The Democrats’ millionaire
Friday, Nov 13, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Longtime Democratic donor Fred Eychaner has been writing a few checks to political funds controlled by Madigan this week. On Thursday, Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic organization reported $21,600 from Eychaner’s Newsweb Corp. and $10,800 from Eychaner himself. That followed paperwork filed Tuesday that showed the same giving to the Democratic Majority and Democratic Party of Illinois funds. All told, that’s more than $97,000 to Madigan funds this week. Eychaner also gave the maximum $5,400 each to a half-dozen House Democrats.
Eychaner can’t do it alone, however. The Dems are gonna need more rich folks to step up in the Age of Rauner. From the governor’s latest D-2…
Funds available at the close of the reporting period: $19,654,134.13
And there’s plenty more where that came from.
- Ahoy! - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 9:07 am:
Why would a millionaire from Illinois back Illinois Democrats right now? I can see if you were from another state and looking to capitalize on our economic outlook or if you were a silver spoon millionaire that isn’t worried about building a business.
Yes, Madigan is going to need it, but why would anybody with a business interest invest in Madigan?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 9:15 am:
The governor has close to $34+ million, today, at his disposal, to make the Democrats chase.
That’s $34+ million that’s parked.
At some point after January 1st, the Democrats need a big splash, a “bundle” of, say, $5 million, and that might be attention-getting.
IllinoisGO’s $9 million is the “number” from today until after the Primary Season.
IllinoisGO is the first threat. Rauner is the threat after. I throw out the $34+ million to make a specific point.
It’s the Primaries first, General second. Democrats need to answer the IllinoisGO threat first, and only, until the Primary passes. Otherwise, the Democratic Raunerites will be sprinkled in, taking on the Democratic Caucuses, and breaking the Democratic Party.
“Other than that… ”
It’s up to the Democrats to deny entry to the Stranger that the ILGOP let move into theirs.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 9:30 am:
Gee, Ahoy, Ford is going to invest $1.1 billion at its two plants on the South Side.
Commercial real estate prices in Chicago are off the charts. Hinz reported last week that there’s more than $1 billion in private construction going on right now in Lakeview alone — not the Loop, a neighborhood.
Why are they all so stupid with their money? What do you know that they don’t?
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 9:35 am:
It’s up to the Democrats to deny entry to the Stranger that the ILGOP let move into theirs.
Methinks Rauner has been in their house for a while now…not just recently.
- History Prof - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 10:17 am:
OW, Wordslinger, & 6 Degrees,
Thanks for the superb insights here. I’m learning.
- walker - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 10:22 am:
Why? Because not all successful business leaders have only their own earnings as their highest priority in life.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 10:34 am:
Since Rauner, Illinois Democrats have been comfortable playing defense. You don’t invest in defense. What they need to do is present an alternative future for Illinois that is attractive enough so their donors can see a plan. That hasn’t been done.
Rich people aren’t risk takers personally. They’ll risk your money, our public money, and everyone else’s money, but not theirs. Trump has filed bankruptcy repeatedly, but doesn’t personally lose a dime. Rich people follow - they only lead when there is no risk of personal loss.
Rauner has put up enough dough for his friends to follow suit. He is on the offense. His money will begin to dry up when it looks like he is going to start losing.
When you have the political power the Democrats do, there is no urgency to give them money to keep playing defense. When ILDEM shows a pulse regarding offense - their wealthy donors will contribute.
- Century Club - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 10:37 am:
Contribution caps are going to get in his way if he’s donating to candidates. He’s going to need an IE if he wants to come close to denting Rauner’s $$. Another project for AA & Willy’s consulting firm?
- JS Mill - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 10:40 am:
Word- wel done, not everything is as bad as our governor says it is.
Madigan needs donors that can put a few more zeros to the left of the decimal point if he wants the balance to shift his way. I don’t think that would be a good thing for the public, some balance of power between Rauner and Madigan is a good thing, we will not get the extreme version of either one.
- Norseman - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 10:48 am:
The Dems aren’t going to match the money so they better be honing their boots on the ground capabilities.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 10:53 am:
===The Dems aren’t going to match the money so they better be honing their boots on the ground capabilities.===
Yep. Even that $5 million “bundle” is more thought than actual.
Doorbells. Walk Sheets. Christmas Card Lists.
Money? Not so much.
- History Prof -, thanks, I’m always learning too. This is the place to do it.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:01 am:
- Century Club -
I dunno if the Consulting Firm has that on our menu of services, but I do know that the Democrats will find away to do what they need to do, but not much monetary room left after they do that.
I’m still hoping the GOP GA shows some independence. You never know…
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 11:52 am:
I am curious to see what happens in elections with the dynamics present–Rauner’s many millions. Rauner has a history now, and much of it has not benefited the state and has even hurt people. Let’s see how the money stacks up against that.
- Apocalypse Now - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:17 pm:
=The governor has close to $34+ million, today, at his disposal=
That’s great. Let’s hope that number doubles during 2016. I can just hear the Democrats grumbling and whining about the need for campaign reform and Rauner throwing money at them. Of course, there were many years in the recent past where they had sizable advantages in campaign cash. No whining then.
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:55 pm:
The Dems won’t be able to compete on the money side, everyone knows that. I wonder how many Dems end up stepping away over the next three years, intimidated by the Rauner cash?
- Blue dog dem - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
Y’all may not believe this, but many of my well to do friends are actually a bit apprehensive about the “RAUN Man” . Although they still may discreetly support him, the fact that their public (blind) support is on the wane tells me something. Most people will jump on the band wagon, but few will jump on if it’s got a flat tire.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
==- Ahoy! - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 9:07 am:==
It’s called supporting a society, reflected in government, based on humanity and compassion. It’s the opposite of cruelty and greed. It means supporting policies that strengthen and empower working-class people
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
- Lincoln Lad -
Seems like more Republicans are choosing to… retire.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 13, 15 @ 3:20 pm:
Griff alone can swamp the Dem network with pocket change.
The dude recently paid Bill Clinton $250K to have lunch with some employees in NYC.
Like Slim Pickens would say, “somebody ride back and get a s-load of Pritzkers!