* Most of the coverage of last night’s forum centered around this topic. From a Daniel Biss press release…
At tonight’s Illinois Democratic candidate forum hosted by the State Journal-Register, WMAY and the University of Illinois in Springfield, the Pritzker panic continued as JB Pritzker recycled his sloppy attacks against Daniel Biss.
JB has been sloppy in his continued attempts to smear Daniel. Let’s check the facts.
JB Pritzker is Michael Madigan’s candidate for governor. He paid his dues for the Speaker’s support with donations from newly-formed LLCs. Then after Madigan lined up establishment support for Pritzker’s campaign he returned the favor by refusing to call for Madigan’s resignation as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois in the face of his mishandling of multiple allegations of sexual harassment coming out of his office.
“I’ve called for Mike Madigan to step down as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois,” said Daniel Biss during the debate. “I’m a Democratic elected official and I’ve lost my faith in his ability to lead the Illinois House as well. We have an important choice to make in this election. I have a record of independence from Mike Madigan, but JB Pritzker is Mike Madigan’s hand-picked candidate in this race. It took JB Pritzker a week to get permission from Mike Madigan to even name him in talking about the sexual harassment cover-up. We need someone with independence, and I’m that candidate.”
After Pritzker continued to dodge the question, Biss responded.
“I just want to point out that when JB got done attacking me, he said he was going to answer the question but then didn’t, because he hasn’t gotten permission yet from Madigan to answer that question.
“But here’s the truth,” continued Biss. “There’s a Pritzker-Madigan wing of the Democratic Party, and there is a progressive wing of the Party that I’m a part of. And I’ll work with anybody. When I’m in office, I work with both parties and all wings of all parties to move a progressive agenda forward.”
As Pritzker flailed on the Madigan question tonight, he attempted to change the subject to Daniel Biss, criticizing Biss for voting for Madigan for Speaker, and running his PAC.
As a member of the House in 2010, Daniel Biss was presented with two options for Speaker: a Republican or a Democrat. Biss voted for the Democrat.
JB Pritzker doesn’t always support Democrats over Republicans. During President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012, Pritzker told Bloomberg that he had to wait and see who the Republicans nominated before he could decide who to support for election, calling President Obama “mediocre.” At the time, the Republican candidates who he considered supporting over President Obama were Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul.
Daniel was offered a chance to fight against Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump’s agenda by heading the Leading Illinois for Tomorrow (LIFT) PAC, which sought to show voters the similarities between Rauner and Trump. JB Pritzker donated $900,000 to the PAC, and Chris Kennedy donated another $50,000.
* We have Biss’ full forum comments above, so let’s look at how Pritzker reacted at the event. SJ-R…
Pritzker, responding to Biss’ criticism, essentially called the state senator a hypocrite for accepting financial support from Madigan in the past while running a super PAC in 2016 that was funded heavily by Madigan allies.
Despite not doing so in his initial statement on the sexual harassment controversy, Pritzker did call out Madigan by name at the debate.
“We need to make sure that there is a fully independent investigation, something that is totally independent of Speaker Madigan’s operation and Speaker Madigan himself,” Pritzker said. “We need to make sure that we stand up for the women who come forward in workplaces across the state of Illinois and, in (running mate) Juliana Stratton and my administration, there will be a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment.”
* And…
But Pritzker did not answer a panelist’s question of whether Madigan should give up his party chairmanship, his speaker role or both.
“He hasn’t gotten permission yet from Madigan to answer that question,” said Biss in noting the dodge.
For his part, Pritzker lashed out at Biss and labeled “utterly ridiculous” the lawmaker’s claims of independence from Madigan.
“This is a state representative who got elected with Mike Madigan’s help, who accepted tens of thousands of dollars from him, who ran Mike Madigan’s super PAC and who’s accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from Springfield insiders, bankers and lobbyists,” Pritzker said.
