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* I’ve never met Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s press aide, but this is definitely a case study in how not to handle the Statehouse press corps…

Don’t do that again. Seriously. Maybe you can get away with that when you’re dealing with local yokels, but not here. Deal with it.

Luckily for him, Rutherford decided to ignore his aide and agreed to answer the question, basically repeating what he recently told the Windy City Times.

* Meanwhile, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka was her usually colorful self yesterday, gleefully blasting away at her Democratic opponent Sheila Simon and, um, over-answering some questions. Make sure to watch…

Heh.

Both videos courtesy of our good friends at BlueRoomStream.com.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:14 pm

Comments

Nice job by Judy.

Comment by Soccermom Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:19 pm
From the Jerry Weller flak school of professionalism!

Comment by shore Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:20 pm
Staff makes you or breaks you.

No? Really?

Dear Rutherford Campaign,

Don’t make the Principle look like a Dope.

You are there to prevent the Campaign FROM looking bad, not to make the Campaign look bad…

You’re welcome

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:21 pm
And here’s a note to Rutherford’s press person: “The Newsroom” is not a documentary. Getting snippy with the press is a losing game. That’s a legitimate question for a gubernatorial candidate — if marriage equality continues to stall, then the next Governor might be called upon to sign or veto.

If you don’t want to handle tough questions, pick another job.

Comment by Soccermom Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:22 pm
One of the best things Rutherford has going for him now is his willingness to answer the questions.

It’s stupid to make it look like he wants to duck questions.

“We’re done.” Where’d you learn that — watching “The West Wing?”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:26 pm
Judy continues to be awesome. As a Dem, I’ll definitely be voting for her. She’s done a real nice job with that office. Comptroller Hynes stopped caring about that office after he lost the Senate primary. She has done a great job resurrecting it.

And regarding Rutherford’s aide, well put Rich. Do you really think you’ll be able to dodge Amanda Vinicky? No chance!

Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:33 pm
“We’re Done” - Isn’t that pulling a “Rauner”?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:37 pm
Hard to blame the aid for reading Dan’s cues.

He did “oh my God” and then she responded by pulling him out.

His “oh my God” — even with his second thought — seems worse than the aid following his lead.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:39 pm
===He did “oh my God” and then she responded by pulling him out.===

He said “gosh.” C’mon, it’s Dan Rutherford. He’s a clean guy. lol

And while I see what you’re saying, you gotta make a decision here. Walking out on the question would look really bad. Far, far worse than just repeating what he’s already said and getting it over with. Staff is supposed to know this stuff.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:42 pm
I gotta say, Judy is really growing on my. I am a pretty loyal Dem but Judy will get my vote.

Comment by Because I said so... Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:51 pm
You are right. It was “Oh my gosh” and then he turned and looked at her.

I like Dan. He’s probably got my vote.

I don’t know anything at all about his press aid.

The impression from the tape though is that he responded verbally, he moved his head and shoulders towards her and then she responded by reading those cues.

On the other matter — I’m still not a fan of Topinka. I tend to think she’s more than “business as usual” than I would like. But she’s definitely fun to listen to and in a race against Simon, she’s also got my vote.

This is the first time ever that I likely will vote for two Republicans state-wide.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:53 pm
Didn’t this dope learn from the Madigan/Goudie disaster. Just answer the question and move on. Had he done so, you wouldn’t have put this up.

That said, this isn’t over.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:56 pm
Skeeter is spot on.
Dan pulled back, looked at his aide as he said OMG - if that’s not a sign to pull the plug…

There should have been a discussion on this before to make sure they are clear about this, but whatever.

The bigger fault is Dan not listening to his staff when they pull the plug. “In Staff We Trust.”

Comment by Dee Lay Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:57 pm
To be fair, those are Amanda Vinicky’s most intimidating sunglasses

Comment by Flannery's Shirt Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:00 pm
Sheila Simon is way over her head, and every day it is looking bleaker and bleaker for her,

To take on, arguably, the most popular GOP elected official in Illinois, today, who is also in the discussion as one of the hardest campaigners in all of Illinois, Sheila Simon is going to learn a very hard lesson, and Comptroller Topinka is going to be the willing teacher…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:17 pm
Anyone notice Dwight Schrute photo bombing the press conference?

Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:21 pm
Agreed with the body signals. But the snippy was where she went wrong. Easy enough to say, “Guys, you’ve got him on the record about that - we’ve gotta move on.”

Also - pro tip - don’t dress flashier than your candidate. Blend, blend.

Comment by haverford Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:23 pm
Rutherford reacts to that question as if someone had hung a mackerel under his nose.

Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:26 pm
Wait a doggone minute. Is Rutherford’s press person wearing Sheila Simon’s yellow jacket?

Comment by Soccermom Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:29 pm
For those who don’t know Rutherford’s new press aide, Mary Frances Bragiel, she is a former reporter for WBBM Newsradio and CLTV, and a former anchor and reporter for WLS radio. She also did some field producing for Fox News in Chicago. I’m not sure if she looks on Springfield as some backwater, or what, but she was at the Statehouse for the Blagojevich impeachment trial, so she should know the Statehouse press corps isn’t going to stand for that.

Comment by ToddAF Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:36 pm
Judy needs to say: “I knew Paul Simon, Paul Simon was my friend and she is no Paul Simon.”

Comment by Quid-Pro-Quixote Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:38 pm
The best way to help a candidate avoid questions you don’t want them to answer is to prepare them for all those questions. Let your candidate give the answer they have practiced and then politely end the press availability at an appropriate time.

Comment by Henry Chinaski Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:44 pm
Rutherford did seem to give her an awfully big cue.

Unless we really just want this to be an issue about how Rutherford’s aide handles the press, I think it says more about how she handles Rutherford…is it really still that sensitive of an issue for them that she would think it’s what he wanted her to do?

Comment by COPN Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:47 pm
With all due respect, there are some more pressing and pervasive issues than SSM. Having said that, Rutherford and Dillard have both stated their positions in that regard. Only Rauner hasn’t. You may disagree with their positions, but at least Rutherford and Dillard have positions and they aren’t afraid to voice them. Credit where credit is due.

Comment by Voice of Reason Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:54 pm
As Bernie Schoenburg reported, this expert media flack makes $108,996 in taxpayer money. Governor candidates should hire PR help with campaign funds, and Treasurer’s should hire communications directors for $48,000 a year. The IL State Treasurer’s office is not the Pentagon. http://www.sj-r.com/schoenburg/x514115748/Bernard-Schoenburg-Rutherford-to-launch-campaign-Sunday

Comment by Jon Zahm Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:13 pm
==Rutherford did seem to give her an awfully big cue.==

Perhaps, but I think he intended to answer it. I suspect it was Dan’s not so subtle way of suggesting he’d rather answer some questions that haven’t been asked and answered already.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:19 pm
Nothing like coming FROM the media, to be a press flack FOR a candidate, to then just handle the Springfield Press so … well(?).

Congratulations Mary Francis, you made sure all that “memory” of being Press is just useless to the Principle.

With your background, ya kinda failed Treasurer Rutherford, and you failed your former colleagues. A “two-fer” in bad form.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:29 pm
They had to know this question would be asked. It seems to me they may have handled it exactly as planned. Dan gave a “here we go again reaction”. Mary Francis played the tough cop and Dan responded to Amanda by saying her name, looking her directly in the eye (sunglasses) and apparently gave an answer.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:56 pm
===they may have handled it exactly as planned===

You’ve been watching too much TV.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:57 pm
Sometime those that make the “big time” get big egos and think they know it all. She needs to chill.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 2:59 pm
When your boss gets a tough question from a client/outside party,and the boss looks at you, I believe that’s code for “help”. So she did. Would have looked worse if she just stood there. I think Rutherford put her in a can’t win position.

Comment by Darienite Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 3:01 pm
=== I believe that’s code for “help”. So she did.===

You and I have different interpretations of the word “help.”

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 3:03 pm
Maybe it’s code for “embarrass me AND you, please…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 3:06 pm
Been in her shoes. It’s inconceivable that they didn’t prepare for this, especially after Rich ran with it previously. Frankly, I love it when my press friends switch to the dark side and are shocked to discover that the job is much tougher than it looks when done well. This was not an example of doing it well.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 3:30 pm
Nothin’ ever changes much with Judy–she calls ‘em as she sees it, period (and you often find yourself chuckling with both what and how she responds to things because she’s so high-Spirited, and so blunt)…!

Dan the Man, on the other hand–whoa. Needs to chill some on his style–just comes across as quite, let me be kind, abrasive somewhat at times, even arrogant. Maybe he should try that ICE Coffee they have at DD every day for a buck at DD…to let him stay sharp, but ALso to help him chill out a bit…!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 3:42 pm
Was meant to read “…for a buck, from 3 to 6 PM…!”

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 3:44 pm
He’s already answered the questions. They can’t possibly think they won’t have to repeat what they’ve already said.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 4:10 pm
Rutherford’s no rookie, and hasn’t proven to be terrible with the press. He also knows how to exit quickly without offense.

“We’re done” when Dan says so.

Comment by walkinfool Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 4:41 pm