With two weeks remaining until Election Day, the Rauner Campaign is launching a new TV ad titled “Unholy Union.”
The ad highlights the devastating results of giving JB Pritzker and Mike Madigan total control of Illinois. Together, they will bankrupt Illinois with billions in new proposed spending and a massive tax hike.
Pritzker and Madigan – key players in the Chicago political machine – have repeatedly engaged in corrupt behavior to benefit themselves. Madigan has made millions off of high property taxes in his role as a property tax appeals lawyer, helping cronies like Pritzker get reductions on their property taxes. And Pritzker has engaged in a “scheme to defraud” taxpayers by ripping toilets out of his mansion, dodging $330,000 in property taxes.
Since allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation in Madigan’s organizations surfaced, Pritzker has continued to funnel millions into his coffers. When Pritzker’s staffers sued the campaign over harassment and discrimination, Madigan has been notably silent.
It’s clear that Illinois can’t afford the high taxes and corruption of the unholy union between Pritzker and Madigan.
Officiant: Repeat after me. I, Mike Madigan, take you, JB Pritzker, as my unlawful partner in destruction, to raise property taxes, corrupt government, and bankrupt Illinois’ future.
Madigan: Done, deal.
Officiant: And I, JB Pritzker, take you, Mike Madigan, to honor and obey til death do us part.
Pritzker: Always have, always will.
Officiant: By the power vested in me, I now pronounce Illinois [F-bomb partially bleeped].
Voiceover: Mike Madigan and JB Pritzker, an unholy union Illinois can’t afford.
Perhaps as a symbol of how far Illinois and the nation have moved on the issue of same-sex marriage, the fact that the ad depicts a “wedding” of two men is no longer its most provocative part.
In the 2002 Republican primary for governor, the late conservative activist Jack Roeser sent out mailers that thanked Jim Ryan for supporting “special rights for homosexuals” and “opening the door to gay marriages.” The mailing featured two bridegroom figurines atop a wedding cake. Roeser backed then-state Sen. Patrick O’Malley over Ryan, who was then the state’s attorney general.
Still, the ad could prove to be a reminder to social conservatives unhappy with Rauner’s actions as governor that included his signing a law expanding rights for transgender people.
* The Pritzker campaign’s response from Galia Slayen had sort of a marriage theme to it…
It is only fitting that Bruce Rauner would choose to end his campaign by blaming others for his own failures. After four years of seeing their governor more interested in affairs with special interests, badmouthing his own state and refusing to compromise, the people of Illinois are looking forward to their divorce from Bruce Rauner being finalized on November 6th.
*** UPDATE 1 *** With a hat tip to a commenter…
Rauner just vetoed a law to protect LGBTQ Illinoisans from workplace discrimination. Now he is mocking same-sex marriage as an "unholy union". Rauner's blatant homophobia has no place in Illinois. #twill#ilgov@WindyCityTimes#LGBTQhttps://t.co/1UbbhplOe3
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois…
We are deeply disappointed by Gov. Rauner’s new campaign ad that mocks marriage equality by tying two of his opponents together in a parody wedding.
We remind the governor that the official platform of the party he leads opposes marriage equality. A recent national poll found that a plurality of Republicans still oppose marriage equality. There is still much work to be done to move the hearts and minds of many Republican voters to value the dignity of same sex weddings. As someone who has officiated same sex weddings, Gov Rauner could serve as a model of inclusivity and use his campaign to vigorously promote full acceptance of LGBTQ Illinoisans. Instead, he chooses to raise the specter of gay marriage to turnout the most extreme elements of his base. We recognize a dog whistle when we hear one.
The governor should be ashamed of using the LGBTQ community for comedic value to make a political hit. Our weddings are not a joke. Gov. Rauner does not represent Illinois’ values with this ad.
*** UPDATE 3 *** The governor was on the Big John and Ramblin’ Ray show today and couldn’t say if this was his ad…
HOST 1: “I love the new ad. And we’ll play it after you leave because we don’t have time right now.”
HOST 2: “The ‘Unholy Alliance.’”
RAUNER: “Oh my goodness, we’re so abused if those two guys go in there.”
HOST 1: “Is that one of yours or is that an outside group?”
The Rauner campaign just confirmed that the "Unholy Union" ad launched today was commissioned by their campaign and @BruceRauner approved it before it was launched. #twill
“Bruce Rauner’s new ad is the last gasp of a failed leader stumbling out of office, willing to co-opt the homophobia of schoolyard bullies to try and divide us one last time. It’s not just offensive, it’s pathetic. Four years ago, Rauner invited voters to throw him out of office if he failed to get results. Without any accomplishments to speak of, Rauner’s re-election campaign has been reduced to cheap jokes, lame dog-whistles to conservatives who never forgave him, and an awkward public courtship of Donald Trump. As Rauner embarrasses himself in these final two weeks, Republicans voters have to ask themselves – are they proud of the campaign Bruce Rauner is running?”
“I thought this ad was so remarkable that I shared I with a couple of listservs – political scientists around the country,” said Chris Mooney, who is a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and is president of the state politics section of the American Political Science Association. “I’ve received dozens of responses (from) people who can’t believe it. All over the country, they say they’ve never seen anything like it. … It’s an exteme version of a negative ad.”
