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Shearer finally emerges, lashes out

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* Former Aaaron Schock chief of staff Steve Shearer has been noticeably quiet ever since I first wrote that he was heading up a new political group - funded by trade unions - to attack Bruce Rauner. Shearer finally spoke via press release today…

“You can’t put toothpaste back in the tube,” said Steven Shearer, the chairman of the Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs. “In a single month Rauner took completely opposite positions on the minimum wage. It is clear to me that Rauner got poll results showing how toxic his position was with the voters. Rauner then concocted a story saying he ‘misspoke’ and was ‘flippant.’ Now it turns out that was big lie because he said the same thing just as forcefully last fall.”

Shearer continued, “This is why Republicans who know about Rauner have no doubt he would go down in flames next November were he to win the nomination, but also that Rauner would drag down other Republicans to epic defeat in Illinois.”

“The notion that Rauner is the ‘inevitable’ nominee has been shattered. All of Rauner’s millions of dollars he is spending to buy this election can’t cover up for lies and an amateurish campaign operation.”

Shearer concluded, “This whole episode demonstrates why we formed the Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs–Republicans will have severe buyer’s remorse after the primary if they don’t take a very hard look at Bruce Rauner before they vote.”

Shearer’s PAC reported its first contribution today, a $45K transfer in from Operating Engineers Local 150.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:06 pm

Comments

Good on Shearer. Good on the PAC.

I am with you.

Go get him.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:09 pm
Karma comes around.

Rauner was awfully nasty to Schock. Payback time.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:13 pm
Bring it, Steve.

We’ll be here with the popcorn watching and cheering.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:25 pm
It took less than a month for the Rauner train to derail.

How did this guy make his fortune? It wasn’t from practicing anything he learned from Carnegie.

Keep spending the money, the IL economy appreciates the cash flow

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:28 pm
Looks like the polar vortex is over for everybody, but Team Rauner

Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:28 pm
I guess AWillyWord Con$ulting has, at least, chimed in in some form …

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:28 pm
I not sure i understand the concept here. Would’nt the unions be better off backing a horse instead of trying to put one down?

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:29 pm
Take out the threat, work with who is left.

With Rauner “out”, you get two choices… Rauner in, maybe one choice … maybe.

Great move to try early, say Remo

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:30 pm
-I not sure i understand the concept here. Would’nt the unions be better off backing a horse instead of trying to put one down?-

I actually think they would be better letting him win the primary because I think he is easily the weakest candidate in the general. I guess they don’t want to take any chance with a guys with that much $$$.

Your point is well taken however and I agree that they should jump into Rutherford/Dilard camp

Comment by Generation X Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:34 pm
Willy, at least we were consistent and “on message” lol.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:39 pm
=== Would’nt the unions be better off backing a horse instead of trying to put one down?===

Big money from public employee unions is hugely unpopular with GOP primary voters here. Almost 80 percent say they’d be “less likely” to vote for a candidate who takes that cash. If the unions back a candidate, that candidate could very well lose, and it would give Rauner an opportunity to tee off big time.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:40 pm
- AA -,

Let the class know if Steve reach out to you about our Rates …

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:41 pm
Rich, I know your right-but it seems odd. I can’t remember a scenario like this before-at least in Illinois. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:49 pm
Rauner’s tight relationship with Rahm and his mega contributions $800K plus to Democrats diminishes his claim to the ultra conservative GOP mantel. GOP voters don’t know that yet. What happens when they do?

Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 4:50 pm
My guess is there are a bunch of GOP who realize that if Rauner wins there will be two options: get out or kiss the ring.

Spend your whole life climbing up the bureaucracy to be made irrelevant by some rich guy with money?

My guess is there are a bunch of GOP that are rooting for Rauner to fail.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:00 pm
Quinn is too quirky and unreliable to run a winning campaign. The risk to unions is too great to allow Quinn melting down and Rauner winning. I mean, the guy is still his own campaign manager and he didn’t beat Bill Brady by all that much.

Comment by Sentinel Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:11 pm
Quinn is too quirky and unreliable to run a winning campaign.

And yet, he beat Bill Brady. Who didn’t implode before the primary.

Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:14 pm
Some people just won’t accept you can buy your way to the top, while dissing the rest of the party faithful. Good for them!

