* Gov. Rauner was asked about this DGA press release today…
Yesterday, the Daily Beast reported Illinois businessman and mega-donor Richard Uihlein is the “chief financier” of a pro-Roy Moore Super PAC. Uihlein’s $100,000 donation is reportedly going to ads propping up Roy Moore, who has been accused by numerous women of sexual assault and harassment when they were underage. In light of this revelation, the Democratic Governors Association calls on Bruce Rauner to return all donations from Richard Uihlein.
“Bruce Rauner must disavow the support of Richard Uihlein and return all donations received from him,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “The accusations of child predation against Roy Moore are abhorrent, and Rauner must disavow his relationship with anyone who supports Moore, including his mega donor allies. It’s no secret that Bruce Rauner has benefited greatly from Richard Uihlein’s backing, but his bankrolling of a Roy Moore Super PAC must be unacceptable.”
In the 2014 cycle, Richard Uihlein donated $2.6 Million to Citizens for Rauner and another $350,000 to a “Rauner-allied group seeking to turn out the vote for Rauner by pushing a term-limits drive.” Uihlein has also propped up Rauner’s Illinois allies by sending millions to the Liberty Principles PAC and thousands to the Illinois Republican Party.
* So, will Gov. Rauner return those Uihlein contributions? His response…
As I have stated publicly, I agree with those who have called for Roy Moore to step aside and not run for Senate. I urge him to step aside and let another candidate emerge.
* But what about the question? Will he return the Uihlein contributions?…
As I’ve said, I have urged Roy Moore to step aside as the candidate for US Senate.
…Adding… It should be noted that the ILGOP has now demanded three times that Sens. Durbin and Duckworth give back their relatively small contributions from Sen. Al Franken.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Sam Salustro at the DGA…
“Today is just another example of Bruce Rauner’s failure to lead. Rauner could have sent a strong message that what Roy Moore is accused of is reprehensible. Instead, he’s decided to stick by his mega-donor ally who just happens to be Roy Moore’s biggest financial backer. When push comes to shove, Rauner always puts his own political future first.”
* Meanwhile, from Bloomberg…
Bill Broydrick, a Uihlein representative in Washington, declined to comment.
Uihlein gave $2.6 million to Rauner’s first campaign for governor in the 2014 election cycle, records filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections show.
Nicholson Supporter
Uihlein has also been a major donor to super PACs supporting the Republican Senate candidacy of businessman and Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson, who is seeking to challenge Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin.
“The same out-of-state billionaire who’s funneling money into alleged serial sexual predator Roy Moore’s candidacy in Alabama is also pouring millions into buying Kevin Nicholson a U.S. Senate seat here in Wisconsin,” Brad Bainum, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, said in a statement. “Wisconsinites should be concerned that Nicholson is in joint company with Roy Moore.”
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:34 pm:
And you then follow up with: So based on your answers I’m going to report that you’re keeping Uihlien’s money. Anything you’d like to add, governor?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:36 pm:
Follow up Governor: If Moore won’t step down, do you think Alabama voters should vote for Doug Jones? Who would you vote for if Moore stays on the ballot?
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
What loser is going to vote or not vote for him on this issue? He has a record. In my opinion a bad record, but I only get one vote.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
I think he definitely gave an answer.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:39 pm:
The Republican response to Roy Moore is to disavow Moore, support Doug Jones.
President George H. W. Bush did just that with David Duke in a parallel-type situation where party should not super-cede doing what’s right.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:39 pm:
Just curious. I wonder if Pritzker,Kennedy, Biss Supported HRC and/or Bill knowing full well the sex scandels of their past.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
===full well the sex scandels of their past.===
Which HRC sex scandal did I miss? For the record, I haven’t voted for Bill Clinton since the Lewinsky thing and I will never vote for him in the future.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:42 pm:
Anyone who received Uihlein or Liberty Principles money should be asked about giving the money back.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
Also, I think Bill Clinton should have been impeached for lying about his consensual sexual affairs.
#whataboutism
- cover - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:44 pm:
IMHO, this response would tend to undercut the ILGOP’s own attack on Senators Durbin and Duckworth regarding Sen. Franken. Partisans blinded by the logs in their own eyes… and yes that happens on both sides.
