Mark Maxwell: I want to move on to the Health Care Right of Conscience Act… The General Assembly passed this measure which would restrict the ability of some workers fired over their refusal to take a vaccine or a test, it would say, ‘Okay, you can’t sue your employer for discrimination on a religious objection basis.’ Do you think there’s a conscientious objection to taking a saliva test, for example?
Jesse Sullivan: Ummm, I’m not really sure. I do know, when I think of the Right of Conscience Act, when you just step back, and you listen to that. It’s like, the place we’re at in the state of Illinois, is that our governor and the legislature would like to remove the right to your own conscience.
Mark Maxwell: The right to sue your employer for discrimination of your conscience…
Jesse Sullivan: Right. Right. And, but it’s being able to right now as Illinois citizens, here’s how I feel. And I know I reflect the values of a ton of Illinois citizens. Our government does not share our values. Our government is doing a really, really bad job of being trustworthy. One in four Illinoisans actually think they have trust in our state government right now. When you, it’s the worst in the entire nation. And for good reason. I actually, I detest and despise these career politicians that have driven our state into the ground. Yet now you’re saying, ‘Oh, trust us with more power, trust us with more control.’ All the time. All these mandates, it’s always sucking away power and liberty and freedom. I want to be the type of governor that actually gives it back to the people. We need, we need people over politicians in the state of Illinois, anything that does the opposite and puts power into the hands of our corrupt politicians, I want to do the opposite.
Mark Maxwell: You would not have signed the health care right of conscience act changes?
Jesse Sullivan: No, I would not have.
Mark Maxwell: Why’s that?
Jesse Sullivan: You know, like I said, right now to be able to actually push to take more control back into the hands of anyone then individual freedom and liberty at this moment, I think is the wrong choice in the state. I think putting power back in the hands of people is the way to go and making these choices.
He doesn’t have a bad message. But he really needs to work on his segues…
Also, Maxwell asked the same question of Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, and Paprocki said there should be no such objection. So, maybe Sullivan should’ve seen this question coming.
Sullivan underscores where the GOP is today. They simply don’t want to comply with anything suggested by a Democratic politician regardless of how ridiculous they might look in the process. They can usually avoid discussions on these topics by using terms like “freedom” or “liberty” without being pressed. Good for Maxwell for not letting him off the hook.
The take away for me? I can’t vote for a guy that can’t acknowledge the societal benefit of a simple saliva test in the midst of a deadly pandemic. It’s a complete lack of judgement and dangerous mindset for someone who wishes to be in a policy setting role.
What I think is the height of hypocrisy is that many of the anti vaxers and anti testers will gladly spit into a test tube or swab their cheek for 23andMe. But heaven forbid they have to take a test for covid.
Lot of word salad in this explanation. This isn’t a portfolio zoom simulator saying we’ll circle back after Bob has the correct analytics to analyze the metrics. It’s like a series of super awkward and bad clichés.
=Here’s how I feel. And I know I reflect the values of a ton of Illinois citizens. Our government does not share our values.=
=I actually, I detest and despise these career politicians that have driven our state into the ground.=
So, what does this have to do with saliva testing?
Isn’t he just spit-balling party ideology, so as to avoid actually answering a very, very simple question? He should have said, no, I am not opposed to checking a person’s temperature or taking a saliva test to make sure they are not sick. But I do oppose firing people who do not get vaccinated. At least then he would have a debate-worthy point of contention. But as is, this is just a stupid answer to a very simple question.
I would say answer questions as seriously as you want the voters to take you seriously as a candidate. Gibberish and unprepared nonsense to avoid answers and ridiculous segues only highlight an unprepared and not serious kind of candidate.
I suspect that Sullivan knows that a saliva test is a perfectly reasonable request of someone who has not been vaccinated. But his party has decided that there will be no concessions on these types of requests be it vaccines, masks, or tests no matter how reasonable. It is the view held by a minority of voters in this state.
He clearly failed Civic s 101 or has the mental maturity of an 8 year-old.
OUR government shares the values of all of us in one way or another. Not just the miniscule population of rural Petersburg or the voices in Slick Jessie’s brain. Or the ultra-super-minority ILGOP.
That’s a jumbo deluxe word salad with Red(?) Cheese dressing. Wow - have an original thought for once, Mr. Sullivan, and stop with the dangerous platitudes. You’re looking out of your depth here.
“First the Democrats want your saliva, then they say they just want your antibodies, but before you know it they’re taking your unborn child. Or your daughter’s”
- Roadrager - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:38 pm:
When you’ve made it this far on charisma…
- Shytown - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:41 pm:
lol. I just can’t with this guy. Does anyone on his team actually brief him on these bills? Asking for a friend…
- JS Mill - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:44 pm:
=And I know I reflect the values of a ton of Illinois citizens. Our government does not share our values. =
So he wants to weigh the citizens of Illinois? OMG. I object.
=sucking away power and liberty and freedom.=
It is a contest to devalue the meaning of these important terms by using them in a sentence or sentences that actually have no meaning.
Another mushmouth politician trying to use every bullet point in one sentence.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:45 pm:
The babe in the woods routine with the segues, yikes.