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:18 pm
===…he didn’t beat Bill Brady by all that much.===

But Quinn did beat him, all the same.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:19 pm
Sentinel,

Doubt Quinn’s campaign ability at your own peril.

Comment by LA05 Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:20 pm
TOTALLY agree. But Quinn is not consistent and it would be foolish for unions to put all their eggs in the basket of Quinn winning against Rauner. Which is why this makes sense for them. You also can’t wish away Quinn’s terrible approval ratings. Yes Quinn certainly can win. But when he fired his campaign manager and media firm a month before the last general election, do want to rely on him to save your bacon? Better to hedge.

Comment by Sentinel Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:33 pm
And Quinn beat him in 2010 too, which shouldn’t be discounted.

Comment by Chi Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:43 pm
- Sentinel -,

Pat Quinn is not a mitigating factor to take out Rauner; Rauner is the mitigating factor to take out Rauner. Period

Don’t over think it. Rauner first. The rest will be figured out after, if they take him down

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:44 pm
Finally. Steve, you need to rip the eyeballs out here. We need messaging like this every day.

Comment by Chad Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 5:47 pm
Kinda guessing today marked the exit of the RGA in IL for ‘14 Thanks Chris!

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 6:01 pm
Bruce Rauner evidently believes he “can use words any way he wants. If you catch him lying, he’ll just shift gears and go on as though nothing had happened.” (Dr. Robert D. Hare)

Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 6:07 pm
what is the strategy backfires for the very reasons rich Miller mentions. the GOP faithful may not want tjier party hijacked by the democrat unions and if rauner survives he os semi innoculated from attack

Comment by out and about Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 6:11 pm
“…the gop faithful might not want their party hijacked…”

Better to be seen as someone whose falling in line–or agreeing “for scraps” (or wads of money for that matter)? Doesn’t sound very Republican to me.

This campaign seems to have made some serious mistakes right out of the gate and ones that I think will be difficult to “unring.” (Maybe that’s an add-on to what ?Schearer? said about bringing other Rs “down.” Talk about being just plain rude in going about acquiring your spot as Alpha Male.)

There are some things Rs truly should not do. As I once said: someone got away with those tactics once and everyone now seems to believe that that’s the way to win.

Good luck with the Primary.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 6:28 pm
Oh, this is gonna be great

Comment by K3 Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 7:26 pm
Good reporting. And it’s absolutely true what the man says, that Rauner is trying to concoct “the big lie” now when we see today how, again his credibility on the Minimum Wage issue has been shot to smithereens when, just a couple months back, he spewed out–with intensity, repeating TWICE–how he is “adamantly, adamantly” against raising wages for the working poor. This whole thing has SLIMY written all OVER the ultra-wealthy Rauner, who must be at his latest bus-tour stop in Flip Flop, Illinois. Oh, that’s right–there is no such place. It’s NOT REAL. Just like whatever comes bumbling out of BR’s kisser…!

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 7:52 pm
Meanwhile, Rutherford continues to stick to his themes and appearing ever-more the pragmatic statesman and realist while he strengthens votes in smaller but key counties with union employees. He seems almost undistracted by Rauner, unlike Dillard.

Comment by woodchuck Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 8:37 pm
How about we leave Rutherford out of this, or should we start cataloging his Tweets and events for the AP?

When you opponent is imploding, you let them.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 8:48 pm
I know it looks like Rauner is having a bad day but this union thing is going to absolutly lock the nomination for him. Once the GOP voters find out who’s paying for the attack ads-it’s over. And I’m sure he has the recources to spread the word.

Comment by BoBo Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:01 pm
Bringing up Rutherford on a day people are mentioning and/or perhaps thinking about Romney probably isn’t a good idea.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:10 pm
- BoBo -,

As devestating as the $800+K to Democrats?

As devestating as vacationing with Rahm Emanuel and Rahm’s family at the Rauner Ranch?

As devestating as making $53 Million and wanting to cut the Minimum Wage?

Yeah, you keep your chin up, and “Bruce Rauner” will keep taking it on the chin.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:27 pm
Quinn didn’t win in 2010, Brady lost. There is a difference.

