* Dan Mihalopoulos on a controversy involving political consultant Hanah Jubeh…
Her role as chief fundraiser for Chris Kennedy’s campaign is putting Jubeh in direct conflict with longtime colleagues in the labor movement who want J.B. Pritzker to get the Democratic nomination in the March primary.
The tensions between Jubeh and her one-time friends and allies erupted into public view this week. In its newsletter published Tuesday, the Illinois AFL-CIO — which has endorsed Pritzker — took a highly unusual cheap shot at Jubeh.
“Kennedy’s campaign has been plagued with poor fundraising and no-show appearances, which has stalled the campaign,” according to an unsigned, lead article in the Illinois AFL-CIO newsletter. “Hanah Jubeh of P2 Consulting is senior advisor and fundraiser for the Kennedy campaign. Based on past political campaigns, combined with this campaign, many people, especially within the Illinois labor movement, are seriously questioning her abilities to manage statewide campaigns.”
Jubeh told me Thursday that the personal attack on her in the newsletter was “unprecedented,” but it echoed pressure she has faced privately since joining the Kennedy campaign. […]
Jubeh says she believes sexism is behind this criticism.
Other Kennedy campaign consultants who are men have worked with labor unions before this race, including Kennedy’s pollster and the guy producing his campaign ads. Unlike Jubeh, the men on the Kennedy campaign have not faced the same sort of attacks from labor.
“Why did [IL AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan] single me out, a female in leadership?” Jubeh says. “He knows he can only bully a female. If I was a guy, this would be a non-issue.
* OK, as I’ve been saying for months and as I told subscribers again this morning (I also worked on this story), the Kennedy campaign’s most fundamental problem is its fundraising. His pollster and his media consultant are not the problem over there. The real issue is money, meaning the lack of it.
Heck, even Kennedy’s own campaign finance chairman admitted that the second quarter fundraising results were “lousy”…
“It was a bad quarter, no question about it,” Daley told me.
Kennedy raised $704,000 during that quarter. During the next quarter, he raised about $800,000 from others. Something simply has to change over there. And since she’s his chief fundraiser, that’s her turf, even though I would blame the candidate more because it’s his job to burn up the phones. And she has had success raising money for others, including Sen. Kwame Raoul.
* But, words do matter. Here’s the full passage from the AFL-CIO newsletter…
While Pritzker builds momentum, his rivals for the Democratic Party nomination are struggling to gain any traction. Chris Kennedy has had two straight quarters of subpar fundraising, including injecting $250,000 of his own money in to boost the totals.
Kennedy’s campaign has been plagued with poor fundraising and no-show appearances which has stalled the campaign. Hanah Jubeh of P2 Consulting is Senior Advisor and fundraiser for the Kennedy Campaign. Based on past political campaigns combined with this campaign many people, especially within the Illinois labor movement, are seriously questioning her abilities to manage statewide campaigns.
The organization should’ve focused its attack on Kennedy without naming staff because it’s now opened itself up to public criticism. Bad move and understandably seen as sexist. Frankly, I was shocked to see it in the newsletter late Wednesday night when somebody sent it to me. They should apologize, or at the very least knock it off. When just five members of your 35-member executive board are women, you need to tread much more carefully.
* You can go back to the Sun-Times story for other responses, but something important was left out of this react…
[Chicago Federation of Labor Ramirez President Jorge Ramirez] didn’t want to comment on the remarks in the AFL-CIO newsletter. Although the CFL is supporting Pritzker for governor, Ramirez vouches for Jubeh.
“Hanah has done good work for us over the past 10 years,” Ramirez says. “I’d be dishonest to tell you otherwise.”
* From her Twitter account…
* The full statement from the CFL, with emphasis added by me…
Hanah Jubeh has worked for the CFL in various capacities for nearly a decade. While Hanah no longer directs the political work for the CFL, she continues to provide logistical support and planning for non-political events. I’d be less than honest if I didn’t acknowledge Hanah’s contributions to our organizational and public policy successes.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:31 am:
I don’t know if that knock can be attributed to sexism on the part of AFL-CIO, but it sure was in poor taste and completely unnecessary.
- TopHatMonocle - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:35 am:
After reading the whole article, I get the sense that she was being strongly pressured to drop Kennedy as a client. Someone obviously took it personally that she wouldn’t. Good for her for sticking up for herself.
- Saputo's Back Room - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:35 am:
Just the latest chapter in the shadow campaign waged by Speaker Madigan and J.B. Pritzker’s union backers (at the urging of Madigan) to undermine and destroy the campaigns of mainly Kennedy, but also the other Dems running for governor. More to come, I’m sure.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:36 am:
My guess is the “unsigned” author has a personal beef with Jubeh.
