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*** UPDATED x4 - Rauner promised return to NBC5 before primary - Quinn camp says Rauner “proposed a phony alternative of concocted venues” *** Rauner proposes attending four candidate forums, three public debates, one private debate

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* From a press release…

Bruce Rauner today confirmed eight gubernatorial debates and candidate forums leading up to the November election.

“I look forward to comparing my vision of freezing property taxes, rolling back the Quinn-Madigan income tax hike and reversing the governor’s education cuts to Pat Quinn’s failed record of job losses, broken schools and Blagojevich-style corruption,” Rauner said. “I am running to be governor for all people in Illinois and our debate schedule should reflect the diversity of our state.”

Rauner’s proposed debates and candidate forums include:

*Dates Pending

I’ll let you know what the Quinn campaign says in response.

*** UPDATE 1 *** The response…

Below is the statement of Quinn for Illinois Communications Director Brooke Anderson following news that Bruce Rauner refused eight neutral debates with Gov. Pat Quinn and proposed a phony alternative of concocted venues to help himself:

“The public knows virtually nothing about Republican billionaire Bruce Rauner and he wants to keep it that way. In limiting the number of debates to a paltry three, he is hiding from a transparent airing of his views and plans for Illinois.

“This is unworthy of a candidate for governor and a disservice to the people of Illinois. Mr. Rauner won’t let us know about his finances. He won’t let us know about the shady dealings of his business. He won’t let us know about his foreign investments and partnerships. He won’t let us know about the exotic vehicles he uses to dodge Illinois and U.S. taxes.

“In the 2010 election, Republican nominee for governor Bill Brady readily agreed to five debates without condition.

“By hiding from debates about the future of Illinois, Bruce Rauner is letting us know ONE thing: he wants to hide from the judgment of the people. By doing so, Mr. Rauner is disrespecting Illinois voters.”

In addition, Bruce Rauner attempted to mislead the public and brand five additional appearances as “debates,” which they are not. For example, the first two events noted by Rauner in his list - hosted by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable - are not even joint appearances, much less debates. At both events, the candidates will arrive and speak separately. The Chicago Tribune endorsement session is not a debate but a session closed to the general media. The Polish American Political Action Committee is a small group whose chair is the head of Polish Americans for Rauner. The president of the Lake County Municipal League is also the chairman of Mayors for Rauner and a Rauner business associate who recently put up an illegal sign to help Rauner’s campaign.

Below is a list of 11 confirmed debates the Governor of Illinois committed to, with Rauner’s denied participation noted:

The criticisms, particularly about the forums, are valid.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Two of the debates on this list, Governors State and CBS2/Daily Herald, were not on the original list of debates Quinn demanded earlier this month. So, they’re padding the numbers here.

Also, I’m hearing that the CBS2 debate was also supposed to include Andy Shaw of the BGA and that might have been why Quinn didn’t agree to it then, but is saying he would now.

*** UPDATE 3 *** My phone blew up with text messages from the governor’s campaign after that second update. A sample…

We are not padding #s

We listed the gov state as tentative - and he other two weren’t confirmed - they have since been confirmed

*** UPDATE 4 *** This video clip was slipped to me a few minutes ago. It shows Bruce Rauner promising Carol Marin that he would return to the station for a debate against Gov. Quinn…

Transcript…

Carol Marin: With 30 seconds to go, do each of you promise, assuming one of you is chosen, to come back and meet your opponent on the Democratic side in another one of these forums?

Bruce Rauner: I would look forward to that day. Pat Quinn’s the worst governor in America and I look forward to debating him.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:08 am

Comments

  1. What’s a “private debate”? Is that the Tribune endorsement session?

    Comment by Chi Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:15 am

  2. Quinn says No.

    Stop dodging the truth, dodging reporters, and most of all dodging the voters.

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:16 am

  3. ===What’s a “private debate”?===

    Yep. Tribune.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:17 am

  4. Quinn will whine about it and somehow make it about the Cayman Islands or Rauner’s vacation homes. Mark my words.

    This is more than enough public forums/debates. And the Trib ed board is always very informative and available on video.

    Comment by Adam Smith Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:19 am

  5. That averages out to nearly 1 per week for the remainder of the race. I can dig it.

    Let’s hope most of them are at least streamed for those who cannot attend in person.

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:20 am

  6. These might represent all the voters in Illinois if more than two were south of I 80. Eight debates sounds good but it would be better if they were spread around the State.

    Comment by Bourbonrich Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:21 am

  7. And none south of I-74.

    Where is the Ag forum Rauner lists?

