Today, the Pritzker campaign released a new TV ad on Sterigenics, a company that Rauner’s company owned that’s poisoning DuPage County: “Not an Emergency.”
The Environmental Protection Agency found that Sterigenics has been releasing cancer-causing toxins into the community, but the Rauner administration refused to take immediate action to shut down the facility and protect Illinois families. Rauner even downplayed the U.S. EPA report when it came to light, saying “this is not an emergency, this is not a public health immediate crisis,” as his administration delayed and refused to release key records. Meanwhile there have been weeks of public outcry, impeding lawsuits, and a pledge by the U.S. EPA to conduct further air pollution tests.
“A company that was owned by Bruce Rauner is poisoning DuPage County, but this failed governor refused to take immediate action to protect families from cancer-causing toxins,” said Pritzker campaign communications director Galia Slayen. “From Willowbrook to Quincy, Rauner proves unwilling to take charge and protect public health over his own image.”
Voiceover: Sterigenics. It’s an industrial sterilization company in DuPage County. Nearby, 19,000 people and four schools. Bruce Rauner’s company owned Sterigenics. But when the Environmental Protection Agency recently found chemicals were causing an elevated cancer risk and residents became sick, Rauner disagreed.
Rauner: This is not an emergency. This is not a public health immediate crisis.
Voiceover: Then he refused to give records to the Attorney General. Four years of failure is enough.
Very strong, because of Rauner downplaying the risk in his own words.
Maybe someone can explain to us why many rural voters get excited about and support stripping regulations that benefit the super-rich and damage people, and cutting their taxes.
The Pritzker Crew is one of the best around when they hacd time to plan, come out with a message strategy, build upon things that happen by breaking it down in :30 to :60 seconds.
It’s a “B+”, not quite an “A”… a bit too wordy, but it needs that wordy paragraph, so it’s not all their fault.
This issue won’t go away. It’s a good ad to the moment.
Rauner’s company OWNS Sterigenics. Not “owned”. The voiceover says owns, present tense, and the script is correct. Rauner can’t run away from this one.
- A State Employee Guy - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:22 am:
Du Page County has a history of industry causing cancer. The rare earth facility in West Chicago dumped radioactive waste all over town before they knew the harm of the waste in the soil. It took years before they cleaned the mess up. And surprisingly there used to be a grocery store next to the industrial site. West Chicago had a horrible cancer rate for many years.
I suspect that incident will bring back memories for Du Page County residents when this ad is shown in that area.
It’s a B-. It’s obviously a sad story and a good issue for JB to try to exploit. However much of this particular ad’s impact will be in how viewers ultimately assess the Quincy and Sterigenics tragedies with respect to the governor having had a personal role in causing them– as opposed to being part of, and yes, for a time the head of, a complex bureaucracy that apparently did not step in in time. I am not sure this ad makes the case that Rauner bears personal guilt or had involvement in the same way as JB’s highly personal role with his toilets. Hence the B- rather than a higher grade for this one.
==in how viewers ultimately assess the Quincy and Sterigenics tragedies with respect to the governor having had a personal role in causing them==
Nah, voter calculus is a lot more simple than that. Governors get thrown out over national recessions, even though they don’t even control 1/50th of the economy. If things are good, incumbent Governors will be rewarded. If things are bad, they will be punished.
I think someone else on here has a pithier way of saying that, but I just abhor stepping on someone else’s line.
Just to be clear, as always my grade on any individual ad is based on how I think TV and internet viewers broadly might gauge the ad’s impact and effectiveness — not how other commenters here might react to my opinion.
==Just to be clear, as always my grade on any individual ad is based on how I think TV and internet viewers broadly might gauge the ad’s impact and effectiveness — not how other commenters here might react to my opinion.==
I didn’t think otherwise, I just disagree with your assessment of the viewers’ reaction.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 11:19 am:
I give it a B+. It even has Rauner in his own words saying that it isn’t a big deal.
I suspect this is the first of a series. It would be hard to ignore Rauner’s blasé attitudes to both this and Quincy. In both cases he downplayed the issue. In both cases, he withheld information. In both cases, he failed in his responsibilities to the people of Illinois. I’m betting a campaign built on Rauner failed will make that connection. And oh yea, he owns the company. That’s just a rich vein to mine.
The hit doesn’t really explain why Rauner should be held responsible for this, but that’s because there’s no real way to link him to the responsibility.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:16 am:
Very strong, because of Rauner downplaying the risk in his own words.