Mooney said at first blush, he can’t see how the ad will help Rauner. He received lots of snarky comments from colleagues, he said, including one saying the ad belongs in a campaign magazine’s hall of shame. […]
“Everyhing in an ad is a choice,” Mooney added, including having a white man play the clergyman, having the marriage and the music.
“I do know they chose to do those things and the fact that marriage equality is still a hot issue, and the fact that the governor continues to really try to shore up his right after sort of devastation in the primary, all that suggests that maybe that’s what’s going on here,” Mooney said.
Welp, the Pritzker campaign could always counter with “The Emperor Has No Clothes” ad using the photo from yesterday;)
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:23 am:
It’s quadrupling down on what hasn’t worked for Rauner, according to the polls. In this respect, it’s like, “Let’s just burn the place down.” It’s so Rauner, let’s attack and blame but absolutely not govern.
Rep Greg Harris already tweeted his outrage at Rauner “mocking same-sex marriage as an “unholy union”". I actually wouldn’t have noticed that angle, the focus is so much on Madigan’s and Pritzker’s alleged actions, but he has a point. I’m sure it was icing on the cake to Rauner to “subtly” throw in a dig about homosexuality.
The biggest beneficiary of this ad is probably Erika Harold for the reasons discussed yesterday: people will vote for Pritzker because they’re done with Rauner, then vote for Harold because they figure she can be a watchdog on Pritzker & Madigan (although the AG’s actual power in that regard isn’t what people think it is).
The Governor’s actions remind me of a football coach in a playoff game, down by five touchdowns. Grab-bagging, looking for any message that might work. They are obviously in possession of bad polling news. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Illinois has made up its mind about the Governor.
So Rauner is apparently following in Mark Kirk’s footsteps of leaving office with his head held low.
Political desperation is never a pretty thing, but you always hope that cooler heads prevail and the candidate heading for the big loss has the decency to resist the indignity of a scorched earth approach. Obviously, that’s not Rauner.
- The Way I See It - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:38 am:
It used to be so much easier to get Jeanne Ives’ vote
Proft now has competition in the category of Juvenile Self-Gratification.
Aren’t these scamps naughty, with the f-bomb and the two dudes with their “unholy union.” I bet the Kayo was just blasting out of the noses during production at AV Club after school.
Edgy, like Tarantino, amirite?
Not a Hail Mary. Just the same Madigan message Rauner’s been running since the summer of 2015, solidifying him at 30%.
No one can come up with a fresh idea, in more than three years?
So we have this ad, which ends with an f-bomb. And we have those radio ads from Proft et al about “the hell if they’re going to take it away”.
I’m no shrinking violet, politics ain’t beanbag, etc. I just want to know why Conservatives can no longer make an ad that doesn’t feature profanity or an oath.
Really, it wasn’t that long ago that any ad featuring an f-bomb would have cost the candidate five to ten points just from the religious among us.
Is Rauner trying to be Jeanne Ives or Donald Trump here?…does he hope that the GOP Conservative base will forget that Rauner officiated at least one same sex marriage?!
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:43 am:
So bizarre.
The only rationale conclusion is that Rauner is going for a big turnout from a motivated base.
He is campaigning like he governed - he has mistaken Illinois for a deep red state.
Failed governor, no constituency, and ads that say nothing to why Rauner deserves our votes.
I’m sad that the shell corp Bruce and Diana Rauner bought… is this ad… because they have nothing else.
I’ll leave it up to others to digest and slice away at its… existence.
- People Over Parties - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:45 am:
The assertion of homophobia in the ad is speculative at best. The portrayal of same-sex marriage, intended as favorable or not, is too vague to be called a “slam on gay marriage” by Mary Ann Ahern.
Hey look social conservatives, I’m denigrating gay marriage, and joining Madigan and JB at the hip. So see. Really, I’m one of you. Yep, so vote for me, K?
“The assertion of homophobia in the ad is speculative at best. The portrayal of same-sex marriage, intended as favorable or not, is too vague to be called a “slam on gay marriage” by Mary Ann Ahern.”
Look, Rauner wasn’t TRYING to be homophobic. He just was. That’s cool, right?
Might be interesting to try and get a comment from Mark Cozzi, a Rauner appointee to the SURS Board, or James Goeke. Those are the gentlemen whose wedding Rauner officiated on June 30 this year. What do they think about the dog-whistling from the office holder who wed them?
Bruce believes in Bruce. That’s it. Beyond furthering his own wealth, he has no fixed principles. A shell of a man.
“Really, it wasn’t that long ago that any ad featuring an f-bomb would have cost the candidate five to ten points” It wasn’t that long ago that a single “Yea[exclamation point]” tanked an entire campaign.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:57 am:
Well they’ve taken the Pritzker/Madigan/Corruption angle to a new level and unwittingly thrown in a homophobic flavor for good measure. We’ve heard this Madigan/Pritzker/Corruption thing for months now and it hasn’t really moved the needle much. This one is pretty desperate. Two weeks to go and someone appears to be pretty desperate.
GovJunk gets bigger excavator to go lower than ever. What happened to the kinder gentler GovJunk?
Someone should CommandoIves if this helps him back into the whackjob community? same question to Mrs. DeadbeatJoe.
The ExitInterviewTour on full speed
- People Over Parties - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:59 am:
===You’re either willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware===
I’m neither. As to the intentions of the ad, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, which I respect.
I have been asking this for weeks, is Bruce going to have any standing in this state when he leaves office? He and Di will still have their hundreds of millions dollars, but will people want them around?
