Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Griffin lashes out at critic

Posted in:

Illinois

* Greg Hinz chimed in on billionaire Ken Griffin’s controversial speech from earlier this week. We talked about the speech yesterday, so click here if you need to get up to speed.

Hinz wrote Griffin “displayed the kind of arrogance that only comes from a corporate CEO who is used to firing off orders and having them fulfilled,” and warned Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner to avoid similar rhetorical excess…

The arguable frontrunner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination comes out of the same “I’m the boss” mold as Mr. Griffin, and in speeches is wont to say some of the same things about how unions are evil and only rich people know what’s right. That will not help him beat a Democrat in November 2014.

* Well, Griffin penned a response to Hinz’s piece…

“(It’s) amazing that you can write something so full of petty malice against me, without (a) either proposing better alternatives or (b) being better informed,” Mr. Griffin emails me. “We are FAILING OUR CHILDREN. CONDEMNING them to a life of poverty and crime.”

“I have been involved in the matters of public education for over a decade,” he continues. “I was one of the largest contributors (if not the largest contributor) to Democrats for Educational Reform in Chicago. I have committed countless resource(s) to help secure a brighter future for our city’s children. And you have the audacity to attack me for caring?”

His conclusion: “Kudos to you for helping persuade other executives not to speak out. Why don’t you just send them the directions to move their businesses and jobs to Texas while you’re at it.”

Poor guy.

* By the way, Griffin also said this during his speech…

Griffin said “the greatest mistake” of his career was not foreseeing the financial crisis. He said every bank would have failed had the government not intervened.

“We were losing hundreds of millions of dollars a week, if not more,” Griffin said. “CNBC parked a van in front of Citadel waiting to break the story of our demise. … We sold assets. We closed business lines. We let people go. We suspended redemptions. Our management team absorbed $500 million in costs on behalf of our investors, to demonstrate our commitment to the business and our belief in the future. And each day we bought one more day. And day by day, we bought ourselves a future.”

According to news reports, Citadel received $200 million via the federal government’s bailout of AIG.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:11 am

Comments

If you cant handle a little criticism from Mr. Hinz then stay out of the public arena…

Comment by Abe the Babe Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:18 am
I would just like to invite Mr. Griffin to go…um…take a flying leap.

Comment by jerry 101 Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:18 am
Hallelujah, the Job Creators (all peace be upon them) are here to tell us how the world works.

Let us clear our hearts and our minds and absorb the gospel from one who clearly is touched by God, for in His beneficience, Mr. Griffen has been showered with gifts, both financial and intellectual.

Comment by Colossus Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:23 am
Yes, Griffin may have his faults. But Hinz still is the left-wing’s version of Kass.

Comment by phocion Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:24 am
Poor little rich boy.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:26 am
===According to news reports, Citadel received $200 million via the federal government’s bailout of AIG.===

How does Griffin square this fact with his comment berating individual companies taking government tax incentives? Not that i expected a lot of consistency with him…

Comment by Abe the Babe Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:28 am
===“I was one of the largest contributors (if not the largest contributor) to Democrats for Educational Reform in Chicago.===

Wonder if Bruce Rauner contributed to … Democrats …For Education Reform.

Question: Is a “bailout” getting a “handout”? Was “Citadel” on that slideshow?

Dope.

If I were running against Rauner, be it in the Primary or the General, the more Bruce Rauner tries to push this narrative, with the Hypocricy in one breath, and pushing unrealistic expectations of how to run government in another breath, I would try to get him in front of as many voters as possible. No one can make Bruce Rauner look hypoctical more … than Bruce Rauner.

Plus, denying at least ONE child the opportunity to go to Payton Prep, as Bruce Rauner clouts his daughter, who was DENIED entrance once, speaks volumes to a complete lack of character that Bruce Rauner has.

Keep talking Griffin and Rauner. You are doing more “hurt” than “help”, and you don’t even know it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:28 am
=== “We are FAILING OUR CHILDREN. CONDEMNING them to a life of poverty and crime.” ===

And what is his solution for that? Tax cuts and demolishing teacher unions?

All we need to do is unleash the magical powers of the free market and everyone can be a billionaire just like Ken Griffin.

