As a follow-up to an interview earlier this week, today, Scott Drury, Democratic candidate for Illinois Attorney General, began releasing on Twitter (@Drury4IL) documents and records of his interactions with Mike Madigan and his leadership team. Today’s records relate to a dinner meeting in October 2016 when Madigan requested approximately $60,000 from Drury, as Drury sought to pass child protection legislation that had stalled in the House.
During a radio interview on Sunday, Drury provided details of the dinner meeting, including Madigan’s request that Drury funnel the contribution through an entity known as LIFT PAC – a super PAC to which Madigan had no nominal connection. Madigan’s spokesman later claimed he could not verify the accuracy of Drury’s account. Drury believes he can assist with that. “Like James Comey, I, too, thought it wise to keep records of interactions with a power hungry leader used to getting his way,” said Drury.
According to Drury, he refused to be part of what he viewed as a money-laundering scheme and did not contribute to LIFT PAC. Undeterred, Madigan later proposed that Drury make the contribution through an array of Democratic candidates under Madigan’s control. For similar reasons, Drury refused.
So far, Drury has released an October 7, 2016 voice message from Madigan to Drury which led to the dinner meeting.
* Not much here except Madigan asking for a call back…
On Sunday, I described a series of meetings with Mike Madigan involving his request for approximately $60,000 to be funneled through a SuperPAC. His spokesperson questioned the validity of the allegations. Like @JamesComeyFBI , I kept records. This voicemail started it all. pic.twitter.com/d39XeqNWtL
By the way, I asked the Daniel Biss campaign this morning to respond to Drury’s allegations of a “money laundering scheme” at the LIFT PAC. Biss, you will recall, ran that political action committee. So far, no response.
*** UPDATE *** From the Biss campaign…
“Daniel was as committed to defeating Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner and their right wing agenda in 2016 as he is today. You’d think all Democrats would feel the same.”
Representative Jeanne Ives, challenger to incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner, has released a new radio ad statewide. The :60 second spot, Lead the Charge, contrasts Ives record as a conservative reformer with Rauner’s record of betrayal.
My name is Jeanne Ives and I’m the conservative Republican running against Bruce Rauner for Governor.
I’m an economic liberty, pro-family West Point grad.
I’ve spent the last five years battling Chicago Democrats.
I didn’t think I’d have to spend so much time battling Bruce Rauner.
But when Rauner betrayed conservative families, that’s exactly what I did.
Rauner made Illinois a sanctuary state. I voted against it.
Rauner made you pay for abortions in all nine months of pregnancy. I voted against it–and so did every other Republican legislator.
Rauner took money from your schools to bail out the Chicago Public Schools. I voted against it.
National Review has called Rauner the worst Republican governor in the country, because he is.
Rauner betrayed us.
I honor who we are as conservatives.
Rauner can’t win re-election.
He said he’s not in charge.
With your help, I’ll lead the charge.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I was sent this new Personal PAC social media ad last night and forgot to post it today…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
Statement in response to Ives ad from Jennifer Welch, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action PAC Chair:
“The latest misleading ad from Jeanne Ives further perpetuates falsehoods about abortion care in Illinois. Ives continues to attack a legal medical procedure by making untrue claims about specific details that are not a part of House Bill 40. To be clear, HB 40 did not include any language regarding when abortions are performed. Illinoisans expect their elected officials to tell the truth. Rep. Ives is falsely representing a law and misleading voters.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Press release…
The following can be ascribed to Colleen K. Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois:
Seeking the Governor’s office in Illinois, Representative Jeanne Ives seems determined to mislead the electorate. Her campaign’s new radio advertisement ignores the reality that House Bill 40 – passed and signed into law over her objections – simply ensures access to health care (including abortion care) for low-income women and some state workers in Illinois. It did nothing – nothing – to expand or alter when abortion care is legal in our state. She may have opposed the legislation, but she cannot mislead people as to its actual meaning and intent.
Today, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle endorsed JB Pritzker for governor. President Preckwinkle joins U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Secretary of State Jesse White, State Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, and Chicago City Treasurer Kurt Summers in supporting JB’s campaign to defeat Bruce Rauner.
“Toni Preckwinkle has worked tirelessly for Cook County and I’m so proud to have her endorsement,” said JB Pritzker. “From strengthening the county’s healthcare system to reforming its criminal justice system, she has shown a deep commitment to serving the people. While Bruce Rauner slashes funding for critical services and tries to pit communities against each other, I will be Toni’s partner in the work ahead to invest in our communities and lift up Illinois families. I will be a governor who listens, brings people together, and moves our state forward and I am so proud to have Toni Preckwinkle’s support in this campaign.”
