* President Obama’s trip home to Chicago is prompting all sorts of mischief. For instance, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has posted a new online video starring Alexi Giannoulias, the beneficiary of an Obama fundraiser today. Watch it…
Script…
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Let me be clear, bankers don’t need another vote in the United States Senate.
VOICEOVER: You all remember my associate Alexi Giannoulias, yes? He’s been a great banker for the mob, for the borgata. Shady loans to Tony Rezko and “Jaws” Giorango.
VOICEOVER: But Alexi’s not doing so hot these days, boss.
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s not paying taxes …
CHYRON: “Wealthy Giannoulias paid no taxes last year” Chicago Tribune, Clout St Blog, 7/2/10
VOICEOVER: … but wants to raise them on the people of Illinois.
GIANNOULIAS: “I have said from day one that we need an income tax increase.”
CHYRON: BUT … “we need an income tax increase”?
VOICEOVER: Eh, Al Capone would be impressed, if you catch my drift.
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s family’s bank was seized by the Feds
CHYRON: “Giannoulias Bank Seized” Politico, 4/23/10
VOICEOVER: And he lost $150 million after gambling kids’ college savings.
CHYRON: Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias … “On Whose Watch The $150 Million Was Lost” Chicago Business Crain’s Blog, 4/5/10
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s screwing up, but Illinois voters are who’s paying the price.
VOICEOVER: Now he thinks some suits from Washington, D.C. can bail him out with fundraisers?
CHYRON: “Obama To Headline Giannoulias Fundraiser In Chicago,” Chicago Sun-Times, 7/19/10
VOICEOVER: Alexi’s going to need a lot more than a few transactions to get out of this one.
CHYRON: Alexi Giannoulias: The Mob Banker Wants A Bailout
* Yesterday was the president’s birthday, so the RNC put up a website to “help” people wish him the best. My personal favorite card…
“[The president’s fundraising] seems a bit out of touch with the average, ordinary American citizen who is currently cutting back. This seems precisely the kind of decadence this administration and particularly President Obama has criticized against,” Schock said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday.
Yep. We don’t want anyone to be decadently out of touch with ordinary Americans. Oh. Wait. Nevermind…
* Speaking of Schock, Bernie asked him about his participation in Right Nation 2010. As I’ve already told you, Glenn Beck and Andrew Breitbart will be featured speakers…
During the call, I asked Schock if he agrees with Beck that Obama is a racist. I also asked if his appearance with Beck, Breitbart and others means Schock sees himself as more conservative than his apparently moderate image.
“Well, I don’t agree with Mr. Beck’s comments,” Schock said.
And as for the strong-right bent to the event, he said, he wasn’t aware of what it was called.
He’s going to an event with Glenn Beck and Andrew Breitbart and doesn’t know what it’s called? Really?
* And while we’re kinda sorta talking about the US Senate race, since Giannoulias is raking in some much-needed cash today, this article from Public Policy Polling is an interesting read…
In 12 of the 13 US Senate races we have polled in the last two months the GOP candidate is actually losing moderate voters by a wider margin than John McCain did in 2008.
The only exception to that rule is Illinois Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias, who has had to battle attacks on his ethics, and leads Mark Kirk only 33-27 among moderates.
In all the rest of the races we’ve polled the GOP candidate trailed by at least 21 points with moderates, and the average comes out to 27 points.
