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JRyan to McKenna: Answer questions or withdraw from race

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Illinois

* Jim Ryan and Joe Birkett are holding a presser about Andy McKenna. Watch it live and, if you’d like, live-blog in comments…

* Birkett claims that Andy McKenna “refused” to ask questions posed to him by the state GOP during the party’s internal investigation of McKenna’s ordering a statewide poll that included his name. Birkett also wants the party to release the transcript of the interview and accuses McKenna of trying to “buy” the election and ducking questions, which he says means that the Democratic Party will “eat him alive” in the fall.

* “Who actually is Andy McKenna?” Jim Ryan asks rhetorically. “Why shouldn’t Andy McKenna not be held accountable?… It’s not fair to Illinois voters… It’s not something that should be brushed over lightly… I want to know what there is about Andy McKenna other than his money… He doesn’t show up, he doesn’t answer questions… He doesn’t even answer questions from (the state GOP’s) ethics committee…. Voters have been fooled before and we’ve got to move on… If Andy McKenna won’t answer any questions, if he won’t answer your questions, then he should step aside…. We’ve had enough of this in our state.”

* Ryan was asked whether this controversy makes it impossible for him to endorse McKenna if he wins the primary. “Well, it’s problematic,” he said. That really undercuts his demand that McKenna fess up or withdraw.

* The feed has conked out. But, what was available is saved, so you can replay the whole thing if you like.

***********

* And here’s your roundup…

* Dillard has crucial edge — best field operation — Edgar says

* Grasping for a lead, Republicans in governor’s race debate their records

* State Sen. Dillard is best choice in strong GOP field

* Sangamon County GOP endorses Dillard for governor

* Is Kirk Dillard the New Dede Scozzafava?

* Dillard says he has skills to be governor

* Dillard gets $25,000 from IUOE Local 150

* Dillard Fundraising Sprints During Home Stretch

* Shame on Kirk Dillard for showing even a hint of bi-partisanship!

* IR Correction: Dillard not endorsed by IL Federation for Life

* Andrzejewski on FOX News Freedom Watch with Judge Napolitano

* Andrzejewski adds endorsements from Danklefson and Verastegui

* McKenna aims to fix problems in Springfield

* McKenna pulling away from crowded GOP field

* Brady hoping for large downstate turnout

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 10:55 am

Comments

Camp Ryan, if there is such a thing, is clearly in full panic mode. That is what you get for not doing anything till the last 2 weeks.

Comment by Gordon Shumway Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:03 am
>>>”the Democratic Party will “eat him alive” in the fall.”

Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:13 am
This sounds like trying to make a forest fire from a rock and a twig, 2 guys complaining they didn’t get to sit at the popular kids table.

Comment by shore Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:13 am
Sounds pretty whiny.

Comment by Whatever Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:14 am
ryan and birkett- these two jamoches deserve each other and to sit in a jail cell that they try to send innocent people to all the time. wah wah wah.

Comment by redbyrd Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:18 am
Actually, Ryan is the one who will get “eaten alive” in the fall — can’t raise money, doesn’t campaign, and doesn’t have a message.

Comment by Silly Season Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:23 am
Ryan must not like his poll numbers. Having wrote that

McKenna is the rich version of Blagojevich. Like Blagojevich, McKenna is a well-scrubbed greaseball who will ignore ethics and lie to everyone to get what he, his family and their rich friends want - control of Illinois government.

The Blagojevich/McKenna campaign strategy:
Tell lies and keep telling lies until people believe the lies. Do not EVER be honest.

Then go and hide.

Comment by Joe from Joliet Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:23 am
I know many of you must know him much better and much longer than I, but I would rate Jim Ryan’s personal integrity and sincerity as impeccable.