If not, well that just proves you are lazy and we can write you off.

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:30 am
Not only a CEO but a CEO with a thin skin.

“move their businesses and jobs to Texas”

Ah yes–more of the ‘makers’ pointing fingers at the ‘takers’ while making sure they ‘take’ what they feel they are owed.

Comment by train111 Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:34 am
Hinz hit one thing on the head. Griffin is DEFINITELY arrogant. He is the poster child for the sterotype that people apply to corporate CEO’s.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:34 am
–According to news reports, Citadel received $200 million via the federal government’s bailout of AIG. –

Will someone get the government off this guy’s back, please?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:36 am
As a successful hedge fund manager, Ken Griffin is probably angry that his “investments” in Rahm Emmanuel and Democrats for Educational Reform in Chicago (DFER) have shown a lackluster return, thus far.

Comment by Bill White Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:42 am
===”…Why don’t you just send them the directions to move their businesses and jobs to Texas while you’re at it.”===

Ususally if a commenter here says something this Dopey, we ignore them, ask them when they are planning to leave, or even if they plan on “Firing Madigan”.

With Griffin, its just fun thinking about his “little world” and how we all fit in to humor him. I hope Griffin becomes a surrogate for Rauner full-time and “talks tright from the hip” until my sides hurt.

Move to Texas, that’s fun!

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:43 am
But……don’t only rich people know what’s right? Having more in your pocket sure seems to make some of them experts on just about everything. But interestingly enough, they don’t want to DONATE any of it to help out—they want to order YOU to give yours.

Comment by Anonymous 1 Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:46 am
Rich,

FYI: I don’t see a hyperlink associated with “click here if you need to get up to speed”

– MrJM

p.s. I am not a crank!

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:48 am
all billionares are bad unless they are the pritzkers, right? you genius’s on this wall are just too smart for me…..

Comment by warhed Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:49 am
It amazes me how these billionaire’s talk about crime and poverty, but I don’t see them contributing a large portion of their wealth and bonuses to the state government to help stop it and you know they sure don’t live in an area where it is the most prevalent. What would he have done if he had foreseen the financial crisis? Grabbed all his money and run.

Comment by Challenger Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:51 am
all billionares are bad unless they are the pritzkers, right? you genius’s on this wall are just too smart for me….

Congratulations! Everything about your post’s grammar and spelling confirms your conclusion.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:52 am
==all billionares are bad unless they are the pritzkers, right?==

No, the pritzkers are bad too.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:52 am
A thin-skinned billionaire! Who woulda thunk it?

Comment by reformer Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:56 am
–all billionares are bad unless they are the pritzkers, right? you genius’s on this wall are just too smart for me…..–

Nice strawman. Where, oh where, have you seen the statement “all billionaires are bad” or anything about the Pritzkers?

But your use of “genius’s” (whatever that is or is supposed to mean) does support the second part of your statement.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 9:56 am
If Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin were to do a “Duet”… it might be … this…

KEN GRIFFIN
What do the simple folk do
To help them escape when they’re blue?
The Waiter who is ailing, the Waitress who is glum
The Cabbie who is wailing from hailing of thumbs
When they’re beset and besieged
The folk not noblessly obliged
However do they manage to shed their weary lot?
Oh, what do simple folk do we do not?

BRUCE RAUNER
I have been informed by those who know them well
They find relief in quite a clever way
When they’re sorely pressed, they whistle for a spell
And whistling seems to brighten up their day
And that’s what simple folk do
So they say

KEN GRIFFIN
They whistle?

RAUNER
So they say

(they whistle for a while)

GRIFFIN
What else do the simple folk do
To pluck up the heart and get through?
The wee folk and the grown folk
Who wander to and fro
Have ways known to their own folk
We “Hedge” folk don’t know
When all the doldrums begin
What keeps each of them in his skin?
What ancient native custom provides the needed glow?
Oh, what do simple folk do?
Do you know?

RAUNER
Once, upon the road, I came upon a lad
Singing in a voice three times his size
When I asked him why, he told me he was sad
And singing always made his spirits rise
And that’s what simple folk do
I surmise

GRIFFIN
They sing?

