My State Fair story
Monday, Mar 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller * Last summer during the State Fair, a group of us was sitting in a Springfield beer garden talking politics. Some of the folks at the table were from Chicago, so they had to be briefed a bit when talk turned to Springfield ‘tics. One topic they couldn’t quite get their heads around was Springfield Ald. Sam Cahnman. He’d recently been accused of inappropriate contact with a woman, and some of the locals at the table were recounting their own Cahnman stories. His history isn’t pretty, but he’s one of those “never been convicted” people. In case you don’t know who Sam is, the SJ-R’s Bernie Schoenburg did a column recently on some direct mail attacking Cahnman, who’s now running for the Illinois House…
* I’ve known Sam Cahnman for over 20 years. We’re not exactly friends, but we’ve always gotten along well enough. We once bumped into each other in Memphis at 3 o’clock in the morning and had a fine time. He’s always been honest and straightforward with me on official stuff. I bear no personal or professional ill will against him. It’s no secret, however, that he has a certain reputation. * Let’s get back to my State Fair story, shall we? As I was saying, we were trying to explain Sam to the Chicagoans. They thought we must be joking. But then I made a half-joke by saying something like, “Pretty much every woman in this town who spends any amount of time in a tavern has a Sam Cahnman story.” They told me to prove it. So, I rose from the table, walked to another part of the beer garden and asked an attractive 30-something woman if she lived in Springfield. She said she did. I asked if we’d ever met before. She said we hadn’t. I asked her to come with me. I escorted the woman to my table and asked her the same questions again. She assured them we didn’t know each other and she was indeed from Springfield. Then I asked: “Do you have any Sam Cahnman stories?” “Do I?!!!” she exclaimed, and then proceeded to tell a story about what she said was an unwanted and what she thought was a particularly overly forward romantic advance. * I am not totally kidding when I say that just about every decent-looking woman I’ve asked in this town has a Sam Cahnman story. I was talking to a female lobbyist last week who mentioned that she’d heard Cahnman’s new radio ad. “Sam Cahnman admits he’s far from perfect,” she said was the spot’s opening line. She laughed about the ad and when I asked if she had a Sam story she sighed and said, “I have so many I can’t even remember them all.” I was telling my State Fair story a few weeks ago while sitting at a bar and I could see out of the corner of my eye that the female bartender was listening intently and had a scowl on her face. After I finished telling the story, she related her own Sam Cahnman story. This has happened time and time again. I have no solid proof that Sam has done everything he’s been accused of, but how many times can I hear these stories and not wonder about him? * The local Springfield media has bent over backwards to be fair to Sam during this campaign. That’s their job. I get it. I’m not complaining. Candidates should always get a fair shake. And I am usually viscerally opposed to delving into a candidate’s private life. Their private lives are their business, not mine. I’m far from a moralizer and am in no way a pure person myself. I have more faults than I care to admit. But in my opinion an important story about this race has been ignored. Yes, it’s not your usual political story, but, heck, I’m sure even Sam would admit that he isn’t your usual politician. * I asked Sam for a response to this story last Thursday. I sent him a rough draft of this post and we talked on the phone and texted each other about whether he’d reply. He then sent me an e-mail at about 4:30 this morning…
I don’t disagree. Sam has managed to get a lot of things done. Like I said, he’s not your ordinary politician. But like he admits in his own radio ad, he’s far from perfect. Keep your comments clean, please. Thanks. * Meanwhile, Cahnman has filed a defamation suit in Sangamon County Circuit Court against two of Speaker Madigan’s campaign committees. From a press release…
Read the lawsuit by clicking here.
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- Homer J. Simpson - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:35 am:
Isn’t there a story about Sam chasing a plane down the runway in Mclean county?
- just sayin' - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:40 am:
Wow it’s really scummy and corrupt downstate. Glad we keep higher standards up here Chicago way.
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:43 am:
Thank you for this post, Rich. I have to say I was kind of surprised when I saw that Cahnman was running for state rep precisely given his reputation as I remembered it from when I lived in Springfield some years ago as a young woman. While I have no first-hand Sam Cahnman stories to share, I will never forget the warning I got about him from some conscientious older male colleagues when I had some business at the Capitol.
