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* We talked last week about the People Who Play by the Rules PAC ad featuring Beverly Miles, who ran for governor in the Democratic primary…
As retired military, the words ‘duty and honor’ mean everything to me. Those values mean nothing to Governor Pritzker, who tried to get me fired from my job as a nurse. People like me and you need to STAND UP to J.B. Pritzker’s mafia politics.
WGN and NBC Chicago pulled the ad down after legal threats by the Pritzker campaign. Pritzker flatly denies ever doing such a thing.
* Streetsblog Chicago co-editor John Greenfield notes that Miles previously said she couldn’t prove that Pritzker was the one who beefed about her allegedly violating the federal Hatch Act, and her attorney concurred…
Yep. Miles says in this ad "[Pritzker] tried to get me fired." But she previously told Patch, "I can't prove [Pritzker tried to get me fired.]" (1/2)https://t.co/iLDBEBC94D pic.twitter.com/GoajEbwdUX
— John Greenfield (@greenfieldjohn) September 27, 2022
Well, that’s not good. Sure appears actionable, unless they’ve uncovered some new evidence which they haven’t yet shared.
* I was watching Fox 32 Sunday evening and saw Proft’s Beverly Miles ad. I asked the Pritzker campaign about it, and the campaign’s legal team apparently reached out and gave the station until the end of business today to pull the ad off the air.
Well, according to the Pritzker campaign, this :15 spot is now running on the station and the firing allegation is not in it…
The punch has been taken out of it.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 9:54 am
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The cherry on top is in the reply Mr. Greenfield added to his original tweet.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:04 am
It’s not an ad that plays like “person in the street” anecdotal, not really saying much to… anything.
What new voters will this bring? What will this do to tamp down Pritzker’s numbers?
All Proft did was edit the ad to get it in air to 1) not get sued, 2) get his media buy fee.
If I look at it from those two Proft angles, the ad is a home run.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:06 am
Why didn’t Miles alternatively consider skipping the primary and run as a Green instead?
Comment by Just Saying Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:09 am
All of these Proft ads are so off putting. Just angry people yelling at me. Yuck.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:12 am
==run as a Green==
Still partisan. Still a Hatch Act violation.
Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:13 am
If candidate Miles was a federal employee, in a job that is not allowed to run for political office while employed, then it is more likely that a colleague at work or a supervisor at work contacted the ethics office. In addition, if she were to have used “workplace resources” (webpages, email, phone, interpersonal conversations at work, etc.) or work time to do any politicking, it is equally likely that here employer or a colleague sent her name to the ethics office.
In this context, I cannot understand why candidate Miles would suggest the Governor (but no other candidates) is the culprit. Indeed, it could have equally been a Republican neighbor as the governor. But my bet would be on a colleague at work. I would want to see actual proof before believing her claim as stated.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:26 am
I wish I had as much money to waste as Dan Proft seems to have.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:33 am
I think Konkol needs a “special council” of editors and spellcheckers.
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:34 am
If she violated the Hatch Act, she should have been fired. Asking her to drop out to keep her job is like letting a bank robber return the money.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:34 am
==reply Mr. Greenfield added to his original tweet==
From Pulitzer Prize to Patch… quite the ride.
Comment by Vote Quimby Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:36 am
Ms. Miles’s actions also violated the Hatch Act. Why be punished for illegal activity someone else noticed?
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:45 am
“From Pulitzer Prize to Patch… quite the ride.”
He’s been like a rabid anti-JB dog with a sock he won’t let go since he was fired from the Reader for the racist anti-JB cartoon. But what’s even more interesting is that he hasn’t written a column for the Patch since early August. Did even the Patch get tired of his one note Johnny act?
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:46 am
The hatch act is well known by fed employees, though I can’t belive this supreme court would rule it to be constitutional. It was more likely a coworkers or supervisor that reported candidate Miles. I don’t see the Guv wasting the time even making the phone call.
Comment by DTAG Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:48 am
Pritzker himself may not have done it, but don’t you think the people who tried getting Miles fired were doing so because she was running against Pritzker? You’re getting into Mike Madigan territory where you’re saying you don’t have a text or email proving something, but everybody can connect the dots and see what’s going on. Something can be impossible to prove legally, but that doesn’t make it wrong. And even if these people acted without any coordination from Pritzker but simply on his behalf, it’s still a rotten thing to do, don’t you agree? That trying to get a nurse fired for running against the governor is bad?
Comment by Correcting Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:52 am
Here’s the sitch;
If you’re more into questioning how it was found out that Miles might be in violation of the Hatch Act, instead of a discussion that the Hatch Act might be violated… you might be too partisan to the discussion.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 10:57 am
===And even if these people acted without any coordination from Pritzker but simply on his behalf, it’s still a rotten thing to do, don’t you agree?===
You’re now opposed to whistleblowers? If she was in violation of a federal law that has been on the books forever, and the statute is pretty darned clear, what’s your actual beef?
