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* The Cook County Board approved a non-binding referendum on gun control yesterday…
Democratic board members unanimously supported the gun control measure, which asks if the state should “require universal background checks for firearm transfers and prohibit the sale and transfer of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments and high capacity ammunition magazines?”
Gov. Pat Quinn also has called for a similar law, though legislation has failed to move forward in Springfield. The board’s approval of the ballot question comes as Quinn’s campaign has tried to hit Republican rival Bruce Rauner on the issue. Recently, Quinn’s campaign released a new online video juxtaposing TV news reports on Chicago gun violence with footage of Rauner stating he believes gun owners should be free to use assault weapons for “target practice … on their property as they choose fit.”
Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the ballot measure was a continuation of the board’s attempt to reduce gun violence – not part of a coordinated effort.
* But soon after, Quinn’s government office sent out this release…
“This November, voters in Cook County will have an opportunity to raise their voices at the ballot box on two important issues to keep our streets safer.
“The violence epidemic in Chicago has taken far too many lives.
“While many factors contribute to the wars on our streets, there’s no question that there is a crying need for common-sense gun laws that make our communities safer.“No child in any community should have to fear for their lives when they step outside.
“Military-style assault weapons have no place on our streets. These weapons – which have the capacity to shoot a large volume of ammunition – have no purpose other than killing. By taking these weapons off our streets, we can help lessen the risk for tragic mass shootings that have destroyed innocent lives across our country.
“Additionally, universal background checks for gun sales will help ensure that guns don’t get in the wrong hands.
“I applaud the Cook County Board for adding these important referendums. With proper gun control regulations and investment in mental health care we can help save lives and improve safety within our communities.”
* And early this morning, Quinn’s campaign office sent out a media advisory…
CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn will support the recently approved Cook County referendum questions regarding gun safety and a ban on military-style assault weapons.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: People’s Church of the Harvest
3570 W. Fifth Avenue
Chicago, 60624
* And Republican board members kept a low profile…
Republicans on the board, including state GOP chairman Com. Tim Schneider, did not oppose the gun control measure. Instead, they requested to be marked as “present” during the vote.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Rauner campaign response…
Pat Quinn’s anti-crime policies have been disastrous for Illinois. He has let numerous violent criminals out of jail early, only to see them commit more crimes. He has turned an anti-violence program into a political slush fund that is now under local and federal investigation. His only answer is a non-binding election year referendum. Pat Quinn is just not serious about dealing with crime in our communities. It’s tragic.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Quinn campaign…
Governor Pat Quinn today announced his support for Cook County’s referendum question asking voters this fall whether the state should ban the sale and transfer of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Governor Quinn also denounced Bruce Rauner’s cowardly silence on the issue of gun violence and his support for military-style assault weapons. Rauner has said that people should be able to use military-style assault weapons “as they choose fit.”
Governor Quinn is pushing legislation to ban semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
“There is no place in Illinois for military-style assault weapons,” Governor Quinn said. “These weapons are specifically designed to rapidly fire at human targets and kill, only proliferating the violence epidemic that is plaguing our communities. Bruce Rauner’s strong support for military-style assault weapons is not only out-of-touch, but extremely dangerous to our children, our communities and our policemen who put their life on the line every day to keep us safe.”
Earlier this week, the Quinn for Illinois campaign released a Web video highlighting Rauner’s continued support for the proliferation of semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons in Illinois. The video shows Rauner’s response at a Republican gubernatorial debate earlier this year, where he voiced strong support for assault weapon ownership, and merely shrugged when an incredulous host asked, “When it would make sense to use an assault weapon?”
Watch the video and Rauner’s comments here: http://youtu.be/LwpqXHTHW7U .
Last year, the Governor met with parents who lost children in the Newtown, Conn., tragedy and worked with them to advocate for legislation to ban the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois. The Governor is currently pushing Senate Bill 3659 - the Illinois Public Safety Act - to make Illinois communities safer by banning the delivery or sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines and military-style assault weapons, and requiring background checks for the transfer of guns.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:15 am
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More mis-direction from the Wizard of Odd. Don’t look behind the curtain.
