* There were a ton of cops outside JP Kelly’s when I drove by last night, but I was running late for a meeting and couldn’t stop…
“@BetsyforIL” is, of course, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Congressman Davis’ Democratic opponent. I’m told her husband was pushed.
I’ll post the video when it’s available.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Oh, man, this is so bad…
Rodney needs to issue a statement now.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Congressman Davis’ campaign…
Hey Rich - here is a statement from Matt Butcher, Campaign Manager. Would appreciate you posting.
“As soon as I was made aware of the incident, his employment was immediately terminated. This campaign has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or violence of any kind.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** I’ve asked for a statement from the congressman himself.
Pantagraph…
Dirksen Londrigan issued the following statement: “I’m relieved that my family, staff, and supporters are all OK and that this incident didn’t escalate even further.
“I am disturbed that someone would show up to an event and try to harass and intimidate me and my family, but he is sorely mistaken if he thinks that it is going to slow me down one bit.
“Nasty, divisive politics do nothing for our community. I will continue to hold public town halls, campaign with civility, and show this office and voters the respect they deserve.”
Her campaign manager, Emma Brown, said it was clear that Davis is worried about re-election, but that is no excuse for the behavior of his staff.
“Rodney needs to answer very clearly whether he or his campaign were aware of what this young man planned to do or even directed him to attend the event and try to intimidate Betsy, her family, and her supporters,” Brown said.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Rep. Rodney Davis himself…
My sincerest apologies to Betsy, her husband Tom, and everyone at JP Kelly’s. The incident involving a young field representative on my campaign should have never happened and his employment was immediately terminated. His actions go against everything I stand for and go directly against what I have been promoting, which is more civility in politics. This kind of behavior will never be tolerated on my campaign or with anyone on my staff.
*** UPDATE 5 *** SJ-R…
Springfield police Lt. Brian Oakes said Lovell showed up to the event “purposely trying to record members of Betsy Dirsken Londrigan’s campaign, trying to get them to say something inappropriate.”
Oakes said Lovell “smelled like an alcoholic beverage” and was “believed to be intoxicated.” […]
His profile says he had volunteered for U.S. Rep. John Shimkus’ 2016 campaign and had interned for state Rep. Tim Butler in 2015.
The profile says Lovell graduated from Lincoln Land Community College and from Eastern Illinois University, where he was involved with College Republicans.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:21 am:
Rodney “civility” Davis
- chad - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:22 am:
If true, look for the nearest state fair bus to throw this guy under.
- Stark - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:26 am:
A week after his boss made, let’s call them, uncivilized comments about immigrants. A hot streak for the Rodney Davis campaign. /s
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:27 am:
So, Levi, maybe a couple-tree Chardonnays too many at the fair yesterday?
Gettin’ tough with ladies at the bar? Not a good look for your boss.
When you woke up on that steel cot this morning, did your throbbin’ noggin wonder why no one had posted your bail?
Hint: You’re done.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:31 am:
Took Rauners Fight message literally.
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:33 am:
apparently he hasnt read the tom delay/republican mugshot guidebook. Smile for the mugshot!
- Texas Red - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:44 am:
Jameson’s !
- Charry - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:48 am:
=Hint: You’re done.=
he’s a 22 year old field office manager, it’s not like he ended some long accomplished career. he’s done for this cycle, but the gop bench is short I’m sure he will make a nice comeback someday.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:49 am:
=Hint: You’re done.=
How many Body Guard Days did he last?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:52 am:
Some video on the live coverage feed. Drunk, obnoxious and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Levi apparently didn’t have a friend in the joint to pull him out?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:52 am:
===he will make a nice comeback===
Still feel that way after watching the videos?
lol
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:55 am:
Considering the Guv is always fightin’ something (corruption, taxes, Madigan) and has made his campaign slogan “Fighting for Illinois” - I’m sure this guy will land on his feet. /s
- ;) - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 9:55 am:
@Texas Red, Lol. Please, don’t insult Jameson like that…
- Because I Said So.... - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:00 am:
That will look good on a resume.
- Norseman - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:02 am:
=== Rodney needs to issue a statement now. ===
With an apology to Londrigan.
- Almost the weekend - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:09 am:
Liquid Courage is an amazing medicine, but side effects can be career ending
- Reality - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:16 am:
He’s really intoxicated for it being broad daylight. That is no way to run a field operation.
- Molly Maguire - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:19 am:
Hello, Rodney, where are you? You might be done, too.
- zatoichi - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:24 am:
It’s been a while since doing serious time working in a bar. Levi gets tossed and his phone still works? Huh.
- My New Handle - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:29 am:
The new Republican party needs thugs. And now they have a training video. Ask the bartender for an application.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:30 am:
Good job, guy. One positive - you now probably have the whole apartment to yourself.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:31 am:
Well, the Republican party has become the reality TV party so I don’t really see a problem here /S
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:33 am:
Worked as a bartender and door guy.
