“Ask her,” Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan told a Sun-Times reporter last week. The journalist wanted to know why Madigan’s daughter Lisa would consider running for governor knowing that the father had no plans to step down as Speaker.
So I tried to ask her. But I didn’t get very far.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan, I was told, is still refusing to discuss in any way the “personal” conversations she had with her father leading up to her decision not to run for governor.
As you’ll recall, AG Madigan had this to say when she decided to run for reelection instead of the state’s highest office: “I feel strongly that the state would not be well served by having a governor and Speaker of the House from the same family and have never planned to run for governor if that would be the case. With Speaker Madigan planning to continue in office, I will not run for governor.”
But last week, Speaker Madigan said he had told his daughter on “several occasions” that he had no plans to step down. “She knew very well that I did not plan to retire,” he said. “She knew what my position was. She knew.”
People close to the Madigans say the polling and focus grouping always showed that the issue of her father would be a problem, but that it wasn’t an actual “deciding” issue for voters. Yes, they didn’t like the idea of a governor and a House Speaker from the same family, but they didn’t appear to be saying they would make their choice for governor based on that one thing. She would’ve won, the insiders say, regardless of what her father decided to do.
The speculation by some reporters about how the unfolding Metra scandal played a role in her decision not to run appear to be false. Her decision not to run had been made several days before the Chicago media went wall to wall freak-out over the revelation that her father was involved with a minor and aborted political patronage attempt at a mass transit agency. As if all those political hacks who sit on those mass transit agencies somehow wasn’t a tip-off that maybe politics have always been part of their operations.
Anyway, Speaker Madigan got whacked in the media for trying to influence Metra personnel decisions. Lisa Madigan announced her decision not to run for governor after her dad had been zinged for three solid days.
The timing of her decision is still quite curious, however. Why throw him under the bus on a Monday after three solid days of hugely negative press about Metra? Was she angry at his refusal to step down, or did she just not think things through? Who came up with that bright idea?
Also, did she give no thought at all to how her statement could be thrown back in her face about her current job? If being governor would be a conflict of interest as long as her father was House Speaker, then why isn’t serving as attorney general a conflict as well? If she’s really that unprepared for prime time, then maybe she made the right decision after all.
Those are just some of the questions I would’ve asked, had I been given a chance.
My main question, however, would’ve been whether Lisa Madigan really did think she could convince her father to step down. Was she that delusional? The guy ain’t going anywhere any time soon and pretty much everybody knows it.
And if she didn’t ever expect her father to retire, then did she all but lie to a whole lot of people who contributed to her campaign fund this year with the full expectation that she’d challenge Pat Quinn in a primary? I mean, it’s doubtful that many of those union leaders and prominent Democrats would’ve ponied up so much cash if they had known about her “strong” belief that her father would have to go away as a condition of her running because almost nobody would ever believe that she could pry the gavel out of his hands.
Ms. Madigan needs to stop hiding behind flimsy excuses and give this state a full explanation. The public ought to know if their attorney general all but lied to them for months.
- wayward - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:15 am:
I would have guessed that the Metra thing made Lisa realize that her father could be more of a liability than she’d thought earlier when she was thinking about running for guv.
- siriusly - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:18 am:
I think you’re being a bit indignant here on behalf of campaign donors, not necessarily on behalf of the entire public. If someone gave her money, they knew that she had not yet announced and that there was a chance she might not run for governor. She’s done this dance before. There are no guarantees.
I’m sorry Rich, but I sort of disagree and don’t really think she owes us anything.
- ZC - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:18 am:
I get the concern. But I think it’s somewhat relative, how concerned this makes one. If it’s such a crime to “all but lie” to very sophisticated political elites and prominent Democrats, a lot more people than Lisa Madigan need to be called to account, is my guess.
It’s morally wrong (though not illegal) to “all but lie” to relatively unsophisticated voters. But part of being a political “pro” is knowing how to parse the lingo. If she didn’t tell anyone she was running, and they gave as an investment, they got burned, sure, and maybe she’ll pay a price down the line, but I don’t see the great moral failing yet. Politics ain’t beanbag.
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:20 am:
Many good points made and questions raised in the article.
