* I’ve been asking the Rauner campaign the past few days for a copy of this ad, which is being targeted to suburban women on cable TV. They never sent it.
Illinois Review recorded it off a TV, and the conservatives over there ain’t happy with Rauner for so openly “being pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage”…
The ad, airing on [cable] television only, is titled “Why Are You Voting for Bruce Rauner for Governor.” It opens with Marjorie Shapiro, who is identified in other videos on the Rauner website as a “pro-choice independent.”
Shapiro states:
“Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda. He’s pro-choice and will leave the marriage equality law alone.”
Rauner has been recorded on several occasions saying he’s personally pro-life, but believes in a “woman’s right to choose.” He has also been quoted as saying he would repeal the same-sex marriage law if he were governor. The conflicting statements, coupled with the ambiguous and situational definition of “no social agenda” has many conservative Republicans questioning their support for Rauner.
* Watch…
* Script…
Male announcer: Why are you voting for Bruce Rauner for governor?
Caucasian woman: Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda. He’s pro-choice and he’ll leave the marriage equality law alone.
African-American woman: Bruce will fight for good schools for all of our children, no matter where they live, no matter what the power brokers say.
Latina: We need a clean break from the Blagojevich-Quinn machine.
African-American woman: It’s time for a change.
Female announcer: Bruce Rauner, shake up Springfield, bring back Illinois.
It’s actually a pretty well crafted ad, but, needless to say, it ain’t gonna be running in Downstate markets.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:04 pm:
Many have repeatedly said that the key to a Republican winning the mansion is being a social moderate and suburban women.
Hard to fault the guy for going after those votes, especially after he was tarred and feathered by some for being a social moderate in the primary.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:14 pm:
A+
If Brady could have run an ad like this, 2014 would have been his reelection year.
This is where the fight is at. This is where Rauner closes the deal. The guy in the old van. The guy wearing the barn jacket. The rich guy who knows how you feel. Quinn is running ads questioning it, so you know it is working.
Quinn has been playing defense all year. Look at Rauner’s ads. This is a man with a plan and it looks like it was set up back in March. Weeks to go. Rauner is running poll tested stuff that defuses Quinn attacks that really aren’t that original, so they are easy to defend against.
Bruce is too rich? Here is an ad that shows you his old leather wallet given to him by his dying veteran uncle. Bruce is too conservative? Here is an ad that shows you Bruce passing juice at a Planned Parenthood clinic. Bruce is anti-education? Here is an ad of Lula Ford telling us how many millions he spent on poor Chicago schools.
This stuff was in the can weeks ago.
Closing the deal.
- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:19 pm:
Which Bruce Rauner sponsored this ad? The one who wanted to veto marriage equality, or the one who was open to a referendum repealing it? It’s hard to keep all the Rauner’s straight, when you factor in the Rauner who did call Arne Duncan on his daughter’s behalf and the one who didn’t, and the one who did run all his businesses and the one who didn’t, and the one who’ll slash government spending and the one who’ll increase it. All these Rauners should wear numbers on their jerseys.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:24 pm:
Wow! Score that one an “A.”
I would rather see more of these types of ads from both candidates than the slash and burn ones, but that’s just my personal preferences in political campaigns.
- Cassidy - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:29 pm:
It’s an A. Sure beats Quinn and his lawn mower.
- Big Muddy - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
More please! This is why I’m voting for the guy. This state needs a return of moderate, fiscal conservitive, Republicans.
Illinois Review can whine all they want but that is the type of Republican that wins in Illinois… right Bill Brady? Right Dan Proft? You listening Rep. Ives?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
Many have repeatedly said that the key to a Republican winning the mansion is being a social moderate and suburban women.
Hard to fault the guy for going after those votes, especially after he was tarred and feathered by some for being a social moderate in the primary.
Being Pro-choice doesn’t make someone a social moderate anymore then being Pro-life makes someone a social conservative.
I am a moderate who is also Pro-life.
- Chef - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
Bravo. I concur with VanillaMan; this add is spot-on A+ material.
