* Crain’s…
Griffin said he spoke with Pritzker on the phone when looting and unrest were afflicting Chicago following the murder of George Floyd. He advocated that Pritzker bring in the National Guard to restore order, he said. Pritzker did activate the National Guard on May 31 at Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s request.
“He says, ‘It won’t look good for there to be men and women on Michigan Avenue with assault weapons,’ ” Griffin said. … Griffin said today: “If that saves the life of a child, I don’t care.”
* Good points from Pratt and Cherone as well as some clapback from the governor’s office…
* But here’s the nut…
But Griffin’s concern about violence echoes criticisms from Illinois Republicans in recent weeks. Rep. Jim Durkin, the head of the House Republican caucus, told the Center for Illinois Politics last month that Democrats “all turned their back on law enforcement” by making the criminal justice system “softer and kinder on hardened criminals,” pointing to a law that will end cash bail.
On Monday, Griffin said one of his top priorities for improving Illinois would be to make sure “police officers who have our backs on the street” will “feel like we have their backs.”
“We need our police officers to know that they are also entitled to the rights of being an American citizen, that [they] are innocent until proven guilty. It’s incredibly hard to do your job as a police officer, if, the moment you have to protect yourself, you have to wonder: Will you go to jail? Will you lose your job? Will you be publicly persecuted and humiliated before any of the facts come forth?” Griffin said.
If Illinois Republicans want some of that sweet Griffin cash, then Illinois Republicans need to be in lockstep with Griffin’s talking points, no matter how false or absurd (deploying the National Guard to Michigan Ave. to protect children?) those points may be.
The governor has tried hard to avoid getting dragged into the topic of local violent crime. He’s proposed and passed some state solutions for anti-violence programs, but polling has shown that crime is an increasingly concerning issue among voters, so the Republicans and their top potential financial backer will want to drag him into it. It’s truly a no-brainer. I’d do it if I were them without hesitation or regret…
An added benefit is that many of the city’s political reporters, who have endlessly asked for decades why the National Guard isn’t being called up to quell the violence, will likely go right along with the show.
* And the governor is obviously still peeved at Griffin for funding the opposition to his income tax amendment…
Griffin took obvious pride in his central role in defeating one of Pritzker’s top priorities: a proposed state constitutional amendment to allow for a progressive income tax. Asked if there was a limit to his political entanglements and willingness to spend money to advance his beliefs, Griffin said, “We went pretty far on the fair tax bill, if I may say so.”
“We resoundingly defeated the governor—and resounding is the right choice of words, too,” he added. “We did for one simple reason: He’s not just coming for the rich; he’s coming for everybody. The graduated tax bill in Illinois was just another mechanism to take more money from the hands of hardworking Illinois families and putting it into the coffers of Springfield. And I know every person in this room would sign up for higher taxes if it meant reform of our pension plans and an end to corruption.”
Yeah, Griffin spent all that money to make sure the middle class doesn’t get hit with an imaginary tax hike down the road. Right. Sure, Ken. But in just about any campaign discussion you have with Republicans, the defeat of Pritzker’s tax plan is defined as proof of Pritkzer’s political vulnerability. They will continually beat this drum to knock down any speculation that the GOP is automatically out of the running here.
Also, Griffin talked yesterday about shifting corporate staff to New York City, which has a much higher graduated income tax rate than even Illinois’ proposed graduated rate. So, yeah, c’mon. This ain’t about taxes, it’s about the upcoming campaign.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:40 am:
First, Emily Bittner… whew.
That’s a tweet. Wow.
- RWC - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:47 am:
Griffin was asked whether he would move the business to NY, and didn’t respond favorably. He said that NY has a lot of the same issues.
I do think it’s about taxes and crime for him, whatever one may think of his solutions.
- Stormsw7706 - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:49 am:
KG wants to support law enforcement. That’s funny. His greatest dream is to hit pension plans for first responders and pretty much anyone else in government. Can’t wait to hear his old “I was talking with my son” platitudes. I do think he should give $50 million to Bailey for Governor. Mr Haney financed by me Scrooge
- Joe Schmoe - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:50 am:
I love a good spat…
- 4 percent - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:50 am:
The Governor clearly recognizes weakness in his flank hence the strong pushback.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:50 am:
==I do think it’s about taxes==
If it was about taxes he wouldn’t be moving to New York.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:51 am:
Maybe Ken should move Citadel to Afghanistan. It’s safer, has lower taxes, harsher criminal penalties, and much less divisive rulers. Right?
- Lose your mind - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:56 am:
While you are losing your minds reacting to KG, remember that the mayor and super are saying the city could be sent into “chaos”. If you follow the stats crime is way up. And ruining the loop and river north = a lot of lost money.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 11:58 am:
Griffin is given a platform because of his wealth. If he were making $50k, no body would listen to him.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:02 pm:
=== The Governor clearly recognizes weakness in his flank hence the strong pushback.===
No.
When the Governor’s communications director calls a man a liar… that’s not pushback when there’s facts to say it’s so.
The Rauner-Trump era taught one valuable lesson;
Never let the phony or the untrue go without a response.
