JB Prtizker spoke to Jesse White by phone last night, White "is very comfortable with him, good conversation, connecting as friends" but White spokesman won't say if Pritzker apologized after calling White "least offensive" African American choice to replace Obama in Senate
“I think that Jesse has been in politics long enough to know that there is a context for everything, and sometimes that may be bigger than what is obvious,” said Rocco Claps, political director for White’s campaign. https://t.co/55GQ5G5Fly
“I think that Jesse has been in politics long enough to know that there is a context for everything, and sometimes that may be bigger than what is obvious,” said Rocco Claps, political director for White’s campaign.
You could, and many people are trying hard to, see the “least offensive” crack as saying all African Americans are offensive. I take it to me he didn’t like the other candidates being suggested. Good on Mr. White.
You could, and many people are trying hard to, see the “least offensive” crack as saying all African Americans are offensive. I take it to me he didn’t like the other candidates being suggested. Good on Mr. White.
Umm I think he meant politically. Least offensive in context could also mean least baggage.
==The latest Rauner/Tribune leaked ad won’t work.==
Depends on what you mean by “work”. It’ll create more negative feelings about JB. But it might not be enough to cost him the election, and it might be temporary. As with most things, it matters what happens next.
-Real-
I’m a WOC and recognize how this conversation can be perceived as non-offensive to some and very offensive to others; quite frankly, I think its a generational thing. HOWEVER, if anyone thinks this is the end of damaging statements and oppo, they are mistaken; which is why I cannot back JB Pritzer in this primary. Where there’s smoke there’s fire…also, he didn’t get the backing of Emil Jones, Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, Robin Kelly, or Carol Ammon so clearly his support in the black community isn’t unanimous. Jesse White doesn’t speak or influence all of us.
JB meant Jesse was the least offensive African American choice for Obama’s old seat. Meaning, as compared to Rolland Burris or JJJr? Or who else? If my thinking on this is in the ballpark, he was correct in my book - but it also assumes an African American must replace an African American ‘leaving’ the spot. Jesse White probably uncomfortable with the language, but overall OK with the politics of the particular issue.
I deeply oppose Pritzker, and I don’t think the contents of the conversation are at all troubling. Anyone trying to make hay out of “least offensive” to mean a racist comment is being disingenous to support his or her candidate (which is how these things go).
Jesse White was the least offensive of those candidates mentioned. He is a statesman and has carried himself with class and dignity throughout his time in office. This whole episode with the taped telephone call shows that Blago was toxic. Whatever he came in contact with, he tended to spoil.
==but it also assumes an African American must replace an African American ‘leaving’ the spot==
“Must” is probably too strong a word, but it woulda been crummy for the country’s first African American President to be succeeded by a typical white politician.
–Depends on what you mean by “work”. It’ll create more negative feelings about JB.–
With whom, exactly? Who’s squawking?
I thought the Dan Hynes spot with featuring clips of the late Harold Washington ripping Quinn a new one was brilliant, a game-changer. Instead, it backfired spectacularly on Hynes.
Rauner tried the same basic spot against Quinn in the general and then yanked it after a couple of days because of the outrage.
White guys trying to play the black race card — history shows it’s not so easy.
Persuadable voters in the General Election. Not necessarily because of the content, just because it’s another excuse to say “Blagojevich” and “FBI wiretaps”.
Among primary voters, I never hear anyone talk about Blago. When they’re against JB, it’s for other reasons, mostly just his wealth.
My take. The airwaves in so. ILL were saturated with the Pritzker/Blago clip over the weekend. Some of my blue collar retired union buddies were shocked. Some claim to be in the voting Dem primary undecided camp. This is yet another Blago association. I cant imagine this helping Pritzker. Will it be Pritzkers undoing? Prolly not. But I do know some folks wished the early endorsements never happened.
LOL, sure, there’s a “when the god wish to punish us, they grant our wishes” aspect to this conversation.
But, from a pre-indictment perspective, replacing Barack Obama with, I dunno, a Dan Hynes type would’ve been a good way to squander a lot of goodwill and energy Obama had built up.
To your point, I hear ya, and Rod himself was never a caretaker of any Obama legacy, as Rod’s frustrations included Obama’s rise and his own stagnation.
