First of all it’s heartbreaking that Legionella bacteria got into an ancient Veterans’ Home in Quincy. It breaks my heart ’cause I’m an advocate for veterans. And we’ve done everything humanly possible to protect our veterans there. But this investigation by Lisa Madigan is a fraud, it’s phony. She declared this investigation started 24 hours after her ally, Pritzker, got accused and found to have committed criminal fraud. She said ‘Oh, let’s distract the media. Let’s distract all the discussion. Let’s trump up a phony investigation of criminal fraud.’ The Quincy tragedy of infection has been reviewed by the legislature. It’s been reviewed by the press. We’ve had testimony. All our emails. And there’s been no evidence of criminal behavior whatsoever in the Quincy Veterans’ Home. None.
* Pritzker campaign…
Ahead of the final gubernatorial debate in Quincy, the Pritzker campaign released a new TV ad, “Heroes,” featuring Tim Miller, the son of Eugene Miller who died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease at the Quincy Veterans’ Home.
In the ad, Tim Miller recounts visiting his father at the hospital during his final days and talks about how his family wasn’t told about the Legionnaires’ crisis even while the state was emailing back and forth about the outbreak, concerned about public relations. While Bruce Rauner continues to maintain “our team did exactly what they should have done, exactly when they should have done it,” Tim Miller sees things differently, saying “Governor Rauner was more interested in protecting his image than he was the heroes who served our country.”
“Eugene Miller and 13 others lost their lives too soon because Bruce Rauner cared more about headlines than our heroes,” said JB Pritzker. “This failed governor chose to manage his public image instead of managing a health crisis. The Rauner administration waited six days to tell families why their loved ones were sick, six days when treatment could have started and families could’ve helped keep their loved ones safe. Bruce Rauner’s fatal mismanagement and his cover-up is callous, baffling, and frankly, it’s criminal. Eugene Miller deserved better, all of our nation’s heroes deserve better, and as governor, my administration will serve our Veterans just as they served our country.”
Tim Miller: I met my dad at the ER, and when I walked into that room, he was laying in a fetal position, unresponsive. He just looked like he was about to die. It was not the dad that I saw before.
On screen: For six days the state of Illinois knew of a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak and said nothing.
Tim Miller: At that moment, my dad needed for the state to honor him and serve him the way that he honored and served his country. Nothing was said about Legionnaires’. While the state was sending back emails about PR and different things, my dad was dying.
On screen: Emails paint a sad, cold reaction to crisis
Bruce Rauner: Our team did exactly what they should have done, exactly when they should have done it.
Tim Miller: My question to Governor Rauner is: If it were your parents who were living at that home, would you have handled it differently? Would the response time have been quicker?
On screen: Eugene Miller was one of 14 people who died after getting sick with Legionnaires’ Disease.
Tim Miller: I looked up to my dad a lot and I loved him, and whatever life he had left on this earth, it was his, and Governor Rauner was more interested in protecting his image than he was the heroes who served our country.
Tonight’s debate is in Quincy, so this sets it up pretty well.
* Related…
* Hugs, Handshakes, And Anger: Before Debate, Quincy Legionnaires’ Families Gather To Reflect: “That’s what makes me sick. Do they think we’re all stupid? Here they are, not telling us for six days, and our family members are in there. We could’ve had a choice, people. We could have took our fathers and others out. We could have gotten them other help, and they have the audacity not to tell us for six days?”
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:19 am:
A very powerful spot. It’s respectful and understated, which makes it difficult to dismiss as a partisan hack job. It don’t have to like JB, you just have to dislike Rauner. This pushes that narrative.
–Tim Miller: My question to Governor Rauner is: If it were your parents who were living at that home, would you have handled it differently? Would the response time have been quicker?–
Pritzker should ask this tonight.
- VerySmallRocks - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:33 am:
“You campaign in poetry, you govern in prose.” Mario Cuomo. “If more politicians knew poetry and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a better place.” John F Kennedy
A sobering message to everyone about the damage done to those veterans and their families by “Governor Shake Up Springfield. Points out that the deaths in all those retirement homes that he owned were all in the name of making a buck. People should vote accordingly.
–Tim Miller: My question to Governor Rauner is: If it were your parents who were living at that home, would you have handled it differently? Would the response time have been quicker?–
=Keep in mind Diana Rauner and her emails in this tragedy…
Keep also in mind Darlene Senger wanted to find a way to blame a combat-wounded veteran instead of looking for solutions in the Rauner Administration.
Speaks to character.
That’s why those emails were blocked.=
Spot. On.
Diana Rauner’s public persona of a caring democrat was debunked completely last summer. There is no heart for the little people in the Rauner crew. Zero.
Details matter in campaigns. Rauner’s team agreed to a debate in Quincy and the news cycle for such a decision was a foregone conclusion. Next time Team Rauner aim for Carbondale or metro east or anywhere but Quincy
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 1:11 pm:
Very powerful ad, especially the last part.
Rauner has a history of fatal mismanagement and neglect. Hard to believe so many people voted for him after the nursing home ads. Rauner does not like to do hands-on work, apparently. He just likes to make money and find ways to squeeze workers. Rauner fatally neglected his job duties as governor, if you will. If not for some brave and fed up Republicans, the neglect and disaster would have continued.
Remember how the state’s OSHA sent Rauner a letter saying he failed to notify the employees of the hazard. He didn’t even notify staff so how would anyone be protected. He risked a lot of staff, volunteers, and the residents.
