* The Quinn campaign has a powerful new ad running exclusively on African-American radio stations. There’s no music, just a black woman expertly reading her script and a single audio quote of Bruce Rauner. It’s an absolute must-listen…
Oof.
* Script…
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN: Do you know how many professionals work at billionaire Republican Bruce Rauner’s investment firm?
51 people.
Do you want to guess how many of those employees are African-American?
None.
Zero.
Not a single African-American.
Why do you suppose that is?
Well, when ABC News asked Rauner he said he couldn’t find anyone…
RAUNER: “We weren’t finding the folks that, that uh, you know, that weren’t there.”
Really, Bruce Rauner?
You couldn’t find anyone?
You couldn’t find a single qualified African-American to work for and represent your firm?
And now you’re running TV ads claiming how close you are to our community?
[Chuckles]
Well, we know how to judge our true friends, and those who aren’t.
Zero employees out of 51.
So, Bruce Rauner, if you’re listening, did you really think no one would ever find out?
PAT QUINN: Taxpayers for Quinn paid for this message because there’s so much at stake.
Again, this is playing on black radio. Judge it in context.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:26 pm:
Nice.
- train111 - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:26 pm:
ouch!!
- John A Logan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:27 pm:
I am to assume that Bruce Rauner is a racist? What a disgusting ad. This stuff is shameful.
- Aaron Burr - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:28 pm:
Certainly to the point
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:29 pm:
That stings. Cue the old Harold Washington sound bite on Quinn…
- DuPage - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
This ad probably just reinforces what a lot of people already thought. It might help get out the vote for Quinn.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:30 pm:
If JAL is offended, it will probably work well.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:31 pm:
Bullseye, and perfectly fair.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:33 pm:
This ad is going to make it exceedingly difficult for Brucie to convince African-Americans to vote for him.
A+
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:34 pm:
Also, minor point of order, but the ad doesn’t say he didn’t hire any African-Americans at all, it’s limited to professionals only.
- Disgusted - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:35 pm:
Interjecting race into an already emotional campaign is a new level that could only happen in Illinois. Come on candidates, speak to the issues.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:36 pm:
When either side starts playing the race card like this, it is the first sign of desperation. Shameful.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:39 pm:
===Come on candidates, speak to the issues. ===
You’ve obviously never been to an Approp hearing.
Employment of blacks by white-owned firms is a huge issue.
- Walter Mitty - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:42 pm:
Well… When we thought we couldn’t get lower.. News flash… IF IF this true… there are responses. If it’s not, cue an African American employee on that radio station by noon tomorrow reading an ad… Right now, I believe nothing from either camp. PQ’s camp has stumbled quite a bit… If this turns out to be false.. So Ron… it’s not a minor point of order. I sure hope none of the many investments his company made were for African American owned companies… Bold ad. One that can backfire.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:42 pm:
This is an “A”.
Nothing to make it better, nothing to take away to make it better.
The Rauner explanation, in his own words, yikes.
Can’t call “zero” hires…baloney.
- Been There - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:42 pm:
When Bruce was first running in the primary I looked at his company’s web site. Noticed right away there were no blacks. It always amazes me how companies and their leaders think they are highlighting their best and brightest without noticing they are pointing out the obvious and their lack of diversity.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
===When either side starts playing the race card like this, it is the first sign of desperation. Shameful.===
It’s “just the facts.” Brucie should have made it a point long ago to see to it that it wasn’t true. Too late now.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:46 pm:
I think it was unfrotunate for Rauner that the primary campaign was not more vigourous. Everyone was either so poor, or trying so hard to be mostly nice, he didnt get the run through the grist mill.
The tag line/theme “did you really think no one would ever find out” is quit effective with these little hits like this. particuarly if they can bring out a variety of them.
Ad is extremly well done. It is interesting how many prior ad’s etc the Quinn campaign bungleded or just didnt do well; and suddenly they have started firing out some real game changers. I wonder if they brought in a new team to work on these.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:48 pm:
I think it’s very fair. Rauner heavily touts his business experience, so we look there. We are finding unsavory stuff–not one African-American?
Rauner has African-Americans in his ads, but upon learning about his firm’s hiring, they also seem like campaign props, along with the watch and the van.
The damning part in the ad is Rauner’s own words. There was not one qualified African-American anywhere?
- Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:50 pm:
=== When either side starts playing the race card like this, it is the first sign of desperation. ===
I know? who in their right mind would make a point of driving to a minoirty owned bank in a high mile van to deposit a very large sum of money for that bank; just to convince a minority group to support them in exchange for financial support back? shameful.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:52 pm:
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Quinn has more arrows left in his quiver.
Rauner better take a hard look in the mirror to preempt another one of Quinn’s ads.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:53 pm:
I give this an A for reasons stated above.
Rauner can write a lot of checks to Chicago ministers and financial institutions, but the fact that he won’t hire any African Americans says a heck of a lot more.
I’m sort of surprised at the way he answered the question. I thought he would go with his Stu Levine response and just claim he doesn’t know who works for him.
- Roadiepig - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
Thanks ghost- you beat me to that truth. Guess that and his courting of black ministers wasn’t playing the race card?
- Jose Abreu's next homer - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:58 pm:
Easy fix Bruce. Just remind everyone of your minority ownership in the Pittsburgh Steelers and mention a few players you’ve hired/drafted like Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:59 pm:
Man, a few of you are completely ignorant on this issue. It’s an ad directed at the black community. It will be an effective ad with that community. Pull your head out of the sands of outrage and recognize it for what it is. Stop being so politically naive.
- Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 12:59 pm:
The simple fact that they’re running this ad tells me they’re worried that Rauner is making inroads with the black community.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:01 pm:
The ad is good, but agree with Willy Rauner’s statement of saying they just weren’t there is the kicker. If he had African Americans at the firm to cut an ad tomorrow, as Mitty says, he wouldn’t have given the response he gave. You can say a lot in an ad, spin or no spin, but it’s using people’s own words that are really having the most impact in this race.
Why do you think Rauner is using Quinn’s own sound bites to highlight what hasn’t been done in this State? Cause he likes Pat’s voice?
- Leprechaun - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:02 pm:
By weeks end Meeks will be doing a Rauner piece
- Gooner - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:03 pm:
“Also, minor point of order, but the ad doesn’t say he didn’t hire any African-Americans at all, it’s limited to professionals only.”
You may be right, Ron, but that sure would not help Rauner’s argument. There are still some people who believe that African Americans can be hired for certain positions — secretaries, clerks, etc. — but not for professional positions or front office people, including receptionists.
So if you are right, Ron, it may actually make things worse.
I don’t know if Rauner is racist. At the same time, it is strange that the number would be zero.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:05 pm:
Nostalgic for Mitt. At least he put women in his binders!
Bruce’s “Black Binders” barren? Bull.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:05 pm:
== By weeks end Meeks will be doing a Rauner piece ==
Not just Meeks, also that Washington quote about Quinn…
- Illinois taxpayer - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
In the advertising messaging war, Quinn is kicking Rauner’s behind. Rauner better get an A League message guru–and fast!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:08 pm:
=== Employment of blacks by white-owned firms is a huge issue. ===
And a legitimate issue when that company has contracts with the Government.
=== By weeks end Meeks will be doing a Rauner piece ===
Maybe, but I doubt it. If Meeks does an ad, it will be a closer.
But look, as savvy as Team Rauner thought they were reaching out to the African American community, I think it is working against them in two ways. First, you have Democrats actually working overtime to motivate their base — in a state where 44% of likely voters are Democrats.
Secondly, and perhaps importantly, all of the Republican and Independent, conservative, anti-Chicago voters, anti-corruption voters are seeing news stories about Rauner driving up to hand over $1 million bucks and meeting with leaders that mainstream media have been telling them for years are corrupt.
I mean, c’mon, Rauner gave money to Stroger…you really want that spread all over Schaumburg?
- MrJM - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:10 pm:
1) Bruce: “We weren’t finding the folks that… that uh… you know… that weren’t there.”
2) Zero is zero.
3) Tailored for the audience.
4) Zero is still zero
A solid “A”
– MrJM
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:11 pm:
=== also that Washington quote about Quinn===
It backfired on Dan Hynes. It’ll backfire hugely on Rauner. No way can he run that.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
So if Rauner had African-Americans working for him at lower levels but not among “professionals,” doesn’t it make it worse?
- Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
For some reason this brings to mind Steve Martin in The Jerk….
