The Madigan dodge
Wednesday, Feb 14, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As we know, it was already tough out there for House Democratic candidates before this week’s debacle. Here is David Giuliani’s column from five days ago. I’m betting it isn’t gonna get any easier…
In the 2016 campaign, I asked then-Rep. Andy Skoog, D-La Salle, about whether he supported Madigan as speaker. He answered that no one had approached him “about supporting them for speaker of the House, especially as that won’t be considered until after the next election.”
Reality check: No one ever challenges Madigan for speaker. […]
“That’s looking a long way ahead. I have to get through the primary,” [Democratic state representative candidate Lance Yednock] told me in November. “I will support whoever supports the middle class.” […]
I recently asked the Madigan question of [Democratic state representative candidate Jill Bernal], to which she responded, “I don’t know him. I have never met him.”
I don’t know and have never met Barack Obama or Donald Trump, but I have my opinions about them. […]
Would [Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake] support Madigan for speaker?
“I’m glad to evaluate whoever throws their name into the ring,” Yingling said.
* Meanwhile…
Drury said it is tarnishing the state of Illinois and if Madigan is not going to step down on his own, “I am going to give everybody a path to make it happen,” noting the House does not need 60 Democrats to stand up against Madigan.
“We just need to have eight Democrats brave enough to say we will not vote for any more legislation he puts up there until he steps down because he will then have 59 votes,” Drury said.
He personally called out Reps. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago), Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), Ann Williams (D-Chicago), Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville), Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake), Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park), Sue Scherer (D-Decatur), Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) and Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook).
“You campaign every two years and say you are going to stand up and you are going to show your community you are not with the speaker and everything he wants,” Drury said, adding Madigan is the face of sexual harassment in the state. “Stand with me or stand together and disregard me all together, but stand together and make sure we take power back in this House.”
- Seriously? - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 10:45 am:
Capone went down for tax evasion. Madigan could go down for not properly addressing sexual harassment allegations. Whatever gets the job done is fine with me.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 10:51 am:
What are the odds Rauner wins and Madigan no longer Speaker? If that happened would Rauner actually be in charge then? Who would he blame then?
- Perrid - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 10:53 am:
People pick the facts they want. I don’t see any concrete evidence here that the Speaker did anything even slightly wrong. I agree he was likely trying to protect his ally, or at least trying to avoid a scandal, but there’s no proof (yet). Calling for his resignation right now just proves what everyone knows, that Drury - like the vast, vast majority of politicians - cares more about show boating than anything even resembling character or truth. It’s just premature at this point. Same for Kennedy. They both want Madigan gone yesterday and don’t mind twisting the truth into pretzels to do it. I am by no means a fan of Mike Madigan, but I expect more than this from any random person on the street. It’s disgusting.
- JohnnyPyleDriver - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 10:54 am:
Are Republicans going to vote for Rauner for Governor?
- Ok stop - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:00 am:
As a former federal prosecutor, I believe it is worth mentioning that Mr. Drury currently holds the record for eye-rolls in the capitol. Ms. Ives was a quickly gaining second, but then she went full Oberweis on us last week.
I thought DINOsaurs were extinct?
- Not a Billionaire - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:00 am:
NOW Unlike our sad weak unions plays rough. They may threaten primaries against any Den who doesn’t vote to get rid of him.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:02 am:
- DuPage Saint -
===- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 5, 17 @ 11:05 am
…
Rauner wins, Madigan Retires - 75/1
Rauner wins, Madigan wins, Speaker too - 12/1
Rauner wins, Madigan wins, not Speaker 20/1
Rauner loses - 5/2===
- PJ - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:02 am:
==They may threaten primaries against any Den who doesn’t vote to get rid of him==
Hah. No.
- Moe Berg - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:05 am:
Regardless of his relationship with the Speaker, or lack thereof, the fact that Drury doesn’t have a single friend or ally in the the whole of the General Assembly says something about the kind of person he is.
Holier than thou doesn’t work well in life and it sure doesn’t work in politics and government.
And, while it’s no crime, Drury is a jerk to everyone at the Capitol. An utterly brittle, nonconstructive presence. The General Assembly will be a better institution when he departs.