RAUNER
I surmise

BOTH
(They sing and point ach each other and laugh!)

RAUNER
They sit… and wonder…. what the “Hedge” folk would do

And that’s… what simple folk… do

GUENEVERE
(spoken)
Oh, no, really?

ARTHUR
I have it on the best authority.

BOTH
(sung)
Yes, that\’s what simple folk do

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:00 am
Everyone on here is complaining about the AIG money. While I think AIG should not have been bailed out, the moeny was given to them to pay out their obligations. When the IL state government gets bailed out, are we all going to complain about the companies that fight to get their obligations paid back?

Comment by The New Guy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:03 am
– When the IL state government gets bailed out, are we all going to complain about the companies that fight to get their obligations paid back?–

LOL, make sure to bring that up when it happens. Watch out for the flying pigs, though.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:09 am
What is the evidence Griffin is any more informed on education policy than your average teacher or activist?

Does the media think Griffin is better informed than dozens of education academics in the Chicago area?

Does Griffin thinks he knows more than people who work in the field and study it?

It seems that Griffin and the media think he should be listened to because he’s rich.

The way I see it, we listen to rich people too much. And when it comes to public policy, rich people are a stopped clock. Every policy prescription is one more idea to transfer wealth from the 99% to the 1%. Just like Griffin’s ideas to privatize public education.

We are ruled by rich people who are lazy. Rather than use their capital to produce new goods and services they want to take over the services government provides and inject themselves as “investors” so they can get a guaranteed rate of return *with no risk*.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:13 am
Way to walk into that one man…

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:16 am
Comment of the Day (Maybe the Week): Colossus @ 9:23.

Well played, sir or m’am!

Comment by Northsider Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:17 am
Willy, where do you get the time? I mean I know the song is from My Fair Lady, but still, nicely creative and funny edits. Still I always wonder when I see your prolific posting, where do you get the time.

Oh, and I don’t want to defend Griffin, but I agree with him to a point about Hinz. He loves to tear down with every fiber of his being - it’s what he does. Seen if for years and years. I’m tired of the act. It is possible to be probing and smart without being an ass. Rich does it. Greg can’t.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:22 am
Thanks to the non-crank for pointing out my omission.

It’s been a rough morning.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:24 am
Pretty amazing stuff. In just a few years, those who are wealthy have gone from being admired to reviled.

So as Bill Maher is fond of saying on his HBO Show: NEW RULES for Rich People:

Rich people should be seen but not heard. Rich people should contribute tons of money to candidates and causes, but not be heard.

Rich people should hire everyone at wages well above the minimum, but not be heard. Rich people should give up all their money and move into monasteries, and not be heard.

Rich people, including those self-made (shudder!) types, are too stupid and dumb to advocate certain positions in the field of education, and should not be heard.

Leave the subject of education to all those brilliant administrators, educators and unions who have been running them for decades. As a whole, administrators, educators and unions have performed admirably to the point where Illinois collectively has the best public schools in the nation, in the world, in the galaxy for crying out loud! Look at all the envious people who are unable to enroll their children in the Chicago Public School System, and other Illinois schools that rival their results!

So Rich People seeking public office: Shut up already! Just write out checks!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:33 am
===
How does Griffin square this fact with his comment berating individual companies taking government tax incentives?
===

As others have pointed out, I believe the payouts to companies via the bailout of AIG was simply restoring what they were owed based on the policies they purchased. It would be akin to an Illinois state vendor being owed money by Illinois, and Illinois getting bailed out so they can pay off the vendors. I agree with others that pigs will fly before Illinois gets bailed out, but if you want an AIG/Citadel comparison, that’s a good one.

Large companies getting sweetheart tax deals by Illinois, on the other hand, is not an emergency situation, nor were they owed the lower tax rates initially. They are special carve-outs, plain and simple. The worst part is, the state needs to make up that revenue somehow, which means that everybody else needs to make up the difference. And the lion’s share of employers in this state aren’t major well connected corporations. In aggregate, it’s companies of 1-200 people—the exact kind of companies that don’t have the political juice to get the tax breaks.

