* Press release…
Chris Kennedy – A Mike Madigan-First Politician
ILGOP Launches MadiganKennedy.com
To Mike Madigan’s pleasure, Chris Kennedy today announced a run for Governor.
Over the summer, Mike Madigan endorsed Kennedy’s run. After a secret meeting, Madigan lauded that Chris Kennedy would “make a very good candidate for Governor.”
“Mike Madigan has already endorsed Chris Kennedy’s run because he knows that Kennedy will never stand up to him. Chris Kennedy secretly met with Madigan this summer to kiss his ring and get Madigan’s blessing. Kennedy’s already done his part to placate his boss, giving Madigan thousands to fund his anti-reform attack ads. We need a Governor who will fight for reform, not another Mike Madigan-first politician.” – Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Steven Yaffe
To highlight Chris Kennedy’s deep ties to the Madigan Machine, today the Illinois Republican Party has launched MadiganKennedy.com
Chris Kennedy’s already proved he will be loyal to Mike Madigan. Before announcing his campaign, Kennedy secretly met with Madigan to get his blessing to run for governor. Then, Kennedy bankrolled a $10 million Madigan-aligned political front group and gave thousands more to Madigan’s hand-picked candidates for the legislature.
Chris Kennedy is committed to the Madigan Agenda and tried to give Madigan even more power. The last thing Illinois needs is a Madigan lap dog in the governor’s office.
Illinois needs an independent reformer, but Chris Kennedy is just another Mike Madigan-first politician.
Sources: Federal Election Commission, Illinois State Board of Election, Crain’s Chicago Business 11/2/2016, Chicago Tribune, 10/11/2016
Um, Madigan didn’t endorse Kennedy. Madigan said he met with the guy and told him “he’d make a very good candidate for governor.”
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s campaign…
Today, Chris Kennedy announced his bid for Governor of Illinois.
Show your support for Team Rauner instead by contributing $5, $15, $50, or whatever you can afford today.
We’re here to tell you that Illinois deserves better. Why? Because Chris Kennedy is a pawn of Mike Madigan. Kennedy secretly met with Mike Madigan to get his seal of approval before announcing his candidacy. And now he wants to do Madigan’s bidding.
Now, more than ever, Citizens for Rauner needs your support to hold Kennedy accountable and make sure that another Madigan crony isn’t elected Governor.
We’re here to make sure that Illinois is put first. Show that you’re with us by contributing today.
Thanks,
Team Rauner
- Centenial - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:14 am:
When JB announces will they both be “endorsed” by MJM then?
- Under Influenced... - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:14 am:
They didn’t launch MadiganKennedy.com, the url just re-directs you to the bossmadigan website.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:17 am:
Dear Kennedy Crew,
Ya wonder why I keep harping on the Cash and the messaging and having a Crew and Staff prepared 24/7/365 for this challenge and to finance the challenge too.
Otherwise, this horse won’t leave the gate.
Honestly, all the best.
OW
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:18 am:
So does this mean then that any other dem candidate for gov is NOT MJM’s guy?
- Han's Solo Cup - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:18 am:
After the primaries all shake out Madigan should come out and endorse Rauner.
- Anon - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:19 am:
If Kennedy, JB and Bustos all announce, which one would be THE Madigan candidate? Choose a lane, Chairman Schneider.
- Sue - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:21 am:
I guess this means no State budget for two more years while Zmafigsn wishes for a D Gov he can lead around on a leash
- illini - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:24 am:
It sure didn’t take very long for the ILLGOP to come out with their very predictable talking points!!!!
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:25 am:
–I guess this means no State budget for two more years while Zmafigsn wishes for a D Gov he can lead around on a leash–
That Super Bowl party still goin’ strong?
–So does this mean then that any other dem candidate for gov is NOT MJM’s guy?–
LOL, I guess the kiddie korps didn’t think that one through. No juice boxes or pudding cups today.
- Rahm's Middle Finger - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:25 am:
If this is all the IL GOP has for Chris’ launch??? Weak sauce.
- walker - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:26 am:
Ok. I get it. Every Dem is a nefarious “Madigan candidate.”
ILGOP is getting boring.
- Carhartt Union Negotiating Team - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:28 am:
“….Um, Madigan didn’t endorse Kennedy. Madigan said he met with the guy and told him “he’d make a very good candidate for governor.”….”
You’re precisely right. Thanks for reinforcing the blunt facts.
But, as you know, it doesn’t matter one bit. Not one.
If a person voted in just one Democratic Primary in the past 40 years, Madigan has endorsed them and they’ve endorsed Madigan. Connect the dots, man.
Rauner’s Propaganda Agency (formerly known as the Illinois GOP) will simply tie everyone to Madigan. And, of course, true or false, it gets the core reinforcing messages out that they want.
Hell, I’m amazed that Drury hasn’t yet gotten this prosthetic albatross hung around his neck.
