* From a press release…
“With five days left before a close election, Pat Quinn is so bankrupt of ideas he has to steal one of Bruce Rauner’s accomplishments to get positive press coverage.” – Rauner spokesperson Mike Schrimpf
Fact: Bruce Rauner was an early supporter and helped create the plan for the recently launched UI Labs, a research and commercialization collaborative. The Chicago Tribune reported on it in January 2013:
“Some students and researchers prefer the city to a smaller community … so this could increase the quality of the faculty,” said Bruce Rauner, a prominent Chicago venture capitalist who has worked on the development of this plan. “This can drive better research.”
The intent is to develop a “junior year abroad program” as well, with the aim of attracting top students from overseas.
Fact: With five days left before a close election, Pat Quinn is so bankrupt of ideas he has to steal one of Bruce Rauner’s accomplishments to get positive press coverage. #desperate #shameless #timeforchange
But that Tribune story also noted…
The goal of this project, supported by Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is to retain the next generation of Illinois-trained innovators.
* From February, 2013…
The University of Illinois is taking its second big step in a month to sharply increase its involvement in a Chicago-area economy that arguably could use some help.
Gov. Pat Quinn will announce today in his State of the State speech that the Urbana-Champaign school, in partnership with its National Center for Supercomputing Applications and private companies, will be forming an Illinois Manufacturing Lab likely to be located in the central area of Chicago.
* From December, 2013…
Plans for Chicago to become a hub for advanced manufacturing technology are moving down the assembly line with people, money and pilot projects.
Gov. Pat Quinn, who laid out the idea for a manufacturing lab in February, is expected to announce this morning that it will be the first assignment for UI Labs and will begin pilot projects with 10 manufacturers.
Mr. Quinn’s Illinois Manufacturing Lab was launched with a $5 million commitment from the state. University of Illinois trustees are expected to vote today on providing matching funds for the project. Chicago manufacturing consultant Scott Miller has been named interim director of the IML.
More here.
…Adding… If Quinn did steal it, and he may have, he’s been stealing it for almost two years now.
…Adding More… From Quinn’s press release…
Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and leadership from UI LABS to break ground on UI LABS’ future headquarters and the new Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII). The event is part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward.
“I’ve made this facility a major priority for Illinois by personally making our case to both the White House and Secretary of Defense, as well as securing key private sector partners because I know how important this institution will be to revitalizing our manufacturing industry,” Governor Quinn said. “The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute will help keep Illinois’ economic comeback going. I’m pleased to break ground on this facility that will solidify Illinois’ position as a high-tech manufacturing hub, support our growing technology and innovation sectors and create jobs across the state.”
The Governor personally petitioned the Secretary of Defense twice and made the case to key White House officials about the benefits and importance of DMDII. The Governor also worked to bring key private sector partners into the initiative, including CAT, Deere & Company, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and many more.
…Adding Still More… The Rauner folks have been pushing back on this all morning and moments ago sent me a link to this Greg Hinz piece…
Mr. Rauner put out a rather overblown press release today terming today’s news “one of Bruce Rauner’s accomplishments.” That’s a bit overstated, and I’ll put that down to an overeager press aide. But it is an absolute fact that the first person I heard about UI Labs from a year and a half ago was Mr. Rauner, who had been quietly pushing the concept for some period.
The press release said Quinn stole Rauner’s “accomplishment.” That implies that Rauner did the whole thing, which is completely bogus. He didn’t say that Quinn stole his idea. He was most definitely in on the original idea. But the record is obvious that he did not “accomplish” this thing entirely on his own. Period.
Greg also wrote this…
Credit also goes to Mr. Quinn, Michael Sacks at World Business Chicago, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and — legitimately — Mayor Rahm Emanuel. All were heavily involved in lining up companion state and local funding, and in pushing the Obama Administration to just say yes.
In 30 years of covering this kind of thing, I’ve not seen anything that’s drawn this much potential. Try working together some more, gang. And don’t blow it.
Exactly.
