“Racially tinged attacks” denounced
Thursday, Jun 2, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Emphasis is in the original…
Today Alderman Howard B. Brookins Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Education and Child Development of the Chicago City Council, blasted Governor Bruce Rauner for racially tinged attacks on Chicago’s public schools.
It was reported in the media that Rauner said the following, “‘The Senate and the House were competing with each other – who can spend more to bail out Chicago with your tax dollars from southern Illinois and central Illinois and Moline and Rockford and Danville, the communities of this state who are hardworking families who pay the taxes,’ [emphasis added] Rauner said. ‘The taxes should go into our communities, not into the Chicago political machine. That’s where Speaker Madigan and his allies want the money to go.’”
Brookins responded:
“I’m appalled that Governor Rauner would say that Chicago families are not hardworking and don’t contribute to the tax base of Illinois. In fact, we pay a larger percentage of our incomes in taxes than the Governor or his billionaire friends, who he continues to protect from paying their fair share while ordinary people suffer,” said Brookins.
“Perhaps Governor Rauner believes there’s something about the 84% of Chicago Public School students who are African American and Hispanic that makes them undeserving of the full funding provided to other communities in Illinois,” Brookins continued. “Or, perhaps he is trying to stoke racial resentment with these divisive and misleading attacks.
“There is no so-called ‘bailout’ of the school system being proposed. Chicago taxpayers provide 20 percent of the income tax money that funds public education in our state, our children make up 20% of the state’s enrollment, yet our students receive only 15 percent of the state’s spending on education.
“These inflammatory comments are designed to conceal the budget mess Rauner purposefully created in an attempt to break institutions like organized labor and social service providers that are a lifeblood to middle class families in Illinois.
“In our state’s nearly 200-year history, Illinois has never experienced such a tumultuous period where it couldn’t even pass a budget. That is Governor Rauner’s failure, and one he has repeatedly tried to cover up with ridiculous attempts at misleading the public. The hardworking, taxpayers of Chicago will not stand for his reckless rhetoric any longer,” Brookins concluded.
Whew.
* Mayor Rahm Emanuel also got into the act…
“Yesterday people across the state were looking for solutions,” Emanuel’s statement reads. “Instead of uniting the governor was dividing. Instead of leading he was playing politics, pitting parents and students in one part of the state against parents and students in another. Right now schools across Illinois need a leader, and instead Bruce Rauner is following the Donald Trump playbook of demonizing one group of people for his political advantage.”
* As did the mayor’s CPS honcho…
…Adding… Emanuel’s Trump comparison is kind of rich since his own brother was apparently doing a deal with the guy.
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:20 am:
It is true that the Governor needs to tone down all rhetoric, especially that which divides the state.
It is also true that Chicago is a financial wreck and does not appear to be doing much except having it’s hand out to Springfield to fix it. Don’t pass reforms, just pass a tax increase and send the money on up.
- BigDoggie - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:20 am:
Pulling out the race card is generally a sign that one feels they are losing the narrative.
- Robby - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:21 am:
Definition of “Dog whistle”:
A type of strategy of communication that sends a message that the general population will take a certain meaning from, but a certain group that is “in the know” will take away the secret, intended message.
- Ok - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:23 am:
Give him as much rope as he needs right now.
Wow, Brookins is on point here, and there is no way Rauner didn’t mean what he said. He is just continuing the playbook of his campaign road trips - saying things in different cities and counting on the media not to pick up on it.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:24 am:
Can’t argue with these guys one bit. Brookins, Emanuel, Claypool all 100% correct.
And don’t forget, downstaters, the governor’s platform includes forced consolidation of districts if deemed in the state’s best interest. So, yeah, go ahead and support his education policy. Good idea. /s
- James Knell - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:25 am:
As Rauner’s role model Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker famously said to his 1% friend, Diane Hendricks, “Divide & Conquer”. Will it work in Illinois? Not so far, but our governor is mean enough to keep on trying right up to election day.
- @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:26 am:
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” — Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, IL, June 16, 1858.
Sadly, some seem intent on demolishing the house.
– MrJM
- Upstate - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:26 am:
To Robby’s point:
Dog Whistle:
” …the communities of this state who are hardworking families who pay the taxes.”
- John Reynolds - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:29 am:
Its funny when people say *race card*.
You know I’ve been watching the remake of Roots this week and I just have to ask myself, whats really changed in this country?
And I am not just referring to Blacks. There is a poignant scene where one slave owner winds up getting into a duel with another, because he is Irish. And they were marginalized just as much as Blacks in that day.
What really is Bruce Rauner’s point? What really lies below the surface?
- Triple fat - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:29 am:
When you fund 20% and only get back 15% you are subsidizing downstate schools. How does asking for an equitable distribution of their taxes become asking for a hand out? Apparently downstate doesn’t need to ask for funding because it is just siphoned away from the taxes Chicagians pay. By the way- I live in Southern Illinois.
- FW - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:32 am:
Brookins is overracting a bit — this is more about fanning the flames of regionalism, not racism. But still, Rauner needs to chill this rhetoric immediately. He’s behaving like a wrecking ball, not a governor.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:32 am:
Chicago has had the Speaker, Senate President and Governor call it home for over a decade before Rauner but today’s politicians would have you believe they have been not getting their fare share of education funding. Now they are panicking because they no longer have the monopoly.
- AC - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:33 am:
I’ve reminded Illinoisans who say “he’s not my Governor, I didn’t vote for him!” that Rauner is our Governor and it doesn’t matter if you voted for him. Now, I’m not sure I was correct, Rauner doesn’t appear to want to be Governor of the entire state. Since he wants to pick and choose, perhaps he’s the Governor of downstate, minus Springfield.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:34 am:
–…the communities of this state who are hardworking families who pay the taxes,’ ..–
Unbelievable. From the governor of Illinois.
–Pulling out the race card is generally a sign that one feels they are losing the narrative.–
A governor of Illinois should never play the race card like this, period.
This kind of play Downstate is hardly new and it’s never subtle. It’s usually done by dog-whistling mushrooms.
Coming from any governor, it’s shocking.
- Jimmy H - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:34 am:
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:24 am:
Add to that Rauner’s willful destruction of the State Universities and Colleges, vital rural economic engines. Downstaters vote accordingly.
- cdog - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:37 am:
“Chicago taxpayers provide 20 percent of the income tax money that funds public education in our state, our children make up 20% of the state’s enrollment, yet our students receive only 15 percent of the state’s spending on education.”
Keep throwing TRUTH BOMBS like that at Mr. Ooda-Loop!
When Rauner is made to address TRUTHFUL FACTS, and cannot distract by declaring wild, fast, and factless statements regarding Chicago (ooda-loop), this creepy circus ride may come to a stop.
(big hat tip to MrJM)
OODA Loop–Harry Hillaker describing OODA Loops: “The key is to obscure your intentions and make them unpredictable to your opponent while you simultaneously clarify his intentions. That is, operate at a faster tempo to generate rapidly changing conditions that inhibit your opponent from adapting or reacting to those changes and that suppress or destroy his awareness. Thus, a hodgepodge of confusion and disorder occur to cause him to over- or under-react to conditions or activities that appear to be uncertain, ambiguous, or incomprehensible. *** In very simple terms, be unpredictable.” http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=156
- Triple fat - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:37 am:
Big doggie-
If it looks like duck. Walks and sounds like a duck… It’s probably a racist dog whistle.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:37 am:
“Bruce Rauner is following the Donald Trump playbook”
We are going to hear that point a lot between now and November.
- Harry - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:39 am:
Rauner’s remarks may or may not have been intended to send a racial message, but OK, he’s a big boy and it’s all fair game.
But I have to wonder how Brookins, Emanuel and Claypool think this helps them obtain more money for CPS.
My conclusion is that everybody is still too busy proving how darn right they are so they can look good to their base, and as long as that continues there cannot be a real solution.
No one wants to wear the shirt for statewide schools not opening in the Fall, so the GA will ventually do something that Rauner will sign.
But Brookins, Emanuel and Claypool would be well-advised to remember that as Chicago is about 20% of the kids, it’s also 20% of the population, and they need a lot on non-Chicagoans to go along if they are to increase State $$$ for CPS. At this point, everyone’s strategy, if you can dignify it with that word, is just to hold hostages.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:39 am:
I t seems to me Rauner dislikes everyone who can’t afford to clout their kids into better schools.
- Mama - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:39 am:
“Bruce Rauner is following the Donald Trump playbook of demonizing one group of people for his political advantage.”
