Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Pritzker blames “you guys in the press” for covering the real acrimony between himself and Durbin
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Pritzker blames “you guys in the press” for covering the real acrimony between himself and Durbin

Thursday, Aug 18, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* C’mon, man

At a shortened rally later on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Pritzker, standing alongside Hernandez and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, once again downplayed the intraparty tension, especially around Durbin.

“Oh, that’s something that you guys in the press are doing,” Pritzker said. “Dick Durbin and I are friends. We’ve worked together on many issues. Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, [Lt. Gov.] Juliana Stratton, our statewide elected officials all work together for the good of Illinois.”

The media isn’t making anything up. The vitriol is real.

* Scroll down in that Tina Sfondeles story

Asked about her absence, [ousted state party chair Robin] Kelly vowed to work with Democrats “whether or not we are unified.”

“Whether or not we are unified, I will work with leaders I trust and respect to ensure that Democrats win in my district, this state and our country on November 8th. The stakes are too high,” Kelly said, calling it “the most important election of our lifetime.”

At least she’s kinda honest about it.

       

41 Comments
  1. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 9:39 am:

    A Democrat complaining about unfair treatment in the press.

    You can’t make that up.


  2. - Needs Deleted - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 9:47 am:

    Pritzkers might be an “aw shucks” fellow at the chicken dinner, but he’s just as ruthless and power hungry as Mike Madigan ever was. It really says something about a person’s personality when they are worth 3 billion but also have to have political office. So it’s no surprise that Pritzker has no respect for the old guard democrats, after all, he doesn’t need their influence, because he’s got a lot of money.


  3. - High Socks - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 9:59 am:

    I was at a meeting with Durbin and Kelly a week ago. Any topic that touched on the Governor’s office was noticeably sensitive and temp dropped in the room for sure.


  4. - vern - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:00 am:

    ===The vitriol is real===

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t recall Durbin having a lot of IL-based conflicts like this historically. If anything, he’s too even-tempered for my taste, and he’s much more of a DC guy. He was never a main character in the Rauner-Madigan wars, for example.

    I believe that there’s vitriol, but I’m still skeptical it’s shared equally by both sides. My suspicion is that Pritzker overestimates Durbin’s influence, blaming Durbin for setbacks that he really had nothing to do with. Really hard to tell though with no one willing to talk about it.


  5. - Early Wynn - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:01 am:

    Isn’t mrs Durbin a Springfield lobbyist?


  6. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:02 am:

    ===can’t recall Durbin having a lot of IL-based conflicts like this historically===

    Um, did you miss the MJM years?


  7. - vern - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:07 am:

    ===did you miss the MJM years?===

    While I am crotchety, I’m not especially old. If there was something before 2008 or so I probably wouldn’t have followed it. I could see that Durbin and Madigan weren’t especially close the last 10 years, but don’t recall it ever becoming open war.

    Again, open to being wrong, I’m not dying on this hill. Was genuinely curious


  8. - Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:07 am:

    “The stakes are too high,” Kelly said, calling it “the most important election of our lifetime.”

    I must have been reincarnated a dozen times in the last 20 years and didn’t realize it, with all these “most important election of our lifetime” claims.


  9. - Pizza Man - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:11 am:

    While the IL Dems may not be ‘united,’ Robin Kelly knows not to utter any complaints as she wants to hang on to her congressional seat. After all, Mr. Pritzker holds the ‘keys’ and money with MJM out of the way.

    Sen. Durbin?….just whistling on the sidelines…’ nope, nada, I’m quiet too, gov.’


  10. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:15 am:

    Institutional knowledge versus a prisoner of the moment.

    Context to this chapter of Democratic Party “discontent” is a reminder of the functionally dysfunctional party that withstood and rallied after 1995 still needs to keep the eye on the prize, winning elections, and staving off, at least in Illinois… that Red Wave, even trying to help that national push too.


  11. - TheDudeAbides - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:17 am:

    Have to give JB a rating of four Pinocchios on this one.


  12. - Amalia - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:20 am:

    ok, I know you lost, but “whether or not we are unified” is ridiculous. you are either a Democrat or you are not. I was happy that you became the party chair but you lost. Unified be.


