*** UPDATE *** Hmmm…
Rich:
It has been brought to my attention that you have run a story about an endorsement of Mike Flynn by our organization. This is false. The press release is fraudulent. There is no formally recognized Chapter of “Log Cabin Republicans of Central Illinois,” and the gentleman who issued the press release is not even a member of our organization. Additionally, per our by-laws, local LCR Chapter Leaders cannot issue endorsements in federal races.
Log Cabin Republicans National has not had formal contact with the Flynn campaign as of the writing of this email. We would welcome it, though. In the meantime, please remove the story from your website.
If you could also provide contact information for Mr. Allcuzzi, I would appreciate it.
Happy to chat more by phone if you’d like additional comment.
Gregory T. Angelo
Executive Director
Log Cabin Republicans
…Adding… After sending Angelo the e-mail address (b.allcuzzi@yahoo.com), he sent me this…
Thanks. That email isn’t even in our database, let alone that name. There is no formally recognized Chapter of Log Cabin Republicans of Central Illinois. If ever there was, their formal recognition has long since lapsed. Local Chapters are also prohibited from endorsing in federal races.
It’s looking more like a dirty trick.
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* A somewhat unexpected turn of events. A tea partying former Breitbart editor endorsed by Richard Viguerie and Citizens United also gets the backing of a gay rights group. From a press release…
Today, founder and president of the Central Illinois Log Cabin Republicans announced his group’s endorsement of Mike Flynn for the United States Congress for the 18th District in Illinois.
“Illinois and the United States are facing huge problems and it is clear that we need fresh leadership to tackle the massive fiscal problems our nation faces. Mike Flynn is that independent voice we so desperately need who will tackle fiscal issues and not get distracted by divisive social issues,” said Mr. Allcuzzi. “Fiscal conservatism and social moderate politics is the key to reaching out to independent voters we will need to win elections. Darin LaHood’s strong social conservative record, quite frankly, is very alienating.”
The Central Illinois Log Cabin Republicans is an advocacy group to support conservative fiscal issues while advocating for the rights of LGBT persons. “Mr. Flynn has voiced on multiple occasions that the government should butt out of the gay marriage debate. He also opposes other divisive social policies like punitive measures to keep undocumented immigrants from working productive jobs. This is the new voice of Republican politics that shows the way forward in the 21st century,” continued Allcuzzi. “Mike Flynn will be a Congressman that will keep his hands out of our wallets and out of our pants.”
The endorsement of Mike Flynn was unanimous among the membership of the Central Illinois Log Cabin Republicans. The primary election will be held on July 7th and volunteers for the group will be actively working for Flynn.
* Meanwhile, this is completely expected…
Flynn tells WMBD’s Greg and Dan Show that he’s challenged LaHood to several debates, but LaHood has not responded.
- Sleepysol - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 9:03 am:
One of my friends had Flynn knock on his door a couple of days ago and is going to vote for him because of it. The race might be closer than expected.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 9:06 am:
Senate Bill 10?
Votes have consequences, plus, it gives the Log Cabin Republicans a press pop. It was 4-62 for the GOP on SSM.
To no debate, nope, sorry. Can’t think of a reason TO have the debate other than “the voters, out of respect, should hear from the candidates.”
Yeah, ok, how is everyone polling? Get back to me on that.
It’s LaHood, all day. It’s his to lose. One of the best rollouts under “circumstances” I had seen, including the monetary backing as well.
- A guy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 9:13 am:
This press release consciously or unconsciously has a few double entondres. Little weird. Meanwhile, Lahood owns this race. One debate should be plenty. Make sure it’s with a news organization or the LWV.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 9:15 am:
That’s quite a range of groups and positions that I don’t think I’ve seen in a GOP Congressional candidate before. Interesting.
- anon - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 9:24 am:
Yep, I’d vote for anybody that knocked on my door.
- Dave Victor - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 9:50 am:
Would you put LaHood on stage with Flynn if you were running his campaign? There’s a forum in Quincy tonight. Candidates will not appear on stage at the same time. No rebuttal. The Adams County Republican Chairwoman, Laura Kent Donahue, will moderate. She has endorsed LaHood and has decided there will be no live streaming or filming by the media. Flynn is also not allowed to make direct eye contact with LaHood.
- walker - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 9:54 am:
Log Cabineers had to go this way. There’s no way a Republican won’t win the district, and LaHood is a nightmare to them.
By all accounts, son much worse than father on social issues.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 10:05 am:
I am voting for LaHood. I like him but disagree on some of his fiscal issues.
