* First she gets Chance the Rapper’s endorsement and now this…
Could be fun to watch this one. And you also gotta wonder if the progressive candidate will be under any pressure to return a big contribution from President Trump’s most visible African-American supporter.
That donation is the exact amount in fines Enyia faces from the Illinois State Board of Elections for failing to properly file quarterly finance reports in connection with her 2015 campaign for mayor, the Chicago Tribune reported last week. Enyia dropped her bid for mayor four years ago after the petition signatures she collected to appear on the ballot were challenged.
However, Enyia never closed her campaign account and was fined by state election officials for not filing quarterly campaign finance reports as required by law.
County Commissioner Stanley Moore, who has endorsed County Board President Toni Preckwinkle for mayor, said Enyia’s decision to accept West’s donation opens up a whole new line of questioning.
“If you accept money from a person like Kanye West, are you also endorsing his stance on Donald Trump?” Moore said.
“Kanye West has made comments in the past about slavery being the slave’s fault. He has talked about abolishing the 13th amendment. This opens the door for Amara to answer questions about whether or not she is embracing these same philosophies. Is she embracing Trump’s policies that hurt African-Americans?”
Enyia did not return phone calls.
Enyia hasn’t answer my e-mailed question, either.
* Related…
* Laura Washington: Young black leaders cool their heels because ‘elders’ won’t move on
I definitely think there will be a change in leadership of the party after Rauner loses
After he loses?
* Ives appeared on NewsTalk 97.1 FM this afternoon and the host said “It seems as though the Republican Party in the state of Illinois is in a massive amount of disarray right now.” Ives’ response…
Oh, no doubt. You have Republicans all over the place… The Republican Party is in complete disarray. Let’s face it, Rauner is going to lose, in my estimation.
“Bruce Rauner spent months cozying up to Donald Trump and adopting his policies, but in the end, he has just wasted time trying to win back a base that wants nothing to do with him,” said DPI Statewide Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner’s lies and failures have proven too much for Jeanne Ives, Allen Skillicorn, and conservative voters across the state to forgive. As Rauner closes out his failed campaign, Republicans are already planning for a future that doesn’t include him.”
Governor Bruce Rauner takes some opposition to a Facebook video posted by his Democratic election opponent JB Pritzker that essentially paints President Donald Trump and Rauner with the same brush.
The video in part refers to Trump as a “misogynist” — and Rauner as Trump’s “local silent partner.” Rauner tells WGIL he’s no “silent partner” — but that doesn’t mean he’s completely anti-Trump.
When asked the percentage of blacks and Latinos working on his campaign or in his administration, Rauner said he didn’t have a figure. Instead, he said rather than focusing on staff, “it’s results for families.”
“I don’t know the exact number. In our campaign we’ve got African-American members of our campaign. We have Latino members. I don’t know the exact numbers,” he said. “Our administration has (a) huge number and I’ve appointed many African-Americans to key boards, key leadership positions in our departments and many Latinos as well.”
* WBEZ took a look at the claimed “huge number” of minorities in his administration…
The vast majority of Rauner’s appointees to state boards, commissions, and task forces were white, while men far outnumber women in those panels. In the three years ending June 30, Rauner made nearly 1,200 such appointments. His picks for those posts were 73 percent white, 10 percent black, 6 percent Hispanic, and 3 percent Asian. No race was given for 7 percent of the Rauner appointees.
Women made up 36 percent of Rauner’s appointees to state board, commission, and task force positions in the last three years.
At the 38 state agencies under Rauner’s control, 30 of Rauner’s department heads are white, four are black, two are Hispanic, and two are Asian. Twenty-seven are men, and 11 are women.
As of July 1, 2017, the people of Illinois were 61.3 percent white, 17.3 Hispanic, 14.6 percent black, and 5.7 percent Asian, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The problem here is that this Rauner info is only available because of a recent state law. So, there’s no way to easily compare Rauner’s hiring/appointment record to his predecessors’ records. Maybe it’s a good record in comparison, maybe it’s not. We just don’t know.
…Adding… DPI Executive Director Christian Mitchell…
No one should be shocked by Bruce Rauner’s failure to build a diverse administration. Despite Rauner’s Trumpian claim that he’s done more for the black community than ‘any other governor,’ Rauner has completely failed communities of color. Rauner referred to Chicago teachers as illiterate, and schools for minority children as ‘crumbling prisons.’ Rauner replaced nearly his entire senior staff with members of a right-wing think tank who commissioned a cartoon that both Republicans and Democrats condemned as racist. And Rauner’s two-year budget crisis led to cuts TO CeaseFire, child care programs, and education that hurt minority communities. Rauner’s embrace of Trumpian policies is a direct insult to Illinois women, Latinos, African-Americans, and anyone who sees Illinois’ diversity as a strength. This report is merely proof of a fact that Illinoisans already know: Bruce Rauner has failed every community in this state, and none more profoundly than communities of color.
* Rauner was also pressed on the number of minorities in high-level campaign positions by Mike Flannery…
FLANNERY: Let me ask you. Your opponent’s been caught up in controversy about alleged discrimination and racial issues on his staff. How many senior staff in your campaign are African American?