Comment by Weltschmerz Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:17 am
Yeah, it’s a suburban women thing.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:19 am
Just about the time I’m coming to terms with holding my nose and voting for Quinn, he pulls something like this. Aside from the pure pandering for the anti-gun vote, this won’t make a hill of beans difference in the gun violence in Chicago.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:20 am
At what point does someone figure out “less might be more” on the whole Referendum thing. It seems we’re up to a whole page of them now.
Comment by A guy... Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:21 am
To the update: Ms. Brooke Anderson- this is a response; short, quick, to the point and ending with a poignant phrase: it’s tragic.
Comment by A guy... Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:27 am
How many advisory referenda questions are we going to have? Maybe we need to follow the lead of California and let the voters directly set all policies via referenda voting.
Comment by Under Further Review Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:29 am
Not the “Willy Horton” charge again!
Please pay attention to real Illinois issues, and stop borrowing from old national campaign tactics and rhetoric.
I just can’t see this issue driving any positive vote switching. It might, if handled badly, drive opponents’ turnout.
Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:30 am
The Cook Co. GOP is not gonna need a GOTV push now.
Seems counter-intuitive to me for the Democrats to do this.
Comment by Madison Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:32 am
–He has let numerous violent criminals out of jail early, only to see them commit more crimes. –
I hope you have stats for that one Bruce. Otherwise that is going to bite your butt big time.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:35 am
Rauner’s response was right on. Under Quinn, we keep letting violent offenders out early. Quinn’s response to crime has been disappointing.
And this vague “no assault weapons” thing is the equivalent of putting a political ad on a ballot. It serves no purpose than to remind voters — while they are voting — that one party is against them, and the other supports them.
Nothing productive is going to come from it.
If they are going to put an ad on the ballot, it would be nice if the people support that ballot measure would pick up the tab.
Comment by Gooner Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:36 am
Question
–…Rauner stating he believes gun owners should be free to use assault weapons for “target practice … on their property as they choose fit.”–
Is that really such an extreme statement? That someone can use a legally purchased firearm to shoot at paper targets on they’re own property? Seems odd that that is what Pat Quinn highlights. Even if you are ambivalent on the issue isn’t that a pretty acceptable use??
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:39 am
Quinn may be targetting Suburban women but he just killed whatever support he had downstate as well as solidifying Rauner support amongst skeptical conservatives. At best they cancel themselves out and I just don’t think anti guns is a winning issue anywhere.
Comment by Generation X Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:41 am
Mason… I think you should replace Rauner with Quinn
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/patients-as-prisoners-jails-new-mental-health-institutions/
I don’t think this is helpful for Quinn… I think
it keeps the “slush fund” narrative alive and well. I think this maybe a new level of crazy. Is PQ’s staff trying to get hired by Rauner? None of this makes any sense…
Comment by Walter Mitty Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:44 am
===To the update: Ms. Brooke Anderson- this is a response; short, quick, to the point and ending with a poignant phrase: it’s tragic.===
Well, at least the Rauner Crew isn’t making up headlines. That’s a start …
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:49 am
Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the ballot measure was a continuation of the board’s attempt to reduce gun violence – not part of a coordinated effort.
I believe her.
First and foremost - we have a frightening situation happening daily in Chicagoland. No matter if it is an election year - people are being shot. Doing nothing is not an option. Toni has not been the kind of person to wait until an election to do something to address an issue like this.
What other options does the people of Chicago have? I’ve even seen requests for the National Guard coming from Chicagoans. They are scared and something has to be done now!
Rauner’s statement is also true. Violence has gotten worse and what has been Quinn’s work to address that? Where has he been? What should a governor do in cases like this, and have we been seeing Quinn doing that?
Yesterday I suggested to the Quinnsters to attack the problem - not the politician. Voters know the difference between action and words. If Quinn wants to beat Rauner on this, the best thing a governor can do is SOLVE THE PROBLEM. It would have been better if Quinn has always had this at the top of his mind during his term in office, and we all knew that it was - but it doesn’t seem to be there unless he is behind in an election poll!