You’re applying to be CEO of a state. After Rauner you’re gonna need to show… aptitude… and not a ridiculous presentation
- Dotnonymous - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:52 pm:
Let me say this about that…you know…like I said. “Ummm, I’m not really sure”…and I stand by that 100%…gladly.
- Pundent - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 4:59 pm:
Sullivan underscores where the GOP is today. They simply don’t want to comply with anything suggested by a Democratic politician regardless of how ridiculous they might look in the process. They can usually avoid discussions on these topics by using terms like “freedom” or “liberty” without being pressed. Good for Maxwell for not letting him off the hook.
The take away for me? I can’t vote for a guy that can’t acknowledge the societal benefit of a simple saliva test in the midst of a deadly pandemic. It’s a complete lack of judgement and dangerous mindset for someone who wishes to be in a policy setting role.
- Huh? - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:02 pm:
What I think is the height of hypocrisy is that many of the anti vaxers and anti testers will gladly spit into a test tube or swab their cheek for 23andMe. But heaven forbid they have to take a test for covid.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:03 pm:
OW: display aptitude? That is such a high bar for so many politicians. But hope does spring eternal
- GW - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:04 pm:
He is too young. More of a State Rep at this point in his youthful life.
- Frank talks - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:04 pm:
Lot of word salad in this explanation. This isn’t a portfolio zoom simulator saying we’ll circle back after Bob has the correct analytics to analyze the metrics. It’s like a series of super awkward and bad clichés.
- workingfromhome - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:05 pm:
“Our government is doing a really, really bad job of being trustworthy.”
Oy
- Henry Francis - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:07 pm:
He sounds just like Rauner. Throw around a lot of angry hyperbolic cliches and be real opaque when asked for specifics.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:09 pm:
===That is such a high bar===
Maybe show he passed COM110 “Interpersonal Communications”?
Maybe? No? No.
- Give Us Barabbas - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:14 pm:
I’m reminded of the mwme if the beauty pageant contestant, trying to ad-lib an answer to a question about teaching kids geography…
- H-W - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:15 pm:
=Here’s how I feel. And I know I reflect the values of a ton of Illinois citizens. Our government does not share our values.=
=I actually, I detest and despise these career politicians that have driven our state into the ground.=
So, what does this have to do with saliva testing?
Isn’t he just spit-balling party ideology, so as to avoid actually answering a very, very simple question? He should have said, no, I am not opposed to checking a person’s temperature or taking a saliva test to make sure they are not sick. But I do oppose firing people who do not get vaccinated. At least then he would have a debate-worthy point of contention. But as is, this is just a stupid answer to a very simple question.
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:17 pm:
Ah, so he’s a libertarian then.
“What’s an aleppo?”
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:18 pm:
- DuPage Saint -
I’ll add this…
If I were giving advice?
I would say answer questions as seriously as you want the voters to take you seriously as a candidate. Gibberish and unprepared nonsense to avoid answers and ridiculous segues only highlight an unprepared and not serious kind of candidate.
But… that’s and $4.75 will get ya some coffee.
- Pundent - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:20 pm:
I suspect that Sullivan knows that a saliva test is a perfectly reasonable request of someone who has not been vaccinated. But his party has decided that there will be no concessions on these types of requests be it vaccines, masks, or tests no matter how reasonable. It is the view held by a minority of voters in this state.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:21 pm:
When Paprocki is a moderating voice for the GQP, y’all got problems
- JS Mill - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:25 pm:
=Our government does not share our values.=
He clearly failed Civic s 101 or has the mental maturity of an 8 year-old.
OUR government shares the values of all of us in one way or another. Not just the miniscule population of rural Petersburg or the voices in Slick Jessie’s brain. Or the ultra-super-minority ILGOP.
- Kyle’s mom - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:29 pm:
In all fairness, makes as much sense as anyone else in IL GOP
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:40 pm:
Rich,
Is it just me or has the blog not caught up yet to standard time on the comment timestamps.
- Jibba - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:40 pm:
=== it’s the worst in the entire nation.===
Cite please. I sure don’t see it on the google.
- Frumpy White Guy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:40 pm:
He should have shown everyone his bicep.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:43 pm:
===All these mandates, it’s always sucking away power and liberty and freedom.===
Being on a ventilator, alone, dying of COVID, also sucks.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 5:45 pm:
-Lot of word salad in this explanation-
That’s a jumbo deluxe word salad with Red(?) Cheese dressing. Wow - have an original thought for once, Mr. Sullivan, and stop with the dangerous platitudes. You’re looking out of your depth here.
- danray - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 6:11 pm:
Not ready for primetime. School Board maybe?
- Langhorne - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 8:10 pm:
Not ready for… Student council.
Staff prep??? G, what might they ask about?
- Thomas Paine - Monday, Nov 8, 21 @ 11:45 pm:
Darren Bailey can answer the question.
“First the Democrats want your saliva, then they say they just want your antibodies, but before you know it they’re taking your unborn child. Or your daughter’s”
Lemme know if you’re hiring, Jesse.