Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » *** UPDATED x1 - ILGOP responds *** Bombshell discrimination lawsuit called “offensive” and “baseless” by Pritzker campaign
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*** UPDATED x1 - ILGOP responds *** Bombshell discrimination lawsuit called “offensive” and “baseless” by Pritzker campaign

Wednesday, Oct 17, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

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* I told subscribers about this last night. Here’s Politico…

An October-surprise lawsuit filed by some J.B. Pritzker campaign workers alleges “discrimination and harassment,” prompting the Democrat’s camp to call the claims “baseless.”

The story broke late Tuesday night. According to the Cook County Record newsletter, the lawsuit, filed Oct. 16 in Chicago federal court, alleges some black and Latino campaign workers are “packed into majority minority neighborhoods, often in unsafe working conditions, and are denied benefits and advancement opportunities available to their white colleagues.” […]

In a statement to POLITICO, Pritzker running mate Juliana Stratton called the suit “baseless” and describes the lawsuit in terms of extortion or a shake-down

The lawsuit is here. The letter from the staffers’ attorney demanding $7.5 million and personal letters of recommendation from Pritzker by Monday, October 8 is here.

* Cook County Record…

Saying the Illinois gubernatorial frontrunner’s campaign has routinely “herded” and “marginalized” its workers of color, a group of African American and Latino workers for Illinois Democratic gubernatorial nominee JB Pritzker has sued Pritzker’s campaign organization for discrimination and harassment.

“JB Pritzker for Governor has a serious race problem,” the lawsuit said. “Contrary to the candidate’s many public avowals, rather than working to meaningfully address discrimination, racism is perpetuated, condoned and ratified by the Campaign.”

The lawsuit, filed Oct. 16 in Chicago federal court, specifically alleges the black and Latino campaign workers are packed into majority minority neighborhoods, often in unsafe working conditions, and are denied benefits and advancement opportunities available to their white colleagues.

Named plaintiffs in the action include Maxwell Little, Jason Benton, Jelani Coleman, Celia Colon, Kasmine Calhoun, Erica Kimble, Nathaniel Madison, Tiffany Madison, James B. Tinsley and Mark Walker. All of the plaintiffs either currently work or have worked for the Pritzker campaign as field organizers in 2018, according to the complaint. The complaint also asserts many of the plaintiffs also worked on past Democratic campaigns, including on the presidential campaigns of former President Barack Obama and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Democratic campaign organizations for candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in Illinois and other states. Others also worked as social justice and reform activists, and for labor unions, according to the complaint.

I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere in all my years watching politics.

* NBC 5…

With less than 3 weeks to go — a civil lawsuit has been filed by 10 staffers who work for Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker’s campaign. The suit alleges repeated racial discrimination and harassment.

The allegations include that one of the Pritzker field offices is located in an area that was not safe for staffers. The suit, announced Tuesday night, alleges Pritzker himself would not even visit and staffers were allegedly told “he’ll visit when they stop shooting.”

* From JB Pritzker…

To be clear, this is just not true. I am incredibly proud of our campaign, how diverse it is, and how inclusive our administration will be.

* From Rep. Juliana Stratton…

I am very proud of the campaign that JB and I have put together. The majority of our senior team are African American and almost 45% of our entire staff are people of color. When people feel like they have been harassed or discriminated against, they have the right to come forward and have their voices heard. In this case, we had a letter delivered to us asking for $7.5 million dollars in 24 hours or they threatened legal action and to go to press. That’s not a good faith effort.

The incidents listed in this complaint are baseless and make offensive claims in regard to several members of our staff. We stand by our staff and that’s why we are not afraid to litigate this to the fullest extent of the law. I couldn’t be prouder to be on the ticket with JB and of the statewide, grassroots campaign we’ve built.

*** UPDATE *** ILGOP…

“The lawsuit filed against JB Pritzker’s campaign is simply the latest in a long line of incidents that prove that when it comes to the African-American community, Pritzker’s actions don’t back up his words. Here, we have his own staffers — seasoned political operatives — alleging racial discrimination and harassment. We have heard from Pritzker’s own mouth referring to Black elected officials as “offensive” on an FBI wiretap with Rod Blagojevich. It’s finally time for JB Pritzker to answer for his actions.” - Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Travis Sterling

…Adding… WMBD…

Other allegations in the lawsuit said field organizers were told to “go round up 40 black guys” for an event, and were told that Pritzker would visit an campaign office in a low-income Chicago neighborhood when “they stop shooting.”

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205 Comments

  1. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:29 am:

    As a black male I find this lawsuit kind of frivolous for the simple fact that the plaintiffs demanded several million dollars in 24 hours under the threat of legal action weeks before election. This lawsuit would of had more merit in my opinion if they waited until after the election. To do it right before election tells me that they wanted that several million dollars to keep quiet or they had other motivations. We in the black community always demand more police in our communities that look like us now comes these plantiffs saying they have a problem with majority black campaign staff working in a majority black community. Should Pritzker have a majority white or black staff working in a majority spanish speaking Latino community? Doesn’t make any sense. Ofcourse it makes sense to have spanish speaking campaign staff working in Latino communities. I don’t believe much of what’s in this lawsuit and if any discrimination did occur I’m sure it would of been dealt with. Even real racist wouldn’t let this type of stuff occur during there own campaign so I doubt it happened here. The campaign staff should understand you won’t be working in only nice areas and if you don’t think you can be in those bad communities then maybe the job isn’t for you. Quit!


  2. - Matts - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:32 am:

    My first impression is that J. Stratton nailed it with the words: “extortion” and “shakedown”. Need to determine if there is truth in her words, and if so who is the Shakedown Artist(s).


  3. - Perrid - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:32 am:

    Well #$%^. This certainly isn’t good, and if JB loses this I am going to flip out.

    This obviously needs to be investigated, but at the same time the timing, and the (morally if not legally) blackmail letter make me suspicious. I get civil cases get settled with money all the time but this screams extortion attempt to me.


  4. - Texas Red - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:33 am:

    This claim is gonna leave a mark…

    a. Sending African American and Latino field organizers, on the basis of their race,
    to perform racists tasks such as to, “go round up 40 Black guys” for an event;


  5. - Ill Annoyed - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:36 am:

    “As good liberals, we BELIEVE victims…”

    Ahem…”These claims are offensive and baseless..”


  6. - The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:36 am:

    It seems pretty obvious to me that this is nothing more than baseless shakedown attempt. Meet our demands or we will jeopardize your chances of winning. The demand of $7.5 million in 24 hours says it all. A bunch of amateurs that see a cash cow in JB.


  7. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:36 am:

    10 of them. 10. All coming forward. No innuendo. All making the charge out loud in unambiguous terms.

    Uh oh.


  8. - Bill Baar - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:36 am:

    The compliant’s filled with twitter seized bites.


  9. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:36 am:

    Wait a min. We as black people say the politicians don’t come or serve in our communities. So JB opens an office not only in nice communities but in bad and underserved communities and certain campaign staff complain that they have to work there? Not all people in those communities are bad and you should be proud to serve in those underserved areas!


  10. - MG85 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:37 am:

    You know what really helps with resolving these types of issues, limits the employer’s ability to discriminate brazenly, and enforces equal treatment of employees?

    –A Union–

    Someone from JB’s campaign should give these folks a ring:

    https://campaignworkersguild.org/


  11. - DuPage Moderate - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:37 am:

    #BelieveAllVictims

    Isn’t that how it goes Dems? Eeek.


  12. - Evanstonian - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:37 am:

    This can’t be true. Historically, white billionaires have been the most attuned to issues of justice and equality.


  13. - Sunshyne - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:37 am:

    No… Just No. I’m not buying it!


  14. - AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:38 am:

    Won’t matter.


  15. - siriusly - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:39 am:

    Maybe this is all true. But I find it oddly strange that GOP operatives have been telling insiders for weeks, several weeks, that a major bombshell against Pritzker was coming.

    If there is no political coordination here - how would the Rauner people know this was coming?


  16. - Texas Red - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:39 am:

    Rauners Facebook ad seems well timed now.


  17. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:40 am:

    ==No innuendo. All making the charge out loud in unambiguous terms.==

    That’s not really reflective of the Complaint, which has a lot of innuendo and blind quotes, but you haven’t had much good news lately, so I get it.


  18. - RNUG - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:40 am:

    Just when we thought we were done with October surprises …

    Have to say the whole thing is suspious.

    This election cycle is going to be studied for years. There is probably a Master’s thesis to be wrote on it.


  19. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:40 am:

    ==If there is no political coordination here - how would the Rauner people know this was coming?==

    Maybe this isn’t the one they were talking about.


  20. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:41 am:

    When it’s 10… not one or two… wow.

    The impression of dysfunction is probably the first takeaway, as ten folks decide to file suit.

    Pritzker’s response was passable.

    “Being wealthy, I can have these type of issues far more than others. Money, and a want for it, makes people do things they might not normally do. That’s all I’ll say to this”

    Passively going after the $7.5 million highlights the part Pritzker’s Crew would want, but they decided to be more bland. Understandable.


