71 Comments - Anon2U - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:06 pm: Wonder what Madigan’s emails to Rham say? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:09 pm: Good on Lance and the Governor. I did it. I was wrong. I’m sorry. Hopefully after the apology the Administration and CTU can get passed an outdated email that a full apology was given to now. Well done. - PublicServant - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:09 pm: Well one lie apologized for is a start. Kudos. - @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:14 pm: There is nothing about Rauner’s unfair and untrue email that would indicate that it was “hastily crafted”. He meant what he said, he never meant to get caught. – MrJM - Macbeth - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:17 pm: The key is to get more of these emails. I know Rauner used to send emails to MRE on a mailing list — a list that MRE begged to be removed from. The Rauner playbook is in these emails. Sleazy. - Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:17 pm: I assume Rauner didn’t believe any of these illiterate teachers, or an incompetent principle, occupied the school he clouted his daughter into, Walter Payton Prep. - Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:19 pm: Oops, “principal”, sorry. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:21 pm: I don’t absolve Rauner from his continued frontal assault on teachers, unions, Chicago, all those and the continued denied clouting of his Winnetka daughter… But here… Lance and the Governor did a solid. Good on them. - Trolling Troll - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:25 pm: He meant every word. He’s just sorry he got caught. He’s a poor excuse for a govener. - Pundent - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:29 pm: Okay. This doesn’t look good. But there is something positive to be found in this message. Rauner has clearly demonstrated an ability here to clearly articulate his beliefs in detail without any ambiguity. I was beginning to wonder if he had it in him. - Almost the Weekend - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:37 pm: This is not going to have any major effect on Rauner’s numbers. He’s already bottoming out. CPS teachers and majority of Chicago residents were never going to vote for him. Unfortunately, this probably plays well in the burbs and downstate. Rauner seemed like he made a sincere apology. However be nice to stop playing the civil war card of Chicago v. Everyone else. It’s not helping matters. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:38 pm: One more thing that Rauner and CTU disagree on developing a “consistent, rigorous, objective, understandable measure and reporting system for student growth upon which all further evaluation of performance will depend” CTU will protect ineffective teachers and favors pay based on years of service instead of effectiveness - JPC - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:41 pm: Sadly, I’m sure there were high-fives all around with no one saying: “Er, Bruce, aren’t you pulling stuff out of your hat?” It’s the Tribune.com commenter elected governor. That email list will undoubtedly contain many other such gems. - Ggeo - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:41 pm: I think everyone knows what emotion and point of view he was appealing to. And if you are saying this helps him in suburbia and downstate, you are saying that it is OK to appeal to that point of view. It’s not OK. Simple as that. - Rabid - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:44 pm: Perconceived misconceptions that everyone has can be changed if your willing. Okay you made a mistake lets move on and learn from it - Seymourkid - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:45 pm: I thought the governor didn’t use email? - Henry Francis - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:52 pm: You know it’s a big deal when it comes from Lance. Heck he even sent it out (as opposed to having poor ck send it out and attribute it to him). Good for the Guv’s team to own it and make a full apology. Maybe they are learning that over the top denigration of people who eventually you need to work with only makes the tough job tougher. - Pundent - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:55 pm: I have no doubt that upon reflection Rauner regrets saying this. I also have no doubt that he believed it then as he does now. Denying that would mean ignoring everything else that he’s said about CPS that supports this narrative. For that reason the apology rings hollow. - DuPage Dave - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:57 pm: Do I hear a whistling sound in that e-mail? Note that he couldn’t stop at “unqualified” or “unprepared” or “unskilled”- he had to go to “virtually illiterate”. Some stuff you can apologize for, and some stuff you can’t. I give Rauner no credit for the apology, which is half-hearted. Poor Rauner was so frustrated by the pace of reform, he had to slime thousands of teachers. He regrets, now, that they found out what he said. He says he’s sorry but why wait five years to say so? - Consideration - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:57 pm: The apology was required. What else is he going to say? “Yeah, I meant every word!”