Also, you might wanna lay off the paranoia juice.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:04 am
===Mike Madigan territory===
It’s a Madigan’s fault kinda thing… are you just plum ignoring if the Act was violated?
How do you reconcile all this?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:07 am
Wait, she’s complaining someone ratted her out about violating the law? Giving her the option of resigning to run for office, or get fired for violating the law, while running for office? Which she had no real chance of winning. I would think it was someone trying to help her make a reasonable decision. Keep your good federal job, or quit to run for a job you have no real chance in winning. Or apparently, chase windmills and have someone else document your efforts.
Comment by frustrated GOP Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:11 am
Willie is right about this. Miles violated the law. Reporting a federal violation is not a dirty trick.
Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:13 am
@Correcting - Your argument is really tortured. You suggest in the literal absence of evidence, we assume it must have been Pritzker, someone who wanted Pritzker to win, or maybe even Madigan. This is the substance of irrational thought.
At best, we have no reason to blame Pritzker, by your admission. So why blame Pritzker? You would convict just because you can make an argument divorced of facts?
You suggest, if something cannot be proven true, we should conclude it isn’t wrong. I am not sure where that form or reasoning would prove useful, but not in court, and not in reality. It is the realm of fiction to build an argument divorce of fact.
Sorry, but your argument is just very weak. It would be easier to find a reason not to like someone, than to accuse them of a crime in the absence of evidence of a crime.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:14 am
“If she violated the Hatch Act, she should have been fired.”
Ms. Miles wants to be treated the same as the tramp administration officials who repeatedly violated the Hatch Act with impunity and no repercussions.
What’s the difference? Why start enforcing a law that wasn’t enforced for 4 years?
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:18 am
Seems like some people oppose snitching more than the actual wrongdoing.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:19 am
Don’t teachers run for office? But nurses can’t? Is that the crux of the Hatch Act?
Comment by Correcting Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:20 am
“Pritzker himself may not have done it, but don’t you think the people who tried getting Miles fired were doing so because she was running against Pritzker?”
No I don’t. Neither he nor his team would have wasted their time. I agree with the comment that it’s far more likely it was a coworker. And let’s be frank, based upon her statements on this issue, she may not be the most easy going person. So again, a coworker is far more likely.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:23 am
And again, everyone who works for the Federal Government receives training on the Hatch Act. She knew it was illegal to be running for office as a Federal employee. She did it anyway. If she didn’t know about the Hatch Act, she found out and was given the option. If she dropped out she would have solved her problem. Or, since nurses are so in demand, she could have gotten another job pretty easily. She made her choices.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:26 am
===Is that the crux of the Hatch Act? ===
Teachers are mostly not federal employees. Nurses who work for the US Veterans Administration are most definitely federal employees. Google is your friend. Try using it before asking a question here.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:26 am
===some people oppose snitching more than the actual wrongdoing===
And there’s a Venn diagram somewhere I’m sure which shows a big overlap with those who regularly scold Black people for not cooperating more with the police.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:28 am
On a local level I’ve seen the Hatch Act used to keep someone off a ballot as their state job was funded via federal dollars.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:29 am
“And even if these people acted without any coordination from Pritzker but simply on his behalf, it’s still a rotten thing to do, don’t you agree?”
No.
“That trying to get a nurse fired for running against the governor is bad?”
That nurse was violating a federal law.
And that is bad.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:29 am
=== don’t you agree?===
That conspiracy sounds bad, but seems to only exist in Beverly Miles’ head. Put another way: If we had some steak, we could have steak and eggs, if we had some eggs.
Comment by vern Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:43 am
Maybe it can’t be proven that Pritzker tried to get her fired from her job but it sure can be proven he tried to get her kicked off the ballot.
Comment by Terwilliger Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:44 am
===to get her kicked off the ballot.===
Narrator: that is not illegal.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:47 am
The Hatch Act is very clear on what is allowed and what is prohibited, as is the annual required training for all federal employees regarding whistleblower protections. Did she fail her required coursework???
https://tinyurl.com/2p8fb4hj
She can insinuate all she wants that Pritzker was behind the notification to the OSC, but that is all it is… insinuation. The person or persons who actually filed the complaint would have had filled out paperwork and submitted it to the OSC… not just insinuated the violation.
https://osc.gov/Services/Pages/HatchAct-FileComplaint.aspx
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:58 am
One thing that is certain is that if you are running for office, enemies will come out of the woodwork. Non politicians always underestimate this and are surprised that every mistake since childhood can be brought out.
