* We talked about this story earlier today…
While Gov. J.B. Pritzker has used his executive authority to cancel high school sports for kids across the state this fall, apparently this rule does not apply to his daughter.
Parents have been rallying across the state and at the state capital in an attempt to have the football season reinstated.
Meanwhile, Pritzker’s 18-year-old daughter, Theodora “Teddi” Pritzker, who formerly attended Francis W. Parker in Chicago, has continued to engage in equestrian sports across the country since the state was locked down, including in Illinois.
Teddi is the only daughter of Illinois; billionaire first family. She jumps horses competitively in the Medium Junior division with Team Welles and is featured on the team’s website.
* The governor was asked about the story today…
Well, let me begin by saying that attacking my daughter for playing in a sport that is allowed, that the doctors have said that people can play this fall, is something that I think people need to recognize is inappropriate. Bringing our family members into politics, inappropriate.
The fact that people protested in front of a state employee’s house over the last few days, scaring their children, creating an awful circumstance for them. I mean, that’s very inappropriate. And I think that people have to understand that what I’m focused on, again, with all of this, is saving lives is making sure that we’re keeping people healthy.
The fact that people want to get personal is disturbing. In the context of the fact that people are dying, maybe people ought to step back a little ask themselves ‘What is this all about?’
* The state employee appears to be Deputy Governor Jesse Ruiz…
* Ruiz has been the focus of a social media hashtag campaign, and one of the leaders is this guy…
* Trost also announced a planned protest in front of the house owned by the governor’s sister, who has been raising millions of dollars to help organizations hit hard by the pandemic…
The Soldier Field protest was canceled.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 12:51 pm:
The adults who are using these kids - preying on them - during a devastating pandemic to push their own agenda should be ashamed of themselves. And you don’t get much better or finer than Jesse Ruiz so double shame on them.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 12:56 pm:
The governor’s reaction to this was extremely measured. This is beyond the pale and beyond all sense of decency. If she was a football player, she would be suspended like everyone else. But she is in a sport that is one of the more than 15 allowed under the rules.
The media seriously needs to get its act straight. They keep writing as if all sports are suspended. They are not. Football and hockey are. Get your facts straight.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 1:01 pm:
“Remember, #ToniPreckwinkle got stubborn on a topic & it cost her the #ChicagoMayor position many have said.”
That sentence alone provides the maximum daily allowance of derp.
– MrJM
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 1:09 pm:
Stay classy Trost. You should be ashamed of yourself for showing up at people’s houses. Absolutely unacceptable.
- Mama - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 1:10 pm:
The huge difference is one can social distance in equestrian sports but not football.
More than 15 high school sports allowed under the rules. The media should post the name of all the sports that are allowed instead of focusing on the negative.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 1:18 pm:
I assume they don’t have the horses tackling each other to the ground with riders on and creating a large pile up horses and humans? Just asking.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 1:24 pm:
Between this and the Census Cowboy, we’re just one Arlington story away from a trifecta.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 1:32 pm:
The Governor has had an impressive ability to maintain a thick skin during the ridiculousness aimed at him and his family over the past six months. Just one moment of him losing his cool would have been used by these COVIDiots to personalize the decisions he has had to make to keep the state safe.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 1:43 pm:
Even if I was a science-denying troglodyte Is be embarrassed by this behavior.
- Nagidam - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:03 pm:
Sympathizing with protestors or saying it is their right to shut businesses down with protests is ok but protesting in front of the house of the guy in charge of directing the governors education policy is bad. A bit hypocritical. Both are wrong.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:15 pm:
Sometimes politicians and their spokespersons feel the need to respond to everything remotely critical even if it would be far better ignored. Governor should have privately assured his daughter he was in her corner and left it there. This is in the news cycle not because the question was asked but because the governor got his dander up.
- Red ghetto in a blue state - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:21 pm:
So now we have the right protesting on the deputy governors lawn and the left protesting on the speakers lawn. Both sides need to find a lawn chair and a beer.
- El Conphwee - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:24 pm:
Maybe if Walter Payton High School had an equestrian team Rauner wouldn’t have been dragged so hard on his daughter going there.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:31 pm:
=== Rauner wouldn’t have been dragged so hard on his daughter going there.===
Was waiting in this. (Sigh)
What the RaunerS did was they personally intervened when their denied, Winnetka living daughter took the place of a worthy student.
