Duckworth campaign whacked hard over tweet
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the twitters…
* Politifact got all worked up about it and ruled it “False”…
Duckworth’s deputy campaign manager Matt McGrath said in an email she was referencing a statement Kirk made in May 2013 during an interview with Fox 32 Chicago political editor Mike Flannery.
Kirk told Flannery: “My top priority is to arrest the Gangster Disciple gang, which is 18,000 people. I would like to do a mass pickup of them and put them all in the Thomson Correctional Facility. I will be proposing this to the assembled federal law enforcement: ATF, DEA and FBI.”
Kirk made that statement in response to the January 2013 shooting death of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, who was struck in the back by a stray bullet during a gang-related shooting on Chicago’s south side.
The Gangster Disciples is an African-American gang from the city’s south side and has an estimated 18,000 members, though its membership could be as high as 30,000, according to the Chicago Crime Commission’s press officer John Pastuovic.
The statement drew criticism from the media as well as from Kirk’s colleagues in Congress, including U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill, who called the proposal an “upper middle class elitist white boy solution to a problem he knows nothing about.”
But Kirk acknowledged in July 2013 that his plan to arrest every member of the Gangster Disciples was “not actually that practical.”
Still, not only does Duckworth’s tweet take what Kirk said out of context, it also implies he supported the general mass arrest of 18,000 African-Americans, even though Kirk never mentioned race or used the term “African-Americans” during his interview with Fox 32 Chicago.
* From a Sun-Times editorial…
More troubling in recent weeks, to our thinking, have been a couple of scurrilous accusations by Democratic Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth against her Republican opponent, incumbent Sen. Mark Kirk. If we ever thought Duckworth might be above cheap shots, we know better now.
Duckworth loaded the two false accusations into a single tweet on June 8: “Kirk, who called for the mass arrest of 18,000 African Americans, was apparently fine w/ Trump’s #StillTooRacist call for mass deportation.”
Did Kirk in fact call for the arrest of 18,000 African-Americans? No.
Is it true Kirk has no objection to Trump’s call for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants? Also not true.
Your thoughts?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
“4) Get off Twitter completely”
The Rules of Twitter….
- the red baron - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
Must have some polling that has them nervous.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
That is, in fact, what Mark Kirk called for.
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/May-2013/Mark-Kirk-Wants-to-Arrest-18000-Chicago-Gang-Members-At-Once/
- FormerParatrooper - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:24 pm:
Is she making her own tweets or does she have someone doing them for her? If she is, take OW’s advice, if it is someone doing these for her, fire them and still take OW’s advice.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
–Your thoughts?–
Duckworth has D-list communications people. Stupid, unforced error.
Having said that, Kirk is living in the 90s in his thinking of GD “members.”
Hierarchial gang structures are dead as Dillinger. They attracted too much heat. The game is now corner-to-corner loosely affilated cells fed by Mexican cartel distributors.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
To the Post,
I think a good rule of thumb might be to stay away from the “biting” Twitter commentary that you have to explained that it happened longer than 1 year ago.
“Please stop tweeting”
If you have to explain your 140 characters, you’re losing more than the message, you’re chasing your own overall message relevance.
Amateur Hour.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
The Sun-Times is wondering if someone’s above cheap shots?
Oh, irony is indeed alive and well.
- Carterville Giant - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
Much like the POTUSA election, the election for US Senate in Illinois is a race to the bottom.
- Curious - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Apox on both their houses. Kirk has said some pretty dumb stuff (”people drive faster through black neighborhoods,” “bro with no ho,” etc.). But Duckworth’s camp needs to get out of its own way with this stuff. No need to force the issue and put the focus on you.
- illinois bob - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
wow. 18,000 gun toting, drug dealing Ganster Disciples on the streets of Chicago. Until you break up THAT mob, you’ve got little chance to stem the murder tide.
Tough problem. I understand that one the reasons that gun violence in Chicago has skyrocketed is that most of the older gang leaders have been put in the slammer, and the younger killers have taken over.