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
The Guv clearly prefers “wholly owned” subsidiaries.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:46 pm:
This man cannot answer any questions honestly and has no scruples…this makes him a great businessman and a horrible Governor…
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:49 pm:
===full well the sex scandels [sic] of their past.===
As slimy as it may have been:
1) It was consensual
2) She was over 18.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:51 pm:
Rauner’s just mouthing fearful wishy-washy nonsense he sees other clueless politicians say on the TV box.
By Alabama law, Moore’s name can’t be removed from the ballot. That would have had to happen at least 76 days before the Dec. 12 election.
No other GOP candidate can “emerge” on the ballot.
Moore won the GOP primary and don’t be surprised if he wins the election.
If that happens, we’ll see if McConnell has the guts to follow through on his promise to expel Moore under Article I, Section 5.
Based on his history, I doubt it.
You reap what you sow. And Moore is a bumper crop for the GOP.
- Duopoly - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
=party should not super-cede doing what’s right.=
Then we wouldn’t have a gerrymandered 2-party system.
- Because I said so.... - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
= It should be noted that the ILGOP has now demanded three times that Sens. Durbin and Duckworth give back their relatively small contributions from Sen. Al Franken.=
Hypocrites.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:56 pm:
===Then we wouldn’t have a gerrymandered 2-party system.===
Moore in this case is running statewide.
Keep up.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
I agree with wordslinger. Expect Roy Moore to be elected and also expect McConnell to backpedal as well. He’s become remarkably tolerant of Trump so convincing himself that Moore is ok won’t be much of a stretch.
The real issue is what consequences will any of this bring in 2018.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 2:57 pm:
It is a rather stale talking point.
The election is in 14 days. Moore has made it clear he is stepping aside, and there is no replacement.
What I don’t get here is that the GOP has made it clear that they only want more so they can have his vote on abortion, and Vruce Rauner disagrees with Roy Moore and agrees with Doug Jones on abortion.
The smart thing to do would be to say “If I lived in Alabama then I would be voting for Doug Jones, not Roy Moore.”
Once again, Rauner demonstrates how difficult it is for him to operate beyond the talking points his staff gives him, and they are operating in a binary world. Advanced policymaking requires quantum computing.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
Saw this morning reported that a former Marine and aide to Trumps COS John Kelly is entering this race as an independent write-in candidate. Moore probably loses a higher number of votes than Jones if he gets on the ballot. Doesn’t assure a Jones victory, but it helps.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:03 pm:
“Also, I think Bill Clinton should have been impeached for lying about his consensual sexual affairs.” Um…he was.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
47th @ 2:43: He was.
- Honeybadger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
Why would anyone expect Rauner to answer tough questions? Haven’t we learned he’s the master at deflection second only to Trump
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
===Her convict husband Bob Creamer and his firm Democracy Partners paid these women to make up these allegations regarding Roy Moore.===
Lol. Classic.
What color is the sky on the planet where you live?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
BDD, what a dazzling distraction you created there. Sexual abuse of 14-year-olds, infidelity, it’s all the same whittlin’ round the cracker barrel.
- Texas Red - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:27 pm:
Stick to question about governing, stop asking these gotcha question that are totally unrelated to an elected officials job. Same goes for the Franken donation questions of the Dems.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:33 pm:
==1) It was consensual==
Well, Monica was. Ish.
But yeah, that’s a distraction, and a particularly gross one; Bill Clinton’s very real misconduct doesn’t give any Republican a Freebie to ruin some young woman’s life.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:34 pm:
===Stick to question about governing===
Sorry. It doesn’t work that way. We get to ask whatever we want.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:37 pm:
–Stick to question about governing, stop asking these gotcha question that are totally unrelated to an elected officials job. –
LOL, you’ve been impressed by Rauner’s straight, honest answers on governing questions, have you?
- Whatever - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:42 pm:
=== It should be noted that the ILGOP has now demanded three times that Sens. Durbin and Duckworth give back their relatively small contributions from Sen. Al Franken.=
How is this relevant? Since when is the governor a Republican?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
===Since when is the governor a Republican? ===
That was either snark or just plain foolishness. Who do you think funds the ILGOP? Sheesh.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:51 pm:
–Since when is the governor a Republican?–
Check ISBE. He is virtually the sole bankroller of the Illinois Republican Party.