===
It amazes me how these billionaire’s talk about crime and poverty, but I don’t see them contributing a large portion of their wealth and bonuses to the state government to help stop it…
===

Perhaps that’s because they don’t believe that throwing a ton of money at state government as it’s currently structured will solve the problem. Illinois government is a dysfunctional money pit. We should all know that by now, no matter what our differences might be in suggested policy prescriptions

I agree with a lot of what Griffin is saying here. That being said, he is definitely coming off as an arrogant jackass about it. Strong rhetoric is one thing, but condescending rhetoric is quite another. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. He’s hurting his cause more than helping when he makes comments like these.

Comment by John Galt Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:49 am
My big mistake was not dumping the Citadel shares I received when Disney spun off ABC radio. Fortunately Griffin’s mismanagement’s cost to me was minor compared to those who lost their jobs.

Comment by Jack Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:56 am
It’s hard to pull of the Chris Christie approach without the jowls.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:59 am
@ Northsider: I try. Thanks for making my day.

Comment by Colossus Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 11:00 am
- Chicago Cynic -,

It was from “Camelot”, and you would be surprised that doing two things at once, especially if you ave loads, and loads, and LOADS of computer screen time, you can do a great many things at the same time.

To the Post,

I am not angry, upset, or anything others say about this “Rich/Poor” dynamic in regards to Ken Griffin or Bruce Rauner.

The truth of the matter is that their complete lack of understanding of how others perceive them is based on how they see life, government, and even business through the prism of their money, and with that in mind, they have made statements and done specific things based on the hubris of their money making whatever is done, or said, fine for them, but wrong for everyone else, and they, (Griffin and Rauner) are oblivious how that is seen by others.

It;s one thing to be Rich and have thoughtful commments, and its another to be wealthy, and feel the need to lecture one thing, and live your private and professional life against the image you WANT people to have of you.

“What do the simple folk do?” …My daughter can’t get into Payotn Prep becuase I don’t live in Chicago and was already denied once? What do the simple folk do? They call Arne Duncan, Buy a condo in Chicago, and “clout” her in.

“And that’s .. what the simple … folk …do.”

As for the $200 Million from AIG …”What do the simple businesses do?”

Both of thier PERSONAL hubris, and then thinking about throwing it out there and COMPLAINING about being called on it.

Yikes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 11:00 am
Willy is updating one of the best songs from Camelot, not My Fair Lady. Thanks for the Vanessa Redgrave / Richard Harris mind worm, kind sir.

Comment by Way South of the Border Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 11:04 am
I had a business phone call with Griffin once for four minutes, and it was the worst four minutes of my career (and I hadn’t even done anything wrong nor was I accused of it). So I don’t mind people taking shots at him.

Then again, I think Hinz is a bully, too. Can they please both lose?

Comment by ChicagoR Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 11:07 am
@Louis:

Please. If you don’t think “rich” people are being heard then you aren’t listening. Have a little cheese with your whine.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 11:11 am
I can’t stand rich hypocrites like Ken Griffin.

Also remember, as Greg Hinz and others reported last year, Ken Griffin and his wife were the ones who underwrote that contribution washing scheme cooked up for the IL GOP by Rodney Davis and Pat Brady.

Comment by too obvious Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 11:21 am
There are almost too much here to comment on, but let’s give a whirl.

Funniest line — not anticipating the meltdown AKA collapse of the world economy.

We are guessing the main reason is that hedge fund hustlers like Mr. & Ms.ReBoot were too busy creating the meltdown and profiting to notice that the house of cards was overbuilt. One can only conduct so many scams at every level of the economic food chain before collapse is certain.

School Reform pretty sure the ReBooters and ther other hedge fund hustlers were pushing the bigger vote requirement for teacher strikes as their pathway to ed reform. They got EVERYTHING they wanted and then learned just how big their blunder was.

Finally the family that sets up their own phony news service to to dish out petty attacks of all shapes and sizes is the last one to have a beef about petty hits — which Hinz did not do.