For whatever reason reading that made me laugh, even though it could be read to the sound of ominous music.
Maybe this is the title to its own series or another installment of your HBO series?
To the post, I have no idea what Pritzker really meant when he made the “least offensive” comment but I could guess and none of my guesses are very good for Pritzker. And that is what Rauner wants. That said, Rauner has a trail of lies as long as Illinois and Prizker would be well served to focus on that and up the volume and frequency of that message.
I truly feel bad for White having to take one for the team here (did he even get a chance to speak at the news conference?) and I think here is where Pritzker’s wallet size will keep minority legislators quiet.
Pritzker apologists are busy explaining the comment as innocuous, but my take of the comment is Pritzker agreeing with Blagovich that they have to appoint an African American to the seat, they both don’t want to, but realize they need to for the African American vote so they conspire to appoint the African American they think they can best control. This is racism at it’s finest, appear to appease minorities in order to consolidate political power for the party run by the majority.
@Arsenal - I am an undecided Dem primary voter and so far the things JB has said on the tapes haven’t pushed me all the way to another candidate yet.
That said, each new tape that comes out will be a reminder of what bad judgment JB had investing so heavily in a candidate like Rod and continuing to associate with him when everyone knew by 2008 what bad news he was.
I voted against Rod in the 2006 primary when it was clear Rod was a corrupt incompetent. Why didn’t JB know/care in late 2008? His own lite gov wasnt on speaking terms with him then. why was JB?
It seems all this focus on leaked tapes is making folks not even think of the bigger picture.
==bad judgment JB had investing so heavily in a candidate like Rod==
Problem is, a ton of voters in the state made the same basic decision JB did. Twice. Which is probably why trying to hang Blago around the necks of Quinn, Duckworth, etc. never quite took.
==I voted against Rod in the 2006 primary when it was clear Rod was a corrupt incompetent. Why didn’t JB know/care in late 2008? His own lite gov wasnt on speaking terms with him then. why was JB?==
I think he continued his support in accordance with the old adage that “you dance with the one that brings you.” But yeah, it was clearly terrible judgement.
I think for me, I just found it kind of churlish to enlist a dead man to make your attacks for you.
If you took one look at me IRL you’d immediately understand why I can’t guess at how the African American community arrives at its decisions. But I take your point.
==His own lite gov wasnt on speaking terms with him then. why was JB?==
One thing about this is, I’m not sold on the idea that it’s best to leave “corrupt incompetents” to their own devices. It’s not like Quinn distancing himself from Blago saved the state any embarrassment. It’s like the career civil servants under Trump. It might be better for them to gut it out and try to mitigate the damage, rather than resign and let the Steve Bannons of the world fill all the jobs.
Arsenal– I didn’t intend to suggest the race or gender of a legislator are any different than non-minority legislators when it comes to campaign contributions, my personal belief is that just about any legislator in Illinois will overlook the transgressions of a governor or gubernatorial candidate with deep pockets. How long did it take for Republicans to pushback on Rauner? 2+ years?
Now that JB has apogized, it is good that race wont be an election issue. As soon as Jeanne apoolgizes for her transgender ad, we can put that issue to bed. Now we can get down to the only real issue. What are we going to do to right the states financial ship.
It’s a longtime, widespread and perfectly acceptable term for a segment of the Chicago radio market. And obvious.
Don’t bother me with your cornpone s-kicker act. It’s as bad as Rauner’s. Maybe you and he should go see what Goober and Gomer are doin’ down at the fillin’ station if you want to play at that.
Word. I dont think we get ‘black radio’ down at Hucks, but maybe I dont know what to listen for. Maybe a trained ear like yourself can help out old Goob out.
Your Rauner-like phony act of portraying Downstate people as barefoot hicks scratching their heads because they don’t understand what those city slickers are talking about ain’t funny, just lame.
I grew up on a Downstate farm, went to public schools, and can read, write and cipher with the best of them. We all can. I didn’t know any yokels like you pretend to be.
But if they ever bring back Hee-Haw, maybe you can go for the Granpa Jones bit.
Word. Downstate,Chicago. It doesnt matter. Race baiting.is yesterdays news. I have found most folks who fancy themselves political.officianodos arent really very bright when it comes to the real world.