  13. - CentralILCentrist - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:32 am:

    cue the “fuhgedaboutit” pleas for the next several weeks…


  14. - MrGrassroots - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 10:54 am:

    ===I must have been reincarnated a dozen times in the last 20 years and didn’t realize it, with all these “most important election of our lifetime” claims.===

    This is most certainly the “most important election.” For Democrats like myself and so many others, every future “election” will be the “most important” until Trumpism is completely stamped out and obliterated. The future of our democracy, as we know, it is at stake.


  15. - Must win - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:06 am:

    As they say ” governors own”, time to town this one jb, you started it by demanding kelly leave for your candidate.


  16. - Levois J - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:14 am:

    Well seeing this is almost like following the wrestling dirt sheets. The reality is right in front of you if you know where to look. Of course the “work” might well let’s keep up appearances and show there is no acrimony.


  17. - Wise Guy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:18 am:

    I thought that JB didn’t care about unity? I thought that was the reason why he trampled all the grassroots and bought everything lock, stock, and barrel? I thought that JB going it alone and paying for everything was part of his plan? He does have a plan? Right?


  18. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:23 am:

    === he trampled all the grassroots and bought everything lock, stock, and barrel?===

    That’s untrue.

    ===thought that JB going it alone and paying for everything was part of his plan? He does have a plan? Right?===

    The voters decided. Elections have results that others may not like.

    Any plan is better than a figurehead chairman put in for elite and entitled insider(s) bent on controlling things that couldn’t be controlled without unnecessary changes. “Right?”


  19. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:39 am:

    This is a pretty minor problem compared with Republicans and their authoritarian conversion, pushing out those who dare to hold TFG to account. Wyoming is such a stark example. Illinois is also a big example of where the GOP base is at.


  20. - Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:41 am:

    Just sitting back here with my popcorn. Blaming the press is a page right out of our GOP playbook. Spending millions to choose his opponents and his party allies is not really something the press has harped on too much at this point in time.


  21. - Pundent - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:46 am:

    This is more of an ego clash than an ideological one. I don’t see it having any lasting consequences for the party particularly since they do seem united in seizing upon the disarray that is the ILGOP today.


  22. - Playing in Peoria - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:55 am:

    Sorry what is JB supposed to say? He’s the adult in the room. And the adult in the room puts a smile on their face and says polite things even when that might not be how they feel. I’ve seen him and Durbin at dozens of events together and despite what I’m sure is some personal acrimony they are always cordial in public.

    The bellyaching over the Governor of the state wanting a say in the state party - and the folks who vote on that agreeing with him - is absurd.

    Robin’s comment reads as petty and ridiculous. You lost. And then paid your friends out of money that was supposed to go to Dems who need it.


  23. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 11:56 am:

    Truly Orwellian to accuse Republicans as having had an authoritarian conversion.

    Which party’s Governors implemented emergency orders for the past two years to control people and businesses in the name of public health. Two years later it is obvious states that did not lock down did not have worse health outcomes.

    The CDC has admitted their response to COVID was botched. Of course we will get no Mea Culpa from JB for the damage his unilateral policies have done to students and small businesses.


  24. - JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 12:00 pm:

    @LP and Needs Deleted…you guys have no shame. The GOP standard bearer complains more in a day about his press than any ten people do in their life unless is is Darren “out of context” Bailey. Then it is a draw.


  25. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 12:10 pm:

    ===So it’s no surprise that Pritzker has no respect for the old guard democrats, after all, he doesn’t need their influence, because he’s got a lot of money.===

    Narrator: There was an election. The voters decided. The winners, then they made their choices.


  26. - McGuppin - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 12:18 pm:

    –Isn’t mrs Durbin a Springfield lobbyist? –

    Oh stop it. She retired years ago….before JB came to Springfield. Try some other way to stir things up. What a joke.


  27. - Patricia Watson - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 12:31 pm:

    I guess now piling it on fakery and trying to blame “the press” for what is factual; instead of initially actually seeking commonsense common ground, tendering intelligent adult exchanges, not behaving arrogantly and dismissively by “ the true “entitled” ones by not treating is a lesson not yet learned. Two out of every ten would be a hard lesson.