RAUNER: We have many African Americans on our staff. We have many Latinos.
FLANNERY: But not in senior positions.
RAUNER: “Well, we have Rhonda, and a number are very senior. Chauncey’s senior. We have many Latinos. The issue though, Mike, is not staff, it’s policy to drive results.
Rhonda Brown is a consultant and Chauncey Colquitt is his minority outreach person (Colquitt is allied with Maze Jackson). I’m not sure if that qualifies as “senior” staff.
* Meanwhile…
Today, the Rauner campaign is launching a new digital video highlighting JB Pritzker’s pattern of racial discrimination. The video features the news that broke last week that the Pritzker campaign is being sued by its own staff alleging a “cesspool of racial discrimination.” The video then cuts to Pritzker’s conversation with disgraced ex-governor Rod Blagojevich calling Jesse White the “least offensive” African American.
The lawsuit follows a recent IG report stating Pritzker committed a “scheme to defraud” taxpayers and Pritzker’s previous attempts to buy political office from Rod Blagojevich. It’s clear that JB Pritzker lacks the character and integrity to be governor.
Hi, I’m Juliana Stratton, and I’m running for lieutenant governor with JB Pritzker.
I think about my dad who marched in Selma, and it was a March that was really to bring attention to the fact that so many blacks in the south did not have access to the ballot.
If I’m elected, I will be the first ever black lieutenant governor in Illinois history, and when I think about that, it’s an awesome responsibility. I just think about how but for people like my dad and so many others who marched and fought and raised their voices, some of whom even lost their lives, so that I could be a candidate.
I see this as a tremendous opportunity for all people. All people that have often been marginalized. All people who have not been recognized and acknowledged as important voices in our state.
Again, this is Juliana Stratton. Please don’t miss this opportunity to have your voice heard. Make sure you vote.
* As you already know, President Donald Trump is campaigning in southern Illinois this weekend for Congressman Mike Bost.
From Bost’s Democratic opponent…
“On Friday, as speculation around President Trump’s visit began to swirl, the City of Murphysboro issued a water boil order for parts of the city and thousands of acres of farmland near the Len Small levee flooded again,” said Brendan Kelly, candidate for Illinois’ 12th Congressional District. “Mike Bost and his donors control the House, the Senate, and the White House, and still there is no farm bill and no infrastructure bill. Unlike Mike Bost, I will work with any President and members of any party to help Southern Illinois. I welcome the President’s visit so he can see for himself how little Mike Bost has done for Southern Illinois after 35 years in office.
* Gov. Rauner avoided the president the last time he visited Illinois. So this is what we’re going to talk about here…
Rauner says he hopes “to be able to join the president” when Trump comes to Murphysboro on Saturday: “I look forward to getting together with the president if we can - talk about trade, talk about immigration and some of the other policies that are very important for Illinois.” pic.twitter.com/A1LXymrmi4
* The Question: Is the governor’s apparent decision to campaign with the president in southern Illinois a good idea or a bad idea? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Just 15 days ahead of Election Day, Bruce Rauner is hoping to “join the president” in Murphysboro during his visit this Saturday.
Despite still shying away from saying Donald Trump’s name, the failed governor seems to recognize Trump’s -22 net approval rating in Illinois is higher than Rauner’s dismal -37 net approval rating.
“Illinoisans are disgusted by Donald Trump, but Bruce Rauner is so desperate that he’s begging Trump for a photo-op just weeks before the election,” said Pritzker campaign spokesman Jason Rubin. “This is a Hail Mary from a failed governor willing to abandon Illinois families and communities to try and save his flailing campaign.”
* WGN’s Tahman Bradley took a look at some of the more “extreme” candidates running as Republicans in Illinois this year. Here’s one…
In Illinois House District 51, local Republicans chose Helene Miller Walsh to fill the vacant seat. She’s married to conservative firebrand Joe Walsh, a former congressman. Helene Walsh, like her husband, has expressed controversial views, some of which were reportedly posted on Facebook.
“I don’t even know what hate speech is,” Walsh said at a recent League of Women Voters candidate forum. “You’re allowed to say whatever you want in this country. … That’s called free speech.”
When asked whether Walsh represents the values of Illinois Republicans, Schneider said, “The Illinois Republican Party does not put pressure on from the top down. We let the local legislators choose their individuals in those races.”
Saying “I don’t even know what hate speech is,” is kinda like saying “The Mafia doesn’t exist.”
Also, state-level Republicans don’t put pressure on locals when it comes to legislative appointments? Really? That’s a laughably false assertion.
* Anyway, back to Rep. Walsh, who campaigned in Vernon Hills with Gov. Rauner and comptroller candidate Darlene Senger over the weekend…
…Adding… That’s Republican House candidate Ken Idstein just behind Rauner. Idstein is a candidate backed by Dan Proft. Because of Idstein’s tight relationship to Proft, the House Republicans are staying out of the race.
The current and former staffers suing the @JBPritzker campaign plan to hold a press conference tomorrow morning. As of tonight, their attorneys still haven't served the campaign, which limits their ability to seek a swift dismissal in court: Our latest: https://t.co/tluzW4XDUc
I checked this morning and the Pritzker campaign has still not been served.
