* Press release…
After Libertarian and Conservative Party candidates submitted nominating petitions to challenge him in the upcoming election, Governor Rauner has mobilized his paid staff in an attempt to invalidate the candidates’ petitions and block them from getting on the ballot. Conservative Party candidate Sam McCann, who turned in more than 60,000 signatures on Monday, issued the following statement:
“Governor Rauner knows he cannot be reelected based on his record or on his principles, so he must resort to shady political gamesmanship. Conservatives and Republicans spoke loudly in the primary, nearly dropping Bruce Rauner from the contest completely. Now he is trying to silence the conservative movement that came in the wake of his failed leadership. The truth is that it should come as no surprise that we were able to collect so many valid signatures, and that our work was made easier with every action Governor Rauner took to divert Illinois from traditional conservative values. He’s isolated himself from his party and he has only himself to blame.”
All they’ve done so far is file requests to review or copy the petitions.
* Meanwhile…
McCann on Monday again criticized Rauner for signing legislation that expanded taxpayer funding of abortion. McCann said it was clear from “day one” that Rauner “wasn’t a conservative, wasn’t a real Republican. He was looking to buy a party.”
“He said he was going to turn the state around, that he needed all the Republicans to be in lockstep with him. Well here we are four years later, we have a tax increase, (and) the only thing he’s done is institute a social agenda,” McCann said. “I don’t even know why the Democrats are running J.B. Pritzker or anybody else, no one has been better for the Chicago Democratic machine than Bruce Rauner.”
On taxes, McCann said it should be up to the voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to allow for a graduated income tax instead of the current flat rate structure — an area of sharp disagreement with Rauner, who contends a graduated tax rate would result in a tax hike for many Illinoisans.
Even so, McCann said he agreed with Rauner that the income tax hike put in place last year should be rolled back. McCann said he believed a reduction could be put in place immediately, saying he will talk about his spending plans in the coming weeks.
I cannot wait to see this spending plan that supposedly immediately rolls back the tax hike.
- Exclamation Point Deleted - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:33 am:
McCann really needs to drop the “martyr” schtick. It has grown tiresome.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:41 am:
=== It has grown tiresome===
lol
You’re in for a very tiring summer and fall.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:44 am:
===McCann said it was clear from “day one” that Rauner “wasn’t a conservative, wasn’t a real Republican. He was looking to buy a party.”
“He said he was going to turn the state around, that he needed all the Republicans to be in lockstep with him. Well here we are four years later, we have a tax increase, (and) the only thing he’s done is institute a social agenda,” McCann said. “I don’t even know why the Democrats are running J.B. Pritzker or anybody else, no one has been better for the Chicago Democratic machine than Bruce Rauner.”===
If there’s a couple million in ads behind this message, especially downstate, then McCann could be able to do the damage needed to defeat Bruce Rauner, the goal of the Ives/Proft conservative wing, especially those concentrations on social issues, like HB40.
This is the message. Can McCann and his crew deliver that damage, fatal damage to Bruce Rauner’s campaign.
To the whining,
For the love of Pete, McCann has had an entire professional crew working to get these petitions pristine and tough to challenge. I understand the want to make hay on that challenge, it’s a political move, understandable, but how about let the challenge be filed. They’re just looking at the petitions. Ugh.
Oh, as Rich points out perfectly… the 32% tax hike Bruce Rauner validated and certified… was always needed, it was as never an option or a “give” for the turnaround agenda. It was 100% needed.
I don’t think McCann will run on how he plans to BE governor, but play off the themes well covered here as what conservatives also agree are Rauner failures.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:48 am:
==McCann really needs to drop the “martyr” schtick.==
Good luck with that. Faux victimhood is a key part of the political identity of the cohort Sam is trying to reach.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:49 am:
Is McCann capable of going full Trump? He could absolutely introduce a balanced budget that plays well with the 5-10% of the voting public that he is targeting, but does he have the stomach for that?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:50 am:
Enjoy those ads the Rauner camp is cooking up Sam, you know, the ones about the military service and your business acumen.
