Irvin touts “Back the Blue” fund
Wednesday, Jan 19, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Richard Irvin campaign fundraising email…
I’m going to get straight to the point. Are you satisfied with the safety and security of your community?
Let me just give you a quick review… in 2021 Chicago surpassed 800 murders.
Yes, you read that correctly - eight hundred murders! This is nothing short of failed leadership from politicians like Pritzker who continue to push lunacy policies like defunding the police. This soft-on-crime approach has simply exacerbated the problem and further divided our great state.
Let me ask you this: Is this how you imagine the future of our state to look? Take a stand with me and contribute to my Back the Blue Fund to help me advance policies that defend the men and women who keep our communities safe.
As a Mayor of a major urban city, I’ve seen first hand what happens when you leave communities vulnerable by not taking action against criminals and looters who damage property and harm local citizens, like we saw during the summer of 2020. We all watched in horror as Chicago allowed criminal activity to overrun a city under Democratic control. As Mayor, I did not hesitate to crack down on crime, support policing and even called in the National Guard when appropriate. We arrested the law-breakers and ensured thugs from out of state could not enter our streets and harm our citizens.
Here’s the bottom line. Crime remains one of the largest issues facing urban communities throughout this country and in major cities across our state.
As your next Governor, I’ll implement proven strategies to decrease crime, while removing liberal prosecutors who look to decriminalize acts of violence. It’s time we kick these soft-on-crime Democrats who support defunding our police out of power so we can keep our streets safe and our citizens secure.
Will you chip in any amount to my Back the Blue Fund to stand with me as a fellow law-and-order supporter?
Chip in $75 to Back the Blue
Chip in $50 to Back the Blue
Chip in $25 to Back the Blue
Chip in $10 to Back the Blue
Any contribution to my Back the Blue Fund will help us fight against the failed policies of liberal politicians, woke prosecutors and soft-on-crime Democrat leaders. Thank you for considering this urgent request to help protect the safety and security of our future.
Fighting for Illinois,
Richard Irvin
* About that National Guard claim. Here’s Mark Maxwell…
On Irvin’s campaign website, he claims he called in the national guard to respond to looting in the aftermath of protests over the murder of George Floyd. However, a spokesman for the Illinois National Guard confirmed mayors do not have that authority, and would have to make any request through the governor’s office.
Governor Pritzker’s office declared states of emergency in several counties during the protests and looting incidents of the summer of 2020, and issued deployments of the national guard to assist local police departments in several cities, including Aurora. Calls to Irvin’s office in Aurora were not returned on Monday.
The next year, while he was running for re-election in Aurora in the spring of 2021, Irvin told a local news outlet, “I support Black Lives Matter strongly and passionately.”
Also, I’m not sure what legal mechanism exists for a governor to remove liberal prosecutors. Bruce Rauner, remember, pledged he would investigate Madigan and Co. and prosecute them if elected. Um, no.
Sure did hit all the talking points on the head, though.
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:40 pm:
If I had a dime for every time JB Pritzker pushed his “lunacy policy” of defunding the police, I’d be exactly as close in total wealth to Ken Griffin as I am now.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:44 pm:
“Let me just give you a quick review… in 2021 Chicago surpassed 800 murders”
Richard Irvin and Pastor Brooks are on the same page.
- wut? - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
Look, I’m a progressive JB fan. But the man actually FUNDED the police. Take a look at his budgets. I think the GOP actually voted against funding the police.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
As a middle aged, middle class white woman, I am not sure if I would call the police if I needed help. I think if the cops have lost me, they have a problem.
- Chicago Blue - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:47 pm:
How is is going to explain away the increase in shootings in Aurora while he’s been mayor?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-aurora-crime-rates-2020-st-0207-20210207-rx6zu5evvbfindmt6iqcufg6eq-story.html
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:48 pm:
Chicago Blue, 2021 stats are not yet released, but I think the mayor believes they will show a decrease.
- Red Ketcher - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:54 pm:
“while removing liberal prosecutors who look to decriminalize acts of violence.”
Believe:
State’s Attorneys Hold a Constitutional Office
Designed to be beyond the control of the Governor or Legislature .
So “removal” is empty statement
- get real - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:56 pm:
Interesting that Irvin wants to bring up the fact that he is in charge of the Aurora Police Department.
https://www.injusticewatch.org/news/police-and-prosecutors/2021/aurora-police-david-brian-misconduct/
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:57 pm:
==Richard Irvin and Pastor Brooks are on the same page.==
As the saying goes, game recognizes game.
Might take a little more grease than a seat on the Tollway board to get Corey this time around, though.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:58 pm:
Is the guy gonna talk to, y’know, people at any point in this campaign?
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 1:58 pm:
I will say this for Aurora, the Dollar Store burned but the Supermercado on the same block was fine.
- TheInvisibleMan - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:06 pm:
= he claims he called in the national guard to respond to looting =
And he might be telling the truth here. It would be an admission he doesn’t know the responsibilities of his own job, but it still might be the truth.
It has a bit of similarity to the fictional Michael Scott ‘I declare bankruptcy’ approach.
Just yell it into the void. It doesn’t matter at all if it does anything or not, or if you have the authority to do it. You can still honestly claim to have done it.
- Anchors Away - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:07 pm:
Just curious but at some point is this guy going to take questions from the press? A lot of allegations made in statements like this that usually get fact checked directly by the media and he’s been in this race for several days. Don’t candidates usually face the press when they announce?