  21. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:43 am:

    Maybe this is all true. But I find it oddly strange that GOP operatives have been telling insiders for weeks, several weeks, that a major bombshell against Pritzker was coming.

    If there is no political coordination here - how would the Rauner people know this was coming?

    -And funny Rauner just started posting fb ad’s about Pritzker race relations just days ago. I believe some type of coordination is going on. Are any of these staffers associated with Dunkin and Maze Jackson?


  22. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:43 am:

    That’s a lot of people putting their name on record and potentially risking any future in Democrat politics going forward. It may be suspicious, but these people potentially have a lot to lose by doing this.


  23. - Maestro - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:43 am:

    I don’t see how the plantiffs could have reasonably confronted the campaign on Oct. 5 and expected it to complete an investigation into the matter Oct. 8.


  24. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:46 am:

    ==That’s not really reflective of the Complaint, which has a lot of innuendo and blind quotes,==

    Ars, you haven’t been following me too closely with regard to the Governor race…It’s not good news or bad news to me. Just news.

    10 people have their names listed. Those are charges, not innuendo. They may turn out to be false or unfounded, but there’s nothing anonymous about this. And these folks are apparently experienced operatives, not wide eyed interns.

    It’s not good.


  25. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:47 am:

    It’s worth noting that a formal demand letter isn’t usually the first time a party is on notice of an issue. It’s just the first time it’s put in writing as a final demand.


  26. - Almost the weekend - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:47 am:

    Do all these staffers work in the city or are they all over the state?


  27. - RNUG - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:47 am:

    Serious question.

    Who does this really help?

    I can’t see the minorities voting for Rauner.

    I can, maybe, see a few in the middle class vote for McCann.

    But mostly, I see them either sitting the election out (which could help Rauner) or staying with JB because there really is no other choice.


  28. - wondering - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:49 am:

    If you can’t see Rauner’s gnarled hand in this you are not looking. Obviously done for damage. If they were legit, they would make their demands first, quitely, file a suit without any other recourse. In this case, it is not about the money. They blew their leverage by filing, why I wonder?


  29. - Can'tHelpIt - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:49 am:

    Maybe he was just trying to broaden his appeal to Trump voters?


  30. - Black Ivy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:49 am:

    Boom! J.B. Pritzker seems to be plagued by these type of accusations. Why is that? And his own campaign workers are placing their own veracity on the line here. This will appropriately leave a mark. Folks need to think long and hard about putting the future of State government in this man’s hands. #shameful


  31. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:50 am:

    I believe James B. Tinsley is on the Champaign County Board.


  32. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:51 am:

    To the “speculation”

    Here’s what you’re asking me to believe. Ready?

    You’re asking me to believe 10 folks decided to write a letter, seeking a seven-figure silencing, and giving 24 hours for it to happen.

    Then you’re asking, for weeks, and now these short days, Rauner’s Crew, who may have been tipped or knew of this, decided to, without knowing how it could play out (arrangement, payment, retraction, “cold feet”) decided to get ahead of this.

    Also, these “sleeper” types, all 10 of them, decide to ruin their careers, some working on national campaigns, to try to make hay against Pritzker and his Crew, no matter how their career might end.

    It could be…

    Rauner got wind after the 8th, just hedged a bet, the 10 felt they had nothing to lose, their reputations are “sullied” anyway after this experience, and it rolled out.

    But, if you’re making a case these 10, and the Rauner Crew are in some sort of Trojan Horse thingy, or an accidental “enemy of my enemy pact” before October 7th, that would be some “double aught seven” stuff.


  33. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:52 am:

    Someone should look into if any of these campaign staffers are associated with either Ken Dunkin or Maze Jackson.


  34. - Anon - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:52 am:

    Is this any surprise coming from the guy who showed his true colors in his comments toward Sen. Jones? While this may seem frivolous, it certainly juxtaposes his platform and is continually reminding me that Pritzker would’ve been a great extra in Jordan Peele’s Get Out.


  35. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:53 am:

    ==Ars, you haven’t been following me too closely with regard to the Governor race==

    While I admit I don’t have a Google alert set to your name, I’ve seen enough to know that you want Rauner to win.


  36. - I’m Just Sayin’ - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:53 am:

    Ruh Roh.
    Despite the complaint reading like it was written by a high school student taking a Intro. to Legal Careers class, it is believable. Send white workers to the black neighborhoods and black workers to the white burbs, not gonna happen. I hope the plaintiffs prevail.


  37. - TaylorvilleTornado - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:53 am:

    This would be a lot more credible if they hadn’t tried extorting money first.


  38. - Honeybear - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:54 am:

    This why this new low of perfidy is malum in se.
    Because a dirty tactic like this
    Could effect an election
    When the community I serve
    A predominantly black (East St Louis)
    and Latino (Fairmount City)
    needs
    a Gov who doesn’t destroy social services
    Who doesn’t sacrifice map grants
    Who actually funds the agencies who help
    Look…….folks
    I just put up a flier on the back of my computer
    So my customers can see it.
    How they can apply to get toys for
    Christmas for a St Louis based charity.
    Folks……please
    These are the good neighbors
    We are hurting
    What has Rauner done for these good people?
    Nothing
    Not a thing
    He’s taken from them for the last 4 years
    That’s why this
    Perfidy
    This malum in se
    Is so so immoral
    It is wrong in every kind of way
    It is the greatest statement
    Of the sociopa:;ic nature of Rauner
    And the Republican Party
    Sure go after me
    I’m a lawful combatant
    But this is malum in se
    Because it effects the innocent.
    My people
    My community
    Has to get toys for children
    From Missouri
    Because Rauner
    Destroyed the private social service net
    In Illinois
    I spit at Rauner


  39. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:54 am:

    ==- A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:46 am:==

    Why are they disappeared from social media?


  40. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:55 am:

    ==Do all these staffers work in the city or are they all over the state?==

    Mostly in the city, but some downstate, including the first Plaintiff that the Complaint discusses. Which makes the “clustering” allegation really odd…


  41. - @misterjayem - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:55 am:

    Ten is a lot of people.

    Sure it’s fewer than the number of people who died in the Quincy Veterans Home, but still…

    – MrJM


  42. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:56 am:

    ===This would be a lot more credible if they hadn’t tried extorting money first.===

    Which is why they coulda went “here”…

    I thought this made more sense;

    “Being wealthy, I can have these type of issues far more than others. Money, and a want for it, makes people do things they might not normally do. That’s all I’ll say to this”

    But, the Pritzker response is passable too.


  43. - Roman - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:56 am:

    I’ve read dozens of federal lawsuits allegeding workplace-based racial discrimination…none of them are written like this.

    It reads more like a press release. It even parrots Rauner talking points.


  44. - JB13 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:56 am:

    They were on notice of the “shakedown” by people who were working INSIDE THE CAMPAIGN since Oct. 8 and did nothing until the lawsuit was filed? That sounds like a high-functioning political organization to me.

    If this is all baseless, file a counterclaim. Demand sanctions. I’ll bring popcorn.


  45. - Almost the weekend - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:57 am:

    Even if Rauner had a hand in this it’s embarrassing for the JB folks to let it go this far. I have never seen a campaign with so many employees on the payroll, but the bureaucraric handling of this is a major problem. Somebody was not reporting all these issues up the ladder or there is an individual on staff who is in charge of all these employees and was able to act this way with no oversight.


  46. - Not It - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:57 am:

    Instead of hearing from Stratton, I would like to hear from J.B.


  47. - Texas Red - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:58 am:

    When claims of harassment are made, it is always best to hire a third party to investigate the claims. And retaliation against a claimant is verboten. Seems like JB’s team mishandled this …

    With less than 40 minutes notice, Anna Capara scheduled a conference call with POD 4 during which she explained the Campaign had completed their investigation into the
    discrimination (despite the fact they had not reached out to anyone who complained) and that Dawson was verbally reprimanded (even though she had been directed to discriminate against them).


  48. - Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:59 am:

    I guess I’m having the most problem with their demands.

    $7.5 million immediately. That stinks of a shakedown.

    A demand that they all get letters of recommendation.

    A demand the if JB is elected Governor that he appoint a Chief Diversity Officer for the state and audit the employment practices of the entire Executive Branch.

    I think you always give people making claims like this the benefit of the doubt. I just think they hurt their case with this list of demands.


  49. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:59 am:

    ===If you can’t see Rauner’s gnarled hand in this ===

    Oh, stop. You’re saying that 8 people of color currently working on Pritzker’s campaign are Rauner plants?

    Go take a nap.

    As to the veracity of the complaint, that’s up to the courts. Either way, this should’ve been headed off at the pass long ago.


  50. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:59 am:

    Is it normal to send a letter demanding money before filing a lawsuit?

    Also, it looks like almost every worker in the suit still works for the campaign. Is that true?


  51. - CommuityChestTheWrapper - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:59 am:

    Sending African American canvassers to predominately African American areas seems like a wise door knocking strategy… And the demand letter is a bit odd. This doesn’t pass the smell test.