– Race baiting.is yesterdays news. I have found most folks who fancy themselves political.officianodos arent really very bright when it comes to the real world.–
Is it? Good to know. I have no idea what you’re babbling about. But thanks for your very bright guy perspective from the real world.
- Seats - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 11:56 am:
A spokesman for Jesse White’s campaign says the Secretary of State “is absolutely standing by” his endorsement of Pritzker. “This is his guy.”
- Seats - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 11:58 am:
“I think that Jesse has been in politics long enough to know that there is a context for everything, and sometimes that may be bigger than what is obvious,” said Rocco Claps, political director for White’s campaign.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 11:58 am:
JB will survive this. But depressed about my choice of candidates.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 11:59 am:
Not surprising.
The rehabilitation needs to begin ASAP.
This will be a first pass, but what other tapes and pitfalls are out there.
White is a stand up guy. Always has been
- Perrid - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 11:59 am:
You could, and many people are trying hard to, see the “least offensive” crack as saying all African Americans are offensive. I take it to me he didn’t like the other candidates being suggested. Good on Mr. White.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:00 pm:
Too little. Too late.
- Real - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:02 pm:
You could, and many people are trying hard to, see the “least offensive” crack as saying all African Americans are offensive. I take it to me he didn’t like the other candidates being suggested. Good on Mr. White.
Umm I think he meant politically. Least offensive in context could also mean least baggage.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
==The latest Rauner/Tribune leaked ad won’t work.==
Depends on what you mean by “work”. It’ll create more negative feelings about JB. But it might not be enough to cost him the election, and it might be temporary. As with most things, it matters what happens next.
- ILDemVoter - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:08 pm:
-Real-
I’m a WOC and recognize how this conversation can be perceived as non-offensive to some and very offensive to others; quite frankly, I think its a generational thing. HOWEVER, if anyone thinks this is the end of damaging statements and oppo, they are mistaken; which is why I cannot back JB Pritzer in this primary. Where there’s smoke there’s fire…also, he didn’t get the backing of Emil Jones, Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, Robin Kelly, or Carol Ammon so clearly his support in the black community isn’t unanimous. Jesse White doesn’t speak or influence all of us.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:16 pm:
JB meant Jesse was the least offensive African American choice for Obama’s old seat. Meaning, as compared to Rolland Burris or JJJr? Or who else? If my thinking on this is in the ballpark, he was correct in my book - but it also assumes an African American must replace an African American ‘leaving’ the spot. Jesse White probably uncomfortable with the language, but overall OK with the politics of the particular issue.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:44 pm:
==- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:00 pm:==
Show us the crosstabs.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:50 pm:
“Show us the crosstabs.”
LOL.
– MrJM
- Chris Widger - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:54 pm:
I deeply oppose Pritzker, and I don’t think the contents of the conversation are at all troubling. Anyone trying to make hay out of “least offensive” to mean a racist comment is being disingenous to support his or her candidate (which is how these things go).
- City Zen - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 12:56 pm:
Save Face Tour begins.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:03 pm:
Jesse White was the least offensive of those candidates mentioned. He is a statesman and has carried himself with class and dignity throughout his time in office. This whole episode with the taped telephone call shows that Blago was toxic. Whatever he came in contact with, he tended to spoil.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:12 pm:
==but it also assumes an African American must replace an African American ‘leaving’ the spot==
“Must” is probably too strong a word, but it woulda been crummy for the country’s first African American President to be succeeded by a typical white politician.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:16 pm:
===…but it woulda been crummy for the country’s first African American President to be succeeded by a typical white politician.===
*Enter Roland Burris*
?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:18 pm:
–Depends on what you mean by “work”. It’ll create more negative feelings about JB.–
With whom, exactly? Who’s squawking?
I thought the Dan Hynes spot with featuring clips of the late Harold Washington ripping Quinn a new one was brilliant, a game-changer. Instead, it backfired spectacularly on Hynes.
Rauner tried the same basic spot against Quinn in the general and then yanked it after a couple of days because of the outrage.
White guys trying to play the black race card — history shows it’s not so easy.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
==With whom, exactly?==
Persuadable voters in the General Election. Not necessarily because of the content, just because it’s another excuse to say “Blagojevich” and “FBI wiretaps”.
