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* Laurie Higgins in Illinois Review…
I’ve met Rauner. In a meeting with him last fall with some potential big donors, Rauner was asked about his position on same-sex “marriage.” He answered, “Frankly, I think the idea of two men marrying is just weird.” When asked about abortion, Rauner answered, “I believe that life begins at conception.”
Higgins used the piece to announce that she’ll vote for Gov. Pat Quinn to prevent Rauner (who is now saying he’s pro-choice and won’t touch the gay marriage law) from being elected. She was particularly upset about this Sun-Times op-ed by two gay businessmen endorsing Rauner…
LGBT issues have recently been in the news regarding the Illinois governor’s race. We are deeply troubled by statements made by Gov. Pat Quinn and his allies, including those in the LGBT community. They would have you believe that Bruce Rauner is hostile to LGBT individuals and the progress we have made toward achieving full equality in Illinois. Nothing could be further from the truth. […]
As he has repeatedly stated, Bruce is “comfortable with the law” and does “not seek to change it.” Bruce will support and uphold the current marriage equality law, and all others that protect the civil rights of LGBT individuals and families. The fact is that the positive status quo on marriage will remain the same whether Quinn or Rauner is elected in November.
* Meanwhile, Illinois Review took this Rev. James Meeks quote from the Sun-Times…
“There comes a time that black people will have to shake up the Democratic Party [candidates] because then, in the next election when they make us some promises, they will keep them,” Meeks said.
“I am tired of what the Democratic Party is doing to black people. Our vote is automatic. If you vote Democratic, 96 out of 96 times, they don’t have to wonder where black people are. Once the election is over, Democrats have no incentive to deliver on their campaign promises,” he added.
“This is the safest time for us to break the cycle. We can make other people come to our community and vie for our votes. We can put ourselves into the game because right now we are out of the game,” he said.
…And came up with this…
The article has conservatives wondering if it isn’t time for them to shake up the Republican Party. As one Republican told Illinois Review, consider Meek’s statement from a conservative perspective.
“There comes a time that conservatives will have to shake up the Republican Party [candidates] because then, in the next election when they make us some promises, they will keep them.”
“I am tired of what the Republican Party is doing to conservatives. Our vote is automatic. If you vote Republican, 96 out of 96 times, they don’t have to wonder where conservatives are. Once the election is over, Republicans have no incentive to deliver on their campaign promises.”
“This is the safest time for us to break the cycle. We can make other people come to our community and vie for our votes. We can put ourselves into the game because right now we are out of the game.”
The Quinn campaign has been telling me since the early summer that Rauner was gonna wind up having real trouble on his right flank. A couple posts on IR don’t yet represent much since most of the bigshots on the Right are in the bank for him at the moment, but watch while this is stirred up even further as the weeks go by.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:28 am
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Considering what the Constitution Party candidate got in some of those downstate counties as a write-in candidate back in 2006 against the ‘liberal’ Topinka, this could be an area of some concern to Rauner.
Comment by train111 Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:31 am
What “campaign promises” are the Democrats making to the black community that they are not fulfilling?
Comment by Peoria guy Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:31 am
Thinking that conservatives would not vote for Rauner due to a stand he takes during the campaign on a social issue is ridiculous.
The choice between the two is Quinn and Rauner. Quinn is already governor. Rauner is more conservative than Quinn. End of story.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:40 am
There were a couple waning signs of trouble in GOP paradise in the primary. The HRO having to spend a quarter million, and bring in two of the nation’s top campaign firms, to eek out a razor-thin victory in House 81 PRIMARY is the tip of the iceberg. It shows establishment Republicans are stubborn about staying in Springfield, and that they are willing to attack their own base to do that. Good luck with that strategy, I think it should be pursued extensively!
Comment by Toure's Latte Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:42 am
I find it pretty funny that Rauner says there will be no free candy for Republican chairmen if he is elected, yet he is promising black leaders they can have the keys to the store.
I wonder how conservatives feel?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:43 am
Laurie Higgins is quite possibly doing Rauner a favor with moderates and leaners with this stand. Having her screaming at the right edge might push or pull the middle Rauner’s way. The crowd she’s addressing her won’t be following her lead at all. They’d stay home or go to Canada before they’d vote for Pat.