Even as a downstater, I don’t care about social agendas right now. I want a governor who I can trust to bring jobs to Illinois. I do not want a governor who is so clueless he does the Cinnamon challenge on air.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:32 pm:
Great ad let’s hope the pro-choicers and gay marriage advocates come out strong for BR downstate.
- Amalia - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:32 pm:
good ad, but not true if, as you write, Rauner is personally pro life. but even worse is “let’s criminalize abortion” Lt. Gov. candidate Sanguinetti. if Bruce goes down, for whatever reason, we get Sue. awful.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
- Big Muddy - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
More please! This is why I’m voting for the guy. This state needs a return of moderate, fiscal conservitive, Republicans.
Illinois Review can whine all they want but that is the type of Republican that wins in Illinois… right Bill Brady? Right Dan Proft? You listening Rep. Ives?
Many pro-lifers voted for Quinn including myself. A pro-life candidate can win in Illinois. I voted for Quinn because of other issues.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:35 pm:
The ad pretty much neuters the conservative social agenda in Illinois. Maybe Rauner’s model will be used by Republicans nationwide to bring their party closer to the middle.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:36 pm:
== Caucasian woman: Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda. He’s pro-choice and he’ll leave the marriage equality law alone. ==
This presents social conservatives with a dilemma. If life is their most important issue, they can hardly vote for Bruce. If defense of traditional marriage is their most important issue, they would surely make no progress under Gov. Rauner.
- Not Surprised - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:36 pm:
It’s amazing that anyone thinks Bruce Rauner is telling the truth to anyone. He has complete contempt for democracy and voters of all political stripes. He believes nothing except that he is always right about everything and everyone else should just agree. He’s a very frightening man.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:37 pm:
You have to think social conservative guys like Chris Nybo will get hurt in a big way by this ad.
- ChinaTown - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:38 pm:
This guy will truly say anything to any audience, if he thinks it will help him get elected. Quinn should push this downstate.
Who’s Bruce Rauner: Whoever you want him to be
or
Bruce Rauner: Whatever You Want to Hear
- ChinaTown - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:46 pm:
Agree with Vanilla Man above, though.
Watching the Rauner vs. Quinn campaign operations sometimes feels like the White Sox are playing Jackie Robinson West.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:47 pm:
This is a huge victory for a woman’s right to choose and gay marriage. This could easily become national news.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:53 pm:
“Who’s Bruce Rauner: Whoever you want him to be
or
Bruce Rauner: Whatever You Want to Hear”
The opposite side of that coin being: “Pat Quinn: Whatever.”
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
This presents social conservatives with a dilemma. If life is their most important issue, they can hardly vote for Bruce. If defense of traditional marriage is their most important issue, they would surely make no progress under Gov. Rauner.
Social conservatives have little traction in IL, and never have save for some rural districts and the occasional good luck of running against Sen. Mosely-Braun. A more successful strategy for Illinois social conservatives to align their state with their values would be to move to Mississippi.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
~This state needs a return of moderate, fiscal conservative, Republicans.~
Maybe, but this isn’t that guy. And all of those Republican governors who didn’t raise a stink about not funding pensions properly weren’t really those guys either.
This guy though, is the guy with a plan to win the office of governor. What he will do after that is anyone’s guess.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:00 pm:
It seems like Rauner does have a social agenda…a very, very liberal one.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:05 pm:
Glad to see that Republican Rauner feels that someone who is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage “doesn’t have a social agenda.”
- lovecraft - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:08 pm:
If this were a boxing match, the ref would have stopped it by now. Whether it’s a TKO or KO, Quinn is finished. Like ChinaTown said Bruce Rauner has the majority believing he is whatever they want. As a state retiree, he sure isn’t what I want.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:15 pm:
Hey, Rauner, what’s your social agenda?
Rauner: “Whatever you want it to be.”
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:15 pm:
The ad is well done. If this is what Bruce believes why isn’t he running the ad downstate?
- Linus - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:19 pm:
to JS Mill: Because he believes something(s) different downstate.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:23 pm:
He’s switched from real people to actors. That’s interesting.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:29 pm:
@Linus- That has been the allegation. In my experience, his message has been adjusted a bit down this way.
