Wincing before the hit
Friday, Aug 22, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bruce Rauner is having a press conference later today. He’s expected to try and pin direct blame on Gov. Pat Quinn for the troubles at IDOT. I’m sure it’ll be intense.
In advance of the presser, the Quinn campaign has issued a preemptive assault…
Reminder: Bruce Rauner Takes NO Responsibility for Crime Under His Watch - Even When He Has Direct Ties to Business Associate Who Went to Prison
“Nobody wants to admit you were involved with a swindler in the past, particularly when you run for office.”
CHICAGO - On a day when Republican billionaire Bruce Rauner is plotting to throw barbs against Governor Pat Quinn about leadership, it’s important to remember Rauner’s own business record. Below is a case study of the Acartha Group LLC, one of several instances where Rauner had direct ties to a business associate who committed criminal acts - but has hidden from any responsibility for what took place under his watch.
Key point: Bruce Rauner’s longtime business associate and hunting buddy Burton Douglas Morriss defrauded investors of $9.1 million from a fund directly backed by Rauner. Morriss was sentenced to prison for five years for tax evasion in connection with the scheme to defraud investors. Rauner knew Burton Douglas Morriss well enough to buy a hunting lodge and farm with him and the two had long partnered on business deals through GTCR.
Rauner’s campaign dismissed the investment fraud and tax evasion as “shenanigans” and told a reporter during the Republican primary, incredibly, that Rauner was merely a “passive investor” though experts didn’t see it that way.
A Northwestern University professor put it like this: “Nobody wants to admit you were involved with a swindler in the past, particularly when you run for office.”
Another expert who reviewed the timeline scoffed at Rauner’s self-exoneration: “At some point in time, Mr. Rauner became aware of something not being right.”
It goes on and on for five pages. Rather than post the whole thing here, I converted the novella into a pdf, which you can read (if you have time) by clicking here.
- Bobby Hill - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
Yeah, um….I am not reading it. Sorry Rich.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:16 pm:
In defense of Pat Quinn and his campaign:
- John A Logan - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:23 pm:
The optics of this press release are not good. Launching encyclopedia length press releases against your opponent only highlights the coming presser to be held by Bruce Rauner. It makes the Quinn campaign seem weak. Quinn’s campaign looks more nervous with each passing day.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:25 pm:
Sounds and smells like panic…and that makes for must-see TV!
- Frankie L - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:32 pm:
So there defense on bad and illegal hiring is that Bruce Rauner hired bad people too? Admission of guilt.
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
Rauner’s having a press conference? Maybe a sorta press conference.
He’ll read the script, give a couple of canned responses to questions then bolt.
He’s not nimble or knowledgeable enough to have a real give-and-take with anyone.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
== Reminder: Bruce Rauner Takes NO Responsibility for Crime Under His Watch ==
Translation: Consider this advance notice I plan to follow Bruce’s lead on this one.
- Shore - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 1:47 pm:
obama did a much better job at running the rich white guy doesn’t care about people like you so don’t vote for him campaign than quinn has and it’s not even close.
Quinn’s been way too cocky this time out and unlike what we saw of him in 2010 where he seemed to have more desperation and fight.
- Modest Proposal - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 2:01 pm:
Did someone from the Cross campaign get hired by Taxpayers for Quinn? #SnarkySnarkSnark
- LincolnLounger - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 2:09 pm:
You had me at “novella,” Rich.
- JS Mill - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 2:20 pm:
Moral relativism at it’s finest (or worst). Other people do bad things too!
- Commander Norton - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 2:56 pm:
That is possibly the most amateurish press release I’ve ever seen out of a statewide campaign. “A Northwestern University professor put it like this”? “Another expert who reviewed the timeline”? Did these “experts” not wish to be identified? Or was the staffer who wrote this so clueless as to think attribution unnecessary? Or did he or she simply make up the quotes? Either way, it’s not good.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 3:48 pm:
“Page 1 of 5″
Says all you need to know about keeping hits…pithy.
“Novella”…lol
- Robo - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 3:59 pm:
Agree with John A. Logan that the “novella” just highlights the allegations Rauner will make. Hey wait, didn’t PQ associate with that Blagojevich fellow?
- Trying to be a loyal follower - Friday, Aug 22, 14 @ 7:25 pm:
Rauner’s friends don’t seem to be throwing him under the bus; unlike someone else’s former leadership team. Makes this look like a stretch while the other stings.
Feels feeble to me.