? This doesn’t change the fact he still believes what he said. How can we take this guy seriously? He’s the leader of our state and that includes our education system…and he thinks this of EDUCATED public servants in the middle of Chicago? I’m sure there are similar emails about state employees. This email and the others, if they come out, need to be plastered evrywhere!! - LizPhairTax - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:01 pm: Rich folk talking bad about the help is never a good look whether on the veranda back in the day or by email five years ago. - Jorge - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:11 pm: If only a type of rigorous evaluation system was in place for the governor and his staff. - Chi - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:22 pm: I’d imagine there’s more where that came from. The city’s foia office better hire some help. - Juvenal - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:23 pm: I am not sure your header is accurate, Rich. The - DuPage - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:28 pm: How Un-Rauner-like. - Juvenal - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:33 pm: The governor’s spokesperson apologized on his behalf for something he said as a private citizen. Kinda weird. Also doesn’t wring true. This idea it was kind of a heat of the moment. Not long ago he compared CPS to a prison system. what is also hard to ignore is that in a school district where half the teachers are minorities and half the principals are minorities, Rauner magically arrives at the figure that half are “illiterate” and “incompetent.” 57% have master’s degrees, but whatevs. You gotta wonder how someone with his track record of competence as governor could be so harsh to principals and teachers. His seething contempt for CPS ought to make clear to any doubters, Bruce Rauner long ago lost any hope that CPS can be reformed. He wants to burn it to the ground and start over. - unspun - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:33 pm: Teachers all over this state will take note. Let’s see if they galvanize and mobilize against Rauner Republicans. - Wensicia - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:35 pm: The message Rauner was trying to convey is that union backed workers are illiterate, incompetent, more or less substandard. Has anything he’s said since about AFSCME and CTU changed this opinion? Apology unacceptable. - Macbeth - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:40 pm: Post title not accurate. Rauner didn’t apologize. Spokesman did. For me — and maybe I’m in the minority — that’s a big, big difference. Rauner believes this. Just like he supports Trump — a man he despises. He’s head of the Illinois GOP, after all. Rauner is the weakest politician I’ve seen in many, many years. - walker - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:44 pm: Good job Lance Trover. Bruce Rauner, figure out what you actually believe, and why you said what you did. - Focus on the issue - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:50 pm: ‘Virtually illiterate’ is clearly hyperbolic, but the factual measure is disturbing enough: “the average for teachers across the state increased from 20.98 to 21.16″ http://www.siue.edu/ierc/publications/pdf/IERC2008-1.pdf - Biker - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:53 pm: 1- You can’t issue an apology through a spokesman’s email. Apologies are done in person using vocal chords. 2- “Half of teachers are virtually illiterate” is exactly what he meant. Believe someone when they tell you who they are. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 7:55 pm: - Focus on the issue - A 21 or 20… … is not an illiterate person. You aren’t helping. You are also clueless. - Daniel Plainview - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:06 pm: “The statements do not reflect my character or feelings toward public school teachers and principals.” Oh, please. - Tibicen - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:06 pm: The hateful lies were hateful lies five years ago. If Bruce Rainer had apologized for his comments five years ago his apology may have been sincere and acceptable. Having an official spokesman apologize for his actions after he got caught is not an apology. Having the official spokesman accuse “many of us” of doing the same thing negates any attempt at sincerity. - Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:10 pm: Rauner has contempt for the “little people”, reminiscent of Romney`s 47% speech. - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:14 pm: Will he run a multimillion dollar campaign saying “oops, these guys actually are important”? Probably not. More flip flop to keep voters informed with misinformation. And he “despises” how Trump does business. No acceptable words left. - JackD - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:18 pm: Why did it take five years for an apology? I don’t suppose there was anything political about it. - Sue - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:19 pm: Maybe he was s little off. Just kidding. But CPS problems are real with or without the hyperbole - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:21 pm: Prenotification for upcoming deleted message: - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:35 pm: “Many of us, at one time or another, have sent hastily crafted emails containing inaccurate or intemperate statements” Way to man up Lance. - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 8:45 pm: “Unfair, untrue statements” = lies. “Rauner apologizes for LYINg in old e - mail” -better - Freed - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:03 pm: Illiterate collectivist. - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 9:48 pm: OW-6:21 That was no solid. He got backed into a corner, probably got early warning on the ILRB outcome. You give these guys too much credit. Escape mode is what is happening. Soon, we’ll see he’s ready to come back to the table with AFSCME. Better than losing, I suppose. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:17 pm: ===That was no solid. He got backed into a corner, probably got early warning on the ILRB outcome. You give these guys too much credit=== If there’s one thing I am… It’s a Rauner apologist. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:19 pm: –* The good news is that Rauner’s spokesman Lance Trover apologized, which is a highly unusual move…– Are you kidding me? I really can’t believe that. The governor’s comments were misanthropic, misogynstic and racist as the day is long. A blind man can see that. And some lightweight like Lance babbles some nice-nice, and we should forget about it? Gov. Rauner is clearly under the impression that most Chicago educators are working-stiff black women (not really, but he’s clueless on a lot of things). The governor unloaded as to what he thinks of working-class, black professional women. Who can’t read. And he has no respect for them, whatsoever. Because he’s so smart. For crying out loud, who gets to pretend that we’re kids here, and we don’t know what he meant? Why should we do that? To what end? You get a pass on calling Chicago School teachers “virtually illterate” because some hack like Lance makes a weak attempt at an apology? (By the way, Lance — no game). How dare you. I’m a 52-year-old white man from Corn Country, born and raised. Do you think I don’t know what this talk is all about? Like I’m an idiot? In the context of all the actions this governor has taken, putting the wrecking ball to the state, for his narcisistic, weirdo jones? I’m my parents’ son. They, and their generation and those before, built this state. I’m invested as much in this state as Griff or Uline. Like Lincoln investment, like Jane Addams investment.. Ain’t no dilletante misanthrope gonna turn me around. And he ain’t gonna get a pass on his misanthropy from me, either. - TD - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:45 pm: Don’t be sorry. Be sorry before you do the thing and then don’t do it. - Newsclown - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:47 pm: I agree that apologies of this type don’t count unless delivered in person, by the offender. - Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 10:51 pm: I’m wondering if any of the recipients of that e-mail wrote back to Rauner and told him he was being “unfair, untrue.” In particular, the then-future Mrs. Lucas, who has been getting her bread well-buttered by millions of dollars in fees paid to Ariel Investments by the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund. - PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 11:14 pm: OW- I don’t mind apologies for honest mistakes. This is something else. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 11:26 pm: ===mind apologies for honest mistakes. This is something else.=== For me, this is what it is… As a stand-alone apology, and admitting it was wrong, that gesture, I say good on both Lance and Rauner. Also, not mutually exclusive, the email reinforces, without any doubt, a continued lack of respect for teachers, specifically CTU teachers, and CPS. I’m not naive to that continued disrespect, and I’m one of many that continues to make a point of Rauner’s distain for CPS, CTU and the hypocrisy of Rauner clouting his denied daughter to be taught in CPS and be taught by CTU teachers. If anything, my frustration with Rauner and his “agenda-izing” and politicizing Raunerite wants, this old email cristalizes how deep Rauner holds these beliefs. However, these two, as I said, aren’t mutually exclusive. How often does Rauner apologize? It’s “rare” at the rarist of rare on the scale. That act, no matter the why, or the circumstances, I feel need to be recognized, in hopes that a continuation of self-awareness in real life continues… and maybe a realization that being Governor has him realize his words matter now… and those words are just plain wrong. With respect - OW - Anon - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 11:26 pm: But Karen Lewis has been unapologetic in calling Rauner an ISIS terrorist recruit. - FirstTimer - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 6:31 am: When I have done something wrong it is usually me who goes to the person to apologize, not my wife. Not for sure how some of you are giving kudos for some messenger man to apologize. Many of you talk about don’t kill the messenger wouldn’t this kind of be reversed. I say if the Governor is truly sorry then he should be the one to call a press conference and apologize. He doesn’t have a problem with having