Quinn needed to have done this earlier - by a year. He had to have done something to show that he cares enough to have been taking actions as the shootings continued. The fact that he hasn’t opens him up to these Rauner charges.
Governor, attack the criminals, not Rauner.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:50 am
==Is PQ’s staff trying to get hired by Rauner?==
Who knows, I’m guessing it pays better
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:51 am
Walter
I said Rauner because of the Headline story from yesterday.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-new-rauner-attack-ad-relies-on-madeup-headlines-20140723,0,6830171.story
That was a strong statement in the response that Quinn released violent felons who went on to commit crimes. If it isn’t legit Quinn can use it to discredit the whole thing.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:53 am
Good response by Rauner. Bad move for Quinn. Rauner is dealing with an unexcited GOP base downstate. Thanks to Quinn they will have a reason to turn out.
Comment by mcb Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:54 am
Mason… Great call… Much respect… I am still scratching my head on this…
Comment by Walter Mitty Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:54 am
Should someone bring up the fact that murders are down historically in Chicago?
Does anyone outside politicians believe the guns are the problem and not the bad people? It is not a simple issue like either side makes it out to be.
Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:59 am
==- Generation X - Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 10:41 am:==
Quinn’s victory was never going to come from downstate. Stop deluding yourself. In 2010, less than 28% of his votes came from downstate. Better to play towards your Cook + collar strengths and try to persuade people who only voted in ‘08 and ‘12 to get out.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:01 am
Have not noticed that the predominant weapon used in the shootings in the city has been an assault rifle.
I guess the reporters missed that fact.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:02 am
RE update #2 - If we take his word sliterally, Quinn proves he doesn’t know the difference between semi-automatic and automatic. He also apparently doesn’t know most the Chicago gun violence is done with hand guns, not military assault style rifles.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:03 am
=== What should a governor do in cases like this, and have we been seeing Quinn doing that?===
If only he could establish something concrete, maybe some kind of anti-violence program to distribute grants and provide part-time jobs to help these neighborhoods recover.
Oh, wait. Nevermind.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:06 am
===The Cook Co. GOP is not gonna need a GOTV push now.===
“Yes!
Signed,
Brady 2010″
You never, ever, EVER, leave votes on the table… ever.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:12 am
Precinct not deluding anything. As i stated this helps solidify Rauner downstate which was a problem for him
Comment by Generation X Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:12 am
“If only he could establish something concrete, maybe some kind of anti-violence program to distribute grants and provide part-time jobs to help these neighborhoods recover.”
Unfortunately, 47th, that literally has been Quinn’s approach. He has thoughtlessly thrown money at the problem.
We’ve got Democrats controlling the legislature and the gov’s office, but we can’t pass any reform to our drug laws? We keep locking up non-violent offenders, and we keep releasing the violent offenders.
And how does Quinn respond? Passing out cash to politically connected pals in order to pay to distribute flyers.
And now Quinn backs a non-binding referendum.
And Quinn wonders why moderates do not believe that Quinn is taking crime seriously.
Comment by Gooner Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:12 am
Precinct
I asked this yesterday but what if that 28% becomes 20%. 28% (of the 2010 total) is 488k+ votes 20% is 349k that is a loss of 139k votes. He won by 30k. I highly doubt Rauner is going to run as incompetent a campaign as Brady. I thought yesterday was a good pander but he takes it too far it may backfire.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:12 am
how many of the shootings in chicago where done using military-style assault weapons? Its not the weapon it is the people.
Comment by just because Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:14 am
==Should someone bring up the fact that murders are down historically in Chicago?==
People do often. But some of the most violent places are more violent or as violent today than the past.
http://www.suntimes.com/opinions/24170848-474/one-city-one-homicide-rate.html#.U9EwO_ldWSo
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118003/maps-crime-chicago-crime-different-neighborhoods
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:16 am
===I highly doubt Rauner is going to run as incompetent a campaign as Brady.===
Making up headlines in Ads? Pretty incompetent.
Lose 17% of your support days before the Election.
