Question of the day
Thursday, Aug 10, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Is this an important distinction or is it nitpicking?
Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH has said for some years now that he doesn’t take campaign contributions from state employees.
But, it seems, he doesn’t mind if those employees ask others to kick in to his campaign fund. And I’m not sure there’s much of a difference there, ethically. After all, GEORGE RYAN got in trouble in part because his workers asked other people to buy fund-raising tickets.
Anyway, on Monday, there’s a Springfield fundraiser at the home of WALTER “WOODY” WOODHULL and REBECCA “BECKY” WOODHULL, asking $250 per person or couple. It’s billed on the invitation as a re-election reception for the governor.
Also listed on the invitation are “county chairman sponsors.”
Among the eight Democratic county chairmen listed are at least three who work in agencies directly under the governor. Another sits on the Illinois State Board of Investment, which oversees about $11 billion in investments.
JIM UNDERWOOD of Maroa, the Macon County Democratic chairman, has done pretty well under Blagojevich. He moved from the secretary of state’s office, where he made about $58,250 annually, to the Illinois Department of Corrections in early 2003. He is now head of correctional industries and pulls down $93,600 annually.
Underwood told me that he is “absolutely not” contributing to the governor or asking other state employees to do so, but he is asking others.
“I don’t see any problem with that,” he said. “I’m not asking any state employees.”
Have at it.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:19 am:
He means he takes campaign contributions from FUTURE state employees, at least, those that took Cini’s Oath of Fealty.
Blah! Here he goes again, pronouncing himself as our Virgin Governor, the unsoiled dove of human kindness. Our knight in shining armor, working his fingers to the bone rooting out corruption to save those state pennies to spend on our poor disadvantage children. I think he should just tape on some angel wings and a halo. It will make a great mug photo when he is arrainged.
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:28 am:
Darn right there’s a distinction. Just ask the guys and gals who have a good excuse not to write a check! I’m sure they see a big distinction.
And if you’re also not asking other state employees (the difference from George Ryan’s people), I don’t see the issue. Don’t see how it would be that much different from encouraging friends to vote for your guy or to volunteer for him.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:28 am:
Yes there is a problem with this. Either they are going to play by the rules and the spirit and intent of the rules or they are not.
This is another example of “the rule doesn’t specifically state this so that means it is OK.”
It is like saying the law against assault and battery doesn’t specifically prevent me from poking someone with my I-Pod because the law doesn’t mention I-Pods so I didn’t break the law.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:31 am:
I guess you can only write so many pizza stories.
- Chinaman - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:32 am:
These guys are masters at finding loop holes.
- Pat Hickey - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:34 am:
George Ryan , who inherited a political cash for favors system from Jim Edgar as SOS, got into trouble when banker/Senator/one-term/empty-handed for Illinois Petey Fitzgerald got his panties in a twist over the Lincoln Museum. That is when George Ryan got into trouble.
- B Hicks - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:41 am:
Go Triple VVV!
I’m not going to buy a ticket, but I will be there.
- blue dog democrat - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 9:57 am:
When did it become a law that ” civilians ” can’t contribute to a candidates campaign ? Sounds like we are trying to generate a news story when there is nothing.
- Slap Me - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:24 am:
Extortion, regardless of how subtle it is, is still extortion. “Billy Bob, Suzie May, you are in this “exempt” position because we say you can be. By the way, there is a fundraiser at…..” Yep, works every time boys and girls. Works every time!!!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 10:26 am:
This is nitpicking, petty journalism at its worst. As a leader of the county party, part of his role is to raise money for statewide candidates. From what I understand, the blago does not take any money from state employees. He was the first person to do this, right? I like that. All because these chairmen want to raise money to support his re-election doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong going on. As a dem, I am glad to see county chairmen support the governor. Anyway, Topinka is notorious for raising money from her employees. Where is the flip side of the story Mr Schoenberg? You have lost a lot of credibility with many people.
- Grand Old Partisan - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 11:26 am:
If I may be so bold, allow me to rephrase the question: Is there a difference between state employees donating their own, personal money to political candidates and them donating their own, personal time?
My answer (which is, of course, the right answer): No.
Time = Money.
If one is inappropriate, than so is the other. If one is acceptable, than so is the other.
Simple as that. There is no distinction. This is just another of the many examples of the Governor trying to LOOK better than everyone else without having to really BE better.