- Leprechaun - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:32 pm:
I’m pro life and catholic. Those are MY choices and may not be others, who am I to pass judgement . This race is about the future of this state and how to best correct this cess pool of corruption and mismanagement .
I’m more concerned about now and how my 5 children can get a fair shake in this state. Quinn has had his chance and failed let’s move on and try a different path with Rauner.
As for the illinois review not being happy who cares? They are a blog for extremist who call out anyone or anybody that dosent adhere to there far right rhetoric . They rather lose the battle than win the war.
Down deep they rather see Quinn win and Rauner lose so they can continue to persue there crackpot agenda.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:32 pm:
Quinn should congratulate Rauner for finally coming around on these two big social issues and thank Illinois Republicans for nominating a candidate willing to take abortion and gay marriage off of the table in any debate.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:37 pm:
===He’s switched from real people to actors. That’s interesting.===
One of them identified herself by name. They don’t look like actors to me.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:39 pm:
LOL, Anon.
Rauner has said he is Pro-Life, and he picked a pro-life extremist as his running mate who would be front runner for governor if he keeps his term limits pledge in just four years.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:44 pm:
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 12:47 pm:
This is a huge victory for a woman’s right to choose and gay marriage. This could easily become national news.
Not really, I never thought that Rauner was Pro-life before and many others did not either.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:45 pm:
Sun Times is reporting Quinn is leading Rauner…maybe this ad is one of desperation???
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:45 pm:
Yup - just as we knew in the primary, despite periodic protestations to the contrary. Gotta figure Jack Roeser is spinning in his grave over this one.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
Rauner has said he is Pro-Life, and he picked a pro-life extremist as his running mate who would be front runner for governor if he keeps his term limits pledge in just four years.
It is talk look this that make the moderate Pro-lifer less likely to vote Democrat. Being Pro-life is not extreme.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
–I’m pro life and catholic. Those are MY choices and may not be others, who am I to pass judgement –
Who are you asking? Because I think I’ve seen a wee bit of judgement passing on this issue from certain circles.
- Leprechaun - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
Anon. How brilliant of you to point out that the Sun Times is reporting on Quinn ahead of Rauner.
It’s the most liberal Rag Sheet in the State.
Every reporter covering the race for them is in the bag for Quinn. If the poll was other way around its in Dans and Natasha’s garbage can.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:01 pm:
Anybody that dismisses this poll out of hand does so at their own risk. Anybody that believes that this race is “in the bag” for Rauner is flirting with disaster.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:03 pm:
–Every reporter covering the race for them is in the bag for Quinn. If the poll was other way around its in Dans and Natasha’s garbage can. –
They’ve reported on polls that had Rauner had. Everyone has. You’ve seen that.
How does a report on a poll that has Quinn ahead make you a victim?
- SAP - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
So Rauner has alienated Illinois Review and Equality Illinois for being too extreme on abortion. That’s a pretty neat trick.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:11 pm:
“B+, A-”
The reason it’s not an “A”…
…upstate only Ads tend to be found out downstate, and if this really good Ad eats at some downstate margins or peels off fence sitters, there are more votes to gain in Cook and the Collars, and Bruce isn’t going downstate now, so the risk takes it down, even with the rewards.
- Hit or Miss - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:11 pm:
===Bruce doesn’t have a social agenda. He’s pro-choice and he’ll leave the marriage equality law alone.===
How can you be pro-choice and for gay marriage and not have a social agenda? Are these not both positions on major social issues?
I also see his positions on these two issues as being very much the opposite of the conservative social agenda of many Republican areas in Illinois.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
Maybe uber lobbyist Jack Lavin should issue a press release calling on Bruce Rauner not to talk with Evelyn Sanguinetti until she comes around to his liberal social agenda?
- Willie Stark - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
The audio would make a great robocall to downstate hard Republicans or identified pro-life, anti-marriage equality voters. Just repackage it and play it straight. Talk about demoralizing. If Rauner isn’t with you on your most important issue, how can you trust him on anything else? The contradictions of the Rauner candidacy, as our Marxist dialecticians might say, are starting to become obvious. And, the Dems haven’t gotten to the impactful stuff on nursing homes. Wonder how those suburban women are gonna feel about Bruce’s social agenda once they get exposed to that kind of financial predation?
