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* I told subscribers about this development earlier today. The stuff in the following piece about Emanuel somehow being behind these mailers seems pretty implausible to me. But, aside from that, have a look…
This week Democratic lawmakers across the City of Chicago have been hit with direct mail brochures criticizing them for their “failure” to help Chicago school students and linked them to budget impasse in Springfield.
A “Democratic” Super PAC – IllinoisGO – is the paid sponsor of the mail pieces and is politically aligned with Governor Bruce Rauner, which is led by an ex-aide to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Greg Goldner.
At a press conference in Springfield on Wednesday, Madigan called out Goldner by name not once but twice regarding the mail pieces, one of which also landed in Madigan’s district.
“The language, the tone, and the message are remarkably similar to Governor Rauner’s message and this was done by Greg Goldner,” said Madigan, flashing copies of the mailers to reporters. “These mailers are similar to those mailers done throughout the City of Chicago; they were done by Greg Goldner, and the language was remarkably similar to the message that comes out of the governor and the governor’s office.”
Madigan linked Goldner to Rauner. “In my judgment, these two people have come together,” Madigan said.
A sample mailer is here. Subscribers have the complete target list.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:27 pm
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The alleged Goldner connection is specious at best. Speaker is getting a little sensitive lately.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:36 pm
This is a clear reminder;
Rauner is a Raunerite.
An alleged Republican governor wants to insert his political influence into the Democratic Primaries?
Nope. Worse.
A governor, who bought a political party, lock, stock, and barrel, is now consolidating, not because of true ideology, but the belief of getting 60 and 30 Raunerites is far more important than any political party, period.
If you’re ignoring the major implications of the pretending by Rauner he’s behind IllinoisGO, you’re missing the whole point of Rauner’s $100 million “Fire Madigan, 2.0″ prong, and the infiltrating the party Rauner doesn’t own.
It’s never, ever, been about Rauner being or building the Illinois Republican Party. Its about building a Raunerite governing apparatus.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:37 pm
I got one yesterday and circular-filed it.
My legislators are Kelly Cassidy and Heather Steans. I’ll continue to trust them far more than I will Bruce Rauner and his fellow corporate travelers.
Comment by Northsider Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:38 pm
And this helps move the FY 16 budget ball forward how?
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:40 pm
Have you seen IllinoisGO?
She is walking down Halsted Street in tight neon pink stretch lycra hot pants, with a see-through halter top and would love to spend some time with you for a very nominal fee!
Such a nice organization!
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:41 pm
“If you’re ignoring the major implications of the pretending by Rauner he’s not behind IllinoisGO…”
Apologies
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:42 pm
“I got one yesterday and circular-filed it.”
Mark it “Return to Sender” and put back in the mail. They have to pay full fare on the return postage. That is what I do with my junk mail from political campaigns.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:43 pm
I am not buying that the Mayor is behind it. I think he is too smart to do that in his own backyard. Unlike the Gov. who lacks the political saavy to realize it could backfire.
Comment by burbanite Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:46 pm
I agree with Rich that this is probably not a Rauner/Rahm tag team hit. Seems like it’s just IllinoisGO(P) looking to flash some of their cash and let Chicago-based Dems know they’re lurking.
However, I have heard that Madigan has raised an eyebrow or two over the Rahm-Goldner connection. He just put that out in the open.
Comment by Phil Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:53 pm
From the video of his press conference, it sure looked like this mailer got under the skin of Speaker Madigan.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:54 pm
- Louis G. Atsaves -,
This is a Yes or No question;
“Is Bruce Rauner behind IllinoisGO?”
It’s a Yes or No
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:55 pm
A couple of thoughts come to mind…it looks like a beverage tax will happen (one of Goldner’s clients), and
How much will the Gov’s head explode when MJM wins more seats in 2016? I believe more so each week that MJM will add to his majority in 2016.
Comment by Fan Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Super waste of money. A lot of media consultants are cleaning up at the expense of politically active uber rich class. Why wait between elections when you can operate year round.
Comment by Liberty Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:05 pm
For the Speaker to complain about mailpieces is really outrageous. How many misleading mailpieces has he sent out over the decades?
Comment by Just Me Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:12 pm
That’s Step One.
Step Two will be tne Rauner/Emanuel “Dems” primarying incumbents.
Rauner has flip-flopped and made a lot of mistakes for lack of a realistic governing strategy.
But, baby, we’ve never seen in this state the kind of money he and his crew are willing to shell out for campaigns. Money can mitigate a lot of screwups.
In this era of unlimited and often secret money, will an Eychaner and some Pritzkers want to go toe-to-toe with Rauner, Uiehlein, Zell and Griff to stop a subversion of the Democratic Party? We’ll see. The unions can’t match those guys.
The real Dems advantages are the ground game and their candidates.
The Rauner/Emanuel “Dems” challenge will be recruiting credible candidates who dont come off as…… bought and paid for. Money wont be a problem.
Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:12 pm
Even if the Mayor is in no way behind this, it is still significant that some of Rahm’s former supporters have gone Rauner’s way, even so far as to directly attack Madigan and Dem House members. It speaks to OW’s framing of Raunerism ahead of party affiliation.
I’m accepting that this PAC has some pro-Rauner Dems in it. Disaster-mongers, victimhood-languishers, and super-wealthy-worshipers from both parties.