“I’ve seen JB’s record and I know what’s in his heart,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “This is a leader who has been there for our communities. From expanding early childhood education and providing school breakfasts to low-income students, to supporting critical organizations like the Center on Wrongful Convictions, the DuSable Museum, and After School Matters, JB has done the real work to build opportunity in our communities. Right now, the only question our community should be asking is who has a record of showing up for us, and I truly believe that JB is that leader.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the ILGOP…
Morning Rich,
Just wanted to flag for you that Toni Preckwinkle has already endorsed Pritzker. See the attached video from WTTW on 10/16/17. It’s a bit disingenuous for them to claim that it’s a new endorsement.
…Adding… The Pritzker campaign accurately points out that they never issued a formal endorsement by Preckwinkle until today.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* Meanwhile, this campaign press release sure makes it look like Biss will get the NASW nod today at 10…
On Wednesday, February 7, Daniel Biss will hold a press conference with the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
WHAT: Press Conference with NASW
WHEN: Wednesday, February 7, 10 - 11 a.m.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
Today, at a press conference in Springfield, the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers announced their endorsement of Daniel Biss and Litesa Wallace for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois.
“We’re proud to endorse Daniel Biss for governor,” said NASW IL Legislative Affairs Director Kyle Hillman. “Social workers have been on the frontlines of the budget crisis, and we know there’s no forgiving Bruce Rauner for the chaos and destruction he’s brought our communities. At the same time, we know many of our problems began before Bruce Rauner: access to care has long been restricted along lines of race, class, and geography, and decades of lawmakers have failed to raise the revenue necessary to secure funding for social services from one year to the next.
“We’re with Daniel because we’ve seen him take on our broken system as he’s led the fight for a progressive income tax and because he has a track record of passing meaningful reforms, such as banning the unscientific and incredibly damaging “conversion therapy” for minors and allowing social workers to be reimbursed by Medicaid. We’re proud to stand with him in this race, just as he’s stood with us for years.”
“I’m proud to receive the endorsement of the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers,” said Daniel Biss. “We’ve collaborated for years to resist Bruce Rauner’s budget cuts and develop policies to support social workers and the families they serve, and I was honored to be chosen as the NASW IL legislator of the year in 2017. However, as proud as I am of the work we’ve done together, I’m also frustrated at how our agenda has been stifled by Bruce Rauner, his budget crisis, and the broken political system he represents. I’m running for governor to change what’s possible—for social workers, and for middle-class and working families all across our state—and looking forward to working with NASW IL in years to come to make our progressive vision a reality.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner has won the endorsement of the Cook County Republican Central Committee over challenger state Rep. Jeanne Ives, just as her campaign has been gaining money and recognition.
Cook County was important in the 2014 Republican governor primary, when Rauner prevailed by more than 27,000 votes over his nearest competitor, then-state Sen. Kirk Dillard. Rauner won the nomination by fewer than 24,000 votes statewide.
Though the county is a Democratic stronghold in statewide elections, it also had the most Republican primary voters in Illinois that year. More than 168,000 people in Cook County voted for a GOP candidate for governor in the 2014 primary. […]
On Tuesday, the Cook County GOP announced Rauner got 66 percent of its endorsement vote to 15 percent for Ives. Its statement didn’t elaborate on the remainder.
“(White)’s totally, he’s totally, you know, uh, he’s Senate material in a way that Emil Jones isn’t, if I may say,” Pritzker says, referring to former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Blagojevich ally who is now serving as a Kennedy surrogate in the 2018 governor’s contest.
“OK,” Blagojevich says.
“I mean, you know. He’s just, I don’t know how to say it exactly, but Emil’s a little more crass,” Pritzker continues.
“He’s been running around the black community talking about all the things he’s gonna do. Blah, blah, blah. … He’s trying to buy the black vote. He’s like a one-eyed jack. But, those tapes show you the other side of his face. This is what he really thinks about black folks,” said Jones, who has endorsed Chris Kennedy for governor.
“What he meant by ‘crass’ is that I’m an uppity black. I fight for my people and, sometimes, that ruffles feathers. What he was saying in comparing me to Jesse White is that Jesse White is a safe black. Jesse White is not gonna do what Emil Jones does. Dr. King was a crass black. Harold Washington was a crass black. It was said in a derogatory manner.” […]
“Look at the other side of his face. The other side of his face is that he does not accept strong black leadership. He likes acceptable blacks who are meek and won’t say anything,” Jones said.