The Rauner Crew has now statewide GOTV apparatus. It was exposed in the Primary, nothing today points to an orchestrated effort except rent checks to buildings.
It’s hollow.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:17 am
Willy
I didn’t say competant I just said I doubt it will be as incompetent as Brady’s. It is kind of a low bar.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:23 am
Mason –I hope you have stats for that one Bruce. Otherwise that is going to bite your butt big time.
e doesn;t need a lot of stats. He only needs on story and one picture — Google Mary Shepard. beat to within an inch of her life by a Quinn parolee. All the while Quinn runs around with armed body guards and parahutes into a rally or march only to hightail it back home again with his protective detail.
And wasn’t there a scandel about ealrly release and a whole bru-hahah about day for day credits and such?
Comment by Todd Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:25 am
- Mason born -,
You have me there. A low bar to hurdle. Point taken.
I do hope Pat Brady tells them about “Call me, Maybe”, cause thinking about all those ID’d but never harvested was comically tragic, and bragging about was embarrassing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:28 am
Todd
Good point i had forgotten that Mary’s assailant was parolee. I stand corrected.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:28 am
The referendum support bandwagon will have more than just Quinn
aboard. it’s full metal Dem tactics time in Cook County.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:35 am
I have wondered for awhile why PQ hasn’t sent additional ISP troopers to Chicago to assist. Is there some statute that prevents this?
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:35 am
Now with the second update from PQ… I am more convinced that they really may not be trying to win for their candidate… The knee jerk reaction is startling and telling that they are grasping.
Comment by Walter Mitty Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:42 am
Mason — thanks.
Google that picture of her from the beating and tell me how that doesn’t cause PQ a malox momment in downstate or suburbia.
But then again we haven’t even touched onthe jobs issue thing. Take a read of what the Maryland gun ban is doing to them:
http://www.pagunblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/BerettaLetter.jpg
Comment by Todd Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:45 am
Mason, I don’t think ISP is flush with troopers to do their job now.
You never hear more cops as part of the solution (except from cops) because that would be a significant ongoing cost. Not a grant program, not a new law, but an annual expense.
Truth of the matter is, I think the politicians can just spin it, the media will cluck-cluck now and then, but for the most part, most people in Chicago metro live in safe areas. I live a few blocks from Austin and it’s a world away.
Very poor dark people live in the shooting galleries. As long as it’s kept there, spin and not money will suffice.
Look at the media coverage. If someone gets robbed or assaulted in the Loop or North Michigan Avenue, its wall-to-wall coverage.
Shootings in the ghetto are like baseball box scores. Two killed, 15 shot, no arrests.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:45 am
Todd
I’ve seen it and met her. It still amazes me she survived.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:50 am
Word
I know ISP is short (all state agencies are thin) just surprised he didn’t do it to show he was doing “something.” Especially when you have some less than brilliant people calling for the National Guard.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 11:54 am
This is just another version of an old play. Bring up a controversial issue before the election to drum up money. It doesnt matter if it has a chance to pass or not you trot it out and blow a lot of hot air and watch the money flow in on both sides of the issue. Now Quinn will be waiting on his checks from anti gun groups and Rauner will check the mail for NRA money. The facts on if the plan would be useful or work does not matter. The chance of passing doesnt matter. Fundraising off of it dows matter.
Comment by SO IL M Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:03 pm
=== Rauner will check the mail for NRA money===
I’m betting that Rauner will encourage the NRA to take a pass.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:06 pm
====== Rauner will check the mail for NRA money===
Rauner doesn’t need their money, Rauner needs them to get membership to vote.
Money is never going to factor into any Rauner decision, to the good or bad. Votes, however, matter.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:09 pm
Pat Quinn, the gangs and criminals would laugh at you on your gun proposals. That is, if they even cared. It does not affect them.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:31 pm
OW, Where else would they go? One thing those 2nd Amendment dudes know a lot about is targets. PQ is a target. Keep the money, just fill in the appropriate dot. That GOTV effort is already done.
Comment by A guy... Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:35 pm
If they really wanted to end the violence in Chicago, then end the Drug War,depriving gangs the income, and att the same time take the heat off gun owners who only want to protect themselves and family.