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:15 pm:
How will Rev. Meeks get Rauner out if this pickle;
Bruce Rauner hired zero African-Americans, and Bruce Rauner, when asked about it, couldn’t “explain” why…and it’s in tape, and now in rotation.
What would Rev. Meeks counter to the radio Ad?
“Don’t believe Bruce’s own words?”
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:17 pm:
He needed to have contacted the right people to find out what the quota was for African-Americans he needed to have hired so that he could have avoided a political charge that he is a racist.
Out of 51, he probably needed to have hired at least six. Any fewer and he wouldn’t have met the quota if our politics demanded a percentage proportionate to Illinois.
If he had hired one, he would have been accused of pandering to the race issue when it was brought up during the campaign.
Two wouldn’t have been enough either because one of the African Americans could have left, leaving him with only one.
Rauner should have set aside about six to ten executive positions within his organization and only hired people for those positions based on their race. By only focusing on an applicant’s race as a qualifier for any of those executive positions, he could have avoided being labeled as a racist by the Democrats when he ran for public office.
Silly man!
If he was really interested in a public office in Illinois, he needs to know the political rules to play. In Illinois, it doesn’t matter what your stands are on the issues. It doesn’t matter what philanthropy you’ve given to minority causes. It doesn’t matter whose is on your campaign staff. It doesn’t matter your endorsements from minority leaders. What matters is what those playing the race card says matters during the campaign.
In Illinois, if you are not a Democrat, then it must be because you have a problem liking other races, religions, gender, sexually different oriented groups, transgender people, or people who ensure they are different from you.
That is how the card is played here in Illinois - GUILTY, because you are guilty. We decide what proof is allowed to convict you of these crimes!
LOL!
- Great Caesar's Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:20 pm:
I’m wondering how long it will take Rauner’s spokesman to say he had no control over hiring and wasn’t involved in day to day operations?
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:21 pm:
@VMan:
I hope that was snark.
- austinman - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:23 pm:
This ad has been running on black radio for a couple of weeks now, its a great ad. As a black male it sure took me off the fence, I am voting for Quinn, since Bruce could not find ONE QUALIFIED BLACK person, that speaks volumes as to how many black folks will be working in state government if he is elected, which means I wont have no voice after election day.
- Jack Handy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:23 pm:
Ugh. This could work both ways. Are there any divisions within agencies and/or offices within divisions that do not have minorities employees? Probably.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:24 pm:
LOL is a clue.
- Gooner - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:25 pm:
Looks like Vanilla has finally gone off the deep end.
I thought he would just go with his usual “desperate” or “doesn’t matter” but instead, he’s gone the full bore Illinois Review route.
- crazybleedingheart - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:25 pm:
Nice try, Vanilla Man, but what Rauner actually said was not JUST that he couldn’t “find” the people to meet some real or imagined quota (bad enough), but that the human beings in question simply didn’t exist.
Not everybody defines black professionals as people who “[a]ren’t there.” So this seems like a problem to most of us who are fully aware they’re real…
- Big Joe - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
Rauner’s response to the ad might be similar to George Costanza’s. Find an African-American exterminator, custodian, limo driver, etc, that his firm employs to show IL voters that he has a number of minority people that he considers friends of his company. Hard to believe that there just weren’t any qualified African-American applicants for jobs in his firm. He should have gone out and recruited some and hired the best ones. Maybe he just hires people that are relatives of donors, or people that can help make him some money in future contracts.
- Illinoise - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
I am not going to agree with those comments that Rauner is a racist. In my opinion, the real message here is that Rauner is not ready for the responsibility that comes with public office. Thinking about things like equal access to jobs is one of many facets of public service that he has demonstrated he is not capable of considering.
- Phenomynous - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:36 pm:
There is definitely a racist element to the ad. You decide where it falls.
- Nonplussed - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:37 pm:
More blacks live in Cook County then any other county in the US. And yet not one of them was qualified enough to work for Rauner.
And as far as finding people who aren’t there, John Rogers at Ariel doesn’t seem to have that problem.
- Snucka - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:44 pm:
The length of VanillaMan’s response would indicate that this one may hit a nerve.
- foster brooks - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:46 pm:
What are the demographics of winetka? Just curious
- Levois - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:50 pm:
Haven’t watched this yet, but it’s safe to assume this is the start of the nastiness in this campaign. We already knew it was coming.
