Neanderthal, continued…
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
A couple of stories about the governor’s wife doing business with a state contractor. This one was just posted:
Republican candidate for governor Judy Baar Topinka says she wants to restrict money that immediate family members of the governor and other constitutional officers can earn.
Topinka said at a press conference today in Chicago that she would propose prohibiting outside income to family members from lobbyists and state contractors.
Her proposal comes amid news reports that Governor Rod Blagojevich’s wife Patti, a real estate broker, has business dealings with people who have a financial stake in the administration’s actions.
And this one ran in the morning, but I forgot to post it.
Republican Judy Baar Topinka on Tuesday rejected Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s complaint that coverage of his wife’s business was sexist, suggesting his comment was meant to divert attention from serious ethics questions.
“Being female, I know what is sexism. It’s not sexism at all. It’s arrogance of power, not wishing to answer a question,” Topinka said in a telephone interview. “It really is a dumb comment — and probably diversionary on top of it.” […]
Blagojevich refused Tuesday to discuss his previous comments about a “Neanderthal and sexist” news story on his wife’s real estate dealings with a couple who have a financial stake in his administration’s decisions. […]
At a news conference to announce his endorsement by a gun-control group, Blagojevich said he would let others decide whether the coverage was unfair and he praised his wife as both a mother and a business owner.
A Chicago newspaper reported last week that Patricia Blagojevich made $113,700 — her only commissions this year — from a couple with a stake in the Blagojevich administration’s actions. Anita Mahajan has a no-bid state contract that began before Blagojevich took office. Amrish Mahajan runs a bank with requests pending before state regulators.
- Belle - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:21 pm:
Equality is an “=” sign. Once obtained you can’t “+” a “” to suit yourself when things don’t go your way or if you get caught (even if it just appears you got caught) doing something unethical or illegal. She needs to answer some questions.
- Budget Watcher - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:27 pm:
Claims of sexism from a man who boasts of his own testicular verility?
- Captain America - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:30 pm:
I think spouses and children should be off limits during campaigns. I’ve read the stories. I can’t seen any genuine breach of ethics or law. At worst,there is an appearance of potential impropriety rather than the “real thing.”
- Lovie's Leather - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:39 pm:
Captain, you can’t see any breach of ethics?! You are the governor, and your wife is making money from a state contract. This is a clear and blatant kick-back program. It is sad to see the first lady of Illinois in on such sleazy dealings as her husband. At least George Ryan kept his family out of it….
- anon - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:40 pm:
- Captain America -
The state ethics training that Rod says all employees must take says to avoid any activity that would even have the appearance of potential impropriety.
Is he above his own rules?
- blogman - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:44 pm:
Has anyone asked what did she do for the money? Did she have a listing or get the buyer or was she cut a check because she is Mrs Blago?
- Gregor - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 1:05 pm:
Actually, George put in many members of his family for a ‘taste’ of corruption money, such as trying to tap the LaMar Alexander campaign for salaries to his daughters for “consulting” and “outreach” for no actual work performed.
It’s all the same baksheesh. And it stinks to high heaven.
What should really bother us is that Blago and the missus never had even a second’s pause wondering if there could be an ethical problem or the appearance of one. No, they feel 100 percent entitled to all the tribute they can rake in, from any and every source.
Hiding behind your kids and your wife’s skirts will not save you, Rod. Neither will blowing smoke about discrimination. It’s your LACK of discrimination that’s so troubling.
A friend of mine is a state worker, and annually has to list with the state on an “interest form” all the companies and people she deals with in her second job outside of the 9-5. She is not allowed to have such dealings with any state-related customers. AT ALL. The governor and first lady should at least live up to the same standard, if not a higher one.
- toot-toot, ah, beep-beep - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 1:08 pm:
She works hard for the money-
So hard for it honey…
She works hard for the money, so you’d better treat her right…
If you take in some money,
Disclose it please, honey,
’cause it’s hard to beleive it’s not bribes hidden out of sight…
- Mike Williams - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 1:15 pm:
I believe it was Abby that first played the sexism card. I guess the governor has picked up on it. But can you blame them? There is no way to defend this by any serious argument. Hence, they need to resort to B.S. -BlagoSpeak, an alternate universe where every criticism of the governor is “unfair” “ridiculous” or what not.
- Poor Milorad - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 1:50 pm:
The gov is running scared and has to attempt to cloud this issue in any manner possible. He’s feeling the heat.
Rich…did you see the Copley Poll just released today shows the gov at 44% and Topinka with 40% with a +/- of 4% a statistical dead heat?
- Anon - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 1:53 pm:
I’m looking forward to another couple days and we can forget about the name, Topinka.
- Whizbang - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 2:15 pm:
Gun control group? Hmm…what was it Milo said in his speech in Sparta? Oh I guess that did not count. It was south of I-80. Run Timmy Run
- Angie - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:16 pm:
Sometimes, what some perceive as sexism is just someone being a jerk (whenever I’ve experienced that, especially in a corporate environment, I noticed that the jerk was also being a jerk to many of the guys in the department, too).
But if calling Mrs. Blagojevich out on the carpet over this stuff is truly sexist and Neanderthal, then just what, pray tell, does Rod think he’s doing with his carpet-bombing, negative attack ad campaign that he’s unleashed against a woman and a mother? Hello? Merry Christmas, Rod!
- Angie - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:20 pm:
Oh, and by the way. Why isn’t the press helping out JBT by running headlines like this?
ROD BLAGOJEVICH UNLEASHES BARRAGE OF ATTACK ADS AGAINST WOMAN WHO AIMES TO BECOME THE FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS, A WELL QUALIFIED AND THREE TIME STATE TREASURER AND A MOTHER
See? What’s good for the goose…
- Bright Lights - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:44 pm:
Mrs. Blagojevich (Patti) gave up being lily white the day she said “I Do” to Rod (Vlad).
Sexist and Neanderthal, who are you kidding!
- Rex - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 6:11 pm:
This does not pass the smell test. It stinks! What does being a mother and a business owner have to do with ethical behavior and public perception. What is even more unbelievable is that the Goobernor doesn’t think anything is wrong with his family making money from a venodr who holds a no-bid state contract. Duh!
- Goodbye Napoleon - Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 11:49 pm:
I think he kept this story alive to his detriment. Topinka got some nice coverage on WBBM AM tonight talking about her proposed ban on doing business with contractors for all family of constitutional officers. Blago’s response was “I’ll let others decide that” Reform and Renewal marches on . . .