Jones was not impressed when told that Secretary of State Jesse White, City Treasurer Kurt Summers and Aldermen Pat Dowell (3rd), Michael Scott Jr. (24th) and Walter Burnett (27th) all stood with Pritzker on Tuesday as the candidate offered his public apology.
“I expect that from them. They are all safe blacks. A safe black is not gonna challenge or do anything,” Jones said.
“This is a slap in our face, taking our community for granted, playing our community against each other, this is not the kind of leadership we need at this time,” said 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale.
Pritzker had recently been invited to speak at Sweet Holy Spirit Church, but Bishop Larry Trotter has now dis-invited him.
“For Pritzker to refer to (Emil Jones) as ‘crass’ is a slap in the face to every African American in Illinois. Just to think we are six days into Black History Month and a candidate for governor thinks it’s funny to join in on such derogatory discussions about our leaders,” Trotter said.
Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Galia Slayen told me: "We certainly respect Kina’s feelings on this matter and are sad to see her go from the campaign. She was a field organizer."
…Adding… I changed the headline and deleted a tweet because of this…
Organizer who said Pritzker rally who posted on FB postponed, has deleted that post, Pritzker team said "postponement had nothing to do with today" and asks me to take down original tweet, "miscommunication with the venue" #ILGov@JBPritzker (I'd rather hear from the organizer)
JB Prtizker spoke to Jesse White by phone last night, White "is very comfortable with him, good conversation, connecting as friends" but White spokesman won't say if Pritzker apologized after calling White "least offensive" African American choice to replace Obama in Senate
“I think that Jesse has been in politics long enough to know that there is a context for everything, and sometimes that may be bigger than what is obvious,” said Rocco Claps, political director for White’s campaign. https://t.co/55GQ5G5Fly
State Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard), an Ives supporter, says controversial ad should be taken down: "I don’t like the ad. The points made could and should be made in a much less incendiary way … It’s not an ad that really helps to advance the conversation." #twill
That’s at least two legislative Ives supporters who are saying this. Rep. David McSweeney came forward yesterday.
…Adding… I missed this yesterday. Many thanks to a commenter for the link…
Add House Rep. Tom Morrison to the list of pro-Ives Republicans who opposes the ad. "I thought it was jarring. It's not the ad I would run if I was a candidate," Morrison says. Wouldn't say if he would take it off air. https://t.co/7V6jGaYSyj
Ives called her ad a parody of Governor Bruce Rauner’s “Thank You Mike Madigan” ad. […]
Dan Proft, a radio host and conservative strategist who used to work with the Rauner campaign but defected to Ives, defended the ad.
“Not everybody’s tone or sensibility is the same, so people are going to take things differently. But in terms of the veracity of the statements in the ad and the representations, the characterizations of issues and issue positions the governor has taken, that’s all factual,” Proft said.
* After Ives’ speech, Proft was asked by at least three reporters if he wrote the ad. He didn’t answer that question, but he did attempt to explain the ad to Mary Ann Ahern…
* One take I’ve heard a lot about this ad is it probably kills Ives’ chances of winning more than a tiny handful of newspaper endorsements. She might’ve actually received the Trib’s nod, but even though the mother ship hasn’t yet weighed in, it’s tough to see how they can go with her now.
It’s hard to tell who Republican state representative and gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives is going after in a new ad that has mouths dropping across party lines — incumbent Bruce Rauner or anyone in Illinois who doesn’t fit a narrowly defined conventional conservative mold.
In one of the more over-the-top political ads to hit the state’s airwaves in a long time — and that is saying a lot — Ives’s campaign goes for the political throat. While it would be easy to dismiss it simply as sexist, transphobic and slightly bigoted, it just might be a sign of the tone of things to come in a super-heated gubernatorial primary race.
But arguably, the ad speaks most to the conservatives who were already backing her, while turning off moderate Republicans who had been looking for an alternative to Rauner.
Ives continued: “That’s exactly — the fat cat Exelon guy, that’s exactly who he bailed out. Hello. The teacher from Chicago Public Schools, that’s whose pension you just bailed out. The transgender man, that’s exactly what typically a transgender man looks like.”
At that point, an audience member shouted out, “no, it’s not,” to which Ives replied, “with all due respect, look, I’ve had him show up at my door.”
