On the campaign trail, Republicans have been vocal about [Rep. Carol Ammons’] indictment and [House Speaker Chris Welch’s] handling of sexual harassment cases.
The party’s nominee for governor, Darren Bailey, held a news conference at the Statehouse prior to Ammons’ hearing where he said, “the people of Illinois, they’re ultimately responsible for this,” and called Gov. JB Pritzker “a jacka**.”
“Voters need to send better people here. Accountability and transparency will do that,” Bailey said. “What greater first steps can we take in Illinois with a new governor than to bring transparency and accountability to their own elected officials.”
Bailey and his running mate, Aaron Del Mar, called on lawmakers to respond to Ammons’ case by passing a law that makes nonprofits receiving at least $10,000 in state funds subject to open records laws.
* Gov. Pritzker’s react and more context from Ben Szalinski…
* On Wednesday, we told you the House Republican Organization had launched a limited Facebook ad campaign targeting state Reps. Jessica Dixon Heitman and Katie Stuart. Today, the HRO expanded its campaign with an ad targeting Rep. Suzanne Ness. HRO…
“Suzanne Ness had a choice: stand with women and demand accountability, or protect the politician who helped fund her campaigns,” said Mark Cavers, Political Director for the House Republican Organization. “After receiving more than $1.4 million in political support from Speaker Welch, she chose to protect the Springfield politician who helped fund her campaigns. Voters have every right to ask whether politics is taking priority over doing what’s right. The people she represents deserve leadership that puts integrity ahead of political loyalty.”
The ad will begin running on Facebook today and can be viewed here.
VO: Suzanne Ness is missing in action. She continues to remain silent on Speaker Welch’s sexual harassment cover-up. Maybe it’s hard to speak up after taking more than $1.4 million from Welch. When it matters most, she’s looking the other way. Suzanne Ness, her silence says it all.
The HRO has put only about $100 behind each of these ads.
Republican Illinois House seat hopefuls are pressuring Democratic candidates to say whether they would vote to keep Emanuel “Chris” Welch as House speaker if elected. […]
Leading the cry: Gabby Shanahan, who’s running for the 97th District seat formerly held by disgraced ex-Rep. Harry Benton, is calling on newly appointed state Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman to make her position public. Shanahan argues voters deserve an answer, noting Dixon Heitman has said she would accept campaign support from Welch but has not said whether she would back him for another term as speaker.
“After everything that has happened, silence is not an acceptable answer,” Shanahan said, referring to the scandal that has put scrutiny on Welch’s leadership. […]
But we did hear from Dixon Heitman’s camp, which said it’s “premature” to weigh in on Welch’s future as speaker. Thom Serafin, who is advising Dixon Heitman — the granddaughter of the late U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon, for whom Serafin once worked — said a decision shouldn’t come before she’s had a chance to understand the institution and her colleagues.
* The Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association…
The Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) announced today that United States Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts will headline the organization’s annual County Chairs Brunch on August 19th.
The annual event is one of the largest in the Midwest and brings together Democratic County Chairs, elected officials, community leaders, and grassroots activists from across Illinois to celebrate the work of the state’s 102 Democratic county parties and prepare for the upcoming election cycle.
* Alexi Giannoulias released his mayoral campaign’s first TV ad this week…
Republicans really wanna bring up sex pests? It wasn’t a Democrat needed a thousand FBI agents redacting their name from the Trumpstein files. Has E. Jean Carroll been paid yet?
=Darren Bailey, held a news conference at the Statehouse prior to Ammons’ hearing where he said, “the people of Illinois, they’re ultimately responsible for this,” and called Gov. JB Pritzker “a jacka**.”=
Is that the same Darren Bailey that was whining about name calling a couple of weeks ago?
===Republican Illinois House seat hopefuls are pressuring Democratic candidates to say whether they would vote to keep Emanuel “Chris” Welch as House speaker if elected===
Pro-Tip for the Democrats: Quit hitting yourself. This isn’t going away.
Career Tip: There’s nothing earned by cowering and hoping that this story goes away. There’s a lot to gain in leading the effort to demand he resign the Speakership. What? You’re afraid he stays in as Speaker and will retaliate against you for calling him out on his financial support for sexual harassers and efforts to cover up their behavior? Seems like another media cycle you want to win.
There’s nothing gained in cowering till after November.
===And Donald Trump is still a racist.===
At any point has Bailey plainly stated that he does not think Trump is a racist and explained how all of the racist things Trump has done and is doing are just misunderstandings?
I think this is kind of a fun thing. The whole claim that it is a character assassination to call an elected official a racist. Also “personal assassinations” is a new term for me, but way to start a sentence complaining about personal attacks.