- Robo - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:52 pm:
Duh
- Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:52 pm:
==Thinking about things like equal access to jobs==
You mean, like hiring through the correct process instead of handing the job to political friends and donors?
- Harry - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:54 pm:
A low blow, but it’ll work very well.
And Rauner should have anticipated it 2 years ago and hired at least a couple of black professionals even if he had to find work for them. As other commenters said, it suggests he’s not ready for the real rough-and-tumble of politics at a high level.
- Lurker - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 1:56 pm:
Some businesses dedicate an entire job position to try to recruit more diverse staff, or hire recruiting firms that specialize in it. It’s absolutely clear that it was not a priority at this firm.
Rauner bombed this response.
- Carhart Representative - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:00 pm:
I don’t see what the big deal is. I’m sure he’s got a black friend.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:01 pm:
Did Rauner make an effort to find qualified African-American candidates?
Was it not a priority?
Or was it a failure of leadership?
- nothing to see here - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:03 pm:
The ad is awesome, Bruce’s quote is even better. Quinn should run it on every radio station. Any person of any color who isn’t offended by Rauner’s quote is fully in the tank with him already. Maybe the only thing that could make it better is having the quote played twice in the ad.
“We weren’t finding the folks that, that uh, you know, that weren’t there.” WHERE’D YOU LOOK BRUCE? folks?
It certainly wasn’t in Illinois.
- Brendan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
Further evidence that Pat Quinn is a demagogue.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
How many African-Americans have been employed as members of Mr. Quinn’s immediate inner circle during the past few years?
And how many African-Americans have been employed by the companies Mr. Rauner owns?
Seems like it would be easy to rebut, though it is frustrating to hear they did not have a single A-A person at GTCR.
- How Ironic - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
It appears in GTCRauner’s HR department, they only have white binders.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:19 pm:
Once again, Rauner shows his true character when he thinks no one will find out.
- Brendan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
Quinn should do an ad or two about Rauner’s role in pushing CPS charter schools and how that hurts what’s Chicago’s black middle-class (i.e. teachers), if he really wants to show how Rauner is bad for the African-American community.
Oh, but wait, that would upset Rahm Emanuel.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
== Not just Meeks, also that Washington quote about Quinn ==
Been waiting to see that footage pop up again. Rauner could basically just run the 2010 Hynes ad all over again. It packs quite a punch, in Mr. Washington’s own words.
- Brendan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
*that should read “what’s left of Chicago’s black middle-class…”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
Not related, but wow only 51 people employed by a company that handles so many assets. That’s really the income inequality issue in practice: a tiny number of people reaping huge economic benefits in an economy that is driven by the financial sector.
- Bluefish - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:36 pm:
Maybe well-educated African-Americans don’t want to work for an investment company that has a track record of profiting off of human suffering and eliminating jobs.
- Anonymoiis - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:39 pm:
==Quinn should do an ad or two about Rauner’s role in pushing CPS charter schools ==
So Quinn should run ads targeted to the Black community noting how much Rauner has pushed for school choice…an issue that is largely popular in the black community? If I’m Rauner’s team Id fully support that. Heck he’d probably have to note that as an in kind contribution from Quinn to Rauner.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:40 pm:
What do you mean “the folks”?
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:41 pm:
This is an A- It will be effective amongst African Americans, I would guess even more so with upper income African Americans. It is an issue that has the potential to really divert attention from Quinn’s bumbling and possible wrong doing/federal investigation.
Rauner’s firm only has 51 employees? Could that possibly be accurate? I would have thought they would have 10 times that many. If that is the case it does not support the job creator notion as well. I understand Rauner is claiming that his investment is creating jobs, that is a little tougher to quantify.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:44 pm:
===So Quinn should run ads targeted to the Black community noting how much Rauner has pushed for school choice…===
Rauner? Choosing to have his Denied Winnetka-Living Daughter with the “perfect” score took a seat from a worthy child.
Rauner loves school choice, for his “perfect” score Daughter.
- Anon - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:44 pm:
why does it have to be black radio? why cant it just be radio?
- Both Sides Now - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:44 pm:
@ Foster Brooks - The latest U.S. Census reports that Winnetka is 94.8% white and .3% (yes, there is a zero before that 3) African-American residents. Maybe that’s why he can’t find anyone to work for him!