Comment by A guy... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:45 am
“I wonder how conservatives feel?==
Y Dog, “Fine, thanks for asking”. lol
Comment by A guy... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:46 am
—
Rauner is more conservative than Quinn.
—
That’s true, but Rauner is — from what we see now and from what might see in the upcoming weeks — far more deceitful than Quinn. I took that to be the message from Higgins post.
It’s hard to argue your conservative bona fides when no one believes what you’re saying — or you shift your positions based on your audience at any given time. I wonder if given the chance Rauner wouldn’t have preferred running as a fiscally conservative democrat against a *more* conservative — and perhaps less deceitful — GOP candidate.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:48 am
This is a “small thing” that could easily become a “big thing”. If Mr. Rauner has been clearly lying to major donors and supporters, he has violated one of the most basic rules in politics.
People already assume politicians lie. But politicians rarely do so by saying such completely opposite things in such a short time frame.
If Ms. Higgins’ experience is embellished or an isolated one, this will be forgotten before the day is over. But if it was the first of many similar stories, then you can call this one for Mr. Quinn right now. If it turns out that Mr. Rauner’s own “inner circle” cannot trust him, neither will voters.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:49 am
“Thinking that conservatives would not vote for Rauner due to a stand he takes during the campaign on a social issue is ridiculous.”
I agree.
Illinois conservatives don’t truly care about the issues of gay marriage and abortion; or they don’t believe a word from Bruce Rauner’s mouth.
Or, I guess, it could be both.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:49 am
That “just weird” explanation of his position is just pathetic.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:50 am
The Illinois Republican civil war should be taken as a proof of concept that perpetual motion machines do exist.
Comment by The Captain Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:53 am
Because this strategy has worked so well for the Illinois Review crowd the last decade+
Comment by Anonymoiis Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 11:57 am
@The Captain comes through with a MrJM or Michelle Flaherty-esque one-liner.
To the post, Mrs Higgins is a == Cultural Advisor == ? This may actually play right into Rauner’s hands in saying he is a moderate.
Then there is this from the Huffington Post yesterday == A gay dad takes on Laurie Higgins of the Illinois Family Institute == http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/21/gay-dad-conservative-grandmother-_n_5852498.html
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:06 pm
Illinois conservatives only care about winning. Rauner can say whatever he wants to get there,
Comment by my two cents Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:07 pm
To the Post,
This goes to the cake Rauner hoped to bake;
Get more moderates at a higher clip than the conservatives Rauner alienates, with a smidge of
“Be quiet, get in line!”
Which Bruce do you believe?
Bruce that would have vetoed SSM, or the Rauner who says ===He (Bruce) answered, “Frankly, I think the idea of two men marrying is just weird.”===
Do we believe the Rauner who has no social agenda or the Rauner who === When asked about abortion, Rauner answered, “I believe that life begins at conception.”===
It’s is a Herculean task to identify Pluses that are GOP voters who hear these remarks, and moderates who are confused by these remarks, and say your Plus list is solid enough to understand who you are dragging out.
I am a Plus. I have not been secured, but Rauner’s Crew have me ID’d.
All those calls and mailings are not voting Pluses.
And with no may to understand what ingredients, and this cake needs the numbers to work to make it rise, this confusing of issues constitutes a glaring flaw in the GOTV, and add the Libertarian Ticket as a choice, trouble in paradise, indeed.
“Call me, Maybe?”, Pat Brady, Part Two.
This speaks to this, loudly and maybe fatally.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:10 pm
==I am a Plus. I have not been secured, but Rauner’s Crew have me ID’d.==
Give me your address Willy, and I will send my crew right over. You still live on the 19th hole, right?
Comment by Western Ave. Doug Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:14 pm
I know a few conservatives who plan to sit this one out. They feel Rauner has offered them nothing and plans to explode the debt even higher. The flip-flop on social issues is a stamp to his unsuitability to represent their issues. He doesn’t represent anything at this point.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:16 pm
My work here is done.
Comment by William j Kelly Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:18 pm
Rarely is anything labeled “end of story” the actual end of the story.
Comment by Aldyth Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:22 pm
===My work here is done. ===
Promise?