Later, Ives told reporters the she encountered a transgender lawyer when she was in a court battle involving a death threat she’d received in connection with her position on same sex-marriage legislation that passed the General Assembly in 2013. The laywer was representing the person who had allegedly made the death threat and showed up at her door, Ives said.
Attendance at the City Club event was more sparse than many political events hosted by the group. Ives delivered a wide-ranging speech that included her biographical background, policy positions and critique of Rauner.
* The Tribune reports on a Nov. 14, 2008 FBI surveillance recording of a phone conversation between then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and JB Pritzker discussing options for filling President-elect Barack Obama’s US Senate seat…
“I’m sure you thought of this one, but Jesse White,” Pritzker tells Blagojevich. “Even though I know you guys aren’t like, you know, bosom buddies or anything, it covers you on the African-American thing.” […]
Pritzker notes that elevating White to the Senate would open up another appointment for secretary of state, an office coveted for its patronage jobs. “It’d be a lot less pressure on you. You don’t have to put an African-American in that spot,” Pritzker says. […]
“All I would say is I think that there need to be more, you know, people of color that serve in public office,” Pritzker said. “I mean, I think that’s something, I’ve supported a lot of candidates over the years who are people of color and Jesse White’s, I think, a beloved person in the state of Illinois, so I can only imagine that’s what I had in mind.”
Interesting how Pritzker would point out to Blagojevich the immense patronage benefits of elevating White to the Senate and appointing his replacement. It’s not inconceivable that Pritzker could appoint White’s replacement if he wins.
* MAA’s take…
Newly released Blago-Pritzker FBI tapes, @chicagotribune reports @JBPritzker refers to Secy of State Jesse White as "LEAST OFFENSIVE" in discussing African American candidates for open senate seat with Blago #ILGovhttps://t.co/nfkiMvuvRy
In listening to the recording again, it sounds to me that Pritzker’s main goal for this particular conversation was to dissuade Blagojevich from appointing then-Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. to the open seat. Blagojevich and Jackson had been close at one time, but they’d had a huge falling out and Pritzker could’ve saved his breath.
* OK, for this next part, you may have to first click here for some background information on Rev. Wright and click here for background on Bill Ayers. Here’s my transcript of the rest of the tape about possible Senate appointments…
Blagojevich: And how about this one? God, if I knew for sure I wasn’t running again…
Pritzker: Yeah.
Blagojevich: How about Rev. Wright?
Pritzker: Oh, my God! [Both laugh] Bill Ayers!
Blagojevich: How about f-ing sending Rev. Wright there? I’d bet ya he’d take it.
Pritzker: Hilarious.
Blagojevich: Huh? Would that be f-ing funny?
Pritzker: Hilarious. Oh my God. [Both laugh]
Blagojevich: Yeah. [Laughing] Right there on the Senate floor. It’s not ‘God Bless America,’ it’s ‘God Damn America!’
Pritzker: God damn America.
Blagojevich: ‘Well now, when Barack was in Sunday school, I used to tell him’…
Pritzker: That’s funny.
The guy had better get out the checkbook again.
* From Galia Slayen at the Pritzker campaign…
On the same day Bruce Rauner released a new attack ad in the Democratic primary with edited audio of illegally leaked calls, the Chicago Tribune has now released portions of calls they’ve chosen to sit on for nine months. JB has always made clear how much he admires Jesse White and believes he would have made a great Senator for Illinois. Bruce Rauner should spend less time colluding with a newspaper on how to play politics in another party’s primary and more time figuring out how to be in charge and stop failing this state.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rauner campaign…
“The Pritzker campaign must be panicking because now they’re just making things up.”
On Monday, the Chicago Tribune published a never before released recorded phone conversation between J.B. Pritzker and former governor Rod Blagojevich revealing an inappropriate and ongoing conversation regarding Pritzker’s requests to be appointed to office by Blagojevich in 2008, after Barack Obama was elected president.
“The recorded conversations between JB Pritzker and Rod Blagojevich represent everything that’s wrong with the connection between money and power,” said Daniel Biss. “For too long our broken system has allowed the wealthy to have unfettered access to the decision-makers in our government. That’s what breeds corruption. And when that access involves two influential white men making political calculations based on skin color, that’s what perpetuates a racist system.”
“People shouldn’t be reduced to their race,” said Litesa Wallace. “Like anyone else, black people have individual strengths and weaknesses, and none of those are predicated on the color of our skin. When I hear conversations between the rich and powerful that minimize anyone based on race, or gender, or any other characteristic, it reminds me of the work that remains for all of us. We must stop treating people like commodities and build a world where we have co-governance and a true representative democracy.”
