Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar


Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives


Previous Post: Grimm on 150 - Minimum wage battles in other states - The return of “Matt the Welder” - Rauner on “right to work”
Next Post: Rauner runs new TV ad touting newspaper endorsements

*** UPDATED x2 - “Comical” - “No interest” *** Despite shout-outs, Neely says she and Rauner haven’t talked

Posted in:

* For the second time in a week, Bruce Rauner used Stephanie Neely’s name in a debate. Sun-Times

Both men also used the debate to try to win over the African-American vote.

Rauner repeatedly hit Quinn on his choice for lieutenant governor, saying Quinn passed up on City Treasurer Stephanie Neely, who is black. He also hit Quinn for what he saw as the effect his policies have had on the African-American community.

ABC 7

Rauner criticized the governor for not choosing City Treasurer Stephanie Neely as Quinn’s running mate and promised to hire Neely in a Rauner administration.

“Stephanie Neely, I know her. She’s talented, she’s a super star, I wish she was a Republican, she’s not,” Rauner said.

* NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern asked Neely about Rauner’s repeated debate shout-outs

Neely had been considered as Governor Pat Quinn’s running mate, but he choose Paul Vallas instead.

“I was honored when Gov. Quinn spoke to me,” she said in an interview with NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern. “He decided to go a different way and that is his choice and I’m not sour on him or politics because of it.”
GOP candidate Bruce Rauner mentioned Neely’s name to her surprise at last week’s debate focusing on African American issues.

“I was sitting there in the audience and I was like, ‘What?’” she said.

* More from Ahern’s Twitter feed


Rauner: "I'm going to ask Steph Neely to join me" My exclusive interview today she said he has never spoken to her, and she's surprised

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) October 21, 2014

Neely said "he threw me under the bus" when Rauner mentioned her and never contacted her #ILGovDebate

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) October 21, 2014

Stephanie Neely says "I'd rather not get dragged into this" she's taken aback by being mentioned twice by Rauner in tonight's #ILGOVDebate

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) October 21, 2014

*** UPDATE 1 *** With a big hat tip to a commenter


.@StephanieNeely says she's a "card-carrying Democrat" supporting @GovernorQuinn and has no interest in joining a Rauner administration.

— Fran Spielman (@fspielman) October 21, 2014

*** UPDATE 2 *** From Fran Spielman’s story

On Tuesday, Neely said she was “amused” by Rauner’s comment, but not at all interested in joining a Rauner administration. She called herself a “card-carrying Democrat” who is supporting Quinn.

“I’m not sure what he’s trying to do with that, but I’m not gonna be drawn into that kind of craziness. I actually find it somewhat comical. I have a job. I’ve already accepted a job,” she said.

“We need to be debating what’s best for the state of Illinois — not trying to use me as some kind of go-to to make somebody else look bad. The state has some serious problems. We need to be debating that. I’m not part of that conversation.”

If Rauner was attempting to use Neely to siphon African-American votes from Quinn, it won’t work, the retiring treasurer said.

“The voting public in Chicago and Illinois is very smart. They’re not gonna be manipulated by things like that. They’re gonna look at the real issues and decide who’s the best governor,” she said.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:53 am

Comments

  1. It sounds like he knows who she is and is impressed by her performance.

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:56 am

  2. ===“Stephanie Neely, I know her. She’s talented, she’s a super star, I wish she was a Republican, she’s not,” Rauner said.===

    I’m sure ole Slip and Sue felt good about that. lol.

    I mean Slip and Sue tried to get a job with the Quinn Administration.

    “Stephanie Neely, I know her. She’s talented, she’s a super star, I wish she was a Republican, she’s not,” Rauner said.

    “I’m stuck with Slip and Sue. I sure would have liked Ms. Neely.” (SNARK)

    Priceless.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:56 am

  3. Neely said “he threw me under the bus” when Rauner mentioned her and never contacted her ….

    Typical of Rauner.

    Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:57 am

  4. Hire em without talking to them, fire em with threats, go after their husbands because of their careers. Bruce sure knows how to the ladies on their toes!

    Tip: If he asks about your family, you’re gonna want to go ahead and decline the job.

    Comment by haverford Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:57 am

  5. “Some of my best friends are City Treasurers.”