This is way nicer than anyway I ever removed a patron from an establishment after they refused a polite request to leave.
Even if it was a political event, this guy would have been carried out/dragged out in a full nelson if I’d had to touch him.
But I didn’t like getting punched by people that thought they were defending themselves, so there’s that.
Similarly, if someone did throw a punch or performed behavior that otherwise merited police attention, it was also tradition to literally sit on them until the police arrived.
- lollinois - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:33 am:
Rodney has been leaving the “civility” camp and moving toward the “embrace Trump” camp for a while now. Maybe this is all to show he has the guts to stand up to Democrats… /s
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:37 am:
==Hello, Rodney, where are you? You might be done, too.==
Highly unlikely. Unless there is a wave of new/young voters that turnout or a lot of female voters turn against Davis, I just don’t see it happening. His district is mostly rural and he’s pretty popular in his district among older and male voters. The trump inspired blue wave is more likely to take down Roskam than Davis. Not that it couldn’t happen, but it’ll be a lot tougher than the Londrigan people would publicly admit.
- Montrose - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:38 am:
I get that Davis’ campaign manager oversees the staff and the hiring and firing, but given the ugliness of what was captured on the video, the statement needs to come from Rodney himself and needs to include an apology.
- Ole' Nelson - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:40 am:
This will be painful for him to watch sober. Maybe he will realize that drinking might not be working for him.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:43 am:
Quite the memorable State Fair this year
- Juice - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:49 am:
“This campaign has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment…”
Ok, I have questions then.
Did the campaign direct Mr. Lovell or any other employees to attend the Londrigan event?
Was anyone else from the Davis campaign in attendance with Mr. Lovell at the Londrigan event?
Was the Davis campaign aware that Mr. Lovell would be in attendance at the Londrigan event?
A GOP staffer taking a flyer to go to a Dem event by themselves on Governor’s (Republican) Day at the fair seems odd when there are plenty of other things going on.
- Sonny - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:52 am:
Doesn’t he know that nothing good ever happens at a bar after 7 pm?
- walker - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:55 am:
Campaign season has officially begun…
- Doofman - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:56 am:
“Still feel that way after watching the videos?”
I’m sure re-elected Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT) will hire the guy.
- walker - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:56 am:
Civility in action
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 10:57 am:
Now, how do we pin this on Madigan?
- siriusly - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:00 am:
Also - in response to other commenters. Please feel free to criticize the man for fighting.
But please back off on your harsh words about day drinking.
- Boone's is Back - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:05 am:
Man, it’s still light out too. Not a good look…
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:07 am:
James reis made a comeback after an arrest for assault while working lahood campaign to now lead it this cycle. Hmmmmmm
- Matty - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:07 am:
Anon: as a former bouncer, you would probably like Aussie series “Underbelly”. Particularly 3rd season
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:08 am:
If any of you ever did any serious drinking in your youth then this type of episode would not be that shocking. Standards were a bit different back in my heydays of the early 80’s and no cellphone video. Glad to see that Davis did the right thing and terminated the guy.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:10 am:
Was he there under orders from the Davis campaign? Because sending a person of color to an opponent’s fundraiser so he can yell “Racist!” when he gets kicked out would be particularly slimy.
- Politix - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:13 am:
Bird-dogging fail.
- A guy - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:17 am:
Good Lawd!
Beyond stupid.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:17 am:
Madigan and the alcohol consumption he controls
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:18 am:
–If any of you ever did any serious drinking in your youth then this type of episode would not be that shocking. Standards were a bit different back in my heydays of the early 80’–
What are you talking about?
I’ve done some serious drinking, and covered countless political events.
I don’t recall one time, ever, where some drunken staffer crashed an event and chased an opposing candidate around a bar, picking fights.
What are your examples of such behavior back in your “heyday?”
- Empty Chair - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:25 am:
There’s too much drinking involved in professional politics. There has to be a conversation about the role of alcohol in daily campaign life, fundraisers, recruitment, etc.
- illini - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:26 am:
Come on, Rodney, we are still waiting to hear from you and not your Campaign Manager.
Or you still afraid to interact with your constituents and the press in any kind of open venue?
- MetroEast - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:34 am:
Not a great look for the Davis camp. So many campaigns hiring these young kids and giving them titles with director in them. Arrogance and booze are a bad combo.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:38 am:
Rep. Davis does not hold open constituent events because he is afraid his staffers will assault members of the public
- Nick Name - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:43 am:
Tick-tock, Rodney. The longer you wait to issue a statement, the worse it looks for you.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:47 am:
Anybody, Democrat or Republican, who knows Rodney Davis understands that he did not endorse or condone this behavior. It’s inexcusable and he fired the guy.