If the first three quarters of the year, ILGOP reported raising $2.4M. Of that, $2.15M came from Rauner.
He’s The Boss. The ILGOP does his bidding.
- Jack Kemp - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
The ILGOP is demanding that Durbin and Duckworth return donations from the sex offender in question. You’re suggesting that Rauner should give money back to a guy who has also given to an alleged offender. Pretty big difference. It would be worse than untangling Christmas lights to try and walk that out to its logical conclusion. Eventually everybody would be giving back every donation ever.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 4:14 pm:
If he keeps the money - the commercials will be unmerciful. People will think Rauner was at the mall with Moore.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 4:38 pm:
=Stick to question about governing, stop asking these gotcha question that are totally unrelated to an elected officials job.=
Uihlein is writing big checks to Moore and even bigger checks to Rauner. Certainly he thinks he’s getting something for his money as he hardly strikes me as benevolent. I think it’s very relevant to know what that something might be.
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 4:52 pm:
Your X1 says there’s a Pritzker response. I don’t see it.
- Chris Widger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 4:53 pm:
Put aside for a moment (but not completely) the hypocrisy and whataboutism of either side calling for the other side to return money. Is it (or should it be) a cultural norm that if someone gives Person A money, and then also gives money to Person B, and we agree that Person B is very bad, do we agree that Person A should return (or donate, or whatever) the received funds? That proposition animates the dialogue, but I don’t accept it as prima facie obvious. Am I just way off here?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 4:57 pm:
==Pretty big difference.==
Only if you’re a hyper-partisan.
- Chris Widger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 4:59 pm:
==If he keeps the money - the commercials will be unmerciful.==
That’s true, but the commercials would be unmerciful if he did return the money, or if he made essentially any series of choices in the next eleven months. What’s it matter?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 5:18 pm:
I look forward to Bruce Rauner explaining how his ties to Roy Moore are different that Tammy Duckworth’s ties to Al Franken.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s too hard to find campaign ads where Rauner and his mercenaries have claimed that some Democrat was a Madigan crony simply because they ate at Saputo’s once.
Today, for example, claiming Pat Quinn is a Madigan ally.
Rauner has three choices now that one of his biggest supporters is also backing America’s most notorious alleged pedophile wing nuts. Let’s not forget, Roy Moore is also vehemently anti-immigrant, anti-gay and anti-woman.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 5:40 pm:
Apples to oranges. Durbin and Duckworth took money from Franken. Rauner did not take money from Moore.
The complaint is that Uihlein gave money to both Moore and Rauner. If you take this to an extreme, tit for tat, Durbin, Duckworth, and other Democrats would have to reimburse or donate lots of dollars from donors who also gave to Conyers, Franken, Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, etc.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 5:52 pm:
Senator Durbin complimented Senator Franken for addressing the groping allegations in “a responsible way.”
No chance that Durbin will walk that back.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 6:00 pm:
Trolls gonna troll. Pick a name loser.
- Duopoly - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 6:13 pm:
===Then we wouldn’t have a gerrymandered 2-party system.===
==Moore in this case is running statewide.
Keep up.==
Thanks for bringing me up to speed OW, party first and above all else is ok with you as long as it’s not for a statewide office.
Willy, you’re a strange dude.
BTW - did the Libertarian and Green candidates get onto the AL state ballot?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 6:31 pm:
===Thanks for bringing me up to speed … party first and above all else is ok with you as long as it’s not for a statewide office===
Nah, if I was in Alabama, I’d vote for Jones, as in another post, I pointed out GHWB told Republicans in Louisiana to vote for the Dem over David Duke.
===you’re a strange dude.===
Being and trying to be consistent and honest to thought is strange to you. I get it.
Good try.
===did the Libertarian and Green candidates get onto the AL state ballot?===
The Google is your friend… lol
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 28, 17 @ 7:25 pm:
I trust that the dozens of Illinois Republicans the Uihleins have donated to in the past will be a little more articulate than Rauner.
More than $16M about over 300 contributions to Illinois GOP types from the Uihleins over the years.