* As we discussed last night, Gov. Quinn’s campaign has a new radio ad appearing on African-American radio stations. The campaign sent it over a bit ago. It’s controversial, to say the least…
* Script…
Here’s Republican Billionaire Bruce Rauner, telling a story, at a recent conservative Republican fundraiser.
“Four African-American TSA Security Guards, big guys, they rushed up to me, they looked like they played for the Bears. I was like, they said “HEY!” I thought Wow, I’m not carrying my gun, what’s going on? They said “HEY you’re running for Governor.” I said, “Yes I am, you scared me, don’t do that.”
If that’s the kind of story Bruce Rauner tells behind closed-doors at a Republican fundraiser, what’s it going to be like if he’s in the Governor’s mansion?
Rauner poured money into right-wing groups that are campaigning to impeach President Obama. And Rauner wants to legalize deadly assault weapons and cut the minimum wage.
We need a Governor like Pat Quinn who’s stood up for us – fighting for people’s rights and dignity – with courage and respect.
Gov. Quinn: “Taxpayers for Quinn paid for this message because there’s so much at stake.”
* One of the reasons why it’s so controversial is what they cut out. Here’s the full clip…
* The clipped quote…
“You know what, all four of us are Democrats. We love your commercials, we love your wife. We’re all voting for you.”
This was intended as a story, told to whites, about how he was making inroads with African-Americans.
But the setup to that punchline is still problematic.
* So, either this is gonna blow up in Quinn’s face because he didn’t tell the whole story (I can almost envision the Tribune editorial headline), or it’s gonna blow up in Rauner’s.
- In a Minute - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:07 pm:
That is going to blow up in Quinn’s face. It gives all the ed boards that endorsed Rauner another reason to take a shot at Quinn for trying to intentionally mislead the voters.
Sorry to see McKinney used this little episode to make a comment about Rauner. His detractors are going to use it to say the Rauner flacks were right and its additional evidence Dave is in the tank for the Dems.
Dave, I think you need to go on record with a national reporter right now, before you start weighing in on these matters. How about the WSJ? The interview can be done in the dining room at the place in Bucktown:)
http://on.wsj.com/1uhgqG7
- Illannoyed - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:09 pm:
Hey, politics ain’t beanbag. Even so, this radio spot is a very ugly distortion of what Rauner was actually saying. To take a story he is using to convey his appeal to non-traditional GOP demographics and try to instead suggest that he’s a racist is way over the line. Hey, I get that it’s a tough campaign, but the man has invested significant resources into the African American community and he was doing it well before he was a candidate for elected office. Just crude and ugly.
- Cassiopeia - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
Quinn has reached bottom with this ugly distortion. Those inclined to support him in the AA community won’t be swayed by this.
- Anonymour - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:14 pm:
Or it could blow up in both directions.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:24 pm:
Ugly distortion?
Rauner’s been claiming for months that Quinn is personally under federal investigation.
Rauner’s been claiming for months his budget is balanced with unicorn droppings.
Rauner’s been claiming for months that Quinn cut education funding.
The only reason this race is even close is that the Tribune editorial board and other have refused to call Rauner out on months of blatant lies.
- MIMI - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:37 pm:
Let’s see, would Rauner be telling this “joke” to black audience or about four WHITE TSA agents- not likely
Then that that tells you the intent of the “Joke” being told to a WHITE audience. He mentioned he did not have his gun- implying he needed to protect himself-
The good thing according to Mary Mitchell is that blacks who have taken Rauner’s money are really working for Quinn- smart of them
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
=== The good thing according to Mary Mitchell is that blacks who have taken Rauner’s money are really working for Quinn ===
Yeah, I caught that too.
- Anonymoose - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:39 pm:
What I cannot figure out is the camera never pans to the audience. Yet everyone assumes this is a white crowd Bruce Rauner is speaking with. Now my own personal bias leads me to believe it is mostly a white crowd but I really have no idea. And I’m a tad ashamed.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:43 pm:
It’s ugly because it distorts a story to push an outrageous message that he is racist and afraid of blacks. Playing the race card in a super ugly fashion speaks volumes about the lack of character of those who put it together.
Sick stuff.
- Snucka - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:43 pm:
Anonymoose, look at the website for the Lincoln Day Dinner and let me know if you see any African-Americans. http://www.lincolndd.org
This is a powerful ad that tells us something important about Bruce Rauner.
- Wndycty - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:44 pm:
Those who are disgusted by this ad obviously have not been paying attention to what Rauner has been saying about Quinn failing the Black community. Quinn didn’t cry about it like Rauner’s supporters are, he just swung back hard.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:47 pm:
Or it’s not going to blow up in either’s face because most people aren’t paying attention, and most of those who are don’t care.