* More…
Pritzker said an independent investigation that Madigan has approved will identify where blame should fall. He labeled Biss’ claim “utterly ridiculous,” contending Biss was first elected to office in 2011 with Madigan’s help and has taken “tens of thousands of dollars” from Madigan-controlled campaign committees and “from Springfield insiders, bankers and lobbyists.”
* And…
On his second try, Pritzker still avoided the question, saying an independent investigation prompted by Madigan “will determine who the perpetrators are and who is truly responsible.”
Shaw Decremer became the second Madigan operative to be dismissed this month — his exit coming just seven days after the firing of Madigan’s longtime aide Kevin Quinn after a woman came forward with allegations of unwanted and repeated advances from Quinn, the brother of Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
“Everybody, I mean, everybody up and down the line, who is responsible should be held accountable,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker may have been lucky that Chris Kennedy couldn’t attend the forum.
*** UPDATE *** ILGOP…
As Illinois Democrats turn up the heat on Mike Madigan for his mishandling of sexual assault allegations within his political organization, one Democrat has given Madigan his tacit support - J.B. Pritzker, Madigan’s candidate for governor.
But media outlets aren’t letting Pritzker off the hook for his refusal to answer a simple question that’s on everybody’s minds - ’should Mike Madigan resign as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, House Speaker, or both?’
I already posted most of the links they included, but the party included this powerful clip of Biss after the forum that I hadn’t seen…
Mic drop.
- Austinman - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:46 am:
JB should be very thankful because the mad man Kennedy would have been very hard on JB
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:51 am:
–As a member of the House in 2010, Daniel Biss was presented with two options for Speaker: a Republican or a Democrat.–
Option Three: Run for speaker.
- Real - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:52 am:
Why does it seem as if Biss is trying to damage Pritzker to the point where Rauner can win?
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:54 am:
**Why does it seem as if Biss is trying to damage Pritzker to the point where Rauner can win?**
LOL - sure. There’s no way Rauner would try to beat up JB with anti-Madigan stuff if Biss didn’t say it first. *eyeroll*
Biss is trying to win. So he’s willing to go after JB. JB is trying to win. So he’s willing to go after Biss.
That’s how campaigns work.
- Real - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:56 am:
@Saul
Biss won’t be winning the primary so all he is doing now is helping Rauner.
- Perrid - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:56 am:
“Everybody, I mean, everybody up and down the line, who is responsible should be held accountable” I get that this is not as emotionally therapeutic as “Everything is Madigan’s fault and he should be burned in effigy” but it probably is more responsible than the people that Madigan is not backing, his political opponents so to speak, calling on him to resign.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:56 am:
Pritzker should be thankful because Biss was indeed vulnerable about ties to Madigan. And when Biss throws in “and I’ll work with anyone” I believe him: he’s never shown much interest in reform and has already shown with respect to the pension crisis that he’ll be Quinn-like in abandoning previously held positions in the quest for power.
I don’t even think Biss has endorsed Fritz Kaegi - if he has I can’t find it reported. And if he hasn’t, that speaks volumes.
Kennedy, by contrast, could have both tarred JB with Madigan and Berrios and repeated JB’s attacks on Biss, touting the Trib and Herald’s endorsements as showing he’s the real independent Democrat in the race.
Biss is right about one thing though: this primary is about the Madigan Dem Party vs. the rest of the party. If he truly believes that, he and Kennedy should make a pact that whoever is running third in the polls as of a certain date should drop out of the race.
- former southerner - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:57 am:
-Real @ 8:52 “Why does it seem as if Biss is trying to damage Pritzker to the point where Rauner can win?”
Because the “obsessive hysteria” he blamed for his pension legislation personifies his approach to political life and isn’t confined to one specific domain. Compared to Rauner he is a better choice but compared to anyone offering true stability and leadership he shows up for the weak showman that is his true self.
