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* From the Bruce Rauner campaign…
Bruce Rauner’s campaign today launched a new ad taking aim at Gov. Pat Quinn’s record of kids dying while in the custody of his Department of Child and Family Services.
“They were just children, our most vulnerable with their whole lives ahead – lives cut short tragically, senselessly from abuse, neglect while in the care of Pat Quinn’s administration,” the ad titled “Just Children” begins. “Incompetence or corruption? It doesn’t matter. Pat Quinn failed those who needed him most – and now he wants four more years.”
According to multiple media reports, the number of DCFS-involved children who have died due to abuse or neglect has spiked sharply under Pat Quinn – 15 in 2010, 34 in 2011 and 2012, and 27 in 2013 with five more under investigation.
Under Pat Quinn, DCFS funding has been cut by $115 million since Fiscal Year 2010. Meanwhile, Quinn’s DCFS has been repeatedly plagued by cronyism and corruption. Most famously, George E. Smith looted millions from DCFS using his relationship with then-Director Erwin McEwen. Smith allegedly used $100,000 for sports tickets. Rather than fire McEwen, Quinn allowed him to resign.
“There’s a real human cost to Pat Quinn’s cronyism and corruption,” Rauner campaign spokesperson Mike Schrimpf said. “If we had a governor who cared more about people than politics, maybe some of these kids would still be alive.”
Whew. Essentially calling the governor a “baby killer” and it’s only October 7th. I’m expecting a strong Quinn response to this. Stay tuned.
* Rate it…
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s spokesperson…
This is a false and malicious attempt to smear the Governor.
Bruce Rauner is well aware that the Department of Children and Family Services is an agency that intervenes in emergency life and death situations to save children who are most at risk for abuse and neglect.
To imply the Governor is somehow responsible for the deaths of children in the horrific circumstances that this agency enters into while trying to save lives is despicable and a new low.
The cynical irony of Bruce Rauner’s false ad is that it’s his budget plan that would cut deny DCFS the resources necessary to fulfill its vital mission.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:05 am
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As distasteful as accusing Rauner of killing the elderly.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:10 am
“If we had a billionaire who cared more about people than profits, maybe some of these people killed in Bruce Rauner’s nursing homes would still be alive.”
Fixed at no charge, Mr. Schrimpf.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:12 am
I heard Rauner hired Quinn to kill the seniors in Rauner’s nursing homes as part of a scheme to defraud Medicaire.
That’s it! I’m voting for the Libertarian: Scott Lee Cohen for Governor.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:13 am
Are the fact’s true? “Fact’s”… If true what is the response? Denial with facts? Or a quick release saying “A new low…blah blah blah..” This one hurts PQ.
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:13 am
For the record, I agree with Vanilla Man (and note that the new ad brought Rauner’s nursing home scandal to mind in partisans of both camps.)
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:15 am
Despicable
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:19 am
Woah, wait, are we done with “soft on crime” and “secretly corrupt” now? Rauner’s messages grow up so fast these days…
I don’t really have a good sense for ads, and I’ve certainly got a rooting interest here, but that strikes me as pretty over the top, like that “godless” as Liddy Dole ran in 2008.
Comment by Adlai Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:21 am
How long until Rauner’s response that he promises to increase funding to DCFS?
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:24 am
Which murderer do we vote for? A true dilemma…
Comment by Peoria guy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:25 am
Since the DCFS problems are budget related, i.e. not enough money to hire investigators, how is Rauner proposing to fix the budget? Last I heard, he was going to shut down the state, which will put many, many more at risk. So this ad is hypocrisy.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:25 am
It’s a legitimate hit. If you have to be a child in foster care, Illinois is one of the worst places to live. Texas, for example exceeds IL in every way. Far lower fatality rate, more family reunifications, quicker adoptions, etc. What has Quinn done to reform DCFS? Nothing effective.
Comment by Confused Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:31 am
This is a very legitimate hit on Quinn. He has had 6 years to clean up the mess there and has done nothing except appoint a string of directors and then turn a blind eye to their requests to fix that dysfunctional agency.
Comment by Cassiopeia Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:36 am
Rauner’s connections to the nursing home deaths is tenuous at best. And it usually isn’t news to anyone but greedy plainitiff’s lawyers when people die in nursing homes. Nursing homes are where the frail elderly go to live out their last days.