“JB Pritzker owes us all an apology,” continued Biss. “What JB said is racially insensitive at best and at worst reveals an attitude that is disrespectful to African Americans. He needs to stop blaming others and take responsibility for his actions, not hide behind statements issued by a campaign spokesperson.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Kennedy campaign…
Ra Joy:
“To hear JB Pritzker say the words ‘least offensive’ to describe black men in America, black elected officials from Illinois, is beyond offensive. We are more than a ‘thing.’ We are leaders, we are voters, we are parents, we are sons and daughters, we are neighbors, and we are trying to overcome generations of racism. Structural inequities make that difficult, if not impossible, and JB Pritzker’s demeaning language unravels the progress we’ve made.”
Chris Kennedy:
“Our true character shows when we think no one is watching. JB’s conversations with Blagojevich are disqualifying and they’re a reflection of his integrity. The language he used to marginalize the African-American community is unacceptable. To use the term ‘least offensive’ to describe anyone, particularly one of our state’s longest-serving African-American leaders, is dismissive and disrespectful. JB Pritzker should apologize instead of blaming others.”
* You’d think Rep. Jeanne Ives would be doing everything she could to get the President involved in her primary. Yeah, it won’t help her in the general election, but you win one election at a time and that new TV ad of hers isn’t gonna help in the general, either. Donald Trump received over a half million primary votes here last year and Rauner consistently dodges questions about him. From the City Club’s question and answer period today…
Question: Rauner distanced himself from President Trump. Is there communication with President Trump for support in your campaign?
Ives: Not that I know of.
Ives went on to say she voted for Trump in the primary and had his sign in her yard.
She also praised Trump’s handling of the military, “and restoring conference in their commander in chief.” She said she had “full confidence” in the President.
*** UPDATE 1 *** As mentioned above, Ives was specifically asked today how she voted in the Republican presidential primary and she said she voted for Trump. Click here for the video clip which was provided by a certain helpful someone who also passed along a link to this press release from March of 2016…
Today, the Cruz for President campaign announced the endorsement of Illinois State Representative Jeanne Ives.
That certain helpful someone also said this: “What happened to ‘I don’t lie cheat or steal or tolerate those that do’?”
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Ives campaign…
Rich,
Jeanne simply misunderstood the question about who she supported in the primary.
She has really only ever been asked if she supported Trump in 2016. For some reason, she is rarely asked about who she supported in the primary.
Not a lie, just a misunderstanding.
Thank you.
Best,
Kathleen
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
* This might make the headlines, however…
Audience member says the transgender depiction in ad was offensive. Ives says it is an "accurate representation." #twill
“What’s so offensive about the ad?” Ives asks, calling it an accurate “visual representation” of the policies Rauner put in place. “The transgender man, that’s typically what a transgender man looks like.” Man in audience says “no it’s not” She says yes, they’ve showed at my door
This began a short back-and-forth exchange between Ives and some members of the audience, with one man saying something like “you ask what’s offensive,” that inaccurate portrayal of a transgender man in a dress is offensive https://t.co/GauN7SYC3s
Told by an audience member that it was, specifically, the representation of the transgender woman in the ad that was offensive, Ives responds: “That is an accurate representation of what the policy looks like on the ground.”
Assessor Joe Berrios started with two Democratic primary opponents, Raila and the well-funded Fritz Kaegi. Not having a woman in the race and a head-to-head primary are most definitely not in Berrios’ best interests.
Raila immediately said she would challenge the ruling, first with the Cook County Electoral Board, and if necessary after that, by filing suit in circuit court.
She and her attorney, Frank Avila, denied there was fraud and accused the hearing officer of bias in favor of Kaegi.
It was Kaegi who pressed the petition challenge against Raila after incumbent Berrios dropped his own challenge.
Kaegi has the backing of much of the Democratic Party’s progressive establishment, including Cook County Clerk David Orr.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Kaegi campaign…
-A Cook County Electoral Board hearing officer concluded on Monday that Assessor candidate Andrea Raila has not met the legal threshold of valid petition signatures to qualify to appear on the March 20 Democratic primary ballot. As such, progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi is preparing to challenge embattled incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios head on.
“The Cook County Electoral Board conducted a professional, thorough and fair process that culminated in the decision this morning, based on what they viewed as ‘clear and convincing evidence,’” said Rebecca Reynolds, campaign manager for Kaegi. “We look forward to continuing to focus squarely on defeating Joe Berrios, because the voters deserve an Assessor who operates fairly, transparently and professionally–and that’s what’s at stake in this election.”
