* An interesting take on President Obama’s endorsement of Rep. Ken Dunkin’s Democratic primary opponent Juliana Stratton…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s former chief of staff, said the president isn’t endorsing a candidate as much as he is endorsing an end to the state budget stalemate.
“Where we now are literally holding back poor kids who are accomplishing great things in education and not funding it correctly, so the fact that we now have kids leaving college because of their state government doesn’t have the right budget priorities, that’s what the endorsement is,” Emanuel said.
Your interpretation of this nearly unprecedented endorsement?
*** UPDATE *** Lynn Sweet…
A DNC source told me that part of the reason behind Obama’s making the spots for Stratton was “to set the record straight that the President has not endorsed Dunkin, he is endorsing the challenger.”
“And also we’ve heard some rumblings that Dunkin is trying to say that the ad isn’t real – it is. Also, the key issue is gun violence prevention. Stratton is in the right place and POTUS said previously he would help candidates who were in the right place on guns. She also has the support of many community leaders and the labor community, which helps,” the DNC source said.
* And Greg Hinz takes the Because… Madigan! route…
But the decision to intervene came directly from the White House, multiple sources tell me, and just about everyone in politics thinks Madigan had something to do with it. […]
But Madigan has done Obama a few favors through the years, moving up the 2008 presidential primary to help then-candidate Obama and more recently passing legislation to clear the way for Obama’s library to be built in a Chicago public park. […]
The DNC approached the Stratton campaign shortly thereafter and said Obama “might want to be helpful,” says one source who knows. Scripts were prepared and, late last week, the White House sent word to proceed.
You ally yourself with a Republican governor, then interrupt the preznit’s address, then run a radio ad saying the preznit endorses you and your effort at “bringing people together” when he doesn’t, you’re gonna upset the preznit.
It’s not rocket science.
- Ghost - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
obama never liked Dunkin, and Dunkin is a sell out, so the president was motivated to try and influence the outcome
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
I always vote for the Chicago politicians that complain how “poor kids” are “being held back”
As a Chicago voter, it always makes me feel like I am doing the right thing when I vote for them.
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
Nothing to do with bipartisanship or budget.
Instead, it is personal. Dunkin was out of line both with his implying an Obama endorsement in his campaigning and in his interruption of President Obama’s speech.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
This is actually a setup. If elected, Stratton will step down and Obama will be appointed to the seat. (What else will he have to do after Jan 20?)
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
C’mon, he was clearly bowing to Speaker Madigan’s orders. Just ask the governor and the Tribune editorial board. Easy peasy.
- illinoised - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:00 pm:
I believe it is a tacit plea to end the madness.
- WhoKnew - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:02 pm:
Wow Rich!
Is that really true!
I had no idea! /s
- CharlieKratos - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:03 pm:
I really want to see a headline of “Sit Down, Dunkin” on March 16th.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:06 pm:
===Is that really true!===
Confirmed on Facebook.
BUT DO NOT CLICK THIS if you are easily offended or even if it takes a lot to offend you or you would get in trouble at work for reading something disgusting. I mean it. Serious racism and awfulness at this link https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.735/posts/10201491325042704
This is how the Dunkinites really think.
- said so - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:08 pm:
I think rahm is trying to help Dunkin.
- Levois - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:16 pm:
This could matter as much as Madigan’s endorsing Brookins for the 1st congressional district.
- Grow Up - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:16 pm:
Clearly this is what the president meant by ‘working across the aisle’. Endorsing a union hack that will walk lock-step with Madigan against any reform is clearly cooperation. Anyways, the math challenged will be pleased with her election.
- out of touch - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:16 pm:
Thanks to Mark Carter (whoever that may be) for posting a Dunkinite racist rant. For good measure, he helped Stratton by posting her press release touting Obama’s endorsement. Oops.
- Will Caskey - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
I like to think that it’s some ancient gripe from his Springfield days and he called Dunkin about it beforehand:
“Mr. Ken Dunkin? Please hold for the President of the United States.”
“Hi Ken.”
“Um, hi Barack.”
“Remember how you stuck me with your bar tab that night in 2003?”
“Uh…”
“I’ve always remembered that, and now I’m the President and you’re going to lose. I’m endorsing Stratton tomorrow.”
*Click*
- MSIX - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
@Will Caskey
LOL
Very nice.
- Juvenal - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:21 pm:
This isn’t just a message to Dunkin, this is a message to Governor Rauner.
Where are Governor Rauner and his spokespeople hiding?
Or do they suddenly claim they have nothing to do with Ken Dunkin?