Obviously continuing this downward trend of offensiveness isn’t going to get them invited to more north shore cocktail parties.
And all the biz folks that have supported him and his Intersect will see him as a guy who couldn’t get the job done.
I guess he’ll stull be able to ride with his bikers. Although will they cut off the “Governor” patch from his cut?
Raise property taxes…..coming from a guy whose teacher pension cost shift would REQUIRE a massive property tax increase, and who spent the money the income tax of 2017 generated. I guess Rauner only objects to paying for his spending. How much has he made off Illinois’ debt?
Fact: If Rauner got re-elected, there has been no indication the next four years would be any different from the past four.
Fact: This ad isn’t going to flip Independents or wavering Democrats because it’s just more “The sky is falling! It hit me on the head!”
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:25 am:
Bruce Rauner, 2/5/18: “There is no place in the Illinois Republican Party for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity. Representative Ives’ campaign ad does not reflect who we are as the Party of Lincoln and as proud residents of our great and diverse state. She should pull down the ad and immediately apologize to the Illinoisans who were negatively portrayed in a cowardly attempt to stoke political division.”
(https://news.wttw.com/2018/02/05/jeanne-ives-asks-what-s-offensive-about-provocative-campaign-ad)
Bruce Rauner, 10/23/18: “Yeah, forget what I said. Run my bigotted ad. And text ’sorry!’ to Ives.”
–Couldn’t be more obvious, right?
MJM and JB are gay?–
No, the “humorous” analogy here is that they’ve just entered an “unholy union,” like gay dudes that get married.
That’s the spot, concept and execution. Right in front of you.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:51 am:
The gay marriage angle did not cross my mind for a second when I watched the ad. I don’t know, maybe it is a dog whistle, but maybe not. Just because there could be a hidden message, doesn’t mean there is. And… I early voted for Pritzker.
- Chicago_Downstater - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:59 am:
And this ad right here is why–no matter how I wish Pritzker had handled the discrimination case differently–that I’m going to vote for him. Staying home is a vote for this obviously bigoted nonsense, and I hit my quota on bigoted dog whistles several lifetimes ago.
I really wish people would stop saying that “Rauner isn’t going to win.” I swore to my spouse that this country would never elect Trump. “Trust me, honey, Trump will not win; it’s not possible.” Boy, was I incorrect. Though his chances are low, Rauner could still get a second term.
Pritzker-Madigan wedding vow is to “honor, love and cherish one another until Rauner doth depart”.
Makes the matrimony holy, and good enough for me and a plurality of Illinois voters, I suspect.
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:22 am:
It’s a good reminder, Yiddishcowboy. Though Trump did lose Illinois.
Awful political ad. However, I had to laugh as the title of the next video that automatically cues up is how to “Remove a Stump Cheaply and Effectively”. I guess I would say…VOTE, it can remove a stump both cheaply and effectively.
This will help Bruce. Trump voters vote no matter what. This plays to them. Rauner will be with Trump this weekend.
If Bernie Bros, Chicago Socialists as well as suburban women don’t turnout this is Bruce’s shot.
Rauner played too long trying to get accepted socially by suburban moms. He should have been playing the bait card since day one. He needs the Trump folks, low turnout and Madigan hatred. The key is did he wait too long?
Btw the ad is terrible for it’s content and underlying message but politically it’s necessary.
$250 million spent on campaigning. The state is $200 billion in ious and another $7.5 billion in current debt. The state is actually not growing in population. And the wonderful two party system is posturing over toilets and gay marriage. My poor grandkids.
==This will help Bruce. Trump voters vote no matter what. This plays to them. Rauner will be with Trump this weekend.
If Bernie Bros, Chicago Socialists as well as suburban women don’t turnout this is Bruce’s shot.
Rauner played too long trying to get accepted socially by suburban moms. He should have been playing the bait card since day one. He needs the Trump folks, low turnout and Madigan hatred. The key is did he wait too long?
Btw the ad is terrible for it’s content and underlying message but politically it’s necessary.==
The chance of this being a low turnout affair is essentially nil, especially hoping for low turnout from Dem leaning groups with Trump in the White House.
Rauner’s so far behind he doesn’t really have any “good” options left, but I have a hard time seeing this as the least bad option for him.
“Homophobic is the last thing I thought of.” Then why make the stretch and make a wedding the setting? Why not just “You’re hired” or “Pleased to meet you” or even a sports metaphor? Heck, even a game of Monopoly would be better. “I’ll buy 5 houses, please, but make sure they don’t have any toilets.”
- ste_wit a v_en - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:48 am:
Not the best work. The pandering to social conservatives isn’t helping at this point.
Please stop saying this isn’t a dog whistle about gay marriage. They used the exact same phrase the religious right has been using to attack gay marriage. What is that supposed to be? A coincidence?
Frankly, I was more offended by the F-bomb dropped at the end. This is an ad running in all dayparts. I really don’t want my kids seeing this or the Proft “politicians suck” ads. Not that they haven’t heard it, but doing it like this just ads to Trump’s coarsening of America. Enough.
Oh yea, and it’s a stupid waste of TV time. The Madigan/Pritzker message has brought Bruce to between 27-30% and a 20 point deficit. Why exactly would they think this is going to work. As Soccermom said above, I’d like to see the polling memo.