Beisdes, how do we know that state employees aren’t just giving money to family or friends so that they can turn around and donate it to the Gov? Answer: we don’t.
The Governor is holding himself to this phoney, unnecessary “standard” because he knows he can afford to. It’s just another gimmick.
- Bubs - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 11:46 am:
Folks, please! It’s just “Business as Usual”!
What’s wrong with that, right, Rod?
- anon62701 - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 12:37 pm:
Nitpicking and silly.
- Nit Picky - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 12:38 pm:
So, according to many on this post: If I am a state employee I should never be involved in any politics on any level? Also, no one in my family should be involved in politics at any level? So, anyone who is, or has family, in politics can never work in state government? Give me a break. No county chairman can be state employees? No committeemen can be state employees? AND none of their family can be involved in politics either?
- Buck Flagojevich - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 12:46 pm:
Blago’s attempts to make it look like everything is above board is absurd. As it has been said here before, GRod is closing the barn door after the horse are long gone. After 3 1/2 years of business as usual, Rod puts on the act like he is and has done everything in his power to clean up the state. I wish the Fed’s had kept their mouths shut so we could have been spared the holier-than-thou press releases.
- Grand Old Partisan - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 12:56 pm:
Nit Picky –
I agree. It’s absurd to think that state employees should never be involved in any politics on any level. My point is that time and money are equally (in)appropriate forms of involvement. What Blago is doing (allowing state employees to HOST fundraiser for him) isn’t any better or worse than what he criticizes Topinka for doing (allowing state employees to PERSONALLY contribute to fundraisers for her).
The real issue is whether or not the “involvement†is a either (a) an implied expectation based on your having a state job under that politician’s patronage, or (b) rewarded by the politician with state resources, ie promotions, raises, or bonuses.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 1:08 pm:
Welcome back, GOP. Where’ve you been?
- Little Egypt - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 1:38 pm:
Anon 10:26 - I believe Jesse White led the pack on not soliciting state workers for campaign money - not Elvis.
- Lovie's Leather - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 2:02 pm:
Maybe this is nitpicking. But here is something that isn’t… he won’t take money from state employees… but he will take money from those who have state contracts. That seems a little cynical. I won’t accept money from state employees… but I will accept money from people that I contract to do state work (and they might possibly not get that work until I get my cash…). That is how you get $20 million in a campaign “warchest.” Besides, with 25 years of Republican governors, how many state employees would be donating to Blago?
- Chinaman - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 2:24 pm:
The reason people nitpick is this guy told us he was going to be different. No more business as usual. We are just holding him to his word. Don’t critizes everyone else when you and your people are looking for every way possible to game the system.
- Anon. - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 4:31 pm:
County chairmen are given a quota, i.e., a certain number of tickets to sell for political events. If they do not sell their quota, the money comes out of their own pocket.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 5:02 pm:
Nitpickers must just love election time. I’m no fan of Rod, but there are people who will read some implicit plot into how and when he sneezes. He has not helped his situation with his videoed promises and some of the goofy things his staff (of course he never knows about it and is later shocked) has done/said.
Are state people going to raise money for him? Well duh. Not having your name on a list of contributors will be remembered longer than being on the list. Much like voting in primaries. If I do not contribute to my trade association PAC, do you think I will be at the top of the list when I ask for help. Same process.
- "B Team" - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 5:05 pm:
If I recall the personnell manual correctly, state employees (and I will say IDOT because that is were I work) are allowed to run for office as long as it is a non partisan position.
I will bet two bits that if I sent a check to blogo, it would be cashed. Hairdo will take anybodies money.
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 6:04 pm:
I wish people would stop refering to the Guv’s statement to “end business as usual.” He simply made a mistake when reading off the teleprompter which actually said it would be “business WORSE than usual.” Ha ha, half grin snicker as only GRod can do.
- fed up dem - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 6:38 pm:
I think he might have taken a couple of contributions from an attorney Jackie Gollay, an attorney at DPR who has not been seen in the office in years. Supposedly too sick to come in, but might have gotten an extra personal day for taking no sick time for a year.
- Minion - Thursday, Aug 10, 06 @ 7:06 pm:
The ban on taking contributions is stupid in the first place. Everybody should be free to give or not to give. Rod set himself for this non sense buy running to change Springfield and then getting caught doing what every other governor in the history of the state has done.
Rod, cut the B.S. take the money, and at least you can be consistent and avoid these types of questions!