Local 150 discloses petition work for McCann
Wednesday, Jul 11, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* No surprise at all considering they ran pretty much the whole show. Tribune…
Third-party governor candidate Sam McCann reported receiving $77,700 more in campaign contributions from a union that endorsed J.B. Pritzker in the Democratic primary for governor, campaign finance records show.
About $60,000 from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 paid for petition circulation services for McCann. Last month, he turned in roughly 65,000 petition signatures to get on the November ballot, a number so big that it helped insulate him from an attempted challenge by Republican allies of Gov. Bruce Rauner and others.
McCann is running under the new Conservative Party banner, exacerbating the challenges facing Rauner’s re-election as he seeks to heal divisions within his party’s base.
The central Illinois Republican previously had received $50,000 from the politically active union. It plays politics on both sides of the aisle, but union leader James Sweeney has been highly critical of Rauner’s agenda, particularly in trying to end a requirement that prevailing union wages be paid on public construction projects.
150 has endorsed Pritzker. Not too difficult to figure out what’s going on there.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
Today, Sam McCann applauded President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to fill the vacancy left on the United States Supreme Court by retiring Justice Kennedy.
McCann issued the following statement:
Brett Kavanaugh is an outstanding choice to fill Justice Kennedy’s vacancy on the Supreme Court. He has made logical common-sense interpretations of gun laws throughout his years on the bench, and his appointment brings an opportunity to eliminate infringements upon the rights of lawful firearm owners in Illinois and across the country.
Once confirmed, Kavanaugh will protect and restore the conservative values that Americans hold dear, but which have been under attack for decades. Having a solid conservative majority on the court also brings hope for the overturn of Roe v. Wade, one of the most wrongly-decided cases in American history.
I am a staunch pro-life advocate and the distinction between my opponents and I could not be clearer on this issue. Bruce Rauner and J.B. Pritzker are both outspoken advocates for abortion, with Rauner’s campaign pointing to his support of House Bill 40 as his effort to preserve women’s right to choose in Illinois in the case that Roe v. Wade is overturned. Prior to House Bill 40’s passage, a reversal of Roe v. Wade would have rendered abortions illegal in Illinois. When he signed House Bill 40, Bruce Rauner turned on conservatives and threw his support behind on-demand taxpayer-funded abortions, which have quadrupled in the first half of 2018.
Conservatives across Illinois should celebrate this nomination, and this movement should further alienate Governor Rauner for his betrayal of conservative principles and the sanctity of human life.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 12:17 pm:
–150 has endorsed Pritzker. Not too difficult to figure out what’s going on there.–
Curious that will all his dough, Rauner didn’t try to bankroll some Bernie-or-Bust type to form a Progressive Party.
I mean, the McCann play was telegraphed for months. Rauner’s crew had the time, ways and means to counter, if they had hustled.
But, then again, with all those millions, they didn’t bother to challenge a Nazi. So, maybe “hustle” isn’t in the toolbox.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
===I am a staunch pro-life advocate and the distinction between my opponents and I could not be clearer on this issue. Bruce Rauner … outspoken advocate(s) for abortion, with Rauner’s campaign pointing to his support of House Bill 40 as his effort to preserve women’s right to choose in Illinois in the case that Roe v. Wade is overturned. Prior to House Bill 40’s passage, a reversal of Roe v. Wade would have rendered abortions illegal in Illinois. When he signed House Bill 40, Bruce Rauner turned on conservatives and threw his support behind on-demand taxpayer-funded abortions, which have quadrupled in the first half of 2018.===
Those not named “Mr. Breen” or - A guy -, who actually stand for what they say are things important to them… this could be a major thorn for Rauner and his Right flank… unless they are phony conservatives…
- Frank talks - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 12:30 pm:
Sam McCann does terribly Cook County and collars in general. I bet he’ll pull double digits downstate. If you think those digits are Pritzker voters you haven’t watched the last 3 cycles of elections south of I-80.
- ZC - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 12:41 pm:
I’ve hit this drum before, but for the life of me - and this is related to McCann’s comment above - I still don’t understand this distinction between “lawful firearm owners” and “unlawful firearm owners” when it comes to the “originalist” Second Amendment.
If something is truly a constitutional right, you get it back after you leave prison. You’re not permanently stripped of your First, Fourth, Fifth or Sixth amendment rights, just because you have a prior criminal conviction. It seems to me that murderers should therefore also get their handguns (or soon, their semi automatic rifles) back under any “originalist” interpretation of the Second Amendment, once they’ve served their time.
Some people respond, well, people can permanently lose their right to -vote- with a criminal conviction … but, in fact, there’s no clear promise that people can vote anywhere in the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution’s pretty clear that if the IL legislature wanted to select all the presidential electors itself in 2020, and deny the IL electorate any direct vote, that’d be perfectly “original.” That was clearly done with some frequency in the early Republic, and this was reiterated as part of the Supreme Court’s recent reasoning in _Bush v Gore_. There’s no real comparison in other words between the Second Amendment right to guns and the right to vote; one is a true right (allegedly), the other a privilege that the state legislature can withhold if it wishes (or set conditions on, like the presence or absence of a criminal conviction).