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:25 am
BrickHeadJoe and jimRyan….We knew we could count on you….First OutsiderAndy valet, StateWideTom, burns down the bridge to the NRA over a house district he is destined to lose….Now Brick & jimRyan boost OneLinerDan
grat move guys

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:25 am
On Sunday night after the Saints/Vikings game ended and the news came on the sound was off where I was at but the video showed a press conference with Jim Ryan and Joe Birkett. I don’t know what they were discussing that day but all I thought to myself was Rolando Cruz/Nicarico. Doesn’t Jim Ryan have anyone else he could trot out to be his attack dog that doesn’t remind everyone of the worst moments of his career?

Comment by Scooby Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:28 am
We don’t question that, Steve. We question Ryan’s electability in a general election. We don’t see it.

Comment by Joe from Joliet Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:32 am
Joe, speak for yourself, please.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:32 am
Considering Jim Ryan did his best to put an innocent man on death row TWICE, he’s got a lot of nerve throwing stones at anyone else re accountability.

Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:40 am
Jim Ryan’s past has already been vetted and hashed. You know what you are getting and frankly he has still been successful regardless of some of these issues.

Ryan makes a good point. Like himself, McKenna has not been vetted. You want to be Governor face the music. Slick ads are misleading. Blago proved that to all of us. What is he hiding by not taking questions from the third rail? The third rail should be pinning him down on the avoidance and get some answers. Go go work guys!!

Comment by A matter of trust Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:42 am
for a party in the toilet, electability is less of a concern than leadership and vision. the chicago press corps is an urban and liberal focused bunch, therefore they focus more attention and devote more ink to jeans day hogwash than this sort of thing.

I would be interested to know if there’s a publicly availed number on mckenna’s net worth so we know how much money he has for the general.

Comment by shore Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:42 am
==McKenna is a well-scrubbed greaseball==

On behalf of all greaseballs everywhere I strongly object to this slur!

Comment by Bill Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:42 am
Speaking of leadership, had a chat about that today with a guy on the train, a friend of mine. Who commented he had caught the debate on the radio and said the candidates were taking shots at McKenna.

I asked if McKenna responded and he said so since he wasn’t at the debate.

I then explained the campaign and tactical logic behind that… My buddy commented.

But it doesn’t show leadership and that is what we need right now.

If McKenna wins the primary he will not be able to ad and bunker down against Hynes or Quinn.

It’s time to step up Andy.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:53 am
=====Birkett also wants the party to release the transcript of the interview and accuses McKenna of trying to “buy” the election=====

Since when is the GOP worried about elections being bought? Especially after the Supreme Court’s ruling last week. I thought they believed money was speech.

Comment by Highland, IL Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 11:57 am
After the Rolando Cruz debacle, I dunno if Ryan and Birkett should get too moralistic — when Cruz’ lawyers asked what they knew about Brian Dorgan, I don’t recall that they were a lot more forthcoming than McKenna.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:02 pm
While I think Ryan was on message and is absolutely correct in what he said, he appears to be just a grumpy, old man with no vision for the future. There is no optimism. And optimism is what we need right now. And for awhile that was something that Pat Quinn provided. It is such a shame that both parties are going to field the worst possible candidates:
Hynes v McKenna

Comment by Heartless Libertarian Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:16 pm
Ryan couldn’t even beat Blagojevich or Burris…

Comment by Jerry Vachaparambil Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:18 pm
I try not to comment on intra-GOP stuff. Not my thing, but…

If McKenna actions were the subject of an investigation and he refused to answer questions, does that mean McKenna invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination?

I know judges and juries aren’t supposed to draw negative inferences from people invoking their rights against self-incrimination, but I think GOP donors and voters can draw a negative inference from a party chairman who refuses to answer questions about how the money was spent.

McKenna has two major weaknesses as a general election candidate.

1. Large sections of the GOP base revile the guy. Enough people hate McKenna that it seems more likely than not these people will put a candidate on the ballot under some other party label. I don’t see how McKenna can win with a chunk of the base supporting a Constitution Party candidate or a Libertarian.