  52. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:59 am:

    ==- Not It - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 9:57 am:==

    Try reading the post dingbat.


  53. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:00 am:

    For a lawsuit, it’s noticeably light on specifics in the complaints — the whos, whats, whens, and wheres to whom. Lots of general statements and editorializing you don’t see in lawsuits.

    Only one of the ten plaintiffs — “Kasmine” (the suit cites her by her first name; never seen that before) — is tied to any specific complaint. The other nine are just lumped into a general, non-specific, unsupported claim of discrimination and harassment.

    Really hard to see how the plaintiffs or their lawyers thought they could get $7.5 million to make this go away (why $7.5 million? Was that a guess as to what they thought Pritzker would cough up in 24 hours?).

    There are not a lot of specifics to even respond to. If it ever gets to a judge, they’re going to have to expand greatly on specific actions by named individuals that they believe harmed them.

    As to how if will effect the race, no idea. See how the next 48 hours shake out.


  54. - OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:00 am:

    So the argument is that the plaintiffs, at least some of whom have a fair amount of political experience and include a county board member and a former official of SEIU Local 1 (if google is right) are all part of some plot, their own or Republican inspired to sabotage and/or extort money out of JB.

    Got it.


  55. - CommuityChestTheWrapper - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:01 am:

    predominantly*


  56. - Pick a Name - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:04 am:

    JB is that marathon runner who has a big lead and is just staggering to the finish line. He is the runner who doesn’t hydrate, is giving high fives to spectators, has slipped and fallen several times because he is picturing himself on the medal stand.

    Can he make it to the finish line and avoid a huge upset?

    Maybe, maybe not


  57. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:04 am:

    ===Either way, this should’ve been headed off at the pass long ago.==

    An ongoing pattern of gross negligence to fundamental campaign operations.

    These are not isolated things.

    You have gross negligence in their own oppo, in preparation and damage control, and now in personnel.

    You can win with a mediocre campaign.

    Pritzker’s Crew wants to prove an already proved fact.

    Not good.


  58. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:05 am:

    –10 of them. 10. All coming forward. No innuendo. All making the charge out loud in unambiguous terms.–

    LOL, you haven’t read the lawsuit, obviously. Nine of the plaintiffs fail to make any specific complaint at all.


  59. - Name/Nickname/Anon - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:06 am:

    If this complaint gets past the pleading stage, you can say goodbye to paid canvassers in big races moving forward.

    Besides, a field operation is an archaic, inefficient waste of resources, anyway. Mere window dressing to make the campaign seem grassroots.


  60. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:06 am:

    ==Is it normal to send a letter demanding money before filing a lawsuit?==

    Yes


  61. - Anon - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:07 am:

    Commenters in the past: “Rauner is the least effective gov ever, can’t get anything done”
    Commenters today: “this reeks of Rauner, he must’ve somehow coordinated this.
    No. If anything, this seems to illustrate how Pritzker will carry himself as gov. First Sen Jones and Kena Collins, now this? Not very surprised.


  62. - Not It - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:07 am:

    I found it interesting that none of the staffers have a DPI experience. They’re mostly from out of state, probably assumed Illinois was full of honest Democrats like their savior Obama. Now they’ve realized the truth and feel cheated by the corruption that those of us from here have come to accept as political reality.


  63. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:09 am:

    I’d like to hear from…

    Evelyn Sanguinetti.

    She have any thoughts on this?


  64. - RNUG - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:09 am:

    To the update … the ILGOP didn’t waste any time jumping on the allegations. Probably see ads by tonight.


  65. - OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:10 am:

    Raunner is a tactical genius when it suits the narrative.

    Is there anyone here, seriously, who has been involved in a Republican campaign or the Republican party in this state who thinks a campaign or the party could have pulled this off? Seriously?


  66. - Saluki - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:11 am:

    If Pritzker Hilary’s this election it will be the most incredible political stumble in Illinois history.


  67. - RNUG - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:11 am:

    If JB’s campaign is so inept they couldn’t get out in front of this, I have to question how their administration will function.


  68. - Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:12 am:

    JB has now spent more than any candidate for Governor in history, even more than failed billionaire candidate Meg Whitman ,who was running in California that has more than 3 times as many people

    Nio surprise some people are trying to get a piece of the action


  69. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:14 am:

    Pritzker might be wise to do a “cut to” ad with the likes of Jesse White, Susana Mendoza, and others, reading from one statement of support, with each “cut to” allowing each person a moment to support JB.

    It would be wise to have others vouch for JB and Juliana now.

    That type of ad would help.


  70. - Annonin' - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:15 am:

    Kinda interesting that a filed suit gets limited media pick-up.
    Rather than takin’ a nap, we would suggest lookin’ to see if the BH/Gonzo/Maze/Dunk clown car is parked around the corner.
    Could be legit, looks pretty kinky


  71. - Evanstonian - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:15 am:

    I love that people look at this and determined the 10 young people of color with a history of working for social justice groups and worked for Pritzker for months are the cynical opportunists and not the billionaire who a few years ago wasn’t sure to vote for between Obama, Romney, and Santorum.

    Yup. Those powerful young people are trying to tear down that poor, poor man. They got together ages ago to come up with a plan to all work for the Pritzker campaign at the behest of Bruce Rauner. Totally tracks.


  72. - IrishPirate - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:16 am:

    Interesting.

    I don’t buy it, but interesting.

    Could there be one “plant” in Campaign Billionaire orchestrating this?

    I doubt it, but after reading this yesterday about the hit job on Gary Hart in 88 I guess it’s possible.

    https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/11/was-gary-hart-set-up/570802/

    Anyone figure out who did the research on former Congressman Schock?


  73. - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:17 am:

    ==- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:05 am:==

    One page per plaintiff


  74. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:18 am:

    ===If JB’s campaign is so inept they…===

    - RNUG -,

    Observing the pattern, the easily seen pattern of gross political negligence and fundamental errors, it’s a serious question;

    “How will a Pritzker Administration function to the governing?”

    What the heck is going on over there for, now updated, $300,000 a day… every day… every 24 hours… that these things continually happen?


  75. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:18 am:

    –I’ve read dozens of federal lawsuits allegeding workplace-based racial discrimination…none of them are written like this.

    It reads more like a press release.–

    That was my impression, too. My guess is if it ever gets to a judge they’ll have to re-file and put some meat on the bones.

    General statements lacking any specifics ain’t going to cut it.


  76. - Norseman - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:19 am:

    I’m shocked to hear that Black and Latino outreach workers have been tasked by a campaign to work in minority areas. Safety concerns are legitimate issues to raise and must be addressed by a campaign.

    “(A)dvancement opportunities” in a campaign? It’s a campaign not a corporation.

    Sounds like personality conflicts meet thoughts of grabbing part of the JB largesse being thrown at the campaign.


  77. - OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:19 am:

    Hey Wondering, Rich knows who I am (not sure if he does for you) but I will offer you this.

    $100 to the Democratic committee or candidate of your choice if the lawsuit is withdrawn within one week of the election and it not being withdrawn due to a settlement.

    If it isn’t, you give $100 to the NIU Athletic fund.

    I am also willing to go with LCFS as the charity.

    How confident are you in the role of ‘Rauner’s knurled hand’?


  78. - Evantonian - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:22 am:

    Yup. Love everyone who took a deep breath and decided that, yes, the cynical opportunists here are the 10 young people of color with a history of working for social justice and not the billionaire who a few years ago was torn between voting for Obama, Romney, and Santorum.

    It totally tracks that months and months ago a group of young people with a background in Dem and Dem leaning causes decided to come up with a plan to extort poor, progressive JB Pritzker at the behest of Bruce Rauner. Or that Bruce Rauner apparently reached out to the only 10 people willing to lie about Pritzker and gave them this scheme. Because, surely, if Rauner is behind this there will be other Prtizker staffers saying that they were approached with this plan?

    Yep, all that is more believable than 10 young people of color telling the truth that the cynical campaign being run by a billionaire has little to no regard for anything other than winning.


  79. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:23 am:

    The money is always the troubling part. Asking for $7.5 million or we’re going to the media makes them seem less credible. I can’t speak to the reality, only to the perception. On the other hand, it seems JB’s campaign couldn’t pour pee out of a boot if the instructions were on the sole.


  80. - west wing - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:23 am:

    If there’s any truth to this, I sure hope there is a steel wall separating the campaign staff from the future government staff. In other words, JB needs to thank his campaign folks for helping him win this race but find a different team to run Illinois government. That is maybe the largest concern out of all of this.


  81. - DeseDemDose - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:23 am:

    I want 1 million dollars or I am going to say I am polish campaign worker and had to work knocking on doors in a polish neighborhood.


  82. - IlliniPride - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:23 am:

    I wonder if the plaintiff’s attorney has ever run for judge recently and didn’t get slated.


  83. - Jocko - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:24 am:

    Kasmine Calhoun (and the other nine plaintiffs) are insinuating a heck of a lot. I hope they have some facts to back it up.


