Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Thursday, Nov 1, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, the Pritzker campaign released a new TV ad, “One Illinois,” highlighting how JB has spent the campaign listening to and sharing his vision with Illinoisans across the state.

The ad features JB on one of his three statewide bus tours talking about his priorities for Illinois and how he’ll fight for working families as governor. Footage from campaign stops in 10 cities and towns across the state are represented throughout the one-minute ad.

* The ad…

* Script…

Pritzker: I think the only way you can represent a state as diverse as this is to spend real time with people in every region.

Bloomington resident: It’s good to see you again here!

Pritzker: Thank you.

Peoria resident: It is so good to see you!

Pritzker: Governor Rauner wants to pit one area of the state against another. I think we’re one Illinois.

Belleville resident: I’m so glad to meet you!

Pritzker: The values that people have are the same. People are decent. They’re dedicated. They’re hardworking.

Pritzker, to Rockford Veteran: Thanks again for your service.

Pritzker: They want to get past all of the challenges and actually get something done.

Belvidere resident: I can’t tell you how much help we need.

* Raoul campaign…

Today, Democratic candidate Kwame Raoul released a new Chicago radio ad - “Every Voice Matters” - in which President Barack Obama explains why electing Raoul to be Illinois’ next attorney general is so important. When Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Raoul was appointed to fill his seat in the Illinois Senate, where he has served for the past 14 years. Obama has endorsed Raoul for attorney general.

* The ad…

* Script…

“This is Barack Obama. When I was elected to the U.S. Senate, I was proud to see Kwame Raoul chosen to fill my seat in the state Senate. I couldn’t be more impressed with the work he’s done since, fighting for the issues we care about and the values we share.

“That’s why I support Kwame Raoul to be Illinois’ next attorney general. Kwame knows that healthcare isn’t a privilege; it’s a right. While I was in Washington fighting for the Affordable Care Act, he led the effort to expand healthcare coverage to every Illinoisan. He stood up for working families, for criminal justice reform, and for common-sense gun laws.

“Now that our progress is at stake, Kwame Raoul is precisely the attorney general we need. He’ll protect our healthcare, protect a woman’s right to choose, protect our environment, and protect our right to vote, because he believes that every voice matters.

“So let’s prove that our voices matter. This is Barack Obama, and I’m asking you to vote for Kwame Raoul for attorney general, November 6.”

…Adding… Rauner campaign…

This week, Governor Rauner has been travelling around the state on his “Our Home Our Fight” bus tour. Media has covered the tour as the governor has been “pushing hard for votes” and “focusing on his accomplishments” like record school funding and expanding the U of I.

* Video…

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Placing blame where it belongs

Thursday, Nov 1, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Kristen McQueary on the #MeToo movement…

“Women” in the context of this movement does not include all women. Its leaders and participants should at least be upfront about it.

The environment in Illinois politics is telling. Among the least-represented voices in Springfield is that of conservative women. The House and Senate, made up of 177 members, include 61 women of both parties. That number should be higher, but it’s not abysmal. Of those women, the majority are Democrats and mostly lean left. The House right now has only 13 Republican women. The Senate has two.

Let me repeat that data point for emphasis: Of the House’s 118 members, 13 are GOP women. Of the Senate’s 59 members, only two are Republican women. If the movement is truly about lifting women, shouldn’t it be focused on raising those numbers? Bringing more capable, opinion-diverse women into the pink-hat pavilion?

As I reminded subscribers earlier today, three Republicans have resigned from the Illinois Senate since the summer of 2017. All three were women and all three women were replaced by men. One of the women who stepped down was Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno. The Senate Republicans elected a man, Sen. Bill Brady, to replace her.

The #MeToo movement is not some top-down political action committee. The Republican Party, particularly in the Illinois Senate, is the entity truly in need of a dressing-down here. After all, they’re the ones who recruit the candidates and they’re the ones who exert influence on local retiree replacement decisions.

…Adding… I was reminded that women in the SGOP caucus, including Sen. Radogno, supported Brady’s election.

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*** UPDATED x1 - Fitzgerald responds *** Today’s lit drop

Thursday, Nov 1, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I’m not sure I totally get the message here, but this Senate Republican mailer does get your attention…

The flip-side is here.

*** UPDATE *** Bridget Fitzgerald posted a Facebook video in response. Click here for that. Transcription…

I’m out here canvassing door to door talking to voters directly about their biggest concerns. And one of their concerns is how partisan this campaign is and how partisan politics is overall. My opponent recently sent out a piece of mail that compared me to a piece of meat, and being the candidate that’s in this for positive reasons and trying to set a good example for young girls and children everywhere, I want to go on the record and say I don’t think it was right to compare me to a piece of meat, photoshop my head on somebody else’s body, and I can only hope that this will be the end of this type of communication the more we speak out about it. Please don’t compare people to meat. Thank you.