- Take a Closer Look - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:08 pm:
I think the Republicans should take a closer look at the budgets they have been voting against. The budget I read clearly shows Pritzker and the Democrats funded the police and the Rs voted against that funding by not supporting the budget. The mail is going to write itself on both sides, but the Democrats will be able to point out voting records.
- Another perspective - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:10 pm:
I’m not sure if I would take this route if I was Irvin. All lives matter and back the blue will probably drive black voters away from the black candidate. What is this guy thinking?
- vern - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:19 pm:
Arsenal’s comment is the whole bag right now. I thought the point of the Griffin slate was that fundraising would be taken care of and the candidates could spend their time campaigning. Every other GOP candidate has in-person events this week or next week, but Irvin doesn’t have an events page on his website or his Facebook page. I’ve seen press releases and posts from his campaign, but no news stories where a spokesperson responded to a question. I don’t think I’ve seen a campaign attempt this level of script discipline and win. It’s just too uncanny valley for a lot of voters.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:24 pm:
I’d be much more interested to know if Irvin has the backing of the blue, so to speak. Any politician who “strongly and passionately” supported Black Lives Matter in early 2021 may find that the local cops take exception to his claiming credit for their hard work to bring down crime rates. All it takes is one Aurora police official to call bs, and Irvin’s entire “tough on crime” platform could blow up in his face.
- walker - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:26 pm:
Hit all the current talking points for sure — but are we ever going to hear what this guy really believes in?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:28 pm:
===but are we ever going to hear what this guy really believes in?===
Lol, not as long as Lance Trover is around.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:31 pm:
= I’m not sure what legal mechanism exists for a governor to remove liberal prosecutors. =
Exactly none. And, as a lawyer and former prosecutor himself, he should know that.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:31 pm:
The monetary windfall that will be for Irvin, Irvin won’t need to actually talk to a voter or a reporter until he, and the Crew, feel it’s beneficial.
They can flood the zone with ads and noise to offset things until they feel there’s no choice…
… if they are playing a “stall ball” kind of thing with Irvin and voters and press.
The rules are different when unpaid media isn’t a necessity?
- Pundent - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:38 pm:
So I guess “back the blue” will be Irvin’s campaign theme. Much like “shakin’ things up” was that of his Republican predecessor. But what concerns me is that these slogans may mask the real intent of their governing philosophy. What will Irvin’s be? Has Ken Griffin moved on from union bustin’ to being a crime fighter?
- vern - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:39 pm:
== unpaid media isn’t a necessity ==
OW, I’m not sure that’s true though. The Republican primary electorate in IL isn’t that big, and in a mid-term candidates need to fight for high-information voters. Paid media has limited utility in persuading those voters. The conservative social media ecosystem is pretty maturely developed, a good number of those voters will see posts about the race from people they know. I’m not saying Irvin needs to get himself glowing coverage on the evening news or in the Tribune, but he’s going to need to get some kind of word-of-mouth going. I don’t see how that happens with the current plan of never speaking to a human about the campaign.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 2:42 pm:
- vern -
===…until he, and the Crew, feel it’s beneficial.===
Important part you omitted.
Right now, today, they see no need, as no one is blowing the doors off name ID, ads, appearances, even media.
When it’s beneficial, Irvin and Co will emerge
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 3:04 pm:
You would think Irvin would want or need to do press, talk to voters, actually campaign.
The announced candidate with the most money Irvin would be facing… can’t even find a running mate.
Can anyone name, without looking, the running mates for Bailey, Schimpf, Rabine?
If this were normal days, January would be “October” to a “March” primary, and all the days lost between… Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years…
It might be frustrating, but…
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 3:22 pm:
so Kari Steele took a hit because she touted Gardiner’s endorsement. This guy has Aimee Kessem on his list. Her stuff is going to make interesting stories.
- Ares - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 3:25 pm:
If one really wants to “back the blue”, raise taxes, abolish corporate incentives, and use the added revenues to catch up on / fully fund payments to the Chicago, Cook County, and non-IMRF police and fire pensions. Sadly, “defunding the police” (and firefighters / ERMTs) has been going on for generations, through shorting the pension contributions.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 3:32 pm:
If the Irvin-Bourne ticket is so tough on crime, why is Rep. Bourne the sponsor of HB2920 to make it easier for gun sellers to operate in Illinois even if they have been found to have sold a gun used to commit crimes?
- Bigtwich - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 4:00 pm:
during the summer of 2020. We all watched in horror as Aurora allowed criminal activity to overrun a city under Richard Irvin control.
- Jason Bourne - Wednesday, Jan 19, 22 @ 5:09 pm:
I guess Wayno wanted his seat back so Avery has to go on an ill-fated Lt. Gov bid. Honestly, not the worst ticket for a general election, but they won’t make it out of the primary. Trump Republicans aren’t interested in diversity and to downstate Aurora might as well be Chicago.
- Da big bad wolf - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 6:59 am:
=== during the summer of 2020. We all watched in horror as Aurora allowed criminal activity to overrun a city under Richard Irvin control.===
Not planning to vote for Irvin, but that statement is just silly. How was criminal activity “allowed?”
- Da big bad wolf - Thursday, Jan 20, 22 @ 7:11 am:
Since Richard Irvin supports the police maybe someone can ask him if he supports Biden diverting 350 billion in Covid-19 funds to increase funding for the police?