@ Formerly Known As - a quick look at the state website indicates that in major Agencies under the Governor’s control, Directors number:
2 - African American Men
1 - African American Woman
7 - White Men
6 - White Women
3 - Hispanic Men
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:44 pm:
the ad…why the heck not?
and now the NFL hires 4 white women to helm their domestic violence program and Rauner is a part owner in the Steelers. Rauner has to be pushed by a reporter to say anything about the whole issue, let alone the fact that the NFL is tone deaf to how to communicate with their players. astounding.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:46 pm:
===why does it have to be black radio? why cant it just be radio?===
It’s a market segmentation thing. Grow up.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:53 pm:
Geez, the victims are out in full howl.
First political campaign? You may want to close your eyes and cover your ears the rest of the way. They’ve been like this since…. forever.
Rauner’s been spreading a lot of money around to various peeps in the black community. Time for him to call in some markers and get them on the air, pronto.
That’s what friends are for, after all.
YDD, he can’t wait for a “closer” to answer this. It needs to have competition on the air immediately.
Because this spot burns.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:59 pm:
@Both Sides Now - Grazie mille. Thank you for looking that up. I was thinking more along the lines of his “inner circle” as in his senior campaign and government teams. Campaign executives, Deputy Governors, spokespeople and so on.
It seems like the majority of those we see on television around him are white, though I believe Cristal Thomas is still a Deputy Governor.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:06 pm:
Because the only candidate in the race with a minority running mate… hates minorities?
Now that we’ve cleared that up lol.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:11 pm:
==- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 2:46 pm:==
I heard it last Friday on V103 during morning drive. V103 is the highest rated station in Chicago.
- Down Here - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:11 pm:
A good ad for PQ. No doubt about it. I know there are a few weeks to go but people can start voting early next week and I’m sensing the PQ campaign acting and Rauner’s camp very much in react mode. I don’t think the Trib poll is accurate, but I am sensing the worm turning in favor of PQ. And the Trib poll showing that people don’t really care about the IDOT stuff is a very good sign for PQ. Once again Quinn is a great closer who is underestimated at his opponent’s peril. The GOP may want to stop measuring those drapes in the Mansion and spend their time trying to win first.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:11 pm:
===Because the only candidate in the race with a minority running mate… hates minorities?===
Having zero African Americans in your workplace doves not equate to hate.
Slip and Sue can defend Bruce if she wants, or if they let her talk on her own, lol
- A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:15 pm:
Here goes: Meeks on the same station; “Rauner wanted to hire as many qualified AA people as he could. The problem: education. He did something about it….He’s eliminating the problem he had finding highly qualified financial experts. Sometimes you’ve got to grow your own. Bruce is.
That’s how I’d handle it. Don’t be offensive. Truth is, this is a problem for a lot of companies. It even leads to promoting people who may not be ready, but they do fit the profile you need….to not be accused of what Bruce is being accused of now. AA recruitment in top firms is fierce.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:18 pm:
===Here goes: Meeks on the same station; “Rauner wanted to hire as many qualified AA people as he could. The problem: education. He did something about it….He’s eliminating the problem he had finding highly qualified financial experts. Sometimes you’ve got to grow your own. Bruce is.===
So… Blame education and recruiting….not Bruce’s fault.
Got it.
- Just Saying - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:19 pm:
=== I was thinking more along the lines of his “inner circle” as in his senior campaign and government teams. Campaign executives,===
Well there was discussion here and in the press last week about someone on his campaign payroll who also happens to work for this radio station. Just saying.
- Just Saying - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:22 pm:
===who also happens to work for this radio====
I meant WVON.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:25 pm:
==- A guy… - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:15 pm:==
Pat Quinn’s retort can simply be quoting John Ariel, founder of the largest minority-owned investment firm in America:
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/quinn-supporters-question-rauners-commitment-to-diversity/98495/
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:27 pm:
==- Just Saying - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:19 pm:==
His show isn’t on WVON currently.
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:27 pm:
Rauner is probably not a racist…just completely out of touch and not ready for prime time politics…does he have any African Americans on his campaign staff? Women? Other minorites?