I will never cease to be amazed by people who are absolutely convinced that Madigan, or Clinton, or Soros are behind everything…or who are convinced that the “mainstream media” works together to advance agendas…who then feel an ad like this couldn’t possibly be a dog whistle because of a dictionary definition.
Well, I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. The good news is, your grandkids probably won’t have to concern themselves with Illinois’ pension crisis, mismanagement, and corruption. The bad news is, they won’t have to worry about any of that because they’ll be dealing with the scarcity of food, land, employment, and housing brought about by accelerating climate change, and possibly a collapsing republic. But so it goes.
“The portrayal of same-sex marriage, intended as favorable or not…”
The spot is called “Unholy Alliance.” LOL.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
=== I will never cease to be amazed by people who are absolutely convinced that Madigan, or Clinton, or Soros are behind everything…or who are convinced that the “mainstream media” works together to advance agendas…who then feel an ad like this couldn’t possibly be a dog whistle because of a dictionary definition. ===
Speaking for myself:
1. I don’t think Madigan, Clinton, or Soros are behind everything.
2. I don’t think the mainstream media works together to advance an agenda.
3. I didn’t say it couldn’t be a dog whistle, I just said it may or very well may not be.
4. I voted for Pritzker. I support gay marriage. It just wasn’t immediately evident to me that this was an attack on gay marriage and a message to the far-right (who isn’t voting for Pritzker anyways) — I’m open to the possibility that it was but I also think some people may be reading too deep into it.
There are things candidates say…and then there are commercials which go through multiple revisions by consultants , are vetted and approved by the campaign staff and ultimately signed off on by the candidate. How this ad made it through so many layers of review is quite stunning.
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:43 pm:
Have some dignity, man. After you lose, you’re going to presumably still be around the society swells who probably frown on this type of thing.
==Heck, even a game of Monopoly would be better. “I’ll buy 5 houses, please, but make sure they don’t have any toilets.”==
That’s brilliant, it would make a terrific ad. Maybe a line from one of the players saying “I’d buy a hotel, but if only I can get the tax assessment lowered, wink, wink”, and the other player saying, “If there’s a strike by the workers in your hotel, you could always just turn on the heat lamps, LOL”. Somebody creative could have a field day with this concept, and if they do, you deserve a royalty.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 1:54 pm:
I wonder how many who are outraged that Rauner fully expanded abortions on Medicaid will be moved by something like this to vote for him again?
Given the trajectory of ever more ridiculous efforts to tie individuals who oppose Rauner to Madigan, and what appears to be an active effort to disparage potential voters, such an ad seems inevitable in hindsight.
Rauner must know he can’t win. He’s apparently shooting for an “Up day”.
Blago style.
Worst loss ever.
- AnonHOST 1: “I love the new ad. And we’ll play it after you leave because we don’t have time right now.” HOST 2: “The ‘Unholy Alliance.’”HOST 1: “I love the new ad. And we’ll play it after you leave because we don’t have time right - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 8:13 am:
Those guys on WLS should go back to country radio.
- anon - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:22 am:
You stay classy San Diego!
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:22 am:
Welp, the Pritzker campaign could always counter with “The Emperor Has No Clothes” ad using the photo from yesterday;)
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:23 am:
It’s quadrupling down on what hasn’t worked for Rauner, according to the polls. In this respect, it’s like, “Let’s just burn the place down.” It’s so Rauner, let’s attack and blame but absolutely not govern.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:24 am:
Dear Raunerites,
Would you please post the polling memo on which this spot is based? I would like to frame it.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:25 am:
I see ads like this and often think… I wonder what it is like to feel absolutely no shame.
- Perrid - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:27 am:
Rep Greg Harris already tweeted his outrage at Rauner “mocking same-sex marriage as an “unholy union”". I actually wouldn’t have noticed that angle, the focus is so much on Madigan’s and Pritzker’s alleged actions, but he has a point. I’m sure it was icing on the cake to Rauner to “subtly” throw in a dig about homosexuality.
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:27 am:
The biggest beneficiary of this ad is probably Erika Harold for the reasons discussed yesterday: people will vote for Pritzker because they’re done with Rauner, then vote for Harold because they figure she can be a watchdog on Pritzker & Madigan (although the AG’s actual power in that regard isn’t what people think it is).
- Ole' Nelson - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:27 am:
Rauner has jumped the shark.
- State Sen. Clay Davis - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:28 am:
The final line did make me laugh out loud, but it comes off as so crude and desperate. That a sitting governor is running like this is ridiculous.
- Gay Illinoian - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:28 am:
The dog whistle homophobia was a nice touch
- Roman - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:30 am:
Same sex marriage, Trumpesque profanity…another effort at shoring up the conservative base?
Doubling down on the exact opposite of a strategy that helped win him the election four years ago.
- XDNR - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:33 am:
The ad is laughable and won’t move the needle for Rauner with two weeks to go.
- Buford - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:34 am:
Looks like last minute desperation by Rauner to me
- Moby - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:34 am:
I think I’ve seen infomercials at 3am for spray-on hair that are more admirable than this. Wow.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:37 am:
Rauner is just jealous that JB & MJM will get to bankrupt the State when he couldn’t manage to do so /s
- Maestro - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:37 am:
The Governor’s actions remind me of a football coach in a playoff game, down by five touchdowns. Grab-bagging, looking for any message that might work. They are obviously in possession of bad polling news. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Illinois has made up its mind about the Governor.
- slow down - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:37 am:
So Rauner is apparently following in Mark Kirk’s footsteps of leaving office with his head held low.