* For whatever reason, the Republican Party decided not to field a candidate in Democrat Dan Lipinski’s 3rd District. And now, a white supremacist is the only GOP candidate on the ballot….
Arthur Jones — an outspoken Holocaust denier, activist anti-Semite and white supremacist — is poised to become the Republican nominee for an Illinois congressional seat representing parts of Chicago and nearby suburbs.
“Well first of all, I’m running for Congress not the chancellor of Germany. All right. To me the Holocaust is what I said it is: It’s an international extortion racket,” Jones told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Indeed, Jones’ website for his latest congressional run includes a section titled “The ‘Holocaust Racket’” where he calls the genocide carried out by the German Nazi regime and collaborators in other nations “the biggest blackest lie in history.”
Jones, 70, a retired insurance agent who lives in suburban Lyons, has unsuccessfully run for elected offices in the Chicago area and Milwaukee since the 1970s. […]
Tim Schneider, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, said in a statement to the Sun-Times, “The Illinois Republican Party and our country have no place for Nazis like Arthur Jones. We strongly oppose his racist views and his candidacy for any public office, including the 3rd Congressional District.”
Most recently, in 2016, Jones ran unopposed on the Republican ballot but was removed for flagrant disregard of the election code. Jones said his candidacy was challenged by members of the Illinois Republican Party, who questioned the legitimacy of his signatures.
In 2017, Jones said he went door-to-door stumping for signatures, and after his paperwork was reviewed, Republicans did not attempt to remove him from the ballot.
“Well, it’s absolutely the best opportunity in my entire political career,” Jones said. “Every time I’ve run it’s been against a Republican who follows this politically correct nonsense. This time they screwed up.” […]
The lack of a GOP challenger means Jones will likely face off against Democratic incumbent Rep. Dan Lipinski or challenger Marie Newman on Nov. 6 in the 3rd District, a traditionally Democratic district.
“I’ll have nine months to campaign for the general election,” Jones said. “I think I have a good chance.”
He will not, however, be reaching out to the Republican president for support. Newsweek quotes Jones as saying he regretted voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, because Trump has “surrounded himself with hordes of Jews.”
* The first outlet to report on Jones’ candidacy was Riverside-Brookfield Landmark back in December…
“If you want to describe my philosophy it’s populist-slash-National Socialist,” Jones said.
Jones said he was a registered Republican, even though he doesn’t consider himself a dedicated follower of any specific political party.
According to Jones, “Donald Trump has come closest to my beliefs, except for his position on the Middle East. I think he made a tragic error in recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It’s going to cause more doggone trouble than he can possibly imagine.”
Jones also criticized incumbent Congressman Danial Lipinski (D-3rd Congressional District) for being too supportive of Israel.
A member of the Nationalist Socialist Party in his younger days, Jones took part in the Nazis’ march on Chicago’s Marquette Park in 1978. While he doesn’t deny nor repudiate his “past affiliations,” he says he votes Republican “90 percent of the time.”
“Philosophically, I’m a National Socialist,” Jones said. “Officially, I don’t belong to any party except my own, the America First Committee.”
Jones hopes three’s a charm after blowing his retirement savings on two prior congressional runs. He hopes to win the Republican primary and go on to challenge Lipinski this November. The 3rd District covers portions of Chicago’s South Side and a large swath of the south suburbs.
Part of the reason he’s jumping in again is what he describes as Lipinski’s strange affiliation with the American Israel Pro Israel Affairs Committee.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Governor Rauner released the following statement regarding Arthur Jones’ candidacy in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District:
“There is no room for Neo Nazis in American politics. I condemn this man in the strongest possible terms.”
* Rep. Jeanne Ives will speak at the City Club today. Click here to watch the live video, which usually starts sometime after noon. If you miss it, you can click here for the club’s video archives.
“When you look at the ad, it’s a policy ad. It’s not a personal attack on Rauner,” she said. “I don’t go after his character or anything like that. It is a policy ad that in a new way takes what he has done and signed into law and puts it into a visual measure.” […]
“I guess the visual was necessary to raise awareness to Republican primary voters that have been asleep for a while. That’s what the ad was about. We needed to still alert Republican primary voters to the policies he put in place,” Ives said at what was billed as a “meet and greet” at Houlihan’s restaurant in Champaign. About 50 people attended.
