[Bumped up to Friday for visibility.]
* As of yesterday at noon, Chris Kennedy’s campaign said that it had not yet conducted sexual harassment training for its campaign workers. As you know, Kennedy made a big media splash with his own proposal to combat sexual harassment in Illinois politics. That plan requires “sexual harassment training by a third party provider.”
Yesterday at noon, a Kennedy spokesperson claimed the campaign is “bringing in an outside expert to lead sexual harassment training for our campaign staff.”
At tonight’s WBEZ debate, Kennedy said “everyone has to go through sexual harassment training in our campaign.” Click here for a video clip.
* From the Pritzker campaign’s live debate reality check e-mails…
REALITY CHECK: Chris Kennedy Lies About His Campaign’s Sexual Harassment Training
Tonight, Chris Kennedy claimed that his campaign staff have received sexual harassment training, but just yesterday the Kennedy campaign admitted it had failed to hold such a training. The Kennedy campaign needs to tell voters the truth.
* I asked the Kennedy campaign for a response…
As Chris said, our staff members have received sexual harassment training and, as our campaign team continues to grow, our new team members are scheduled to receive it. This claim is an effort to deflect from JB Pritzker’s failure to stand with women and to empower women.
JB Pritzker works tirelessly to protect Michael Madigan while his political organization is riddled with claims of sexual and workplace harassment. JB Pritzker has zero credibility on this issue. He puts out ads and soundbites about how he’ll fight for women, yet when it comes time to fight, he steps to the side. He won’t stand with women and call on Madigan to step down during an investigation and he won’t stand with women when it comes time to empower them, as evidenced by the lack of women in leadership roles at Pritzker Group.
- Concerned Dem - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 7:54 pm:
Yet another example of Kennedy’s inability to communicate without sticking his foot in his mouth.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 7:59 pm:
Was the spokesperson unaware that training would be completed… that day?
This is an odd timeline.
- Kennedy’s inability - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:33 pm:
At least they’ll be trained to sexually harrass by election day.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:41 pm:
Curious about what constitutes training on preventing and stopping sexual harassment. WW2 Army sex education was “Flies spread disease, keep yours zipped.”
Short but operational.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:48 pm:
Maybe they just got it done fast. They don’t have that many staffers, lol.
- Shytown - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:52 pm:
== As Chris said, our staff members have received sexual harassment training and, as our campaign team continues to grow, our new team members are scheduled to receive it. ==
So…the campaign gave all staff sexual harassment training in the past 24 hours by a third party provider?
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:52 pm:
In campaign car on the way to debate site. “Ok, everyone. Sex harassment bad. Any questions? No. Then you’re officially trainees.”
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:54 pm:
Darn auto fill - “trained”
- Anon2 - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 8:55 pm:
Democratic primary voters aren’t voting on this. Get some perspective, people.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 9:04 pm:
Last Bull, that’s pretty much what passed for “sex ed” back in AA’s high school days.
- Concerned Dem - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 9:13 pm:
Anon2, you maybe right but the larger issue is that Kennedy is terrible at communicating in a campaign setting. His discomfort with his role as a candidate manifests it’s self in the form of speaking in absolutes that end up making him look ridiculous. It started with his acting like he was being put through a McCarthy hearing when a reporter asked him if he was running for Governor in 2016 and has continued throughout the entire cycle. It’s exactly why Kennedy is Rauner’s ideal opponent for the general.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 9:19 pm:
Well, who was the third party provider that did the training?
- Anon163 - Thursday, Mar 1, 18 @ 10:19 pm:
The Kennedy campaign might still have Jeff Rush working for the campaign. Someone should check his record when dealing with women in 2007. Tsk, tsk, tsk…
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 9:11 am:
This debate was a tough clash between Kennedy and pritzker
- Annonin' - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 9:53 am:
Wonderin’ if media will ever do a folo up on the safeguards imposed to prevent new “cyber attacks” and other “security” misadventures.
Certain that list will be enlightening.
same goes for GovJunk safeguards.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 2, 18 @ 11:58 am:
Hopefully, Uncle Ted didn’t give him any advise on how to sexually harass