His campaign will take the hit no doubt but Rodney is not a flamethrower who operates in this fashion.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:49 am:
==Did the campaign direct Mr. Lovell or any other employees to attend the Londrigan event?==
JP Kelly’s typically doesn’t close the bar for an event, they just reserve tables and the bar is still open. Chances are he was probably just there
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:50 am:
===Chances are===
LOLOL.
- Norseman - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:53 am:
Mission accomplished Rodney.
- Breaking News - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
Did Rodney Davis just terminate 50% of the Republican Party’s minority campaign staff?
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:23 pm:
Very sad. Obviously I do not condone or agree with his actions and the events that transpired which lead to his arrest. Levi is a kind, sweet, and smart young man. It’s just a shame what alcohol can make a person do.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 12:24 pm:
===Chances are he was probably just there===
The Dirksen Londrigan campaign heavily promoted this event, on Facebook and elsewhere. Chances he meant to be there.
Campaign spy/plant pro-tip of the day: if you go undercover to an opponent’s fundraiser or event, stick to coffee.
NB: kudos to Davis for the apology. Credit where it’s due.
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:15 pm:
So, is this guy the field director or what?
Every statement from the Davis Campaign seeks to distance themselves from the fact this guy had a position of some responsibility.
A field director is usually a bit more than a “young field representative”
- GOPgal - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 1:44 pm:
What a buffoon.
Rauner has personally given around $35 million to the Illinois Republican Party in the last 4 years, and this is the kind of “talent” we have working for a congressional campaign. Unbelievable. Real professionals just have no desire to waste their time with the losers around here.
- K8 - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:11 pm:
He was just a coffee boy.
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:12 pm:
As Trump would say..
You’re Fired
- Nick Name - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
Roll Call picked it up. It’s national news now:
http://tiny.cc/b5y1wy
- Nick - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
Davis apologized quickly, so I doubt this is still an issue come November.
But in the meantime, having your name attached to a mugshot in every major paper of the district is probably a pretty poor look.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 2:54 pm:
–Davis apologized quickly, so I doubt this is still an issue come November.–
I think you’ll be seeing clips of that video on TV in November, if she has any money.
- Columbo - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
- siriusly - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 11:00 am:
This explains why I could never find you in the afternoon when you worked for me. You could have at least invited me to join you….
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:13 pm:
-He was just a coffee boy.-
Do you know that for sure?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
–Chances are he was probably just there–
LOL, and those “chances” are zero.
Read the update from the coppers.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 3:40 pm:
===…if she has any money.===
After last night’s incident, if the DNC has any brains, it’ll pony up.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 4:21 pm:
I don’t know if this incident will have any material effect, but with a police report that says he went there on behalf of the campaign and then assaulted the candidate and her husband, you can bet on some ads about it. Ultimately, Rodney and the campaign are directly responsible. There’s about a 100% chance that they sent him there.
- truthteller - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 4:52 pm:
Davis is in trouble, he wont do townhall meetings as he is too AFRAID TO FACE his constituents , he won’t commit to any debates and Londrigan is out fundraising him. Betsy is going to all the areas , district wide and momentum is building each day. Lovell acted on the growing concern within a lackluster Davis campaign that has never had a real opponent and Betsy is as real as it gets. Of course Davis had to distance himself, what choice does he have, make no mistake about it, Lovell was acting out on what is being said inside the campaign
- Norseman - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 5:00 pm:
=== -He was just a coffee boy.-
Do you know that for sure? ===
Try reading or watching the news. It may also help you pick a name.
- Mama - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 5:25 pm:
Betsy Dirksen Londrigan - you got my vote!
- Anonymous - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 6:11 pm:
I have known many bouncers much less gentle than this fellow…Davis’ guy is one lucky dude.
#CoudaNeededDentalWork
- flea - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 6:19 pm:
Sounds like a fine fellow…did Rodney get him from Trumps ex staffers?
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 6:27 pm:
Just saw Mark Maxwell’s live standup at 6 on this in front of JP Kelly’s. Said he could confirm the kid was outta the slammer, as he just saw him walk by to retrieve his car that was left behind last night. Lol.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 7:50 pm:
Maybe I’m drinking the wrong stuff. But alcohol has never “made me” behave that way at a campaign event. And incidentally, I don’t drink when I’m working. (And given the guys I’ve worked for, that’s saying something.)
- Insincerely - Thursday, Aug 16, 18 @ 8:41 pm:
Done. I beg to differ. He needs to go national. The kid has all the moves. The antifa vs alt right fights take place every weekend. Sell yourself to the highest bidder. Get an agent.
- avon - Friday, Aug 17, 18 @ 3:34 pm:
Rodney has dropped his old friends, this is what he gets