- Real - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:57 am:
Biss can’t win without African American support. He has little support there and even downstate.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 8:58 am:
And expect to hear these attacks recycled by Rauner from now until November.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:00 am:
===And expect to hear these attacks recycled by Rauner from now until November.===
Yep.
Rauner will continue to use Dems against each other to depress the turnout and keep himself viable.
This is one of those times where a Primary helps the other party.
- low level - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:01 am:
This is the same Biss who was the main Senate Dem appointee to the conference comittee that would have reduced pension benefits for state workers?
The infamous SB1 - that the IL Supreme Court ruled unanimously violated the state constitution? Sounds more like a Rauner move than any progressive ideals.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:03 am:
I’m still not convinced that most voters, or even many voters, care about Madigan. Biss and Kennedy are chasing the shiny things that Rauner invented. Once Rauner stops running ads about Madigan (and someday he will) votet interest will dissipate. Then it will become apparent hoe hollow Biss and Kennedy have been on the real issues.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:04 am:
Never confuse a massive ego for a political conspiracy. Dan Biss only cares about Dan Biss; not the state, not the party, only Dan Biss. Hence his attacks on JB.
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:10 am:
**I don’t even think Biss has endorsed Fritz Kaegi - if he has I can’t find it reported. And if he hasn’t, that speaks volumes. Kennedy, by contrast,**
When did Kennedy endorse Kaegi? I can’t find that reported.
- Downstate - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:16 am:
—I’m still not convinced that most voters, or even many voters, care about Madigan.——
Wow. Just wow.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:16 am:
Slippin’ Jimmy - good point, I just looked and don’t see it either. But he has called for Berrios to step down and he’s been awfully loud about Berrios. For Biss I only see a criticism of Berrios by Biss after this most recent public report and IIRC he’s said something along the lines of he was more interested in passing legislation to fix the system than calling out pols. But technically I agree and welcome the media to put the question to all 3 of them directly.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:22 am:
–Wow. Just wow.–
And the winner, for laziest phrase on the innertubes.
https://jezebel.com/5551384/the-5-most-overused-expressions-on-the-internet
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:24 am:
–..as JB Pritzker recycled his sloppy attacks against Daniel Biss.
JB has been sloppy in his continued attempts to smear Daniel. Let’s check the facts.–
Sloppy writing.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:26 am:
Biss also shares his South Side office with Robin Kelly and Fritz Kaegi, I believe
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:34 am:
Biss running for Speaker in 2010 would have been a self damaging exercise in futily.
However, a group of Democratic Representatives could challenge for the Speaker position in 2019. Promise the Republicans a return to the less Speaker powerful rules and you could have a majority.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:38 am:
@Anonymous 9:03 a.m.:
Do you think the polls showing Madigan with huge disapproval #s are made up?
You think Rauner invented voter dislike for Madigan and there wasn’t an undercurrent of it already there even before he showed up to exploit it?
What is Rauner stopping running ads against Madigan going to do anyway? Some other GOPer can just pick up the mantle to run ads against him and it’s not like Madigan is capable of launching some big charm offensive to get his numbers back up.
- Soapbox Derby - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 9:43 am:
@ Real
Should we just cancel the election and anoint JB (Junior Blago) now?
- Iggy - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 10:04 am:
=I’m still not convinced that most voters, or even many voters, care about Madigan.=
umm what… Did you just move here?
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 10:05 am:
**Pritzker’s more recent poll shows he recovered a lot of that.**
They overlapped for about half of the sample. There JB poll was in the field until 2 days later than the Biss poll. I doubt there is much difference in the “recovery.” Its just two different polls, with different samples, different turnout assumptions, etc.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 10:09 am:
lol…
Here’s how this “works”…
If you believe that Madigan isn’t a drag, then you’re probably not paying attention.
If you believe Madigan is a drag, than Rauner polling 26% approval is as real as you want the Madigan drag to be.
That’s what’s real.
Barely over 1 in 4 approve of Bruce Rauner.