- dominionhinny - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:50 am:
I look forward to McCann trolling failure Rauner for the next four months. It couldn’t happen to a more deserving fella.
- TopHatMonocle - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:51 am:
In a way Rauner actually enabled a third party when he challenged the Libertarian’s petition in 2014. They fought it vigorously and had the part of the law requiring a full slate of candidates for every office struck down. Otherwise McCann would have had to find SoS, AG, Treasurer, and Comptroller candidates too. If Rauner is really desperate they might object based on that anyways.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:57 am:
=Enjoy those ads the Rauner camp is cooking up Sam, you know, the ones about the military service and your business acumen.=
I expect that Rauner will employ a similar strategy that he used with Ives and ignore McCann out of fear of legitimizing his candidacy. Of course that strategy almost blew up on him.
If McCann survives petition challenges and gets a few bucks it will be game on. The last thing that Rauner wants is a debate over who the “real” Republican is. And keep in mind that’s a very relevant discussion since the President currently enjoys 87% approval amongst Republicans.
- Exclamation Point Deleted - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 9:59 am:
Rich - yes sir. And it’s not even the 4th of July. :/
- TopHatMonocle - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:00 am:
On second look, seems like the Libertarian’s lawsuit against the full slate law started in 2012. But I still wouldn’t be shocked if Rauner objects based on that, and it would be a really desperate move.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:00 am:
Why is Rauner so scared of McCann? I thought Rauner is fighting for Illinois, fighting for home. Isn’t his record of standing up to Madigan and corrupt insiders more than enough to overcome some unknown, third party candidate?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:01 am:
This “schtick” and future schticks are doing what’s intended - keeping his name in the media.
- FormerRepublican - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:07 am:
McCann is such a whiner. However, a good chunk of the Ives crowd loves playing the victim, so this could work. This is going to be a long summer/fall…
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:08 am:
^The Ives crowd doesn’t love playing the victim, they absolutely believe they are the victim.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:17 am:
If the state weren’t paying for all those abortions, we could roll back the tax increase yesterday. Isn’t it obvious?
- JT11505 - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:18 am:
“… He was looking to buy a party.”
So, Sam, who sold it to him?
- Board Watcher - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:19 am:
Why someone would put themselves and family through what McCann is about to see is beyond me. The Marine lie, bad business decisions, tax liens and misusing or questionable use of campaign funds. Why let 150 use you without any chance of winning? Maybe Sam should as Mayor Mickey Straub how that worked out for him….
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 10:20 am:
===So, Sam, who sold it to him?===
It was a gradual hostile takeover that peaked and completed Rauner’s ownership with the $20 million and “no $&@#% problems” attached.
That’s when Republicans became the Raunerites.
They just obliged to being bought.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 11:22 am:
It keeps him in the news - free.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 11:30 am:
–McCann really needs to drop the “martyr” schtick. It has grown tiresome.–
Are you kidding? Victimhood is the bread-and-butter for self-described “conservatives” these days.
It all started with the War on Christmas……
- Sue - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 11:49 am:
Rauner is going to lose no matter what as will the residents of Illinois
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 11:56 am:
McCann can keep playing the “martyr schtick” as long as Rauner keeps playing it.
- Truthseeker - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 1:05 pm:
Two billionaires and a knucklehead. . . . . . .gentlemen, somebody claiming to be from Netflix is on the phone . . . .
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 1:09 pm:
===…gentlemen, somebody claiming to be from Netflix is on the phone . . . .===
Maybe Amazon content
Just a wild thought…
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 1:35 pm:
==as will the residents of Illinois==
The perpetual victim schticks are growing tiresome as well.
- NorthsideNoMore - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 3:16 pm:
Just wondering if he ever took some of that money BR dumped intro the state party coffers a few years back? Any who both parties have been for sale to high bidders GOP was desperate for cash after being drowned out for many a year by the speakers cash flow and control. Worm would turn the other way if roles were reversed.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jun 26, 18 @ 4:51 pm:
Sam McCann because both Bruce or JB McCan’t.