Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Kelsey Grammer pushes constitutional amendment
Next Post: General, you made this mess, now clarify it
Posted in:
*** UPDATE *** The Bustos staffer has resigned. Click here for more info.
* From the Bobby Schilling campaign…
A constituent visiting Congresswoman Bustos’ official office in Rock Island last winter received a shocking response to a question about how the Congresswoman’s position on an issue reflect the views of constituents in new areas of the district, particularly Rockford.
The constituent recorded the conversation to reflect on it later. He asked a question on an issue and never expected such derogatory comments about the people of Rockford. He was so disturbed by the callous, cynical response he ended up giving a copy of it to the Schilling campaign. In the audio, which is attached, the constituent is told that Rockford is “very, very urban, very poor, very underprivileged,” and “Not people that spend a lot of time in church—more in jail than church.”
Here is a transcript of the dialogue from the audio clip:
Constituent: But the other areas, like Rockford or Peoria or those areas?”
Bustos’ Office: “You know, I don’t spend a lot of time in those areas. I don’t think–I’ve never heard anything in Rockford. You’ve gotta understand, the part of Rockford we have, though–”
Constituent: “Is pretty rural? Or, pretty, no, urban, isn’t it?”
Bustos’ Office: “Very, very urban, very poor, very underprivileged. Not people that, um, spend a lot of time in church [laughter]. More in jail [laughter] than church.”
Not good at all.
* Audio…
* From Congresswoman Bustos…
“The comments on this audio tape are outrageous and do not reflect my values. In every office and on the desks of every one of my staff members, there is a sign that states: ‘We pledge to provide exceptional service, treat ALL people with dignity and respect, and work every day to improve our community.’ That mission statement is what I expect of all my staff. If someone ever fails to meet that expectation, I will take appropriate action.
“Our office is in receipt of the same audio that was released to the press today, but at present have not been able to validate the audio itself, the parties involved, or where and when it may have been recorded. Once this review is complete, and if it is determined that one of my staff members made these statements, action will be taken.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:26 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Kelsey Grammer pushes constitutional amendment
Next Post: General, you made this mess, now clarify it
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Schillings supporters are tea party - do they really want to go that way? HYSTERICAL.
Comment by admin Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:28 pm
===The constituent recorded the conversation to reflect on it later.===
I do that all the time.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:28 pm
Holy crap Schilling is desperate.
Comment by Nonplussed Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:31 pm
James O’Keefe on line one.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:31 pm
Isn’t it illegal to record a conversation without the consent of both parties to the conversation in the state of Illinois?
Comment by Martin S. McFly Sr. Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:31 pm
I don’t know, I thought the economically disadvantaged spent a lot of time in church.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:31 pm
Martin s. Mcfly Sr. - is it illegal? Not anymore. No party consent in Illinois.
Comment by admin Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:38 pm
Yeah - 47th Ward has that one straight.
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone into my legislator’s office with a recording device to ask about various locations in the district so that I can reflect on them later.
Comment by haverford Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:39 pm
Will make little difference in the final analysis.
Bustos wins, Schilling loses.
The Rockford area is 20% Black and about 16% Hispanic. It is a gold mine for votes for any Democratic candidate- at least compared to the rest of Western Illinois. That’s why it was it was put in the 17th after the last redistricting.
Constituents that are with a few dozen miles from Schock’s district are in with Rockford. Makes no sense unless you look at the politics. But that is politics and both sides do it.
Comment by Federalist Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:41 pm
Hmmm. Damaging tape, of unknown authenticity, shows up how many days prior to the election? It does not deserve play in the media wout thorough verification. Who what when where why.
Ugly
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:44 pm
The tape was made last WINTER? Please
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:45 pm
The Rock Island GOP/Tea party have lost their minds. Between taking the County Clerk to court, claiming all voting machines are rigged to vote Democrat, and this…. well it seems quite desperate.
Comment by lil enchilada Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:55 pm
If it’s real, Cheri will fire that person.
You want to sell that Cheri tolerates racism? Good luck.
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:55 pm
==Isn’t it illegal to record a conversation without the consent of both parties to the conversation in the state of Illinois?==
Not anymore
Comment by Anonymoiis Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:57 pm
I hope Bustos is angry because those um…people…were drawn into her um…district so she could um…win.
Comment by Jaded Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:58 pm
Not that its relevant, but it sure sounds like a setup to me. Those who know Bustos know she is not a racist. Far from it. I don’t think this sells.
Comment by Voice of Reason Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:59 pm
It was said. It was recorded. It was wrong. Quit with the excuses. Worse stop politicizing this with excuses. Bustos needs to fire someone she hired. It is embarrassing. What’s worse however is excusing it because it came from her political opponent. That is what is done.
Or would you be excusing this crap if one of Schilling’s staffer said it? Of course you wouldn’t.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:16 pm
Are y’all above saying two party consent is no longer the law correct? Haven’t the court cases dealt specifically with two party consent when one is a public official? That may very well be the case here (the staffer being a public official), but have the courts ruled that two party consent is no longer needed even among private interactions not dealing with public officials?
Comment by Just Observing Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:28 pm
I know of way worse from a Schilling a couple years ago. Wish I had it on tape!
Comment by lil enchilada Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:29 pm
There will be an investigation headed by Bustos Bustos, Golly!
Comment by enoughalready Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:31 pm
==Or would you be excusing this crap if one of Schilling’s staffer said it? Of course you wouldn’t.==
Ah. The victim’s battle cry.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:41 pm
Is the full recording available?
Is the person in Bustos’ office ID’d by name?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:52 pm
Just Observing, here’s a decent summary of the changes to Illinois law:
“In People v. Melongo, Docket No. 114852 (Ill. Mar. 20, 2014), the Supreme Court of Illinois held that Illinois’ two-party eavesdropping statute, 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/14-1, -2 (scroll down), was unconstitutional on its face. The statute made it a crime to use an “eavesdropping device” to overhear or record a phone call or conversation without the consent of all parties to the conversation, regardless of whether the parties had an expectation of privacy. The Court held that the recording provisions of the statute, as written, adversely affected the First Amendment rights of people making recordings in a substantial number of circumstances where there were no legitimate privacy interests.”
Source and further explanation and caveats: http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/illinois-recording-law
Comment by Educated in the Suburbs Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:54 pm
BTW, has the accuser made his identity known?
It seems like there should be more details before this is a news story.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:55 pm
I am SO offended!
Comment by Rockford's Finest Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 5:00 pm
“It was said. It was recorded. It was wrong. Quit with the excuses.”
I agree with Vanilla Man!
But enough about Bruce Rauner…
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 6:34 pm
I would really like to hear what was on the tape before her comment. She said a stupid thing, and it was clearly a fireable offense. But it sounds like she was responding to a question about something church-related.
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 7:44 pm