  84. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:24 am:

    I’ve spoken on the phone with Ken Dunkin months ago during the primary when I spoke against hisbvotes and why I will not suppprt him. During the entire call Dunkin was speaking against Madigan and JB. Then he spoke like he was completely sold out to Rauner just like how Maze Jackson is. I will not be shocked if some of these campaign staffers are associated in any way with Ken Dunkin or Maze Jackson. This is a political hit. I don’t think all 10 are plants but I believe the real plants led them to believe discrimination is occurring.


  85. - So_Ill - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:25 am:

    ==If Pritzker Hilary’s this election it will be the most incredible political stumble in Illinois history.==

    This is all I keep thinking. They are so similar, it’s crazy. And it all seems to be self inflicted wounds.


  86. - Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:25 am:

    –Is it normal to send a letter demanding money before filing a lawsuit?–

    It’s not uncommon, especially in cases alleging some sort of injury and damages.

    As for the complaint, yes it looks a bit bizarre but all that is required is a short, plain statement of the cause of action to put the other side on notice. They don’t have to put all the details in it.


  87. - G'Kar - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:25 am:

    With all due respect to OW and Rich, when I think about what happened to Aaron Schock and Dan Rutherford, my mind immediately wondered if this was some sort of dirty trick.


  88. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:27 am:

    I also thought the suit read something like a campaign hit piece—with all respect to the alleged victims—when it mentioned the “offensive” quote.

    Then there’s this:

    “However, in exchange for his silence, he was given a shiny new job title and pay raise. He was also strongly encouraged to cut his dreadlocks; therefore, he no longer comes across as crass and was the least offensive African American that could be put in that spot.”

    As far as specificity, beside the Peoria worker, one worker was denied a chance to speak at a cultural sensitivity training.

    I looked up to see if Rauner has any campaign offices in African-American or Latino neighborhoods but couldn’t find any info.


  89. - Henry Francis - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:28 am:

    Let’s assume none of the 10 are Rauner plants. That means each of them want JB to win the election. They have been working hard to accomplish that goal.

    If they still wanted him to win the election they wouldn’t make a federal case about it 20 days before Election Day. The threat of a lawsuit would remain after the election as well. No governor would want to start his term with this sort of lawsuit hanging over him.

    The 24 hour $7.5MM demand, coupled with the timing of the filing of the lawsuit seems more designed to negatively affect JB’s chances in the election. If justice truly was the goal, there were other ways of seeking it without damaging JB’s campaign that these 10 plaintiffs purportedly have been supporting actively.

    Although their lawyer is very inexperienced so maybe chalk it up to that. But this definitely doesn’t smell right.


  90. - Iggy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:28 am:

    =Pritzker might be wise to do a “cut to” ad with the likes of Jesse White, Susana Mendoza, and others=

    what a comical idea, i hope they listen to this one. Race parading, how dumb do you think the electorate is?


  91. - Louis G. Atsaves - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:30 am:

    Just finished reading the complaint. I’ll leave the quality of the way the complaint was drafted to others to discuss. I’m sure they will be given the opportunity in court to amend their complaint at a later date.

    10 Plaintiffs. Not one or two. 10. All 10 have experience working in other campaigns. One can only gather that they have something to compare the treatment they are alleging with their experiences with other various campaigns. Not good for the defendant.

    Allegations of being instructed to keep quiet during a seminar. A supervisor sitting in between two of them to make sure they were quiet. Being told the matters were investigated without any of the 10 being interviewed. Being to told to go out and round up 40 individuals that looked like them for a campaign event.

    At 5:00 a.m. until I left my house, WGN Channel 9 Morning News ran this story 5 times. I also saw it on NBC Channel 5 and a promo that it would run on Fox Channel 32 shortly in their broadcast. A story of this nature could pick up steam in a hurry.

    This one will dog Pritzker until November 6th. I’m sure all 10 will be trotted out for interviews between now and then. Maybe a few more will follow the original 10. Perhaps the Pritzker campaign should consult Justice Kavanaugh for an idea of how ugly this could get.

    These days in politics, the victims are supposed to be automatically believed, yet Trump recently prevailed against Stormy Daniels on a libel suit and tagged her for all his attorneys fees.

    So does that mean that Pritzker will have to be like Trump in fighting off this lawsuit?/snark

    Using the word “baseless” and “offensive claims” is not where I would have gone with this one if I were defending. These 10 have already retained counsel. It appears that most of them are still working for the campaign. If just one or two of those claims are corroborated, there will be problems.

    How many Mrs. O’Leary’s cow moments does the Pritzker campaign get? You think by now they would have moved the lantern to a safer place.


  92. - Name/Nickname/Anon - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:30 am:

    It is hard to spot the perpetually aggrieved when you’re wildly hiring people, so I doubt this is orchestrated by the Rauner campaign, but this Complaint certainly is tailored to make a splash. Putting the “offensive” quote in the introduction is almost comical.


  93. - IrishPirate - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:30 am:

    Hey Grandson of Man.

    Dig deeper. Took me ten whole seconds to find this.

    https://www.facebook.com/jbpritzker/posts/tonight-we-opened-another-field-office-on-chicagos-south-side-im-so-excited-to-s/883932805120184/


  94. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:31 am:

    - G’Kar -

    It’s all good on my end.

    Again, though, to you and - Real -…

    You have to make a case that 10 people conspired, either right before or well before, with Rauner’s Crew, and with that, decide that a $7.5 figure, which sounds egregious for what is actually stated in the suit, because it’s a suit solely designed to take down JB, and the coordination, just between the 10, needs to keep things tamped down “until”

    I’ll give you that Pritzker’s Crew is grossly inept at things, but 10 plants to orchestrate this, with outside coordination too?

    Tough ask for me to get on.

    Actually, not really, I can’t get in that “crazy train”.

    All good, with respect - G’Kar -.

    OW


  95. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:31 am:

    –JB has now spent more than any candidate for Governor in history, even more than failed billionaire candidate Meg Whitman ,who was running in California that has more than 3 times as many people

    Nio surprise some people are trying to get a piece of the action–

    LP, do you realize that you just implied the lawsuit is a shakedown attempt? Somebody flipped the wrong gizmo or whatzit on your programming. That ain’t the Bot talking point of the day.


  96. - Pundent - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:31 am:

    I read the complaint. The allegations of discrimination and harassment are serious. The complaint is not.


  97. - Reserved - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:32 am:

    Strange react from Stratton, why not just say the campaign is taking the allegations seriously and will investigate? Instead she is saying these minority complainants should be ignored when the current thought is “let’s not ignore and dismiss the viewpoint of minorities” in terms of police violence and harassment because they are mostly right.

    Her description of the “team” reads as a collector discussing their collection and the boxes they’ve checked to be the candidates minorities should vote for. This reverberates with Pritzker’s past comments about having to acquiesce to African American voters to give them some meaningless token. The complainants all appear to have campaign experience, so I tend to believe them when they are saying something is not right about the Pritzker campaign. I’m sure Pritzker isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, to use minority staffers to work in minority communities, but given the experience of the complainants, something different happened here.


  98. - Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:33 am:

    Another issue: If most of the plaintiffs are still working for the campaign, what does the campaign do with them now? If you cut them loose you open yourself to a retaliatory discharge claim. If you don’t what use are they when they have clearly turned on you? Very tricky situation.


  99. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:34 am:

    ===what a comical idea, i hope they listen to this one. Race parading, how dumb do you think the electorate is?==

    Jesse White and Susana Mendoza already have supported JB, and reinforcing a known endorsement happens often… if it can rehabilitate what this suit is trying to tear at, then…

    It’s not like Bruce bringing out a hired consultant as a “Democrat supporting Bruce”


  100. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:34 am:

    OW- I read your post. My response is a cosign of this.

    Let’s assume none of the 10 are Rauner plants. That means each of them want JB to win the election. They have been working hard to accomplish that goal.

    If they still wanted him to win the election they wouldn’t make a federal case about it 20 days before Election Day. The threat of a lawsuit would remain after the election as well. No governor would want to start his term with this sort of lawsuit hanging over him.

    The 24 hour $7.5MM demand, coupled with the timing of the filing of the lawsuit seems more designed to negatively affect JB’s chances in the election. If justice truly was the goal, there were other ways of seeking it without damaging JB’s campaign that these 10 plaintiffs purportedly have been supporting actively.

    Although their lawyer is very inexperienced so maybe chalk it up to that. But this definitely doesn’t smell right.


  101. - Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:35 am:

    –The 24 hour $7.5MM demand, coupled with the timing of the filing of the lawsuit seems more designed to negatively affect JB’s chances in the election.–

    This I agree with. They are using the leverage they have. No serious settlement offer before the filing of a complaint would ask for a figure higher than they are likely to get if they win at trial.


  102. - Jibba - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:36 am:

    I really wanted to take this seriously, but then I read the complaint. It is full of amateurish generalizations, malapropisms, and inflammatory statements of “fact” that are simply slanted opinions. It is hard to take this seriously. Did you notice that 7 of the plaintiffs have only worked for the campaign since July, and one since only September? $7.5M is a lot of damage for a month’s work, no matter what the conditions.

