The People Who Play By The Rules PAC has launched a new series, “Business Speaks” featuring successful job creators addressing the challenges of doing business in Illinois. An ad buy was placed in statewide media markets and the series is available on YouTube.
As Governor JB Pritzker has raised taxes and attempted to raise more, combined with his heavy-handed and unpredictable COVID lockdown policies, being a business owner in Illinois is more difficult than it’s been in generations. These are their stories.
First up is Tom Sodeika, the owner of a payroll services business in DuPage County:
Tom Sodeika, President/CEO of Auxilium HCM: “Everything that our Governor Pritzker has pushed through in policies do not serve the good citizens of Illinois. With his abuse of the emergency powers, he has negatively impacted businesses. We’re worried about paying our taxes, our home values are dropping while our property taxes are going up, and we are seeing big name businesses move out of Illinois. How much worse does it truly have to get?”
Tom Sodeika, President/CEO of Auxilium HCM: “Nothing is heading into the direction of improvements for Illinois. Our home values are dropping while our property taxes are going up, and it’s all built through policy, and frankly corruption that’s going to continue to happen. We can’t take it anymore.”
Terrible. The production looks like a cheap male supplements video. The guy rambles (they couldn’t even edit out the “uhs”) and is way too vague, and there’s no call to action. They barely even mention Pritzker, let alone Bailey.
An old angry male griping like you’d hear at the end of the bar, in between horrible takes on Chicago sports… these ads serve one function… products to grift for the creators.
Even the graphics are purposely poor.
That Florida house Proft has prolly needs some construction work… these ads will help with that, nothing more.
Why is Proft wasting his money on the Gov’s race is my question. Why not try to influence house and senate or other statewides or SC races where that money could make more of an impact. The gov’s race is over.
” … people complaining how bad it is here in Illinois but then don’t leave to go elsewhere.”
As an immigrant, still contend no matter the level of discontent over taxes, what pushes people to leave Illinois is cold weather / to be closer to children & grandchildren.
I could not imagine a single human being deciding to vote for Darren Bailey because of these ads. Nor will they motivate an on-the-fence Bailey voter to actually get out and vote for him.
Cicero Dan is really just phoning it in this time.
F. Why have a “business leader” in the ad that can’t/won’t say how Pritzker’s policies hurt him and his business? Did he have to shut down? lay off staff? What was your home worth before Pritzker? What is it worth now?
Value of homes are going down? Someone needs to alert Crain’s that their real estate section has been really missing the mark. /s
D
Putting aside the flat out lie about home values, it is the wrong person delivering the message. I don’t think it’s going to hit home to have a CEO tell people how bad things are for them.
It might reaffirm a small segment of people’s beliefs but I doubt it going to compel anyone to get to voting booth that wasn’t committed to vote for Bailey.
Production value and messaging rate a D. But if we’re grading it on its ability to grift? Well that’s an A all day every day.
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 8:18 pm:
Usually I am a plus or minus around the other graders, but this is a truly awful Ad.
Rather than go with an F-, I think switching to a 1 to 10 number grade with 1 being the lowest grade works better for me.
For this Ad I going with a 0.
This may be the worst Proft ad ever and that’s saying a lot. Why, you ask? Well start with the triggering phrase, “abuse of his emergency power” which only appeals to the fringe right wing base. Polling has consistently shown that most people think Pritzker did a great job with the pandemic, so that will immediately turn people off. The few who remain will turn it off with the lie about falling home prices. It’s truly a horrid, horrid ad. Thank God that brilliant ad maker who helped kill Richard Irvin is gone and bad ole’ Dan is back.
@CubsFan16 - “Literally just a random guy rambling incoherently.”
The sad/funny thing is that @northsider (the original) is right… this isn’t a random guy. This is the director, secretary, and treasurer of Turning Point. This is the Face of the Franchise… the best they’ve got. Impressive, no?
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Aug 10, 22 @ 1:44 am:
Guy looks like Sam Madonia’s stunt double. Script is weak sauce repeating back the base’s slogans to themselves. D-minus.
“Auxilium HCM is a full-service payroll provider for small businesses. From simple payrolls to more comprehensive Human Capital Management solutions.”
This may be my inner Tom Peters speaking here, but anyone who is associated with the phrase ‘Human Captial Management’ should be discounted from the start.
People are people, not some sort of ‘capital.’
If you are going to find a small business owner, find one that provides more direct service to consumers, this isn’t hard, Dan.
This is a ad made to appeal to aggrieved white males — people who are already voting against JB. In other words, this is not a serious effort to influence the November election. It is an effort to please Dick Uihlein and keep money flowing to its creator, Dan Proft. For that, I give it an A.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:22 pm:
Terrible. The production looks like a cheap male supplements video. The guy rambles (they couldn’t even edit out the “uhs”) and is way too vague, and there’s no call to action. They barely even mention Pritzker, let alone Bailey.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:27 pm:
It’s a D
Remember a D is still a passing grade
An old angry male griping like you’d hear at the end of the bar, in between horrible takes on Chicago sports… these ads serve one function… products to grift for the creators.
Even the graphics are purposely poor.
That Florida house Proft has prolly needs some construction work… these ads will help with that, nothing more.
D
- DuPage Dad - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:28 pm:
I always enjoy ads of people complaining how bad it is here in Illinois but then don’t leave to go elsewhere.
Also, who is this in the ad? I’ve never heard of him or his business.
- ste_with a v_en - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:29 pm:
F in the sense that they are bad ads.
A in the sense that this is a grift for Proft to get paid while putting out a terrible work product.
- jimbo - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:31 pm:
D
Once you make a bald faced lie like “our home values are dropping”, why would I trust anything else you say.