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:26 am

  8. When you are a pompous candidate with something to hide, you typically try to avoid situations where your mouth can cause you great strife.

    Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:27 am

  9. So Quinn expected him to just say yes to everything? Yeah, ok. What’s next, having liberal moderators do each debate?

    Comment by Wally Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:29 am

  10. These debates are largely silly. There should be three, all televised with corresponding radio:

    1) Metropolitan Chicago
    2) Central Illinois — both Peoria/Bloomington and Springfield/Decatur/Champaign markets
    3) Carbondale/Metro East

    Three is enough. Most of these are all so phony with set up questions, insider baseball crowds, etc.

    Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:30 am

  11. There are three debates for President of the United States, what’s all the hullabaloo about here?

    Comment by Western Ave. Doug Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:31 am

  12. ===what’s all the hullabaloo about here? ===

    You must’ve missed this part…

    ===the first two events noted by Rauner in his list - hosted by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable - are not even joint appearances, much less debates. At both events, the candidates will arrive and speak separately. The Chicago Tribune endorsement session is not a debate but a session closed to the general media. The Polish American Political Action Committee is a small group whose chair is the head of Polish Americans for Rauner. The president of the Lake County Municipal League is also the chairman of Mayors for Rauner and a Rauner business associate who recently put up an illegal sign to help Rauner’s campaign.===

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:34 am

  13. Agree with Bourbonrich - other than Peoria, which is south of I-80? Rauner is spending a lot of money on downstate radio and except for those of us who read CapitolFax and realize that there is more to this campaign than his 30 second sound bites.

    I am aware of the voting demographics, but there is more to this state than Chicago and the collar counties! It is time that we start getting a little respect.

    Comment by illini1967 Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:35 am

  14. Agree with LincolnLounger.

    Three regional debates with real questions should be sufficient as long as they are real debates with adequate give and take between the candidates and a good moderator to keep it about real issues rather than personalities and sound bites.

    Comment by downstate hack Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:35 am

  15. So there are 3 they are in agreement on. I think Rauner made a mistake in saying he’d do 8. They press may try and hold him to that number.

    Comment by LittleLebowskiUrbanAchiever Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:35 am

  16. ==When you are a pompous candidate with something to hide, you typically try to avoid situations where your mouth can cause you great strife.==

    Is that why Quinn avoids and ignores downstate?

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:36 am

  17. rauner want`s no debate after tax day?

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:36 am

  18. Perspective?

    ABC7 Chicago, arguably Chicago’s top local network affiliate - No Rauner… throw in …

    …NBC5, CBS2, WBBM Radio, WGN and WGN Radio - No Rauner

    WTTW, Chicago, Metro Chicago’s PBS station - No Rauner

    Daily Herald -, major suburban newspaper - No Rauner

    Now add to the mix, Governor’s State, UIUC, Elmhurst College - No Rauner

    So major media forums? Nope

    Major Chicagoland papers outside the unbiased Tribune? Sorry, no dice

    Lake County Municipal League - Book it!

    What Gubernatorial Nominee was “allowed” to bypass the media debate scrutiny like this in recent memory?

    This is disingenuous and dishonest to say you are available for debates and completely shut out Media forums.

    Hiding won’t help stop a slippage like the 17 point the Rauner Crew lost in the Primary.

    You want to run the 5th largest state in America, “you know what”, you have to interview for it, and, “you know what”, you do it in public forums, and, “you know what”, the voters deserve to see you take heat, and how you respond to it.

    Don’t forget “Slip and Sue” too.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:39 am

  19. Well here is how the Sun Times twitter acct is reporting it…

    Bruce Rauner agrees to debate Gov. Pat Quinn. sun-tim.es/1pL6Xms via @CSTearlyoften

    Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:40 am

  20. ==ABC7 Chicago, arguably Chicago’s top local network affiliate - No Rauner… throw in …==

    “League of Women Voters /ABC7 Chicago Debate*

    ==WTTW, Chicago, Metro Chicago’s PBS station - No Rauner==

    “League of Women Voters/PBS Peoria Debate - Thursday, October 9, 2014″

    Not hard for WTTW to get the Peoria feed.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:47 am

  21. ===Not hard for WTTW to get the Peoria feed. ===

    That’s ludicrous. You’re gonna compare Phil Ponce to whatever guy they have in Peoria? Please. Go take a nap.

    You Raunerbots are too much sometimes.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:49 am

  22. ===Not hard for WTTW to get the Peoria feed.===

    What, is Rauner afraid Phil Ponce will “Plummer” him?

