Somebody’s fee-fees are hurt
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Illinois Policy Institute is apparently miffed with the media’s coverage of its “documentary” on Speaker Madigan. Click here, and here.
I offered to buy the original of the cartoon about me, but I was rebuffed. Too bad, even though the image looks a lot more like Rick Pearson than me (just kidding, Pearson). [Adding: I’m now told that they’re working on an arrangement, which is fine by me as long as the price is reasonable because I have a spot for it in my office.]
* Here’s the latest story…
Edwin Bender, executive director of the Montana-based National Institute on Money in State Politics, said this is the first he’s heard of a social welfare group producing this type of documentary at the state level.
But Bender said it’s a natural extension of other activities these groups have engaged in across the country, including campaign-style tactics such as opening field offices, knocking on doors, sending out mailers and making phone calls.
“Any (social welfare group) that says it’s nonpartisan … that’s the letter of the law, but their activities belie that, whether it’s conservative or liberal,” Bender said. “(These groups) are designed to be involved in elections.”
The organizations typically argue that they’re advocating on issues, not doing election work, he said.
“That’s a thinly veiled excuse for being involved in electioneering,” Bender said. “They’re conforming to the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law has long ago vanished.”
- Linus - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:08 pm:
That cartoon depicts neither Miller nor Pearson. It’s Dusty Hill from ZZ Top.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
Aw…
I think they’re also miffed that John Kass admitted his co-conspirator role.
Nothing like a member of the media you allegedly interviewed in an alleged “unbiased” way and that prop decides to drop the dime and say he, Kass, was in on the phony work.
I may click the video another 26,000 times for 3 seconds to really gin up those views.
The IPI is as phony as if the INN reported the IPI… isn’t phony.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
I must admit that Eric Allie is a pretty good cartoonist.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
So you’re still going with the charade that you and Pearson are two different people.
- AC - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
Rich, you’ve done a poor job at outreach to propagandists.
- AC - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:28 pm:
It’s difficult to get too angry with the IPI when the lovably ironic, hipster approved, Madigan Obey makes another appearance.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:28 pm:
I don’t get it. What’s Burl ives doing in a cartoon about Illinois politics?
- Earnest - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
I liked the way the cartoon depicted Rauner as an iceberg, hiding 90% of what he is doing and wants to do under the surface.
- Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
If they’d only zoom out on the cartoon a little, it’d be easier to see that the iceberg’s name is “Bruce.”
- Dome Gnome - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:31 pm:
Jinks, Earnest, but I guess we’re just stating the obvious!
- Keyser Soze - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:34 pm:
It did look like Pearson.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 4:49 pm:
You know you’ve made it when you become a cartoon produced by an opponent.
- Yiddishcowboy - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 5:13 pm:
Hilarious lede! “fee-fees, ha! I’ll have to use that one on my wife. Well, on second thought, better not.
- filmmakerprof - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 5:27 pm:
Calling something a documentary doesn’t make it one. One of the most important concepts I drill into my students’ heads is that not everything that is non-fiction is a documentary. Propaganda can be — and often is — non-fiction too.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 6:11 pm:
Why would IPI be offended by the word “propaganda” to describe their efforts? Are they still playing the independent, non-partisan grift?
Which of these applicable definitions from Websters does not describe what they do?
2. the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
3 ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect.
Is that not what they do, their whole purpose in getting up and going to the office every day?
Would IPI have us believe that they hired a Texas ad firm do create a video on Madigan without the express purpose of causing political harm to Madigan and advancing Rauner?
Told those Texans, “here’s some money, let’s see what you come up with, on your own.”
Why would they expect anyone to believe that? It’s just weird. An AFSCME-produced video on Rauner would most assuredly be propaganda, and be recognized as such.
Perhaps if IPI revealed their donors — who and how much — that would provide evidence to sell the independent, non-partisan gag.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 7:07 pm:
Rich, your particular cartoon’s not posted there yet, but the Policy Institute’s cartoonist sells reprint rights to his stuff for $3.50: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/artist/Eric+Allie.html
- Just Me - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 8:11 pm:
Rich, I love how you have a healthy sense of humor about this whole thing. Good for you.
- Mama Retired - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 8:32 pm:
Propaganda can be — and often is — fictional.
I fixed it for ya.
- The_Equalizer - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:21 pm:
How very Trump-ish; caught in a mistruth or deception, don’t show shame, attack the people that point out the fib.
- HRC2016 - Tuesday, Sep 27, 16 @ 9:40 pm:
Donna Arduin is listed as a Senior Fellow. Could it be the same “superstar” Donna Arduin? /snark
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 1:20 am:
HRC, Donna is one of a kind. #SuperStar
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 6:05 am:
===They’re conforming to the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law has long ago vanished.===
Laws are for the unwashed masses.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 8:48 am:
There’s icebergs in lake Springfield?
- TinyDancer(FKA Sue) - Wednesday, Sep 28, 16 @ 11:00 am:
You should sue ‘em, Rich.