- Moist von Lipwig - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
Does this mean that Ken Dunkin will take down the ads that imply that Obama’s “shout-out” was a positive thing? And will Dunkin ally Charles Thomas have to finally stop claiming it as such?
- sal-says - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:27 pm:
== nearly unprecedented endorsement ==
IL IS in an unprecedented situation of destruction. For over one YEAR and counting.
Hope the endorsement makes a difference. And NOT for Dunkin.
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
I’m guessing the Stratton folks would have been happy if Emanuel had said nothing at all.
He’s the least popular politician in Chicago, but he sees a need to step on the president’s message for…. what?
To stroke his own ego? To make Maze’s case for him?
- The Captain - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
IllinoisGO was already over $1 million deep in this race and now that feels like wasted money. I’m very curious to see if they keep spending here or if they throw in the towel.
- A guy - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:40 pm:
No big deal. Just ask around. /S. A capital S.
- @MisterJayEm - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 1:42 pm:
“This is how the Dunkinites really think.”
It’s the mirror image of the myth that white men of a certain age tell themselves.
The bitter and jealous white dudes think, “I could have been elected to the Illinois Senate, then to the U.S. Senate and then to the Presidency, if only I’d gotten the breaks that I pretend that Barack Obama got.”
Similarly, the bitter and jealous Dunkinites think, “I could have been elected to the Illinois Senate, then to the U.S. Senate and then to the Presidency, if only I’d sold out like I pretend that Barack Obama did.”
It would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.
– MrJM
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:00 pm:
Why would Emmanuel try to throw a wet blanket over Stratton’s basking in the sunshine of a President’s endorsement?
- Xavier Woods - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:02 pm:
Speaker Madigan and the leaders of the free world he controls.
- Harold's Left-wing Dinner - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:06 pm:
While I have yet to dig up any other presidential interventions into state legislative races, Sweet’s article has the relevant context. This isn’t some out-of-the-way district of inexplicable interest. Also, Obama isn’t a stranger to supporting candidates in one important category of non-federal, sub-state level races: mayor.
2009: NYC (Bill Thompson, lost). And barely an endorsement.
2013: NYC (de Blasio, won); Atlanta (Kasim Reed, won); Houston (Annise Parker, won); Jersey City (Jerramiah Healy, lost)
2014: San Diego (David Alvaerz, lost); Providence (Jorge Elorza, won); Washington DC (Muriel Bowser, won); New Orleans (Mitch Landrieu, won)
2015: Chicago; Houston (Sylvester Turner, won); Philadelphia (Jim Kenney, won)
I don’t think he cut TV commercials for any of these folks (he did a radio ad and that Pullman appearance for Rahm). They were usually statements issued by the campaigns.
- southsider - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
Really Rahm? Because based on the President’s actual words (see below), it sure seems like a strong and direct endorsement to me:
“I’m endorsing Juliana Stratton because she will stand up for our children, our seniors and our working families,” Obama said. “Juliana will fight to get guns off our streets…Juliana Stratton will bring a new voice to Springfield as State Representative. She is the strong and devoted leader our neighborhoods need.”
- Molly Maguire - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
Now I don’t think that’s how they teach kids to talk on FB over at the Lord’s Tabernacle Christian Academy.
- PublicServant - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:39 pm:
Some people, Sue, can walk and chew gum at the same time. I’d say intervening to help a top-5 state overcome the Rauner budget blockade is well worth the president’s time and effort.
- Mama - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:46 pm:
What is a “preznit”?
- Anonymous - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:01 pm:
This will look mighty bad for the prez if Stratton has any skeletons in her closet.
- Wensicia - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:12 pm:
==This will look mighty bad for the prez if Stratton has any skeletons in her closet.==
Now that’s desperate.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:34 pm:
Mama, blog slang for His Excellency the President.
- Jaded - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
By the way, beating Dunkin won’t end the stalemate until January 11 2017, if then.
- walker - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 5:44 pm:
will caskey
Yes, that was almost identical to my first thought.
- MadCo - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 8:39 pm:
The idea that POTUS did this because Madigan asked is just slightly on the elementary side. Just because they are both Democrats does not a friendship make. Madigan is not an Obama fan. This was Obama putting Dunkin in his place - Madigan benefits, yes. But POTUS did not do this to appease Madigan.
- Juvenal - Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:21 pm:
@Will Caskey
I suspect it did not help that Dunkin spent the last ten years talking smack about the President — implying that Obama used to be part of his entourage, as if they actually could have been drinking together until the wee hours “back in the day.”
That was the Ken Dunkin we saw during the President’s address.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 6:25 am:
Stratton will be fine as long as Ken Dunkin isn’t in her closet Anonymous. Just sayin.