I would, however, add one more focus directed towards the Speaker: Why did the Speaker bring this back into the spotlight after it had runs its course through the news cycle?
What was the point? To send a message by throwing his daughter under the bus?
To show how “tough” he is by calling her out as a liar and further tarnishing the Madigan’s reputation? Did the positives of doing that outweigh the negatives? Or did he make the decision based on emotion?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:20 am:
===being a bit indignant here on behalf of campaign donors===
Disagree.
Look, she led everybody on, including saying at one point that her father’s tenure would have no bearing on her decision.
Also, her father suggested we ask her, so I did.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:25 am:
===Also, her father suggested we ask her, so I did.===
Heh. Well played.
- downstate commissioner - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:28 am:
Agree with what your last two sentences in your last post, but…believe that Siriously and ZC are actually on the right track. This may look bad for Lisa for a while, but the public will soon forget.
- walkinfool - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:30 am:
Misleading donors? I don’t share that concern. I would have advised her not to run this cycle.
Figuring what to say, and when, about the perceived conflict in roles — some bad choices. Not as bad as Ty, but would have been better to have just kept quiet.
- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:32 am:
===Also, her father suggested we ask her, so I did.===
Confirming the long held belief you are really a tool of the Speaker
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:50 am:
I don’t believe this was the case, but let’s assume for a moment that she knew MJM wasn’t going anywhere and she deliberately let everyone on for the sake of raising campaign dollars. WHY? Nobody has bothered to ask why. What did she have to gain from this charade? She already had more money in the bank than any other statewide office holder or candidate, and has not exactly had difficulty raising money in the past. Plus, she’s in no danger of a serious challenger - so why go through all of that?
I’m think she was considering it, and either believed that she could talk MJM into agreeing to step aside, or thought she could run anyway before deciding he was too much of a liability. Wishful thinking perhaps, but that doesn’t mean she was lying to folks.
- Knome Sane - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:53 am:
What does this say about the donors who ponied up prior to her announcement? Does it imply that they wanted to prove they were with her from (before) the beginning? What did they expect to get in return? Ever hear of “caveat emptor”?
I don’t feel one bit sorry for those who donated before the big announcement because they were hedging their bet. And they bet wrong. Next time, maybe they won’t be so quick to “invest” in anything that’s less than a sure thing.
- Cassiopeia - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:55 am:
I don’t think she owes any explanation. Sorry Rich, but I don’t agree with you on this one.
Donors know the landscape.
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 11:55 am:
C’mon, she said her father as speaker was no problem in regards to her future plans.
Until it was.
Let’s face it, she led everyone to believe she was running for governor to scoop up loads of money for it. No way she raises that cash running again for attorney general.
Then she threw her old man under the bus when she backed off. But she ain’t giving any money back.
The best thing about this whole episode is that — perhaps — we no longer have to contend with the mindless, 12-year MJM/Lisa-for-governor conspiracy theories.
Haven’t heard any of those “political experts” who have been peddling that all this time explain how they got it so completely wrong for so long.
- bored now - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
i suspect her comments weren’t that well-thought out. lisa has kind of put herself in a box. if she says she won’t run for governor this year because her father is speaker, she relinquishes control over her future (at least, in stepping up) until he relinquishes control. not a fun place for a politician…
- Obama's Puppy - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:08 pm:
Just for a little perspective - in what other state would the State Democratic chair short circuit the most electable candidate for Governor and oh btw just happens to be his daughter? This is a true Greek tragedy and the story just gets stranger and stranger. Just curious if the run of the mill voter realizes the selfishness that has been exhibited by the Speaker in this story? hmmmmm….
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:14 pm:
–She already had more money in the bank than any other statewide office holder or candidate, and has not exactly had difficulty raising money in the past. Plus, she’s in no danger of a serious challenger - so why go through all of that?–
“Enough money” is always in the eyes of the beholder.
- wishbone - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:25 pm:
“The public ought to know if their attorney general all but lied to them for months.”
Put me in the column that this is a little strong. Things change, people change. Flexibility in the face of change can be a virtue.
