I find this difficult to believe
Friday, Feb 22, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mark Brown…
On a related matter, Pritzker acknowledged he has provided some of the initial funding for Think Big Illinois, a new non-profit issue advocacy organization expected to provide political cover for his policies — including the switch to a graduated income tax.
But Pritzker said he doesn’t know how much he’s donated and denied he’s made any specific future dollar commitment to the group, which is being run by one of his former top campaign aides.
Dude doesn’t know how much he’s given to the group set up by his former deputy campaign manager? Please.
- Iggy - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 9:52 am:
maybe he really doesn’t know, he’s so rich, JB lit money on fire for a race he could have one with a quarter of the investment he actually put in.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 9:53 am:
That’s a bit Rauner-esque
- Steve - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 9:55 am:
As someone who’s not a Pritzker supporter, I’ll actually sort of defend him here. JB has given so much money to so many candidates, he probably can’t remember how much money he has given to certain candidates and groups. Yes, I know that sounds kind of wacky but, every election he’s asked to give and he does. It’s probably hard to remember how much money you may have given to whoever candidate over a 10 year period.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 9:56 am:
Either own it, or say “no comment”
“I don’t know” is embarrassingly bad.
- very old soil - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 9:56 am:
Do you count your pocket change before you throw it in the old coffee can?
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 9:58 am:
–But Pritzker said he doesn’t know how much he’s donated…–
This strikes me as politician weasel-wording that might be technically “true” — i.e., “I don’t know the exact amount” — but obfuscates the actual truth — i.e. “I know it’s a bundle and I’m going to give more.”
There’s no need for it from Pritzker. I think the news is out that he has a lot of money and is willing to spend it to advance his politics.
- Montrose - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 10:00 am:
I agree with Steve. I think it is likely he genuinely doesn’t remember. He could have and should have provided a better response, but I am not surprised he didn’t have the numbers off the top of his head.
- Fuel For the Fire - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 10:02 am:
It came from one of his off shore Trust accounts so . . .
- Responsa - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 10:20 am:
It became somewhat evident during the campaign of “ideas” that he is not a particularly “hands on” guy. He won decisively. But as governor it’d be good for him to try to overcome that image and this sort of thing does not help.
- @misterjayem - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 10:21 am:
“Dude doesn’t know how much he’s given to the group set up by his former deputy campaign manager?”
Some folks don’t gotta pay close attention until the amounts end in -illion.
– MrJM
- Perrid - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 10:31 am:
I don’t. He probably told a guy to cut a check. Don’t know if it laziness or willful ignorance, but if he says he doesn’t know I believe him
- Harvest76 - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 10:35 am:
Hopefully he meant, ” I don’t know off the top of my head, but I will find out and get back to you.”
- 47th Ward - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 10:36 am:
I guess J.B. will have to wait until the filing period to find out, just like everybody else.
- Hypocrisy Watch - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 11:23 am:
Waiting for the outrage from the left who are so quick to tweet about center right dark-money causes….
- 47th Ward - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 11:31 am:
===center right dark-money causes===
You mean the Local 150 thing? Lol, center right? Right.
Also, by definition, dark money groups don’t disclose their donors. This is the opposite of that. We know who the donor is. We just don’t know the amount yet.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 11:36 am:
–Waiting for the outrage from the left…–
I bet you do that a lot.
Can’t you feed your grievance jones on the TV box? Cable out?
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 11:58 am:
“I have no idea who gives me money. My campaign treasurer handles all of that.” - Jay Hoffman
Still the best response ever.
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 12:26 pm:
A million here, a million there. You lose track.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 22, 19 @ 2:01 pm:
Think Big… amounts of money.