Comment by Lee James Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:43 pm
jeeez it’s “Willie Horton” vs the Brady/Bloomberg gang. and people just keep dying by the thousands in the USA.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:46 pm
–One thing those 2nd Amendment dudes know a lot about is targets. PQ is a target.–
Take a little care with your metaphors, please.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:51 pm
== cowardly silence ==
As compared to a cowardly roar?
As Rich covered weeks ago, the African American youth unemployment rate is criminal. Education, health care, public safety improvements and the economy are all more relevant to this problem than assault rifles.
Focusing on those deeper issues would be courageous. Instead, we get this.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 12:59 pm
Didnt Chicago learn anything from history?? Ending alchohol Prohibition decimated the gangs and brought an end to violence.
Comment by Liz Black Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 1:00 pm
Willy
“Rauner doesn’t need their money, Rauner needs them to get membership to vote.”
I think Quinn just did that for him. I agree with you about GOTV and it’s importance. I don’t think most gun guys trusted Rauner (i know your shocked!!) i think everyone assumed his support for 2A was a Kilo wide and a millimeter thick. Now quinn has given them the boogie man to vote against. Pretty much like Rauner did to the unions.
We don’t like PQ but good Lord Rauner wants to destroy our Union. = We don’t trust Rauner but Quinn wants to take all the guns.
This November is going to be interesting.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 1:14 pm
The causes of this have much more to do with despair and the loss of opportunity among young people of all races than it does with guns.
When you feel trapped with no way out, it becomes much easier to terrible things.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 1:17 pm
- Mason born -,
You are On It with 2A and Unions parallel.
I guess the question of those two groups, not exclusively to one against the other, can those two have the GOTV impact necessary to win.
It always sounds “easy”, but it’s going to take hard work, and both have made an impact before.
The dynamics, as imposed by Rauner and his stances, are fascinating to which groups going where, why, and how forceful will their impact be, given the choices.
It may come down to running your base really hard, but Rauner’s base is like an ameba, with a great deal of non-traditional parings, and while it might make a good resume, can it bake a cake?
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 1:42 pm
Willy
Actually the question to me is can either one of these two somehow find a way to reach out to his offended group.
If Rauner had a good campaign i would think his reach would be the easier. Primarily because any reach by Quinn will tick of a rather militant anti-gun faction.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 1:53 pm
Gun owners, at the current time, are not energized about voting for Rauner.
Not even close.
John
Comment by John Boch Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 2:02 pm
===Actually the question to me is can either one of these two somehow find a way to reach out to his offended group.===
Good point.
Sadly, for both Crews, as the two candidates have tried to go towards the middle, the more either speaks, the more polarizing they appear to groups they may want to woo.
Quinn has tried to head off at the pass the Rauner move left (2A?) while Rauner is saddling Quinn with status quo extreme.
I hear ya.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 2:04 pm
John
You voting for PQ?? If I was one issue voter voting against the guy who says target practice on MY PROPERTY is extteme seems tempting.
I didn’t say we wanted Rauner I said we want Quinn defeated. They can’t both lose. Pity.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 2:12 pm
Telling a family living in their basement because of drive by shootings every night that murder rates are down historically - isn’t going to be believed or help.
Stop telling us there is no problem while pouring $54,000,000 into anti-violence grants that are supposed to fix the problem. Citizens tell you when there is no problem, not some bloggers sitting and glancing at the stats.
Just because there hasn’t been a shooting in New Town over the weekend, but 5 shootings in Pullman, doesn’t mean there has been only 2.5 shootings. It means there is a war-zone in Pullman, or Roselawn, or Garfield Park, or Greektown.
Averages lie. In this case they’ve got you convinced not to worry too much about Illinoisans getting hit by bullets everyday.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 2:46 pm
I’m not saying I or any gun owner will be voting for Pat Quinn.
I’m saying that a whole lot of people are just going to stay home instead of going to the polls, figuring “why bother” when there’s no discernible difference between the two.