    However, I suspect a lot of the friction between the white and black organizers is likely to be true. The melding of two cultures in an organization (or party) is not easy. Whether any of it is actionable or not is the question. The first several remedies proposed by the plaintiffs are quite sensible, and one wonders why they were not done well in advance. Some of this is clearly pointed at dividing up the spoils after the election, including the appointment of a diversity officer to do the hiring in the Executive branch.


  103. - BC - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:36 am:

    OW says “gross negligence.”

    I don’t think it’s that. Having watched JB’s campaign operate from an arms length, I’ve marveled at the sheer size of it all. Innumerable paid staffers, layers of “deputies directors” who are unknown to local pols, field offices seemingly everywhere, a bottomless barrel of cash to spend, etc.

    I don’t think it’s negligence…maybe it all just got away from them. Maybe the campaign is too big to manage. Maybe they reached the point of diminishing returns.

    There are a lot of “nobodies nobody sent” on the payroll.


  104. - Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:37 am:

    ===I’ll give you that Pritzker’s Crew is grossly inept at things, but 10 plants to orchestrate this, with outside coordination too?===

    There is absolutely no way there could be 10 plants. If there are any at all, it would be 1 or 2. If the “plant” came into the campaign with nothing but malice, he or she would constantly be identifying and gas lighting coworkers who would be open to the idea they are being discriminated against. It would be a long grooming process if something like that were taking place.


  105. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:37 am:

    ===Let’s assume none of the 10 are Rauner plants. That means each of them want JB to win the election. They have been working hard to accomplish that goal.===

    Let’s assume you write a letter with 9 others trying to get a high nine-figure dollar amount, your concern with that campaign winning or not is seriously in question with that first step.


  106. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:38 am:

    ==General statements lacking any specifics ain’t going to cut it.==

    There are lower pleading standard in federal court than in IL State Court. That being said, I share your opinion that this is a poorly drafted Complaint with some pretty sweeping language. It might fail even under federal standards. Though the judge would probably give the Plaintiffs a chance to re-plead.


  107. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:38 am:

    Hey Grandson of Man.

    “Dig deeper. Took me ten whole seconds to find this.

    https://www.facebook.com/jbpritzker/posts/tonight-we-opened-another-field-office-on-chicagos-south-side-im-so-excited-to-s/883932805120184/“

    If you would have taken a few seconds to read what I wrote, you would have seen that I asked if Rauner had field offices, not Pritzker.


  108. - Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:38 am:

    Juliana Stratton +1

    The complaint reads as if it had “Draft” in a diagonal watermark across it and was attached to the extortion cover letter.

    It’s a political document filed with a court that is obliged to accept all filings. Not enough detail to survive the motion to dismiss, however.


  109. - low level - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:39 am:

    Please. First of all, Travis from IL GOP is funny. They probably havent been within a 15 miles radius of the area ever.

    Second, they were “denied advancement”? Im not aware of any promotions or advancements during the course of any campaign for anyone of any race. Youre focused on winning.

    The letter and demand tell what they are really after.


  110. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:41 am:

    ===I don’t think it’s that. Having watched JB’s campaign operate from an arms length, I’ve marveled at the sheer size of it all. Innumerable paid staffers, layers of “deputies directors” who are unknown to local pols, field offices seemingly everywhere, a bottomless barrel of cash to spend, etc.

    I don’t think it’s negligence…maybe it all just got away from them. Maybe the campaign is too big to manage. Maybe they reached the point of diminishing returns.

    There are a lot of “nobodies nobody sent” on the payroll.===

    …

    Then how will a Pritzker Administration handle a $39 billion dollar budget, dozens of agencies, and thousands of workers “nobody sent”?

    You’re trying to help. You’re not.

    They can’t handle what they created to win an election?

    Isn’t that gross negligence to fundamentals?

    It’s an ongoing pattern, that I know.


  111. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:41 am:

    so after paying a usual contingency fee (1/3) that would leave a payday of half a million dollars each to the intrepid 10…. It’s been a while since my active campaigning days, but that seems like a heckuva pay day for a temp job….. PLUS a letter of recommendation from JB for Gov! Perhaps I’d been polish my door to door, phonebanking and letter stuffing skills!


  112. - IrishPirate - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:41 am:

    Grandson of Man.

    Oops. I blame my parents, my teachers, society as a whole and my giving up caffeine two years ago.

    Sorry.


  113. - wondering - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:43 am:

    One Man,you are on…..but I did say after Nov 6, not a week after. How about this,500 if I lose, 100 if you lose, your picks are fine, but I have to extend the withdrawl say 180 days. It will take that long to corner them into being deposed. If it is a take, I will send the money to Rich up front, you do the same, he can decide the winner.


  114. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:44 am:

    Second, they were “denied advancement”? Im not aware of any promotions or advancements during the course of any campaign for anyone of any race. Youre focused on winning.

    -Exactly


  115. - Ole General - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:46 am:

    I tried warning people how in their unbridled hatred for Rauner, the entire party coalesced around another “Raunerite”. A true progressive who only 6 years ago who was for Romney.

    A man who would remove toilets to save a buck all without union labor, will now be the Champion fighting for working people.

    Pritzker is going to win and it’s because no matter how much Rauner spends, he is loathed by the electorate.

    But you got fooled. You let a fox in the hen house and day-by-day the true colors of this “progressive” are being revealed.

    Dan Biss was right. Should have picked him.


  116. - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:47 am:

    When this suit is dismissed, and it will be because it lacks merit, I hope the plaintiffs know that they will be responsible for the defendant’s legal fees. I’m going to guess that the Pritzker campaign can afford really good, very expensive attorneys to defend against this frivolous suit. Maybe the court will also impose some sanction on the plaintiff for wasting its time.

    This is a dangerous game these people are playing. This does serious harm to those who face actual discrimination in the workplace.


  117. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:48 am:

    “Oops. I blame my parents, my teachers, society as a whole and my giving up caffeine two years ago.

    Sorry.”

    Not a problem.


  118. - Reserved - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:53 am:

    Keep in mind there is one key fact we don’t have about the demand letter, were there conversations between the plaintiffs and the campaign prior to the letter? A 24 hour notice isn’t typical unless a party is intentionally dragging their feet or ignoring an issue, which one would likely do if faced with this shortly before an election.


  119. - anon324 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:55 am:

    One of the complaints is they were all placed in positions with no legitimate advancement opportunities. 9/10 plaintiffs have been there since June 2018 or later, and most of the proof of experience is tied to campaigns in other states. What kind of advancement opportunities did they expect to get in such a short period of time? And did they really expect to be given promotions in lieu of individuals who have been working on the campaign for significantly longer?


  120. - Anon221 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:56 am:

    Under Prayer for Relief-

    G mentions she or he, while H only mentions “she”

    H. Award Plaintiff back pay, prejudgment interest, and damages for all
    employment benefits she lost;

    This is a slap-dash suit and the $7.5 million ask doesn’t make it any fresher. It seems to be focused ore on one or two of the plaintiffs, not all 10.

    I agree with Stratton’s assessment of “bring it on”. If there are true allegations, they will come out in court. Otherwise it just has the overall appearance of a shakedown.

    And BTW, I’m just curious as to where the campaign was going to put the staffer up in Peoria-

    “Eventually, Caitlin Pharo found her a hotel in an unsafe part of town.”

    Just used Google maps for Peoria and chose the “Hotel” option. Which part of those areas did she not feel safe in?


  121. - BenFolds5 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:56 am:

    If you ever have been in a position to handle a complaint like this, demands come before the filing typically. That’s the point this crew let them down. Maybe they all asked for less originally? More facts will come out now they filed. The number doesn’t shock me, at all. Maybe there is some truth and it was 100k a piece? But, if we file, it’s going to be big. These people put their names on the line. The legal system will sort out the facts. The amount is the least surprising part of this. Not unlike a suit against a major corporation, these are pennies. It tells me this is more than a “hit job” they feel wronged and had nobody that took them seriously internally. Big fumble on the crew.


  122. - Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:57 am:

    Anyone else see Rauner’s odd pause when accusing Pritzker of racism at the Quincy debate last week as curious in light of the timeline of this? Almost as if he was about to accidentally say something prematurely and awkwardly caught himself.


  123. - Rusty Bridges - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:58 am:

    If today’s radical left wing Democratic Party stands for anything it’s trying to get money from a rich guy. That and doing mob action stuff.


  124. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:59 am:

    ==Dan Biss was right.==

    Biss has endorsed and campaigned for JB.


  125. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 10:59 am:

    If these 10 campaign staffers are still working for Pritzker then what he can do now is send them all to white neighborhods. Apparently they don’t want to work in black or latino neighborhoods. Send them to white neighborhoods and have 10 white people replace them im black neighborhoods.

    Those 10 platiffs will then look really silly seeing as that there really is a culture difference sometimes while you knocking on doors in Naperville.