=Bailey and his running mate, Aaron Del Mar, called on lawmakers to respond to Ammons’ case by passing a law that makes nonprofits receiving at least $10,000 in state funds subject to open records laws.=
And I am ALL IN on this. I will be FOIA’ing every parochial school in the state.
Why don’t the republicans coalesce and focus all efforts on their SOS candidate. They have the best chance of winning statewide by convincing voters the current SOS isn’t interested in the job and could possibly get a significant win.
Given Bush and Trump’s responsibility for the level of national debt, Republicans have to be either dishonest or uninformed to harp on fiscal responsibility. With debt as with sex pests.
- Irreverent - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 10:56 am:
Republicans really wanna bring up sex pests? It wasn’t a Democrat needed a thousand FBI agents redacting their name from the Trumpstein files. Has E. Jean Carroll been paid yet?
- NIU Grad - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:03 am:
“the people of Illinois, they’re ultimately responsible for this…Voters need to send better people here.”
Grabbing voters by the scruff and telling them that this is all their fault is a winning strategy.
- JS Mill - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:09 am:
=Darren Bailey, held a news conference at the Statehouse prior to Ammons’ hearing where he said, “the people of Illinois, they’re ultimately responsible for this,” and called Gov. JB Pritzker “a jacka**.”=
Is that the same Darren Bailey that was whining about name calling a couple of weeks ago?
Sure tough guy, whatever you say.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:09 am:
===Republican Illinois House seat hopefuls are pressuring Democratic candidates to say whether they would vote to keep Emanuel “Chris” Welch as House speaker if elected===
Pro-Tip for the Democrats: Quit hitting yourself. This isn’t going away.
Career Tip: There’s nothing earned by cowering and hoping that this story goes away. There’s a lot to gain in leading the effort to demand he resign the Speakership. What? You’re afraid he stays in as Speaker and will retaliate against you for calling him out on his financial support for sexual harassers and efforts to cover up their behavior? Seems like another media cycle you want to win.
There’s nothing gained in cowering till after November.
===And Donald Trump is still a racist.===
At any point has Bailey plainly stated that he does not think Trump is a racist and explained how all of the racist things Trump has done and is doing are just misunderstandings?
I think this is kind of a fun thing. The whole claim that it is a character assassination to call an elected official a racist. Also “personal assassinations” is a new term for me, but way to start a sentence complaining about personal attacks.
- JS Mill - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:10 am:
=Bailey and his running mate, Aaron Del Mar, called on lawmakers to respond to Ammons’ case by passing a law that makes nonprofits receiving at least $10,000 in state funds subject to open records laws.=
And I am ALL IN on this. I will be FOIA’ing every parochial school in the state.
- Proud Papa Bear - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:15 am:
With those tinted glasses, Bailey is giving off some Jim Jones vibes.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:17 am:
The ILGOP I grew up with wouldn’t allow Bailey to run for county commissioner.
Thinking his party can begin to play to decency card simply proves Gomer is a busher.
- Loop Lady - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:21 am:
I cannot endure 3 more months is his campaign.
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:24 am:
That Alexi video is a masterclass in saying absolutely nothing, wow.
- Alton Sinkhole - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:25 am:
I have not been impressed at all with the Alexi rollout.
- Think Again - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:30 am:
= The HRO has put only about $100 behind each of these ads=
Digital ads are cheap - that’s the whole point - and thanks to CF the clicks likely went way up for free. Do you point out the spend of the Dems ?
- Disappointed - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:30 am:
A few days ago, I thought that a missing person report would have to be filed for Darren Bailey.
He has been nearly invisible.
Too bad he resurfaced in such crummy way.
- BigLou - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:33 am:
Why don’t the republicans coalesce and focus all efforts on their SOS candidate. They have the best chance of winning statewide by convincing voters the current SOS isn’t interested in the job and could possibly get a significant win.
- Pundent - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:34 am:
=Do you point out the spend of the Dems ?=
If you’re a GOP supporter, and I suspect you are, you should be infuriated that this is the best they can do.
- Steve Rogers - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:45 am:
Blaming the Illinois voters is a bold strategy Cotton, let’s see if it plays out for him.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:47 am:
==Do you point out the spend of the Dems ? ==
You must be new here
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:47 am:
said a decision shouldn’t come before she’s had a chance to understand the institution and her colleagues.
If/when elected Ms Heitman is going to fit right in……
- Irreverent - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:49 am:
Given Bush and Trump’s responsibility for the level of national debt, Republicans have to be either dishonest or uninformed to harp on fiscal responsibility. With debt as with sex pests.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 7, 26 @ 11:49 am:
===You must be new here ===
No, he’s just that way.