Mayor Rahm Emanuel knows Rauner, and he knows Rauners game is all about gaining political advantage of the House & Senate. The other part of his game is taking away all unions rights to bargain for pay and benefits. I believe Rauner’s end game is 100% control of how and where the state funds are spent.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:40 am:
Look, I brought up the racially tinged aspect of the “tax payer” phrase a few days ago. This is exactly what I was talking about. EXACTLY!
- Norseman - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:40 am:
I’d prefer to call Rauner’s tactic for what it is, demonizing and dividing people to achieve his political aims. He’s not alone (Trump et al.), but when Illinois needs leadership he fails.
- pundent - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:42 am:
cdog - Facts are necessary in governing. They have no useful purpose on the campaign trail.
- Mama - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:43 am:
I got to add and find a way he can financially profit from it.
- Mama - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:46 am:
Interesting to know “Facts have no useful purpose on the campaign trail.” “Facts are necessary in governing.”
Please let us know when Rauner starts governing.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:50 am:
OODA Loop–Harry Hillaker describing OODA Loops: “The key is to obscure your intentions and make them unpredictable to your opponent while you simultaneously clarify his intentions. That is, operate at a faster tempo to generate rapidly changing conditions that inhibit your opponent from adapting or reacting to those changes and that suppress or destroy his awareness. Thus, a hodgepodge of confusion and disorder occur to cause him to over- or under-react to conditions or activities that appear to be uncertain, ambiguous, or incomprehensible. *** In very simple terms, be unpredictable.” http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=156
Nah, to deploy an OODA loop would be an indication of forethought and intelligence. This is just simply Rauner running his mouth in the only type of event that prevented him from feeling failure, a campaign event. Governing forces him to address his failure. That’s why he seems passive. He can’t through his hubris approach his own inadequacy.
- RIJ - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:51 am:
Let’s see - state employees are not taxpayers, and now apparently neither are those who have school aged children in Chicago. Go ahead and discount the citizens you’re supposed to serve - oh, yeah, the only people you wish to serve are the ultra-wealthy. You seem to be hell-bent on destroying the social safety net. Do you even have a conscience, Governor?
- No Use For A Name - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:52 am:
Racially tinged? I wonder if he has any thoughts about the tweet sent by a certain democratic rep Tuesday night.
- Sue - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:54 am:
Plenty of minorities live south of I 80. What was possibly racist about Rauners statement. Maybe it’s wrong to pit upstate against downstate but downstate is not looking for a bailout like Chicago is. Bookings is trying to start a “black lives matter moment” where one does not exist
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 10:59 am:
== but downstate is not looking for a bailout like Chicago is==
Talk to some downstate schools and then get back to us.
- Norseman - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:03 am:
Great job Sue! Using race to argue that it wasn’t about race. Perfect example of why the GOP just doesn’t get it.
- John Reynolds - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:04 am:
Im sure there is no problem if Chicago withholds its money to pay for infrastructure downstate (road, schools).
And what about all those Prisons down there, sucking money from the part of state that contributes the most money?
Quit bailing them out.
Makes financial sense to me.
- John Reynolds - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:06 am:
Look we need a White Lives Matter because they have just been treated so reprehensibly for over 200+ years in this country.
How EVER in the world did they survive?
- SKI - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:08 am:
I guess we can spin any comment into being ‘racist’ if you do not agree with it.
- cdog - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:11 am:
Rauner is indirectly stating that there is a moral equivalent between his advocacy of shorting CPS and his advocacy of continuing to fund the $30K/student burbs.
That makes my soul hurt.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:12 am:
Well deserved comeback; Rauner walked right into this one. If he keeps campaignin’ like Trump, he’ll bring out more voters against both of them in November.
- Chicago Guy - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:15 am:
Chicago political leadership needs to stress a consistent message that Chicago pays 20% of income tax, has 20% of students but only gets 15% of the funding. (assuming Brookins’ numbers are accurate)
- Matthew Vernau - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:23 am:
Racially tinged? Please take a look at who by race is receiving welfare especially SNAP. The Fed website publishes annual and monthly numbers. Don’t mean to defend Rauner. He’s campaigning instead of leading. It is just that the racial argument seems out of date. It is a cultural problem or even a problem of human nature. If I can get someone else to pay for my kids education…well it seems worth a try.
- IRLJ - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:29 am:
Gotta go with Brookins, Rahm, Claypool, AFSCME and several commenters here who say Rauner is playing the divide and conquer card, in various forms including race.