That person is not advancing the unions’ interests by using its publication to pursue that beef.
- Fax Machine - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:37 am:
If Kennedy showing up late to an event is sexist, then this is sexist too.
- JoeMaddon - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:37 am:
First, this was an incredibly low blow from Carrigan/AFL. Totally unacceptable. Totally inappropriate. I’m extremely disappointed in Carrigan here.
Second, this was absolutely sexist, and we would have never seen this happen if Hanah Jubeh was a guy.
- PatchAdams - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:37 am:
Without Hanah, Robin Kelly is not a Congresswoman. 100% truth
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:38 am:
=== 100% truth===
Um, I think a guy with the last name of Bloomberg had a little something to do with that.
- City Zen - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:39 am:
“If I was a guy, this would be a non-issue.”
Thereby succinctly summarizing the lack of diversity in labor union leadership.
- Fax Machine - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:42 am:
One of the ironies of this campaign is that Hannah helped Biss raise 7 figures for his non-run for Comptroller, money that he is now using for his Gubernatorial race against Kennedy.
- FIREDup! - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:43 am:
Labor bullying a female peer?? NO!!! They would NEVER do that!! There’s no sexism in Unions!!
Please…
- Perrid - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:45 am:
I’d agree that it seems VERY personal, but nothing in it seems sexist. Someone has a problem with her, and while that problem might have its roots in sexism that is very much speculation.
- Reality Check - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:46 am:
@City Zen put away your broad brush. The leaders of several of the largest and most influential unions in Illinois are women (Chicago teachers, IEA, SEIU 73, AFSCME, nurses).
- Arsenal - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:47 am:
The AFL-CIO’s problems with Jubeh predate this campaign by several years.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:54 am:
The AFLCIO newsletter isn’t wrong - seen this with her in countless campaigns, but good Lord why say it in print.
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 11:59 am:
One more example of the thuggish tactics of organized labor that frequently has to dodge allegations of racism and sexism.
- Responsa - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:02 pm:
I don’t pretend to know if it was “sexist” or not because–unlike many people (sarc)– I am unable to look into the hearts and souls of other people who publicly make unfortunate and poorly considered statements such as was put in this newsletter. But even a casual observer can see that it was a cheap shot and a highly personal and unnecessary attack by AFL-CIO which reflects poorly on their endorsement of the Pritzker campaign.
- ste_with_a_v_en - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
I’m sure this won’t come back to bite Prtizker
- City Zen - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:07 pm:
@Reality Check - You may want to review the non-public sector side of the AFL-CIO ledger.
- Brilly - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
Identity politics in a fight with labor union politics. Don’t mind if I do pull up a seat and hope this one goes the full 15 rounds.
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
–thuggish tactics–
Websters
Thuggish, adj., characterized by violent behavior.
You are quite the delicate daisy, LP.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:23 pm:
==understandably seen as sexist==
Why didn’t you extend this logic to the relentless undermining of Rasmussen when she was chief of staff? Much, much worse than “questioning her abilities.” Not to mention all the women in the comms shop. Your concern rings hollow.
- cdog - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:25 pm:
As a woman that has been dealing with sexism as long as I can remember, it’s part of the territory. And actually some of my more righteous fights in my professional life have been neutralizing sexist tyrants.
But this doesn’t rise to sexism. Just because you’re criticized, and you’re a woman, doesn’t establish a sexism link. This is ridiculous fragility.
If you can’t run with the big dogs, get your pup butt back on the porch.
- The Captain - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:26 pm:
Hannah deserved better than this.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:42 pm:
Uh, if this is sexist what are these?
https://twitter.com/RadicalCandorIL/status/917787763067576321
https://twitter.com/RadicalCandorIL/status/916674229835304963
https://twitter.com/RadicalCandorIL/status/916390891849383936
https://twitter.com/RadicalCandorIL/status/916367333572206592
- King of the Hill - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:43 pm:
The head of the AFL-CIO sends a message to Hannah. This is not unusual.
- cdog - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:45 pm:
I’ve a comment stuck in the filters.
This is not sexism.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:53 pm:
If the Illinois AFL-CIO is already endorsing Pritzker why does the newsletter writer care if Jubeh is incompetent or not? Not saying she is or isn’t. She might not have much to work with.
- Swift - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
I’m not sure I get the sexism aspect of this…
==“Why did [IL AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan] single me out, a female in leadership?” ==
Could she be singled out solely because she is in leadership? As a cynical criticizer myself, leadership is usually a good place to start with criticism.
Unless there is more to this story, anyone who holds themselves out as a “professional fundraiser” and the fundraising is “lousy” is going to be, and should be, subject to criticism.