Political desperation is never a pretty thing, but you always hope that cooler heads prevail and the candidate heading for the big loss has the decency to resist the indignity of a scorched earth approach. Obviously, that’s not Rauner.
- The Way I See It - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:38 am:
It used to be so much easier to get Jeanne Ives’ vote
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:41 am:
Proft now has competition in the category of Juvenile Self-Gratification.
Aren’t these scamps naughty, with the f-bomb and the two dudes with their “unholy union.” I bet the Kayo was just blasting out of the noses during production at AV Club after school.
Edgy, like Tarantino, amirite?
Not a Hail Mary. Just the same Madigan message Rauner’s been running since the summer of 2015, solidifying him at 30%.
No one can come up with a fresh idea, in more than three years?
- Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:43 am:
So we have this ad, which ends with an f-bomb. And we have those radio ads from Proft et al about “the hell if they’re going to take it away”.
I’m no shrinking violet, politics ain’t beanbag, etc. I just want to know why Conservatives can no longer make an ad that doesn’t feature profanity or an oath.
Really, it wasn’t that long ago that any ad featuring an f-bomb would have cost the candidate five to ten points just from the religious among us.
- Suburbs - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:43 am:
Is Rauner trying to be Jeanne Ives or Donald Trump here?…does he hope that the GOP Conservative base will forget that Rauner officiated at least one same sex marriage?!
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:43 am:
So bizarre.
The only rationale conclusion is that Rauner is going for a big turnout from a motivated base.
He is campaigning like he governed - he has mistaken Illinois for a deep red state.
- Not It - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:44 am:
I don’t see this ad as homophobic. If JB were a female candidate the same ad would have been perfectly fine. The dems are manufacturing their outrage.
They should instead respond with examples of how JB is independent of Madigan.
- One hand //ing - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:44 am:
===The dog whistle homophobia was a nice touch===
That’s not a dog whistle. It’s loud and clear bigotry.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:45 am:
Pritzker has a staffer controversy and this is what the Rauner campaign comes up with? Must be the work of the brilliant BTIAtm.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:45 am:
If the BTIA put half as much effort into governing (as opposed to campaigning), Bruce wouldn’t be in this mess.
I’m disappointed the actors playing JB or Madigan didn’t respond to the officiant in a gay lisp.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:45 am:
This is what Raunerism has landed on…
Failed governor, no constituency, and ads that say nothing to why Rauner deserves our votes.
I’m sad that the shell corp Bruce and Diana Rauner bought… is this ad… because they have nothing else.
I’ll leave it up to others to digest and slice away at its… existence.
- People Over Parties - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:45 am:
The assertion of homophobia in the ad is speculative at best. The portrayal of same-sex marriage, intended as favorable or not, is too vague to be called a “slam on gay marriage” by Mary Ann Ahern.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:46 am:
Speechless. Wow.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:47 am:
–..can no longer make an ad that doesn’t feature profanity or an oath.–
It’s how those who couldn’t know think a tough guy would behave.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:47 am:
Hey look social conservatives, I’m denigrating gay marriage, and joining Madigan and JB at the hip. So see. Really, I’m one of you. Yep, so vote for me, K?
- Montrose - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:47 am:
Political Strategist: Governor Rauner, I think we have lost all the moderate voters we are going to lose before election day.
Rauner: Hold my beer.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:47 am:
==If JB were a female ==
He’s not. All communication is based on context.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:48 am:
===…is speculative at best.===
Sorry. No.
Nope. Rauner is tilting far right now, running in a primary that already was run.
You’re either willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware.
Like i said, I’ll leave it to other to slice this up, but ignoring what it’s messaging… nope.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:49 am:
“The assertion of homophobia in the ad is speculative at best. The portrayal of same-sex marriage, intended as favorable or not, is too vague to be called a “slam on gay marriage” by Mary Ann Ahern.”
Look, Rauner wasn’t TRYING to be homophobic. He just was. That’s cool, right?
- Moby - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:49 am:
== They should instead respond with examples of how JB is independent of Madigan. ==
Or just beat Rauner by 10 points without even acknowledging the claim.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:51 am:
Rauner ain’t gonna win. But it was still a good advertisement for those who have Madigan-phobia.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:51 am:
It brought a smile.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:54 am:
== They should instead respond with examples of how JB is independent of Madigan. ==
Of just ignore the loser flailing about.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:55 am:
Might be interesting to try and get a comment from Mark Cozzi, a Rauner appointee to the SURS Board, or James Goeke. Those are the gentlemen whose wedding Rauner officiated on June 30 this year. What do they think about the dog-whistling from the office holder who wed them?
Bruce believes in Bruce. That’s it. Beyond furthering his own wealth, he has no fixed principles. A shell of a man.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:56 am:
“Really, it wasn’t that long ago that any ad featuring an f-bomb would have cost the candidate five to ten points” It wasn’t that long ago that a single “Yea[exclamation point]” tanked an entire campaign.
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:57 am:
Well they’ve taken the Pritzker/Madigan/Corruption angle to a new level and unwittingly thrown in a homophobic flavor for good measure. We’ve heard this Madigan/Pritzker/Corruption thing for months now and it hasn’t really moved the needle much. This one is pretty desperate. Two weeks to go and someone appears to be pretty desperate.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:59 am:
GovJunk gets bigger excavator to go lower than ever. What happened to the kinder gentler GovJunk?