We can get the budget under control but that takes a long time and a lot of planning.
My concern is that it should not take place on the backs of hard working Americans.
Plan plan plan
I do it in my own budget. If we decrease the Government, it should be done by not hiring as peoe retire. I don’t like how either party deals with the budget or lack there of.
- Factcheck - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 10:05 am:
There are two GOP debates scheduled: Bloomington on July 24, Springfield on July 29. Springfield’s appears to be hosted by the SJ-R and WMAY.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 10:06 am:
Peoe is people
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 11:06 am:
Interesting. I have been a LCR member for years. No Central Illinois chapter to my knowledge, and it is not acknowledged on the LCR website.
- hold on - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 11:44 am:
“Darin LaHood’s strong social conservative record…”
This is sounds like it was written to benefit LaHood. They are advertising their supposed adversary’s “strong social conservative record” in a Republican primary in a Republican district.
Couple that with what Anon@11:06 says, and this seems fishy.
- hold on - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 11:48 am:
Sounds like a LaHood supporter’s dirty trick. Was just going to ask for a link to the full press release?
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 12:12 pm:
Upon further review, and given that it’s a GOP primary in that district, the pro gay marriage and empathy for undocumented workers language in the release looks like anti-Flynn shenanigans.
What a sad thing to say.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 12:23 pm:
Wow. Did LaHood approve this message?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 12:28 pm:
LaHood is in the driver’s seat, no need to get “cute”.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 12:42 pm:
Thinly veiled attack. ‘b.allcuzi@yahoo.com’ is clearly a reference to http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ballcuzzi
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
===Thinly veiled attack.===
LOL
Yep.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 1:02 pm:
12:42 - hahahahahahahaaha!
This is certainly not the first time the Log Cabin Republicans have been “used”. I feel for them, and their group and members have been dragged through the mud for foolish reasons.
Maybe it was Adam Lopez? Just kidding.
- A guy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 1:03 pm:
Not looking for extra credit here, but I smelt a rat early on here with the language. They’re a lot more careful with their brand.
- Responsa - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
As crazy ugly as this ballcuzzi dirty trick is, can anyone be sure it is coming from a LaHood supporter, or even from the R side? There are other candidates running in this race, as well as groups with known agendas to whom this sort of thing might seem particularly amusing. (iykwimaityd)
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 1:49 pm:
I’m old and not too “hip” but I could smell that as a fake from quite a ways away. Googled b.allcuzzi and there you go.
Live and learn.
- Excesseively Rabid - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 1:52 pm:
The things you learn on this blog. I may have to vote for Flynn.
- Dave Victor - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 2:01 pm:
If it is the LaHood camp, and I hope it is, Oswego might want to look in rear view mirror. Objects may be closer than they appear.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
- Dave Victor -,
What’s the polling look like?
- Under Further Review - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 2:11 pm:
Everybody is for gay rights and SSM except when the issues can be used to demonize an opponent in a primary. Look at how Rutherford was dismantled in the last primary.
- Dave Victor - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 2:16 pm:
Oswego
I have no idea. Point being. If it’s from LaHood, not as good for him as your polling indicates.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
Responsa may be onto something. I would not put it past the IFI/Caprio/Eagle Forum types to do something like this.
I have been involved in a few campaigns where we “utilized” Mr. Caprio’s “services” for robocalls and mailers. Yikes.
And given Mr. Smith’s media releases and Facebook rhetoric, such a stunt would not seem to be beneath him.
- walker - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 2:40 pm:
So much for my well-reasoned argument why this occurred. Drat. Wrong again!
- A guy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 3:27 pm:
Walk, don’t apologize for your genuine-ness. Plenty of us appreciate it. This one just had one too many odd references to me.
If Flynn changes his first name to Fahey, he’ll get some name rec at least.
- A guy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
Plus, if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t know the term ‘Log Cabineers’ is safe.
- Downstate GOP - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 3:33 pm:
Flynn is known for his dirty tricks and stupid games. This is the kind of thing he’d do to himself to muddy the waters about where he really stands on same sex marriage and immigration.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 3:50 pm:
Welp, it was “fun” for a day.
Now what?
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Jun 11, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
The things you learn on this blog.
Your Illinois News Gaydar.
- Desperado - Friday, Jun 12, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
@sleepysol - I’m trying to follow you. The race is close because Flynn knocked on your friends door & now your friend is going to vote for him? By my calculations that increases Flynns vote total by … hold on… need calculator… one vote.