Question of the day
Wednesday, Aug 4, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Here are the scripts for Gov. JB Pritzker’s TV ads that started running in July…
Meet Jenica. When things were at their worst she volunteered to be part of the state’s response to COVID, one of the many nurses who put themselves at risk to save lives, and they needed protection to keep up the fight. Illinois health care workers never wavered, and people like Jenica showed us that together, there’s no challenge we can’t overcome.
Meet Corey. In addition to being a physician assistant, for seven years he’s been a committed member of our Illinois National Guard. And when I called on the Guard to help set up testing and vaccination sites they led the way to getting the job done. Our state is back to business because we refused to let this pandemic beat us, and people like Corey remind us anything is possible for Illinois.
Meet Doris and Rick. When COVID hit, they stopped production of bourbon at their distillery to instead make hand sanitizer for nurses, doctors, and other frontline workers. Like so many Illinoisans they understood that the only way through the pandemic was looking out for each other. Now the bourbon’s flowing again in Rochelle and we’re on our way back. I’m so inspired by the people of Illinois—we can accomplish anything if we continue to work together.
* ILGOP press release…
As Governor J.B. Pritzker reinstitutes statewide COVID-19 mitigations and mandates, his re-election campaign is running ads highlighting his administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking an obviously premature victory lap. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy issued the following statement calling on Pritzker to take his TV ads off the airwaves :
“Governor Pritzker cannot have it both ways. He cannot run political TV ads that take a victory lap over his pandemic response while at the same time reinstituting COVID mandates and mitigations. The return of these mandates is a clear admission of his own failure. Pritzker should take his self-serving TV ads off the air. Whether it’s veterans who have died under his care, massive unemployment insurance fraud, or the return of mandates after our state’s full re-opening, Pritzker’s executive incompetence has been the hallmark of his pandemic response.”
* The Question: Should Pritzker take down those ads? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
survey software
- Rent free - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:37 pm:
Yes, like they said, can’t have it both ways…mixed message
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:39 pm:
Its fun to watch the Republicans criticizing the need for new mandates when it has been Republicans and their supporters who are the ones that have created the mess we find ourselves in with their continued Covid denial and anti-vaccination stances.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:39 pm:
Not only should he not take them down, he should double down on them. Make it clear that we’re not in the position because of Jenica, Corey, Doris and Rick. Where where we’re at because of those that chose a very different path than these individuals. You know, the people that the ILGOP wants to continue to encourage.
- Perrid - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:40 pm:
No. Many things can be true at the same time, he could have done a good job AND the job could be ongoing. Also, it’s rich for Republicans to be saying that JB has failed, when we all know that it’s Republicans who are refusing to get vaccinated and end the pandemic.
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:41 pm:
No. We are lightyears ahead of where we were a 16 months ago. We are fully reopened, Phase 5. Sure, masks are still required, but no one ever promised full normalcy at this point, and certainly not with willful resistance by the superminority. Pritzker did not change the guidance, and he certainly cannot control a global pandemic. But, he made our lives much safer and shepherded us through such dangerous times as best as anyone could have.
- Some Guy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:43 pm:
Voted no. He can walk and chew gum at the same time (ie can tout 1.5 years of successes while managing the current wave). The irony is the same folks claiming he can’t tout these successes are largely to blame for vax misinformation and the underlying issues driving the current wave.
- Proud Papa Bear - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:45 pm:
Voted no. This obviously triggers those who are to blame for the ongoing pandemic so run them as often as you can.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:46 pm:
No.
He can, and should, be proud of his response.
At the same time, the response of the republican party and their followers is why we still have to deal with it.
I see no mixed message here.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:48 pm:
No, it’s an absurd argument. Ongoing effort is going to be required to keep the state functioning, this isn’t a conflicting message.
- wut? - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:49 pm:
The response is ongoing and he’s going to continue doing providing leadership that every poll has shown him getting good marks for. Frankly, the ads show that we got through this before thanks to his leadership and we will get through this current wave with his continued leadership.
- Club J - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:50 pm:
I say NO and he should increase his ads to include the message those like Darren Bailey are putting out. Had the Republicans stepped up and got vaccinated the picture today would look a lot different. I can’t help but get a feeling these Republicans are cheering right now. Maybe I’m getting soft in my older years but it’s sad.
- SWIL_Voter - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:51 pm:
No. GOP whining means it’s a good ad. And the people who stepped up to work to protect their community deserve credit, Pritzker included
- sal-says - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 1:53 pm:
Please. Pritzker has been out front thru out the pandemic. More #gqp whining.