“Honestly, if they played this in a ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch as a spoof on the worst Republican governor in America, people would laugh at it,” she said.
She said she would not take down the ad, and said that Harold and the others criticizing it “are bought and sold by Gov.Rauner. Rauner is funding Erika’s campaign. Rauner is funding the GOP establishment. That’s all that is. This is all going to die down. You know what? People needed to see the results of his policies.”
Asked how she could attract Democratic voters in a general election by attacking parts of their constituency, she said that “I have Democrats who messaged me and said they liked the ad.
* From John McGlasson, 16th Congressional District Republican State Central Committeeman…
As a member of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, I wish to voice my concern about the Illinois Republican Chairman Tim Schneider taking sides in the primary for governor by objecting to the recent campaign advertisement issued by Representative Jeanne Ives.
It is up to the voters to decide whether this ad is good or bad. In my opinion it addresses important issues in the race. It hits them head on and without ambiguity. The voters deserve to know where the candidates stand in order to make an informed decision when they cast their ballot.
Chairman Schneider’s job is to serve all Republicans and support the eventual nominee.
The bills cited in the video are HB 1785, SB 31, HB 40 and SB 2814. According to polling data, HB 1785 and SB 31 are opposed by a supermajority of Illinois GENERAL election voters. All are opposed by a supermajority of GOP primary voters as they were a supermajority of GOP legislators.
* HB 1785, Transgender Birth Certificates: 6 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it (0 in the Senate). Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
* SB 31, Sanctuary State: 6 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it. Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
* HB 40, Taxpayer-Funding of Abortion: 0 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it. Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
* SB 2814: 27 of 73 House and Senate Republicans voted for it. Ives voted ‘No.’ Rauner signed it.
‘Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girls’ bathroom,’ an actor, dressed as a transgender woman, with a visible five o’clock shadow, said, referring to the House Bill 1785.
In fact, that bill does not refer to bathroom rights but allows transgender people to change the gender on their birth certificates, with a doctor’s approval.
The Republican candidate challenging Gov. Bruce Rauner vowed Sunday to return a financial contribution after a campaign staffer retweeted a supportive message from a Twitter account that also contains Nazi propaganda.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives’ campaign removed the message Sunday from her Twitter feed. Later, it tweeted the following note: “We had a staffer re-tweet this message without realizing who this individual was. It has been removed. We repudiate him. Disavow any endorsement and are returning any contribution.”
The campaign had retweeted a note that read, in part, “I don8d $1k 2 @JeanneIves 2 defeat @BruceRauner in illinois gubernatorial race.” It also said, “luv this campaign ad” and included a link to Ives’ controversial new spot targeting the transgender community and illegal immigrants, among others.
That message came from an account containing anti-Semitic messages and a cover photo of a man holding out his hand in what appeared to be a Nazi salute. The owner of the account could not immediately be reached for comment.
* They’re not yet going after Ives and are sticking to their basic messaging. Press release…
Today, the Rauner campaign launched the latest in the series of ads featuring JB Pritzker and the infamous Rod Blagojevich FBI wiretaps.
JB Pritzker’s voice is not featured in this newest ad, but money talks and Blagojevich was listening. The ad features Blagojevich talking about raising millions of dollars from Pritzker and giving him Barack Obama’s Senate seat in return.
Blagojevich closes the conversation saying, “incidentally [Pritzker] asked me for it. Don’t repeat that.”
Pritzker may claim he did nothing wrong, but Blagojevich’s implications are clear: Pritzker was asking for the Senate seat and could match the price tag.
I don’t think Pritzker asked Blagojevich for the Senate seat. He wanted the treasurer’s job if Alexi Giannoulias got a White House gig as was rumored at the time.
*** UPDATE *** The ad claims the audio is “The unedited FBI wiretap of Rod Blagojevich talking about JB Pritzker.” It’s not unedited. From the full transcript with the quotes used in the Rauner ad highlighted…
BLAGOJEVICH: “501(c)(4) issue advocacy, 10, 15, 20 35 million dollars in an organization like that. But, I, we can get goin’ with an ind-, you know a board that, you know I’m comfortable with and then when I’m no longer governor I go over there. What about that?”
SCOFIELD: “I think it’s worth explorin’.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “I betcha JB can raise me money like that.”
(UI)
BLAGOJEVICH: “For a Senate seat. Huh?”
SCOFIELD: “Yep.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “If I can get JB to do somethin’ like that is it worth, ah, givin’ him the Senate seat?Incidentally, he, he asked me for it. Don’t repeat that.”