Comment by Barrington Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:59 am
I believe there is a distinction between running for a partisan office (i.e., where recognized political parties slate candidates) and non-partisan elections, which includes most mayoral and school board elections.
My recollection is that the Hatch Act applies to partisan elections but not non-partisan elections.
Also- there is some prohibition against Illinois state employees running for partisan offices, but I don’t think the Hatch Act applies directly.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 11:59 am
- Anon221 -
Thanks for the shorter links.
:)
… and your comment too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 12:01 pm
OW- Most welcome:)
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 12:15 pm
Should state employees of any agency that receives any federal funds (regardless of whether or not their salaries are paid from them, and regardless of their duties) also be subject to the Hatch Act? Might be something worth considering or proposing legislation for.
Comment by AcademicUnionStateEmployee Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 12:17 pm
Anonymous at 12:33 pm was me.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 12:34 pm
This is the kind of thing you want to run by your steward and/or ethics officer before you do something extremely public. That she even did this speaks to her judgement.
As for whistleblowing, it could have just as easily been a patient or family of a patient. Or it was just a disgruntled coworker. You pull something like this and you better hope no one knows. Or anyone who does know, likes you. Or maybe just don’t do it. This idea that the Governor reached down to somehow sabotage the career of a federal nurse is ridiculous. This person did this to themselves.
Comment by DHS Drone Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 12:35 pm
OK… typing slower this time.
The Hatch Act already covers local, state, and D.C. employees whose agencies receive federal funds.
https://osc.gov/services/pages/hatchact-statelocal.aspx#tabGroup51
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 12:35 pm
==Should state employees of any agency that receives any federal funds (regardless of whether or not their salaries are paid from them, and regardless of their duties) also be subject to the Hatch Act? ==
They may be. You have to report your intentions and then get an opinion on whether the Hatch Act applies.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 12:41 pm
“it sure can be proven he tried to get her kicked off the ballot.”
If you’re looking for a blog about bean bag, this ain’t it.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 1:05 pm
The funniest thing about Mark Konkol was when he said that the Chicago Bears would fire Matt Nagy directly after their Thanksgiving game against Detroit (no matter the outcome). Now we all knew Nagy was gonna get canned eventually but I have a feeling someone leaked that info (perhaps from Bears organization) just to mess with him.
Comment by Hot Taeks Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 1:25 pm
Signature challenges are pretty routine so if you are going to call out this one make sure to call out all of them.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 1:31 pm
“but it sure can be proven he tried to get her kicked off the ballot.”
Welcome to Illinois, Bud. Ask Barack Obama how that works. There would be no President Obama if candidate Obama didn’t kick his mentor off the ballot. But here’s the thing. If you’re a serious candidate you usually don’t get kicked off the ballot. But as the story says, she had no money, no volunteers, no organization, no infrastructure. In other words, she wasn’t a real candidate.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 1:47 pm
Proft says the ad hasn’t been taken off the air…he can’t even keep his lies straight https://bit.ly/3UIwkIj
Comment by ste_with a v_en Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 1:52 pm
==Pritzker himself may not have done it, but don’t you think the people who tried getting Miles fired were doing so because she was running against Pritzker?==
I’m not sure why I should assume that. There was a clear as day prima facie case that she was violating the Hatch Act. Anyone could have reported her.
==You’re getting into Mike Madigan territory where you’re saying you don’t have a text or email proving something, but everybody can connect the dots and see what’s going on.==
We don’t even have dots, though.
What’s even one piece of evidence that Pritzker’s people were behind this?
==Something can be impossible to prove legally, but that doesn’t make it wrong.==
But if you can’t prove it, why should I assume it happened?
==And even if these people acted without any coordination from Pritzker but simply on his behalf, it’s still a rotten thing to do, don’t you agree? That trying to get a nurse fired for running against the governor is bad?==
Is that what happened, or were they trying to get her fired because she was breaking the law?
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 2:22 pm
==Maybe it can’t be proven that Pritzker tried to get her fired from her job but it sure can be proven he tried to get her kicked off the ballot.==
…after she filed over 2k bad signatures.
It’s really weird, guys, how you keep ignoring all of these pretty big mistakes Miles herself made.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 2:23 pm
==Maybe it can’t be proven that Pritzker tried to get her fired from her job but it sure can be proven he tried to get her kicked off the ballot.==
I’m actually not sure that can be proven, either, but assuming arguendo, it happened after she filed over 2k bad signatures.
Honestly, between that and the Hatch Act, you guys sure are missing an awful lot of Miles’ behavior.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 2:26 pm
In reality land, if you were running for your local library board, your boss and co-workers probably wouldn’t know. But running for governor of the 6th most populous state in the union? Give me a break Ms. Miles.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 2:30 pm
Sorry for two posts that kinda say the same thing.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Sep 27, 22 @ 2:45 pm