2. McKenna sucks at interviews. He neither conveys passion nor connects with his audience. While he might be able to buy his way through the primaries with TV commercials while he skips candidate forums, it’s hard to imagine this working in the general election.

I don’t know which Republican is the strongest candidate, but IMO McKenna is the weakest.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:21 pm
There is just something about Andy McKenna that makes my skin crawl. I would rather have Kirk Dillard. McKenna has a millionaires Whimsy to be governor of Illinois, he was a failure as state party chairman, he was a failure as a senate candidate, and will be a failure as a governors candidate.

Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:43 pm
The best thing that could happen to McKenna is Hynes winning the Dem primary.

Two “Trust Fund Babies” who are both boring and would be nowhere without their Daddies’ coattails, connections, and bucks.

I revile McKenna as much as anyone because of his contempt for the GOP rank and file (but not as much as Roesser and friends), but I’d certainly support him and probably volunteer for him against Quinn or Hynes.

He’d be the lesser of two real “evils”.

Comment by PalosParkBob Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 12:55 pm
Hey “Moving to OK”….I agree with the McKenna skin crawl…but with his poll numbers - looks like its just the two of us. My skin crawl started with the voice on McKenna’s earlier radio commercials - it reminded me of the narrator for “The Grinch.” “You’re mean one, Andy McKenna….” Bwahhaaaa. Looks like we’ll all be reading about “The McKenna” who bought the election.

Comment by washedmyhands Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 1:30 pm
washedmyhands - did you know that the Grinch singer is also the guy who did the voice for Tony the Tiger (Frosted Flakes)? Maybe McKenna supporters just like Flakes. Ahem.

Comment by Anon 3:50 Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 3:50 pm
OK - how’s this…?

Ryan and the other GOP candidates needed to have taken McKenna to task a month ago when this issue was unveiled. How in the world could these candidates remain silent as their worse party chairman pretended to be an outsider and pretended to be gubernatorial material, is beyond me. McKenna needed to have been exposed for what he is, (a failure), before he quit.

Now that they didn’t do that, Ryan, Dillard and the rest of the bunch should start telling the public that if McKenna was still the party chair, then he would have been fired for his unethical behavior.

If the GOP candidates were embarrassed to bring up the fact that McKenna was one of the worse GOP chairmen in it’s history, then they should at least raise the GOP’s standard by claiming that McKenna would have been removed for his behavior. That way, they can enhance the profile of their party and start painting McKenna in a harsher light.

Better?

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 5:04 pm
Carl, McKenna certainly seems to get a lot of self-proclaimed “conservatives” agitated.

As far as I can tell, his family has been bedrock GOP for generations. And if he wins the GOP primary with, say, 20% — how big are those who opposed him? Not too.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 5:42 pm
wordslinger — I will avoid the obvious response to your bedrock for generations and just suggest you do a search on his dad’s political donations.

Even if they are beadrock (heck if his last name is Lincoln) the guys is nothing but commercials and ‘I wont raise taxes’. Anyone who avoids this many forums and debates during a primary isn’t the right guy for November.

We are going to have to take this fight to the Democrats. I can’t see Andy standing up to Mike Madigan, can you?

Even our other Rich guys in general (Jack Ryan for example seemed to have some ideas and issues they felt strongly about and could project a fire for). Heck even Oberweis (who gets a lot of flack here, mostly deserved) could do the one on one with someone and sell a vegetarian a Double Quarter Pounder.

Andy does nothing to stir people to do anything.

The bunker strategy does not work unless you are running against a hump.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 5:58 pm
===Even our other Rich guys ===

Use a small “r” please. I consider myself a solidly working class union member. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 5:59 pm
OneMan, put it this way: if McKenna wins a GOP primary with about 20% of the vote, those who lost to him aren’t exactly Big Heat.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 6:12 pm
Birkett claims that Andy McKenna “refused” to {ask} questions posed to him

Huh?

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Jan 28, 10 @ 8:24 pm