in prison, you don’t say a sitting governor
===“And after years of Quinn corruption, the US District Attorney looks like he is about to hand Pat Quinn the worst Monopoly card there is: ‘Go to jail, go directly to jail.’”===
Quinn? Does Rauner know it’s Quinn specifically?
That’s the rub; it reckless, and worse, someone says that here, I, and many others, many, many others, wouldn’t let that slide, let alone a party’s nominee in front of mics and cameras.
Hope I helped clear it up, thanks for asking do I could make a point better to help explain.
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
His girl. What do you think it means that Dorthy is talking on advice from her attorney? There is nothing hypothetical about that question read my posts. Both candidates are bad.
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
Ow. Again, spot on. The other point. Respect is gone from far to many.
- anon - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 2:19 pm:
Is it just me or is that Kirk Dillard with a mustache?
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 2:37 pm:
The Real Rauner response: “You know what, I wasn’t born on Free Parking, I was born the son of Motorola’s vice president and in the self-described ‘upper middle class.’”
- my two cents - Friday, Oct 3, 14 @ 2:42 pm:
The corporate criminal tree is an effective follow-up to Rauneropoly. Rauneropoly shows how many states Rauner has pillaged and the criminal tree shows how many businesses have been involved. Rauner’s retort seems childish and insufficient when he can’t actually offer any credible excuses or details.