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* Treasurer Dan Rutherford was asked by a reporter today what he would say when asked by his Republican colleagues at the Republican National Convention in Tampa about his home state. Would Rutherford tell them he was embarrassed? His response…

* Transcript…

“I’m not embarrassed for Illinois. This is a great state. I love Illinois. It’s a great place to raise a family. It’s a good place to have a business - we can do things differently to make it better, but it’s a good place to have a business. Quality of life, we’ve got ourselves a transportation system, a good education system… there’s a lot of wonderful attributes of Illinois.

“So, when I go down to Tampa and I talk to my other colleagues and they talk about Illinois, the problem in Illinois isn’t Illinois. The problem in Illinois is the elected government that we have. That’s the problem we have here in Illinois. And so when I tell them I say ‘Keep the faith,’ Illinois can turn itself around. We can turn ourselves around.

“Illinois can be a much better place, and we can go out and change our government and bring in leadership that is ready to stand up and exercise the tough love that’s necessary in this capital city.

“And as I said earlier, it’s time for the politicians to sit down and the statesmen to stand up.”

Discuss.

[Video via BlueRoomStream.com]

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:34 pm

Comments

“And as I said earlier, it’s time for the politicians to sit down and the statesmen to stand up.”

….so Dan, where is your chair?

Comment by GreatPlainser Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:37 pm
Politicians sit down, eh? Ironic coming from a twenty year politician who never seems to stop campaigning. I just hope pongee is kept safe from the hurricane.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:38 pm
I’ll give credit to Rutherford for a classy statement.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:39 pm
Nailed it. Great response. People are tired of politicians piling on to softball questions like that. Dan rose above it and gave a genuine response. One which i happen to completely agree with. Great Plainser, do you disagree with what he said, or was that just a joke?

Comment by anon Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:40 pm
I agree with the substance of what he said. I just don’t think he is the person to achieve that goal. As was pointed out he is a 20yr politician with good charisma but little in the way of credibility on changing things. As Treasurer we here him defend this or that little tweak in his office. The question is does he do what he does for the better of the office or does Dan really want to be Governor?

Comment by GreatPlainser Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:45 pm
Great response by Mr. Rutherford. Sadly, he’ll be raked over the coals for saying the obvious.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:48 pm
===Sadly, he’ll be raked over the coals for saying the obvious. ===

By both sides, I imagine.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:50 pm
=== ===Sadly, he’ll be raked over the coals for saying the obvious. ===

By both sides, I imagine.===

I give Dan a difficult time often, but this is spot on, and 100% agree both sides will not be pleased and will ding him for it.

Well done Dan. In Illinois, if “both” sides find issue with an HONEST, TRUTHFUL statement, then you are on the right track.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:53 pm
An excellent response for a beauty pageant contestant.

Comment by Esquire Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 1:58 pm
In roughly 6 months, Dan will tag the following on to the end of that speech: “…and I am that statesman.”

And, he might have a lot of supporters in the last two years of his long run for Gov.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 2:04 pm
Like it, would have been easy for him to toss the easy hit.
Again it is going to attract some snark, but just like everyone who has been around for a while there are some haters and some fans and each will react in their own way.

Comment by OneMan Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 2:19 pm
Good on you, Rutherford.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 2:35 pm
As a Democrat, I’m heartened to hear a member of the “loyal opposition” issue a statement that doesn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater by taking cheap shots at Illinois and its voters. I’m sick and tired of the Civic Committee and the Trib treating Illinoisans like they’re stupid and making Illinois sound like such a horrible place to live and do business that I’m not sure why - if you read their rhetoric - one would even consider our state’s fiscal health worth saving. Why not just move out of state already? No, kudos to the Treasurer for showing some class and some loyalty to his state.

Comment by Yossarian Lives Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 2:57 pm
I think Rutherford will be tough to beat in the GOP ‘14 primary. He’s doing a good job of positioning, and his current job gives him great opportunities to raise profile statewide. He’s also got a savvy, active press staff. Dan, we shall meet at Phiippi…

Comment by soccermom Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 2:59 pm
Classy statement, but I wish he would heed his own advice sometimes.

Comment by Jorge Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:07 pm
Nice words by Rutherford, but I am strugging to come up with five people in IL politics that I would consider to be statesman or woman.
Good QOTD.

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:09 pm
It is so easy to be cynical in this state, and give into the need to yell…I am glad to see a brief(?) spasm of fair commentary. I am a reformed talk radio listener. Say what you will, the big names are DIVIDERS - no money to be made in real fairness. We need to quit enabling these creatures, all screaming in the name of America, principle, virtue, etc.. . Use your own head/mind, and you’ll be rewarded. Peace out….

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:12 pm
Nice work, Dan. Seriously.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:21 pm
When asked what he would say about Illinois at the GOP convention state party chair Brady turned off the lights, put a flashlight just below his chin and said

“Mike Madigan is going to come to your house and eat all of your snack foods, buahhhhhh”

Comment by OneMan Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:22 pm
OneMan: LOL! And on that note, I’m outta here.

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:30 pm
statesmen don’t run around the state trying to get attention with goofy car names, do videos like that in camo colored shirts, pull stunts like that slide video, and it goes on and on.

Mark Kirk fits the bill, we are counting the hours to his return.

Comment by Shore Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:36 pm
Dan handled the question well, he should be the spokesman for the ILGOP. Dan is obvious a career politician so the politician vs. statesman line was over the top. But I do believe he has the best interests of Illinois at heart and not just the best interests of the ILGOP.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 3:37 pm
He needs to ride around with Rich Miller’s father in an Obamamobile.

Comment by Steve Bartin Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 4:11 pm
Dude, it’s the Obamalac, and the stickers came off a long time ago.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 4:23 pm
I just had a vision: When the politicians sit down, and the statesmen stand up, the man who stands on his chair is king…

Comment by soccermom Friday, Aug 24, 12 @ 5:32 pm