…Adding Quinn Response… From a press release…
Quinn Communications Chief Responds to Bruce Rauner’s Arrogant “It Was All Me” Claim
As Governor Pat Quinn stood with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Senator Dick Durbin this morning to break ground on a new digital manufacturing hub that they worked together to make possible, Quinn for Illinois communications director Brooke Anderson responded to billionaire Bruce Rauner’s false and arrogant claim that this hard-fought manufacturing win for Illinois was all about Rauner:
“Only billionaire Bruce Rauner - who couldn’t name a single one of his companies that created any jobs - would resort to arrogantly taking credit for the Governor’s work and partnership with other leaders to bring this advanced manufacturing hub to Illinois.
“All week, Mr. Rauner has complained about good economic news that he views as detrimental to his doomsayer campaign. Fortunately for the people of Illinois and unfortunately for Mr. Rauner, Illinois is making a comeback and currently leading the Midwest in job creation.
“Given that Mr. Rauner’s whole career has been about eliminating jobs, making millions at other people’s expense and always passing the buck when things go wrong, we’re not surprised that he’d be exemplifying this behavior down to the very end. ”
- Snucka - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:21 am:
If this is a Rauner “accomplishment ” why has he not mentioned it even once in his campaign for Governor?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:22 am:
Excuses are starting to creep in.
“Quinn did this, corrupt Politicans did that…”
You never hear excuses from the winners.
Hmm.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:22 am:
#imshameless #imdesperate #timeformetochange
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:28 am:
Did Rauner invent “junior year abroad,” too?
Rauner should be happy that Quinn has been touting “his accomplishments.” The Rauner campaign sure hasn’t done it.
Whose fault is that? Madigan?
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:28 am:
Yes, and Chris Kennedy has been a champion of this idea for several years too Bruce.
But here’s another example of how not to close a campaign. This can’t be the message Team Rauner hoped it would be pushing 5 days out. What is wrong with these guys? Stick to your message, if you have one.
Another day, another wild, off-message adventure. It’s mind boggling.
- Go Bears - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:29 am:
I thought Rauner was going to be bipartisan and collaborate with everyone if elected. His reaction to this hardly seems to be collaborative or bipartisan.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:30 am:
It’s the golden rule–them that has the gold, makes the rules.
But somehow our gold ends up in rauners pocket, while he is busy “driving results”.
- Amalia - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:32 am:
so Rauner created this program on his own? yeah, don’t think so. and that’s not what the Trib article quote…which the Rauner campaign uses…says.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:33 am:
Anon at 1030a is langhorne, shoulda been attached to “must read”. Oops
- Crazy Like a Fox - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:35 am:
Why are there hashtags in a press release?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:35 am:
I never new being a crybaby was the key to making lots of money.
Can’t wait to hear the concession speech.
- Stuff Happens - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:36 am:
Regardless of whether it’s true or not, is Rauner saying that if elected, he won’t look to others for ideas?
- VM - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:41 am:
This is another example of something I’ve noticed before: that Rauner’s self-image is wildly different than how others perceive him.
In Rauner’s world — surrounded by people who want a piece of his wealth — he is the good guy with all the ideas. People gladly give him credit for things because they want his largesse, whether it’s in business or in philanthropy.
So he is taking the Quinn attacks very, very personally. As a result, in his world Quinn can do nothing right.
So here’s a project that many people supported, including both Quinn and Rauner. Quinn can legitimately take some credit for it (so could Rauner). But because Quinn has the audacity to question Rauner, in Rauner’s mind Quinn could not possibly have had a hand in it.
And of course, the rest of world — which consists of people who praise Rauner — will be just as offended that Quinn “stole” the idea.
The rich really are different. Not all of them, but certainly some of them.
- walker - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:45 am:
This was seriously talked about and pushed in Chicago and in Springfield long before Rauner’s January 2013 statement. Good for him to see the same opportunity. These ideas don’t come to fruition overnight.
I hope Rauner doesn’t see Illinois’ dramatic growth in exports as his idea too — just because he saw the obvious there as well.
He will probably be quite surprised and frustrated at how long such things take to “move to market”, should he win.
- Nonplussed - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:46 am:
Is there a way to count the number of tweets and retweets about McKinney vs. tweets and retweets about ketchup on a hot dog?