On the other hand, Pat Quinn’s DCFS is supposed to take care of these vulnerable children and they didn’t. The legislative oversight of DCFS has been horrible. Quinn has had this coming for a long time.
What Rauner is saying may be ugly, but its true.
Comment by Meanderthal Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:36 am
Why does Bruce Rauner sneak into the rooms of elderly nursing homes patients and smother them with dollar-sign clad canvas bags?
Comment by Mittuns Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:38 am
“Texas, for example exceeds IL in every way.”
Yes, Texas.
http://tinyurl.com/pgtd3y3
Truly, Texas is paradise on Earth.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:40 am
The constant Rauner bashing here has gotten boring.
Comment by RINO Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:43 am
“Nursing homes are where the frail elderly go to live out their last days.”
Before one can credibly post about nursing homes, one should take the time to learn the difference between “nursing homes” and “hospice”.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:43 am
For a story line, I think you need to make a choice between incompetent and corrupt.
So, is he not good at being corrupt? I don’t get it.
How hard is it to make a choice? Decide what you’re selling, then sell it. This is just confused.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:44 am
“The constant Rauner bashing here has gotten boring.”
Some people might be tempted to break up the monotony with a substantive comment, but I see you’ve resisted.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:46 am
RINO… I could not agree more…. The nexus to owning a company that has had deaths and playing hardball in business deals fires up folks. To them, and all of us it should. But, when our Governor who is in charge of this agency and has this record draws a third of the comments proves the intent of many. We can’t even agree on this topic in a non partisan way… No matter who wins this election I am more convinced we all lose.
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:47 am
Sorry, Brucie. This is weak sauce. This is defensive — and means nothing in the context of the allegations that are coming out about your implied violence and threats.
Once you threaten folks — and families — and have a corroborating witness, you’re toast.
The election will be close, I know — but Rauner’s forever got the stink and the taint.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:51 am
With Quinn, you don’t have to pick between incompetant or corrupt. He is both.
The deaths of those poor children prove he is incompetant. NRI proves he is corrupt.
Comment by Meanderthal Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:52 am
Highly effective.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:53 am
Frenchie.. This doesn’t bother you? Not in a political sense, but the facts of this issue? There is two sides of a story in the business case released today. Kids HAVE died.
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:55 am
Act II, Scene MMCXLII: [John walks to the calendar with November 4 highlighted, crosses another day off and dejectedly sighs.]
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:00 am
Pot calling the kettle black. First - draws attention to the nursing home deaths. Second, DCFS is a mess - agreed. He presents himself as a businessman who can solve all problems of the bureaucracy with ease. Does Rauner have a solution to fix it? Go for it and please present your proposal.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:04 am
Can we please name the Republicans that voted to increase taxes to allow for increased funding for DCFS? This is the real result of policies to cut taxes and cut programs. People suffer. Then you have Democrats are too affraid to do the right thing and just worry about getting reelected and vote for program cuts. It is shameful. We have businesses earning RECORD PROFITS, but want their taxes lowered and programs slashed. This is not Pat Quinn’s fault, he was forced into program cuts. Unlike Mr. Rauner’s company, which bled his nursing homes dry for PROFIT. Mr. Rauner is full of empty promises. If he does advocate for more funding for DCFS, where does he plan to get those funds from?????
Comment by Say It Ain't So!! Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:06 am
Anonymous… Great pivot on children dying. As good and thought out as your nickname. To ripoff my hero’s line OW… Dope.
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:08 am
i cry for the children and elderly,but what would bruce do to stop it?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:08 am
I expect the response to this ad will be highly partisan.
For me though (admittedly pro-Quinn), it seemed to cross a line. Babies are different from old people. Accusing Quinn of being a baby-killer just seems to take politics too far.
Difficult to put my finger on exactly why, but I really found this distasteful. Still, I expect a lot of pro-Rauner people who really hate Quinn are going to look at at it and say “See? Quinn kills kids.”
One last note - so now we add another item to Rauner’s long list of new spending.
Anytime he wants to tell us where he’s going to find the budget cuts, considering the current state of the budget and all his new spending, he should let us know.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:10 am
Walter, I’m pretty sure that the death of children bothers everyone.
If the Rauner spot generates some sustained public interest in the welfare of at-risk children, then good on him.
Are we going to get some Rauner “plan” for DCFS? Because he’s said oogats about it up to now. And there’s nothing on his website about it at all.
