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* With three, long weeks to go before primary day, one wonders what other shoes are gonna drop in this race. Man, this is one brutal spot…
* Script…
Sen. Sam McCann is falling apart. First he got caught evading his taxes, dodging nearly 200 grand, forcing the state to dissolve his business. Then McCann was taken to court three times for unpaid credit card debt. Now we learn McCann used campaign money as a personal slush fund, cashing in over 80 grand in potentially fraudulent mileage reimbursements. A politician who makes the law, then breaks the law. That’s sleazy Sam McCann
Oy.
…Adding… From comments…
Win or lose this race…Rauner crew wins. Which legislator is going to step out of line now, if it means having this sort of stuff dumped on your head?
Much the same goes for Madigan and Dunkin.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:11 am
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Maybe an ad having Bryce peeking out of Rauner’s hip pocket or wallet would be a good counter, or shackled to Rauner’s motorcycle, some sort of bought and paid for theme. McCann voting his constituency not the Governor’s agenda. I don’t know but McCann might be better off not going defensive, adwise.
Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:21 am
Though brutal, Sam could counter with a governing spot highlighting his resolve to represent his constituents - taking the high road while pointing out voting any other way would cede power to a puppet (scene of hands manipulating a marionette ~ with crowd of on-lookers with stitched mouths - representing their lack of voice)
Comment by Captain Illini Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:22 am
When the state police FOP (Union) endorses McCann over one of there own. That tells tells you something. Plus McCann’s ground game is too good.
Comment by Trolling Troll Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:23 am
They lost me half way through the ad; good closer but way too many details before that. Wonder if people will tune it out before they get to the closer?
McCann’s rebuttal to this will be important, if he can…
Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:24 am
I wonder if the Rauner people running this campaign have done some polling showing that Benton is behind. This really smacks of desperation and is one of nastiest ads I’ve ever seen. They use the word sleazy to describe McCann. I’d say those who run ads like this are sleazy. Correct me if I’m wrong but it hasn’t been established that McCann did anything illegal with his mileage disbursements but the ad is strongly implying that he has.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:24 am
===have done some polling showing that Benton is behind===
Subscribe.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:27 am
Rough ad. Clearly they are going to stop at nothing in their attempt to unseat Sam.
And it appears they have a functional ground game. Had someone come to the house last night passing out campaign literature (postcard) for Benton. They were polite when I just handed it back to them and told them I was supporting Sam. Didn’t think to ask if they were volunteer or paid. If it hadn’t been dinnertime with a late on the table, I might have taken more time with the walker.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:28 am
Looking forward to seeing McCann’s rebuttal. I still believe he is the best person to represent his people. The only thing he has done wrong, is vote for his people.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:29 am
Win or lose this race…Rauner crew wins. Which legislator is going to step out of line now, if it means having this sort of stuff dumped on your head?
Comment by Red Ranger Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:32 am
Better than the “Because Madigan…” ads. But I think the killer line of attack is that he wants to raise your taxes while dodging his. I would put real people on the screen talking about that.
Comment by Century Club Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:36 am
Mr/Ms Red Ranger:
If $uper$tarS let this one get away it will be hard for them to hold down the other hostages. The $tars are a big load for the Trooper to drag around. Avery and Sara havin’ same problem.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:41 am
Proft has already made himself look bad. Rauner is proving himself to be one of the bad guys. This only makes me want to support mccann more.
Comment by anonymous Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:43 am
Three weeks out is when the most brutal attack ads appear. Later they’re lost in the noise. Sadly this is right out of the standard play book of both parties in Illinois.
Comment by walker Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:45 am
McCann just listened to the loudest voices in his district to try to keep his job. The gov’s approval rating among Republicans in the district is 62% according to the subscriber supplement this morning.
Comment by Free Roddy B Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:47 am
== If $uper$tarS let this one get away it will be hard for them to hold down the other hostages. ==
- Annonin’ - nailed it.
If McCann wins the primary, it is proof you want split from Rauner and still survive. It will be the crack in the Raunerite dike that could leadvto the GA finally deciding to oppose / bypass Rauner on the bills needed to actually run the state. That looks to be the only way the budget stalemate ever gets resolved.
The citizens of this state better hope McCann wins.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:50 am
“Can”, not ” want” …
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:51 am
Has it not occurred to the superstars that a lot of voters have experienced financial difficulties in the past decade? If the goal of the ad was to generate anger toward McCann it failed, at least with me.
Comment by northsider (the original) Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:53 am
No one denies that the claims are true. Statist Republicans like McCann now must stand behind their record or move out of the way.
Comment by Muscular Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 11:53 am
Proft, Illinois’s own Ted Cruz.
Comment by Fr. Murphy Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 12:07 pm
I will admit that is a better ad than the others. The thing that will help McCann is the democrats crossing over to help him (as Rich first reported today). Benton will get no one to cross over for him. Also, the pro-Benton ads have been taken down completely - which tells me that Benton’s polling shows him behind.
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 12:09 pm
== No one denies that the claims are true. ==
Depicting the mileage claim as improper is questionable at best. Those of us who see Sam at functions all over his district know the area he covers. Yes, he claimed that amount but it appears reasonable given his appearances.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 12:10 pm
@fr murphy ted cruz would not be funding the likes of ken dunkin or larry dominick. That would be political suicide for a ted cruz.
Comment by anonymous Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 12:16 pm
These ads are the polar opposite of Benton. He’s a nice guy. But win or lose, he’ll be tarred with this nasty stuff from here on. I’m not sure I’d want to hitch my wagon to this Governor.