- Anonymous - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:52 pm:
I would be as fearful of four, huge, white TSA guys bum rushing me as well! Race should be playing no part in this event. Qualified, fit, well groomed TSA people…now that’s quite a stretch!
- The Wolf - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 1:59 pm:
First, regardless of its efficacy, it likely won’t blow back on Quinn. This is mainly because it sounds like a made up story from Rauner with certain carefully placed terms and dogwhistles for his audience. Could be wrong, but I have trouble believing 4 African American TSA agents would come running after the guy at an airport to tell him how much they love his commercials and his wife and how they were voting for him. As with much of Rauner — the working class props, the Swedish-speaking dairy farmer grandpa who taught him how to hunt, the “no social agenda” up north/squishy conservative guarantees downstate — it sounds contrived, and the set up to the contrived setting is racially charged and tone deaf. In sum, the story in isolation or in context sounds phony, which fits into a now accepted narrative about Rauner. For that reason alone, I don’t see it “blowing back” on Quinn.
Second, it might be effective for Quinn. It is a well timed tactic. He presumably could have run this at any point since late June, but it becomes an incendiary yet possibly motivating hit with little time for media vetting and opposition counterattack without the creation of a lot of noise. Quinn needs to GOTV in this demographic so it will either help or be neutral.
Third, it’s a fair hit — not just because of the general precept that “politics ain’t beanbag” but because Rauner has tried to hang childrens’ deaths on Quinn’s DCFS, to claim Quinn is personally under criminal investigation, to link Quinn to “100 years of corruption,” etc. To the extent anyone is weighing things, it’s a slit decision on the campaigning ethics front. Rauner has overextended the “Quinn is a corrupt, evil liar” narrative and it never stuck. The narrative dynamic of this race is and has been for some time “Homer v. Monty Burns.” It was always tough for Burns to make Homer look evil, conniving, and corrupt.
Bottom line, this won’t shock anyone’s conscience no matter how it plays out, it may be effective at some GOTV, and it reinforces the narrative that has taken hold.
- Macbeth - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:00 pm:
Rauner is the loser here. There’s no need to identify race in this stupid — obviously false — story. I mean, think about: when have you ever — ever — been in airport and seen 4 “TSA guys” come running up to you — or running anywhere?
It makes no sense. I travel for a living, and I don’t get it. TSA folks aren’t wandering the halls in airports, eyeing passengers. They’re in one place, and they’re serious about. They’re not looking for movie stars or politicians. And they certainly don’t charge toward someone.
It’s a lie — one of Rauner’s many lies.
- DuPage Grandma - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:04 pm:
OK, so BR made up a story to convey minority support which included expressing his
initial alarm or fear that several large AA TSA Guards had approached him only to find out they came to (illegally) express their support for his candidacy. So they were not a danger after all. (How cute!)
The story does have racist overtones…
Let’s examine the veracity of this cute story…. TSA Security Guards are Federal employees subject to the Hatch Act….
“The Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326 (PDF ) (HTML ), limits certain political activities of most executive branch employees. For example, the law prohibits employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or in the Federal workplace.”
The comment “You know what, all four of us are Democrats. We love your commercials, we love your wife. We’re all voting for you.” DID NOT HAPPEN.
If it did happen, then start an investigation because those workers should be fired.
I work for the state which is less stringent than the feds regarding political activity. I could NEVER say any such thing in a government office. You are talking government office in front of customers in uniform…We cannot express our party affiliation or our support for a specific candidate on office time or property.
Not only does the story have racial overtones, it is another example of Bruce Rauner’s inability to tell the truth.
- MrJM - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:06 pm:
Those crying about “introducing race” into this would do well to remember who “introduced race” into Bruce Rauner’s very funny story.
Hint: It was Bruce Rauner.
– MrJM
- Amalia - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:12 pm:
even with the full script it’s still patronizing and racist.
- Dave Dahl - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:21 pm:
And then the little girl pointed at me and said, “Mayor Daley!”
- Anonymoose - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:27 pm:
I travel too. Get all kinds of TSA agents. Barney taking his job far too seriously. Then there are times you see TSA wandering aimlessly. My favorite was the comedic TSA at Midway who offered to run my bag through at an additional charge - would I be paying cash. Calling TSA on the carpet for a Hatch Act violation? Nope, I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut and keep the line moving.
- Wordslinger - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:29 pm:
If I were Rauner, I would send my peeps back to that airport, track down the TSA guys and ask them to come forward and tell their stories.