The ReBooters need to whip down to the $19 million FL love nest for the weekend and chill

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 11:32 am
Why is it inappropriate for a target of journalistic criticism to respond to his critic? Maybe Griffin isn’t thin-skinned but correct in his response. After all, the Chicago school system is a near-complete disaster. The ad hominem attacks on him for his sheer effrontery in respoding to Hinz reveal more about Griffin’s critics than Griffin himself.

Comment by Jim Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 12:24 pm
- Jim -

Ken Griffin and respond.

Heck, Ken Griffin spoke and what he said became “newsworthy” which I am sure was the point as to why Mr. Griffin spoke, “visuals” and all.

Not everyone is going to like everythng you say. You learn that in Grade School on up. CAlling out companies on “Corporate Welfare” and the $200 Million AIG money, and all that was said about Education, Mr Griffin has to expect some response.

That being said, sometimes, when those respond to criticism, it doesn’t put things in a better light, it puts things in a “brighter” light of the points ohters were making about the subject, and in this case its Mr. Griffin.

I stand by all my criticism, which is based on how Mr. Griffin chooses to see be seen, and by how Mr. Griffin chooses his words to make his points, all along living his private and professional life, at times, in complete comflict to what Mr. Griffin hopes others will see him as Mr. Griffin tries to portray himself differently than what others point to as conflicting views.

No one forced Mr. Griffing to speak, how to speak, and what very specific examples and tones need to be used. Further, Mr. Griffin’s response, in tone, can be seen as petty with a complete lack of self-awareness.

Mr. Griffin chose those responsive sentences as well, no one else did.

The only thing revealed is that Ken Griffin’s view of what he thinks of himself, his choices in verbage and examples, are open to criticism in comparison to who he is seen as, and how Mr. Griffin chooses to run his professional life, regardless of the criticism he makes of others.

With respect.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 12:37 pm
- Why is it inappropriate for a target of journalistic criticism to respond to his critic? -

Who said it was inappropriate? He’s free to whine all he wants, but it’s still whining.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 12:40 pm
Sorry,

Ken Griffin has every right to respond. As Ken Griffin responds, he has to be aware that people are responding to what he 1st said, and now that response to Mr. Hinz.

“Heck, Ken Griffin spoke and what he said became “newsworthy”…”

Apologies.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 12:44 pm
I certainly realize that people are going to respond to the response. But the response consist mostly of name-calling and unflattering characterizations. It seems to me that Mr. Griffin has put a lot of energy and money into trying to fix a public scandal — public education in Chicago — and for that he is vilified as just another rich jerk who doesn’t give a damn. If he didn’t give a damn, he wouldn’t waste his time. He’d be the stereotypical millionaire that his critics on this post assert that he is, but that the facts show he isn’t.
I’ll certainly concede that, being in the private sector, he has little idea what a fetid and festering sewer Illinois politics is. But just because he approaches problems from a practical angle and isn’t looking for patronage jobs in the city’s sewer department should be considered a plus, not a minus. Besides, who wouldn’t get impatient with the failures of education in Chicago — children’s lives are being destroyed and few people really seem to care.

Comment by Jim Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 1:14 pm
–I’ll certainly concede that, being in the private sector, he has little idea what a fetid and festering sewer Illinois politics is.–

That’s hilarious. Because big private sector money has no influence on Illinois government or politics.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 1:19 pm
==Pretty amazing stuff. In just a few years, those who are wealthy have gone from being admired to reviled.== Louis G. Atsaves

Perhaps I can shed some light on this phenomenon.

Rich people spent the early part of the Bush administration hoovering up money.

It was the first economic expansion in U.S. history when median household income did not rise.

Then, due to criminality, fraud and reckless business practices, rich people caused the economic crisis of 2007. The suffering for this crisis initially was felt by all.

But within a short period of time, the financial sector and rich people were doing fine. Six years later, the middle class is still suffering.

Rich people have so captured public policy that the stock market is at record highs with no end in site a new higher unemployment as being the norm.

A corporate media controlled by rich people constantly beats the drum for austerity on government programs which help regular people while exercising little restrain on military adventurism overseas. Much military spending goes to rich people.

When the Occupy movement protested the excesses of the financial elites, they had the civil rights violated, including using military weaponry and pepper spray against demonstrators.