As it stands now, it’s just a political hit.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:12 am
This might be the political ad of 2014. It hits Pat Quinn hard in all the right demographics. It suggests he doesn’t manage “the children” very well. It also implies much, much worse. Bruce Rauner may have really hit paydirt here. How many suburban moms might be asking : ” doesn’t pay Quinn care about the children?”. This is a brutal ad.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:15 am
This will work about as well as the nursing home diatribes. Poorly. The economic matters still matter most.
This picture is stark, but they blame it on “corruption and cronyism?”
How about on poor management processes and serious lack of funding?
The problem they have is they cannot continuously focus on spending cuts that have already occurred. They shy away from admitting there has been any spending control.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:17 am
DCFS filled with “corruption and cronyism” and allowing someone to resign for their misdeeds instead of firing them.
Lets see, I’ve been in the corporate world for 23 years, and I’ve seen a whole lot of people resign for ‘personal reasons’ when the truth was far far different. However, I’m sure that in all of his corporate dealings Rauner has never alllowed someone to resign for ‘personal reasons’ and fired everyone who has done any misdeeds :->
I believe Rauner opened another line of attack whith his words there. I don’t think it would be so difficult to find out about people he allowed to resign, to cover up some sort of scandal, when they should have been flat out fired. But, then we’d get another Juris Doctorate type press release to explain everything.
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:18 am
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but I’m curious how Rauner is going to solve all of Illinois’ many problems (which, like this one, would take more money), while cutting taxes, the source of money for government.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:18 am
Charles Thomas Tweet says it all: “While blaming @GovernorQuinn for DCFS @BruceRauner won’t take responsibility for deaths at GTCR nursing homes.”
Comment by Jimmy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:19 am
The Quinn response. They took the quick bait.. The ad and the merits are now confirmed by the Quinn campaign.
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:20 am
Distasteful at best. Given his wife’s profession, even more surprising. And interesting ad for a guy with “no social agenda.”
The ad aside, Quinn has done a miserable job of managing DCFS especially given Jerry Stermer’s tenure at DCFS (ages ago) and his long tenure at Voices for Illinois Children
Comment by anonymous Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:21 am
I don’t know how this can be considered a legitimate hit unless Rauner offers some kind of actual verifiable plan for increasing DCFS’s funding or otherwise changing DCFS. Sadly, we all know that won’t happen, and without that, the ad is nothing but a desperate action by a small man with a big wallet.
Comment by Slow Down Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:21 am
Wait! Is Quinn campaign saying Rauner has a budget plan?
Where is this plan?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:27 am
Is there a study or analysis that shows which states do the best caring for children “in the system”? How much each state spends?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:29 am
This ad really is beyond brutal . But, the Democrat party was eventually going to get a response on the whole ” Republicans hate women and children thing”. It’s early. Will Bruce Rauner attack Pat Quinn and Cook County Democrats for consigning CPS students to a life time of poverty because they run “sub-standard” public schools? Stay tuned.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:30 am
For all those saying PQ’s ad was just as bad, go back and watch the ad… then compare it. It’s not even close. This reeks of desperation and truly is a new low.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aywVx4UPIv8
Comment by John Kamis Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:32 am
Meh..The reality is that neither party can claim the moral high ground, it is a race to see who can descend to the bottom of the pit. Until the public convinces them that we are sick of that approach it will continue.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:34 am
Obviously, I prefer Quinn over Rauner.
But I think reasonable people (who knows how much of the electorate they are) realize children “in the system” get abused and killed. They are by definition “at risk”.
This ad makes me think of Rauner’s nursing homes. Rauner got rich finding ways to squeeze companies. Squeezing nursing homes resulted in pre-mature deaths.
To me, the attack on Quinn reminds me that Rauner’s ideas about efficiency kill people.
Complaining there are more deaths of children “in the system” during the Great Recession… it’s possible mismanagement is the cause. But it’s also possible impoverishing families leads to children dying. Without sophisticated analysis, it’s hard to say what’s happening in DCFS.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:35 am
Blatantly false.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:36 am
Steve, don’t quit your day job.
You really think Rauner is going to run a spot on Chicago Public Schools? To persuade whom of what?
What’s he going to talk about? Moving his good from New Trier to clout her into Payton? Shutting neighborhood schools while charters like his get tax money? Being Rahm’s best buddy on school issues?