  126. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:02 am:

    ==G mentions she or he, while H only mentions “she”==

    There’s a lot of sloppy drafting in here, like they were working on a deadline. My guess is they wanted this out before the election, calculating that JB would be more likely to settle up quickly to put it behind him.


  127. - Perrid - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:06 am:

    @BenFolds5, it would be more like $750k a piece. If the lawyer gets 1/3 of that, it still gives each plantiff more money than any of them would make in 10 years, maybe 15.

    Again, I’ll wait for both sides to tell the whole story, but to me right now this smells of extortion.


  128. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:06 am:

    ==While I admit I don’t have a Google alert set to your name, I’ve seen enough to know that you want Rauner to win.==

    Ars, OW has an alert. Ask him. lol.

    I really don’t have any wants there. I’m an observer, little more on that one.


  129. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:07 am:

    –There are lower pleading standard in federal court than in IL State Court. That being said, I share your opinion that this is a poorly drafted Complaint with some pretty sweeping language. It might fail even under federal standards. Though the judge would probably give the Plaintiffs a chance to re-plead.–

    There’s a curious lack of basic lawyering in the filing, even though a couple of lawyers are listed.

    This one reads more like like the lawsuits you see filed by convicts doing a federal stretch, passing the time by doing their own lawyering.


  130. - Anon221 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:08 am:

    Arsenal- may be just sloppy drafting, but based on the complaints listed in detail, it struck me that this was originally mainly about one campaign worker, and they added on others later in the process for the numbers. If the suit had to drafted so quickly, but the offences took place since this summer, why the sudden quick draft? The September hire seems to be the main impetus for the suit.


  131. - Suburban Mom - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:08 am:

    Who is this lawyer? The filing is terrible, and the only two ways I can read the demand letter are 1) a ham-handed attempt at extortion or b) a deliberate attempt to undermine his clients.

    I mean, there are a lot of terrible lawyers out there, but what on earth is going on here? And how did the lawyer convince all 10 of these staffers to proceed with such a miserably bad strategy with such awkward timing?

    (Also it’s legit weird that Rauner’s denying involvement before anyone accuses him of it, but Rauner’s team is so incompetent that that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.)


  132. - MG85 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:10 am:

    ==Dan Biss was right. Should have picked him.==

    Completely disagree. Biss has a terrible Union voting record. He was the author of the bill to severely undermine the pension system for state employees in Illinois.

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-biss-pritzker-pensions-20180211-story.html

    That said, I agree with the premise that Democrats failed to field a true progressive candidate. Why weren’t more liberals pushing for Mendoza to get into the race? Why wasn’t Ameya Pawar given a stronger platform to espouse his ideals? Why wasn’t Cheri Bustos courted?

    Because of cold hard cash. the Democratic Party saw the model of Rauner funding everything from his piggy bank and the Dems found a bigger piggy bank. Once again, the Democratic Party will slight its own constituencies so they don’t have to fundraise so much.

    Good grief.


  133. - wndycty - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:11 am:

    I am the only that finds it odd that the Cook County Recorder, which says on the website “The Record is owned by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform.”

    It wasn’t one the Chicago daily newspapers, TV or radio outlets but the US Chamber?


  134. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:12 am:

    - A Guy -

    Stop, or we can pull up where, after Rauner won the primary and you disavowed Rauner, only to come back and support him, righteous indignation notwithstanding.

    Just. Stop.

    To the Post,

    Rauner speaking today, Amanda Vinicky tweeting, Bruce is troubled.

    With a Pritzker “Scheme to Defraud”, and this lawsuit, frivolous as it may turn out to be, unforced errors gives Rauner something to talk about instead of defending his failed term.

    Gross negligence hurts.


  135. - Agreed - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:13 am:

    Democrats have usually voiced against the leadership singularly. This is the first incident in recent memory where multiple are coming forward backing each other up to oppose the establishment.

    That means something


  136. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:13 am:

    ==LOL, you haven’t read the lawsuit, obviously. Nine of the plaintiffs fail to make any specific complaint at all.==

    C’mon Sling, I’m not passing judgement on the legitimacy of any of this at this point. ALL 10 have posited their names and positions in the campaign. That’s a lot of people and unlike a slow oozing of people coming forward.

    I think it’s possible we’ll see more coming forward now this is very out in the open. We’ll see.


  137. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:15 am:

    ===I think it’s possible we’ll see more coming forward now…===

    Did you hear that in your infinitely large precinct of single-thoughts, or…


  138. - GOPgal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:15 am:

    My sense is Rauner’s people are too busy looking for other jobs to get this done. Plus they would actually have to know some black people.


  139. - Anon221 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:15 am:

    Who is this lawyer…

    “At Samuels & Associates our goal is quality representation, not quantity. By focusing our practice on civil rights and criminal defense, you can rest assured that your attorney is knowledgeable and knows what it takes to win.”

    https://www.chicivilrights.com/

    “Experienced Chicago defense attorney and former Cook County prosecutor, Shay T. Allen, specializes in representing clients facing a variety criminal charges, from misdemeanor offenses to serious federal crimes. He leads the best possible defense for each client and case by providing ample personal attention and service with extensive legal experience, an analytical mind, and a deep understanding of Chicagoland.”

    http://attorneyshaytallen.com/


  140. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:15 am:

    –My guess is they wanted this out before the election, calculating that JB would be more likely to settle up quickly to put it behind him.–

    If that was their calculation, it’s just plain loopy.

    No way any politician would settle before an election once the lawsuit is filed and public. That would be an admission that you’d done wrong.

    You’ll recall Trump denied everything in his university fraud lawsuit before the election, but settled for $25 million after the election before it could go to trial.


  141. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:17 am:

    If Rauner indeed has involvement I’m sure he preferred Pritzker to settle the suit then having the complaint leaked afterwards. That way its less risky for him.


  142. - South Sider - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:18 am:

    Well, well. three weeks out and a lawsuit against the frontrunner. Makes me thing of the lies told about Rutherford by another primary candidate a few years back. The lady in Peoria was not as downtrodden as her remakes in the suit infer, locals have another story about her. This sure looks like another candidates ploy, three weeks out….


  143. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:19 am:

    GOPgal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:15 am:

    My sense is Rauner’s people are too busy looking for other jobs to get this done. Plus they would actually have to know some black people.

    -They know Maze Jackson and Ken Dunkin.


  144. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:21 am:

    ===but the US Chamber? ===

    There was no time stamp on the story last night when I read it, but I had the info before I read it. And I didn’t initially get the tip from someone who read it.

    Stop being so tinfoil hatty, people. It’s embarrassing to watch.


  145. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:21 am:

    ==- A Guy -

    Stop, or we can pull up where, after Rauner won the primary and you disavowed Rauner, only to come back and support him, righteous indignation notwithstanding.==

    Calm down Cowboy. I agree with nearly everything you’ve said in your multiple posts today on this topic. As to where I’ve been on this Gov in this race, go ahead and pull everything you can…there isn’t much to cull there. I’m indifferent on it. No worse place to be than indifferent.


  146. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:23 am:

    Comparing this to Rutherford or Schock… the other “CareerFellas”, you haven’t made any case that 10 people decided to do this at the behest of and as the plants of another campaign.

    That’s why “10” is the confusing puzzle piece.

    It’s not really, if you take off the tin foil.


  147. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:23 am:

    7.5 million is a lot of emotional distress lol.


  148. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:23 am:

    ==Did you hear that in your infinitely large precinct of single-thoughts, or…==

    No Willy. Just the repetitive laws of human nature at work.


  149. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:27 am:

    ==I’m indifferent on it.==

    So you’ve changed your mind again, and you’re not voting for Rauner?


  150. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:28 am:

    The ARDC website doesn’t allow links to the complaint but if you search under attorney Allen’s name you will see that he is facing discipline for
    Dishonesty to the Court and Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice.

    Excerpt:

    By reason of the conduct above, Respondent has engaged in the following misconduct:

    knowingly making a false statement of fact or law to a tribunal or failure to correct a false statement of material fact or law previously made to the tribunal by the lawyer, including but not limited to filing a false pleading and testifying falsely before Judge Porter in People v. Biles, about Biles’ desire to testify, in violation of Rule 3.3(a)(1) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct (2010);

    conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation, by conduct including but not limited to the filing of a false pleading and testifying falsely before Judge Porter in People v. Biles, about Biles’ desire to testify, in violation of Rule 8.4(c) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct (2010); and

    conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, by conduct including filing a false pleading and testifying falsely before Judge Porter in People v. Biles, about Biles’ desire to testify resulting in the delay of a disposition in the matter of People v. Biles, docket number 14 CR 1871, in violation of Rule 8.4(d) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct (2010


  151. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:28 am:

    - A Guy -

    You’re not indifferent. Stop

    ===- A guy - Thursday, Mar 22, 18 @ 9:47 -

    You asked if I’m supporting Rauner now? Over Pritzker? Absolutely.===

    So, please stop.