You want to have a discussion about Madigan, Rauner will be on the ballot, himself, with his own ridiculously poor approval.
Ignoring that… that’s as bad as ignoring “Madigan(exclamation point)”
- walker - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 11:13 am:
“‘’I’m still not convinced that most voters, or even many voters, care about Madigan.'’”
“What are you going to do about Madigan?” is the first question I am asked at the door, at lunch, at events, by neighbors, including by those who are not politically active. Rauner’s sustained complaints and attacks, plus recent news, have put this issue at or near the top. (at least around here).
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 11:16 am:
Anonymous 9:03……here in southern Illinois at every political get together I have attended that is the first thing out of everyone’s mouth. “Nothing will get done as long as Madigan is in charge.” This isn’t something made up by Rauner. It is a real belief by many people.
- Olivia Pope - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 11:27 am:
Dear ILGOP and Governor Rauner,
I remember February 2014.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 11:28 am:
I am tired of the ‘but Madigan’ crowd, no matter what side of the aisle they’re from. Until you guys can convince the voters in his district to turn him out of office Mike Madigan will remain exactly where he is.
- Yiddishcowboy - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 11:34 am:
If Biss wins, is that his future chief of staff in the stillshot? (Sam Cahnman)
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 11:50 am:
Madigan is horrifically unpopular, but there’s little evidence that Democratic Primary voters vote on their distaste for him.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 12:28 pm:
Here’s another reason
Why Biss can’t be trusted.
He’s using Rauners
Only weapon
Anti Madigan sentiment
Against his own
Political party
Dan
You are ceding the ground
unfought
That Madigan
Is the problem
Madigan is not the problem
Bruce V Rauner
Is the problem
How can we trust you if
You can’t even
Get that right.
Opportunistic elitism
Serving the privileged.
You serve the intelligecia
You serve the upper middle-class
Well to do suburbanites.
East St. Louis, Marian, Effingham folk ask
“What is a Biss?”
- Gimme A Break - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 12:44 pm:
Wow. A person running for political office has ‘ego’? I’m shocked.
And, based on the comments on this and a related post, candidates cannot: a) accept significant sums of money; or b) criticize their opponents. What Frank Capra movie are these characters/commenters from?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 1:30 pm:
–What Frank Capra movie are these characters/commenters from?–
The one where Biss is the middle-class governor with the house in Evanston, raising his family on his GA pay?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 1:32 pm:
= Dan Biss only cares about Dan Biss; not the state, not the party, only Dan Biss. Hence his attacks on JB =
I can’t understand this. Biss was a Harvard/MIT grad and UChicago professor at age 25. In academia, that’s like getting drafted by the Bulls after your freshman year. He had a comfortable career ahead of him, even if his thesis had some error in it.
Ten years ago, he decided to give that up and spend his life doing this work - he sacrificed that comfortable career; he sacrificed when he lost his first race; he sacrificed when he made less than $35k last year due to the budget crisis.
Ten years ago, JB Pritzker was trying to buy the Treasurer’s seat from Blago. Today, he’s trying to skip the step where you spend a decade learning how to govern and legislate - which means you sometimes take tough votes and make public mistakes - so that he can buy the Governor’s mansion. And he’ll keep his mouth shut about Madigan in order to do so.
Biss isn’t a saint. But he isn’t doing this to satisfy the ego, which is so obviously what drives Pritzker.
- TKMH - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 3:19 pm:
==Biss isn’t a saint. But he isn’t doing this to satisfy the ego, which is so obviously what drives Pritzker.==
if Biss had a cut of the Pritzker fortune, something tells me he would’ve aimed higher than State Rep. in his first race.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 3:20 pm:
If the GOP is so big on pursuing this issue, please air out the hanky panky that allegedly preceded a certain high-ranking individual’s sudden exit from the Guv’s staff.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 22, 18 @ 3:39 pm:
Honeybear said it best.