    Comment by phocion Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:59 am

  6. It sounds like Ms. Neely is in a pretty good position to negotiate terms.

    Comment by Casual Observer Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:02 am

  7. Neely has no interest in being Bruce’s black friend https://twitter.com/fspielman/status/524571224160997376

    Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:02 am

  8. He’s talked more about Stephanie Neely than he has about Evelyn Sanguinetti. What’s up with that?

    Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:06 am

  9. The Neely attack on Quinn is so ridiculous. Evidently because Quinn considered an African American as his Lt. Gov. but ultimately didn’t choose this one particular person, he is anti-African American.

    Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:07 am

  10. “Rauner treats woman as campaign prop.”

    Is this where I’m supposed to feign surprise?

    – MrJM

    Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:08 am

  11. Yup - pretty obvious why he did this and I think Precinct Captain said it best. She has no interest in being his “black friend.”

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:11 am

  12. Before becoming Treasurer, Neely worked in finance. Why did Rauner never offer her a job at GTCR?

    Comment by Urban Girl Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:13 am

  13. Sad. After all these years, Rauner finally found a black person he would hire and she’s not interested.

    Maybe he should have talked to her first.

    Another strange tactic from the cheez-whiz kids.

    Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:16 am

  14. This is an example of a Mike Frerichs-type of self-inflicted injury.

    We have the only candidate in the race with a female or minority running mate, who is facing off against two tickets full of white males, playing defense on both his view of minorities and his treatment of females.

    Looks like things went awry somewhere with that == plan ==, if it was the plan.

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:16 am

  15. ==- Urban Girl - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:13 am:==

    BR: “They weren’t there.”

    PQ’s question last night, “Where’d you look?”

    Hint: Bruce didn’t look anywhere because it wasn’t important to him to have a diverse workforce.

    Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:22 am

  16. SN: I’d rather not get dragged into this.

    BR: Do you have a family to think about?

    Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:25 am

  17. He likes her. Period. Never say never Stephanie. Opportunity knocks on doors, windows, ceilings and floors. You never know where it could come from when you do a really good job.

    Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:25 am

  18. I don’t care what Neely or any other democrats do regarding rauner but I will say this, after rauner goes down in flames and he will go down in flames, any ‘republican official’ who was so lacking in courage and or intellectual/moral strength as to support the rauner candidacy will need to be replaced with people of character.

    Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:27 am

  19. - Never say never Stephanie. -

    In your head do these people talk back to you?

    Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:28 am

  20. Nope. But I’ve seen people redefine Never before. Pretty often in fact.

    Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:32 am

  21. A Guy, he likes her, huh? Maybe he should have talked to her before he decided to transparently use her as a campaign prop.

    Like Rauner’’s tactic, your Baghdad Bruceism is comical.

    But I’m sure Neely will take your well-intentioned advice in the spirit that it’s offered.

    Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:33 am

  22. @William Kelly @ 11:27 am…..

    Amen!)

    Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:34 am

  23. ===Never say never Stephanie.===

    Rauner will make you an “offer you can’t refuse”…

    Danger afoot, Stephanie…danger afoot.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:35 am

  24. ==- A guy… - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:25 am:==

    But he didn’t like her, or any Black American, enough to hire them while he was running GTCR.

    Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:38 am

  25. ===In your head do these people talk back to you?===

    Literally spit out my coffee on that one.

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:38 am

  26. I wonder if these sort of comments focus group well with independents.

    Comment by Hamilton Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:39 am

  27. It sounds like she knows who he is and is not impressed by his performance.

    Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:43 am

  28. Nicely done, @Bigtwich

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:46 am

  29. BR-”Stephanie Neely, I know her.”

    SN-”he threw me under the bus” when Rauner mentioned her and never contacted her.

    He could have said, I know about her or I know her reputation, but he said “I know her”. Apparently not. Pants on fire Bruce. Enough said.

    Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:50 am

  30. Reminds me when Rauner talked about talking with MJM often and is going to work in a bi-partisan manner.

    Ask. Representative. Frank. Mautino.

    That’s exactly right.

    Rauner thinks all these people he “talks” to or “knows”…they love them some Bruce.

    Stunning.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:55 am

  31. Bruce can shake this one off, I am sure he has binders full of city treasurers he can hire.

    Comment by dgd Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:57 am

  32. No wonder Bruce doesn’t hire women. They wipe they floor with him.

    Comment by PolPal56 Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:59 am

  33. - phocion - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 10:59 am:

    =“Some of my best friends are City Treasurers.”=

    HA!

    Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:00 pm

  34. Well, that’s not accurate, but you know what I mean. He doesn’t seem to have much luck, even when he threatens them with radioactivity.