- gg - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:48 am:
I have seen this happen many times.
A man makes an advance … the woman is flattered and smiles … the man gets more forward … the woman finds herself feeling guilty for being flattered … the woman accuses the man of making unwanted advances to the police …
No wonder our population is shrinking.
I am glad I am old.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:50 am:
gg, that comment has nothing to do with the substance of this post.
- Small Town Liberal - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:50 am:
- No wonder our population is shrinking. -
What planet do you live on?
- TCB - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:52 am:
I have also heard more Cahnman stories than I care to know. Luckily, when I head to downtown Spfld for drinks, I apparently spend my time in establishments where Sam apparently doesn’t frequent because I’ve never actually seen him out.
- Publius - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:59 am:
Anybody in Springfield has heard of or has Sam Cahnman stories. Its part of the lore of the town nowadays in my opinion. One of my female lobbyist friends told me that if he is in a bar she will walk out unless she is with me or other male friends. I saw him out and about on Saturday night but it wasn’t for too long
- Coach - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:01 am:
I’ll just echo Rich’s post about Sam’s well established reputation with Springfield women. About 10 years ago, I was dating a Springfield native and we bumped into Sam in a Springfield mini mart (the Springfield equivalent of White Hen). When she saw Sam, she shrieked and pulled me to the other side of the store, where she proceeded to vent about Sam being a stalker, etc. The swiftness of her reaction made an impression I’ll never forget.
I’ll also say that anybody publicizing a party or reception in Springfield must be very strategic in sharing the information to avoid an appearance from Sam; I’ve personally been at several relatively private parties where he just randomly showed up.
- mark walker - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:05 am:
gg: I’ve been around and had my eyes open, and can say that I’ve never seen happen what you describe.
I can only imagine what some strong female members of the House Dem caucus would do to this guy.
- Wensicia - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:10 am:
What I have heard is a pattern of behavior demeaning towards women, certainly he doesn’t hold the gender in high regard. Very disturbing.
- siriusly - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:12 am:
I get it, he is annoying and he hits on lots of women. I’m not sure that disqualifies him for office and I’m not sure it should even be covered as an issue in his race.
However, the fact that he has spent so much effort solidifying this reputation does make me question why he would invite more scrutiny by running for this office.
- Way Way Down Here - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:13 am:
For a couple of years, I lived in the same building as Sam. The first time we encountered each other in the elevator he asked if I was new to the building. He then introduced himself, gave me his card and told me to call if I ever needed anything. Good aldermanic behavior in my book.
Like everybody else, I’ve seen Sam in action. But really, it’s not like Ward 5 voters didn’t know what they were getting, and he does deliver for his constituency. He should just stay out of the Oasis.
- langhorne - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:27 am:
sam does not limit himself to 30 somethings. the post college female interns in my office used to warn the new interns about sam when they started.
- Bemused - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:28 am:
I live in Springpatch and thru my former work would on occasion bump up against those in politics. I have no real feelings one way or the other about Sam. It is more a case of thinking this or that headline is the one that ends his career and being dumb struck when he just continues on. And yes even I have have been told a story by a former secretary about what she felt was an inappropiate advance to her at the time 20 year old daughter. On the plus side if he gets elected it might be fun to watch him and Mike play with each other.
- reformer - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:37 am:
Sam has been acquitted by a jury. Which is more than a certain indicted state rep can say!
- ObserverofBehavior - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:38 am:
Simply guessed, Sam has “undiagnosed” Asperger’s Syndrome - combined with Narcissism.
His relentless pursuit of the something (in this case, a female) is how Aspie minds work. They have tunnel vision which makes them brilliant lawyers (Sam was first in his law school class), but terrible at social cues.
Wishing everyone the best of luck tomorrow at the polls, but not that kind of pole, Sam!