30sec on Google and Zillow show his own house is worth more than it’s ever been- going back 8 years
- Shytown - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:39 pm:
Why is Proft wasting his money on the Gov’s race is my question. Why not try to influence house and senate or other statewides or SC races where that money could make more of an impact. The gov’s race is over.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:39 pm:
===Why is Proft wasting his money===
It ain’t his money.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:41 pm:
===Why is Proft wasting his money===
First, it’s not his money, the percentage of the media buy and production is his money. It’s Uihlein’s money.
Uihlein pays the band, the band plays his tune… for nominal fees and percentages, sure, but…
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:43 pm:
” … people complaining how bad it is here in Illinois but then don’t leave to go elsewhere.”
As an immigrant, still contend no matter the level of discontent over taxes, what pushes people to leave Illinois is cold weather / to be closer to children & grandchildren.
“Pleased to present, for your consideration … .”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-confidential-snow-population-drop-1218-biz-20141217-column.html
- Fivegreenleaves - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:49 pm:
My house has actually gone up in value this year. Sure we lost Citadel and CAT, but we gained Google and Kellogg’s. Does this guy pay attention?
- northsider (the original) - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:50 pm:
Isn’t Mr. Sodeika the secretary/treasurer of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk’s fun little grift?
- DougChicago - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 4:52 pm:
F-
I could not imagine a single human being deciding to vote for Darren Bailey because of these ads. Nor will they motivate an on-the-fence Bailey voter to actually get out and vote for him.
Cicero Dan is really just phoning it in this time.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 5:00 pm:
F. Why have a “business leader” in the ad that can’t/won’t say how Pritzker’s policies hurt him and his business? Did he have to shut down? lay off staff? What was your home worth before Pritzker? What is it worth now?
- Langhorne - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 5:00 pm:
Oppressive use of emergency powers.
3.6 million cases
34.4k dead
4.6 k probables
- twowaystreet - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 5:06 pm:
Value of homes are going down? Someone needs to alert Crain’s that their real estate section has been really missing the mark. /s
D
Putting aside the flat out lie about home values, it is the wrong person delivering the message. I don’t think it’s going to hit home to have a CEO tell people how bad things are for them.
It might reaffirm a small segment of people’s beliefs but I doubt it going to compel anyone to get to voting booth that wasn’t committed to vote for Bailey.
- Kris - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 5:20 pm:
It looks like Pritzker policies are good for attracting business to Illinois.
From today’s Daily Herald: Pritzker reaches out to businesses after Indiana abortion restrictions signed
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20220809/pritzker-reaches-out-to-businesses-after-indiana-abortion-restrictions-signed
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 5:32 pm:
The ad is an F.
I also rate the comments about house values “pants on Fire”.
Maybe these guys have been in a coma for 3 years but this is still the best sellers market in 20 years. Not much factual research there.
- DuPage Moderate - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 7:05 pm:
A C ad if Bailey weren’t running.
A F ad because Bailey is unelectable and thus, this is a waste of money.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 7:14 pm:
Production value and messaging rate a D. But if we’re grading it on its ability to grift? Well that’s an A all day every day.
- Back to the Future - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 8:18 pm:
Usually I am a plus or minus around the other graders, but this is a truly awful Ad.
Rather than go with an F-, I think switching to a 1 to 10 number grade with 1 being the lowest grade works better for me.
For this Ad I going with a 0.
- CubsFan16 - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 9:17 pm:
F
Literally just a random guy rambling incoherently. No concise message. What the heck
- New Day - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 10:34 pm:
F- - - - -
This may be the worst Proft ad ever and that’s saying a lot. Why, you ask? Well start with the triggering phrase, “abuse of his emergency power” which only appeals to the fringe right wing base. Polling has consistently shown that most people think Pritzker did a great job with the pandemic, so that will immediately turn people off. The few who remain will turn it off with the lie about falling home prices. It’s truly a horrid, horrid ad. Thank God that brilliant ad maker who helped kill Richard Irvin is gone and bad ole’ Dan is back.
- New Day - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 10:37 pm:
Oh, and yea, this is the same guy on grifter Charlie Kirk’s board.
https://www.tpusa.com/tomsodeika
- Skokie Man - Tuesday, Aug 9, 22 @ 10:37 pm:
@CubsFan16 - “Literally just a random guy rambling incoherently.”
The sad/funny thing is that @northsider (the original) is right… this isn’t a random guy. This is the director, secretary, and treasurer of Turning Point. This is the Face of the Franchise… the best they’ve got. Impressive, no?
- Give Us Barabbas - Wednesday, Aug 10, 22 @ 1:44 am:
Guy looks like Sam Madonia’s stunt double. Script is weak sauce repeating back the base’s slogans to themselves. D-minus.
- Glengarry - Wednesday, Aug 10, 22 @ 3:42 am:
Anything involving Turning Point is an automatic F.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Aug 10, 22 @ 7:31 am:
===Everything ===
When the in-law uncle says “everything” is bad… then you know “everything” the in-law uncle *says* is bad.
Missing facts, wrong facts, opinion fueled “facts”
- OneMan - Wednesday, Aug 10, 22 @ 8:16 am:
“Auxilium HCM is a full-service payroll provider for small businesses. From simple payrolls to more comprehensive Human Capital Management solutions.”
This may be my inner Tom Peters speaking here, but anyone who is associated with the phrase ‘Human Captial Management’ should be discounted from the start.
People are people, not some sort of ‘capital.’
If you are going to find a small business owner, find one that provides more direct service to consumers, this isn’t hard, Dan.
- Telly - Wednesday, Aug 10, 22 @ 8:29 am:
This is a ad made to appeal to aggrieved white males — people who are already voting against JB. In other words, this is not a serious effort to influence the November election. It is an effort to please Dick Uihlein and keep money flowing to its creator, Dan Proft. For that, I give it an A.