Quit a strategy there. What voters will he pick up?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:41 am
Agree with RINO & Walter Mitty. We may have two (three?) poor choices. Most know Quinn is incompetent at best. Most know that Rauner has strong negatives and couldn’t get much done with Madigan really in charge. But, at least with Rauner, we might see some of the fumigation that Quinn promised years ago and maybe a pause in the endemic corruption in this state.
Comment by Mister M Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:41 am
Mr. Nyberg,
Have you looked at http://www.childwelfarepolicy.org/maps/reimbursement_fact_sheets?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:42 am
Disturbing ad. How can we as individuals let this happen? But it fails in my repeated watching to lay it on Quinn. The headlines are hard to read and finally do not say that DCFS failed only that DCFS involved children died.
Comment by uptown progressive Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:43 am
Fair hit, although a bit over the top (like Bruce killing seniors) but at the end of the day we don’t know what if anything Rauner would do differently. I get that Pat isn’t great as Gov but at least he is partially based in reality. Maybe Bruce will suggest more money for DCFS as well.
Comment by Spliff Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:45 am
The irony just hit me. Traditionally, the Republican attacks on Democrats has been “Spending is out of control!” And yet the last few attacks on Quinn has been that he’s not spending enough. Go figure.
So to the post, Carl Nyberg @ 9:35 pretty much says it for me.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:46 am
Rauner might have switched his ad strategy to getting everybody so disheartened, with Quinn’s complementary help, that only the most ideologically-driven show up at the polls.
Low turnout will help Rauner.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:49 am
The effectiveness of this ad will depend a great deal on whether the voters who see it believe DCFS has serious problems that have not been addressed or managed properly for a long while, and that innocent children have suffered. If so, the ad will resonate and may cut through the clutter because if they do believe DCFS is a problem and they want it fixed/improved as a government priority, then seeing a politician at least showing he recognizes the problem, and is willing to try to attack it, offers them hope for change.
If they believe DCFS is not an agency in trouble or don’t care, then this ad will probably just be perceived as partisan screeching.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:54 am
Well now they are even. Rauner kills old ladies and Quinn kills kids.
Next.
Comment by allknowingmasterofracoondom Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:56 am
Best way to give at risk children more support is to increase staff and services at DCFS. Best way to do that is to keep the income tax at 5%. Ergo, GOP policies will worsen this problem, ergo vote for Quinn.
This ad is, jeez, it might be effective if people believe the premise that their governor kills babies. But I don’t think people believe their governor kills babies. It is much easier to convince people that some unknown billionaire kills old people. This goes to the study that showed Quinn is not a blank slate, Rauner is, so negative attacks stick better on Rauner.
I mean seriously, our governor kills babies and this is the first we’re hearing of it? Where are the Feds and the media? It’s not a believable attack.
Comment by Chi Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:58 am
Let’s see how this campaign is going so far: Quinn and his Super PAC allies accuse Rauner of murdering or through neglect killing and/or mistreating senior citizens in a chain of nursing homes he once had a financial interest in.
How awful of Rauner!
Rauner accuses Quinn of presiding over a spike of increased baby deaths and mistreatment through DCFS failures during his tenure, as a result of understaffing and/or neglect.
How awful of Rauner!
Sorry Quinn campers. It is a fair hit in the ugliest campaign for Governor in Illinois’ sorry recent political history.
The “How Dare He Poke Me In The Eye After I Poked Him In The Eye” press releases in response to this ugliness has grown even more despicable than the ugliness itself.
Only in Illinois.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:05 am
===the Democrat party===
And…there went your credibility…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:06 am
Steve,
You are talking to adults here.
When you refer to “the Democrat party” you are telling us all that you are not an adult.
Have you thought about posting on some tea party page? Your comments likely would fit in well there.
Here, people may disagree, but we avoid the stupidity of things like “the Democrat party.”
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:11 am
Is Rauner promising to increase funding for DCFS? I didn’t hear that commitment.
If Rauner wins, this same standard that he wants to apply to Quinn should be applied to him. If kids die on his watch, and if he cuts funding for DCFS, then he would be just as responsible.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:14 am
Louis G Atsaves
“Quinn and his Super PAC allies accuse Rauner of murdering or through neglect killing and/or mistreating senior citizens in a chain of nursing homes he once had a financial interest in.”
Big difference. Rauner personally bankrolled is affluent lifestyle through his nursing home schemes. Quinn was governor of Illinois during of the biggest economic ression since the 1930’s. Funds were cut for DCFS & most other state agencies. Why ? Because there was less revenue coming in. When funds aren’t there, less people are hired. When less people are hired, caseloads explode. When caseloads explode there isn’t sufficient time & resources throughly investigate child abuse complaints. Additionally, the legislature approves the funding for DCFS. Quinn has veto power over the budget, but it is the legislature that appropriates it.
I am scratching my head trying to remember the names of all the GOP GA members that were squawking about DCFS under funding. Perhaps you can refresh my memory.
Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:15 am
That should say
Big difference. Rauner personally bankrolled his affluent lifestyle through his nursing home schemes.
Comment by AFSCME Steward Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:17 am
-wordslinger-
As you know, Republicans don’t run the city of Chicago. Or CPS. If Rauner can demoralize enough city of Chicago voters to not show up: he then has a chance to win. Blaming Democrats for Democrat run school districts isn’t going to hurt the swing vote in the suburbs. It might actually help. Anyways, what does Rauner have to lose : he’s not going to win in Chicago because they like the status quo. They don’t mind bad public schools. They embrace them : year after year.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:18 am
how much lower can rauner go? he is despicable and egomaniac seems like
Comment by bill ryan Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:21 am
Having had various family members work at DCFS over quite a few years, I think I can objectively say there are good people there trying to do the right thing but budget constraints and varying leadership make things difficult … and this has been the case for at least the last 40 years.
In some ways DCFS is like Homeland Security; they are expected to be perfect 100% of the time. They get criticized if they remove kids too quickly, if they take too long to remove kids, take too long to reunite families and if they reunite families too quickly and kids get hurt. They are pretty much in a no-win situation.
Yes, better leadership and more money would help but the unfortunate fact is the agency will never be able to properly protect every kid every time, but protecting the kids should be the goal.
The real question, in both nursing homes (Rauner) and foster care (Quinn), is how many of these deaths were reasonably foreseeable or preventable?
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:28 am
Steve, you claim Chicagoans “don’t mind” and “embrace” bad public schools, yet will be “demoralized” by negative spots about them.
That doesn’t make sense.
You haven’t found the proper balance yet between logic and misanthropy.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:29 am
The race to the bottom continues.
The Quinnsters should have asked, “Since we’re arguing hypotheticals now, How many would’ve died following Rauner’s veto of Medicaid expansion?”
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:29 am
===You haven’t found the proper balance yet between logic and misanthropy. ===
While word is hilariously correct, let’s move along, please.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:30 am
If the ad were true, Rauner should be congratulating Quinn for evading responsibility, not criticizing him.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:30 am
Been in eastern Pennsylvania for the last four days and away from the ads and only glancing at IL news and this website occasionally. Gee, it’s great to be back… Sigh…
Comment by Archiesmom Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:30 am
@Louis Atsaves: Your general point is well-made and appreciated. These are equally cheap shots from both sides, and ugly. And the responses are not responsive.
But the problem remains: Is Rauner calling for reversing the budget cuts that have been made? It is simply true that case loads have exploded with less resources due to spending cuts under Quinn’s watch.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:31 am
== The real question, in both nursing homes (Rauner) and foster care (Quinn), is how many of these deaths were reasonably foreseeable or preventable? ==
Another real question involved leadership style.
If your only tool is a sledgehammer, every agency and department will look like something that needs to be smashed into pieces.
Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:33 am
28 more days of this garbage to go.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:37 am
===“The constant Rauner bashing here has gotten boring.”
Some people might be tempted to break up the monotony with a substantive comment, but I see you’ve resisted.
– MrJM
===
Oh señor, you have such a way with zee words. Ouch!
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:44 am
i worked 20 years in dcfs child protection. tragedies happened, kid hurt, died and we injured. we did best we could. i worked under 5 governors none of them responsible for any child death. I realize politics aint beanbag as Harold washing said but this is beyond all pale
Comment by bill ryan Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:44 am
It has taken a couple of months of watching Governor Quinn and his partisan supporters claiming wildly that his political opponent was responsible for killing seniors, for Rauner to step up with the same type of attack against Governor Quinn.
The same logic applies to both, yet partisans supportive of one candidate seemingly wish to claim that their murder claim is true while the other’s is not.
Frankly, if Rauner is guilty of causing seniors to die in nursing homes because his venture business organization invested in nursing homes where deaths occurred, then Quinn is guilty using the same logic as used against Rauner.