Someone should CommandoIves if this helps him back into the whackjob community? same question to Mrs. DeadbeatJoe.
The ExitInterviewTour on full speed
- People Over Parties - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:59 am:
===You’re either willfully ignorant or blissfully unaware===
I’m neither. As to the intentions of the ad, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, which I respect.
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 9:59 am:
I have been asking this for weeks, is Bruce going to have any standing in this state when he leaves office? He and Di will still have their hundreds of millions dollars, but will people want them around?
Obviously continuing this downward trend of offensiveness isn’t going to get them invited to more north shore cocktail parties.
And all the biz folks that have supported him and his Intersect will see him as a guy who couldn’t get the job done.
I guess he’ll stull be able to ride with his bikers. Although will they cut off the “Governor” patch from his cut?
- Steve Rogers - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:01 am:
Sigh. Is it November 6 yet?
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:10 am:
–I don’t see this ad as homophobic. –
TV spots just come together randomly.
Virtually no thought is put into them as to concept, intended message, setting, casting, script, etc….
You really don’t know what’s going to happen when you do one. Anything could show up. That digital camera has a mind of its own.
- Anon E Moose - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:11 am:
Bruce, your desperation is showing.
- Roman - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:12 am:
Proft uses the word “suck” in an ad and Rauner employs a bleeped f-bomb.
But the Democrats are the angry mob?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:18 am:
===As to the intentions of the ad, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, which I respect.===
They’re parodying SSM… the appease the right
“…which I respect.”
Hmm. Yeah, ok.
- Hottot - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:19 am:
Raise property taxes…..coming from a guy whose teacher pension cost shift would REQUIRE a massive property tax increase, and who spent the money the income tax of 2017 generated. I guess Rauner only objects to paying for his spending. How much has he made off Illinois’ debt?
- Flashback - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:22 am:
“The governor - as a heterosexual male - does not have anything more to add to the discussion.”
- @BestTeamInAmerica
This is the problem with people who cannot admit to their mistakes. They are doomed to keep repeating them over and over, often doubling down.
It does seem they are trying to shore up their base by emulating the tone and message of Dan Proft.
Raoul should call on Harold to renounce the ad.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:23 am:
Fact: Madigan isn’t going away.
Fact: If Rauner got re-elected, there has been no indication the next four years would be any different from the past four.
Fact: This ad isn’t going to flip Independents or wavering Democrats because it’s just more “The sky is falling! It hit me on the head!”
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:25 am:
Bruce Rauner, 2/5/18: “There is no place in the Illinois Republican Party for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity. Representative Ives’ campaign ad does not reflect who we are as the Party of Lincoln and as proud residents of our great and diverse state. She should pull down the ad and immediately apologize to the Illinoisans who were negatively portrayed in a cowardly attempt to stoke political division.”
(https://news.wttw.com/2018/02/05/jeanne-ives-asks-what-s-offensive-about-provocative-campaign-ad)
Bruce Rauner, 10/23/18: “Yeah, forget what I said. Run my bigotted ad. And text ’sorry!’ to Ives.”
- GOPgal - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:30 am:
Rauner has worst political instincts I’ve ever seen. His whole team seems grossly incompetent. IL GOP will be much better off when he’s gone
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:32 am:
===“I’d have to check. I’m not even sure.”===
Mike Madigan, and the Rauner campaign ads he controls.
- Driving a car - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:33 am:
Hey everyone lay off Rauner he’s not in charge
- dbk - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:35 am:
Could we get on-the-record responses by the editorial boards of the Pantagraph and the Journal Star?
Inquiring minds want to know.
- Anon E Moose - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:36 am:
“Comments are disabled for this video.” Sounds about right.
- Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:38 am:
He *claims* not to be in charge of the state government…he *claims* not to know which ads are his…
If I wanted a counter ad…which I don’t know Pritzker wants…the theme might be, exactly what has he been doing with his four years?
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:39 am:
===Could we get on-the-record responses by the editorial boards of the Pantagraph and the Journal Star?===
The State Journal-Register too.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:44 am:
–Couldn’t be more obvious, right?
MJM and JB are gay?–
No, the “humorous” analogy here is that they’ve just entered an “unholy union,” like gay dudes that get married.
That’s the spot, concept and execution. Right in front of you.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:51 am:
The gay marriage angle did not cross my mind for a second when I watched the ad. I don’t know, maybe it is a dog whistle, but maybe not. Just because there could be a hidden message, doesn’t mean there is. And… I early voted for Pritzker.
- Chicago_Downstater - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 10:59 am:
And this ad right here is why–no matter how I wish Pritzker had handled the discrimination case differently–that I’m going to vote for him. Staying home is a vote for this obviously bigoted nonsense, and I hit my quota on bigoted dog whistles several lifetimes ago.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:08 am:
–HOST 1: “Is that one of yours or is that an outside group?”
RAUNER: “I’d have to check. I’m not even sure.”–
Couple of rocket scientists there.
The “Rauner for Illinois” logo is super-imposed during the entire spot and it ends with “Paid for by Citizens for Rauner.”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:10 am:
If you don’t know about the ad, how can we trust you *not* to be in charge for 4 more years?
Bruce should call Diana Rickert to help with the pivot…
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:12 am:
This f-bomb won’t replace the one attached to Rauner’s name, just reinforces it. Failure.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:12 am:
===HOST 1: “Is that one of yours or is that an outside group?”
