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Three Republican legislators respond to “witch hunt” slam

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Illinois

* Earlier this afternoon, I told you that the governor’s campaign had singled out three Republican members on the Legislative Audit Commission as “Witch Hunt Leaders.” Here is their response…

Does Governor Quinn really believe that federal and Cook County investigators are also on a witch hunt?

Sen. Jason Barickman
Rep. Ron Sandack
Rep. David Reis

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:40 pm

Comments

The difference between those three and federal, as well as Cook County investigators is, the federal and Cook County investigators are not trying to score political points and tweeting about it (I see you Ron Sandack).

Comment by wndycty Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:47 pm
It was a campaign statement, so of course he didn’t believe it. All connections with reality are severed until November.

That doesn’t mean the statement is false. Blind pigs, stopped clocks, etc.

Comment by Anon. Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:48 pm
–Does Governor Quinn really believe that federal and Cook County investigators are also on a witch hunt?–

Probably not. I’d assume those guys know what they’re trying to accomplish. Haven’t seen any evidence of that from Barickman, Sandack and Reis.

Want to clue us in?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:50 pm
Is the hearing still going on? If so, if this was a serious endeavor, and not a witch hunt, they shouldn’t be issuing statements during the hearing. Federal and Cook County investigators are not going around grandstanding, tweeting and issuing statements.

Comment by wndycty Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:52 pm
Who, Sen. Barickman?

Who, Rep. Sandack?

Who, Rep. Reis?

Who among you are federal prosecutors?

Who among you are an Audit Commission?

Dopes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:53 pm
So elected officials can’t misuse their authority do something that appears to be legitimate on its face, but in reality was undertaken for a purely partisan political reasons?

Uhh… okay.

When the hearing is over, Google “irony”, fellas.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 2:58 pm
==Does Governor Quinn really believe that federal and Cook County investigators are also on a witch hunt?==

Yes. Dopes.

Comment by Toure's Latte Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:18 pm
MrJM Nailed it!

Comment by Namaste Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:18 pm
It’s precisely the right response. Quick and to the point. They were smart to not just leave it out there. The Q’s overreacted with their snipey list. These 3 just jabbed back. Right response, right tone.

Comment by A guy... Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:21 pm
So disappointed in Barickman, I thought he was better than this. Socially moderate Republican that had a chance for higher office. This will haunt him if/when he runs for AG or Gov.

Comment by J S Mill Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:22 pm
A line from “Office Space” keeps popping in my head:

“So… what do you say that you do here?”

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:26 pm
@A guy…

If I were Pat Quinn, I would say something like…

No, I do not believe the other agencies are on a witch hunt. The other agencies are investigating allegations to see if such allegations warrant merit. They are conducting an investigation properly, and without prejudice. These witch hunt leaders are conducting a public crusade to attempt to destroy me, solely for partisan purposes, and without regard to the concern of others involved in the NRI program who may be completely innocent of any wrongdoing.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:27 pm
The decorum of the panel, particularly Sandack, is just disgusting. It is an embarrassment to this state. To be tweeting (at all) much less inflammatory opinions about a witness’s testimony is something truly disgraceful.

Comment by the koala Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:28 pm
These guys had months to get their ducks in line for their big moment.

Wha happened?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:28 pm
The stock of …the parliament of owls…

“Who…who…who…who”

Way down. Sandack is just horrible if you want someone to look good in the optics of this.

Pathetic, and they don’t even know it, which really makes this even more Dopey.

Ignorant to optics, the Owls

“Who!”

lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:30 pm
I just stare at my desk but it looks like I’m working. I do that for uh, probably another hour after lunch, too. I’d say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:31 pm
@FakeRonSandack - test, 1, 2, 3, Who…#DopeyOwl

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:34 pm
Smoking gun = TPS reports

Comment by the koala Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:35 pm
- Skeptic - lol

@FakeRonSandack - at least Rep. Drury was a former federal prosecutor, I like pretend. #DopeyOwl

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:36 pm
The poor response must have come from the Jump to Conclusions Mat.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:37 pm
Is this hearing limiting itself to violations of the law?

Or does it include stuff that’s intended to be politically damaging but isn’t against the law?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:47 pm
@FakeRonSandack - favorite TV show? Dr…Quinn, not Dr Who #DopeyOwl

@FakeRonSandack - I know the player on 1st …Who. #DopeyOwl

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:49 pm
They sure pulled the plug on the hearings in a hurry. I think the attack may have worked.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:49 pm
===They sure pulled the plug on the hearings in a hurry. I think the attack may have worked.===

lol,

Who stopped it? Who made that decision? Who wanted this to end?

@FakeRonSandack - I didn’t stop it, I had more questions; like Who made us look like Dopes? #RaunerLeadsTheOwls

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:57 pm
In the words of Pee Wee Herman:

“I know you are, but what am I?”

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:57 pm
I’m just glad that politics played no part in this on the part of the Commission members and solely the pursuit of truth.

::headdesk::

Comment by the koala Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 3:59 pm
The difference of course is that federal and Cook County investigators haven’t run an embarrassing kangaroo court that sputters out after 2 days.

Comment by too obvious Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:03 pm
Reis is pawn in the chess game he is playing with himself.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:06 pm
Hey Bruce…we did good right? Are you happy with us? What, what’s that you say…what do you mean the check was cancelled? Whoooo cancelled the check!?

Comment by 2 Cents... Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:23 pm
“Reis is pawn in the chess game he is playing with himself.”

I want to buy this sentence a beer.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:25 pm
dim wimps can’t hunt

Comment by bored to zzzzzzzzz Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:31 pm
The fact that they got permission to have this hearing from the US Attorneys is proof that none of these individuals are under investigation.

They’re looking for wrong doing from the Governor’s Office. Didn’t happen. If they were looking for wrong doing by grantees, then it wouldn’t be a witch hunt. Dopes.

I used to have a lot of respect for Barickman and Sandack. Now, not so much.

Comment by LittleLebowskiUrbanAchiever Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:40 pm
Bad form by the Quinnsters.

Pros don’t taunt their opponents after a first half field goal.

Chalk it up to end-of-campaign madness.

Comment by walker Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:42 pm
They tried to make the wrong case.

The Feds won’t make that mistake.

Comment by walker Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 4:47 pm
“Pros don’t taunt their opponents after first half field goals”

Yout know what else they don’t do? Pros don’t live-tweet insults about people testifying in front of their committees.

Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 5:18 pm
@FakeRonSandack - when I’m not interrupting, I’ll tweet about witnesses to make the hearing a bigger farce then when I just ask “who” #DopeyOwl

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 5:24 pm
The Auditor General must also be on a witch hunt.

Comment by Empty Suit Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 5:35 pm
=== The Auditor General must also be on a witch hunt. ===

How do you figure? The Auditor General did his job and identified a poorly implemented program. He didn’t try to make it about politics.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 9, 14 @ 6:14 pm