- Gooner - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:15 pm:
While I like the idea of this ad, I don’t like the final product.
The language seemed fake and none of the deliveries was very good. It was like an out-take from a community college’s Acting 101 class.
Yeah, I know ad language is scripted, but this language crossed a line. Does anybody who is not paid by a campaign refer to “the Blagojevich-Quinn machine”?
And who says “no matter what the power brokers say”?
The whole thing left me with the impression that these are the points that Team Rauner wants to make, but nobody bothered to translate them into English.
It is a missed opportunity.
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:18 pm:
Rating the ad; a strong pass. The movement anyone might see here is a lessening importance on the issue of SSM. It’s law. He’s only talking about it because some people and groups are still asking. The rest is where he’s been. The Kennedy’s made it ok to be personally Pro life and politically pro choice, codified by the famous quote from Geraldine Ferrarro. Do I love that position? not much. Can I live with it? Compared to the alternative, absolutely.
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:20 pm:
Willie Stark “The audio would make a great robocall to downstate hard Republicans or identified pro-life, anti-marriage equality voters.”
And with modern micro-targeting this ad will make into those households. And when Rauner flips (if he’s not already on video doing so already) on choice and gay marriage once again, the flip statement[s] will go to suburban women. Warm up the griddle, we’re making pancakes for weeks on this issue…
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:20 pm:
===If the poll was other way around its in Dans and Natasha’s garbage can. ===
You cannot possibly believe this. Or you’re an illiterate knuckle-dragger.
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
Now there’s a choice! lol
- John A Logan - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:24 pm:
I have found that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:30 pm:
I have family and friends who are some of the staunchest anti-abortion people there are. In fact many of them are self proclaimed one issue voters. They will still be voting for Rauner because of the alternatives. I”m just not sold that there will be a backlash from conservatives.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:38 pm:
The ad is a little on the phony side, to me. The women’s statements are just Rauner campaign rhetoric, stating Rauner’s positions pretty much verbatim. How many Latina women are saying they want to get rid of the Blagojevich-Quinn machine?
How many African-American women support Rauner?
It seems that the AA and Latina women are just props to use for Rauner to get the white suburban women vote.
I rate the ad a D.
- Gooner - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:41 pm:
Hey Logan, you know, I was just reading these comments and thinking “Know what this conversation needs? Really mindless commentary reciting tedious points reflecting the far right’s simplistic view of abortion!”
Intelligent discussion of complex issues is so difficult. We’ve had way too much of that here, so we need you to share your unique wit.
Thanks for providing just what this discussion needs, John! You are awesome!
- DuPage Bard - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:49 pm:
I’m like-minded and will tour the State to push Bruce’s policies. We are one the same page in our policies pushing in the same direction as we are like minded.
Interesting to see how that tour downstate will be?
- Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 3:36 pm:
=I have family and friends who are some of the staunchest anti-abortion people there are. In fact many of them are self proclaimed one issue voters. They will still be voting for Rauner=
Voting for Rauner is not a pro-life vote.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 3:50 pm:
- wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 1:55 pm:
–I’m pro life and catholic. Those are MY choices and may not be others, who am I to pass judgement –
Who are you asking? Because I think I’ve seen a wee bit of judgement passing on this issue from certain circles.
Judgement happens from both sides but judgement is not always a bad thing as long as you don’t demonized people for having different opinions.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 3:57 pm:
- Gooner - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 2:41 pm:
Hey Logan, you know, I was just reading these comments and thinking “Know what this conversation needs? Really mindless commentary reciting tedious points reflecting the far right’s simplistic view of abortion!”
Intelligent discussion of complex issues is so difficult. We’ve had way too much of that here, so we need you to share your unique wit.
Thanks for providing just what this discussion needs, John! You are awesome!
Being Pro-life is not far right and John was correct.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 4:12 pm:
Many people who are Pro-life have thought a lot about the issue and have come to the conclusion that abortion is wrong.
I will not argue the issue with Left-Wing extremist who love to demonize us and use inflammatory words but if people look at why there is the Pro-life movement, they will understand even if they don’t agree but Left Wing extremist would rather side step the issue and demonize us instead of at least understanding that we are horrified by abortions. There is always the baby involved who has no say.