Comment by Sangamo Sam Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 12:37 pm
One of the comments I have read here on Cap Fax a while back made a good point, at least to me. Benton has made it clear that he would have voted against the arbitration bill. He doesn’t think that other state employees, many who perform services that are pretty important too, deserve the same rights as he has in his state job. Maybe Sam should remind people of this. Sam hasn’t really made it clear that the union that represents Benton did not endorse him either. People need to know this if he is to win.
Comment by Small Town Girl Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 12:55 pm
Brutal, but this is a big, old dose of karma for McCann.
McCann shamelessly presented himself as a potential independent candidate for Governor against Rauner — to the point where he didn’t participate in the last GOP primary election. Then McCann opposed key tenets of Rauner’s legislative program and embarrassed them.
Right, wrong, “listening to the district”, or sticking it to Rauner, did McCann really not believe these things would come back to haunt him?
Comment by Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 1:02 pm
Assuming Benton loses… Gov’s office should take care of him with some kind of job, right? Shows other rauner candidates they will be protected/taken care of. I certainly hope Benton ironed that detail out early on.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 1:02 pm
“Assuming Benton loses… Gov’s office should take care of him with some kind of job, right? Shows other rauner candidates they will be protected/taken care of. I certainly hope Benton ironed that detail out early on.”
Benton has a job. He works for Illinois State Police.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 1:23 pm
–Win or lose this race…Rauner crew wins. Which legislator is going to step out of line now, if it means having this sort of stuff dumped on your head?
Much the same goes for Madigan and Dunkin.–
The difference is, McCann is getting tuned up for a meaningless vote on one bill where Rauner prevailed, anyway.
Dunkin is in a jackpot because his flip was a true game-changer and the key to governor’s legislative objectives (whatever they are).
Any examples of past legislators of either party who got the McCann treatment for a meaningless vote?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 1:28 pm
I haven’t voted in a primary for like 20 years. But I’m going to this year, just to vote for McCann.
Comment by IllinoisBoi Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 1:38 pm
== Benton has a job. He works for Illinois State Police. ==
In a lot of states or federal, he would have to take a leave of absence. Not in Illinois, here Benton just has to not campaign on State time.
Still have to wonder if there isn’t an ethical violation with the use of the uniform.
5 ILCS 430/5-15)
Sec. 5-15. Prohibited political activities.
(a) … State employees shall not intentionally misappropriate any State property or resources by engaging in any prohibited political activity for the benefit of any campaign for elective office …
The activity of running for office isn’t prohibited, but he definitely used the uniform in his ads. The way the statute is written, it’s not clear.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 1:58 pm
Brutal ad - and much better than anything else Liberty PAC has put up before. I give it an A.
And for those who think that this is “dirt digging” - court records are public. I can Google search any of it right now. Not a hard assignment and not really a stretch.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:02 pm
RNUG - those were not HIS ads, though. Bryce’s walk cards and lit have no photos of him in uniform.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:03 pm
I’m sticking with Sam because the intensity of the fury against him means Sam’s ticking somebody off and that’s the temperament I want, not a yes man.
Comment by Union Man Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:13 pm
“In a lot of states or federal, he would have to take a leave of absence. Not in Illinois, here Benton just has to not campaign on State time.”
I agree RNUG. It doen’t pass the smell test. In times past I bet ISP would have made him take a leave of absence.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:20 pm
Cmon RNUG. you’re a sharp cat. You know the benton TV ads are from a PAC, so technically Benton has nothing to do with them. The actual stuff (ie. Lit) from Benton’s campaign account doesn’t have him in uniform.
Comment by No to trump Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:25 pm
- Team Sleep -
Good point. But if you prove he POSED for those photos …
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:32 pm
RNUG - correct, but those photos of Bryce included other officers who obviously would have NEVER signed off on such a move. FOP and ISP legal would have pitched dual hissy fits.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:38 pm
A Liberty Principle PAC add from Chicago. No mention/picture of Benton. The ads are not even done by Benton. None of their ads say why Benton is a better candidate. But apparently one vote is enough for you to become a ’sleazy politician’ and out of the club house. So ‘now we learn…’, ‘we’ is who? People who live in the district or PAC script writers who never set foot in the district but who are sure spending giant dollars to make their point. Hope McCann wins just on principles to spite the big dollars.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 2:56 pm
…and the group is calling folks with the same stuff. I played along and said, “regardless who I vote for, I respect anyone who stands up to their party”.
Comment by Lots_of_Calls Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 3:05 pm
==Also, the pro-Benton ads have been taken down completely - which tells me that Benton’s polling shows him behind.==
Absolutely wrong, 360. You’d know that if you actually paid to subscribe to Capitol Fax instead of using this free soap box to make bogus claims.
Comment by phocion Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 3:14 pm
Milage may be a huge issue in Chicago where a district may be 20 square blocks. McCann covers 7 counties. I live in his area and he must have two indentical clones working with him to help cover his appearances. There are very few major community events in those counties where he does not show and it is not just walking the holiday parades. The man does serious road time.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 4:39 pm
RNUG and TS, the picture you reference shows Benton either on the day he was first sworn or at an ISP awards ceremony. I would agree that none of those officers in the photo, including the Director who served under Quinn, gave consent to anyone, PAC’s included.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 5:16 pm
Just think of all the senate/rep folks out there that would prefer their history not be scrutinized. Sam, unlike Rich and Raymond, decided to stand & fight.
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 6:37 pm
Is this not the same tar and feather job used on Dan Rutherford and his bid for the Governor’s Office?
Comment by Power House Prowler Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 6:41 pm
if the teachers and afscme don’t save McCann, they might as well fold their tents and go home: game over!
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 24, 16 @ 7:44 pm
If these types of ads consistently run through the primary, I don’t think the unions can stop McCann’s defeat. This is a very effective spot.
Comment by Georg Sande Thursday, Feb 25, 16 @ 6:01 am