Cook Dems reject Quinn, slate Raoul
Friday, Nov 3, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Last night…
Sneed has learned former Gov. Pat Quinn, who is tossing his hat into the ring for Illinois attorney general, will urge Dem slatemakers meeting Friday to refrain from endorsing any candidate in the March primary and let voters decide.
“We don’t need a coronation,” Quinn told Sneed.
* Today…
Cook County Democrats on Friday endorsed state Sen. Kwame Raoul of Chicago for attorney general in a rebuke to former Gov. Pat Quinn, who is also seeking the post.
* Press releases in the order they were received. ILGOP…
“It’s no surprise that the most crooked organization in Illinois politics with close ties to Mike Madigan is backing Kwame Raoul for Attorney General. As one of Madigan’s top partners in the Illinois Senate, Raoul has blocked reform and pushed Madigan’s rigged legislative maps and tax hikes. The people of Illinois deserve a reform-minded Attorney General, but Kwame Raoul is just another career politician from Chicago who does Madigan’s bidding.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
* Jesse Ruiz…
“Today’s decision by the Cook County Democratic Party to slate a fellow political insider is disappointing – but sadly, not surprising.
“Throughout my career, I have been a staunch advocate for transparency and openness in government. I will continue to do so as Attorney General.
“This is going to be a competitive race, and I have every confidence in our supporters and our campaign. I look forward to winning the Democratic nomination on March 20th and being elected as Attorney General next November.”
* Sen. Kwame Raoul…
As a lifelong Illinois Democrat, I’m pleased to receive the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Organization. 13 years ago, a group of Democratic committeemen came together to appoint me to fill the vacancy of then-IL Senator Barack Obama. Since that time, I’ve worked hard every day to make those committeemen and my constituents proud.
My political journey here in Cook County has included everything from sweeping floors at events to hosting volunteer clinics to becoming a delegate for President Obama. Over that time, I’ve developed a legislative record which uniquely qualifies me to take on the role of Attorney General.
As a prosecutor and a legislator, I’ve spent my career advocating on behalf of victims, speaking up for the voiceless and producing real change in our justice system. I’ve seen the law used to the advantage of large corporations and to the detriment of the middle class and those of lesser means. I’ve worked to shift that balance and make our state’s laws are the great equalizer they ought to be.
Now I hope to continue that work as Attorney General. Illinoisans are under siege from attacks from President Trump and Governor Rauner and I’ve got a record that demonstrates my capacity to stop them. I look forward to putting that record before the voters across the state in the months ahead.
* Tina…
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:41 pm:
The deal may have been done already, but if anything Quinn’s presence made an endorsement more likely. They can’t have PQ arm in arm with JB or whomever wins the Gov nomination at events next Summer and Fall, and they apparently know it.
- Keyrock - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:42 pm:
The three former federal prosecutors must have split the vote of all the former federal prosecutors who are slatemakers. /s
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:45 pm:
“Democratic committeeman Mike Kreloff called Quinn “Mr. Quinn” on his way out. Quinn corrected him: “It’s Gov. Quinn.”
Beg pardon. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya “Gov Quinn”.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
===”It’s Governor Quinn.===
Yes, well. It’s not ever going to be Attorney General Quinn, so whatever.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
–“It’s Gov. Quinn.”–
The mic drop response to that would have been “It’s former Gov. Quinn.”
- poe - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
Governor Quinn
Nice to see you. But yeah thanks for stopping by.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:52 pm:
===“It’s no surprise that the most crooked organization in Illinois politics…===
This is borderline calling the election process corrupt.
That’s not instilling faith in democracy.
And before people pounce on that, this is party politics, not the act or the voting process by the people that is being questioned.
It’s starting to seep more into accepted conversation.
If Raunerites want people to question Illinois’ democracy, here’s a good left handed way to insert it.
===I was surprised to learn that Raoul is battling prostate cancer.===
All my best to Sen. Raoul. - OW
- ??? - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 1:56 pm:
“Has-been Quinn” is more like it. Dude, please stop embarrassing yourself and go quietly.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:00 pm:
– MrJM
- Honeybadger - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
ILGOP has no room to talk. Bought and paid for by current Gov Rauner and his billionaire pals (all 2 of them)in the last election and now being manipulated by Dan Proft and his ilk at the Illinois Opportunity Project, as well as the no even less about government Illinois Policy Institute.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:10 pm:
If Quinn gets on the ballot for AG, he will have run for every statewide office except comptroller.
Since 1986, he’s 6-2 in statewide Dem primaries (losses for Treasurer ‘86 and Senator ‘98) and 4-2 in statewide general election races (losses for SOS in ‘98 and guv in ‘14).
He’s won in primaries and general elections for Treasurer in ‘90, LG in ‘02 and ‘06 and Governor in ‘10.