    To this…

    ===Stop being so tinfoil hatty===

    Can’t the Pritzker Crew be inept at things? There’s a pattern. It’s not surprising.


  152. - BC - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:29 am:

    OW, I’m not “trying to help.” J.B. owns any failings by his campaign.

    I’m speculating that his campaign is too big for its own good. Not recognizing that is a failure in itself, just not sure it rises to the level of gross negligence.


  153. - Flat Bed Ford - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:29 am:

    Couple’a things:
    1. TEN people is a problem for JB.
    2. Extremely poorly drafted document. I would expect a revised complaint at some point soon.
    3. Silence by Mitchell, head of DPI, is concerning.
    4. Silence by Legislative Black caucus is also concerning.
    5. This by itself is not enough for Rauner to win on.
    6. This will hover over at lest the first few years of a Pritzker administration.
    7. Honeybear uses the word perfidy in 97.4% of her posts.


  154. - Henry Francis - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:30 am:

    Something else that speaks more towards damaging JB’s election chances rather than “justice”; typically this would be an employment discrimination case filed under Tutle VII. But that requires first exhausting your remedies at the EEOC. Only after the EEOC issues plaintiffs a right to sue letter can they file a lawsuit. Obviously the timing for that would not get a lawsuit filed in time to affect the election.

    So instead they filed a section 1981 claim, which is narrower in scope (so not advantageous for plaintiffs) And more importantly a 1981 claim has a higher burden on proof for the plaintiffs as it requires actual intent to discriminate, whereas the typical employment discrimination case (under Title VII) does not.

    This is extremely poor lawyering - or something else.


  155. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:30 am:

    ===Just the repetitive laws of human nature at work.===

    Is that like Rauner being a phony type of… repetitive laws of human nature at work?

    Thing is, your “…repetitive laws of human nature at work.” is a speculation of ongoing charges.

    But please, continue, lol


  156. - Arsenal - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:30 am:

    ==If that was their calculation, it’s just plain loopy.==

    Agreed. But you’re dealing with a ton of young people, they might be loopy.


  157. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:34 am:

    ===Not recognizing that is a failure in itself, just not sure it rises to the level of gross negligence.===

    It’s gross political negligence to build any size campaign apparatus then state you can’t control what you built.

    It’s not like Illinois is going to get smaller so Pritzker can handle it better

    It’s malpractice to campaigns.

    These mistakes are a pattern. There’s that too.


  158. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:36 am:

    Agree to pay.
    Put the 7 mil in unmarked bills.
    Have MJM be the drop guy and Jimmy McGill as the legal aide.

    You won’t hear from those 10 again.
    And the money will reappear as a property tax reduction.


  159. - Ole General - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:39 am:

    For once, I agree with OW. This campaign has been a relative disaster from the jump. $150 million later and we are discussing race issues and toilets, the exact same issues we are talking about in the primary.

    Pritzker appears to be the next great incompetent governor of Illinois. Too bad the money blinded people.


  160. - Ike - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:39 am:

    Rusty - watching a lot of Fox News, aren’t ya. Spreading that propaganda about so called “left wing mobs”. Do you have anything to say about the white supremacist who ran down counter protestors and murdered one with his car in SC?


  161. - Jibba - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:41 am:

    I agree that his campaign has a pattern of unforced errors and bad judgment that bodes ill for governing. I hope that once he gets an experienced staff in place in Springfield, things will improve because many details will be taken care of by staff following longstanding procedures.

    However, this is why people with governmental experience are better. Rauner failed because of his lack of government experience (and perhaps some personality and judgment issues). Pritzker may fail, too, but he also may not. Rauner would certainly continue to fail, so he is out.

    Can either party nominate an experienced administrator or politician with knowledge of the process? No millionaires and billionaire bidnessmen next time, please.


  162. - Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:42 am:

    Sorry to bring this up again, but this is from Cook County Record:

    “All of the plaintiffs either currently work or have worked for the Pritzker campaign as field organizers in 2018, according to the complaint.”

    All but two of the plaintiffs in the suit “has been” with the Pritzker campaign, while the two “was” with the campaign. This seems to imply most workers are still with the campaign. Would they have quit the campaign if it was bad enough to sue and demand millions of dollars?


  163. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:44 am:

    For once, I agree with OW. This campaign has been a relative disaster from the jump. $150 million later and we are discussing race issues and toilets, the exact same issues we are talking about in the primary.

    Pritzker appears to be the next great incompetent governor of Illinois. Too bad the money blinded people.

    -I completely disagree. 150 million won’t stop people with certain motives from being part of your campaign staff. Money is good to have, but it’s not God. Also, you’re fighting a desperate man who has money as well.


  164. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:46 am:

    –If today’s radical left wing Democratic Party stands for anything it’s trying to get money from a rich guy.–

    Rusty concurs with LP that it’s a shakedown.


  165. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:48 am:

    All but two of the plaintiffs in the suit “has been” with the Pritzker campaign, while the two “was” with the campaign. This seems to imply most workers are still with the campaign. Would they have quit the campaign if it was bad enough to sue and demand millions of dollars?

    -Unless they think staying on is a great way to force Pritzker to promote them if elected. By threatening lawsuit or telling the media he is racist unless he promotes them if he is elected Governor.


  166. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:49 am:

    ==LOL, you haven’t read the lawsuit, obviously. Nine of the plaintiffs fail to make any specific complaint at all.==

    C’mon Sling, I’m not passing judgement on the legitimacy of any of this at this point. –

    Well that’s good, because you still, obviously, haven’t read the lawsuit that you keep commenting and speculating on.


  167. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:51 am:

    ===…won’t stop people with certain motives from being part of your campaign staff===

    Please, keep up.

    I suggested…

    ===“Being wealthy, I can have these type of issues far more than others. Money, and a want for it, makes people do things they might not normally do. That’s all I’ll say to this”===

    … the Pritzker Crew went another bland direction. It’s works for them.

    - Jibba -

    You’re on it.

    If Pritzker wins, I have some thoughts on all that too. I’m holding a great deal until November 7th.

    To my own critiques,

    I respect staff and crews, and have a deeper respect to the workings of campaigns.

    I call what I see. As an observer, I don’t think I’m wrong in what I’m witnessing.


  168. - VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:52 am:

    It’s Rauner’s fault.
    If he was a better governor he wouldn’t be losing by 25% and the Democrats wouldn’t already start eating their own before the election.

    Election day can’t come soon enough.


  169. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:56 am:

    –If the lawyer gets 1/3 of that,..–

    That would be robbery. Anyone with a PC, a printer and a copy of a “real” lawsuit to use as a template could have knocked this out in a couple of hours.

    There is no evidence of a lawyer’s education, skills or time in this filing.


  170. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 11:57 am:

    ==Is that like Rauner being a phony type of… repetitive laws of human nature at work?==

    In one word: Yes.


  171. - A guy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:00 pm:

    ==There is no evidence of a lawyer’s education, skills or time in this filing.==

    I believe Burgundy addressed this further up. Suspect this will tighten up a bit soon.


  172. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:01 pm:

    –6. This will hover over at lest the first few years of a Pritzker administration.–

    Swami, do you use a crystal ball or Magic Eightball to see years into the future based on something you found out about this morning?


  173. - Publius - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:04 pm:

    @texas red

    So you still aren’t voting for pritzker? This will only make the people that don’t support him not support him more. Same can be said about those that aren’t voting for Rauner they would still not vote for him. JB will win despite his campaign staff, because he has a vision for Illinois that grows wages not a vision of lowering wages to maximize profit.


  174. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:04 pm:

    ===In one word: Yes.===

    It was rhetorical. If you want to clear up your own ridiculousness, that’s… fun.

    ===Suspect this will tighten up a bit soon.===

    Are you one of the 10 plaintiffs or the attorney?

    Are you the go between in this conspiracy between the Rauner Crew and these 10, ‘cause if you are, you are outing yourself here.


  175. - People Over Parties - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:06 pm:

    January 2019 gonna be a real fun time for JB


  176. - IrishPirate - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:07 pm:

    This is all interesting speculation, but is it going to change the outcome of the election?

    What would it take for Rauner to win?

    I’ve been watching politics in this state since Honest Dan Walker walked thousands of miles and besides Todd Stroger can’t think of a politician as inept and hated as Rauner.

    If Blago were running from prison against Rauner one on one I’d put my money on Blago winning.

    He’d probably beat Dennis Hastert, but then perhaps the independent candidate would win.

    I’m not even sure it’s possible to quantify how hated Rauner is. Only people voting for him are hardcore GOP’ers and only some of them. I suspect some of his kids won’t vote for him.

    His Carhartt Jacket might vote for him, but only because it would be in the polling booth with Rauner and he could watch which way it voted.


  177. - Nick Name - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:08 pm:

    Republicans care about racial discrimination? Zzzzz…


  178. - paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:08 pm:

    Of course this type of thing sets all internet searches in motion. On Jeanette Samuels Website she states:

    “Other notable cases include Campbell v. City of Chicago, a ground-breaking class action seeking a consent decree to oversee the Chicago Police Department.”

