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Today’s quotable

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The governor also has not taken questions from journalists since May 14. This week, after leaving a private meeting with Republican lawmakers, a Chicago Tribune reporter got in an elevator with Rauner and several aides and asked the governor a series of questions about the state budget Democrats were preparing. Rauner didn’t answer, but eventually looked at the reporter and said, “Can I give you a hug?” The reporter declined.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:42 am

Comments

Rauner didn’t answer, but eventually looked at the reporter and said, “Can I give you a hug?” The reporter declined, explaining, “I’m not on the Tribune’s editorial board.”

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:49 am
“Lookin’ for love in all the wrong places”

Comment by Concerned Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:51 am
To which the reporter replied, “can I have some of that Griff money, instead?”

The governor probably doesn’t want to make a habit of such remarks.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:51 am
The Ari Gold of Illinois. Let’s hug it out!

Comment by Come on man Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:51 am
Was it pearson?

Comment by Langhorne Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:53 am
Squeeze’s back

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:53 am
Maybe the press are cranky children to him.

Joe Bidenesque.

Comment by walker Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:55 am
I can think of few things more unpleasant sounding.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:55 am
Seems a lil disrespectful too.

Reporters aren’t your friends…

Reporters; Rauner is NOT your friend if you cross him.

“I think we all learned that from the Curtis Bell incident…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 29, 15 @ 11:57 am
“Can I give you a hug?” is just a polite way of reminding the Trib reporters that eventually, they all report to Schrimpf.

Comment by Juvenal Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:03 pm
Rauner must be following the antics of Ann Coulter.

Comment by southwest Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:07 pm
Hard to know how funny this is without knowing who the reporter was. If it was Zorn, I need a diaper change.

Comment by A guy Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:10 pm
“Love in an Elevator” — Heck of a tune!

You should feature it on Monday!

Comment by WhoKnew Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Y’all need to take a breath, already.

It’s a cute and funny little story. No harm done.

Sheesh, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:12 pm
Secret budget meetings, not taking questions from reporters, this from a Governor who campaigned promising open and transparent Government. I suppose we might just struggle along for the next four years and the state won’t get much better or much worse and hope that in 4 years we can get a good Governor, one who is a statesman, willing to find common ground and compromise and is a man of his word. He’s only been Governor for 4 months but he hasn’t accomplished anything positive for the state so far. He didn’t waste any time going around the state and picking fights and poisoning the well, so to speak as far as engendering a spirit of cooperation and trust with those that he must be on good terms with to achieve any positive results.

Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:13 pm
And if you’re new to this thread and wondering where all the nastiness is, I deleted well over a half dozen comments.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:14 pm
Maybe Rauner is trying to say he’s in need of a hug right now.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:17 pm
Woulda been way cuter had he said “Can I have a hug.”

Seriously, women don’t find this cute or funny. Be a professional for goodness sake.

Comment by Politix Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:22 pm
I believe Amanda Vinicky identified the reporter as Monique Garcia on Twitter earlier this week.

Comment by 3rd Party Needed Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:23 pm
===Seriously, women don’t find this cute or funny.===

lol

Men and women hug at the Statehouse all day.

Please.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:23 pm
I think he was just practicing what he’s going to say when he sees Madigan next time. (I’m trying to be funny.)

Comment by Cheswick Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:24 pm
If he tried this approach with the GA and the unions, he would probably get more done. No one his likes the Oscar the Grouch approach. Why not try Barney the Dinosaur?

Comment by A Jack Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:28 pm
At least he asked first.

Comment by Bored Chairman Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:29 pm
Reporters and politicians hugging? I’m having hard time picturing it but you’d know better than me.

Comment by Politix Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:30 pm
ought to be on the end of session t-shirts

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:31 pm
===I’m having hard time picturing it===

I hugged Richard Goldberg last night. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:33 pm
I guess you had to be there, but to read it in print, it comes off as pretty condescending.

And if it was as innocuous as rich says, why even include it in the story?

Comment by South of Sherman Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:36 pm
===And if it was as innocuous as rich says, why even include it in the story? ===

Editors love color.

Also, it was a minor Twitter sensation a few days ago.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:37 pm
Undoubtedly, her decision not to hug him had more to do with the fear she would suddenly become spellbound, which would have then thrust into the realm of gold dust and lore, which she would never be ever able to truly dust off.
In other words, “I am a professional. Don’t come a huggin’ at me.”

Comment by Austin Blvd Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:46 pm
That is just awesome.

Comment by Ahoy! Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:50 pm
The media’s favorite story is itself.

Comment by Politix Friday, May 29, 15 @ 12:51 pm
Good for Rauner. Ambush interviews are unprofessional, in my view.

Comment by Let'sMovetoTexas Friday, May 29, 15 @ 1:21 pm
@texas:

Bruce spent 36 bucks a voter for the public life. If it’s unsatisfactory for him he can resign and go back to making billions managing the pensions he seems obsessed to get rid of!

Comment by Jack Stephens Friday, May 29, 15 @ 1:43 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0KtOstzIIM
Hey… how ’bout a hug?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, May 29, 15 @ 2:16 pm
Perfect, Ducky.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Friday, May 29, 15 @ 2:24 pm
AB: “Rock on Gold Dust Woman, take your silver spoon, dig your grave. . . ”

Undoubtedly, her decision not to hug him had more to do with the fear she would suddenly become spellbound, which would have then thrust into the realm of gold dust and lore, which she would never be ever able to truly dust off.
In other words, “I am a professional. Don’t come a huggin’ at me.”

Comment by Lt. Guv. Friday, May 29, 15 @ 6:39 pm