    Is Rauner afraid Ponce might ask those Payton Prep, residency questions again?

    Are you saying Bruce Rauner, “been successful at EVERYTHING I’ve done” Rauner is afraid to be on uncontrolled TV airing in Chicago?

    “Right, exactly right.”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:52 am

  23. How often do we see an incumbent pushing for more debates rather than fewer?

    That says a great deal about where each “team” feels they currently stand.

    Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:54 am

  24. Don’t they have televisons south of I-80? How about radios? The internet?

    Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:54 am

  25. “The public knows virtually nothing about Republican billionaire Bruce Rauner and he wants to keep it that way.”

    It is hard to read beyond such a ridiculous over the top statement like that.

    The public knows virtually nothing…
    There is simply no reason those words should ever appear in any political document, public or private. You cannot win respect from voters when the first five words dismiss everything you have tried to discover about the candidates.

    If they wanted to say that voters haven’t been told everything about Rauner - then they should have said that. What is done instead is an incorrect assumption about everyone. Somehow only these people know the truth? Embarrassingly ridiculous thing to try to claim!

    Even if that insult to voters is further defined by the rest of the sentence, it is hard to get past the idea that this campaign team considers everyone to be fools that can be fooled.

    They are literally telling everyone that Bruce Rauner, who has spent the past year on television advertising, whom everyone has seen on television - that he doesn’t want them to know who he is?

    I don’t know who taught these people how to write a persuasive press release - but it appears that they haven’t a clue how to do it.

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 11:57 am

  26. So CBS/2 wants a registered lobbyist in the debate
    that should be viewed as a new low water mark for what was once called journalism

    Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:00 pm

  27. Maybe if we could outsource a few debates to the Caymans, Raunervich would accept.

    Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:03 pm

  28. Rauner wants to reduce unscripted exposure on TV. He hasn’t proven himself to be very nimble or informed when facing independent or hostile questioning.

    He’s got himself in plenty of pickles just trying to wing it, or giving a particular audience what he thinks it wants.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:09 pm

  29. Maybe we need an Illinois Gubernatorial Debate Commission where the members of the media get together on 3 - 5 debates throughout the state that all channels can air. This might help alleviate some of the cat fights that candidates get into about debates and hopefully ensure a high standard for each debate.

    Rich Miller can offer to be the first chair.

    Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:20 pm

  30. ===They are literally telling everyone that Bruce Rauner, who has spent the past year on television advertising, whom everyone has seen on television - that he doesn’t want them to know who he is?===

    Did Rauner answer questions in the Ads? Nope

    Did Rauner give both sides to any argument he made? Nope

    ABC7, NBC5, CBS2, WTTW, Daily Herald…Chicago media stinks except for a closed-door Trib endorsement setting? According to Rauner, “Yep!”

    It’s a job interview, and Bruce Rauner wants his money (through Ads only in Chicago market, no televised debates) to clout him into the job, without the interview.

    ===They are literally telling everyone that Bruce Rauner, who has spent the past year on television advertising, whom everyone has seen on television - that he doesn’t want them to know who he is?===

    “Right, exactly right .”

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:22 pm

  31. My bad, the League of Women’s Voters is on ABC7 Chicago.

    Apologies.

    … Don’t know if that covers all the other denials, actually I know it doesn’t cover all the other “No” responses

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:41 pm

  32. ==What’s next, having liberal moderators do each debate?==

    Can you be any more of a victim?

    Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:52 pm

  33. I’d like both candidates to come on CapitolFax and debate.

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:56 pm

  34. ===I’d like both candidates to come on CapitolFax and debate.===

    I’d watch/listen/read, that would be “fun” with both getting time in the barrel, and talking points by both would get hammered.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:59 pm

  35. The most disheartening thing about all of Brucie’s games is that they are working so far…

    Comment by D.P.Gumby Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 12:59 pm

  36. ==The most disheartening thing about all of Brucie’s games is that they are working so far… ==

    We in the GOP are entitle to at least one campaign where this is so…. documenting the “games” played by Democrats in this state would fill a library.

    Comment by Conservative Republican Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 1:32 pm

  37. wordslinger is totally correct Mr. Rauner “hasn’t proven himself to be very nimble or informed when facing independent or hostile questioning.” He also exhibited real visible anger when on WTTW with the Vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union and pressed by Carol Marin.

    If I were Rauner’s handler I wouldn’t want him debating Quinn who could very well question Rauner’s patriotism right to his face in relation to paying taxes. Remaining composed or expressing contained anger is a learned art form in politics.