They’re big supporters, I’m sure theyd love to do it. They must be outraged that their spontaneous joy at seeing Rauner has been misconstrued. At least one of the four would do it, don’t you think?
Nothing beats real-people testimonials.
- Randy Hamburgers - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
This will not end well for BRuce Rauner. Bad juju. Very bad juju. Evidence is the “outrage” of his supporters on this bloggy. Hilarious. Just weak and pathetic crocodile tears all around. He got busted saying doo-doo.
- Wordslinger - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
To those who have said they’ve heard the story before when the race of the agents wasn’t mentioned, what was the point of the tale in those instances?
Support in the airport community?
- Randy Hamburgers - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 2:34 pm:
Amalia nailed it. I agree the story is probably a lie to begin with
- Thursday's Child - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 3:19 pm:
The typical TSA Agent does not know Rauner from a bottle of Pert Plus that they arbitrarily confiscate for no reason whatsoever. This story is fishy.
- MrJM - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 3:43 pm:
“If I were Rauner, I would send my peeps back to that airport, track down the TSA guys and ask them to come forward and tell their stories. They’re big supporters, I’m sure they’d love to do it.”
And then Bruce can promise to bring them into a Rauner administration with Stephanie Neely.
– MrJM
- Mighty M. Mouse - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 4:07 pm:
===This will not end well for BRuce Rauner. Bad juju. Very bad juju. Evidence is the “outrage” of his supporters on this bloggy. Hilarious. Just weak and pathetic crocodile tears all around. He got busted saying doo-doo.===
YDD, Wndycty, Word, you all nailed it.
Lies and distortions. Oh, the OUTRAGE! But Bruce has been doing it since before the primary. So he started it (and he never stopped, either), okay?
Rauner’s attack on Quinn is a crime against truth
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-03-05/opinion/ct-rauner-quinn-crime-chicago-primaryoped-0305-zor-20140305_1_crime-rate-bruce-rauner-gun-ownership
I love the timing, the risk. It took real stones. It does cut 2 ways and could backfire, but I don’t think so. The master is taking the arrogant rogue policemen to school, like Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force blowing up renegade traffic cop ringleader Hal Holbrook, who thought he won up until he died.
Rauner ran a campaign of lies and distortions, but he did it much more poorly, compared to Quinn. He couldn’t restrain his compulsive lying and for 20 months he continually tossed corruption charges so farfetched, none of them ever gained any traction.
By contrast, Quinn waits until the end, sticks the knife in, twists it and quickly removes it, simply preceded by 2 months of non-stop advertising body blows destroying Rauner’s reputation for all time.
How sweet it must be for Gov. Quinn. Nicely done!
I can’t sympathize with Rauner. He’s SO deserving.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 5:04 pm:
BTW, I agree with the earlier posts that like Blago’s story, this one is likely a complete fabrication.
Tell us the airport Bruce, so we can track them down.
The fact that the story was likely a total fabrication makes all the more disturbing and remarkable.
- Louis G Atsaves - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 5:11 pm:
Yup, if Rauner’s campaign pulled a stunt like this on Quinn at the last second, running it on black radio stations, with serious distortions and editing of his speech, the majority of commentators here would be foaming at the mouth angry. They would be OUTRAGED! How Dare He!
But since Quinn did it to Rauner, it’s OK. In fact, it’s WONDERFUL!
Good. Grief.
- VanillaMan - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 5:25 pm:
Quinn can’t claim moral superiority to a man like Rauner with these kinds of ugly political stunts.
- MrJM - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 5:35 pm:
“Quinn can’t claim moral superiority to a man like Rauner with these kinds of ugly political stunts.”
Playing the voice of Bruce Rauner saying things that Bruce Rauner said?
I do declare! Lead me to the fainting couch, this scandal has given me the vapors!
– MrJM
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 6:28 pm:
MrJM:
LOL
Louis:
Rauner can’t distort Quinn’s record at the last minute because he has been distorting it for 11 months.
For goodness sake, look at his current ads.
100 years. LOL.
Madigan, Blago and Quinn couldn’t be less of a gang if they tried.
And Cullerton? Cullerton has spent most of his time as President disagreeing with Madigan on the budget and pensions.
- Mighty M. Mouse - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 6:30 pm:
===Quinn can’t claim moral superiority to a man like Rauner with these kinds of ugly political stunts.===
===Playing the voice of Bruce Rauner saying things that Bruce Rauner said?
I do declare! Lead me to the fainting couch, this scandal has given me the vapors!