It’s like a hydra. Cut off one head, and two more pop out…
- Curious - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
Although, to be fair, when’s the last time Kirk mentioned or introduced legislation aimed at his “top priority?” That’s what Duckworth should focus on. He said he wouldn’t to break up a vicious gang and hasn’t done anything about it.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:32 pm:
Interesting strategy on the part of the Duckworth campaign… to assume that all 18,000 gang members would be African American. That’s Tammy. Unforced error galore.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
==That is, in fact, what Mark Kirk called for.==
No it is not. It is usually helpful to read Rich’s entire post before you comment.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:34 pm:
Yeah, unnecessary cheap shot. I think a lot of residents of gang-infested neighborhoods would support a general roundup in principle, but everyone knows that is not practical or Constitutional. And Kirk has been pretty clear on his distaste for Trump on immigration.
- South of Sherman - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
Kirk: “My top priority is to arrest the Gangster Disciple gang, which is 18,000 people. I would like to do a mass pickup of them and put them all in the Thomson Correctional Facility. I will be proposing this to the assembled federal law enforcement: ATF, DEA and FBI.”
The Gangster Disciples is an African-American gang from the city’s south side and has an estimated 18,000 members…
Where again exactly is the Duckworth tweet false?
- Almost the Weekend - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
Slow news day, I don’t understand why this needed to be tweeted out by the Duckworth campaign.
The funny thing is now. Anytime something is tweeted it will need approval from probably five staffers at the minimum before the intern can type the characters and click “Tweet”
- Responsa - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
Serious question. How many here actually think Tammy is the decision maker and/or is even in control of her campaign? It’s interesting that apparently twitter comments made BY a campaign, DURING a campaign, do not require the “…and I approve this message” disclosure. Shenanigans much?
- Randolph - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
Ridiculous tweet. She should apologize and take it down
- Jim H - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
“Did Kirk in fact call for the arrest of 18,000 African-Americans? No.
Is it true Kirk has no objection to Trump’s call for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants? Also not true.”
Great job on Duckworth’s part to blast out TWO wildly inaccurate, misleading accusations within 140 characters. Tammy, delete your account.
- JackD - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:50 pm:
Some of the commentators seem to think that the Gangster Disciples aren’t African Americans. Who do they think they are? Slow news day indeed.
- John Charles Fremont - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:54 pm:
Careless mistake by Congresswoman Duckworth’s camp. Senator Kirk has made no such statement, and her comms people know that. Furthermore, Senator Kirk has been very vocal about his strong dislike for Donald Trump’s candidacy. He has distanced himself from Trump’s dangerous, hateful, bloviating candidacy on countless occasions. As a result, Congresswoman Duckworth’s cheap shot comes across as little more than a desperate and unforced error.
- Tony - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
twitter is such hi-risk, low reward. the only press Duckworth’s team got her on those tweets has been decidedly negative.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
@JackD
Who says that many aren’t AA? All I am saying is that it is mighty presumptuous to say every single one is AA. Not one could be white? Not one could be Hispanic?
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:03 pm:
“Your thoughts?”
My thought is that even if this tweet hadn’t been very publicly challenged and refuted, would it have gained even a single vote for the Duckworth campaign?
I don’t think so — anyone willing to swallow the “called for the mass arrest of 18,000 African Americans” claim was already going to vote against Kirk.
Sometimes campaigns get so caught up in attacking their opponents that they forget the ultimate goal of the campaign, i.e. getting more votes.
This appears to be another such occasion.
– MrJM
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Either give Kirk’s exact quote or say nothing at all. Foolish mistake.
If she’s willing to sink to Trump’s level with Twitter slander, she damages her own candidacy, not Kirk’s.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
It’s amazing the contortions people are going through to defend Mark Kirk. Kirk literally called for an illegal, unconstitutional roundup based on zero probable cause.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:09 pm:
My 3:53 pm comment does not appear.
- Anonymouth - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
Boneheaded tweet by Duckworth. It is inflammatory and actually hurts her cause. Whoever posted that tweet should be fired for incompetence.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
I am still listening for a reason to vote FOR either of them.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
The over the top Duckworth statements from her campaign are starting to get noticed by main stream press. And not in a positive way. Going rabidly negative has its drawbacks and let’s see if the Duckworth campaign has learned a lesson here.
My guess, probably not. Reminds me of the way the 10th Congressional Democrats would get overly dramatic about Kirk during his Congressional runs.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
===Duckworth has D-list communications people. Stupid, unforced error.===
Could not agree more. Every time Matt McGrath says anything, he hurts his candidate. It’s like he screams fire in the swimming pool. The communications war is one that someone ought to be able to win vs. Kirk. He’s a loose a cannon as there is. Tammy’s spokespeople are making them look like Wm. Buckley.