- AFSCME Steward - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:32 pm:
Obama
I not sure where the selfisness is here. I am not a fan of MJM by any means, but he has the right to continue as Speaker as long as his caucus wants him. He is not obliged to step down just because Lisa may have wanted to run for Governor. Lisa is a grown women who could run if she decided to. She chose not. Your comment makes it appear that Lisa was ordained to be Governor and her inconsiderate father stopped her in a Pythonesque way, saying “none shall pass”. Lisa is not entitled to be Governor just because her father is MJM. Of course, if her father wasn’t MJM, she probably wouldn’t be AG now.
“Just curious if the run of the mill voter realizes the selfishness that has been exhibited by the Speaker in this story”
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 12:58 pm:
AFSCME
Ever tell a fib for kid? Or your spouse? Or a friend?
If nothing else, it was selfish of Madigan to throw his daughter under the bus after the story had died down a bit. Even if she mis-spoke in a moment of haste or anxiety, who cares? He’s been around 30 years. It’s not like her saying that was a sudden, crippling blow to his career. His reaction was petty, odd and unnecessary.
If anything, it made him look even more selfish and callous than he was already getting grief for.
So much for those lessons many of us learned from out parents concerning “being the bigger person” and “family first”.
Apparently in MJM’s world, it is always MJM first. And if you say anything that he doesn’t like, even if comes during a flustered point in life and you are his daughter, he will go out of his way to make you look bad and publicly label you a liar. Not just to legislators or colleagues, but to the media and the public.
And that is a disturbing choice on his part.
The man went out of his way to throw his daughter under the bus for something that made him look slightly bad. He doesn’t put his daughter ahead of himself, much less the state of Illinois.
- Will Caskey - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:01 pm:
The sniping at each other is pretty weird and not how I would advise conducting oneself as an elected official.
But as to the public? We are not owed particular people running for particular offices, and she’s entitled to change her mind. Even the contributors don’t have much to complain about; sure, they gave under certain expectations, but that is also why we call them contributions and not payments. Caveat donor, etc.
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:06 pm:
As to those claiming this somehow serves as proof Madigan isn’t trying to bolster his daughter’s chances at the mansion?
I respectfully disagree.
This sequence of events proves only one thing: Madigan will not put his daughter’s interests and public image ahead of his own.
That hardly means he will not put his daughter’s interests ahead of the interests of others.
If this were a food chain, it might look something like: Mike “Apples” Madigan > Lisa Madigan > everything and everyone else.
That doesn’t mean everything he does is motivated strictly to help Lisa’s shot at Governor and all the conspiracy theories are true.
Nor does it mean he will not and has not lifted a finger to help line her up her over others.
- MOON - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
I donated money to Lisa and after she announced she would not be running for governor she called and offered to return the money.
I personally believe she changed her mind after the Metra issue arose. Prior to that I think she had every intention of running for governor.
Whats the big deal? Circumstances change; people change their mind! She gave her reasons for not running and that should be the end of it.
Had the Speaker decided to step aside everbody would now be claiming if Lisa was elected governor Mike Madigan would be running the governor’s office.
- Steve - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:08 pm:
Rich hit on a very important point which is: why is not a conflict of interest to have a Speaker of the House and Attorney General from the same family?? Anyway, Lisa is handling herself fairly well. She knows she can get re-elected without answering nepotism questions. Illinois has big nepotism problem. Anyway, I doubt in Illinois there is a revulsion for family clans in politics. Is Lisa Madigan’s job anymore of a problem than Alderman Ed Burke being a powerful Alderman while his wife on the Illinois Supreme Court and his brother in the State Assembly???? Voters here don’t seem to care. We will never know but Lisa Madigan probably could have been the next Governor. Illinois has really high unemployment which usually hurts incumbents but not Illinois incumbents, just ask Speaker Madigan.
- Soccermom - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:08 pm:
Oh come on, Rich. When Sheriff Dart decided not to run for mayor, explaining that he has five children to consider, I don’t recall that you asked why he had not done a headcount sooner. People give reasons for running, and not running, that may or may not be completely accurate. I don’t think the AG owes me an explanation.