- Just Me - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:16 am:
What is amazing to me is that the Speaker cherishes the institution of the General Assembly. However, by staying in power so long he is tarnishing the very institution he seeks to protect.
Dude, you’ve done a great job. Take a victory lap and go out in style.
- Whatever - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:17 am:
Moe is correct — Drury is more than an imperfect messenger, and lacks the ability to create a coalition of more than one. Sadly, however, his point is correct about some of his colleagues, especially those who distance themselves from Madigan on the campaign trail, but cozy up to him once they get to Springfield. They need to show some courage and some political integrity.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:22 am:
I don’t know how Drury chose the named Democratic legislators to call out, but can we assume that all of them get to pick an issue and tell Drury how he should handle it? Turn about is fair play.
- morningstar - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:27 am:
Perrid -
Well said. Thank you.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:35 am:
The speaker harassed no one. While Drury harasses my intelligence every time he says something.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 11:47 am:
–I don’t know how Drury chose the named Democratic legislators to call out,–
Yeah, is there rhyme or reason for that?
- Duhhh - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:00 pm:
“I am by no means fan of the speaker” = SPEAKER FAN
- walker - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:14 pm:
“”adding Madigan is the face of sexual harassment in the state.”"
LOL. Drury often makes some sense in his statements, then completely falls off his stool with his closer.
- Robert the Bruce - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:21 pm:
Male legislators should stand up too, but I’m not holding my breath.
Drury is the wrong leader of the expel Madigan movement.
But there’s enough votes in the House Democratic Women’s Caucus to force a leadership change, no? And potentially ask for a cleanup of the culture, by replacing Madigan with one of the female assistant majority leaders?
- Truthteller - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:24 pm:
Staffer sends sexually harassing emails to subordinate. When the issue is reported. The staffer is told to stop and does so.
Victim quits. Several months later informs the Speaker whose attorney meets with the victim in less than a week. Victim asks for work but is turned down and subsequently goes public .
Not sure the staffer should have been fired if, as it appears, he ceased the harassment.
But the staffer is fired.
Does everyone agree that a 20 year veteran who sends harassing emails, but stops when told, should be fired?
- Flapdoodle - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:24 pm:
Agree with Perrid. This is unfortunately becoming less about rooting out sexual harassment and more about attacking Madigan in hopes of driving him out of power. Stay focused, people.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:29 pm:
The Rauner Campaign would like to thank Rep. Drury for the campaign commercial fodder.
- Stand Tall - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:43 pm:
I believe he was told by the subordinate to stop and didn’t and yes he crossed the line and should have been fired. These are not new rules people they have been in place for a long time and the politicians wrote the rules for all, they and their staff should know them and abide by them. Madigan failed to have a Legislative IG in place for what 3 years so he is part of the problem. Information that there was plenty of sexual harassment in the Capitol that he should have known this position was needed.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 12:43 pm:
=Does everyone agree that a 20 year veteran who sends harassing emails, but stops when told, should be fired?=
Harassing emails, regardless of tenure, should not be sent to subordinates. There is no excuse nor should there be a free pass when you’re caught. If you do it you should be fired. The standard can’t be that workplace harassment is ok if you’ve been here awhile as long as you stop harassing when asked.
- Colin O'Scopy - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 1:16 pm:
Let’s put this in the perspective of those who live outside the bubble and how that perception impacts what happens inside the bubble:
1) perception is reality. If the perception is that the Speaker acted slowly to address this matter and only acted when the press was going to pounce, it’s a problem
2) the #MeToo movement is as real as any movement to sweep across this land, so much so we haven’t begun to see it’s impact
3) there are Dem female legislators who believe very strongly in the #MeToo movement and it’s how they perceive the Speaker’s actions that matter most. I would even venture to say that there are male legislators who can get behind this development as a reason to withhold support for MJM
4) This is about to go beyond the Speaker’s grip on the chamber. Once the voters form their opinions, pressure will begin to mount for change, and once that begins, nothing will stop it.