Just like happened in the last presidential campaign when a whole lot of people who normally vote Republican sat out because of who Romney was (or wasn’t).
John
Comment by John Boch Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 3:12 pm
John
It’s going to be pretty hard to stay home for a gun owner with Quinn beating the ban Semi-auto rifles and “high capacity” mags drum. Or am i missing something? Isn’t a tepid acceptance of gun ownership better than a rabid attack?
Please don’t misunderstand i’m no fan of Rauner. Anyone of the others would have been better candidate. I planned on going in with Anyone but PQ. Rauner made it leave the Gov. line blank. Well Quinn is pushing me back the other way.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 3:23 pm
When people are one issue voters the “just stay home” reaction is inevitable as candidates don’t always differ on every issue. That’s why I think one issue voters need to rethink their one issue vote stance. There are a hundred other things to consider when evaluating candidates.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 3:25 pm
Mason,
I’m saying that if Rauner continues to refuse to meet with “gun guys” and to fill out and return the NRA survey, he’s going to be a big, fat question mark on guns. In the case of the NRA survey, it will literally be a question mark.
And when you look at Rauner’s record thus far in the campaign, he seems to be drifting leftward on the minimum wage, abortion, taxes, and about everything else under the sun.
For the less motivated voters, are they going to go out, hop in their vehicles and go to the polls to vote for a leftward-drifting “question mark” instead of an F-rated Quinn?
I’m going to say they’d probably just go have a cup of coffee with friends instead.
Rauner: If you’re reading, get on that NRA survey and sent it in if you’re serious about this race.
John
Comment by John Boch Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 4:48 pm
John
You have a point. Especially now that Quinn is painting him this way anyway. I wonder though if quinn continues with the rhetoric if a ? beats a rabid PQ obvious hostility.
Comment by Mason born Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 4:57 pm
note, be sure to ask the Lt. Gov candidates their position on this and other issues. Guns and choice, suburban women want to know.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 5:34 pm
John,
I agree a number of voters will probably sit this one out … even voters who normally vote in an off-year election.
I don’t like things that both Quinn and Rauner say. I do like some things that both say. The real question is how willing / capable are either one to follow-up on what they say? And which day’s statement do you believe?
While a lot can change in 90 days, if I had to vote today, my current inclination is to leave the Gov choice blank.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 5:55 pm
- RNUG -
Yep.
Let them earn votes. Neither has earned mine. Leaving it blank, or you could write in me(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 6:09 pm
== And wasn’t there a scandel about ealrly release ==
There was. “MGT Push” made a lot of headlines.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 6:14 pm
NIU shooter used a shotgun and two handguns. Has there been another mass shooting in Illinois?Why do they continue with the rifle bashing!! Illinois’ worst mass murderer never fired a shot! Oh wait a minute, he was considered a serial killer!!!
Comment by Highspeed Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 6:45 pm
From Brooke Anderson an hour ago http://twitter.com/MBrooke20/status/492440142268096515
== It is telling but not surprising that Rauner’s response to Qs about assault weapons is: false attack, false attack, dodge, false attack ==
Also telling is the use of issues like this to distract the public when you have nothing of your own to run on.
steve schnorf says it well in a recent comment. Both campaigns are doing a remarkable job of keeping the public focused on this type of stuff.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 6:52 pm
Gun owner and teacher here. Got talked into voting for Quinn last election for the good of my job. Won’t be foolish enough to make that mistake again.
Comment by downstater Thursday, Jul 24, 14 @ 7:32 pm
Did someone launch a television ad?
If not, this little back-and-forth is not going to change the outcome of the election.
I doubt Quinn is going to paint Rauner as an extremist on guns, at least not in a way that fundamentally alters the election.
Rauner has smartly inoculated suburban women against most attacks.
Quinn has been governor for five years, and bringing up assault weapons just highlights an area where Quinn has not been a terribly effective leader on a base issue.
Brooke was right to point out that Rauner completely dodged the question, BTW. I think it is probably because Rauner supports the assault weapons ban.
But it is a really good dodge. Not just a good dodge, but a totally legitimate one.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jul 25, 14 @ 7:00 am