That has to be an Illinois record, and probably in the hunt for a national record of statewide races for different offices.
And I have no doubt will run this time as an outsider, non-politician.
- SameolG - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:17 pm:
To me it is interesting none of the other candidates had anyone vote for them. Make it all about Quinnif you want, but lots of candidates were there. And they all got zero just like Quinn.
- Obamas Puppy - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:21 pm:
Jesse Ruiz calling someone else a political insider -priceless-.
- Lawman - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:23 pm:
“most crooked organization in Illinois politics….” is really over the top and seems like it should be libelous. Someone really does need to bring a lawsuit for libel as IL GOP just get further over the top with their comments as time goes on.
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:28 pm:
“As a lifelong Illinois Democrat…”
Even as running back on his high school football team, Kwame preferred to run left of center.
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:30 pm:
Love it when the Dems start eating their own. And Oswego Willy-seriously, you are going to try and suggest that the Cook County Dems haven’t corrupted the election system for decades? Please, as someone who deals with this group regularly it’s all about gaming the system.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:33 pm:
===…seriously, you are going to try and suggest that the Cook County Dems haven’t corrupted the election system for decades…===
Decades…
So cite all the criminal corruption cases that were solely about election fraud.
Thanks.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:35 pm:
–the Cook County Dems haven’t corrupted the election system for decades?–
Who “lost that “should” have won? (I bet you’ll say Nixon/JFK — that was 1960).
How did Harold get elected twice?
Was The Combine involved?
- Lunchbox - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
ROFL…”It’s Gov. Quinn.” Looks like Mr. Quinn will have some more time to cut his grass and practice jump shots.
- Bigtwich - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
MrJM
That was startlingly accurate. And sad.
- Norseman - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:09 pm:
=== It’s Governor Quinn. ===
We certainly don’t want to muddy up the waters as to what we call you. So let’s pray he stops running for offices.
- Kippax Blue - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:12 pm:
Just for the record— Quinn lost LG race to ML Kearns in 98, not Jesse White / Al Salvi. I point this out with pride, as Quinn was lost when (among a few things) MLK made the palm cards in St Clair Co… and he knew a St Clair vote challenge was futile. I’d like to think I was part of the team that beat Quinn good in 98.
- DarkHorse - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
Unanimous? Raoul is overrated. His sexist remarks about “Miss America” is going to hamstring his ability to criticize Harold in a general election. If I’m Harold, I’m high giving the Cook County Democrats. She’d have a tougher time against Ruiz.
- Downstate - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:29 pm:
Naive question - what % of the time does the “slated” candidate win the primary?
Just curious of the impact.
- Just Observing - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:30 pm:
=== “Today’s decision by the Cook County Democratic Party to slate a fellow political insider is disappointing – but sadly, not surprising.” ===
Somehow I have the feeling that if Ruiz won the slating, he’d not think the process was so disappointing or surprising.
- Responsa - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:33 pm:
Donna Brazile’s specific comments which were widely published yesterday give anyone a good inside look at how candidates at all levels are often selected/ordained and how money is controlled and distributed by the king makers even before the actual primary lets party voters have their say in the matter.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:42 pm:
–Somehow I have the feeling that if Ruiz won the slating, he’d not think the process was so disappointing or surprising.–
Quinn is the same way. All for open primaries when he can’t win the endorsement, but he’ll be happy to take it otherwise.
On the unanimous issue — can’t tell from the coverage if it was first ballot unanimous or one of those deals where the voting had a clear winner and they voted again to make it unanimous.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
“Unanimous”…except for it wasn’t.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
Responsa, how many super-delegates will Rauol have at the nominating convention for AG? And it’s his fundraising that’s bankrolling the party apparatus, allowing him to put his peeps in top positions?
Not everything on the national TV box is relatable locally.
- Anon0091 - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:56 pm:
“- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
“Unanimous”…except for it wasn’t.”
Agreed. There were several votes for other candidates (Quinn, Rotering and Ruiz). Don’t know why Berrios is trying to pretend this was unanimous.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
–Don’t know why Berrios is trying to pretend this was unanimous.–
If you can’t trust Joe Berrios, who can you trust? /s/s/s/s/s/s/s
- Boone's is Back - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
So “Governor Quinn” gets to run as an “outsider” again. He should be thanking the party.
- Chicagonk - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 4:15 pm:
I always appreciate the Cook County Dems telling me who I shouldn’t vote for.
- Ron - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 4:28 pm:
I personally dislike primaries. Candidates should be chosen by the party and its members.
- Chris - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 4:34 pm:
“Jesse Ruiz calling someone else a political insider -priceless-.”
I actually LOL’d.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 3, 17 @ 4:44 pm:
“I personally dislike primaries. Candidates should be chosen by the party and its members.”
In Illinois, the primaries determine your party membership: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/il-court-of-appeals/1396034.html
– MrJM