All while his administration is trying to work on the PR story. He just let Legoniela incubate in there. I wouldn’t be surprised if something criminal did occur, at best it was gross negligence.
- Huh? - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:12 am:
Ouch.
- Trapped in the 'burbs - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:19 am:
A very powerful spot. It’s respectful and understated, which makes it difficult to dismiss as a partisan hack job. It don’t have to like JB, you just have to dislike Rauner. This pushes that narrative.
- Al - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:23 am:
Another well played card by team JB. Looking forward to a 15 second spot of JB in front of a former furniture store denouncing public corruption.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:23 am:
Wow.
JB, with this and Wordslinger’s smart response to the “who is middle class” question, you can wrap this one up tonight. Please do so.
- Canon - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:25 am:
How in the world did the Rauner campaign ever agree to a debate in Quincy? That’s insane. Have they just quit?
- JoanP - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:26 am:
I choked up watching that. So powerful.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:29 am:
–Tim Miller: My question to Governor Rauner is: If it were your parents who were living at that home, would you have handled it differently? Would the response time have been quicker?–
Pritzker should ask this tonight.
- VerySmallRocks - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:33 am:
“You campaign in poetry, you govern in prose.” Mario Cuomo. “If more politicians knew poetry and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a better place.” John F Kennedy
- Big Joe - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:36 am:
A sobering message to everyone about the damage done to those veterans and their families by “Governor Shake Up Springfield. Points out that the deaths in all those retirement homes that he owned were all in the name of making a buck. People should vote accordingly.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:37 am:
–Tim Miller: My question to Governor Rauner is: If it were your parents who were living at that home, would you have handled it differently? Would the response time have been quicker?–
I think I know the answer.
- Big Joe - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:39 am:
Sorry Bruce, but your negligence in Quincy can’t come close to comparing to removing toilets. Deaths are forever.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:41 am:
I’ve said this many, many times.
The Pritzker Crew is exceptional when they have the time to map out a messsge, get it out on their timetable, and then dovetail it for a longer game.
What a powerful ad. What a message, from a family member, who knows what it means to face this tragedy, losing family.
It’s the type of ad that makes a closing argument, without having to close anything up.
This is quality work.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:45 am:
Why the Rauner camp would ever agree to debate in Quincy is mind boggling.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:48 am:
===Why the Rauner camp would ever agree to debate in Quincy is mind boggling.===
When you are down 16-22 points… you’ll debate anywhere, anytime… that’s how desperate…
Also…
Keep in mind Diana Rauner and her emails in this tragedy…
Keep also in mind Darlene Senger wanted to find a way to blame a combat-wounded veteran instead of looking for solutions in the Rauner Administration.
Speaks to character.
That’s why those emails were blocked.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 9:52 am:
Rauner was wholly unlikeable prior to the outbreak. This issue makes him wholly unelectable.
- Retired Educator - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:02 am:
Best ad of the season from the Pritzker crew. “A” This is going to leave a big mark.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:21 am:
=Keep in mind Diana Rauner and her emails in this tragedy…
Keep also in mind Darlene Senger wanted to find a way to blame a combat-wounded veteran instead of looking for solutions in the Rauner Administration.
Speaks to character.
That’s why those emails were blocked.=
Spot. On.
Diana Rauner’s public persona of a caring democrat was debunked completely last summer. There is no heart for the little people in the Rauner crew. Zero.
Great reminder OW.
- IllinoisBoi - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:22 am:
A hit, a palpable hit.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:37 am:
Good ad. And well-timed, given the Quincy debate.
Why did the Rauner campaign agree to a debate in Quincy of all places? It’d be like the Pritzker campaign agreeing to a debate seated on toilets.
- Rabid - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:40 am:
First debate ad was liar, second ad failure. Now it’s a lying failure under criminal investigation
- Dome Gnome - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:50 am:
One of the most authentic political ads I’ve ever seen. This one’s from the heart.
- Generic Drone - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:52 am:
Swish. Nuthin but net.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 10:57 am:
===Nuthin but net===
Turn off the sound and get back to me.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 11:15 am:
===Turn off the sound and get back to me.====
Yeah, in this instance, for me, that’s why I’ll say it’s a powerful ad, it’s quality work, times perfect, but can’t give it an “A”
Needs more to clarify what is happening, who is speaking, what it means.
It won’t take away from the ad.
Tweak just a lil here and there with some words…
- WOB - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 12:30 pm:
Details matter in campaigns. Rauner’s team agreed to a debate in Quincy and the news cycle for such a decision was a foregone conclusion. Next time Team Rauner aim for Carbondale or metro east or anywhere but Quincy
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 1:11 pm:
Very powerful ad, especially the last part.
Rauner has a history of fatal mismanagement and neglect. Hard to believe so many people voted for him after the nursing home ads. Rauner does not like to do hands-on work, apparently. He just likes to make money and find ways to squeeze workers. Rauner fatally neglected his job duties as governor, if you will. If not for some brave and fed up Republicans, the neglect and disaster would have continued.
- The Dude - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 2:31 pm:
Remember how the state’s OSHA sent Rauner a letter saying he failed to notify the employees of the hazard. He didn’t even notify staff so how would anyone be protected. He risked a lot of staff, volunteers, and the residents.
All while his administration is trying to work on the PR story. He just let Legoniela incubate in there. I wouldn’t be surprised if something criminal did occur, at best it was gross negligence.
- Anon0091 - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
“Next time Team Rauner”
Next time????
- Shytown - Thursday, Oct 11, 18 @ 3:33 pm:
Intense. This one is really going to stick.