“This is the Republican Party, not the mob”
Friday, Oct 27, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As you’ll recall, the ILGOP kicked out a Chicago GOP staffer from its office this week because the city party chairman is helping Rep. Jeanne Ives gear up to run against Gov. Rauner. City chairman Chris Cleveland wrote to the IL GOP’s State Central Committee this week and Illinois Review published it. Here’s an excerpt…
Four years ago, we ran candidates across the city for the purpose of generating enthusiasm and volunteers for phone calls and door knocks. In close coordination with the Rauner campaign, we flooded their offices with volunteers and executed 363,000 voter contacts, 263,000 of which were door knocks. We were able to raise Rauner’s vote in Chicago to 20.63%, just a hair above the magic 20% threshold. And he won.
If Rauner is on the ballot this fall, this won’t happen. Not because we wouldn’t want to; we’re loyal Republicans and Rauner over Pritzker would be an easy choice. It won’t happen because the state party has consistently undermined our efforts to recruit here, and because there is zero enthusiasm for this governor. Even prior to HB 40, we couldn’t get people to sign his petition.
It’s past time for the state central committee to step in and right the ship. First, I ask that you prevail upon Bruce Rauner to stop the petty retribution. This is the Republican Party, not the mob, and it’s time for them to grow up.
Second, I ask that you consider separating the state party apparatus from the Rauner campaign. They are acting as one and the same, but our party is bigger than Bruce, and we have broader concerns than his personal well-being. Notably, we need to take back the House, and we have two very viable candidates for state rep in Chicago, both of whom *might actually win*. A party must support such activities.
- John Rawlsss - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
Chris Cleveland is a troll. Has done nothing for the Chicago GOP but put up a lousy sign that he had to take down. He’s one to talk.
- blue dog dem - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
Well done baked bread…..
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 3:59 pm:
===Second, I ask that you consider separating the state party apparatus from the Rauner campaign. They are acting as one and the same===
Where. Have. You. Been.
LOL
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
Raunerism.
They bought the GOP.
Get over it.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
Cleveland is correct.
Few support this failed governor.
It’s better to lose with a real Republican than it is to win with a failed one.
- LuckyCharms - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:03 pm:
Glad to see some Reps are seeing the true cost of selling their party. Reality is Rauner is not beholden to ILGOP, but they are to him. Chris Cleveland et al were happy to take Rauner and super PAC money when it was convenient, but should have realized it was never free.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
A Governor controls his respective Party apparatus? Shocking.
- Fax Machine - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
Does dumdum actually believe Rauner got over 20% in the city because of the sacrificial lambs he found to run for state rep or Congress 4 years ago? Can anyone name one of those candidates? The inly State Rep to win in Chicago in recent memory is Mike McAuliffe and that was a Rauner operation - I don’t remember any Chicago GOP bufoons helping out there.
- Rabid - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:18 pm:
he did say he was head of the GOP party
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
“Even prior to HB 40, we couldn’t get people to sign his petition.”
Which begs this question: how is the Rauner petition drive going? Any insights from the field?
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:19 pm:
It appears some in the Party of Personal Responsibility are unclear on the concept that there are consequences to your choices.
You loved that Rauner money; he wants to control what he bought.
- Winnin’ - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:21 pm:
Remember, Bruce is the guy that nobody brought, but he is also the guy that bought everybody.
Trouble with being bought is that not everybody who is bought by the Rauner Party wants to stay bought.
- JS Mill - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
Owning stuff is what Bruce does.
Mr. Cleveland, he owns the ILGOP from top to bottom, you sold it to him.
Get in line for your allowance now.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:25 pm:
It is adorable that others think that they have a say in Rauner’s Party.
I’m embarrassed for them, sure, but it is adorable.
- Dirty Red - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:29 pm:
I’m just gonna sit here and watch the wing of the party that spent decades banishing the moderates fight among themselves.
- Chicago Bars - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:30 pm:
Most of the Chicago wards that went pretty big for Rauner are not socially conservative areas. Can’t really imagine HB40 is going to be a pivotal issue for those voters.
- Zoo Review - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:31 pm:
Which is the mob? Bruce Rauner and his gang or Chris Cleveland ie. Dan Proft and his? Both bad for different reasons.
- Roman - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:35 pm:
== two very viable candidates for state rep ==
Whom? McAuliffe and the candidate they put up against Madigan?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:43 pm:
If Rauner was the mob… they never would’ve heard a thing.
They just would’ve been cut off.
That’s how they knew it was Rauner’s Enforcers.
- Long time Republican - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 4:46 pm:
First of all Clevland fought and fought against even supporting Rauner. He voted against the Cook GOP to even endorse anyone in that election. He along with Bolton were steadfast in Rutherfords corner. Second of all Clevland fails to realize that those city wards that Rauner did well in he had zero involvement. The key for Rauner was the Cook County GOP and that vote was delivered in large by DalMar, Morrison, Murphy, Higgins, Amaresto and Gorman.
Nice try by Clevland but him and his group did very little last time.
- Errata - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 5:07 pm:
The problem with some of the so called “know it alls” posting comments is their lack of recognition of the fact that Rauner’s deals were with suburban and downstate Republicans. The Chicago Republicans did not receive much, if any, financial support from Rauner. Those who sold themselves to Rauner were not connected to Cleveland’s faction.
It is also worth noting that McAuliffe’s district is divided between the city and suburbs. It is not wholly within Chicago as Fax Machine would have you believe.
Rauner did pull more votes in Chicago than Brady did and it was essential to his defeating Quinn.