- Wensicia - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 1:30 pm:
I think she wanted to run, but the Metra scandal changed her mind. I don’t think she’s ready for Prime Time, or a long, ugly battle with the Madigan name dragged through the mud. Easy enough to scapegoat her father, but he has the guts to stand up to criticism. She doesn’t. I think his slap back was to the point.
- Cook Dem - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 2:08 pm:
Very insightful column Rich. There’s been a professional class Lisa for Governor promotion network for years, always predicated on the wishful thinking that the Speaker would gracefully step aside when the time came. But everyone in the family had to know that time is Never. Anybody who’s paid attention to MJM over the years knew he was never going to voluntarily leave. So either a lot of self-delusion by Lisa or purposeful deception.
- Janitor - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 3:51 pm:
I still feel that it is no crime to have a father serving as Speaker of the House and daughter as Govenor. If the PEOPLE vote for them then they should be able to hold those offices.
- Steve - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 3:54 pm:
If you were Mike Madigan why would you retire??? What’s the upside? So some future legitimate U.S.Attorney can start sniffing around your life?? By holding power, you can behind the scenes influence who influences who gets picked as U.S. Attorney. Same goes for other powerful people who have made enemies. When you aren’t in office: you are vulnerable to being : “investigated”.
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:18 pm:
–By holding power, you can behind the scenes influence who influences who gets picked as U.S. Attorney. Same goes for other powerful people who have made enemies. When you aren’t in office: you are vulnerable to being : “investigated”.–
For crying out loud, are you kidding me?
Ryan, Blago, Rosty, Trips — the list goes on and on.
- Knome Sane - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:18 pm:
@Janitor
The key difference is that the public at large does not vote for Speaker. Only those in his House district have that privilege. Oh yeah, and the 70 other Democratic House Members.
- Knome Sane - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:20 pm:
=So some future legitimate U.S.Attorney can start sniffing around your life?? By holding power, you can behind the scenes influence who influences who gets picked as U.S. Attorney.=
Say what you will about Speaker Madigan. But law breaker ain’t one of them.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:33 pm:
Steve, the trophy generally gets smaller when a target retires. And Fitz was pretty darned legit. Methinks you don’t residee in the reality-based universe.
- Steve - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:37 pm:
Rich:
The “trophy” has been good for Fitz. When Fitz came to town he said he had no friends. And wouldn’t you know: he left with friends.
http://abovethelaw.com/tag/pat-fitzgerald/
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:43 pm:
Yes, Steve, you are soo right. I’m sorry. I read your link and am now convinced.
Goodbye, doofus.
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 4:44 pm:
–All those people you mentioned weren’t successfully over decades writing letters of recommendation on who should be slated for judges or quietly recommend who should slated for Cook County State’s Attorney.–
And what good does any of that do you you when the Justice Dept., FBI and IRS are on you?
I’m pretty sure when it comes to Illinois politics, power does not spring from the writing of letters.
- Just Me - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 6:40 pm:
The conspiracy theorist in me thinks it was all an elaborate plan by the Speaker to have a Republican Governor by having his daughter siphon away money from normal Democratic donors to Lisa Madigan instead of Quinn.
- Silent Majority - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 8:55 pm:
Regardless of when she says that she made the decision, I’m of the belief that she was still considering running, if not planning to run, until the Metra thing hit her father. I wouldn’t even be surprised if she did some polling after Metra and those results had a part in her decision not to run.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 9:55 pm:
Hey Steve, ask Tony Rezko what he thinks about your theory.
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 12, 13 @ 10:06 pm:
Many people have expressed the opinion that the Metra thing really stung MJM.
I don’t see it on the merits, but MJM sure did make a spectacle himself with the Chuck and duck.
Don’t get it. Bland answers to a question and follow-up would have exhausted Chuck’s knowledge and interest on the subject.
Maybe the visuals of MJMs weird reaction resonated with people. Seriously, why run from Chuck like like you’re a crooked meat inspector and the old gotcha “60 Minutes” crew is chasing you?
- 21st State - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 12:32 am:
Rich - as I get ready to welcome my new crop of law students to learn about legislative process and drafting, I must send another commend to the crisp and effective writing you share with us on such a consistent basis - thank you truly from the votes/students I am with on occasion - I will alert you and others to our visit during Veto!