* Pritzker’s field staff gets Mondays off, so some of them are using that time to hold a press conference this morning. But the press conference was organized about as well as the lawsuit. Two reporters told me that the advisory went out just a few minutes before the presser was about to begin at 2925 S. Wabash, which isn’t all that close to most reporters…
I’m told that there’s a press conference starting right now at the office of the attorney representing the @JBPritzker staffers who accuse the campaign of racism and retaliation. Also told that this text exchange from last week to high-level JB staffer will be in a press packet. pic.twitter.com/yHoKthdp1m
The fact is, there is no basis for the accusations being made. Everything about the way this has been handled, from the threat to sue unless a $7.5 million dollar payment was made to the fact that their lawyer seems far more interested in conducting interviews and holding press conferences than even serving necessary papers that would allow the case to be dismissed, tell you all you need to know. JB and Juliana are proud of the diverse and inclusive campaign they are running.
I’ll let you know what happens.
…Adding… I forgot to include the WMAQ TV story from Friday evening which featured three former Pritzker staffers. Weirdly enough, not one of them made any new allegations, so I’m not sure what the heck that was supposed to be about. Click here to watch it yourself.
Pritzker campaign workers suing over alleged racial discrimination raise their hands to show who still works for the campaign. They did not give details but say the lawsuit is not politically motivated @ABC7Chicago pic.twitter.com/21GcmNaiuX
…Adding… During the press conference, plaintiff Maxwell Little says he sent two specific complaints to headquarters. The Pritzker campaign says that never happened.
The campaign for Democrat J.B. Pritzker is threatening to file a countersuit for defamation after 10 current and former campaign staffers accused the campaign of racial discrimination.
The campaign is eager to file a motion to dismiss, but has no way to pursue that path until the other party serves them with the lawsuit, which officially allows the case to proceed. […]
At the time of this publishing, plaintiff attorneys Shay Allen and Jeanette Samuels have not served the Pritzker campaign with the complaint. The case cannot begin until the defendant has been served. […]
Meanwhile, Allen and his co-counsel have conducted roughly a dozen media interviews and have scheduled a press conference for Monday, October 22nd, which is 15 days before the upcoming election.
Likewise, it has come to the Campaign’s attention that at least one of your clients left work early one day asserting that she was feeling unwell when, in fact, she then made at least one press appearance.
By the way, during Maxwell’s interview of Shay Allen, the lawyer said one of the reasons his clients sued was because job openings were not made publicly available to campaign workers. That’s kinda bizarre.
Democratic attorney general candidate Kwame Raoul on Friday said he wouldn’t judge a federal civil rights lawsuit recently filed against governor candidate J.B. Pritzker’s campaign, but also called it “shoddily drafted.” […]
Jeanette Samuels, an attorney representing the staffers, said in an email, “We respectfully disagree with State Senator Raoul’s characterization and wish him the best of luck on his campaign.”
Sen. Raoul is right. The lawsuit is without a doubt shoddily written.
Shay T. Allen (5th subcircuit): A solo practitioner, Allen was found not qualified by all three bar groups mainly for his short career and lack of experience. The Chicago Bar Association also mentioned problems with punctuality. Allen declined to comment on his evaluations through his attorney, Jim Doppke.
Allen also has a beef against him at the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
*** UPDATE *** I’m told two of these staffers were let go after the primary, and the third is the one who quit after Pritzker’s “least offensive” quote came out during the primary…
In a memo obtained by the Daily Egyptian, Carbondale City Manager Gary Williams said to city council members President Trump could potentially be holding a rally in Carbondale on Oct. 27.
“Our PD was contacted on Monday from the US Secret Service (SSA) to inform us that President Trump is interested in having a political rally in Carbondale on 10/27,” Williams said in the memo. “Although these conversations were preliminary, it sounded to us that there was a decent chance that the event could happen.”
I checked around earlier and was told he’s planning to hold a rally for Congressman Mike Bost. President Trump traveled to Granite City in July for a rally with Bost and US Rep. Rodney Davis. Gov. Rauner noticeably skipped that event. He also didn’t attend Vice President Pence’s rally in Springfield this month.
U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is scheduled to visit World Wide Technology next week during a campaign stop for U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis.
Ryan plans to take a tour of the facility on Tuesday afternoon and discuss the tax reform signed into law last year.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…
U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced that President Donald Trump plans to visit Southern Illinois for a campaign rally on Saturday, October 27.
Individuals and media outlets planning to attend, visit HERE for more information.
“I’m honored to have the president visit Southern Illinois,” said Bost. “President Trump enjoys wide support in Southern Illinois for good reason. I’ve worked with him to bring 800 steel jobs back in Granite City, reform the VA, and give working families a $2200 tax cut.”
WHO: Rep. Mike Bost, President Donald Trump
WHAT: Campaign Rally
WHERE: Southern Illinois Airport
Hangar 6
605 Flightline Road
Murphysboro, IL 62966
WHEN: Saturday, October 27, 7:00 pm (CDT)
DOORS OPEN 4:00PM (CDT)
