Uihlein gives thumbs up to Proft, Tillman
Thursday, Jun 7, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The New York Times becomes the latest in a long line of national publications to profile Republican moneybags Dick Uihlein…
The Uihlein forces drew sharp criticism for a recent television ad from the campaign of Jeanne Ives, the conservative challenger they backed in a primary against Gov. Bruce Rauner of Illinois. The ad featured a cartoonish depiction of a transgender woman, highlighting Mr. Rauner’s support for a bill permitting people to change the gender on their birth certificates.
“It was probably the most offensive thing I’ve seen in a state race,” said Pat Brady, the former Illinois Republican chairman.
Mr. Uihlein said he “had no involvement with the ad,” and the couple said, “We value diversity in our community and at Uline.” […]
Mr. Uihlein is the largest donor to Mr. Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC, which supports hard-right candidates and funded more than a dozen publications resembling newspapers, with names like North Cook News and East Central Reporter. […]
Mr. Brady, the former Illinois Republican Party leader, suggested that Mr. Uihlein was an easy mark for political operatives; he also criticized Mr. Proft and his associates for spending Mr. Uihlein’s money wildly on long shots.
“They’ve just given him such bad advice that it makes him look kind of goofy, and he’s not: He’s a serious guy,” Mr. Brady said. “These guys are making hundreds of thousands of dollars off him.” […]
In his responses, Mr. Uihlein said he had long worked with Mr. Proft and [John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute] “advancing conservative principles” and believed “they have both done so admirably.”
So, the money will apparently continue flowing.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:46 pm:
A fool and his money…
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:48 pm:
–Mr. Uihlein said he “had no involvement with the ad,”…–
Except for paying for its production and broadcast. Which are pretty important, when it comes to TV spots.
What a strange thing to say.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:50 pm:
If Uihlein thought Proft’s ads were tasteless, disrespectful, or any other negative, he’d withhold the monies.
Since Uihlein isn’t, Proft’s ads will continue to frame Uihlein as much as Uihlien’s own donations to Roy Moore define Uihlein too.
Money speaks.
- anonymous - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
Tillman and Proft got themselves an easy mark. For all of his “conservative values,” Mr. Uihlein gave Illinois Bruce Rauner and that makes me question his conservative values.
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:53 pm:
Pat Brady is concerned about Dick Uihlein looking kind of goofy? Maybe he should be more concerned about his boy Bruce and his numerous costume changes.
- anonymous - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
== Pat Brady is concerned about Dick Uihlein looking kind of goofy? ==
Pat Brady is no prize but even conservatives think Uihlein is goofy with such embarrassing results and so much money wasted. Symptomatic of inherited wealth - there doesn’t have to be a good result.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 2:33 pm:
Lighting money on fire.
- Chris P. Bacon - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 3:14 pm:
Cubs in ‘16 with the definitive response.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 3:23 pm:
==Lighting money on fire.==
==A fool and his money…==
You guys, shhhhhhhhhhhh
Mr Uihlein sir, if you’re reading this, please ignore the comments above and continue to give your bags of money to these two fine, intellitgent gentlemen who are not at all grifters but serious political pros who completely understand the dynamics of winning elections in Illinois.
- LoisLearned2much - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 7:28 pm:
SMH-as a conservative who wants to get good candidates elected, insanity is doing the same thing over and with the same people. The conservative movement & the money, including Uihlein, have lost their minds.
- Tazewell Tom - Thursday, Jun 7, 18 @ 10:51 pm:
For those non-Illinois readers…to clarify what the NYTimes said about the Jeanne Ives ad….. The commercial featured live human actors…. It was not a cartoon. VIdeo probably out there on YouTube somewhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZwKZf2jtHI
- Honeybadger - Friday, Jun 8, 18 @ 6:59 am:
Stop buying his products and let him see a drop in revenue, that is the only way he will get the message.