Among primary voters, I never hear anyone talk about Blago. When they’re against JB, it’s for other reasons, mostly just his wealth.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
My take. The airwaves in so. ILL were saturated with the Pritzker/Blago clip over the weekend. Some of my blue collar retired union buddies were shocked. Some claim to be in the voting Dem primary undecided camp. This is yet another Blago association. I cant imagine this helping Pritzker. Will it be Pritzkers undoing? Prolly not. But I do know some folks wished the early endorsements never happened.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:45 pm:
==*Enter Roland Burris*==
LOL, sure, there’s a “when the god wish to punish us, they grant our wishes” aspect to this conversation.
But, from a pre-indictment perspective, replacing Barack Obama with, I dunno, a Dan Hynes type would’ve been a good way to squander a lot of goodwill and energy Obama had built up.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
- Arsenal -
You led me there, I couldn’t help it.
To your point, I hear ya, and Rod himself was never a caretaker of any Obama legacy, as Rod’s frustrations included Obama’s rise and his own stagnation.
I had to do it, glad you took it as intended.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:49 pm:
==I thought the Dan Hynes spot with featuring clips of the late Harold Washington ripping Quinn a new one was brilliant, a game-changer. ==
I can’t remember the specifics of that ad enough to say why, but I remember that it definitively tipped me into Quinn’s camp.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
=*Enter Roland Burris*=
For whatever reason reading that made me laugh, even though it could be read to the sound of ominous music.
Maybe this is the title to its own series or another installment of your HBO series?
To the post, I have no idea what Pritzker really meant when he made the “least offensive” comment but I could guess and none of my guesses are very good for Pritzker. And that is what Rauner wants. That said, Rauner has a trail of lies as long as Illinois and Prizker would be well served to focus on that and up the volume and frequency of that message.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
===For whatever reason reading that made me laugh, even though it could be read to the sound of ominous music.===
Comedy is crazy.
Mr. Burris auditioned for “DHS” but the rider on his contract was 53 pages, including a scene as his tomb.
We took a pass.
- Swift - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
I truly feel bad for White having to take one for the team here (did he even get a chance to speak at the news conference?) and I think here is where Pritzker’s wallet size will keep minority legislators quiet.
Pritzker apologists are busy explaining the comment as innocuous, but my take of the comment is Pritzker agreeing with Blagovich that they have to appoint an African American to the seat, they both don’t want to, but realize they need to for the African American vote so they conspire to appoint the African American they think they can best control. This is racism at it’s finest, appear to appease minorities in order to consolidate political power for the party run by the majority.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
==I thought the Dan Hynes spot with featuring clips of the late Harold Washington ripping Quinn a new one was brilliant, a game-changer. ==
–I can’t remember the specifics of that ad enough to say why, but I remember that it definitively tipped me into Quinn’s camp.–
Why is that, you think?
Here’s the spot. Keep in mind, it backfired on Hynes and helped Quinn, and Rauner pulled a very similar one before it hurt him too badly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zns-K8XrOAk–
It was created to cause trouble for Quinn in the black community, just as Rauner’s is designed to do for Pritzker.
Instead, black lawmakers immediately rallied to Quinn — just as they are doing for Pritzker today.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:14 pm:
@Arsenal - I am an undecided Dem primary voter and so far the things JB has said on the tapes haven’t pushed me all the way to another candidate yet.
That said, each new tape that comes out will be a reminder of what bad judgment JB had investing so heavily in a candidate like Rod and continuing to associate with him when everyone knew by 2008 what bad news he was.
I voted against Rod in the 2006 primary when it was clear Rod was a corrupt incompetent. Why didn’t JB know/care in late 2008? His own lite gov wasnt on speaking terms with him then. why was JB?
It seems all this focus on leaked tapes is making folks not even think of the bigger picture.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:22 pm:
==bad judgment JB had investing so heavily in a candidate like Rod==
Problem is, a ton of voters in the state made the same basic decision JB did. Twice. Which is probably why trying to hang Blago around the necks of Quinn, Duckworth, etc. never quite took.
- Rutro - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
Will the tribune tell their readers when they’ve released all they have?