If you’d like the links…
The Rauners’ daughter never called herself or clouted *herself* into Payton Prep and frankly others using her name publicly to downplay what Bruce and Diana did bothered me and made me furious. The daughter did nothing, it was Bruce and Diana.
Sports are an extra curricular activity of current students.
Denying a worth student a seat at Payton Prep is not about sports
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:32 pm:
=Sympathizing with protestors or saying it is their right to shut businesses down with protests is ok=
Who exactly is saying this?
- Sideline Watcher - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:34 pm:
Um no. It’s in the news cycle because reporters have been focused on the “plight” of football players for almost two weeks now. And he was responding to a reporter’s question about his daughter. There’s a lot he could get his dander up about including all the Nazi/Hitler references, frivolous law suits, on top of going after one of his children playing a sport that is non-contact and is allowed.
- Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 2:49 pm:
Ahh, but does the horse wear a mask? S/
- RIJ - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 3:01 pm:
Bruce, you made me curious. According to the U of KY Equine Sciences program, there have been no cases of COVID-19 reported in horses. However, they have their own equine coronavirus to deal with (that does not effect humans).
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 3:05 pm:
—Sports are an extra curricular activity of current students.
====
More than 15 high school sports allowed under the rules. The media should post the name of all the sports that are allowed instead of focusing on the negative.
Perhaps these parents who are so concerned about the opportunities for their kids could encourage the kids to try something new. There are other sports and other activities that are allowed currently. Why not refocus on those?
- jim - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 3:05 pm:
I agree with those condemning protests at the homes of individuals. But the only way it’s going to stop is if the left stops showing up at the homes of McConnell, Graham, etc. The right is going to fight fire with fire, I’m afraid, to get it to stop for everyone. I know that’s heretical thinking on this site, but, unfortunately, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Pritzker was right to condemn it.
- Fixer - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 3:30 pm:
One group is protesting over a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the country and the other is protesting over football. Jim, if you can’t see the difference there, not sure anyone here is going to be able to help you.
- Ferris Bueller - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 4:29 pm:
She also isn’t participating in a “school sport.” Schools need to be directing their resources towards the more basic student safety and education needs. It’s also ridiculous for anyone to equate an individual event like jumping to a contact sport like football.
- low level - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 4:55 pm:
As mentioned above, Jesse Ruiz is one of the best people you’ll ever meet in politics.
And his career is in no jeopardy whatsoever. Any hint to the contrary is absurd.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 5:12 pm:
“As mentioned above, Jesse Ruiz is one of the best people you’ll ever meet in politics.”
Amen. He’s a real mensch.
- MyTwoCents - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 5:29 pm:
Going after the governor’s daughter for a permissible activity is a low blow. But one thing I’ve observed throughout the pandemic is the same people who promote the pull yourself by your bootstraps approach are the ones who are only complaining loudly and not adapting. Business was closed during the stay at home order? Some adapted to online or others way of keeping some cashflow coming in, others just ranted about the government. With high school sports there are some who whine about my baby not getting to play and then there are the kids who are going out and finding a new sport to try out, whether it’s cross country or golf or another sport. Find the positive and make it work. Who knows, you might find something you like.
- A voter - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 6:45 pm:
Protesting in front of a persons home should be unlawful for any reason.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 7:20 pm:
These clowns point to other states that allow these type of activities, and when the Governor points out those state’s have worse health statistics, the clowns interpret as meaning we have more room for error. In other words, we have more deaths to find acceptable. They’re gross and should be ashamed of themselves.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 7:58 pm:
wow. I love me some football, but these folks are getting ridiculous. there are activities that are permitted because they don’t involve the close exchange of bodily fluids. have you ever read about what goes on in football? I love the sport, but super gross.
- Michael Westen - Wednesday, Sep 23, 20 @ 9:10 pm:
“One group is protesting over a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the country and the other is protesting over football. Jim, if you can’t see the difference there, not sure anyone here is going to be able to help you.”
The First Amendment is the First Amendment. It doesn’t only cover issues you like or think are important. It applies equally for everyone.
- Trapped in the ‘burbs - Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 12:12 am:
Well played CityZen.
- Fixer - Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 12:00 pm:
Westen, where in what you quoted me on did I say people shouldn’t be allowed to protest? I said there was a difference in what was being protested. Pack your indignation up and take it elsewhere.