And rich people want a system that gives them more money and more social control without rich people having to produce goods and services except for 1. avoiding taxes, 2. moving money around, 3. driving down labor costs.

So, the regular people who are paying attention have plenty of reason to despise rich people.

However, the Republican Party is led by sycophants who worship power. So, the GOP tends to see exploitation as evidence of success.

But hey, who am I to argue with success. Just ask President Romney, Sen. Linda McMahon, Sen. Carly Fiorina, Sen. John Raese.

BTW, what industry was Alexi Giannoulias associated with?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 1:23 pm
===But the response consist mostly of name-calling and unflattering characterizations.===

What is ironic, is that facts … seem to point to those characterizations … as QUITE fair, no matter how Mr. Griffin, and even Payton Prep Clouter Bruce Rauner, want to wish them away.

===He’d be the stereotypical millionaire that his critics on this post assert that he is, but that the facts show he isn’t.===

Which are wrong? Educate us.

Is it the $200 million that is or is NOT a baliout as Mr. Griffin whines about Illinois, or is it when Mr. Griffin cries about that business should all go to Texas….Which Mr. Griffin said…

And quoting Mr. Griffin…”…Why don’t you just send them the directions to move their businesses and jobs to Texas while you’re at it.”

How is that not Dopey?

===…he has little idea what a fetid and festering sewer Illinois politics is.===

Donating to the ILGOP, donations that were under investigation…and you want to claim that Mr. Griffin doesn’t KNOW?

Yikes!!!

===…— children’s lives are being destroyed and few people really seem to care.===

Rule of Thumb: When involking “the children” as an ending point in most, if not all arguements points to a “losing” arguement.

Just saying.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 1:31 pm
Aren’t children part of the 47% who are takers, not makers?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 1:36 pm
Are you really suggesting it’s a losing argument to point out the Chicago schools are a disaster and that children are not being given the tools they need to be successful? sometimes children really do need protection.
Re the texas argument, I think he’s pointing out that states hostile to business, like Illinois, do not do as well as those that are business friendly, like Texas.
Come on — name calling does not equate with logic. let’s have more of the former and less of the latter.

Comment by Jim Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 2:22 pm
or less of the former and more of the latter.
you get the idea, right?

Comment by Jim Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 2:23 pm
- Jim -,

Any response on the FEC investigation to ILGOP donations, and your post ….

===…he has little idea what a fetid and festering sewer Illinois politics is.===

Or,

===Is it the $200 million that is or is NOT a baliout as Mr. Griffin whines about Illinois===

That I posted?

Again, the “crutch” of invoking that you “care” more, or Mr. Griffin “cares” more instead of responding, almost ignoring and picking a choosing what you want to focus on, reflects the idea that Ken Griffin, and Ken Griffin apologists really want their narrative to be THE narrative, even if facts point to different rules for different people.

No matter how hypocritical the facts make them look, if they answer enough with their own narrative, people will forget?

I hope to hear more and more and MORE from Ken Griffin, and I hope Payton Prep Clouter Bruce Rauner has Mr. Griffin speak specifically for Mr. Rauner’s campaign.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 2:29 pm
The guy got up in front of his peers and called them out for essentially robbing the state blind. That took cajones.

And we somehow turn that into a bad thing?

Weird.

Doubtful we will see any other businessmen or women step up to criticize the status quo any time soon.

It’s similar to the gay marriage issue in the Republican Party. Pat Brady comes out in support to the sound of crickets chirping from most mainstream advocacy groups and media.

When someone jumps ship and no one throws them a lifeline, you will not find many individuals lining up to jump after them.

That is likely the first, and now the last, time we will see a businessperson of Griffin’s stature speak openly about the culture of greed surrounding these tax credits, handouts and corporate welfare. Instead, they will double down their efforts to get as much as they can for their corporations and entities.

Why? Because look at what happened to the last poor schmuck who spoke up. He got attacked for it.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 3:05 pm
And perhaps some context has been lost, but all excerpts of the speech published thus far make no mention of unions, etc.

He was simply challenging and calling out his peers for bleeding the state dry at the expense of our common good.