  28. - Chili - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 12:43 pm:

    Durbin has Washington seniority that he believes makes him entitled to have outsized influence on state party issues. He and Madigan definitely did not get along because of that.
    Like most things with Illinois Dems, this issue gets solved for most people by answering the question: How many jobs does he control?


  29. - Norseman - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 12:49 pm:

    === “Whether or not we are unified … ===

    When have Dems ever been “unified?” I’m not in the trenches, but this seems to have been a typical battle over political egos - the Governor v. a senior Senator. From afar, I don’t see that Durbin’s chair was a great savior for the IL Dems.

    With respect to the media, they do what they always do. Hype the controversial, conflict or criticism angle on every story ad infinitum. All politicians get frustrated.


  30. - Big Dipper - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 1:02 pm:

    == It really says something about a person’s personality when they are worth 3 billion but also have to have political office.==

    You mean like appreciating that they have been blessed in life and want to give back?


  31. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 1:18 pm:

    Truth be told,

    Pritzker is governor of the 5th largest state in America and should find zero reason at any time to utter “you guys in the press” ever.

    Any governor, even in the political framing, sits in the big chair, and can drive his/her own messaging and should be able to handle any press about intra-party squabbling without “blaming” press

    While Kelly gave a more… unhelpful… answer, it was an answer, and unifying around winning is the goal of any party, squabbling or not.


  32. - Radical Candor - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 1:36 pm:

    Not Presidential, Governor.


  33. - Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 1:56 pm:

    Pritzker is the Governor of the sixth largest state in America that just lost a congressional seat.

    Pennsylvania is now # 5 at 13,062,764
    Illinois is at 12,808,884

    https://worldpopulationreview.com/states


  34. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 2:39 pm:

    ===Pritzker is the Governor of the sixth largest state===

    The revised numbers disagree with you.

    Further, Illinois has over 13 million

    https://www.usapopulation.org/illinois-population/


  35. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 2:41 pm:

    Here’s your 13 million number too.

    Here’s merely one reported source…

    https://www.kwqc.com/2022/05/20/illinois-sets-new-record-high-population-over-13-million-residents/?outputType=amp


  36. - Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 2:44 pm:

    ==The revised numbers disagree with you.==

    I have no idea why we even argue with him? I can’t even tell what his point is 99% of the time.


  37. - Nick - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 2:59 pm:

    Kelly’s statement all else being is just… fine. She’s allowed to feel burned by what happened, but neither is she dragging it out.


  38. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 3:20 pm:

    “Truly Orwellian to accuse Republicans as having had an authoritarian conversion.”

    They sure are. They have “canceled” their own members who impeached an insurrectionist and refused to overturn an election. Look at Wyoming, Illinois, Arizona and elsewhere, where Trump supporters and election deniers are winning.

    Illinois Democrats should absolutely make a play for those GOP voters who stand for democracy and are not welcome in today’s ILGOP. Judging from TFG’s electoral performances here, there might be a good number of them.


  39. - Pundent - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 4:38 pm:

    =Spending millions to choose his opponents=

    I believe 56% of the ILGOP voters made that choice. Obviously you didn’t. I think your party has a name for that.


  40. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Aug 18, 22 @ 4:43 pm:

    ===Spending millions to choose his opponents ===

    Oh - Louis G Atsaves -

    I know you don’t wanna align yourself with racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists and insurrection apologists, but them, and 56% of folks voting… in the Republican primary… want Bailey.

    It’s who the base is.

    You don’t like it.

    That’s too bad.

    It’s not the Dems fault the GOP nominated, overwhelmingly, a terrible candidate and all that Bailey embraces.


  41. - SAP - Friday, Aug 19, 22 @ 12:22 am:

    I’m not a member of an organized political party. I’m a Democrat.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Subscribers Only - Legislative news
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Energy Storage Brings Cheaper Electricity, Greater Reliability
* Roundup: Testimony focuses on ex-aides loyalty to Madigan
* Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
* Some not-great state flag redesign contest feedback from WGN
* Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards
* Pritzker: Gia Biagi signals a “new era” at IDOT
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Live coverage
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller