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*** UPDATE *** Bill Brady is doing an eight-city fly-around today and trying to focus on the budget and the economy…
Republican nominee for Illinois governor Bill Brady says he will try to appeal to voters on fiscal issues when they don’t share his conservative viewpoint on social issues.
Brady says he’s heard from people who disagree with his opposition to abortion who say they’ll support him because he has a state budget plan.
OK, well, let’s see that plan in all its glory.
After the beating he took in the Statehouse press room last week, Brady is avoiding Springfield on today’s fly-around.
[ *** End of Update *** ]
* Bill Brady stuck closely to the script during a recent appearance on ABC7’s morning show. He kept his focus on the budget deficit and the economy, even when the hosts tried to bait him on Pat Quinn’s claim that he’s an extremist right-winger.
“We don’t have the luxury of focusing on social issues in this election,” Brady said.
The full ABC7 interview is here, but I’ve clipped the most pertinent section for you. Watch it…
* That appearance will hearten the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board, which wants a much greater focus on jobs and the budget mess…
For the Republicans and their nominee, this ought to be a golden moment. The next governor’s challenges could not be more obvious or pronounced: Illinois is an ethical cesspool and flat broke. Voters don’t need to be reminded which party has been running things. All they want is a candidate to offer them a way out.
So where’s Brady? Off in the weeds — introducing legislation to ban civil unions and to allow mass euthanization of dogs; spouting off about teaching creationism in schools; shooting himself in the foot at a news conference meant to show that he’s tough on felons. His public statements about how to balance the state budget, meanwhile, make it clear he has no real plan to do that.
This is the guy who’s supposed to save Illinois? […]
Mr. Brady, you are at grave risk of making Quinn look like the more competent candidate in this race.
If you want to be governor, you’ll have to show that you know what’s wrong with Illinois, and that you know how to fix it.
On that same topic, here’s the state GOP chairman…
“Everybody is focused on fiscal and economically responsible issues. Those are the issues that people care about, jobs and fiscal issues, so there is no real right or left in those, just right or wrong,” said Pat Brady, Illinois Republican chairman.
Yes, the economy and the budget are Number One, but he won’t be able to completely avoid answering social questions forever.
* Good point…
“Each party has now nominated the candidate the other party most wanted to run against,” said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Of the major candidates, that’s certainly right. This campaign is gonna be a race to the bottom. It’ll be a question of who is the scariest and most inept. There’s a hint of that in the Tribune story…
Brady also has opposed some government transparency efforts, including requiring campaign contributors to list their occupations, and he said adopting detailed federal-style statements of economic interest for public officials would be “a little bit of an overreaction.”
His business interests will be examined with a fine-tooth comb. Bet on it.
* Related…
* GOP candidate says he will focus on job creation
* Major statewide campaigns off to shaky starts
* GOP gubernatorial race officially ends
* Budget debate gives Brady, Quinn chance to spar
* Numbers tell the story in Brady’s primary victory: Three other races in February’s primary saw the nominee win by a slimmer vote margin than in the GOP [gubernatorial] race. But less than 450 total votes were cast in each of those races.
* Brady isn’t first area GOP gubernatorial candidate
* Brady to thank state supporters on flyaround
* Anti-Gay Gubernatorial Candidate Captures Ill. GOP Primary
* Dillard: Veteran politician likely to be back in spotlight
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:01 am
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“We don’t have the luxury of focusing on social issues in this election,” Brady said.
How many times do you think he’s been told that the past few weeks? Of course, he brought all the other stuff up himself.
If Brady is swearing off social issues until AFTER the election (they’ll be back, apparently), that leaves him plenty of time to flesh out the details of his amazing budget balancing plan. Months and months and months.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:09 am
I keep reminding giddy Democrats that it’s only March. There’s plenty of time for him to right the ship. Then it becomes a challenge of goading him into saying something fresh that’s stupid.
We’ll see.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:16 am
I just don’t buy Brady’s argument that we can only afford to focus on the budget in this election. We elect a goveror to serve over a period of four years to deal with all issues, not just one. While Brady is to the extreme right, and Quinn is to the slight left of most Illinois voters, on balance, they are much closer to Quinn on the overwhelming majority of issues. Brayd may try to partition of one issue that he thinks will benefit him, but people understand, I think, that you can’t partition off issues in life. You deal with life altogether, with whatever issues confront you.
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:30 am
The best thing Brady has going for him is Quinn and vice versa. This is a race based upon whose handlers do the best job of keeping their less than stellar candidates in check.
Comment by Crystal Clear Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:34 am
In my mind, this election is about the horribly corrupt, horribly incompetent Blagojevich/Quinn years. I hope our ol’ buddy Blago gets his wish and has his trial delayed - until a week after Labor Day so it is on full boil during the Fall campaign.
Quinn will have another do-nothing session to paper-over as well. Even tho he has not been elected governor, by Fall he will have been governor for two legislative sessions. And nothing substantive to show for it.
Comment by Joe from Joliet Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:38 am
Crystal, you’re dead on. I think this election is best likened to the quiet game we play with our kids. The first one to talk loses.
If either can stop talking until November, that should do the trick.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:40 am
I don’t view Brady as “extreme right”. I don’t view Pat Quinn as “extreme left”. I believe both characterizations are extremely disingenuous. Both men are off the center.
I thought Quinn’s “canyon” stump speech was fairly spot-on. He’s right: Brady and Quinn are very different. If voters can’t see that, I have lost even more hope.
Comment by Team Sleep Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:54 am
Agree with your description, he is on message. Fiscal issues are the problem of the incumbent and the more that the campaign is about the state budget and Quinn’s efforts to raise taxes, the better chance Brady gives himself to win.
Now if I were Pat Quinn’s Karl Rove . . . does he have one? What would I do? I would go directly at the budget, try to take the issue away from Brady and make him afraid to talk about his cuts. Looks like Cullerton and the SDEMs are the hatchet.
The longer they are in Springfield the more that the SDEMS can give Brady’s budget ideas a good beating. Finally! Something the Republicans and Democrats can agree up on - let’s end session as quickly as possible.
Comment by siriusly Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:00 am
===Pat Quinn’s Karl Rove . . . does he have one? ===
His campaign staff is currently comprised of a brand new spokeswoman and her assistant. He still has his consultants, I assume.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:06 am
His campaign staff is currently comprised of a brand new spokeswoman and her assistant. He still has his consultants, I assume.
————
At least he realized he needed a new campaign staff after that primary,
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:17 am
Pat has no Karl Rove because Pat doesn’t think anyone is smarter than he is on this stuff.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:20 am
So BilltheBuilder wants to ignore social issues in the campaign….that means he will implement the right wing, tinfoil helmet stuff at the Inauguration.
Hope no one falls for that stuff.
BTW anyone else wonder where the LilLumberJack was today. Any update on abandoning the agreed bill process?
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:29 am
Pat has no Karl Rove because Pat doesn’t think anyone is smarter than he is on this stuff.
——————-
It used to be that when he had a big decision to make, he would assemble a council of sages, ktichen cabinet, whatever you want to call it. If he’s not doing that anymore, he is making a mistake. He never relied on any one person (like a Karl Rove). Frankly, I don’t think he or any decent government official should rely on only one person. They need several.
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:37 am
Well of course you’re right about that Niles Twp when it comes to governing.
But when it comes to campaign strategy, as a Dem - I would feel more comfortable knowing that he had a wartime concigliere. If it’s one person or a group - so be it. Make no mistake he desperately needs rock solid guidance, candidates who love the process of policy development like Pat Quinn does should not be trusted to their own campaign instincts.
Comment by siriusly Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:48 am
What Brady Needs To Do
Brady needs to start telling people that Illinois is bankrupt. He needs to start demanding that the Illinois Democrats give voters a more accurate picture regarding the fiscal crisis. He can, at least, continue to demand we discuss where we are now, and how we got here.
When he is asked how he would fix it, he should respond that until all the cards are on the table, he couldn’t give a complete answer yet. Point out that he doesn’t want to raise taxes, and believes there is waste and fraud to eliminate through cuts first, but can’t give a complete answer until Quinn and the Democrats stop playing number games and start being honest with Illinoisans regarding the State’s bankrupsy.
Then continue complaining about how bankrupted we are and demanding more information from the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office.
Every time Brady is stuck with a tough question, he needs to do an Obama, and say that the question being asked isn’t as important at this time than the questions he is asking of Quinn.
What Quinn Has To Do
Quinn has to paint a happy face on every town he visits. He has to demonstrate how he is bring jobs to Illinois, and how the economic is coming back. He has to champion Illinois to Illinoisans. He has to take the high road, while Brady takes the low. Voters want to be optimistic and want to like Quinn.
When Brady starts to demand more answers from Quinn and the Democrats, Quinn needs to remind votes that Brady has been in the State Senate for years, and knows the answers already.
Brady has to win by telling voters he is unafraid of seeing what Illinoisans currently see in our fiscal mismanagement.
Quinn has to win by telling voters he is ready to lead the State as we go through these tough economic times.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 11:50 am
Brady’s campaign is Xeroxing the McDonnell Playbook from Virginia. Very socially conservative, but plays all of that down during the election.
And then some of McDonnell’s first executive actions were ordering removals of state protections for gays and lesbian employees.
Comment by Served Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 12:33 pm
Chicago Cynic, Pat Quinn has David Axelrod. Quinn has Daley too, which reinforces the David Axelrod connection.
If you are of the view, as am I am, that Karl Rove is much better than Alexrod so far as political strategist/strategy are concnerned, then for once you and i agree on something. Karl Rove is a political strategy genius!!!!!!! Axelrod can’t hold a candle to Rove. But to suggest, as you appear to be, that Quinn has no one to give him advice or counsel, is flat out wrong on your part.
VM ,I agree with you.
Bill Brady, you need to run as a populist fiscal conservative and taxpayer watchdog. That is your winning message/strategy. Quinn and Vaught are pushing $2billion in cuts, which isn’t much. they could and should be pushing much more than that. the quinn administration has serious bloat, ain’t that the chicago dem way, though?
Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 12:37 pm
sorry, siriusly brought up Karl Rove on the thread first. so some of my comments are directed to siriusly too.
Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 12:39 pm
Um. Okay. So you’re breaking the news here that David Axelrod is leaving the White House to help run Quinn’s campaign? Mayor Daley is helping him? Wow, that’s news. I think Daley likes Quinn and will help him if he can, but he’s gearing up for his own race - he hardly can be the one to offer strategy advice to Quinn.
Did you just assume that all Chicago Democrats hang out together and always help each other?
I was hardly extolling the virtues of Karl Rove in my original post. In fact I compared him to a mafia battle-czar.
The point I was making was that Quinn doesn’t have a top political strategy advisor. IMHO he needs one.
Comment by siriusly Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 1:04 pm
Senator Brady was on WGN AM this morning and said that the solution to the economic woes can be found in Wal Mart. In fact, he falsely stated that Wal Mart, Target, and Meijer stores are banned in Chicago. While I will concede that Wal Mart has had a difficult time breaking into Chicago, there are plenty of Target stores here. (I wont even go into why I believe that Wal Mart is detrimental to the economy right now). This is the kind of dishonest pandering that we get from politicians so often, and it causes voters to lose faith in their elected officials. at lest Pat tells it like it is. Brady is trying to take your eyes off the fact that he is a right wing extremist by telling you that he will save the economy by increasing Wal Mart’s footprint on Chicago and throughout the state.
Pathetic.
Comment by Anon Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 1:21 pm
What’s strong about Brady’s message if he doesn’t have a plan to cut spending?
It’s just stupid in a different way than his puppy gas chamber bill.
Hold on! I’ve got it. Brady says cutting taxes by $1 billion will increase revenue by $3 billion.
Fixing this budget thing might be easy, so easy the eggheads and do-gooders can’t see the obvious.
If Illinois cut taxes by $4 billion this will generate $12 billion in new revenue. Problem solved.
Now, about those excess puppies…
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:03 pm
Served: Actually McDonnell’s non discrimination policy applies to everyone.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/02/gov-bob-mcdonnells-chief-of-staff-outlines-non-discrimination-policy.php?page=1
Comment by Brennan Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:08 pm
You obviously don’t realize how badly Chicago is shooting itself in the foot by keeping market competition out of the city.
If Walmart was allowed to function in Chicago as it does in the rest of the world, (I’m assuming that Communist China is more free market than Chicago), there would be thousands of more employed Chicagoans than there are now.
And Chicagoans would be paying 20% less for the food and other products as well. Every Walmart store upends their neighborhood’s buying patterns with their strategies and low prices. Just like Montgomery Wards did in Chicago, a century ago. Just like Sears and Roebuck did in Chicago, a century ago. Just like other catalog companies did in Chicago, a century ago.
But then, Chicago was the home of the Catalog Stores, and we rocked the US market to it’s knees and had to have wheelbarrows to move the money that was made, humongous warehouses and factories to fill with goods and employees, and office buildings to administer all that power. See that big building named the “Willis Tower”? The free market, Chicago-style, built that with money coming in from every wallet in America.
Not anymore.
Listen, Walmart is not for me. But it is for millions of hard working folks who can’t make ends meet. Having a free market was good enough for Chicago one hundred years ago, when it was a booming global city - why isn’t having a free market good enough for Chicago now?
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:15 pm
=In fact, he falsely stated that Wal Mart, Target, and Meijer stores are banned in Chicago. While I will concede that Wal Mart has had a difficult time breaking into Chicago, there are plenty of Target stores here.=
Anon @ 1:21PM: Brady said “there is a prohibition on building” and then listed Wal-Mart, Target, and Meijer. This is an accurate statement.
The interview with Greg Jarrett is here.
Comment by Brennan Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:16 pm
===Quinn has to paint a happy face on every town he visits. He has to demonstrate how he is bring jobs to Illinois, and how the economic is coming back. He has to champion Illinois to Illinoisans. He has to take the high road, while Brady takes the low. Voters want to be optimistic and want to like Quinn.===
I don’t think all the people who are out of work or getting ready to get laid off (or their family members) because of Quinn’s miss-management of state government are going to believe any of that.
Comment by Dnstateanon Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:18 pm
===The free market, Chicago-style, built that with money coming in from every wallet in America===
VM, the city of Chicago gave Sears the entire city lot to construct the tower. That’s a heck of a public subsidy you’ve left out of your free market equation. Unless that’s what you meant by Chicago-style.
And yes, Walmart’s low grocery prices will surely help consumers save some pennies, but it will cost Chicago all of the better paying jobs at Jewel.
We’d simply be trading good paying jobs for not-as-good paying jobs. And Walmart will need to bus in its part-timers from the hinterland because at those wages, their employees won’t be able to live in Chicago.
I can see why Brady is all for opening up Chicago to Walmart. I’m sure they’ve done wonders for the Bloomington economy.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:32 pm
VM, didn’t a Walmart already open in Chicago? Is there real world data to show that this Walmart improved the overall economic climate of the area?
Claims that one thing will fix for economic problems usually neglect some detail.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:37 pm
Anon,
you want to talk about dishonest and pandering politicians???
let’s tak about quinn who only a few scant years ago opposed the building of the Wal-Mart on Chicago’s west side (indeed, bill brady please study up on and research the wal mart in chicago issue because you’re facts are in error).
He (pat quinn) who claims to be a friend to black people, as per his WVON debate against hynes, tried to deprive them of jobs? particularly the ones who needed jobs the most—the poor and undereducated ones. Alderman Mitts has has spoken repeatedly about the west side wal mart has spurred economic development in her west side ward. quinn sided with the greedy unions at that time to deprive the poorest of the poor from getting some opportunity to be economically indepedent, will he again?
he’s the same person who told front-line state workers just last year that some job was better than none. this was when he was trying to get AFSCME and others to go along with furloughs and pay freezes etc. meanwhile his patronage hires got $70K + jobs will the current state government generous benefits.
nevertheless i believe that same principle of some job is better than no job applies with respect to wal mart. therefore i guess quinn will support the proposed wal mart on the south side in brookins ward.
i am pleased that bill brady understands this and understands that illinois needs economic development by offering a welcoming environment that will entice businesses to come to illinois in the first place. too bad it took quinn so long to understand this basic concept?
Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:45 pm
When I mentioned to my wife that at one point Brady opposed requiring insurance company’s to cover mammograms, she replied “that’s it, I don’t need to hear anymore.” I think there are A LOT of women who will react the same way.
Comment by paddyrollingstone Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:53 pm
[…] Today, Rich Miller, grudgingly notices that Brady is consistently talking about the budget and economy, but can’t resist linking to an article claiming “Anti-Gay Gubernatorial Candidate Captures Ill. GOP Primary”. Brady is purportedly anti-gay because he supported a bill that would allow practices such as allowing the Catholic Church discretion in NOT hiring transexual high school teachers (“outside of the mainstream” per the article…transexual hires are mainstream). […]
Pingback by Our Media Plays “Gotcha” Games while Our State Melts Down | Chicago Daily Observer Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 2:54 pm
Eric Zorn today on Brady’s extreme voting record and a presser tomorrow on that very topic:
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2010/03/extreme.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chicagotribune%2Fchangeofsubject+%28Chicago+Tribune+-+Change+of+Subject%29#
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 3:46 pm
“Chicago Cynic, Pat Quinn has David Axelrod. Quinn has Daley too, which reinforces the David Axelrod connection.”
WCW, once again you have demonstrated that you frequently have little clue what you’re talking about. David Axelrod has nothing to do with Pat Quinn. And Mayor Daley also has little use for PQ. Don’t believe me, check the latest post on the blog about Daley ripping him a new one.
Giving you maximum benefit of the doubt, perhaps you’re thinking about Axelrod’s FORMER firm being PQ’s media firm. The firm is AKPD and the A is for Axelrod who has NOTHING to do with what’s going on at that firm. In case you hadn’t noticed, he’s got way bigger fish to fry than PQ.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 4:48 pm
cc & siriusly:
during the primary quinn was pleased as punch, for obvious reasons, to have the media point out that he and axelrod are “close personal freinds.”
i never stated nor suggested anything about axelrod leaving the white house to help quinn. axelrod can stay in the WH and still help quinn by giving him advice,as a “close personal friend” can’t he? if not, why?
do you think he wants to see a “close personal friend” lose? and/or see illinois, obama’ and his home state, fall any more republican in addition to obama’s old senate seat?
now, i ask you both again, why wouldn’t axelrod help quinn out? or why would you think it inconceiveable that axelrod would help quinn out?
Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 5:20 pm
–Brady needs to start telling people that Illinois is bankrupt. He needs to start demanding that the Illinois Democrats give voters a more accurate picture regarding the fiscal crisis–
It’s $13 billion, what do you need to know? Is it a secret?
VMan, Hannity has the job already, they’re not hiring any more for this nonsense. Too bad. There are obviously a number who think there’s a demand for stupid.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 6:53 pm
WCW - Why would he is the better question.
Quinn matters little to President Obama.
Again your statement that Quinn has “Axelrod and Daley helping him” is just ridiculous. He needs someone.
Comment by siriusly Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 7:03 pm
Thank goodness BillTheBuilder did bash Ameren rate hike, We know the path to fiscal purity is for the utilities, predatory lenders,insurance and others special interests to remain fat so they can pour a few thousand $Ks into BTB coffers mucho pronto. Great move team!
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 8:46 pm
siriusly,
you should not have assumed or jumped to the conclusion that my post necessarily meant that axelrod and daley would (stop what they are presently doing to) run quinn’s campaign. i wrote nothing like that , nor did i suggest anything like that. that you assumed that is your fault.
Comment by Will County Woman Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:43 pm
Siriusly, please don’t feed the WCW. Just skip over whatever ridiculous comment is posted under that handle. If we ignore her, maybe she will go away.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 8, 10 @ 10:54 pm
Sorry WCW. But you clearly don’t know a thing about how campaigns actually work. 47 is right. Enough said.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Mar 9, 10 @ 12:28 am