    She may have worked on this case but there is no record of her filing an appearance on behalf of anyone. Not trying to take cheap shots at anyone but was trying to find out about her. I practice regularly in criminal matters and civil rights in federal court and had not heard of her.
    https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3864800-Campbell-v-City-of-Chicago-

    Similarly, she states:

    “and People v. Jason Van Dyke wherein she disqualified the Cook County State’s Attorney and had a special prosecutor appointed for the murder of Laquan McDonald.”

    No record of her involvement in this case either:

    http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/02/Laquan-McDonald-Petition.pdf


  179. - dbk - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:11 pm:

    @Anon221 re: hotel in Peoria where Calhoun felt unsafe: probably in 61605, one of the poorest zip codes in Illinois (and the U.S.). Chris Kaergard has probably figured it which hotel it was. Other possibilities: zip code 61602, 61603.

    I’ve read the complaint twice and all the comments to date, and I think it’s fair to say this is one weird development, and that most of us are confused about what to make of it. But it’s not good.

    (1) I don’t think 10 professional political operatives - some of them career operatives, and more than half from out of state - would make this up; something was persistently going on, it wasn’t being taken care of, and it doesn’t reflect well on JB’s campaign.

    (2) They’d been complaining for a while about unequal / discriminatory / harassing treatment by higher-ups, the lawsuit comes late in all this.

    (3) Most (I think it was 6/10) are from out of state - Alabama, Florida, and Missouri.

    (4) Two observations re: (3): a) looks like the Pritzker campaign was deliberately recruiting black operatives (and to a lesser extent, Latinx) to work in problematic areas - Westside, Southside, Far Southside, Peoria (inner city); (b) looks like the recruits weren’t given to understand why they were being recruited (b1) and were deprived of an honest orientation on the district were they were expected to function as field operators (b2). And little if any coordination with local Democrats who know the terrain/players? This is also bad.

    (5) I was recalled of something Martin Luther King Jr. said of Chicago when he moved there in ‘66: “I think the people from Mississippi ought to come to Chicago to learn how to hate.” Operatives from the South just aren’t prepared for Chicago.

    (6) This recruitment is on JB and his campaign head honchos - cultural insensitivity, lack of understanding that working in Florida or Alabama isn’t like working on the South/Westside of Chicago.

    (7) It doesn’t bode well for his administration - there’s an over-confidence and insensitivity, an unwillingness to address issues immediately (I think these were bad hires, but hey, that’s just me) the second a problem arises. Some of this has to do with campaigning in segregated Illinois neighborhoods v. working in the South.

    (8) I’m starting to fear we’ve been snookered and I’m not feeling at all sanguine.

    There’s more to say, but for the moment …


  180. - Pick a Name - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:14 pm:

    JB will do what JB does best, write a check.

    Pretty much all he has done his entire adult life.


  181. - BenFolds5 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:15 pm:

    OW is exactly correct. Somebody or several people didn’t head this off. To all the conspiracy folks. You ever try to get 10 people to agree on what to order for a single meal? Let alone, put your name to a lawsuit against a billionaire? We complained, you didn’t listen somebody found an attorney and let’s get our point across. The number is just a tactic to do what has happened, bring attention. This is a self inflicted wound at best. A legitimate costly suit at worst for JB. In the end, maybe both.


  182. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:16 pm:

    –When this suit is dismissed, and it will be because it lacks merit, –

    I highly doubt that a judge will even get to the “merits” of this complaint in its current form.

    Federal judges are supposed to give wide latitude to self-filing plaintiffs, but this is supposedly the work of lawyers. I think a very short “try again, but like a lawyer this time” is very likely.


  183. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:16 pm:

    The funny thing about this is to see how phony republicans are on social media. They now care about racial discrimination that they are trying to convince black people that JB is racist. Nevermind when black people say Trump is racist.


  184. - SSL - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:17 pm:

    This won’t change anything.

    To most voters JB is the least offensive white guy.


  185. - Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:18 pm:

    –JB will do what JB does best, write a check.–

    They’ll file a motion to dismiss first, and have a decent shot there, though as noted above the plaintiffs will get another chance to correct any defects the judge finds. Settling a racial discrimination suit is an even worse look for a candidate or public official than just having one filed against you.


  186. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:19 pm:

    ===The funny thing about this is to see how phony republicans are on social media.===

    No.

    The funny thing is that with 180+ comments here, the bottom line is… how the heck… “again”… did the Pritzker Crew let this get this far?

    That’s the “funny” thing, if you find patterns funny.


  187. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:28 pm:

    –JB will do what JB does best, write a check.–

    No, that would be incredibly stupid, as it would be an admission of having done wrong.

    Those three talking points you have — they really don’t address everything.


  188. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:34 pm:

    “Racial epitaphs.” Did Norm Crosby draft the complaint?


  189. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:34 pm:

    –The funny thing is that with 180+ comments here, the bottom line is… how the heck… “again”… did the Pritzker Crew let this get this far?–

    Other than pay the plaintiffs, thereby admitting wrongdoin, which most certainly would have leaked before the election, how was the Pritzker crew supposed to stop this from happening?


  190. - Responsa - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:37 pm:

    Oh to be a fly on the wall hovering around the Kennedy and Biss family breakfast tables this morning.


  191. - Northsider (the original) - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:38 pm:

    Here’s my tinfoil contribution:
    Perhaps the office where 9/10 are working was a plug and play. Then only one would have to have infiltrated, the rest would be his ‘crew’ that he brought with him to help staff the office.
    Easier that way.


  192. - MG85 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:39 pm:

    ==Republicans care about racial discrimination? Zzzzz…==

    No but, allegedly, Democrats do. This could have implications for voter turnout and Democratic support.

    The GOP argument will not be, “hey GOP voter, look at how mean and discriminatory JB is. let’s get out and protect people of color.”

    The GOP argument will be, “Hey liberal voters, look at how mean and discriminatory JB is. Are you sure you want to vote for that guy?”

    The problem is, Rauner wasn’t smart enough to create a waste basket for libs to throw their votes in like JB did with Sam McCann. So now he can only hope they won’t vote at all.

    Trumpism will ensure they do.


  193. - Soccermom - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:40 pm:

    This just doesn’t make sense. they are three weeks out from a great opportunity for “advancement” — i.e., jobs with a new administration. So why do something that would imperil their candidate? This doesn’t make sense.


  194. - Matt Vernau - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:43 pm:

    It is going to be October for lots of days yet. I am holding out for something as “big” as more Blago tape goodies. Maybe those goodies will post on the 31st.


  195. - OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:43 pm:

    Wondering, if Rich is willing to hold the cash I am fine with it.

    If we go with that lets just make it LCFS that way it doesn’t get wired with a political donation coming from another entity.


  196. - Soccermom - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:46 pm:

    Why would they drop this to the Cook County Record?

    This simply does not track.


  197. - BenFolds5 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:48 pm:

    Soccermom makes the most saline point. ” they are three weeks out from a great opportunity for “advancement” — i.e., jobs with a new administration. So why do something that would imperil their candidate? This doesn’t make sense.”

    Maybe because the allegations are true? Time will tell.


  198. - Pick a Name - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:49 pm:

    Matt Vernau, they won’t wait until the 31st to run those.


  199. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:51 pm:

    This just doesn’t make sense. they are three weeks out from a great opportunity for “advancement” — i.e., jobs with a new administration. So why do something that would imperil their candidate? This doesn’t make sense.

    -They probably thought it would be a settlement. They also probably stayed on to get special treatment(promotions) if JB does get elected.


  200. - Ike - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:55 pm:

    MG85- drinking that conspiracy kool-aid about a JB and McCann political relationship.
    I mean besides rauner threating and funding a candidate against McCann, there’s no reason why McCann wouldn’t try to hurt Rauner’s chances, unless JB put him up to it. /s


  201. - Real - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 12:58 pm:

    This just doesn’t make sense. they are three weeks out from a great opportunity for “advancement” — i.e., jobs with a new administration. So why do something that would imperil their candidate? This doesn’t make sense.

    Easily. They know that with this lawsuit they can get special treatment with promotions by staying on or a settlement. If they don’t get special treatment you can bet they will allege retaliation.


  202. - nadia - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 1:02 pm:

    Reminds me of a county board election a few years ago in a predominately GOP district, a democratic candidate campaigned on his GOP opponents financial improprieties with managing a publicly funded account, a good friend told him “sound strategy but instead of losing by 15 or 20 % points you’ll probably lose by 10% or less.” And that’s exactly what happened.


  203. - Pick a Name - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 1:03 pm:

    Ike, there is a very good likelihood Sammy boy has a nice paying job in the JB administration.


  204. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 1:09 pm:

    ===Why would they drop this to the Cook County Record? ===

    That publication has stories nobody else does because they track the courthouses so closely. I doubt it was a “drop.”


  205. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 17, 18 @ 1:10 pm:

    And with that, the 200th comment, I’m closing out this thread. Click here to discuss more.


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