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:45 am:
GG-As a woman, I may be flattered you offer to by me a drink or hit on me, but that doesn’t give a man the right to expect more. And not all women run to the police pointing fingers. I volunteer with an organization dedicated to ending sexual assault, and just don’t see women overreacting on this topic. while what you described does happen, its not common.
As for Sam, he lives in my building. He keeps odd hours, and has never been a problem to me. He’s met me and my roommate 10+ times in the lobby and can’t seem to remember either of us. Even though I haven’t had a personal problem, I do keep my guard up just because of the stories I’ve heard from residents and my boss.
- Newsclown - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:46 am:
“How YOU dojn’?”
Look, that’s an awful lot of years of smoke to think there’s no fire at all.
It bothers me a lot because I was really into Sam’s major cause of open primaries, and still am. Sam was the one guy that kept pursuing it and I admire that.
But a guy with this kind of albatross can’t get any traction in the GA when it comes time to champion a bill. He’s had a charmed life legally speaking up to now, but even a gambler rolls snake-eyes occasionally. When that happens, it will be. very. ugly.
I’d rather vote for anybody but Leisure Suit Larry here, because some day it will come back to bite me if I voted for him and he fulfills what seems to be his destiny.
- Plutocrat03 - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:47 am:
Of course if he was a Republican we would be screaming for his resignation…..
- Barton Lorimor - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:54 am:
Rich,
That has happened more than once. I remember the night you speak of, but there was another time during my internship we found another random girl had a Sam story.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:54 am:
Yes, Plutocrat03. Way to play the victim card.
Don’t you ever grow tired of that?
- Barton Lorimor - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:55 am:
By the way, when I saw the headline “My State Fair Story” I thought this was going to be a recount of the golf cart adventures.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:55 am:
Homer,
Sam wasn’t chasing the plane, just the tail.
- Homer J. Simpson - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:35 am:
Isn’t there a story about Sam chasing a plane down the runway in Mclean county?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:56 am:
Thanks, Barton. Also, you were there for the bartender story.
- Joe from Joliet - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 12:11 pm:
If Sam were from Arkansas or Massachusetts he would be hailed as presidential material.
I heard Scherer would not go to Springfield to talk to potential voters. Said she would, but didn’t. Sounds cowardly to me. It would have been fun to hear the school teacher talk about the giveaway from the teachers pension system to the union bigshot who worked one day as a substitute teacher, as well as other flagrant pension abusers enabled by Democrats.
- Pundeete - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 1:20 pm:
Yup, I have a Sam Cahnman story. And yes, mine occurred as an undergraduate, albeit many years ago. But on the topic of his opponent Scherer, she needs to quit using the excuse that she’s a teacher to avoid events she doesn’t want to participate in (or has been warned against participating). It just begs the question of whether or not she will give her full attention to being a legislator.
- Colossus - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 1:31 pm:
@Joe, Pluto -
If I were to point out that if the Cubs had the Yankee’s payroll, they’d be able to win the World Series too, then I’m not saying anything of substance regarding the Cubs and their abilities, I’m envisioning a world in which the defects of what I like are eliminated from the conversation, while someone else’s advantage is called into question as illegitimate.
If if’s and buts were beer and nuts, we’d have a heckuva party. But they’re not, and constantly envisioning alternate realities as a way to justify the real reality of a situation isn’t helpful, it’s just partisanship. And not the big issue kind of partisanship, just complaining that the refs totally robbed your team on the big play. Winners don’t blame the refs, winners find the best players and put them on the field. Losers whine that the other team gets the breaks and that their substandard players don’t stand a chance.
- Kerfuffle - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 1:37 pm:
Okay so the guy is a horn dog. Nearly everyone in Spfld knows it and yet he has managed to be elected to various positions in local government. Go figure!
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 1:46 pm:
===If I were to point out that if the Cubs had the Yankee’s payroll, they’d be able to win the World Series too===
No they wouldn’t.
Just sayin…
Also, everybody needs to move along.
- Because I say so... - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 1:55 pm:
I agree Rich that an elected official/candidates personal life shouldn’t be at issue. If he’s the cad that many women is Springfield think he is, I guess they won’t vote for him. The voters will speak tomorrow.