- Don't Bloc Me In - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:00 pm:
No, because the message is positive, even if it isn’t perfect at this stage.
But how ’bout those Republicans. Plenty of time to put out criticisms of a governor who did much to lead Illinois through the pandemic, but no time to put out statements calling for everyone to be vaccinated.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:00 pm:
Voted No.
“Why”
These ads are merely markers.
Are you a Covidiot or one who wants Illinois to continue to move forward as this virus wrestles with those willing to catch it by… not being vaccinated, refusing to wear a mask, and forcing continued infections because ‘Merica.
These ads are mere markers now to “pick a side”
It’s not like they’re “Mission Accomplished” typed framing.
They are “thank yous” and “heroes”, ads. Even in other struggles, heroes can be found and recognized before the mission is complete. It might even inspire others to be heroes too.
Voted No.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:01 pm:
What the ILGOP fails to grasp is that these ads are just as much about these everyday heroes as they are about Pritzker. These are the people who put their lives and/or livelihood on the line to get us through some of our darkest days. The ILGOP is saying that’s nothing to be celebrated. It’s a bad message for the party.
These are heroes. We need more of them.
- DuPage Dem - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:02 pm:
Absolutely not. The Pritzker people wouldn’t be running them if they didn’t think the message worked and count me skeptical that the ILGOP has any data to refute it. Running a good campaign means picking a good message and then sticking with it long enough for it to pay off and not get scared off by some random press release. AND I would actually argue that running those ads makes it easier for what he may have to do in the months ahead. I don’t find anything contradictory about the messaging.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:06 pm:
Demoralized the zip codes with the lowest percentage of unvaccinated on the Chicago area are overwhelming African American.
https://www.wbez.org/stories/vaccination-rates-across-chicago-suburbs-range-from-under-15-to-over-80/01c45765-cbf4-4ead-97d7-c76a7b93f1e9
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:09 pm:
I voted no. But, you know, maybe adjust the ad buy if it’s going to contradict what he’s doing in office.
The GOP will complain no matter what, but since most of their primary candidates are loudly and proudly anti-vax this is sort of a silly position for them to take.
No amount of inherited farm land is going to keep Senator Bailey from contracting the virus, but that seems to be his public health message.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:17 pm:
No. The current blame belongs to the unvaccinated and those who refuse to institute new mitigations due to them, like the Florida and Texas governors.
But, as usual, Republicans have few or no popular policies, so they keep going with what makes them a super-minority. They have their own major image problems with the anti-vax “freedom” crowd. In honor of Obama’s 60th birthday today, please proceed, ILGOP.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:31 pm:
=== The return of these mandates is a clear admission of his own failure.===
Points for trying, but when you look at Illinois and compare it to other states we are clearly doing better than most. Moreover, what would the GOP have done to manage the pandemic better? They don’t have an answer to that by their clear attempt to change the subject in their response.
But, yeah, decent attempt. They have to complain about something.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:42 pm:
=== The return of these mandates===
The party of “freedom and ‘Merica” worried about mandates is odd considering the number of Trumpkins that won’t get vaccinated… and Trump is fully vaccinated today.
Is Tracy vaccinated?
Sorry, thinking aloud.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:44 pm:
Perhaps he should run a few highlighting the people who won’t even pull their masks up over their noses.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:54 pm:
LP:
As per usual, you completely miss the mark on what is being discussed. The Republicans are criticizing the Governor for his pandemic response when it has been the Republicans fighting tooth and nail against many of the things that are required to be done to get us out of this pandemic. You have an honesty quotient of zero.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 2:55 pm:
Is this the best the IL gop has in its arsenal? People are still dying and getting sick and it’s getting worse. How about using whatever platform they have to encourage people to get vaccinated? There are no excuses not to and if we have to shut down again because numbers go through the roof again, this is on them for their continued resistance to call on the public to get vaccinated.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:11 pm:
“The return of these mandates is a clear admission of his own failure.”
And the rain returned, so the umbrellas must not work.
– MrJM
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:13 pm:
=== And the rain returned, so the umbrellas must not work.===
Pithy. Perfect.
I guess what’s lost on folks is not that the vaccinated folks “failed” anyone, it’s that those failing to get vaccinated are failing everyone.
- walker - Wednesday, Aug 4, 21 @ 3:35 pm:
No, double down. The majority of voters are behind aggressive action against COVID. It will look even better a year from now, so lock in your message now.