- Fixer - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
First, reading the statement at face value (and having no clue who she was prior to this article) it seems like an unnecessary pot shot at someone who isn’t running for any office. Be it a woman or a man, it was uncalled for and frankly tactless.
Second, AFL-CIO has bigger things to be concerned with right now that Kennedy’s fundraiser. They need to focus on those things.
Third, whoever wrote the letter needs to come forward and own up to it. She’s owed an apology for this, no questions asked.
- Roman - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:09 pm:
I don’t care if Jubeh is the most incompetent staffer in the history of campaigning (she not,) this is petty inside baseball stuff that has no business in a union newsletter. Just stupid.
The state fed is going to have some real damage control to do if Kennedy wins the nomination.
- Century Club - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
==If the Illinois AFL-CIO is already endorsing Pritzker why does the newsletter writer care if Jubeh is incompetent or not?==
This is punishment or axe-grinding. Her employablility as a consultant goes down if people believe she (a) can’t raise money, or (b) labor won’t answer her phone calls (much less if the Democratic establishment won’t).
If they wanted to hurt Kennedy, they’d have said “even with Jubeh and Daley on board, Kennedy still can’t raise money.”
- Alternative Logic - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:17 pm:
It’s not clear to me from the article why this was sexism as opposed to bullying, crowbarring or just being on the receiving end of an allegedly antagonist jerk. (This ain’t bean bag, as they say.)
The recipient of untoward, immoral or illegal conduct gets the benefit of the doubt; but just to label potentially hardball or grassbowl conduct as “sexism” without an explanation or backstory leads to this kind of unnecessary speculation, which can be unhelpful to what is a serious problem in our society.
- Juvenal - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:21 pm:
So, seems like Hanah needs to update her Twitter profile?
@Roman- No, Kennedy is gonna have some real damage control to do if he wins the nomination. Letting your consultants accuse the AFL-CIO of being sexist in a newspaper is not a great way to make friends. If Kennedy was truly offended and truly thought it was sexist and uncalled for, he should have picked the phone up and called Carrigan.
“You are with JB, but I hope you will be with me in the general. You ever have any differences with me on the issues, I am always happy to talk: here is my cell phone. If you want to criticize my campaign, the buck stops st my desk, nowhere else, and the same will be true when I am governor. So stop going after my staff and my consultants, okay?”
- JoeMaddon - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
Still no comments from Pritzker or Carrigan?
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
When a staff story starts to overshadow your candidates story it means your candidate is not compelling enough anymore to garner real press.
No one wrote about Kennedy’s bad fundraising because he’s becoming an also-ran with those numbers. They did write about Hanah and her fight with labor because that’s more compelling than Chris Kennedy. Not a good sign towards winning.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
Nobody wins this fight. Really dumb to put something like that in a newsletter. You can think it. You can say it to your friends and colleagues. But you don’t send that to the printer or hit “send” on the e-mail.
Criticize the campaign, no need to single out staffers.
- What The What - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 1:58 pm:
Kennedy’s numbers have been awful. Hanah is his fundraiser. That she chose to highlight that by talking to the press is ridiculous. A staffer should never make themselves the center of attention.
Also, why would she want to highlight a feud with the AFL? Why would Kwame be ok with that? Bad blood happens in politics. Leave it. Move on. Let your work speak for you. She put a lot of people in difficult positions by choosing to talk to the press about it.
Carrigan can be petty and small, but why elevate a dumb attack that is read by a small group of people to something that’s in the Sun Times? Bad for her candidate. And bad for her business.
- Just Observing - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 2:07 pm:
I don’t know if it’s sexist, but it was totally inappropriate and uncalled for. The AFL-CIO owes her an apology.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 2:08 pm:
They have been painting Kennedy’s campaign as disorganized since it started. Repeat the lie enough, it becomes truth.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 3:04 pm:
Interested on Rich’s opinion of the Radical Candor tweets above. I have little good to say about Ives, Rasmussen, but those tweets cross the line way more than the union release. Jeez.
- Reality Check - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 3:36 pm:
@City Zen 12:07 You may want to review your comment to which I was responding. You made a false claim about union leadership. I showed how your sweeping generalization is wrong.
- City Zen - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 3:55 pm:
@Reality Check - Union leadership, especially on the non-public side, is dominated by white males. Is the VP of the Illinois AFL-CIO a woman? Or even been?
Sweeping generalization vs sweeping under the rug: Both cause a lot of dust.
- RealLife - Friday, Oct 13, 17 @ 4:37 pm:
Jubeh does not seem great at her job, but this attack is completely uncalled for and reflects poorly on the AFL CIO and JB campaign using newsletters as campaign propaganda.
The newsletter also states that Kennedy is getting no traction, which only has to be said when your candidate(JB) has spent 20 million and still isn’t ahead in the polls. Sad really.