27 Comments - Da Bulls - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:31 am: Apples and oranges - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:33 am: What’s the phrase? Turnabout is fair play? - Jimbo - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:35 am: This is oh so precious. Bruce has Quinn in a pickle because most of the governor’s events (official ones anyway) can’t be secret. It’s just like everything else, Bruce must be allowed to play with a different set of rules. It’s only fair. - Jimbo - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:40 am: DB, this isn’t Rauner not wanting Quinn trackers vs. Quinn’s security detail manhandling a Rauner tracker. It is about the Rauner campaign saying they regularly allow Quinn trackers at events when it is clear they are intent on keeping them out. More lies from the Rauner camp, it must be a day that ends in “y”. - Soccermom - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:41 am: There’s a difference between making it harder for them to get to the events and kicking them out of events held in public venues. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:42 am: ===Trackers from the opposition are constantly searching for opportunities to disrupt events— so this is a point of extra caution.=== Yikes. Couldn’t you just say, “No social media?” - Wumpus - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:51 am: What’s next, they didn’t send them an invitation to sit at the Head table? - Reader - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:52 am: The actions of the Quinn security have been totally misunderstood in this situation. They didn’t throw out the tracker because they thought he was from the Rauner campaign, it’s because they thought the tracker was Sheila Simon! - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 9:56 am: False equivalency - Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:01 am: Anonymous get a real handle. I was waiting for you to weigh in after your rationalizing yesterday. So how about you tell us why this is okey dokey for the campaign. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:07 am: ===False equivalency=== ===Trackers from the opposition are constantly searching for opportunities to disrupt events— so this is a point of extra caution.=== So, if that is efts the Rauner Crew thinks trackers do, I guess Rauner’s Crew don’t mind doing that too? lol - Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:09 am: So is there a difference between not publicizing and event to trackers/disruptors and ejecting people who you suspect are with the opposition? - Wensicia - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:11 am: Are these guys really a problem, as in trying to hijack an event, or are they unwelcome because they’re with the opposition? If it’s the former, I’m going to call them Tracker Jackers. - MrJM (@MisterJayEm) - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:15 am: “So is there a difference between not publicizing and event to trackers/disruptors and ejecting people who you suspect are with the opposition?” In the first one, the event isn’t videotaped by opposition trackers; but in the second one, opposition trackers don’t videotape the event. Duh. – MrJM - A guy... - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:16 am: It appears as though it worked and people heeded the advice. - Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:18 am: Hmmm…Rauner has an event here in Springfield where they must not be worried about trackers-all the deets are in today’s SJ-R. Maybe only the high ticket events are secret. - Percival - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:25 am: Paranoia runs deep. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 10:38 am: When a public official hold a public event being secured by public employees paid for with public tax money - YEAH, there is a big difference when citizens are thrown out of those public events. Why can’t these people understand that PUBLIC money is not YOUR money. It carries differing rules and responsibilities. It gives an incumbent an edge on some things, but that is naturally balanced by this. Quinn is fully capable of doing exactly what Rauner is doing - but not on our dime! There is a difference! - walker - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 11:10 am: A “free town hall meeting” to be kept secret from all but my invited friends and supporters. “Shh don’t let those others know we’re having the party.” These people need to grow up. Good campaigns have been appropriately handling these minor distractions for decades. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 11:41 am: Maybe the Quinn and Rauner brain-trusts can put their heads together and figure out a how to elevate this above sixth grade playground antics. Also was the Rauner guy “ejected” from the event yesterday or just moved back? How do you eject someone from the Spaghetti Bowl? Put them on a bus out of town? The Rauner cartoon characters were on the news last night cavorting at the event. I assume their other trackers and peeps were there, too. - Makandadawg - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 12:07 pm: Some nights I go home and try to talk with my wife of what I read today about the Governor’s race and realize how stupid I sound. I hope we all survive this low point in Illinois Politics. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 12:10 pm: ===and realize how stupid I sound=== LOLOL So true. - jim - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 1:39 pm: It seems to me there is a difference between physically ejecting trackers from a public event and guarding information about public events to make it harder for trackers to find out about them and show up. I get the impression the Rauner campaign wants to hold the information close because it feels compelled to allow trackers in if they show up. But I’m not a feverish Quinn backer, so what do I know? - Jimbo - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 1:57 pm: Rich, can you clarify, was the tracker “ejected” or moved back? My understanding was that he was moved to a different area. There’s a world of difference in my eyes. Either way, still up to the officer to decide what is or isn’t a security concern, but moving someone, even forcefully, isn’t nearly as serious as booting them entirely. - Archiesmom - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 1:59 pm: All campaigns use trackers these days. The “good” campaigns expect it and as long as they are not disruptive, roll their eyes and allow it, and tell their people to be respectful in turn. “Bad” campaigns panic and flail, and are prone to hiring jerks with no sense of propriety or civility. We know who they are and watch for them. I have to have sympathy for the fact that Quinn is a sitting governor, and as such his security concerns are different. We do not know whether his people might have heard of a threat and are bring extra cautious. I’ve been in that position with an incumbent. I’ve also worked major events with national incumbents and candidates and security can be a big concern. I may be wrong about the Quinn campaign and his security, but I think they have better things to do than worry about tossing undisruptive trackers. - walker - Wednesday, Jul 23, 14 @ 2:12 pm: Jim: Since we now know that what was reported yesterday was not “physically ejecting trackers from a public event” — then yes, there would be a difference, but you are asking a hypothetical question. Please reread all the posts and reporting on it, including on this blog. The little piece distributed was shot before the governor arrived. The young man was told, maybe too forcefully by the cop, to stand where others waiting for the arrival were standing. He just wanted a better shot I guess, but got moved. I would assume, since it wasn’t claimed otherwise, that all the trackers remained there and taped whatever they wanted. Sorry, but you’re beating a straw man, that you’ve been misled into seeing… - windycity - Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 9:46 am: If I received an invitation and request from Judy Biggert rest assured I’d go out of my way to do exactly the opposite that one requested. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.