– MrJM===
MrJM, your prose often reminds me of listening to Mozart. I find it strangely hypnotic and soothing.
Quinn IS morally superior, bothered by HOW Rauner MADE his money, NOT simply how much money he has.
But if you’re not bothered, that’s okay. I’m not suggesting that there’s anything wrong with that.
When Quinn wins despite a job approval rating in the 30s and disapproval in the 50s, we’ll just see if voters were bothered more by Quinn’s supposed incompetence and (No giggling!) alleged corruption or by Rauner’s duplicitous, dangerous personality.
- Arsenal - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 7:00 pm:
Man, it’s so deceitful for Quinn to selectively quote Rauner’s made-up story about how done with the brothers he is. C’mon you guys, he was just lying about being afraid of them, he’s REALLY using them as props!
- Anonymoose - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 7:23 pm:
Funny. I’m watching cable. They run a clip of Madeline Albright speaking at North Central. Stopped by TSA….agent said he was from Bosnia. Held up line for conversation and photo op with. Madame Secretary. Great punch line though….someone in line asks Madame Secretary her identity and she says, “former Secretary of State.” To which the woman in line replied, “Secretary of State for Bosnia?”
Of course, I have my doubts the Secretary’s remarks are true given the stoic diligence and focus of our TSA forces.
- distortion is an understatement - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 10:39 pm:
I heard him tell this same story to a group in Chicago at 43rd and Cottage Grove…for those that do not know the area it is an AA community on the south side of Chicago…. The crowd loved the story…really poor attempt at race baiting Quinn group….
- Liandro - Saturday, Nov 1, 14 @ 10:48 pm:
Rauner’s story is a little over the top. Quinn’s race-card twisting of it is way over the line. Many of Quinn’s supporters/backers will come to conclusions based on their bias. For me, it is another line of evidence that for some modern Democrats, stirring up racial problems is a useful tactic for winning elections, no matter what damage it may do. I hate stuff like this.
- DandyDon - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 12:22 am:
If Pat Quinn thinks he is in good shape in the race for governor why would he even bother running a commercial like this in the AA communities. The commercial could blow up in Pat face and he will loose the election or it will result in higher turnouts in the AA community. This tells me that Pat Quinn believes he needs a big AA turnout in the city if he wants to remain governor. If you listen to the full address by Bruce Rauner, what Pat Quinn is doing is nothing, but race baiting. As far as Bruce going downstate to shore up support this weekend in places he should have locked is no different that Pat Quinn visiting AA churches this Sunday. Pat should have these voters locked up. Bruce is going downstate to try and generate a larger turnout as downstate usually lags in voter turnout.
- Under Further Review - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 8:13 am:
The Rauner excerpt was from a Lincoln Day event, but the narrator makes it sound as if it was at a clandestine meeting of the KKK or the John Birch Society.
- Coffee Cup - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 9:30 am:
If I was African-American, I would be outraged that Pat Quinn would approve this political attack ad. It shows me that Quinn regards me as stupid and someone who can easily be misled and inclined to follow. It is a terrible insult to people of color. They were just lied to by Quinn and the implication by Quinn is that they are mentally and emotionally child-like in their intellect and trust.
- Oswego Willy - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 9:42 am:
“As an Illinois voter, I am outraged that Bruce Rauner has been a phony for over a year, in ad…after ad. It shows me that Rauner regards me as stupid and someone who can easily be misled and inclined to follow. It is a terrible insult to people of Illinois. We have been constantly lied to by Rauner and the implication by Rauner is that he is an outsider, looking out for us, and can’t be bought, while buying influence and clout, is emotionally child-like, and lacks intellect and makes Bruce Rauner someone voters can’t trust.”
Better.
- Snucka - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 3:44 pm:
How does the announcer make it sound like a clandestine KKK meeting? “Behind closed doors at a Republican fundraiser” is a very accurate description of where this was recorded. It was also an almost all-white crowd, although the announcer did not say that.
- MrJM - Sunday, Nov 2, 14 @ 4:51 pm:
“If I was African-American, I would be outraged that Pat Quinn would approve this political attack ad.”
I’m sure you would.
– MrJM
- Soccermom - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 8:38 am:
Anonymoose — so funny! that was exactly my thought!
- Soccermom - Monday, Nov 3, 14 @ 8:41 am:
“This tells me that Pat Quinn believes he needs a big AA turnout in the city if he wants to remain governor.”
Wow, DandyDon — your insights are incredible. “This tells me that a candidate will need to turn out his base to win the election.” Gosh - how completely counterintuitive! How bold!