- Come on man! - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:34 am:
I’m surprised the domain Madigan Kennedy wasn’t a New England Law Firm.
- Fax Machine - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:36 am:
MadiganPritzker.com is also live
- Blue Bayou - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:36 am:
How can you tell when the ILGOP is lying?
Their fingers are moving.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:42 am:
–MadiganPritzker.com is also live–
Now that you’ve made the inquiry, I’m guessing some budding young entrepreneur/tracker in Hong Kong will snap it up shortly.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:43 am:
==Um, Madigan didn’t endorse Kennedy==
The simple fact of being a Democrat means that you a Madigan lackey in GOP world.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 10:44 am:
–ILGOP is getting boring.–
Meh, the reality is they have an audience of one, the guy signing the checks. If he’s happy with the efforts, that’s all that matters.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:15 am:
=Ok. I get it. Every Dem is a nefarious “Madigan candidate.”
ILGOP is getting boring.=
Lol!
Predictable if nothing else.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:17 am:
To the “Team Rauner” update…
“Heh”
Rauner put $50 million, himself, into his campaign.
It’s now up to the Koch Brothers to bring in the dark/outside monies to attack in the Dem’s Primary, and Diana, Uihlein, and Griffin to fund the rest.
This is Team Rauner trolling Raunerbots that they have a “say”
Didn’t Dan Proft, just yesterday, talk about HIS patrons and their wants and desires?
That’s what Team Rauner is trolling; the faux image that people matter.
Again, “heh”
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:20 am:
LOL, I would be fascinated to understand the thinking of someone who contributes $5 to the Rauner/Uline/Griff money machine.
The chutzpah for even asking is remarkable.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:22 am:
Team Rauner, Illinois deserves better than Governor Rauner. Rauner has failed for two years and likely will continue to fail. Why would anyone give Rauner four more years to fail?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:24 am:
===When JB announces will they both be “endorsed” by MJM then? ===
This was my first thought as well….
- Highland, IL - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:24 am:
Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:24 am was me..
- Tommydanger - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:29 am:
I understand there’s two other versions of the same solicitation letter making the rounds. One adds 3 zeros to each number and the other adds 5 zeros to each number.
- PDJT - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:30 am:
Talk about a “one trick pony,” Rauner can’t point to any accomplishments of his own so he has to tie everyone to Madigan and try to bring them down. Sad!
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:30 am:
Rich, here’s how good CapFax is…..I read it and get really POed at this or that……then realize I moved to Texas last year.
Damn, you’re good
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:34 am:
“Show that you’re with us by contributing today.”
A multi-millionaire needs financial help??? If you want names, Citizens for Rauner will have to break out the “gift cards”. /S
- PDJT - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:43 am:
===When JB announces will they both be “endorsed” by MJM then? ===
If MJM is smart, and I think he is, he will not endorse anyone. And his contributions, if there are any will be hard to trace back to him.
It will be hard enough for any D going against Rauners wealth without the MJM kiss of death.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:50 am:
Biggest news flash is Champaign News Gazetter Tom Kasich released from coma unit …he report the irony of Teeam BigBrain raising $$$ off Kennedy announcement. The stooges are workin’ hard.
- Alex Paterakis - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 11:55 am:
Paterakis muscle to the rescue!!!!
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 12:00 pm:
Where would the Kennedy’s be without Mike Madigan? /s
- Pangloss - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
Seriously, does an average under the age of 40 who didn’t major in Political Science know what a political “Boss” is? And if they became politically aware during the aughts and teens, do they think having a political leader with some authority to impose order within a party is a bad thing?
- RNUG - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 12:16 pm:
Re the update: got to admire the ability of the Rauner staff to spin anything their way.
- Mr. Smith - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
You know, it really does make you wonder. Will BVR’s campaign slogan next time just be “It’s all Mike Madigan’s fault”.
It’s funny, I seem to be aware of another Republican political figure who is incapable of accepting any responsibility for his own (in)actions and blames anything that goes wrong on anyone/everyone else. Maybe you’ve heard of him…
- Keyser Soze - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 12:30 pm:
This should be fun; dueling billionaires.
- swiFT taylor - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 12:54 pm:
a fundraising appeal?
HA. C’mon no way were they being serious.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:03 pm:
To go a “step” further, to the real…
To the Rauner letter,
It’s truly about getting emails and compiling a list of engaged people to add to the “Plus List”.
I understand that.
I’m also mocking the manner, by using the fundraising aspect, given Rauner has “recently” put $50 million into his campaign.
It’s embarrassingly dishonest to the appeal. The appeal is to mining pluses, not to mining of dollars.
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:18 pm:
Mr. Smith, you are close. One of BVR’s campaign commercials was leaked earlier this morning.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvujknrBuE
- walker - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:31 pm:
Quite a lot of “secret” meetings with Madigan seem to uncovered by the ILGOP.
I know he’s got no tech to hack. Better check for bugs.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 6:03 pm:
Yaffe is just an attack dog.