* We talked yesterday about Chris Kennedy’s latest fundraising e-mail. Kennedy decried “party insiders” who want him out of the race.
Kennedy talked to reporters yesterday and expounded a bit…
Asked Monday if he believed Democratic leadership was working against him and aligning behind Pritzker, Kennedy warned against creating a political party that won’t allow dissent.
“I think there are elements within the Democratic Party that would like to have someone fight their battle for them. I’m not among them. I believe you look back at the great history of the United States and the progress that’s been made, it always occurred when people fought for themselves,” Kennedy told reporters. “I think we’re at an impasse like that now in our state. And if people think that they can get somebody else to fight their battle for them and have a good outcome, they’re wrong.”
Kennedy pointed to Rauner’s influence on the Republican Party, which the governor heavily funds, and the reluctance of GOP lawmakers and officeholders to break ranks.
“One of the worst things that Gov. Rauner has done is to silence his own party. None of the state reps, none of the state senators, none of the constitutional officers have spoken up against him. None have spoken out. And we don’t want to replicate that system in the Democratic Party as well.”
* I asked Kennedy about his e-mailed claim that the state has “a property tax system that can’t be abused by the wealthy and insiders.” Was he referring to people like Speaker Madigan? His reply…
“I don’t think this is about individuals. I think this is about a whole network that makes it nearly impossible to see integrity in the system for the average voter, the average taxpayer. Having faith in government, understanding that government can be an ally, understanding that government can function at a higher level is something that occurs in other states. We don’t have that here because people don’t believe that the system is just or rid of corruption. We need to rid it of corruption by changing the system.”
* Raw audio…
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 11:57 am:
Kennedy wants to be seen as an outsider but he’s terrified of criticizing Madigan. Could that be because his lawyer is Mike Kasper and he has many Madigan loyalists on his team? Inquiring minds want to know…
- Downstate Dem - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 12:01 pm:
Kennedy on Rauner and the property tax system = good stuff.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
===Kennedy on Rauner and the property tax system = good stuff.===
Kennedy said nothing about the property tax system but s word salad, never addressing the question presented.
That’s so 1960.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
Wow, between this and the reaction at Chicago State’s graduation, people really are fed up with systems! If only those systems were composed of individual people, or something. /s
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
So the Repubs are afraid of speaking against Rauner but the Dems are not adverse to speaking against Madigan? Not sure if i should laugh or choke. This is why the whole system is despicable in Illinois. Very few are willing to speak the truth.
- downstate dem - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 1:47 pm:
kennedy’s not afraid to speak the truth to entrenched property tax systems rigged for the elite - first step is acknowledging a problem exists
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
Kennedy won’t say boo to Madigan. He understands that Madigan is the “man” but he’s not willing to beat the man to be the man. So he’ll punch on the contenders while avoiding the real fight.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, May 16, 17 @ 9:12 pm:
I want a governor who isn’t going to smile crazily and talk like he’s governing the Magic Kingdom.
I also want a big boy who’s not afraid of telling me the truth.
Kennedy is trying too hard. Either speak out and stand for something or go home.