- Responsa - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 2:08 pm:
I am actually amazed. The whole post almost sounds like he’s living throwback behavior from the 1950’s or ’60s–not 2012 male/female etiquette.
- James - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 2:18 pm:
I’ve known Sam for 25 years. He’s a hard-working lawyer and a progressive Democrat. Stands up for the underdog. In my opinion, he would be an effective State rep.
- L.S. - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 2:28 pm:
Some of this is funny. Then I think about the time a young woman started working in my office. The first event in Springfield she attended was at Inn at 835. Cahnman followed her out to her car at the end of the night, in a dark parking lot with no one else around. He mad advances at her and kept encroaching on her personal space. Needless to say she felt scared out of her mind. This guy isn’t funny. He’s a predator and he deserves whatever he gets. His “but I work really hard” spin is fine and good. But he is still a fundementally sick person who shouldn’t be elected to anything.
- reformer - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 2:36 pm:
The hitting on women I found disgusting was not from a bachelor like Sam but when married legislators were doing it. Esp. when they ran on family values. Any attractive young women lobbyists have stories to tell in that regard.
Some of the worst offenders are gone now, but not all. If anyone’s crass and hypocritical behavior ought to be exposed, it’s the cheating legislators who campaign on family values.
- Aikaterine - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 2:51 pm:
Sam is offensive to women. It is disrespectful and unacceptable the way he hits on women and I for one would prefer to not have to work in an environment where he is in a position to vote on public policy initiatives. Him getting elected as a State Representative is about the last thing that should happen - particularily for female lobbyists. Wondering how he would handle someone having to lobby him on an issue and what he might “ask” for in return for his vote? He seems to have a problem with handling such situations. . . .and we do not need a person like him in a public sector position.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:09 pm:
–Of course if he was a Republican we would be screaming for his resignation…..–
Pluto, you are a one-trick pony, dude. But you don’t play it well at all.
–Sam wasn’t chasing the plane, just the tail.–
Michelle, I wish I was as smart and funny as you. I’d feel good, and some people would really be sorry….
The only time I knew Sam was when he was running for state senate against Doc Davidson back in the day. Just another dude at Sam’s, Kanes, Boones, Browns, Norbs, Statehouse Inn bar, some kind of Opera House (can’t remember the whole name) and some kind of Polynesian after-hours joint on the outskirts of town (definitely can’t remember the name of that dive, though I’m certain I had a good time).
In full disclosure, I got tossed plenty those days for excessive brilliance.
- Responsa - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:16 pm:
==The hitting on women I found disgusting was not from a bachelor like Sam but when married legislators were doing it==
reformer– when on the receiving end of an uninvited and unwanted advance I doubt most women, while fending it off, bother to differentiate between bachelors and married men. Food for thought.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:24 pm:
=GG-As a woman, I may be flattered you offer to by me a drink or hit on me, but that doesn’t give a man the right to expect more.=
As a woman, I can’t believe that women are actually still “debating” this topic.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:27 pm:
===some kind of Polynesian after-hours joint on the outskirts of town===
The Aloha.
It’s now a McDonald’s.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:32 pm:
“Power” seriously needs to be redefined in our culture.
- Cheswick - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:33 pm:
To me, the untold story here is how the Madigan organization (1) has some kind of untold grudge against Sam, and/or (2) is messing with us downstate voters.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:37 pm:
===has some kind of untold grudge against Sam===
It’s not untold. They did not want Sam to win the primary under any circumstances because they figured he’d lose the seat in November when the Republicans would whack him just as hard.
- Cheswick - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:42 pm:
Thanks, Rich.
A middle-aged female voter last week said to me, “I could never vote for that Sam McCann.” I said, why not? She said, “because of that whole prostitution thing.” She obviously mixed him up with Sam Cahnman. I considered calling McCann to tell him he has a whole new problem to think about, but changed my mind.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:44 pm:
–0The Aloha.
It’s now a McDonald’s.–
That’s a crying shame.