In both cases, these men are involved in providing leadership for institutions responsible for society’s vulnerable. Deaths that occur can be claimed by the other’s opponent as partisan fodder.
Perhaps if one of the candidates was a military leader, we would be watching advertisements claiming that deaths occurring during military operations supervised by that candidate, were somehow indicative of that candidate’s insensitivities.
For months it has been taken as an article of fact that Bruce Rauner was complicit in nursing home deaths. Look above - we still see partisans trying to tell us, and themselves, that Rauner is a murderer, but Quinn isn’t. It is ridiculous.
Rauner is reminding Quinn’s voter base that the Governor failed to keep all children who are wards of Illinois, safe from harm and death. Who is impacted by this exposure? What voters?
The voters in Chicago. This is an ad that impacts voters in Chicago more than in the rest of Illinois. Why? We know why.
You see, the difference between presidential election years and mid-terms is voter turn out. Illinois Democrats have been doing as much as they can to keep that mid-term drop as low as possible. The ballot initiatives are all about keeping that drop off low. The exaggerated claims that have been made regarding “keeping people from the ballot box”, or whatever it is called - is a slick way of claiming that whatever voter drop off we see next month, could be excused as malicious manipulation - not as what it really is - normal mid-term election figures.
This ad intends to discourage drop off by impacting voters who are non-partisan. This ad - and all the other negative ads used against Rauner, claiming he is a murderer, implicit in theft, lying to us - whatever. All these negative ads are used to drive down voter turn-out.
So with every negative ad, we see a threat to voter turn out. No one is trying to keep people from the polls, but instead, it seems both parties are doing all it can to gut any voter’s respect for their candidate or for the process.
Negative campaigns end up here. Like it? Claim it works? Happy now? We got two candidates for governor that the other is spending money on, advertising claims that the other is responsible for the deaths of someone.
We are all losing our state with tactics like this.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:45 am
Nice try at moral equivalency VanillaMan. Not.
Too bad your guy Bruce personally profited from the suffering of the elderly and disabled and then ran for the hills instead of taking responsibility when people started dying. That’s bad enough, but then he’s okay with toxic part of the business being dumped on a confused old man who is now in a nursing home himself.
Not even comparable to Quinn and DCFS.
Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:57 am
===Governor Quinn and his partisan supporters claiming wildly that his political opponent was responsible for killing seniors===
At the risk of injecting some facts into rant VanillaMan, it was a lawsuit brought by relatives of the deceased seniors who made the claim against Rauner. Actually, I believe it was several wrongful death lawsuits that made this same claim.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:59 am
From a messaging standpoint “Incompetent or corrupt? It doesn’t matter” pretty much sums up everything about Rauner’s negative campaign strategy so far and why I think they can’t make anything stick.
I know Republicans hate Quinn for many, varied reasons, just like Obama, but the hits are less effective when they come across so all encompassing and muddled.
Rauner comes out and says one day we should vote against Quinn bec ause he’s NOT a “folksy, bumbling fool.” Now they concede maybe that’s what he is but it doesn’t matter as long as you vote against him.
What is the theory of the campaign here for Team rauner?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:03 am
Vanillaman -
The Sun-Times own editorial board noted that the rise in reported deaths was due to changes in reporting THAT THE EDITORIAL BOARD WENT ON TO APPLAUD.
They also noted that the rise was due to unsafe sleep that were beyond the ability of DCFS to prevent.
It is not only a ludicrous ad, it is a huge, unforced political error.
Rauner smartly started making the campaign about taxes and incumbency.
Now he wants to make the campaign about which party you trust to protect children from abuse and neglect?
Republicans will lose that debate 99 times out of 100.
Just look what Sente is doing right now.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:09 am
Rauner bashes Quinn for spending cuts for DCFS and tearlier for education. But he also bashes Quinn for out-of-control spending. In other words, the GOP wants to have it both ways. Please choose a lane.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:09 am
Don’t worry Bruce, you can never stretch these things too far.
Comment by Aqua Buddha Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:18 am
So it’s despicable for Rauner to link Quinn to failures of state government under his leadership that result in deaths, but it’s okay to go after Rauner for similar deaths in companies he owns?
Pot, meet kettle.
John
Comment by John Boch Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:24 am
I was so distracted by the crib mattress height that I missed 1/2 the commercial. The crib mattress being too shallow brings to me makes the point that parents make poor/dangerous/abusive decisions regarding babies, not PQ.