So, feel free to delete this Rich, if it’s off topic. But I’ve just never heard a very satisfying defense - and I stress, any NRA types out there, I’m interested in hearing it, not mocking it - why _non_ law-abiding Illinoisans shouldn’t get their semi automatic rifles back (for Kavanaugh), again once they’re out of prison. The Second Amendment seems like a very weird “fundamental right,” as promulgated by most of its supporters these days. It doesn’t apparently work like any of the others in the Constitution. Did James Madison explain somewhere how that part of it worked, too?
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 12:51 pm:
To the actual post - not a surprise.
To ZC - spare us your drum.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 12:59 pm:
It’s when I read things like this that I wish unions had developed their own equivalent to gangster rap or heavy metal. Billy Bragg’s there is power in a union just isn’t edgy enough anymore. I so want to hear jacked up music and raise a lighter to 150. Bloodfire
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
==Those not named “Mr. Breen” or - A guy -, who actually stand for what they say are things important to them… this could be a major thorn for Rauner and his Right flank… unless they are phony conservatives…==
Sooooooo. If you’re Conservative; it’s McCann or bust?
I bust.
Being called a Phony by you is…something I can live with. If 150 were serious about McCann they would have spent another $20K on Charm School. They aren’t, so they didn’t.
Vote em in Willy.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 1:14 pm:
–If 150 were serious about McCann they would have spent another $20K on Charm School. They aren’t, so they didn’t.–
Wbat, like Trump University Charm School?
If you had read the post, you’d realize that they’re serious about spending money to promote McCann and draw votes from Rauner to elect the candidate they endorsed, Pritzker.
How is that not “serious?”
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 1:16 pm:
===Sooooooo. If you’re Conservative; it’s McCann or bust?===
Hmm. Mr. Breen?
===In the face of overwhelming evidence of Rauner’s inability to competently administer the Illinois government, inability to stand up to Mike Madigan effectively, and inability to keep his word and his commitments, I can no longer support him.===
“Sooooooooo”
Rauner CAN competently administer the Illinois government, stand up to Mike Madigan effectively, and keep his word and his commitments?
lol
===Being called a Phony by you is…something I can live with===
You live with it for yourself, you and Mr. Breen, and the righteous indignation.
That’s who you have to face, yourself, not me. I didn’t force either one of you to compromise your own principles, principles so sacred..
===I can no longer support him===
… until ya do. So there’s that.
===If 150 were serious about McCann they would have spent another $20K on Charm School. They aren’t, so they didn’t.===
Meh. It’s July. We’ll see if any more monies are sent to McCann via 150.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 1:29 pm:
150 is taking a play right out of the Rauner playbook and supporting McCann. They seem pretty serious about it and not to shy about it either. Every vote for McCann will be one right out of Rauner’s back pocket.
Well played.
=I still don’t understand this distinction between “lawful firearm owners” and “unlawful firearm owners” when it comes to the “originalist” Second Amendment.=
Off topic but the “originalist” argument is a total canard. If you are a 2nd amendment originalist then you are talking about knives, clubs, and muskets.
Most of the “originalist” types or strict constructionists pick and choose where they take their stand. The 1st Amendment and 4th Amendments have many limits placed upon it by the courts. The 2nd Amendment is no more sacred than any of the others except in the mind of the NRA, pandering politicians, and ill informed citizens.
- Texas Red - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 1:56 pm:
@ZC
” I’m interested in hearing it, not mocking it - why _non_ law-abiding Illinoisans shouldn’t get their semi automatic rifles back (for Kavanaugh)”
The 5th Amendment states “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” A felon has been convicted under due process, the meaning clearly is that he/she may be deprived of his liberty. “Liberty” is accepted as meaning natural rights, including freedom of speech/right to keep/bear arms.
The 2nd Amendment does not protect any right, it prohibits government from infringing on them. The idea is that a felon has lost his /her rights, and the government is not infringing on any rights by denying felons ownership of guns.
- Exclamation Point Deleted - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
So if JB wins and McCann happens to “land” a plum appointment or gig will this raise the concerns of pay-to-play?
- Texas Red - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 2:24 pm:
Straight out of the MJM playbook.. Joe Barbosa and Grasiela Rodriguez come to mind !
- A guy - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 2:44 pm:
==If you had read the post, you’d realize that they’re serious about spending money to promote McCann and draw votes from Rauner to elect the candidate they endorsed, Pritzker.==
Many thanks. On account of you, I got to read it yet again. May I paraphrase?
They’re not serious about helping McCann, thus no charm school.
They’re very serious about helping JB…by hurting Rauner with McCann in the race.
See look at that. I genuinely understand their disingenuousness.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
Shenanigans like this prove that unions have way too much power in Illinois politics.
Claiming to be advocating for the middle class while advocating for bloated government and higher taxes that chase middle class families from Illinois
- Generic Drone - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 3:37 pm:
LP@ 2:58
Shenanigans like Rauner buying the republican party, show us that oligarchs have way too much power in Illinois politics. There. Fixed it for ya.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 3:45 pm:
==Shenanigans like this prove that unions have way too much power in Illinois politics.==
Are there any other organizations that you think shouldn’t be allowed to try to get their preferred candidates on the ballot?
Take a nap. Your problem is just that your guy can’t stop this.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 3:59 pm:
=Shenanigans like this prove that unions have way too much power in Illinois politics.=
So you would like to limit freedom of speech. Got it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 4:03 pm:
I’ll believe that GOP line about life being sacred when they stop putting small children in cages.
- ZC - Wednesday, Jul 11, 18 @ 8:57 pm:
TexasRed, thanks for playing. Not sure I agree, but I appreciate the response.