RAUNER: “I’d have to check. I’m not even sure.”===
At the end of the ad: “Paid for by Citizens for Rauner, Inc.”
It’s your ad, you gaslighting liar.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:13 am:
ABR, folks, ABR
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:14 am:
Watch the ad without sound. You see the classic wedding pose, of two men, w the title “unholy union”. The homophobic message couldnt be clearer.
Do we have a recent poll, to tell us % undecided? Are they aware of corrupt/madigan, yet undecided? Or totally unaware?
- Yiddishcowboy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:15 am:
I really wish people would stop saying that “Rauner isn’t going to win.” I swore to my spouse that this country would never elect Trump. “Trust me, honey, Trump will not win; it’s not possible.” Boy, was I incorrect. Though his chances are low, Rauner could still get a second term.
- Truthteller - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:19 am:
Pritzker-Madigan wedding vow is to “honor, love and cherish one another until Rauner doth depart”.
Makes the matrimony holy, and good enough for me and a plurality of Illinois voters, I suspect.
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:22 am:
It’s a good reminder, Yiddishcowboy. Though Trump did lose Illinois.
- Johnnie F. - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:23 am:
Awful political ad. However, I had to laugh as the title of the next video that automatically cues up is how to “Remove a Stump Cheaply and Effectively”. I guess I would say…VOTE, it can remove a stump both cheaply and effectively.
- DuPage Bard - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:27 am:
This will help Bruce. Trump voters vote no matter what. This plays to them. Rauner will be with Trump this weekend.
If Bernie Bros, Chicago Socialists as well as suburban women don’t turnout this is Bruce’s shot.
Rauner played too long trying to get accepted socially by suburban moms. He should have been playing the bait card since day one. He needs the Trump folks, low turnout and Madigan hatred. The key is did he wait too long?
Btw the ad is terrible for it’s content and underlying message but politically it’s necessary.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:32 am:
$250 million spent on campaigning. The state is $200 billion in ious and another $7.5 billion in current debt. The state is actually not growing in population. And the wonderful two party system is posturing over toilets and gay marriage. My poor grandkids.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:32 am:
–Is Rauner trying to be Jeanne Ives…–
He has been running a primary campaign vs. Ives for a few weeks now. Very counter-intuitive.
- Mockingjay - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:40 am:
Homophobic is the last thing I thought of. Everything is not identity politics. Ask Elizabeth Warren.
- WSJ Paywall - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:42 am:
=Homophobic is the last thing I thought of. Everything is not identity politics. Ask Elizabeth Warren.=
It’s an ad about a gay wedding called “Unholy union.”
- Nacho - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:43 am:
==This will help Bruce. Trump voters vote no matter what. This plays to them. Rauner will be with Trump this weekend.
If Bernie Bros, Chicago Socialists as well as suburban women don’t turnout this is Bruce’s shot.
Rauner played too long trying to get accepted socially by suburban moms. He should have been playing the bait card since day one. He needs the Trump folks, low turnout and Madigan hatred. The key is did he wait too long?
Btw the ad is terrible for it’s content and underlying message but politically it’s necessary.==
The chance of this being a low turnout affair is essentially nil, especially hoping for low turnout from Dem leaning groups with Trump in the White House.
Rauner’s so far behind he doesn’t really have any “good” options left, but I have a hard time seeing this as the least bad option for him.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:46 am:
Rauner is now about race baiting and homophobia…
Not too great for the Bruce and Diana Rauner brand, win or lose…
… unless this is Bruce and Diana Rauner and they are showing us their true selves…. when down 16-22 points.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:47 am:
“Homophobic is the last thing I thought of.” Then why make the stretch and make a wedding the setting? Why not just “You’re hired” or “Pleased to meet you” or even a sports metaphor? Heck, even a game of Monopoly would be better. “I’ll buy 5 houses, please, but make sure they don’t have any toilets.”
- ste_wit a v_en - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:48 am:
Not the best work. The pandering to social conservatives isn’t helping at this point.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:53 am:
Sheesh. Pathetic.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:55 am:
“I’d have to check. I’m not even sure.” - at last, Gov. Rauner sums up his time in office.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Just observing. Thanks. I have never heard that term before today. That helps.
- Anon0091 - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 11:57 am:
Please stop saying this isn’t a dog whistle about gay marriage. They used the exact same phrase the religious right has been using to attack gay marriage. What is that supposed to be? A coincidence?
Frankly, I was more offended by the F-bomb dropped at the end. This is an ad running in all dayparts. I really don’t want my kids seeing this or the Proft “politicians suck” ads. Not that they haven’t heard it, but doing it like this just ads to Trump’s coarsening of America. Enough.
Oh yea, and it’s a stupid waste of TV time. The Madigan/Pritzker message has brought Bruce to between 27-30% and a 20 point deficit. Why exactly would they think this is going to work. As Soccermom said above, I’d like to see the polling memo.
- Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:04 pm:
I will never cease to be amazed by people who are absolutely convinced that Madigan, or Clinton, or Soros are behind everything…or who are convinced that the “mainstream media” works together to advance agendas…who then feel an ad like this couldn’t possibly be a dog whistle because of a dictionary definition.
- Roadrager - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:05 pm:
==My poor grandkids.==
Well, I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. The good news is, your grandkids probably won’t have to concern themselves with Illinois’ pension crisis, mismanagement, and corruption. The bad news is, they won’t have to worry about any of that because they’ll be dealing with the scarcity of food, land, employment, and housing brought about by accelerating climate change, and possibly a collapsing republic. But so it goes.