Maybe someone can explain to us why many rural voters get excited about and support stripping regulations that benefit the super-rich and damage people, and cutting their taxes.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:17 am:
The Pritzker Crew is one of the best around when they hacd time to plan, come out with a message strategy, build upon things that happen by breaking it down in :30 to :60 seconds.
It’s a “B+”, not quite an “A”… a bit too wordy, but it needs that wordy paragraph, so it’s not all their fault.
This issue won’t go away. It’s a good ad to the moment.
- Roman - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:19 am:
Solid B, although to be fair, it’s such juicy material that getting a failing grade is almost impossible.
It’s seems to me like this ad is a set-up for several more on the topic.
- Reality Check - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:20 am:
Rauner’s company OWNS Sterigenics. Not “owned”. The voiceover says owns, present tense, and the script is correct. Rauner can’t run away from this one.
- A State Employee Guy - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:22 am:
A limp clapback.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:34 am:
Hard to miss with the material.
I wonder if they can get the Thomes for a followup. to bring some real people who have been impacted into the discussion.
It’s not everyday you see a Hall of Fame former Sox leading a protest rally at the Thompson Center.
In fact, I’m certain that’s never happened before. That’s the definition of compelling news.
- ISU alum - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:38 am:
The Quincy veterans home and Sterigenics were not emergencies. Right.
- A Jack - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 9:53 am:
Du Page County has a history of industry causing cancer. The rare earth facility in West Chicago dumped radioactive waste all over town before they knew the harm of the waste in the soil. It took years before they cleaned the mess up. And surprisingly there used to be a grocery store next to the industrial site. West Chicago had a horrible cancer rate for many years.
I suspect that incident will bring back memories for Du Page County residents when this ad is shown in that area.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 10:16 am:
It’s a B-. It’s obviously a sad story and a good issue for JB to try to exploit. However much of this particular ad’s impact will be in how viewers ultimately assess the Quincy and Sterigenics tragedies with respect to the governor having had a personal role in causing them– as opposed to being part of, and yes, for a time the head of, a complex bureaucracy that apparently did not step in in time. I am not sure this ad makes the case that Rauner bears personal guilt or had involvement in the same way as JB’s highly personal role with his toilets. Hence the B- rather than a higher grade for this one.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 10:20 am:
===I am not sure this ad makes the case that Rauner bears personal guilt or had involvement in the same way as…===
Yeah, I’m gonna stop ya there.
Rauner can’t get that “out”, as candidate Rauner held Quinn personally responsible for what happened at DCFS…
So… no.
Good try.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 10:30 am:
Dupage County has 615,000 registered voters. In 2014, 49% voted. If that repeats itself then 301,000 votes will be cast this election.
It will take a lot of Raunerites in a lot of downstate counties to negate maybe 200,000 votes for JB.
Especially when Madigan’s not on their ballot.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 10:31 am:
==in how viewers ultimately assess the Quincy and Sterigenics tragedies with respect to the governor having had a personal role in causing them==
Nah, voter calculus is a lot more simple than that. Governors get thrown out over national recessions, even though they don’t even control 1/50th of the economy. If things are good, incumbent Governors will be rewarded. If things are bad, they will be punished.
I think someone else on here has a pithier way of saying that, but I just abhor stepping on someone else’s line.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 10:32 am:
Just to be clear, as always my grade on any individual ad is based on how I think TV and internet viewers broadly might gauge the ad’s impact and effectiveness — not how other commenters here might react to my opinion.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 10:39 am:
==Just to be clear, as always my grade on any individual ad is based on how I think TV and internet viewers broadly might gauge the ad’s impact and effectiveness — not how other commenters here might react to my opinion.==
I didn’t think otherwise, I just disagree with your assessment of the viewers’ reaction.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 11:19 am:
I give it a B+. It even has Rauner in his own words saying that it isn’t a big deal.
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
I suspect this is the first of a series. It would be hard to ignore Rauner’s blasé attitudes to both this and Quincy. In both cases he downplayed the issue. In both cases, he withheld information. In both cases, he failed in his responsibilities to the people of Illinois. I’m betting a campaign built on Rauner failed will make that connection. And oh yea, he owns the company. That’s just a rich vein to mine.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 2:04 pm:
Rauner looks haunted in this video. Watch it with the sound off.
This one is solid. And I’m guessing they have more coming down the pike. Between this and Quincy, there’s no hope for Rauner.
I mean, Rauner LITERALLY owns this one.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 9, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
Solid C.
The hit doesn’t really explain why Rauner should be held responsible for this, but that’s because there’s no real way to link him to the responsibility.