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:22 pm
- Western Ave. Doug -,
See, there’s the mistake, I live at the “Halfway House” between “12 Green” and “13 Tee Box”
Even Two-Putt Cross know that!
The wifey in I would be asking myself if I were in that Crew,
“Who am I dragging out, if I am dragging ANYONE out, and how am I going to go about getting those Indies and Dems in my mix of the GOP GA races I am using?”
This could be a replay of the Primary, with no clue or no control of their GOTV, no idea what is out there, what they’re chasing, but with a losing result against a Union GOTV that saw this movie in March.
“Who are the Pluses?”
Exactly right.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:24 pm
1) Rich wins the day.
2) - wjk -, you might be the only person to convince me to vote for Bruce Rauner. lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:26 pm
Sorry but since the tea party started to boil 5 years ago conservatives have had 2 shots each at us senate primaries and gubernatorial primaries in addition to more than half a dozen house races and they’ve mostly come up short in winning the primaries. This while conservatives elsewhere like indiana have been able to knock off powerful incumbent republican war horses.
Comment by Shore Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:27 pm
Rauner’s pick for Lt.Guv matters. it shows he either does not care or cares exactly for what she stands for. Rauner appears to be anti choice. Rauner has a social agenda.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:29 pm
===“I wonder how conservatives feel?==
Y Dog, “Fine, thanks for asking”. lol===
A guy…, I’m reminded of when Tony Bennett, who was dating a woman about half his age, was asked how he felt about that. His answer?
“I feel fine. How do you feel?”
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:34 pm
There is a reason that the adage “you can’t play both ends against the middle” is still around.
Comment by Archiesmom Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 12:36 pm
So it’s all about “promises?”
–Meeks said he’d never heard of Rauner before Eden Martin, President of the Civic Committee, called (Meeks) on Rauner’s behalf about five years ago to request a meeting. So he Googled the name.
“When I saw how much money he was worth, I said, ‘Sure, let the guy come on,’” laughed Meeks.–
http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/24981392-452/bruce-rauners-other-chicago-friends-might-surprise-you-brown.html#.VCBvPEqHhnE
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 1:52 pm
== Illinois conservatives only care about winning. Rauner can say whatever he wants to get there ==
There are at least a few conservatives who will not vote for a pro-choice candidate, even if he is a Republican. Some feel the same about SSM.
Comment by Anon Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 2:06 pm
VanillaMan
“Thinking that conservatives would not vote for Rauner due to a stand he takes during the campaign on a social issue is ridiculous.”
You do understand that a significant number of GOP voters are affiliated with the GOP because of social issues ? The ads he’s running in Chicago about being pro-choice and not interfering with the SSM law are going to drive them away from him. Many social conservatives are Evangelical Christians that vote their values. Additionally, there are many pro-life conservative Catholics that also will not vote for Rauner. The so-called values voters are around 25% of the GOP core. If they stay home, Rauner loses bigtime.
Comment by AFSCME Steward Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 2:07 pm
Vanilla and Steward: If these so-called Catholic conservatives will not vote for Rauner, why would they vote for Quinn? Knee jerk cultural indoctrination for Democrats?!’
Comment by Kama Sutra Records Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 2:26 pm
Kama Sutra Records
“Vanilla and Steward: If these so-called Catholic conservatives will not vote for Rauner, why would they vote for Quinn? Knee jerk cultural indoctrination for Democrats?!’”
They’re not going to vote for Governor at all. Every conservative who doesn’t vote for Rauner is a vote Quinn doesn’t have to find a way to overcome.
There is nothing in my comment that suggests I think they are voting for Quinn.
Comment by AFSCME Steward Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 2:32 pm
Conservatives have no idea where Rauner truly stands. He runs around saying his pro-choice to some and radically anti-choice to others to the point where one of his own benefactors, Jack Roeser, insinuated Rauner lies “on the hustings.”
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 2:52 pm
Steward: Thank you for your realistic answer. No predictions at this point.
Comment by Kama Sutra Records Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 2:53 pm
==”last fall”==
The operative words. Rauner has changed almost every position since then — or is trying to sound like he has.
Comment by walker Monday, Sep 22, 14 @ 3:51 pm