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
“The portrayal of same-sex marriage, intended as favorable or not…”
The spot is called “Unholy Alliance.” LOL.
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
=== I will never cease to be amazed by people who are absolutely convinced that Madigan, or Clinton, or Soros are behind everything…or who are convinced that the “mainstream media” works together to advance agendas…who then feel an ad like this couldn’t possibly be a dog whistle because of a dictionary definition. ===
Speaking for myself:
1. I don’t think Madigan, Clinton, or Soros are behind everything.
2. I don’t think the mainstream media works together to advance an agenda.
3. I didn’t say it couldn’t be a dog whistle, I just said it may or very well may not be.
4. I voted for Pritzker. I support gay marriage. It just wasn’t immediately evident to me that this was an attack on gay marriage and a message to the far-right (who isn’t voting for Pritzker anyways) — I’m open to the possibility that it was but I also think some people may be reading too deep into it.
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:21 pm:
“Raoul should call on Harold to renounce the ad.”
I would recommend this course of action.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:22 pm:
Remember when Mark Kirk went all “Right” and said odd things, and it was wondered aloud who was voting for him?
Yeah, as odd as it seems, Rauner is doing far worse now.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:26 pm:
=Homophobic is the last thing I thought of.–
What are the many other things you think of when someone goes to great lengths to portray two dudes getting married as an “unholy union?”
–Everything is not identity politics.–
What’s “identity politics?” Republicans/Democrats? Conservatives/Liberals? Or have the yakkers on the TV box not fleshed it out for you yet?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:39 pm:
Disgusting. No question OW gets my vote for the second time in a row.
- WOB - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:42 pm:
There are things candidates say…and then there are commercials which go through multiple revisions by consultants , are vetted and approved by the campaign staff and ultimately signed off on by the candidate. How this ad made it through so many layers of review is quite stunning.
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:43 pm:
Have some dignity, man. After you lose, you’re going to presumably still be around the society swells who probably frown on this type of thing.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:46 pm:
===How this ad made it through so many layers of review is quite stunning.===
No. It’s what they wanted out there.
The feature is the controversy, not the bug.
The messsge is tired, the idea of “unholy union” and SSM is the whistle.
Why Bruce and Diana Rauner purposely *want* their brand, in the same week, linked with racism and homophobia… that’s the question.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:49 pm:
What does Emily Post recommend that one wears to Unholy Alliance weddings?
I have a nice new navy suit.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:49 pm:
===…gets my vote for the second time in a row.===
That Rob Silver’s 539 write in polling news, now this, I might do better than last time.
- the Patriot - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:54 pm:
This is the most creative thing I have seen from Rauner in 5 years. .
So this is bad for all the Republicans still voting for Rauner that put LGBTQ as their prmiary issue. Ok, if he loses by two votes it was a bad idea.
It really sums up who he is. He has no clue, he has not policy, no position, just sound bites with no consideration of how to govern.
- Stuntman Bob's Brother - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 12:58 pm:
==Heck, even a game of Monopoly would be better. “I’ll buy 5 houses, please, but make sure they don’t have any toilets.”==
That’s brilliant, it would make a terrific ad. Maybe a line from one of the players saying “I’d buy a hotel, but if only I can get the tax assessment lowered, wink, wink”, and the other player saying, “If there’s a strike by the workers in your hotel, you could always just turn on the heat lamps, LOL”. Somebody creative could have a field day with this concept, and if they do, you deserve a royalty.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 1:54 pm:
I wonder how many who are outraged that Rauner fully expanded abortions on Medicaid will be moved by something like this to vote for him again?
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 1:58 pm:
Has the IPI posted JB’s and MJM’s registry?
- AC - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 2:13 pm:
Given the trajectory of ever more ridiculous efforts to tie individuals who oppose Rauner to Madigan, and what appears to be an active effort to disparage potential voters, such an ad seems inevitable in hindsight.
- Deadbeat Conservative - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 2:27 pm:
Speaking of Doozies, didn’t know if you saw this on the Intercept about Rauners’ relationship with Illinois pensions..
https://theintercept.com/2018/10/22/illinois-governor-bruce-rauner-pensions/
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 2:28 pm:
===didn’t know if you saw this on the Intercept===
I read it. Nothing new except for all the hyperbole. Way too much sizzle, almost no meat.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
“Has the IPI posted JB’s and MJM’s registry?”
Toilets for JB? /s
- 37B - Tuesday, Oct 23, 18 @ 5:57 pm:
Rauner must know he can’t win. He’s apparently shooting for an “Up day”.
Blago style.
Worst loss ever.
- AnonHOST 1: “I love the new ad. And we’ll play it after you leave because we don’t have time right now.” HOST 2: “The ‘Unholy Alliance.’”HOST 1: “I love the new ad. And we’ll play it after you leave because we don’t have time right - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 8:13 am:
Those guys on WLS should go back to country radio.
- JDuc - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 8:46 am:
Last thing that I thought of was Same sex marriage. Seems to be a desperate reach….
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 24, 18 @ 8:51 am:
–Those guys on WLS should go back to country radio.–
They’ll be going somewhere. WLS is cleaning house, according to Feder.
https://www.robertfeder.com/2018/10/23/changes-horizon-newstalk-wls-890/