(Not to be too judgmental about it. LOL)
Comment by walker Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:14 pm
=== it is still significant that some of Rahm’s former supporters have gone Rauner’s way===
That’s not unusual. Lots of Republicans, including Rauner himself, helped bankroll Daley. It’s the Chicago way.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:19 pm
Saw this ad on Youtube. Wasn’t unreasonable at all. The three Democrats are pro business that are on the board. I thinks its a decent move by Democrats to show they are not corrupt and can be business friendly. I don’t believe its possible, but have met Democrats who do think like this.
From Crains:In an announcement this morning, Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity says that even though its founders are Democrats, the party has “lacked strong executive leadership.” As a result, it asserts, “special interests have had far too much influence in setting public policy. We’re organizing this effort to provide Democrats with the support they need to make the tough, but responsible, decisions to correct our state’s financial course, better serve our most vulnerable residents, and grow our economy.”
Comment by Dudeman Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:20 pm
@rich: yes. But is it equally true that lots of Democrats have bankrolled Republican governors?
Comment by walker Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:26 pm
===But is it equally true that lots of Democrats have bankrolled Republican governors?===
Not sure what you’re getting at here.
A lot of rich people are all over the place on their giving. And, keep in mind, Rauner is one of their very own kind.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:28 pm
===The alleged Goldner connection is specious at best===
LOL
You do realize that Goldner runs IllinoisGO right?
Sheesh, man, take a nap or something.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Ideas for names for the IE committee that will be created to take on IllinoisGO:
“Illinois Stay”
“RaunerGO”
“Come on Greg & Amy, who ya ********”
Anything but another MILF PAC, really.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:39 pm
What I’m getting at is OW has been right all along. The only party label that makes sense here is Raunerite.
Comment by walker Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:48 pm
@Just me said “for the speaker to complain about mail pieces…”
He wasn’t complaining as much as pointing to that mailer as proof of Rauner’s connection to IllinoisGO(P).
Comment by Phil Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 2:57 pm
A lot of those districts are 65% D so I have no idea what this campaign is supposed to accomplish. Are Ann Williams or Kelly Cassidy or Kim Lightford or Donne Trotter supposed to be scared off by this? What’s the point?
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:04 pm
I think the point is they are setting these legislators up for primary challengers funded by the alleged “democratic business executives.”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:10 pm
The mailer is certainly a mixed message: “State politicians have been overspending and overpromising for years.” Followed by “Illinois is last in state education funding” and “lawmakers voted to skip pension payments” So, when I call my lawmaker, do I complain that they are spending too much or not enough? If I want him/her to “balance the budget” with more spending, do I need to ask for higher taxes?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:18 pm
- Chicago Cynic -
Things are going two-fold here;
One, Rauner, an alleged Republican, through a sham Democratic PAC, is spending monies against sitting Democratic legislators. Madigan is making the point of this, not the messaging in the mail.
Two? Rauner is setting the table for IllinoisGO to spend the $9 million on hand and whatever is raised to either unseat sitting Dem legislators with Raunerite “Dem” legislators, or make Madigan spend an enormous amount of money on Primary seats that shouldn’t need money spent on them.
Rauner’s dishonesty about that premise, and these two actions is the point. If Rauner, honestly, took ownership (constant theme, no?) half of this would just be a Raunerite Party, out in the open, attacking Democrats, instead of the owner of the ILGOP pretending a sham PAC is just so upset with Democratic legislators, they feel the need, on their own, to attack them.
It’s the beginning of Blago’s Dream; a Governor’s Party, outside of Dems and the GOP.
Rauner’s only tweak is he bought the GOP as a base of operation, a shell corporation to begin his quest.
So, that’s it…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:22 pm
Goldner is all about making money and thats his agenda.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-5-million-dollar-campaign-contribution-illinois-met-0501-20150430-story.html
Comment by Elwood Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:23 pm
Anon310, I get that idea. But look at the list Rich posted earlier and you’ll find only a handful of the 50 targeted who could conceivably face such a challenge. It’s just a waste of Rauner’s money, but I’m sure Goldner was happy to take it.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:23 pm
This is good stuff. These mailers inform voters and hold elected officials accountable. Hope to see more. Much more.
Comment by Georg Sande Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:57 pm
- walker -,
In this instance, I dunno if being right is something I want to be happy about…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 4:00 pm
I also got mine and pitched it. Cullerton and Ann Williams are my legislators.
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 4:11 pm
@george:
Agreed! Need to send a mailer to everyone in Illinois and let the know that Bruce clears an extra $14,000.00 a week sine since the income tax expired in January.
In a months time he clears what the average American makes in a full year.
Just a regular guy who wears a carhartt, drives a crappy van, and a wife who fixes his tattered shirts! Like in the cute TV commercials he ran last year!
Accountability!
Comment by Jack Stephens Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 4:17 pm
did he do the editorial and layout of the piece, or did he hire outsiders? (yes, besides the it’s like the governor statement, which I don’t contest.) would be interesting to know with whom Greggie travels via contracts these days.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 5:49 pm
hilarious quarterly report. $9m in assets, $30.00 in expenditures.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 5:55 pm
===or did he hire outsiders?===
Subscribe.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 6:02 pm
I got my mailer and will be “green” and will be recycling it by returning it to the sender. D’Amico and Silverstein are my legislators.
Comment by Bootleg Carhartt Designer Friday, Aug 7, 15 @ 9:32 am