* You may remember that I posted this ad not long ago. Rodney Davis became the fourth embattled Republican congressman to try and tie his opponent to Speaker Madigan in this spot about the possibly fake Abe Lincoln hat…
The ad claims that his Democratic opponent Betsy Dirksen Londrigan lobbied Speaker Madigan for a taxpayer-funded bailout for the Lincoln foundation and calls her a “Madigan crony.”
Davis is matching the general Republican playbook in Illinois this year, as candidates from Gov. Bruce Rauner on down are linking Democrats to Madigan, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing but has been called corrupt by the governor.
“Anybody that goes to the General Assembly in Springfield … has got to go see Madigan’s team,” Davis said at a recent unrelated news conference. […]
The hat — part of the Taper collection of Lincoln goods bought by the foundation — was bought “years before I ever worked there,” said Londrigan.
“You know that, and you’re paying for that ad. But you’re going to lie about it,” she said. “I never met with Mike Madigan. You’re lying about that too, because you know better.” […]
Davis denied he lied in the ads, and noted that Londrigan for a time handled “major gifts” for the foundation.
I don’t know whether Madigan and Londrigan are tight, but the speaker hasn’t exactly been the foundation’s friend. Long before other politicians did the political calculus, Madigan treated Londrigan’s former employer as radioactive. “We have instances where the foundation, which is not elected, not appointed by a governor, is actually making spending decisions for the library,” the speaker tsk-tsk’d in 2015. Madigan also refused to cooperate with a foundation-funded study that – surprise – recommended that the state bail out the foundation and put it in charge of day-to-day operations at the presidential museum. “Madigan to museum foundation: Drop dead” – that was the headline in Illinois Times three years ago.
Meanwhile, Davis is ripping Londrigan for not denouncing an ad created by Women Vote that features footage of the congressman’s wife and kids, cribbed from the Republican’s own campaign ads. The congressman’s smiling kids are juxtaposed against Davis’ voting record on healthcare issues. Davis whines that his family is being attacked. “Leave my kids out of it,” Davis complained on Monday. “It’s not acceptable.” Couldn’t agree more. Quit using your family like cheap yard signs, congressman, and stick to issues.
Not too surprising, even if ridiculous. What else can Republican congressional members run on?
They’re running away from both the disastrous tax cut for the wealthiest, and the votes to do away with the ACA and its protection for preexisting conditions.
They lose on every issue that actually impacts their constituents lives so they have to find ways to demonize.
- TaylorvilleTornado - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:20 pm:
This guy has done nothing but lie, shed some crocodile tears about “civility”, and avoid his constituents.
I think the last time he made a public appearance in Taylorville was for his photo op with an injured soldier.
—nothing but lie, lie again, and then lie some more for good measure just in case.—
That’s not just a Rodney thing. It’s a fundememtal of the GOP theology - manifestion of the Lord. Ask Pence, a Michele Bachman or other GOP era.
I’m gonna vote against Madigan! Wait, what? He isn’t on the ballot in the 76th district? He’s in the 22nd district? He’s not on my ballot? But all the campaign ads are telling me to vote against Madigan. I can’t vote against Madigan? Well, nuts.
What a stretch, Rodney. Not only does it smack of desperation, you’ve just jumped into the wicked woods in which non-existent and preposterous logic is used to tie people troublesome to you to Mike Madigan. Jeanne Ives just down the same rabbit hole.
Check Rauner’s poll stats and determine if voters are becoming weary of this con.
I lost what respect I did have for Davis over the last 2 years and especially this election cycle. The gall it takes to flat out lie about things that are public record and just assume the voters are too dumb to look, using his wife and her health as a prop to perpetuate a lie about pre existing conditions…. of course they are not worried because Davis has the congressional health care plan not the overpriced and burdensome garbage he and his ilk have tried to force on America
- Ronson T. .H.. Lighter - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 1:18 pm:
This is really the silly season. What will it be next, Madigan helped fund John Wilkes Booth’s acting career ?
–What will it be next, Madigan helped fund John Wilkes Booth’s acting career ?–
No, but I hear if you have a few million to burn, Louise Taper will sell you the actual 1972 AMC Gremlin Booth used to make his escape from Ford’s Theater.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
What a stretch by the Davis campaign. Not only does it smack of desperation, they’ve officially entered the wicked woods from which, by way of contorted or non-existent logic, people troublesome to you are accused of helping Mike Madigan…the established rabbit hole to go down to avoid issues. Jean Ives just went down it today.
The “because…Madigan!” thing may have worked for awhile, but is condescending to your intelligence, and even uniformed voters have to be getting weary of it.