- Loop Lady - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:31 pm:
Pat has hired a fair number of minorities, including women in executive positions in State Government…
he knows the electorate and his constituents pay attention to this issue….as they should…
- A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:46 pm:
=== Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:25 pm:
==- A guy… - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:15 pm:==
Pat Quinn’s retort can simply be quoting John Ariel, founder of the largest minority-owned investment firm in America:====
And John Ariel (a great guy) or Langdon Neal (another great guy) can tell you why young aspiring brilliant professional African Americans would prefer to work at their firms rather than firms where they are the standard bearer for their race. It’s not that there aren’t “any” people out there. It’s that there aren’t nearly enough. Of those that are really completely “blue chip”, their preference is often to be mentored by who they want to be mentored by. The competition for these candidates coming out of school is fierce.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:48 pm:
– “Rauner wanted to hire as many qualified AA people as he could. The problem: education…–
Good Lord, I thought Rauner was your guy!
Woof. Give that another read.
Number One: Meeks, or anyone else for that matter, would never say something that crazy.
Number Two, It’s probably not a good idea to pay to go on WVON with a spot that claims Rauner, though he searched far and wide, couldn’t find one black person educated enough to work for him.
Number Three: Don’t quit your day job.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:51 pm:
I’m afraid Word’s right, A guy… Perhaps it’s time for a cocktail break.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:53 pm:
See how Rauner is polling among African Americans? That is why this ad is being done.
Perhaps if we see Oberweis coming closer to Durbin a similar causation would hit the air.
Both men have been campaigning in all neighborhoods and that isn’t acceptable to those dependent on this voting bloc.
It would surprise me to start seeing Meeks and Ford hitting the airwaves for Rauner tomorrow. They had to know that when they started campaigning for all Illinois votes, the race card was going to get played by Quinn.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 3:56 pm:
(Here we go again…)
Ok, - VanillaMan -,
===It would surprise me to start seeing Meeks and Ford hitting the airwaves for Rauner tomorrow. ===
To say…what?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:01 pm:
Apologies to - VanillaMan -, I read too quick.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:08 pm:
None of Rauner’s money handlers are frat boys with middling grades?
Color me skeptical.
There’s always rooms for well-connected mediocrity in operations that handle money.
Rauner’s the type of guy who will hire a mediocre frat boy before he makes the effort to find a Black candidate.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:12 pm:
== Rauner’s the type of guy who will hire a mediocre frat boy before he makes the effort to find a Black candidate. ==
51 people sounds like a pretty lean operation for the scale they operate at. Doubtful there is much room for ==middling== or ==mediocre== anything in that environment.
- nothing to see here - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:13 pm:
Rich, you sending off commentators for cocktail breaks is awesome! More of that, maybe it will catch on in my office, “You’re not making too much sense, and you’re getting all fired up, go get a drink or two and come back, or just try again tomorrow.”
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:26 pm:
–And John Ariel (a great guy) or Langdon Neal (another great guy) can tell you why young aspiring brilliant professional African Americans would prefer to work at their firms rather than firms where they are the standard bearer for their race–
Wait a minute — did those guys say all that stuff? Or are you saying it and putting their names to it?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:37 pm:
–See how Rauner is polling among African Americans? That is why this ad is being done.–
Yeah, you’re on it VMan. Just gangbusters. From the Trib poll:
–The poll found Rauner still has work to do — he had 12 percent support in Chicago. Rauner has courted African-American voters, but the survey showed more than 8 in 10 black voters backing Quinn for re-election.–
Maybe, just maybe, the spot is running because of this:
–Well, when ABC News asked Rauner he said he couldn’t find anyone…
RAUNER: “We weren’t finding the folks that, that uh, you know, that weren’t there.”–
No campaign in their right mind would pass on a home-run clip like that. It’s the perfect combination of incoherent and insulting.
That’s not playing the race card, that’s playing the stupid card.
Dude is not good off-script.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:48 pm:
Right or wrong, Illinois politics -really Chicago- is tough stuff, bare-knuckles. If you are running for one of the big chairs you have to be on your game 24/7/365 or the sharks will smell the blood in the water. I have no doubt Rauner is an intelligent, well-educated guy. To be successful in this arena you have to have an element of instinct Rauner and Sanguinetti do not possess that element. In some ways that can be a good thing, the I am an outsider and not a politician tact can be successful, but it has not really worked yet.
- Formerly Known As... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:53 pm:
== That’s not playing the race card, that’s playing the stupid card. ==
If this were strictly the ==stupid card==, wouldn’t they run it on more than just AA radio? Stupid is as stupid does, and stupid translates on every radio station.
