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Cohen: “Character counts”

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* Scott Lee Cohen recently appeared on “Public Affairs” with host Jeff Berkowitz. The host did a pretty good job of letting Cohen talk about his programs, but then methodically zeroed in on his, um, “issues.”

Cohen stumbled a few times when talking about his budget plans. And he refused at first to answer a question about his net worth, eventually saying it is between $6 and $7 million. He claimed he’s put $3-4 million into the campaign since the primary. That’s not exactly evident. He says he’s about half-way to his degree at DePaul and wants to eventually obtain a law degree.

Cohen called last week’s Chicago Tribune editorial board “debate” a “witch hunt, not an endorsement session” because of the pointed questions they asked him. He said that Bill Brady and Pat Quinn spent their time at the meeting “making asses of themselves.” Cohen also said of Tribune columnist Eric Zorn, “He’s pretty ignorant.” Zorn claimed Cohen quickly “folded” under pressure and bowed out of the lt. governor’s race.

“Character does count,” Cohen said when pushed by Berkowitz. “Look at half the legislators out there, they’ve been arrested for different things,” Cohen claimed, adding that unnamed people had been “convicted” of armed robbery and are still in politics. He said his own arrest for allegedly knifing his alleged prostitute girlfriend was “nonsense.” He also claimed that he pays child support. His ex-wife had taken him to court over the issue.

Anyway, have a look…

* Meanwhile, Cohen plans to unveil a new jobs plan tomorrow morning at the Odyssey Yacht at Navy Pier. A press release claims “upwards of one hundred veterans and others” will be there as well. From that press release…

According to Cohen, “The All Hands on Deck” program will focus on those who have suffered chronic unemployment, like veterans, the disabled, teenagers, tech workers and ex-offenders.”

“This is a significant economic recovery plan for the state of Illinois,” says Swilley. “It is capturing the attention of social service agencies, unions, and businesses large and small.”

“As far as I’m concerned”, says Cohen, “The All Hands On Deck” plan, is the heart and soul of what our campaign is all about. It’s a down payment on a big investment in the people of Illinois.”

* So far, nobody has asked Bill Brady about the solid evidence that Cohen is hurting his candidacy. Any ideas how Brady can deal with this?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:01 am

Comments

so he argues the character counts but is upset that everyone is questioning his character? talk about circular reasoning…

Comment by bored now Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:06 am
Any ideas

I like my idea of yesterday. He (or an “un coordinated group *^^* ) has GOT to bring those issue front and center in Ads that blanket the suburbs.

Cable, for sure, but maybe some big buys.

Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:12 am
Yep it is going to take some TV and mail to deal with SLC

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:13 am
The question will remain which of the main candidates (Brady/Quinn) will bite the bullet and spend money going after Cohen? It could win or lose the election for either of them if it backfires.

Comment by WOW Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:18 am
I think Brady should ask Madigan to meet with Cohen again. Whatever the Speaker said sure worked last time.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:22 am
Maybe this was Madigans plan all along to brng in Cohen as a third candidate. Brady needs to remind everyone that the Dems voted this guy in then threw him out.

Comment by Mr. Ethics Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:26 am
Brady’s tanking because he seems to stand for nothing beyond coasting and hoping the national gop wave carries him over the top.

Cohen’s a joke and a complete phony, but at least he’s smart enough to give the impression he’s dedicated to doing something.

Brady needs to show he’s a leader, but I just don’t think it’s in him. He’s always been a back bencher kinda guy.

Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:28 am
How Brady can deal with them:

“Pat Quinn released violent criminals from prison early and then lied about it. Then, one of those criminals killed a Peoria woman. Scott Lee Cohen abused his ex-wife and tried to slit the throat of a prostitute. Cohen and Quinn, bad for Women, bad for Illinois.”

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:33 am
Or better yet, end with “Who are those guys?”

Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:33 am
Is there any explanation for Cohen’s effort other than narcissism? The 21st Century reality TV pursuit of fame or infamy, whichever comes first, at any cost?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:34 am
Brady would be well served by taking the “jobs” issue away from Cohen and adopting it as his own. Cohen is doing a better job than both Brady and Quinn on the jobs topic and unemployed or underemployed people care more about their own welfare than they do about Cohen’s, um, shall we say “youthful indiscretions”.

Comment by Him Say Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:43 am
Who announces their jobs plan on a yacht? Is the gold plated space jet in the shop?

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:52 am
“Is there any explanation for Cohen’s effort other than narcissism? The 21st Century reality TV pursuit of fame or infamy, whichever comes first, at any cost?”

You could say that about any number of politicians. But despite all of SLC’s past transgressions, I have seen no reason to indicate he doesn’t actually care about increasing jobs in Illinois, which has been his only campaign platform to this point.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:52 am
Right on Him Say

Cemosabe!

Hi Ho Silver.

Comment by gg Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:55 am
Hisgirl, there aren’t that many politicians who spend lots of their own dough to provoke revelations of their sordid past when they clearly have no chance of winning.

Based on his “Chicago Tonight” appearance last night, Cohen would object to your calling him a politician. Don’t make that dude mad.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:57 am
brady should simply refer to him as DEMOCRAT Scott Lee Cohen. while Cohen is running as an independent, in campaigning, I’d think it isn’t out of bounds to call Cohen a democrat.

Comment by Robert Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 11:03 am
he doesn’t actually care about increasing jobs in Illinois

I care about it also. Do I have an effective plan for doing so? You know as much about my plan, as you do his.

Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 11:18 am
@John Bambenek-

Don’t forget: Bill Brady has consistently voted against health insurance covering mammograms and pap smears, against rape victim services, against HPV vaccinations, against breast cancer and cervical cancer funding & against domestic violence services. Illinois politicians: Bad for women, bad for Illinois.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 11:53 am
Yeah, Brady will need to spend some valuable ad money in the collar counties to deal specifically with the knifebroker. I like John B’s ad ideas. Run against both quinn and slc in the same ad.

I still get a kick out of how slc decides to spend millions to run against quinn out of spite; yet, slc may wake up on november 3, 2010 as the Quinn campaign’s mvp.

Comment by Cuban Pilot Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 12:13 pm
Who, I repeat, WHO, is helping fund Cohen’s campaign. The ads and mailings are not cheap. The publicity stunts are not cheap. Does anybody truly believe he is self funding his campaign, and if so where did HIS money come from all of a sudden? Please, investigative media, look into this to find out if there is a shadow campaign going on that voters need to understand.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 12:17 pm
Right.

This “Bad for Women, Bad for Illinois” ad that’s getting developed here could work for either Brady or Quinn in fighting off Cohen. Will the ad developers and Rich get kickbacks? You should!

Comment by been there Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 12:26 pm
Why not focus in like a laser beam on the ample evidence of SLC’s financial irresponsibility…. of which failing to pay child support may be just the tip of the iceberg. Then ask if we really need another “deadbeat” governor.

Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 12:48 pm
Lets also remember that when talking about SLC’s “past”, it’s not discussing something that happened decades ago when he was “young and dumb”

Comment by ANON Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 1:41 pm
And still, the Libertarian Lex Green remains the only candidate to not only have produced a proposed budget for the next fiscal year, but to have put it on his website. You may not agree 100% with his cuts, which amount to more than $10.5 billion already, but at least you know what you’ll be getting. The others are only offering more empty campaign promises.

Comment by Sick of the Status Quo Wednesday, Oct 6, 10 @ 2:26 pm