Do the young nurses (and lady internists) still hang at Biggies and Bubbas? Wasn’t there another hospital joint in the neighborhood? Does the old man still play the spoons and serve up catfish at the joint with the Cubs/Cardinals logo on the roof?
Forgive my lapses of memory. I was young, organically medicatted and having a pretty good time. I imagine the statute of limitations are expired.
Wasn’t there another joint behind the ICE, with a “MAC” name, that if you were young and single you might stop by and engage with someone in the medical profession?> Circa Big Jim/AdaliIII?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:49 pm:
===Do the young nurses (and lady internists) still hang at Biggies and Bubbas? ===
Long closed. Too bad, because it was a heckuva place in its day.
- Responsa - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:52 pm:
LOL. We may be right on the verge of getting TMI.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 3:59 pm:
===We may be right on the verge of getting TMI. ===
Hey, I’ll never tell those stories here.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 4:04 pm:
===We may be right on the verge of getting TMI. ===
Dude, anyone who can’t appreciate the sweet confusion of commiserating under the moon with a young female medical professional does not understand the poetry of the planet.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 4:16 pm:
As always, well “slung” word. Didn’t know until today that we were running some of the same traps at the same time. Small world indeed.
- reformer - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 4:36 pm:
Aikatherine
Rich concedes that Sam is an effective elected official. He would certainly be more independent of party leadership than the alternative.
Responsa
I accept your point that aggressive hitting is a problem for the target regardless of the hound dog’s marital status. It just seems to me when adultery is involved, it compounds the offense.
- Bemused - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 4:36 pm:
Biggy & Bubbas served great wings, a true loss.
- The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 5:04 pm:
=It just seems to me when adultery is involved, it compounds the offense.=
Just ask John Edwards.
- Jim Bray - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 5:25 pm:
== Wasn’t there another joint behind the ICE, with a “MAC” name ==
McShane’s. Good fried chicken and pork tenderloin sandwich.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 5:47 pm:
AA, as always, it does my heart well to hear from you. No matter the subject, you’re always the brightest banana in the bunch.
I imagine we might known each other face-to-face, back in the day, but don’t let anyone hold that against you.
Like Waylon said, “I’ve always been crazy, but it’s kept me from going insane.”
We had a heck of time.
Now and again, when I’m shifting the load of being a middle-aged father, I think about the sunny days when they first let the farmdogs off the porch to run.
Lot of great times, some inevitable bad times. What with the fast cars, the booze, the weed, the blow, the state highways and the miles into town — most of us were lucky, some of us weren’t. But I think we’ve learned.
Springfield has a warm spot in my heart, always. And my apologies for those who might remember it differently.
- music fan - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 5:50 pm:
I am a resident of his Ward and a die-hard Democrat and would never vote for him. His womanizing issues are just a reflection of his poor judgement. Even when he champions issues that I agree with, I always have the impression that it is all about what’s in it for him.
He approached me once about a grant program I run and I was totally unimpressed. He never listened to my responses and was obnoxious.
About a week after the sexual assault charges I saw him in Gallina’s Pizza. He was hitting on a couple of 20′ish girls. I wanted to wish him luck with the assault charges but the girls were already laughing at him and I didn’t want to pile on.
- Just Me - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 7:55 pm:
Um, Rich….even if Sam won, he would not be the first member of the General Assembly to act “inapproriately” around women in the Springfield bars. Heck, he wouldn’t be the only member of THIS General Assembly. I would name names, but I fear I would be banned for life.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 10:51 pm:
===he would not be the first member of the General Assembly to act “inapproriately” around women in the Springfield bars. ===
Oh, please. Do you think I could randomly choose women in bars and ask them if they have a story about some legislator you won’t name? You’re nuts.
- LincolnLounger - Monday, Mar 19, 12 @ 11:35 pm:
His late-night behavior isn’t limited to women, unfortunately. He is well known to terrorize wait staff, wheedle free food, cheap out on tips, and is perhaps best known for bringing all of his mail and newspapers into restaurants as they stop serving food and insist on food service.
Don’t get me wrong. I certainly don’t think this is horrific behavior, but it certainly all adds up.