If I am missing some part of his speech, I would honestly appreciate someone pointing me in the right direction.

I think the guy spoke from his heart on the issue of robber-barons stealing from our state.

I may, however, be missing something right in front of my face.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 3:08 pm
What is with all these Griffin apologists trying to explain away the AIG bailout benefiting Griffin by comparing AIG and an Illinois bailout that hasn’t even happened yet and may never happen?

AIG is a PRIVATE COMPANY. Illinois is a state. It’s a totally different thing for a private company to be bailed out by government than the citizens of this state to be bailed out by a larger/different unit of government. Not to mention that AIG’s contracts with Citadel were not constitutionally guaranteed. The contracts of the state of Illinois are.

Also, it’s pretty rich to compare the position of Citadel getting a bailout based on contracts with AIG that amount to nothing more than GAMBLING BETS with the position of the vendors of the state of Illinois who contract with the state to actually provide services that grow the economy and serve the public in building roads, caring for the poor and vulnerable population, etc…

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 3:28 pm
@FormerlyKnownAs - You are incorrect that Griffin’s speech made no mention of unions as a bad thing or than none of the news accounts of his speech noted his mentioning of unions.

“Every alderman in our city is a Democrat. Our mayor is a Democrat. Our governor is a Democrat. Our (state) house is a super-majority of Democrats. Our (state) senate is a majority of Democrats. And the President of the United States is a Democrat. What is so politically hard when you control the entire political process from front to back?” Griffin asked. “What is politically hard is that the Democratic Party is captive to the unions. They’re not captive to the children.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-illinois-business-ken-griffin-calls-illinois-tax-incentives-a-form-of-cronyism-20130521,0,3900314.story

His entire critique of Rahm was that he hasn’t been hard enough on the teachers union. He wasn’t criticizing Rahm for stuff like giving tax breaks to DePaul for that boondoggle arena.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 3:32 pm
I posted…

===Any response on the FEC investigation to ILGOP donations, and your post ….===

Should have been…

===Any response on the OCE investigation to ILGOP donations, and your post ….===

Should have been …OCE…apologies.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 3:36 pm
“It seems to me that Mr. Griffin has put a lot of energy and money into trying to fix a public scandal — public education in Chicago — and for that he is vilified as just another rich jerk who doesn’t give a damn.”

@Jim: It’s not about whether or not he cares so much as it’s that he comes across as a phony and a hypocrite who acts like he cares and expects appreciation and celebration from the media and public for caring, but in reality is guilty of the exact same sins he accuses of others. Whatever merit there is in the message of Ken Griffin, he needs to realize that he is a poor vessel for that message. But he’s too arrogant and egotistical to realize that, and his supporters are apparently too oblivious and reactionary to criticisms of Griffin to comprehend how he comes across because they just write off any criticism of Griffin, the individual, as a criticism of the rich writ large.

Also, Jim, you are aware that these hedge fund guys aren’t just pushing the dismantling of the public school system out of the goodness of their hearts but because they see PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES IN PRIVATE CHARTER SCHOOLS? You get that, right?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 3:48 pm
@hisgirlfriday - Thank you for sharing that link and replying to my post.

I believe his main point is that his peers are pillaging the state and bleeding it dry with all this corporate welfare. As has been pointed out on CapFax in the past, many of them threaten the state with leaving unless they receive some nice payouts and tax breaks.

That was why he spent such a long period of time naming so many of them, one by one, and putting their logos up on the wall, etc.

That clearly and certainly took up a much larger portion of his time than the one sentence and brief portion reference to unions.

Most of that Tribune story reinforces the point that the focus and thrust of his speech was a criticism of his peers and “cronyism” (thus the headline) more than anything else. I will continue looking for other sources and would appreciate any others that might clarify.

Thank you very much for responding.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 4:11 pm
Willy, and you wonder why our Con$ulting meeting keeps getting “rescheduled?”
Camelot! Camelot!

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 6:29 pm
OW,

I stand corrected - you’re right that it’s Camelot. Doh! And I still don’t know how you have so much time to be so prolific.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, May 22, 13 @ 10:53 pm