- TKMH - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:24 pm:
==I voted against Rod in the 2006 primary when it was clear Rod was a corrupt incompetent. Why didn’t JB know/care in late 2008? His own lite gov wasnt on speaking terms with him then. why was JB?==
I think he continued his support in accordance with the old adage that “you dance with the one that brings you.” But yeah, it was clearly terrible judgement.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:27 pm:
==Why is that, you think?==
I think for me, I just found it kind of churlish to enlist a dead man to make your attacks for you.
If you took one look at me IRL you’d immediately understand why I can’t guess at how the African American community arrives at its decisions. But I take your point.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:31 pm:
==His own lite gov wasnt on speaking terms with him then. why was JB?==
One thing about this is, I’m not sold on the idea that it’s best to leave “corrupt incompetents” to their own devices. It’s not like Quinn distancing himself from Blago saved the state any embarrassment. It’s like the career civil servants under Trump. It might be better for them to gut it out and try to mitigate the damage, rather than resign and let the Steve Bannons of the world fill all the jobs.
- Quimby'sSash - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:32 pm:
It was a poor choice of words, but I think what JB meant was: JW has the least baggage. Context matters.
- Actual Red - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:32 pm:
@Swift –
Thanks for this take. I couldn’t quite articulate what I found objectionable about the conversation, but you hit it on the head.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
== so they conspire to appoint the African American they think they can best control==
That’s quite a leap, but since you believe “minority legislators” will be “kept quiet” because of money, I guess you know for “racism at it’s finest”.
- Swift - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
Arsenal– I didn’t intend to suggest the race or gender of a legislator are any different than non-minority legislators when it comes to campaign contributions, my personal belief is that just about any legislator in Illinois will overlook the transgressions of a governor or gubernatorial candidate with deep pockets. How long did it take for Republicans to pushback on Rauner? 2+ years?
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 3:53 pm:
Now that JB has apogized, it is good that race wont be an election issue. As soon as Jeanne apoolgizes for her transgender ad, we can put that issue to bed. Now we can get down to the only real issue. What are we going to do to right the states financial ship.
- SaulGoodman - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 5:44 pm:
LOL - the headline: White Pritzker.
Also… ** Instead, it backfired spectacularly on Hynes.**
It did? I don’t remember it the same way. I remember that race needing to be one week longer for Hynes to win. Hynes would probably still be governor.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 5:58 pm:
–Also… ** Instead, it backfired spectacularly on Hynes.**
It did? I don’t remember it the same way.–
He got clobbered on black radio for it.
– I remember that race needing to be one week longer for Hynes to win. Hynes would probably still be governor.–
Sorry, Kirk Dillard fans have already banked the woulda, coulda, shoulda, vote for all eternity.
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 7:38 pm:
Black radio?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 7:47 pm:
–Black radio? –
It’s a longtime, widespread and perfectly acceptable term for a segment of the Chicago radio market. And obvious.
Don’t bother me with your cornpone s-kicker act. It’s as bad as Rauner’s. Maybe you and he should go see what Goober and Gomer are doin’ down at the fillin’ station if you want to play at that.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 7:57 pm:
Word. I dont think we get ‘black radio’ down at Hucks, but maybe I dont know what to listen for. Maybe a trained ear like yourself can help out old Goob out.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 6, 18 @ 9:14 pm:
BDD, you want some help?
Your Rauner-like phony act of portraying Downstate people as barefoot hicks scratching their heads because they don’t understand what those city slickers are talking about ain’t funny, just lame.
I grew up on a Downstate farm, went to public schools, and can read, write and cipher with the best of them. We all can. I didn’t know any yokels like you pretend to be.
But if they ever bring back Hee-Haw, maybe you can go for the Granpa Jones bit.
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 6:32 am:
Word. Downstate,Chicago. It doesnt matter. Race baiting.is yesterdays news. I have found most folks who fancy themselves political.officianodos arent really very bright when it comes to the real world.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 7, 18 @ 7:16 am:
– Race baiting.is yesterdays news. I have found most folks who fancy themselves political.officianodos arent really very bright when it comes to the real world.–
Is it? Good to know. I have no idea what you’re babbling about. But thanks for your very bright guy perspective from the real world.