Wordslinger, I think Booth used a 1976 Pinto. It caught fire when he tried to back into a barn in Virginia and ended up burning the whole barn down. DNA testing proved conclusively that someone from 1982 sat in the front seat, so it had to be Booth’s
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
At what point does claiming “Because…Madigan” become “I’m with Rauner 100%” in voters’ minds? And…is that helpful?
Well, gee, didn’t Rodney’s first boss out of college (George Ryan) go to prison for things he did in state government? Wonder if Rodney feels personally tainted by that?
- Nick - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:14 pm:
His entire campaign strategy has been nothing but lie, lie again, and then lie some more for good measure just in case.
The sad thing is that it could very well work.
- slow down - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:16 pm:
Not too surprising, even if ridiculous. What else can Republican congressional members run on?
They’re running away from both the disastrous tax cut for the wealthiest, and the votes to do away with the ACA and its protection for preexisting conditions.
They lose on every issue that actually impacts their constituents lives so they have to find ways to demonize.
- TaylorvilleTornado - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:20 pm:
This guy has done nothing but lie, shed some crocodile tears about “civility”, and avoid his constituents.
I think the last time he made a public appearance in Taylorville was for his photo op with an injured soldier.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
I think Rodney’s confused. It was the Cellinis who pushed the Taper buy and attempted bailout.
Is Rodney the only Illinois GOPer in the last 50 years who doesn’t know from Cellini?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:36 pm:
—nothing but lie, lie again, and then lie some more for good measure just in case.—
That’s not just a Rodney thing. It’s a fundememtal of the GOP theology - manifestion of the Lord. Ask Pence, a Michele Bachman or other GOP era.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:42 pm:
Tonight’s debate should be a doozy:)
- Huh? - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:45 pm:
I’m gonna vote against Madigan! Wait, what? He isn’t on the ballot in the 76th district? He’s in the 22nd district? He’s not on my ballot? But all the campaign ads are telling me to vote against Madigan. I can’t vote against Madigan? Well, nuts.
- Stumpy's bunker - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 12:53 pm:
What a stretch, Rodney. Not only does it smack of desperation, you’ve just jumped into the wicked woods in which non-existent and preposterous logic is used to tie people troublesome to you to Mike Madigan. Jeanne Ives just down the same rabbit hole.
Check Rauner’s poll stats and determine if voters are becoming weary of this con.
- theq - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
I lost what respect I did have for Davis over the last 2 years and especially this election cycle. The gall it takes to flat out lie about things that are public record and just assume the voters are too dumb to look, using his wife and her health as a prop to perpetuate a lie about pre existing conditions…. of course they are not worried because Davis has the congressional health care plan not the overpriced and burdensome garbage he and his ilk have tried to force on America
- Ronson T. .H.. Lighter - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 1:18 pm:
This is really the silly season. What will it be next, Madigan helped fund John Wilkes Booth’s acting career ?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
–What will it be next, Madigan helped fund John Wilkes Booth’s acting career ?–
No, but I hear if you have a few million to burn, Louise Taper will sell you the actual 1972 AMC Gremlin Booth used to make his escape from Ford’s Theater.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 1:43 pm:
well that didn’t take long…
- Stumpy's bunker - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
What a stretch by the Davis campaign. Not only does it smack of desperation, they’ve officially entered the wicked woods from which, by way of contorted or non-existent logic, people troublesome to you are accused of helping Mike Madigan…the established rabbit hole to go down to avoid issues. Jean Ives just went down it today.
The “because…Madigan!” thing may have worked for awhile, but is condescending to your intelligence, and even uniformed voters have to be getting weary of it.
- Colin O'Scopy - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:19 pm:
Just a hunch here, but methinks Rodney’s polls must show him down significantly if he’s resorting to this sort of attack.
- Stumpy's bunker - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 2:21 pm:
sorry for the double…didn’t think the first one took
- Stumpy's bunker - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
uninformed voters
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:06 pm:
Wordslinger, I think Booth used a 1976 Pinto. It caught fire when he tried to back into a barn in Virginia and ended up burning the whole barn down. DNA testing proved conclusively that someone from 1982 sat in the front seat, so it had to be Booth’s
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
At what point does claiming “Because…Madigan” become “I’m with Rauner 100%” in voters’ minds? And…is that helpful?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 3:48 pm:
Can anyone honestly say that Betsy acknowledged their presence prior to her campaign? My personal experience is not positive.
- lollinois - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 6:37 pm:
This is definitely an ad you run if you are 13 points up, right?
- Annonin' - Thursday, Oct 18, 18 @ 8:15 pm:
Maybe Desperate Davis should check with Butler to see who asked for the state $$$
- 47Chief - Friday, Oct 19, 18 @ 8:45 am:
Well, gee, didn’t Rodney’s first boss out of college (George Ryan) go to prison for things he did in state government? Wonder if Rodney feels personally tainted by that?