Really goofy.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:23 pm:
Note to Team Duckworth:
Focus on the Kirk quote about driving fast to get out of AA neighborhoods. Press him on why he’d say that, and then be sure you’re recording when he answers.
It isn’t that hard to bait him. He wants to go there too. He needs to go there.
- Sue - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:25 pm:
Duckworth will probably win but she is a disgrace. I predict she will be an embarssment to the State. These senate candidates are almost as pathetic as Trump and Clinton.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:34 pm:
Duckworth has to go negative because she does not have much of a legislative record to run on. During the primary, she had a comfortable lead so she took a “Rose Garden” approach to campaigning. Not much to be enthusiastic in this race as both candidates are lackluster.
- Federalist - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
Duckworth is a mess but she is the Democrat in a Blue state.
It will take a lot more ‘errors’ on her part for her base to not vote and that is the only way Kirk wins.
- illini - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
Sloppy and bad form - We should all expect better from any candidate for this or any office.
Using the social media has become the norm as far as campaigning goes but the individual campaigns have to control it and moderate what is put out to the public.
Use of this medium can quickly backfire even when unintended.
Watch what you post because by the time you do “damage control” it has already been done and can not be undone. Everything is old news in the morning papers.
- Liberty - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:40 pm:
“* Politifact got all worked up about it and ruled it “False”…”
he said begrudgingly…
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:43 pm:
===he said begrudgingly===
Yes, you’re such a wonderful mind reader.
- Madco - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:49 pm:
The Duckworth campaign is trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
- Touré's Latte - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:54 pm:
Duckworth v Roskam. Rahm dumps millions into her. Every time Duckworth speaks she loses votes, demonstrating clearly she is at a loss grasping any issue on any level. Roskam gets out his base, touts women a few times. Roskam wins.
Kirk v Giannoulias. Kirk hits fast on mob ties, college savings program. Alexi talked often, fumbled every time he talked about mob bank and 529. Undecideds lean away. Kirk wins.
Duckworth v Walsh. Duckworth taken to California by handlers for duration of election, says nothing, comes back for editorial meetings, sings Kumbaya. Walsh yaps away election. Duckworth wins.
The lesson here, ma’am, is shut up and smile. You’ve all but neutralized what should be an unbeatable electoral resume.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 5:07 pm:
–Sometimes campaigns get so caught up in attacking their opponents that they forget the ultimate goal of the campaign, i.e. getting more votes.
This appears to be another such occasion.–
Exactly. It served no purpose.
–Duckworth has to go negative because she does not have much of a legislative record to run on.–
I’d be fascinated to learn the identity of anyone in Congress who can claim a “legislative record to run on” over the past six years.
Getting things done ain’t been on the agenda for quite some time. Yelling on the cable tv box to fool the nebbies out of their money in campaign contributions has been the deal.
Blame it on the “Hastert Rule.” Used to be, the House would come together in the middle to advance the ball. Now, House GOP extremists can block everything.
Seriously, maybe something called the “Hastert Rule” has been discredited, in light of recent events?
- Doug Simpson - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 5:12 pm:
- Federalist - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 4:37 pm:
Donald Trump is making Paul Ryan a mess but he is a Republican in a Red and gerrymandered district.
He caters to the base too.
But at least Trump is force jettisoning the Conservative movement from the Republican party…like it should be.
- Biker - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 5:27 pm:
Seems like legalizing weed would do more to break up this gang than any additional arrests. But it doesn’t seem like either candidate has actually read about how gangs make money.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 6:24 pm:
@Tour’e’s Latte: Agreed!
Same strategy of sending the candidate out of town for the election lifted Sam Young over Abner Mikva on one occasion.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 6:28 pm:
An interesting side story here:
The Duckworth tweet went out on June 8.
Reboot and Politifact got to it five weeks later on July 15.
The Sun-Times got around to it on July 19.
Not exactly hot-off-the-press timeliness.
It strikes me that the Kirk crew really hustled to keep this one alive to get something out of it.
That something will be quotes in a future negative spot citing Sun-Times and Politifact.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 20, 16 @ 6:52 pm:
George Allen had his “Macaca” moment and it derailed him.
Pols say the darnedess things…
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:17 pm:
Calls for the ouster of Duckworth’s staff are ludicrous.
Everyone gets a turn in the barrel. You don’t fire your staff just because it was your turn in the barrel this week.
It’s one story. It’s not a bigger problem.