- walker - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:47 am:
Reading more carefully, it appears Rauner did work on this idea long before his January 2013 statement, and probably does deserve credit for helping it come to fruition. My bad.
- Nonplussed - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:47 am:
Ooops, wrong thread
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:51 am:
Quinn is using this accomplishment to feather his nest. That is what governors do.
Next, Quinn will give millions away to get good press releases on new job opportunities, just like any other governor.
What Rauner is angry about his how Quinn is taking credit when many were involved at the get-go.
Tough. That is what governors do. Whatever happens on their watch that is good - they take credit for it. Whatever happens on their watch that is bad - they take crap for it.
- Juice - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 10:57 am:
Well according to the Forbes article, ConverEx seemed to be Rauner’s idea too, but he didn’t want anything to do with that. Maybe the assumption was that this wouldn’t be any different.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:09 am:
I like how Gov. Quinn and the other politicians want to bask in the glory of high profile U of I projects, but somehow can’t fully fund the state’s flagship university’s annual budget. Last I heard, the state was well into 9 figures in arrears to U of I. Then they complain it takes too many out of state and international students who pay full tuition as part of making up that deficit.
- AC - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:18 am:
Quinn clearly stole Rauner’s UI labs idea like it was an unconstitutional term limit petition.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:26 am:
That response by Rauner’s campaign sounds like a little kid whining.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 11:51 am:
Wow, I can’t believe Quinn had the nerve to steal Rauner’s brilliant idea, especially after Rauner ran all those ads over the summer describing his commitment to this project and how he worked across party lines to make it happen.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 12:13 pm:
Way to may news out of a Quinn accomplishment, ensuring it gets covered.
- Harry - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 12:38 pm:
Wow, this issue will sway, like, maybe 2 or 3 votes one way or the other.
Desperation time in both camps?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 12:51 pm:
I have ideas all the time. If someone else does the work of making the same idea a reality, I’m not going to cry about it.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 12:53 pm:
Why should we elect a crybaby as governor?
- Soccermom - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 1:28 pm:
That’s a heck of a first sentence.
- Left Leaner - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 1:31 pm:
47th Ward - Well said. And this message gave Quinn a pretty strong ‘whack back’ message. Odd.
- Commander Norton - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 1:35 pm:
Rauner’s camp uses hashtags in press releases? Unclear on the concept much? #jumpedtheshark
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 1:59 pm:
I don’t see the upside to the Rauner beef at this point. Like 47 said, focus.
By the same token, the Quinn crew should have let it slide. You got your positive message. Let Rauner complain by himself.
Again, focus. It ain’t August.
- 1776 - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 2:06 pm:
Funny how Quinn claims credit for bringing Caterpillar to the lab. I was at an event for David Leitch in Peoria last month and the CEO of Cat spoke and said that he hasn’t heard from Pat Quinn in years. No calls, no latter and no emails - even after they announced a study to determine where to keep their HQ.
- D.P.Gumby - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 2:06 pm:
Didn’t Brucie also invent the internet???
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
Agreed, - 47th Ward - is on this, the Rauner Crew is burning daylight, and what kind of message is adding this to your GOTV/Media close? It’s not, like - 47th Ward. - bad others have said.
My question then, with that setup;
What is the game plan to focus on, if you are so obsessed with answering in the present?
What is going on in that bunker mentality?
- Norseman - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
Gumby, he didn’t invent the internet. However, he did start Google.
/s
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 2:31 pm:
So Quinn’s campaign has taken the Rauner campaign’s 4th grade response and responded in kind with their own 4th grade response.
Tuesday can’t come soon enough . . .
- Filmmaker Prof - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 3:47 pm:
It was my idea to make a movie about the Titanic. James Cameron stole my idea.
- uptown progressive - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 4:52 pm:
I had this great idea when I was in grade school to put a man on the moon. I have always been disappointed that I did not get credit when it happened.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Oct 30, 14 @ 8:09 pm:
My response:
“We were going to invite Rauner to the event, but all we had was his Cayman Islands address.”