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:40 pm
OW so right, if Brucey Bruce tweets one more Super 8 hotel eating raisin bran or corn flakes. at this point he might as well shout from atop his moated Central Park penthouse let them eat minimum wage cake

Comment by PoolGuy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:42 pm
–Quinn didn’t win in 2010, Brady lost. There is a difference.–

Actually, Quinn won and Brady lost. And there is no difference.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:47 pm
OW,

You make valid points but in this case they will shoot the messenger and forgive the message (and those who are in cahoots with them.)

No one wants to be told who to vote for by the opposition. It makes you think, if this guy scares them so much, maybe there is something to him.

Comment by BoBo Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:53 pm
the money is scary not necessarily the message, especially what multiple messaging is surfacing this week

Comment by PoolGuy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 9:59 pm
===they will shoot the messenger and forgive the message===

The polling say otherwise.

If hanging out with Rahm Emanuel was a good thing, Bruce would have said it.

Downstate, they are not too found of Chicago Ward Boss politicians either, and when the message is out about funding Rahm Emanuel, the pollings says it might not be a good thing.

Barak Obama’s Education Secretary clouts a New Trier living Daughter, who was already denied entrance into a Chicago school, with Union teachers teaching the Daughter, as she takes a seat way from a Worthy Child, yeahm that won’t poll well either.

- BoBo -,

You sure you know your state?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 10:00 pm
Here is a quote from the boss earlier in this post.

“Big money from public employee unions is hugely unpopular with GOP primary voters here. Almost 80 percent say they’d be “less likely” to vote for a candidate who takes that cash. If the unions back a candidate, that candidate could very well lose, and it would give Rauner an opportunity to tee off big time.”

I believe the dislike of unions trumps Emanual. And like I said, no one wants to be told what to do by the opponent.

I wouldn’t be surprised (if Rauner plays it right) that it won’t be long before his GOP adversaries begin publicly calling for the ads to be pulled.

Comment by BoBo Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 10:11 pm
Emanuel is Toxic …

https://capitolfax.com/2013/08/19/serious-problems-ahead/

““Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate for governor if you found out he was a friend and political ally to Chicago Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel?” 1,102 likely Republican primary voters were asked on August 13th.

A truly astounding 83 percent of Republicans said they’d be less likely to support that candidate. Any time you see a “less likely” response above 80 percent, you can pretty much figure that the target is toast. But maybe not in this case.”

Yeah, ok - BoBo -, I like my chances connecting Bruce Rauner, the vacation buddy of Rahm Emanuel versus the Union idea of funding.

Added …

“And the ties go deeper than the question reveals. Rauner helped Emanuel get his start in business, advising him to become an investment banker after leaving Bill Clinton’s White House and then retaining his firm. Their relationship made Emanuel a wealthy man, so the advertising possibilities are juicy, to say the least.”

lol

Rahm’s vacation buddy and Millionaire Making friend Bruce Rauner is going to have to answer for Rahm.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 10:22 pm
===I wouldn’t be surprised (if Rauner plays it right) that it won’t be long before his GOP adversaries begin publicly calling for the ads to be pulled.===

Are you new to Illinois? Did you type that with a straight face.

Politics ain’t bean bag. The “3″ will more than welcome the Ads, their message, and parrot that message every single chance they get.

Funny stuff you type …

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 10:25 pm
Well i think were going to find out who is right pretty quick but you may be minimizing people not wanting to due what the opponent wants. But I’m signing off and thanks for the discussion.

Comment by BoBo Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 10:33 pm
My mind’s so “over-saturated” with Rauner’s money and ads that I’m not even motivated enough to watch this latest one to see whether there may be any potential ethics violations that would cause any of the others to call for them to be pulled.

Seriously. He seems to be on just about every site you visit nowadays. I suppose that might be a great thing…if he were a can of beer or something.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 9, 14 @ 10:47 pm
From a damage control perspective, I wonder what scenario Rauner’s team would (or could) spin this one to the media & public in order to try to rescue him from the quick sand that Bruce has walked straight into? I wonder if Team Rauner’s next move will be to hire Bridget Kelly and bring her to Illinois to help Bruce out of his latest dilemma?

Comment by Henry Clay Friday, Jan 10, 14 @ 8:06 am