I never demonize people who disagree with me on the issue unless they throw the first punch.
To pretend that Pro-lifers have not thought about the issue is at best naive or at worst cluelessly hostile.
- Enviros-Anon - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 4:25 pm:
“He’s pro-choice and he’ll leave the marriage equality law alone.”
To many conservative suburban women the above statement is the social agenda they oppose.
- Mason born - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 4:31 pm:
As far as the ad it’s an A. You can count on Quinn to remind voters he is more pro-choice than Rauner. So if your a pro-life voter the issue is a wash at best. You may not like it but both are the same. I suspect most will move on to their secondary issue.
- Down Here - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:01 pm:
Good ad; for the Chicago area. Now let’s see if Quinn, the DGA, labor or other allies of the Gov can figure out how to get Rauner’s pro-choice message to run downstate where it could definitely hurt his margins. I remember Blago v. JBT and how surprisingly poor JBT did in some Southern IL counties largely because the Conservatives could not bring themselves to turn out and vote for her since she was so socially moderate.
- walker - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:12 pm:
An “I’ll say whatever you want to hear.” ad, directed at one specific audience. I wouldn’t be surprised at this point to see a Rauner ad downstate touting his pro-life “feelings”.
When I first saw it and heard the first line, I thought for a moment it was going to be an ad by some third party group, cleverly pointing out how Rauner has changed positions one key issue after another.
I had literally just gotten off the phone with a friend saying he would vote for Rauner because he was pro-life.
No such luck. It was actually by his campaign.
Of course they would never have a tape of Rauner actually saying the same words. That could too easily be used against him.
A for boldness.
B- for impact because it just wasn’t that strong on any one point.
- AlabamaShake - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:19 pm:
**You cannot possibly believe this. Or you’re an illiterate knuckle-dragger.**
I’m going to to with the “illiterate knuckle-dragger” option.
- low level - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:21 pm:
I guess they didn’t inform these moderate women voters of his stand on the minimum wage?
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:28 pm:
Low L, hard to imagine anyone in the state doesn’t know Pat Quinn is the undisputed champion of the minimum wage. He won’t quit until we’re all earning it.
- low level - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:37 pm:
I guess the name “Madigan” isn’t polling as much of a negative otherwise it would have been the “Quinn-Madigan” machine…bummer for Bruce.
- A Dog Named Poochie - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 6:06 pm:
Rauner: OK team, we need a new ad, one that shows I care. We need a white woman, an african american woman and see if you can get a hispanic woman too. That should do it. But remember, I don’t have a social agenda, so let’s keep the whole marriage equality thing as quiet as we can.
This guy is disgusting. At least Quinn didn’t pay someone to shoot those bad jump shots for him.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 6:33 pm:
- low level - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:21 pm:
I guess they didn’t inform these moderate women voters of his stand on the minimum wage?
They are Liberal NOT Moderate
- Anonymous - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 6:34 pm:
- Down Here - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 5:01 pm:
Good ad; for the Chicago area. Now let’s see if Quinn, the DGA, labor or other allies of the Gov can figure out how to get Rauner’s pro-choice message to run downstate where it could definitely hurt his margins. I remember Blago v. JBT and how surprisingly poor JBT did in some Southern IL counties largely because the Conservatives could not bring themselves to turn out and vote for her since she was so socially moderate.
Socially Liberal NOT Moderate
- Amalia - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 8:46 pm:
@anonymous 4:12, yes, we know what you are thinking. but a live, fully formed woman is not equal to an embryo or a fetus at conception or a few months thereafter. and the life and health of the living, breathing woman counts for more than what could become a breathing human. the life of the woman is paramount to those of us who are pro choice. the life of her choice to bear a child, create a child, or terminate a pregnancy.
- CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Sep 11, 14 @ 9:56 pm:
Guessing the wing nuts give Mitt an F+
Against them with his shadow social issue ad
Against them on tax hikes
What left?
Hey Mitt how many positions ya got on guns, body cams, pot…..
Pretty simple to say the wing nuts not likely to leave their homes for this guy…just an empty Carhart