The governor reminds me of a boxer who is knocked out on his feet. He’s still punching, but in the end, he ain’t winnin’
- Jimmy H - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:52 am:
dīvide et īmpera… Bruce Rauner the sovereign…
Rauner does not have to be a successful governor for him to “win”. Folks need to understand this point. He does not play by the same rules as most of us. Jim Edgar very succinctly explained Rauner’s MO months ago.
Trump explained it perfectly when asked about the housing crisis. Rich people like him make money from the misfortune of others. Rauner is manufacturing misfortune. Whether or not he gets the TA, it does not matter. Perhaps the TA was designed to be extreme to ensure gridlock, which in turn would obviously cause misfortune. There’s also the perk of destroying the organizational structure of a “Blue” State. Rauner would love to privatize everything. Rauner does not care about the community of people that is Illinois. If you are not in the wine club, you are either being played or a mark.
- Upstate - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 11:55 am:
=Racially tinged? Please take a look at who by race is receiving welfare especially SNAP. The Fed website publishes annual and monthly numbers. Don’t mean to defend Rauner. He’s campaigning instead of leading. It is just that the racial argument seems out of date. It is a cultural problem or even a problem of human nature. If I can get someone else to pay for my kids education…well it seems worth a try.=
Wow. Get someone else to pay for my kids education? Talk about racially tinged. Since when doesn’t the government fund public education for everybody? And what’s wrong with funding it equally? You must think Brown v. Board of Education is what’s “dated.”
- REE - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 1:44 pm:
Okay, fellow Illinois residents don’t fall for Rauner’s game and divide citizens of this state from one another any further. This is not about race. This is about a governor who lacks the skills to adequately govern our state. Who is going to pay for is lack of political skill? Every resident of this state. It is a governor’s job to propose and annual budget? He hasn’t even tried address his most fundamental responsibility. What does that say about how he feels about the stability and success of our state? Rauner needs step up his governance game and tone down his ridiculous rhetoric.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
The Trump Rauner linkage is a big stretch. According to NBC WSJ poll both Trump and Hillary are tied with support of 44% of union households
- DGD - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
There was no race involved in this until Brookins mentioned it - race-baiting much ?
*Let’s see - state employees are not taxpayers**
Actually they are net tax consumers at the state level, where do you think their pay comes from ?
- Federalist - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
“Wow. Get someone else to pay for my kids education? Talk about racially tinged.”
Guess that’s why the Clintons and Obamas sent their children to public schools in Washington, D.C. NOT! Get real!
- Monopoly Man - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 4:28 pm:
“Actually they are net tax consumers at the state level, where do you think their pay comes from ?”
How do you think state services are provided?
- X-prof - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 4:47 pm:
=== Actually they are net tax consumers at the state level, where do you think their pay comes from ? ===
Actually, where do you think the pay comes from for any private company that does business with the state? You act like state employees don’t work in exchange for their pay. Dumb argument.
- Oswego resident - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 4:49 pm:
Why do we need a state education czar at $250,000 and a state Superintendent of Schools at $250,000. That half million dollars would be better spent on students. And there is plenty of other political bloat in the proposed state education budget. Teach for America, really? After School Matters, really? Continued waste on assessment and testing to the tune of tens of millions annually, really? The list seems endless.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 6:07 pm:
**Actually, where do you think the pay comes from for any private company that does business with the state?** Most private companies don’t do business with the state, they rely on a solid business plan to make a profit - what world do you live in ?
- DGD - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 6:11 pm:
**How do you think state services are provided?**
By state employees obviously, who are paid from tax revenues - you either missed my point entirely or you’ve been in the system so long you think there is this big pot of money from whence you get paid.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jun 2, 16 @ 8:58 pm:
Don’t bother x-prof. They don’t get it. Don’t waste your time. The hubris.
- burbanite - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 6:42 am:
” It is just that the racial argument seems out of date. It is a cultural problem or even a problem of human nature.” How so? My experience has been that the term “cultural” is merely a substitute for saying “racial” so it doesn’t sound racist.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jun 3, 16 @ 8:12 am:
–Chicago has had the Speaker, Senate President and Governor call it home for over a decade before Rauner …–
Rauner is not a Chicago resident?
He certified to CPS for the purpose of enrollment that he was; he claimed homestead exemptions for many years on his Chicago penthouse as his primary residence.
LP, just what are you accusing him of?