* Here’s something you don’t see every day…
Jerry Long, a Republican state representative candidate, is denouncing his party’s latest mailer that attacks his Democratic opponent, Rep. Andy Skoog.
“I am expressing my vehement disapproval to the party about this because the people of our district don’t enjoy negative mailers,” Long, of Streator, said in a statement Monday. “If it doesn’t say it came from me or my committee, then it didn’t come from me or my committee. I will continue to work hard locally and run a strong, clean campaign based on the truth.”
The Illinois Republican Party’s latest mailer depicts a grim-looking House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, moving a pawn featuring Skoog’s smiling face. […]
In an interview earlier this year, Long said he agreed to run for state representative under the condition that he would have total control over his campaign and its narrative and message and that the Republican Party not send out mailers promoting his campaign without his consent “like they did last time.”
He said he was unhappy with some of the pieces the state party sent out in 2014 when he nearly unseated Skoog’s predecessor, Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley.
* There is a concrete way for Long to address this situation. He could pledge to match every negative dollar spent on his behalf with a donation to charity out of his own campaign fund. As we’ve already discussed, this was done by both candidates in a 2012 US Senate race…
In the Massachusetts 2012 Senate race, Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown proved that when candidates are serious about curbing the influence of super PACs on their race, they can work together to make it happen.
In an agreement known as the People’s Pledge, Warren and Brown made a mutual promise to reject the support of super PACs. They pledged that if a super PAC spent money to support either of their campaigns, whoever benefited from the expenditure would offset it by forfeiting money from their own campaign coffers. The idea was new, bold, and bilateral, and it changed the calculus of spending in the race.
Because super PACs saw that making expenditures to support Warren or Brown would ultimately hurt them, it no longer made sense for super PACs to spend money in the race. As a result, the People’s Pledge successfully eliminated virtually all super PAC spending, and it helped to cut the volume of negative advertising – which super PAC money almost exclusively buys – in half. In short, with the mere stroke of a pen, Warren and Brown gave the people of Massachusetts a substantially more accountable race.
So, maybe he could try and work out a deal with Rep. Skoog. Otherwise, he’s merely complaining about something from which he’s most likely deriving a significant benefit….
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
Gotta put your money where your mouth is. Long should propose a similar arrangement to the one Warren and Brown had.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:49 pm:
HGOPs: This race is too important to be left to our candidate!
- A guy - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 12:54 pm:
On balance, this isn’t that rough a piece.
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:00 pm:
I have to wonder how many voters are going to be stunned when they walk into the booth in November and can’t find Mike Madigan’s name on their ballot.
- Rhino Slider - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:00 pm:
Bad piece, it should say “Chicago’s Big Spender”, not Illinois.
Us vs Them works well.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:07 pm:
This same piece was sent against multiple candidates. I haven’t heard any complaints from their opponents? Why are you going to complain? The Speaker is going to blast him. When the House Dem organization starts crushing him he’s going to rethink his position.
Unless that’s the game to hope Skoog stops the Speaker from helping him?
- JoanP - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:13 pm:
Definitely, he should try to reach that agreement with Skoog. But, in the meantime, good on him for denouncing the piece.
- G'Kar - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:20 pm:
I don’t think much of Long, as I don’t believe he is very bright and will be a “mushroom’s mushroom” if elected. However, I do appreciate what he said here–but it would be nice if he did put his money where his mouth is.
- Bob Parrilli - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
Not the first time the Republican Party used this mailing. Put DuPage County State Senator Tom Cullerton on one. Stupid, Cullerton is a State Senator (23rd) not a State Representative like Madigan. It came marked “Paid for by the Illinois Republican Party” Really Dumb mailing also did a robot of Cullerton saying you must obey Madigan. Stupid also. Looks like I’ll be voting for Cullerton, Illinois Republican Party doesn’t apparently know the difference between a State Senator or a State Representative.
- illini - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 1:40 pm:
I like the Warren/Brown agreement. Actually forgot that they did this.
I have to wonder if this will work with the contested Forby, Bradley and Phelps races in Southern Illinois. The challengers literally have $0 right now and are depending on their money people ( ie Rauner ) to run their campaigns and develop all their literature and media materials.
Just wondering.
- Augie - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 2:15 pm:
We will see if he is willing to do somthing about it or just say he condems it or has nothing to do with it (wink wink). I am pretty sure the majority of his funding is coming from the Republican party. Long to me is just using it to get press, he will do nothing.
- BIG R. Ph. - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
In the Massachusetts example, it gave us Elizabeth Warren.
Lib Idea. Libs win.
- logic not emotion - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
On the surface, the Massachusetts agreement sounds like a great plan; but how would you always know / agree on whether it benefits the candidate.
For example, should a mailer saying “Vote for Skoog. He agrees with all of Speaker Madigan’s great ideas.” count against Skoog or Long?
- southottawa - Tuesday, Aug 2, 16 @ 11:37 pm:
Mr. Long who got thrown out the US Air Force is now complaining about his backers. Long has no money, Rauner is his backer.