press conferences. - Flynn's mom - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 7:32 am: Unbelievable…..the apology not the email! - pundent - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 7:46 am: First Timer - Individuals apologize, staff does damage control. That’s what this is. - Tired of the Circus - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 8:24 am: Rather than apologize for the words that were said, apologize for the true feelings they transmit . - Conn Smythe - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 8:35 am: Wondering if Rahm’s lawyers fought this release purely because that Rauner grenade was embedded in there. Nothing in the rest of those BBB emails is salacious. - Anonymous - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 8:50 am: When you get caught, what else is there to say but sorry? He meant every word. He feels contempt for just about everyone but his wealthy cronies. And that means everyone but his wealthy cronies. Character flaw(s). - Focus on the issue - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 9:11 am: OW- Perhaps you are delighted with ‘teachers’ with that limited baseline educating our children. That’s your right. I am not. If ignorance is the enemy, you don’t kill it by shooting blanks http://youtu.be/hG-V3k_Xl2s - JS Mill - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 9:32 am: =Also, not mutually exclusive, the email reinforces, without any doubt, a continued lack of respect for teachers, specifically CTU teachers, and CPS. I’m not naive to that continued disrespect, and I’m one of many that continues to make a point of Rauner’s distain for CPS, CTU and the hypocrisy of Rauner clouting his denied daughter to be taught in CPS and be taught by CTU teachers. If anything, my frustration with Rauner and his “agenda-izing” and politicizing Raunerite wants, this old email cristalizes how deep Rauner holds these beliefs.= OW- With this I totally agree with you. It is absolutely correct and could be further applied to public workers and social services as well. His disdain is obvious. Where I differ, to a degree, is that fact that a surrogate (Lance Trover) actually apologized on his behalf. Rare as that is, it wasn’t the governor apologizing. It may, in fact, be the same thing. The two voices one in the same. But, most of us who believe in personal accountability are accustomed to doing our own “owning up” for our mistakes etc. I get the governor cannot always be present to speak on his behalf, that is why they have folks like Lance Trover. On this one, Lance should have put it in the governor’s words or the governor should have personally addressed it. Just my opinion. Splitting hairs, but it goes to character and personal accountability. - Justacitizen - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 9:39 am: “When your’re wrong you should just say so.” Eric Church-”3 Year Old” We’ve all said things out of frustration that we shouldn’t have. This was 5 yrs ago. We can all learn from a 3 yr-old - Snucka - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 9:55 am: ==- Anon2U - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:06 pm: Wonder what Madigan’s emails to Rham say?== You really think Madigan puts stuff like this in writing? Or sends emails, for that matter? - Jimmy H - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 10:03 am: IllinoisGO folds then this. Are they connected? - TD - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 10:03 am: Rauner’s opinion of teachers and CPS hasn’t changed since then, so the apology is worthless on multiple levels. This is lip service of the lowest kind. Why do the wealthy, who don’t have advanced degrees or actual experience in the education field, think they are justified in determining education policies? - Anonymous - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 10:10 am: TD Money - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 10:29 am: Oh “- Focus on the issue”, LOL! The issue is the utter contempt and disrespect Rauner has for educators. Do try to keep up, lol - Johnnie F. - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 10:31 am: Why do the wealthy, who don’t have advanced degrees or actual experience in the education field, think they are justified in determining education policies? Because they always believe they are paying “the help” too much. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 10:50 am: - JS Mill - It’s all good. No worries on my end. Appreciate your thoughts. OW - Mama - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 2:56 pm: == @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Jul 21, 16 @ 6:14 pm: “He meant what he said, he never meant to get caught.” MrJM, you are 100% correct. Rauner never thought his email would see the light of day. == - Mama - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 3:01 pm: “The statements do not reflect my character or feelings toward public school teachers and principals.” However, it does reflect your feelings toward public education and unions. - Huh? - Friday, Jul 22, 16 @ 3:32 pm: “Rauner never thought his email would see the light of day.” If you want something to never see the light of way, NEVER put it in writing and certainly not in an email. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.