    Comment by Rod Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 2:44 pm

  38. CR, what’s the game, “Duck, Duck, Chicken?”

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 3:47 pm

  39. 47th Ward: Yes we do have TVs down here, and a few of them in color, but we’re too busy tipping cows to watch.

    Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 3:51 pm

  40. Weak sauce, Brucie. No debates for the last three weeks of the campaign. Enough time to recover from any screwups made previously and pound Quinn into the ground on the air. And avoiding some of the top news organizations in the state.

    Comment by Marty Funkhouser Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 4:26 pm

  41. Sorry to sound all whiny and all, but whatever happened to Bruce Rauner’s promise to put up more editorial style paid ads on CapitolFax.com so we could comment on them? Or did I read that wrong? (Sorry for off topic, too.)

    Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 5:05 pm

  42. Technically, Rauner never agreed to reappear on NBC. He was looking forward to that day, as he looks forward to all days that are in the future. :)

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 6:16 pm

  43. Agree w/Ahoy - 3 to 5 debates coordinated by the LWV would be great, as long as it was coordinated with the PBS stations. Rauner is hyperventilating and being unrealistic in his expectations of how these “debates” will be conducted. Quinn needs to engage this discussion and be prepared the confront Rauner head on and on the issues ( including his use of the Carri bean tax havens, his lack of full disclosure of his last reported annual income of over $58 million, not to mention his outsourcing of Illinois jobs ).

    Bruce, you are leading in all the polling info I am seeing, I hear you on the St. Louis radio stations, and the only positive message I am hearing is ” I am not Pat Quinn ” - so who are you? What do you really stand for - or do we just look at the Harley, the Carhart vest and shirt ( plaid no less ), and expect that you represent Southern Illinois. This is the most overt patronism and pandering I have seen in recent years. You should be ashamed!

    Get on board with legitimate media/pbs affiliates /and local( regional ) organizations and agree to open debates and questions from independent correspondents - and Pat Quinn should agree to the same!

    Comment by illini1967 Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 6:25 pm

  44. To win, Rauner should avoid debates as much as possible, while appearing not to be completely hiding from them.

    Same with tax returns. Disclose almost nothing, while appearing not to be obviously hiding something.

    His team is pulling it off.

    Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 9:04 pm

  45. A private newspaper (Tribune) endorsement session is called a “debate?”

    Have they no shame?

    Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 9:06 pm

  46. What Joe Louis said about the German guy

    Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 9:53 pm

  47. “The nation that insists upon a broad line of demarcation between its fighting men and it’s thinking men is liable to find its fighting done by fools and it’s thinking done by cowards.”

    That pretty much sums up the perils of our meritocracy.

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 20, 14 @ 10:08 pm

  48. –What Joe Louis said about the German guy–

    LOL, “he can run, but he can’t hide.”

    It took Louis two minutes and four seconds to put the lie to the Master Race theory, June 22, 1938, Yankee Stadium.

    Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 7:57 am

  49. OW - my observations are correct, and yours is irrelevant.

    It is completely incorrect for you and your Quinnster friends to present a year’s worth of television advertising as not informing the public because neither Quinn nor you liked the content or answered your questions in a way you wanted them to be answered.

    Your second rambling was also as irrelevant to my correct observation as your first rambling.

    It is maddening when your need to argue keeps you from finding common ground among your friends.

    Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 8:07 am

  50. ===OW - my observations are correct, and yours is irrelevant.===

    If I’m observations aren’t relevant, why address them? Dope.

    ===It is completely incorrect for you and your Quinnster friends…===

    Quinn wouldn’t call me friendly. Glorious Leader Quinn might not like me at all. Nice try, “spinning”…

    ===a year’s worth of television advertising as not informing the public because neither Quinn nor you liked the content or answered your questions in a way you wanted them to be answered.===

    So why have any debates?

    You make no sense. You interview for a job. You may even have to go through 4 people to get to an offer.

    According to you, you send a YouTube video to HR, everyday, for a year, and “boom” you get a job.

    You know what, that’s crazy, and you know what, that’s not how the process works, and you know what, you do debates publicly, and on TV…that’s the norm.

    ===Your second rambling was also as irrelevant to my correct observation as your first rambling.===

    Reading is hard. I get it. If you can reference that Easter Egg, your loss.

    ===It is maddening when your need to argue keeps you from finding common ground among your friends.===

    Aw, you don’t need to keep up these Dopey arguments, you can always recognize your own pitfalls. Good luck.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 21, 14 @ 8:24 am

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