== Dude is not good off-script. ==
It is definitely beginning to appear that way. Going to be hard to ==close the deal== on the stump in the home stretch if you can’t trust your primary on the stump.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 5:15 pm:
=== This could work both ways. Are there any divisions within agencies and/or offices within divisions that do not have minorities employees? ===
State entities have to submit affirmative action plans, deal with the Department of Human Rights over deficient minority hiring levels, and undergo rigorous questioning and criticism during the appropriations process. When Raunervich’s firm is subjected to a similar monitoring process, I’ll consider your point.
- PoolGuy - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 5:26 pm:
Rauner still could have come up with a better response than he did. he might as well quoted Flavor Flav and said “I can’t do nothing for you man.”
- A guy... - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 6:25 pm:
===wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 4:26 pm:
–And John Ariel (a great guy) or Langdon Neal (another great guy) can tell you why young aspiring brilliant professional African Americans would prefer to work at their firms rather than firms where they are the standard bearer for their race–
Wait a minute — did those guys say all that stuff? Or are you saying it and putting their names to it?===
Don’t know John smarty pants, but do know Langdon, which is why I included him. Forgive my paraphrasing, but the answer in Langdon’s case would be yes. We actually discussed it a couple years ago on an unrelated business engagement. There are some blue chip AA firms in a number of disciplines who compete for a lot of the top candidates. Langdon even helped with trying to recruit the best and brightest AA teachers for the Chicago School District. He’s a huge devotee of After School Matters. It’s very competitive. Finance Majors may be even tougher to find. That’s my thought. Rauner could be being completely truthful when he’s saying they’ve actively tried hard to recruit AA professionals in this field. There’s a pretty finite group of people who can do that kind of work generally.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 6:27 pm:
===Rauner still could have come up with a better response than he did. He might as well quoted===
. . . Sweet Brown and said: “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”
(Over 4 million hits on youtube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxwbhkDjZM
- bobio - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 7:43 pm:
He just needs to say he was wrong nd he will do better and Keep campaigning in the black community and they will forgive and vote for him well enough. what he shouldnt do is suger coat or make excuses. I WAS WRONG. ILL DO BETTER
- PolPal56 - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:19 pm:
His use of “folks” made me cringe because I immediately thought of Stephan Foster songs. If I cringed, I suspect African-Americans will be quite sensitive to it this context.
Is it racist? No, but combined with the employment data it does show at minimum a lack of awareness of 21st century ethnic, social, cultural and political reality. And if BR expects to lead a blue state, he MUST understand its social needs, because that is what a blue state values, overtly.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 10:24 pm:
–Finance Majors may be even tougher to find. That’s my thought–
Key words are “your thought.” It’s not cool to attribute to them to others to boost your cred, especially some dude you admit you don’t even know.
Rauner didn’t say he was getting turned down by black professionals. He said he looked and couldn’t find one.
His words. Let everyone speak for themselves.
And what does After School Matters have to do with anything?
- Kwark - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:41 pm:
Next, let’s hear about the country clubs Bruce is affiliated with.
- Just the Way It Is One - Wednesday, Sep 17, 14 @ 11:46 pm:
KABOOM! Time for him to start think about focusing on the Downstate Vote after trying to weather the Storm–dare I say HURRICANE(?)–of another Zinger like this!
Oh, indeed, the Folks in the Black Community have been on to the Baron and Games he plays like this for quite some time now–they aren’t fooled by him and will turn out en Masse for Pat Quinn when the Voting Booths open; you can be sure of THAT much, and likely to the tune of somewhere in the High 80’s to 90% Support for the Governor when all is said and done…!
- crazybleedingheart - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 8:53 am:
Accurate definition of ethnic cleansing; delusional economic plan. Poor trod-upon downstate racists.
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 9:19 am:
===And what does After School Matters have to do with anything?===
Offering some context brother, take it or leave it.
- A guy... - Thursday, Sep 18, 14 @ 9:23 am:
This is a sensitive topic and there’s a whole mob waiting to pounce on you and call you a racist if you misspeak or say anything in a context that could be misinterpreted. I sign the front of checks, not the back. We consistently recruit people who we believe will make us more competitive in a competitive industry. Over the years I’ve learned to never stop trying and not to settle for less at the same time. Eventually, you have a good chance of getting a pluralistic leadership team. But, it’s an every day effort.