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* UPDATED x2 * Quinn campaign responds to Sun-Times endorsement decision

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* Brooke Anderson from the Quinn campaign…

“It’s bizarre. They said they weren’t going to endorse and suddenly - as billionaire Bruce Rauner falls behind in the polls - they are changing their policy. There’s a lot of concern out there that the new owners - who until recently included Bruce Rauner - are operating the paper in a way that is contrary to the independent journalistic standards of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“Unfortunately it appears that Bruce Rauner’s financial influence is still being felt. Any endorsement is clouded by the fact that Mr. Rauner was a part-owner of the paper which abruptly reversed its position when he fell behind in the polls.”

*** UPDATE 1 *** Robert Feder…

The decision to endorse Rauner and no other candidates on the November ballot is certain to fuel cynicism about the motives of Michael Ferro Jr., chairman of Sun-Times Media parent company Wrapports LLC.

In recent weeks, sources said, Ferro has been exerting pressure on editors regarding coverage of Rauner, who held a 10 percent stake in Wrapports before he became a candidate for governor.

There is a lot more to this back-story, and we’ll just have to see if it emerges.

*** UPDATE 2 *** The endorsement is out, and it’s a doozy. Oh. My. Goodness….

Rauner has a detailed campaign platform, his “Jobs and Growth Agenda,” to do just that. It reads like a smart business plan. We invite you to read it at suntimes.com.

The Beatles were wrong. Money can buy you love. And blindness.

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Oct 18, 14 @ 12:01 am

Comments

“Rauner would roll back the state’s permanent income tax rate over time but expand the sales tax to businesses in the growing service sector”

Too bad Rauner’s plan would come up a few billion short in replacing the loss of revenue from rolling back the current income tax rate.

“Rauner has a detailed campaign platform, his “Jobs and Growth Agenda,” to do just that.”

Must be a secret plan. They must have a lax definition of detailed if they think any of Rauner’s plans are detailed.

“yes, raise the minimum wage”

I have no idea what Rauner wants to do with the minimum wage. He’s said so many things my neck hurt from the whiplash.

“he was an investor in Wrapports LLC, the parent company of the Sun-Times”

So basically he scratched their back so they will scratch his. Who wouldn’t give an endorsement to a guy who gave you money?

“Could a Gov. Rauner finally break Madigan’s hold on state government?”

In a word, no.

“A vote for Bruce Rauner is a vote for bold and dramatic change”

Yep. It certainly is that. It certainly will be dramatic when the budget hole balloons.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 7:42 am
Holy Rauner campaign mouthpiece, Batman!

That’s one nasty editorial, with its demonization of union leaders. I was waiting for that to resurface. Rauner hadn’t said it for a while, so it was probably exploding inside of Rauner supporters.

The Sun Tines cast its lot with Rauner, the Koch brothers and others like them who want to lower taxes on the wealthy and weaken unions so they could dominate economically and politically.

By the way, in my observations of states’ economic data, Illinois has improved and climbed one point. Since 04/14 (after the Q1 slowdown due to bad weather), Wisconsin had the worst job growth of the regional states I observed. I didn’t count September’s jobs data, which was even better for Illinois.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 7:54 am
That’s some endorsement. It’s almost as if the Rauner crew wrote it themselves, lol.

This is it people. - it’s Rauner or settling “once and for all — for defeat and decline.”

Who knew Illinois was at such a historic crossroads? Civil War, Chicago Fire, race riots, labor/capital violence, Al Capone, Depression, institutional segregation — mere inconveniences easily overcome compared to today’s dark, dark situation, whatever it is (they don’t say).

The Sun-Times does not exaggerate, they helpfully tell us.

But given the stakes, are you sure Rauner is enough? Shouldn’t we hold out for the messiah or Ironman, maybe?

If it’s all or nothing, right now, I want Tony Stark. He’s richer and smarter than Rauner, plus he can schlepp along The Avengers to boot.

If you”re going to traffic in fantasies, Sun-Times, go large.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 8:02 am
I get it.

They know Rauner better than their own reporters, better than Rauner’s campaign literature expresses, and better than the public, because of their close business and personal relationships.

And remember, without a dramatic change, any change, Illinois is doomed to become an economic backwater.

That’s an argument; but exactly why should we believe it, over everything else we can actually see?

Take a deep breath. Editorial endorsements have been bought and influenced by rich and powerful insider candidates since our country was founded.

Comment by walker Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 8:28 am
“this is illinois.” you buy a paper, you deserve it’s endorsement…

Comment by bored now Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 8:39 am
Very well thought out editorial.
So far Rauner has every newspaper (major ones) in the state.
So are they all in the bag for Rauner or maybe they all see things the same?
Like change is needed in drastic doses

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 8:44 am
If I were Quinn, I’d be shouting SCANDAL to the heavens. This is so foul, the smell test isn’t even needed.

Comment by admin Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 8:54 am
Rauner made $113 million in the last two years while living in Illinoisso we can see how much of a backwater the state is.

Illinois has major problems, but to think it’s in permanent decline is ridiculous and is said to scare people into adopting trickle down policies.

I compared Illinois to a group of other states in the following metrics: job growth percentage, unemployment rate, median household income, per capita income, unionization rate, percent earning at or below the minimum wage and percent without health insurance.

Illinois ranks above Indiana, Michigan, Texas and Florida, which has had weaker job growth as of late.

I didn’t use the latest numbers of uninsured. I’d bet that Illinois would rank higher because of more people gaining health insurance.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 9:16 am
It is a doozy. In fact, all of the editorials have been doozies. In the days of more people working at newspapers, they had more options to ensure equal coverage of everything; which is what papers have historically tried to do. Now, one guy has to do a balancing act. Things in print media have become very difficult.

Comment by A guy... Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 10:12 am
When journalists criticize lobbyists and politicians for influence peddling, why are they above reproach when their hand is in the same cookie jar? Rauner would bring a whole new level of corruption to the Governor’s office and that is saying something. Where Rod got caught this guy would just simply purchase with his own cash.

Comment by Obamas Puppy Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 10:12 am
Rauner would tax the “growing service sector, such as law firms and travel agencies.”
Travel agencies?!

Comment by hold on Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 10:35 am
Usally candidates are interviewed for endorsements. Does anyone know if they were? If not, kinda hard to make a endorsement with talking to both. Also, you be harder to “give it your all” if at the end during a sit down if you knew they were not going to make a endorsement (or you knew you were not going to get it).

Comment by One to the Dome Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 10:59 am
I read the Sun-Times endorsement.

Was it just me or should the endorsement have ended with “Paid For By Citizens For Rauner,Inc.”?

That wasn’t an endorsement,that was a Rauner campaign ad.

Comment by btowntruth Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 6:01 pm