SCOFIELD: “He did?”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Yeah.”
SCOFIELD: “Huh. Okay.”
(PAUSE)
SCOFIELD: “Man I don’t know. That’s a hard one to do.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “What’s that? JB?”
SCOFIELD: “Yeah.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Huh?”
SCOFIELD: “Yeah.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Yeah you’re darn right it’s hard. But if you have an organization that, you know you go out and advocate and, and he’ll help fund it by getting some of his billionaire friends to, to invest in it. Huh?”
SCOFIELD: “Tempting.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Um, you, you, look, I really believe you can do more good than just putting Valerie Jarrett there and get nothin’ back.”
[BREAK]
BLAGOJEVICH: “(Sighs) 501(c)(4). How’s that sound to you? $10 million dollars, $15 million dollars.”
SCOFIELD: “Ah, it sounds good to me.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Issue advocacy that will last beyond me bein’ governor. Somethin’ I can work on. Try to do other things. What do you think of that?”
SCOFIELD: “I think it’s a good place to land.”
[PAUSE]
BLAGOJEVICH: “Okay. JB, he can do it, couldn’t he?”
SCOFIELD: “Ah, sure, JB could do it.”
BLAGOJEVICH: “Who knows him, that we know that’s close to him? Mmm, that I don’t know.”
[PAUSE]
SCOFIELD: “I don’t know, Greg from my office knows him, but is not real close to him. But you know I could ask Greg who’s close to him. I can find out.”
[PAUSE]
BLAGOJEVICH: “I mean I don’t wanna be the one to ask somethin’ like that. Alright. No I can find out.”
Election officials in Chicago say the start of early voting is likely to be delayed because of so many candidate ballot challenges.
Early voting is slated to begin statewide [this] week on Thursday.
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen said Friday that with rulings pending on which candidates are going to be on the ballot, voting equipment won’t be programmed, tested and ready for ballots in several languages by Thursday.
Allen declined to offer further details, saying the board would issue more information Monday.
I don’t know if there are more challenges than usual this cycle, but resolutions to these cases do seem to be taking far too long. They went back and forth on Sen. Silverstein’s case so many times I lost count.
We need a better system if we want to start voting this early.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Although Feb. 8, 2018 was the new statutory starting date for Early Voting, there remain ongoing cases involving objections to candidates’ petitions. As a result, ballots are not ready, and the programming and testing of voting equipment cannot be completed by Feb. 8. The Board of Election Commissioners anticipates that balloting systems will be fully tested and available by Feb. 21, if not sooner.
Objections to certain countywide and statewide candidates’ nominating petitions were resolved recently or still are being resolved. Programming and testing of the equipment in the city’s more than 1,000 ballot variations in four languages is still under way.
The Board will update the Early Voting schedule at chicagoelections.com as soon as possible. Any voters who arrive at the Chicago Election Board to use Early Voting in the meantime will be provided with an application to Vote By Mail. Chicago voters also may apply online to Vote By Mail at chicagoelections.com.
* Speaking of challenges…
On Friday, Scott Drury, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, filed his Notice of Appeal, beginning the process of contesting the decision of a Circuit Court of Cook County associate judge who ordered Drury’s name removed from the Democratic ballot for Illinois Attorney General. In the Notice, Drury asks the appellate court to reverse the decision of the circuit court and affirm the original decision of the State Officers Electoral Board which found that Drury’s name should remain on the ballot. Drury also asks the court to order that his name be printed on every ballot issued during the pendency of the appeal in order to avoid any prejudice.
On Friday, Drury also filed an emergency motion to expedite the appeal and stay the circuit court’s order, pending completion of the appeal. In the motion, Drury contends that, absent a stay, a new election may be necessary because of the potential taint of ballots being issued without his name. Drury further contends that a stay is necessary to protect his rights and the rights of voters.
The circuit court’s decision has already begun to wreak havoc on the election process. The Chicago Board of Elections has indicated that it is going to delay the start of early voting, in part, because of the pendency of Drury’s case. “The fact that Mike Madigan would rather taint the election for Illinois’ chief legal officer than have an attorney general he cannot control, demonstrates how little he cares for Illinois residents and how much he cares about his self-preservation,” said Drury.
The appeal and related motions are pending before the Illinois Appellate Court – First Judicial District in Chicago, Illinois. The court has not yet ruled on Drury’s motion.
Drury is being represented by Casey Westover of Reed Smith LLP and Patrick Dwyer, III of Dwyer & Coogan, P.C.