- Original Rambler - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 1:33 pm:
Truthteller, you’re missing a large point here. It’s true that when Quinn was told to stop by his brother after the issue was reported he did. What about his failure to stop after SHE asked him to numerous times? Those don’t count against him? The problem with your question is that he didn’t stop when told so yes, he should be fired.
So was that an intentional oversight on your part? Your whole post sounds very Trumpian to me.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 1:44 pm:
Yes, Scott Drury, the perfect way to win a Democratic primary for statewide office is to collude with Republicans to take out a democratically-elected Democratic majority to create a coalition that isn’t serious about being progressive on any issues. This guy gets dumber by the day.
- Retired Educator - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 1:47 pm:
Drury, you do know when you lose this primary you are out of a job right. You can’t stand with anyone. You will be back in the private sector telling everyone who will listen, what a mover and shaker you were, BTW You are wrong, you have never been close to effective. Don’t go away mad, just go away.
- otttawa - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 1:48 pm:
David Guiliani is a IPI reporter employed the Times. No democratic will give him a answer. Many of his columns are not research before going to press.
- James the Intolerant - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
From my reading, the subordinate (even though as stated by Madigan’s lawyer she was a contract worker, not an employee) asked the superior to stop, he did not. She then went to the boss of her superior, and then he stopped.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 2:03 pm:
@Colin O’Scopy - I would generally agree with everything that you’re saying but only if Madigan was the harasser. I’m not sure what the litmus test is right now on an “appropriate” response. For the Quinn matter their could be an argument that he did in fact react appropriately. The larger and more problematic issue could be if there have been other accusations in the past that weren’t acted on timely. Madigan’s been around for a long time so it’s entirely possible that this isn’t the first time that he’s been confronted with this.
I’d say give this a few weeks to see if anything else surfaces. If there’s more than it could be a real problem that Madigan won’t be able to run away from.
- anon2 - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 2:05 pm:
=== Madigan is the face of sexual harassment in the state. ===
Ira will be happy to hear that he’s been replaced.
=== They may threaten primaries against any Den who doesn’t vote to get rid of him.===
Too late for this year.
If Alderman Quinn’s version is true, then the matter doesn’t seem such a huge coverup.
- E Pluribus Unum - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 2:12 pm:
Madigan is a politician (yes, obvious), he can live or die by the political sword, and he knows that. He will try to survive as long as possible as would anybody else, but in the end as he is a political creature, who really cares if he is gone? That’s politics, Illinois will go on, and likely for the better. And while this is going on, take the entire remnants of the Chicago Machine too - Burke, Berrios, D’Amico, et al…they all have huge taxpayer paid pensions (some with more than one) and will be just fine (whilst we continue to struggle).
- Truthteller - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 2:24 pm:
No oversight. Question is what is the appropriate level of discipline. And as far as Marty Quinn and Madigan, they bothe acted promptly
- BigDoggie - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 2:39 pm:
House Dems doing an homage to the Apostle Peter as we begin the Lenten season today…
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 2:42 pm:
Hey Scott - Jonathan Carroll was just appointed.
- blimp - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 3:07 pm:
Oswego’s odds
Good estimates. I’m with you on this.
- Steve - Wednesday, Feb 14, 18 @ 6:22 pm:
I’ve never been a fan of Mike Madigan. However, where’s the evidence that he knows this stuff was going on ? It’s hard to believe someone as disciplined at Mike Madigan would give the green light to sexual harassment.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:39 am:
Even if Madigan isn’t a sexual harasser, he’s abused his power in other ways. At least Drury is taking him on
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 8:06 am:
–I don’t know how Drury chose the named Democratic legislators to call out,–
I don’t know either, but upon further review, he could be suggesting that a rogue group of Democrats align with Republicans to elect a new speaker.
The only Illinois constitutional requirement to be speaker is to be a member of the House (the U.S. Constitution doesn’t even require that).
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 9:19 am:
**–I don’t know how Drury chose the named Democratic legislators to call out,–
Yeah, is there rhyme or reason for that?**
Sure… it was the HDEM targets, plus a few HDEM members who have shown some independence.
- DeseDemDose - Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:04 am:
Drury justs wants to see his name in print since his run for Governor is a speck of insignifigance.