Comment by Rayne of Terror Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:30 am
This is a saddening campaign.
Quinn has worked to protect the DCFS budget. Great harm was done when the legislature cut below the Governor’s recommended level. Funds were restored but only after time and energy was spent planning to implement the cuts.
Rauner’s attacks seem uninformed. He charges the cape and misses the matador.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:39 am
I know Bruce Rauner isn’t courting the vote of public employees, but this ad’s collateral damage is that it slams the door shut on another group of voters and their friends/families. DCFS often involves grueling, thankless, work by individuals that put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis.
The workers at the GCTR-managed nursings homes aren’t likely Illinois voters; DCFS employees are.
Comment by Jeanne Dough Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:40 am
People are beginning to see through this guy and laugh at these kinds of ads like I do. The question is, when will MADIGAN start using Rauner’s record against the GOP members who are being funded by around? Now that there will be funny — watching Rauner implode.
Comment by Larry the Cable Guy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:45 am
This is what happens when the campaigns are moved in this direction. Just gets more horrendous. It doesn’t matter who started it. Both sides could argue that one. For six weeks the Quinn team has decided the only way is the “drive up the negatives”. Senior homes, business, blah, blah. Now he gets one back in the gut for a demo people consider more vulnerable than even the elderly.
No matter where people stand, it’s sad it’s gotten here and appears to be going even worse. No one in any party ever, should want it this bad.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:52 am
==Quinn has worked to protect the DCFS budget.==
The problems at DCFS go very far beyond the DCFS budget as I think you probably know, Last Bull Moose and others. Not everything, at every moment, in government and bureaucracy is about the money. Yes, lack of it is usually trotted out as the excuse of first resort and funding does matter, but the problems there run deep and involve poor management in many cases and poor decision making in many cases and caseworking incompetence in many cases. Quinn and agency heads are responsible to see that this important community social service is performed to the benefit of children and babies. That DCFS is a mess is a hot button issue for many of us. It is sad to see some defending the Quinn admin on this —something I’d think we should all want to see improved.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:56 am
It’s really not that difficult to understand that when programs are underfunded, they can’t do the job the way that they should. That applies to programs that serve children and nursing homes.
Comment by Aldyth Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:07 pm
Responsa, see, here’s the rub with your comment. DCFS has just as much responsibility to the family as they do to the child: if the responsibility was just to the child, then the job, while still very hard, would be easier.
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:07 pm
And, no, Aldyth, it really isn’t that hard, to understand,is it?
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:12 pm
Rich -
Rayne of Terror is partly correct.
I would note that the opening scene of the Rauner ad shows an infant being placed to sleep with a blanket in his crib.
One of the leading causes of sleep suffocation, according to every medical expert.
The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends infants sleep alone, on their backs, and in a crib that is free of blankets, toys, and other possible suffocation hazards.
Sleep suffocations were the single largest cause of death in the Sun-Times report.
The child in this ad is clearly being shown placed at risk, apparently unbeknownst to Rauner, who is promoting a very unsafe practice.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:44 pm
Great call by YDD!
I’d love to see Quinn turn the tables and say, “According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the hazards posed in the ad (crib height, blanket, toys) can be attributed to as many, if not MORE infant deaths. Will Rauner take responsibility for promoting these unsafe practices, feign ignorance, or blame others?”
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:54 pm
Can we declare the race to the bottom official over when our choice is framed by the candidates themselves as the choice between the baby killer and the grandma killer? All I see here is utter contempt for the electorate.
Comment by Downstate Weed Chewing Hick Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:16 pm
–“There’s a real human cost to Pat Quinn’s cronyism and corruption,” Rauner campaign spokesperson Mike Schrimpf said. “If we had a governor who cared more about people than politics, maybe some of these kids would still be alive.”–
You really think you can sell that to someone who’s not with you already?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 2:09 pm
Same should go for the crap with the nursing homes Sling. There’s at least one guy in this race with a horrible record of governing who cannot possibly win without going negative beyond any sense of decency. We’ll see if it works. I hope it doesn’t.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 3:00 pm
“There’s at least one guy in this race with a horrible record of business disasters who cannot possibly win without going negative beyond any sense of decency. We’ll see if it works.”
Better.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 3:02 pm
==without going negative beyond any sense of decency==
Not seeing much decency in the “Quinn kills kids” attack either @A guy.
A little consistency from you please and thanks.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 4:05 pm