If Griffin would like to defend himself being called a liar, I’d like to hear that.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:05 pm:
Bittner is right. Griffin and Rauner tried to break the state and did unprecedented harm to our safety net, including violence prevention programs. The state’s richest resident purposely hurt the poorest, to bust unions and middle class workers.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:07 pm:
Poor little billionaire is upset that he gets to have more access than any mere mortal, but doesn’t get his way.
- 4 percent - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:10 pm:
OW
If you don’t think that the violence and “war zone” in Chicago (Feigenholtz’ words - not mine) don’t represent a weakness…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:17 pm:
=== If you don’t think that the violence and “war zone” in Chicago (Feigenholtz’ words - not mine) don’t represent a weakness…===
No… I think the vessel that Griffin may choose to deliver his message will be so ably flawed that the candidate won’t make up the 15+ points Pritzker carried over Rauner.
You wanna discuss policy, ok.
You wanna discuss politics to policy, you can’t look at a race in a vacuum and ignore that each candidate will have strengths AND weaknesses.
Point…
===But in just about any campaign discussion you have with Republicans, the defeat of Pritzker’s tax plan is defined as proof of Pritkzer’s political vulnerability.===
… counterpoint…
=== They will continually beat this drum to knock down any speculation that the GOP is automatically out of the running here.===
… reality…
You can’t beat someone with no one, and that someone that Griffin might want to mimic and parrot his words will face a quarter of a billion dollars defining them… so a vacuum look-see here is as Rich identities… a real opportunity for a GOP candidate to not be wholly dismissed… but that candidate is not identified
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:19 pm:
Does Mr. Griffin understand that the National Guard and police cost money (he does)…and that money comes form tax dollars (he does)…which he doesn’t think he should pay.
Grifter.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:25 pm:
- 4 percent -
Shorter?
Griffin has a candidate to back with his rhetoric and money.
Now picture that candidate is John Catanzara
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
I always find it super hypocritical for the GOP pols who want to put a gun in every crib to complain about violence. You can’t go to a birthday party without someone packing heat and shooting a person who’s upset them.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 12:44 pm:
The Ogden and Fry poll has “crime” in 4th by those polled… out of 5…
Fourth.
- Lurker - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 1:25 pm:
“4th”
But in cook?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 1:29 pm:
=== But in cook?===
But in the collars… but downstate?
It’s not even 1st in Cook
- Pundent - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 1:48 pm:
The key is in the headline and Griffin’s words. Crime isn’t registering with voters today, but that’s where Griffin is placing his bets. He knows that you’re not going to win statewide by following Donald Trump’s lead. But if you can convince enough people in the suburbs that their kids are at risk maybe they’ll vote for the GOP. It’s all about defining the problem whether its “Madigan” or “crime.” The only problem is there doesn’t seem to be a candidate who has an ability to deliver that message.
- Nazgul - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 2:22 pm:
It’s funny how Chicago is more worried about towing people and giving out parking tickets than fixing violence.
- Loopdweller - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 5:08 pm:
So Pritzker doesn’t want to get involved in local violent crime issues. Tough luck. The state often doesn’t even bother revoking “parole” of people who have had their sentence’s halved for “good behavior” and go on to commit serious crimes, repeatedly, while out early.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 5, 21 @ 5:22 pm:
=== So Pritzker doesn’t want to get involved in local violent crime issues. Tough luck.===
How much money is anyone going to spend on crime as an issue (including Griffin) if the wrong GOP nominee is running against Pritzker?
It remains to be seen if a viable GOP nominee exists.
If you’re voting against Pritzker “already” without seeing who the GOP nominee is, it’s not going to matter what Pritzker does or doesn’t do, you’re not a voter he can reach.
- Big Tent - Wednesday, Oct 6, 21 @ 5:55 am:
You’d think Griffin was running for gov…given JB’s handlers’ level of venom. Clearly the goal is to taint anyone who chooses to accept Griffin’s support.
Griffin has already proven he’s capable of taking JB out…..and could…..if and when the “right” candidate comes out.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 6, 21 @ 6:02 am:
=== Clearly the goal is to taint anyone who chooses to accept Griffin’s support.===
Yep. Politics is like that.
=== Griffin has already proven he’s capable of taking JB out===
That’s not true. When did Griffin take JB out? Proven means a known fact, which hasn’t occurred.
The Flat Tax Flop is not a candidate taking out another candidate. Whole different animal.
===if and when the “right” candidate comes out.===
Really? Which one? The Trump apologist Davis, who couldn’t impeach Trump? Yeah, no… no.
- Coco - Wednesday, Oct 6, 21 @ 6:06 am:
“Griffin has already proven he’s capable of taking JB out…..and could…..if and when the “right” candidate comes out.”
You mean like with Rauner? Oh wait….
The only way KG can take Pritzker out is with disinformation, kind of like the way he lied about the “tax increase” for middle class and poorer Illinoisans.
This election is Pritzker’s to lose. If Darren Bailey is the nominee, heck if any of the ones running on the GOP ticket right now are the nominee, Pritzker’s job is safe. They’ll have to run against lower debt, more stable pensions according to the Pew Charitable trusts, the best infrastructure in the nation, and going from near last to 15th in the country for business according to CNBC. That’s a pretty viable record to run on.