    Comment by PolPal56 Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:03 pm

  35. === Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 11:38 am:

    ===In your head do these people talk back to you?===

    Literally spit out my coffee on that one.===

    Of course you did.

    Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:04 pm

  36. Last debate he mentioned Toi Hutchinson. This time it’s Stephanie Neely. Who’s next? Jehan Gordon-Booth? Go Federal with Robin Kelly? Think Rauner has a Palin-esque list of African-American women in Illinois government that he can glance at, pick a name, and toss out to show how relevant and inclusive he is?

    Comment by Archiesmom Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:10 pm

  37. What I would love to see Rauner say to Quinn “Oh yah..your running mate Vallas–he REALLY wanted to be my running mate…approached me about it…why–because our view of schools/education is the same”–Quinn would really pucker over that one….

    Comment by Funny Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:23 pm

  38. @Funny, or == Remember that time Paul Vallas essentially left the Democratic Party and then requested a Republican ballot in 2010? All while you were running in the Democratic primary? ==

    https://capitolfax.com/2013/11/14/vallas-brother-quinn-2010-loss-would-have-restored-democracy-to-illinois/#comment-11386946

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:40 pm

  39. - Literally spit out my coffee on that one. -

    I do for almost every one of guy’s posts.

    He speaks for and to the masses, big or small, Democrat or Republican, and he knows them all personally.

    He is the most interesting man in the world. He doesn’t always compliment Republicans, but when he does, they’re Bruce Rauner.

    Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:57 pm

  40. Hey Bozo Bruce! She’s not voting for you! Hello?

    Comment by low level Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 1:19 pm

  41. He was going to go with Rosa Parks first but someone told him she wasn’t “available”

    Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 1:48 pm

  42. ==Last debate he mentioned Toi Hutchinson. This time it’s Stephanie Neely. Who’s next?==

    If there was one more debate, he’d find a way to include Toni Preckwinkle as women (who just happen to be black) he now admires

    Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 2:28 pm

  43. With pandering like that it’s hard to claim you are not just another politician.

    Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 2:35 pm

  44. === Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 12:57 pm:

    - Literally spit out my coffee on that one. -

    I do for almost every one of guy’s posts.

    He speaks for and to the masses, big or small, Democrat or Republican, and he knows them all personally.

    He is the most interesting man in the world. He doesn’t always compliment Republicans, but when he does, they’re Bruce Rauner.====

    Lookie, another satisfied customer.

    Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:12 pm

  45. Bruce Rauner’s continuing use of Ms. Neely as a political football is not only highly demeaning and offensive but smacks of a politically desperate candidate.

    Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:01 pm

  46. Or, he just likes her.

    Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:32 pm

  47. Guy, but he has never talked to her. The question can be parsed two ways. If he thinks so highly of her, why has he never met her? He’s given money to other Ds. If he’s never met her why did he use her name in the context he did (going to bring her into his administration) without first having talked to her?

    I’m willing to buy that this is all pretty much well meant by him, but it comes across as so recent and contrived. “I can bring these black ministers around, especially if I put a little money in the ministries. Yeah, and I can both invest and give to this black SOL. Oh, D–n, I don’t have any black professionals working for me. Hey, I would be glad to have Stephanie Neely working for me if I’m Gov. I can say that, use it to gore Quinn a little. Hey, I bet I could hire quite a few black people if I became Gov. That’s a great idea. Have the guys get me some more names. I wonder if Meeks would be interested? What do you suppose he makes at that church?”

    That’s how it comes across to me, at least. Still good things happening or can happen, but seems so late to the dance and as I said, contrived.

    Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:44 pm

  48. Schnorf, hilariously contrived.

    He’s never talked to her but he announces on TV that he’s going to give her a job in his administration.

    Just oozes sincerity.

    Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:55 pm

  49. Bruce Rauner sees Ms. Neely as a talking point jab, a push-button pivot.

    Or.

    Bruce Rauner admires her, albeit the timing and rationale to express his admiration seems contrived.

    Vote. Accordingly.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:57 pm

  50. New ad: (kinda like the Washington one)

    Stephanie Neely: “Voting for Bruce Rauner would be the worst mistake ever. I’m voting for Gov. Quinn”

    Comment by low level Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 6:12 pm

Add a comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.

Previous Post: Grimm on 150 - Minimum wage battles in other states - The return of “Matt the Welder” - Rauner on “right to work”
Next Post: Rauner runs new TV ad touting newspaper endorsements


Last 10 posts:

more Posts (Archives)

WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.

powered by WordPress.