Unofficial GOP site calls itself “official”
Thursday, Apr 13, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bernie reported the other day on a “mystery website” called RealGOPIllinois.com, which bills itself as “the official news site for real Republicans.” But it’s not an official Republican Party website and nobody knows who’s really behind it…
The site is professional-looking, with items presented as news stories and a solicitation for tips. […]
Its creators aren’t making it easy to find out, either. A computer expert at my newspaper tells me there’s no easy way to track the origin of the site because its domain was registered anonymously. An address listed at the bottom of the group’s email is in Champaign, but turned out to be a UPS store. An employee there said they do rent mailboxes.
The group name doesn’t turn up in the Illinois State Board of Elections, but it appears to have started a Facebook page recently. […]
“We are just a group of everyday citizens who are upset with the Democrat Party and how they’ve ruined this state,” the response stated. “We are also upset with the Illinois GOP and Gov. (BRUCE) RAUNER. We all voted for Bruce Rauner in 2014 even though some of us were very unsure about him because of his history. Two years in, we’re disappointed in Gov. Rauner and the Illinois GOP. … With the debt mounting, taxpayers will probably be on the hook for even more and the politicians won’t care. … Gov. Rauner spends millions making sure his own people win GOP primaries and destroying other Republican candidates just because he can. Isn’t that what (House Speaker MICHAEL) MADIGAN does?”
The response also called the website a “free speech zone” and said “Republicans are afraid to criticize (Rauner) because of the money he can spend attacking people. Illinois won’t survive Mike Madigan or Bruce Rauner if we don’t stand up and speak out (about) what both political parties and their henchmen are doing now.”
The folks behind the site have posted a new video ham-handedly attempting to directly link Gov. Rauner to Bill Cellini. Needs better music.
- Roman - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
Mr. Kelly, care to comment?
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:53 pm:
===the Democrat Party and how…”===
Well, at least we know they’re not Democrats.
- G'Kar - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 1:58 pm:
OW?
With tongue in cheek as I have the utmost respect for OW.
- Whatever - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:00 pm:
==attempting to directly link Gov. Rauner to Bill Cellini==
So the Governor really made his billions leasing nursing homes to the state?
- walker - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:02 pm:
Hmm. Which Republicans have been really burned by Bruce?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:09 pm:
- G’Kar -
I’m not that “talented” to go after Rauner by using Slytherin tactics. My brain cells work better than that thought process.
Thank you for thinking of me, it’s actually a funny but by you.
OW
- William J Kelly - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:16 pm:
I would comment but unfortunately I have been banned for life.
- RR - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:25 pm:
No where does it say anything about being official…nor is the work official used anywhere. Bern is a flaming liberal. If it were the Dems he wouldn’t even care. The guy reeks of liberalism.
- RR - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:26 pm:
*word
- Hamilton - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:27 pm:
Clever, but website traffic to that site has hit its peak today with reference from CapFax. If you’re really a Republican, upset, and you have some demands, then spend the time launching a primary candidate.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:28 pm:
- G’Kar -
I meant that humbly, and with great respect.
To the Post,
This “GOP” group with “Democrat Party” and using purity as it’s ideal against Rauner, they aren’t helping. If they are “against” Rauner for “whatever”… and then, in the same breath… are about “purity”, they have no idea about party versus “religion” when discussing or understanding politics.
You can be against Rauner because of the damage he personally inflicting on Illinois, or “whatever”, but purity versus the “Reagan Rule”, they’re missing the whole point.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
That last video was really something. The drone view of the warehouse was kinda cool. Iirc, the buddies picture of Rauner and Cellini, also featuring Big Bob “Escape to Sea Island” Kjellander, was taken by the J-R at a Sangamon County R’s event where Rauner ripped Cellini personally while the guy is sitting right in front of him.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
===If it were the Dems he wouldn’t even care.===
If the Democrats ever create an official, modern and functioning web page, it’ll be front page news. You can’t parody something that doesn’t exist. Lol.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
Let’s be clear there are no ties between DopeyDuct and Cellini….Frank Vala the “watchdog” installed over procurement knows neither man. That’s what we call fully shaken
- WhoKnew - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 3:49 pm:
Hey, my kid played on Cellini’s BB team.
Even while he was in jail.
Don’t wanna hear nothing bad about Bill,
cause we already said it years ago!/s absolutely!!!
- Jefferson - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
Looked at the site and it doesn’t say official.
- train111 - Thursday, Apr 13, 17 @ 5:54 pm:
May not be an official site, but its take on GOP legislators being as beholden to Rauner’s money or threat thereof and their comment that nothing will change as long as nobody stands up to both Madigan and Rauner are spot on.