* From the Journal & Topics newspaper…
A print publication that’s financially supported by some of Illinois’ most deep-pocketed Republicans has made its way to the mailboxes of some Northwest suburban homeowners, including residents from Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Elk Grove Village, and Wheeling, three months before this November’s general election.
The North Cook News, a four- to- eight-page publication printed on newsprint, contains articles related to Illinois politics and advocates for or against certain candidates. For example, in its early July issue, it featured a front page photo of Democrat State Rep. Michelle Mussman, with the headline and text stating that she favors sending funds to Chicago schools rather than to suburban schools. Mussman serves portions of Elk Grove Village and Schaumburg. In early March, a front page of a newspaper published by the company featured a large copy of an official police report on domestic battery accusations against West suburban Democrat Chris Welch.
The North Cook News is one of at least 10 to 15 “newspapers” funded by the conservative political action committee Liberty Principles PAC headed by former GOP governor candidate and now radio talk show host Dan Proft. Liberty Principles has strong financial backing from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and real estate tycoon Sam Zell. The PAC became heavily involved in the 55th District state representative campaign in 2013 when Des Plaines resident Marty Moylan and Park Ridge Republican Mel Thillens faced off. Much of Liberty’s support came in the form of printing and distributing expensive campaign literature criticizing Moylan, the eventual winner and current incumbent.
Dan Gott, a Des Plaines resident and challenger to Moylan in this fall’s election, told the Journal & Topics Media Group this week that he has published many articles in the North Cook News in recent weeks. When asked whether he was invited to submit articles about his campaign to the publication Gott replied, “I’d rather not say. That’s personal.”
Emphasis added.
*** UPDATE *** From Dan Proft…
First, papers are neither funded by Rauner nor Zell.
Second, no candidates have been or will be invited to “submit” articles about their campaigns.
Absurd.
(Emphasis added).
- Winnin' - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:10 pm:
It’s not personal. It’s only bidness.
- siriusly - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
Mr. Gott - when you are a candidate for public office disclosure, openness and honesty are things that help voters trust you. When you say things like “that’s personal” but it’s really business - that means you’re hiding something.
Mr Gott - if you want to “change” things - start your campaign off right by answering questions honestly. You have nothing to hide. So what if these “publications” are a GOP campaign tactic. So what? Just be honest about it.
- Buster crab - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
A sham newspaper. People see this and expect objectivity, or at least something resembling it. Deceptive at best.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
A similar scandal sheet, The Illinois Valley Times, has been circulating in LaSalle County. Ottawa Times reporter David Giuliani is doing a good job exposing it for what it is.
I’m not holding my breath waiting for any “fair and balanced” coverage of Democrats in it.
To quote Lincoln, “For people who like that kind of thing, that’s exactly the kind of thing they’ll like.”
- Southern Dawg - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
“That’s personal.” Puh-leeze. I’m glad I don’t live in his district.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
To Proft’s Udate…
Thanks for the update, you answered all the questions… I have but one more question…
If the papers are funded by Rauner, or even by Zell… and if candidates aren’t submitting anything to them…
Why do they even exist?
If no one seems connected to anything, and they are so removed from everyone and everything… then why do they exist?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
“If the papers aren’t funded by Rauner, or even by Zell… and if candidates aren’t submitting anything to them…”
- 47th Ward - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
===Dan Gott, a Des Plaines resident and challenger to Moylan in this fall’s election, told the Journal & Topics Media Group this week that he has published many articles in the North Cook News in recent weeks.===
So if that’s true, how does it square with this:
===no candidates have been or will be invited to “submit” articles about their campaigns===
I’m not saying Proft is lying here, but these two statements seem to be in conflict.
- allknowingmasterofracoondom - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
OW - “If the papers aren’t funded by Rauner, or even by Zell… and if candidates aren’t submitting anything to them…” X 2.
You may be on to something….I get it too.
- slow down - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
It’s very much an admission that Proft’s political arguments can’t stand on their own footing when he has to dress them up as “facts” reported by what the reader would typically assume (in this case wrongly) is an objective newspaper.
- The Captain - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:33 pm:
Rauner and Zell are the sole funders of Turnaround Illinois who gave Liberty Principles about $2.5 million. Also, Bruce Rauner personally gave Liberty Principles $2.5 million.
- Winnin' - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
Proft: Pffffftttt
- Langhorne - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:42 pm:
Dont like to see deceptive crap, masquerading as “news”.
However, our founding fathers used to hire ghost writers to write scurrilous pieces about their opponents, then disavow any connection. Whats old is new again.
- JoanP - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
@47th Ward -
Maybe he wasn’t *invited* to submit the articles, but did so on his own, and they were just so incisive and brilliant that Proft couldn’t resist printing them. /snark/
- 47th Ward - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
===Maybe he wasn’t *invited* to submit the articles,===
Lol JoanP, maybe he was *required* to submit them.
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
If it was “absurd” then it should have been an easy question for Gott to answer.
- Albany Park Patriot - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
All people like Proft want is the fog. They don’t want transparency and in the end, they know it doesn’t matter. Facts don’t matter to Trump, to Rauner or to Proft. All that matters is their pro-corporation, anti-worker agenda.
- Frenchi - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Comments not showing at all today. But who reads these papers? Same folks that vote for Trump?
- Michael Westen - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
If no candidates “have been” or “will” be invited to submit articles, then how did Gott “publish” “many articles?” Strange that.
- Been there, done that - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
Seeing as how Liberty Principle PAC is claiming to be an I.E. PAC, of course no one from LPP or any campaign is going to admit (in public anyway) that they are working together - i.e. submitting articles to these campaign rags and such - since that would not be kosher. I am sure that one of their top notch, unknown, out-of-state, crack reports can come up with all these local political articles on their own. Wait a minute! That kinda sounds. . . . . . . absurd
- James Knell - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Mein Gott! Herr Proft ist ein Protz!
He publishes fake newspapers with nothing in them for no reason.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
Thank God Bruce doesn’t read newspapers. This might give him false hope…. /s
- former southerner - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 3:36 pm:
It says a lot about the neo-GOP strategy that their prime voter target group consists of those who are easily fooled.
- ArchPundit - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 4:58 pm:
“First, papers are neither funded by Rauner nor Zell.”
LOL–They are funded by Rauner, Zell, Sinquefeld, Uihlein, McQuaid, Rickets, Bachrach (my favorite-he owned the old clothing store) and a few others. Seriously, does he know people can look this up?
- walker - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 5:09 pm:
Proft shouldn’t lie or misdirect like this. He should just admit it all, and say “bite me.” “I am expressing my own First Amendment rights.” No need for him to degrade his own reputation, to cover for others.
The small percentage who might be fooled by these fake papers would likely be voting Republican anyway.
- Michael Westen - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 6:18 pm:
Proft has no reputation to degrade, at least among those who know of him.
- Dan P - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 7:12 pm:
Some enterprising individuals, maybe everyone who reads this blirp, might just file a complaint with the FCC, AM670, Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson, that they are not giving balanced reporting, giving equal time to both D as he gives to R’s, violating community standards, receiving economic compensation from a political party.
Didn’t Danny boy retire his failed political debt when he ran for office from Rauner’s funds.
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 15, 16 @ 8:41 pm:
keep up your stunts, Dan Proft. it just helps Dems get reelected.