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The “puppetmaster”

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Illinois

* I told subscribers about this and two different mailers today…

The other day, the pro-Rauner Turnaround Illinois political action committee sent a mailer to many of Rep. Frank Mautino’s constituents.

On both sides of the mailer, there is a giant, black-and-white photo of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is labeled as “Chicago’s political puppetmaster Mike Madigan.” In front of the frowning speaker is a smiling Mautino connected to a puppeteer’s strings. Madigan, the mailer says, is “trying to control your representative.”

Constituents are asked to call Mautino’s office to urge the local representative to “cut the strings.”

Think this attack is unique to Mautino. Think again.

Others are targeted as well. For instance, the very similar mailer was sent to constituents of Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake. The only difference is that Yingling’s smiling face was Photoshopped above the same dark suit with red tie.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:16 pm

Comments

And they call Zell the grave dancer?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:21 pm
A much better use of the Gravedancer’s money than that goofy $2 million summer TV spot.

At least these d.m. pieces target someone and have a call to action.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:23 pm
Provided without comment:

https://web.archive.org/web/20100513012754/http://kingmadigan.com/images/MadiganTOP5.jpg

Comment by sss Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:27 pm
I say lay off Frank while he is in the hospital.

Comment by Just an Old Guy Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:30 pm
Meaning… Tried and failed before.

Comment by sss Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Sad example of humanity to do that when he is struggling with a serious health issue. Would have liked to think they were above that.

Comment by Boat captain Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:33 pm
What happens when people call these legislators and then find out exactly what the “reforms” are that Rauner is demanding?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:33 pm
Madigan should sue for infringement. If you’ve ever seen House Dems negative mailers, you would swear they held a copyright on bad photoshopping

Comment by Chief Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:34 pm
Can’t beat somebody with nobody.

That’s the most important “next” step

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Plus, it’s entirely feasible that come October next year, voters in competitive House districts will on the same day receive a mailer showing Madigan as the puppetmaster of the incumbent Dem and Rauner as the puppetmaster of the Republican Challenger

Comment by Chief Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Received same mailers in Alton area for Sen. Haine and Rep. Beiser

Comment by Coyote Chris Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Just an old guy….unfortunately there is no hope for an actual emotional heart to appear in Rauner ‘ s chest (even the tin man had that potential ability ).The governor will only have a physical heart whose sole duty is to pump blood through his body…nothing more…no matter how much his public relations people try to craft him as caring about the common man/woman.

Comment by cez Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:37 pm
I’m not buying that the governor signed off on or even knew about that particular mailer. Too much downside; a sick guy, an old family name, very well thought of in the district

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:40 pm
2:40 was me

Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:41 pm
Considering the Turnaround Illinois PAC is his in all but name, I find it a little hard to believe they’re doing anything the governor wouldn’t approve of, even if it didn’t directly pass through him.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:48 pm
This is so unfair. Everybody knows that MJM has no power and no influence over the dems…..

Comment by Hummmm.... Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:54 pm
FIRE, READY AIM!

Comment by How Ironic Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:55 pm
===- Hummmm…. - Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:54 pm

This is so unfair. Everybody knows that MJM has no power and no influence over the dems…..===

Explain the SSM and Conceal Carry roll calls in the Dems side.

Don’t hurt yourself…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:00 pm
“I simply want Illinois to be the most competitive and the most compassionate state in the nation.” Bruce

Wow! I apparently misunderstood what compassion was. I don’t see this playing well in Mautino’s district.

Comment by burbanite Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:01 pm
Steve, as Willy says all the time Rauner owns this. Whether he approves it personally or just trusts the staff, this is his organization made in his own image.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:02 pm
- Norseman -,

Yep. He owns this, and the Entire GOP.

Lock. Stock. And barrel. Rauner is a controlling guy.

Rauner knew.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:04 pm
The administration’s unilateral rule change to knock 90% of the low income working parents who apply out of child care assistance does not promote economic competitiveness and it is certainly not compassionate.

With any politician, pay attention to what they do, not what they say.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:12 pm
Rich - Is it safe to assume when you close comments for the weekend, you’ll leave us with Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”?

Comment by nixit71 Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:12 pm
Or “I’m your Puppet”

Comment by Chief Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:16 pm
Willy:
So Rauner controls the GOP, but MJM doesn’t control the dems? Now I have heard everything!

Comment by Humm.. Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:19 pm
- Humm.. -

1) Explain the SSM and Conceal Carry roll calls.

2) Did I miss the $20 of personal monies MJM is using to control the voting buttons, or the personal MJM monies being used to run the IL Democratic State Party?

Rauner owns the ILGOP, Rauner owns the GOP GA.

His money, his rules.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:24 pm
Couldn’t wait a couple weeks for Frank to get back on his feet before the mailers start? Compassionate Conservatives my foot. More like classless.

Comment by Centennial Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:24 pm
Wasn’t Quinnocchio a puppet as well?

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:25 pm
Poor MJM….
No power. No control.
No $$$ for comittee chairmanships.
No power to kill any bill by not calling it.
No influence.

Some people live in a parellel universe!
No more Kool-aid!

Comment by Are you kidding me??? Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:28 pm
While I like Mautino a lot, I’ve also liked a lot of the people the Speaker has taken out.

It’s like the line from the Godfather: “So when he turned up [losing the election], I let it go. And I said to myself, this is the business we’ve chosen; I didn’t ask who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with business!”

Comment by Not it Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:30 pm
===Poor MJM….
No power. No control.===

Um, did anyone ever say that?

Try not creating freshman-level straw arguments here.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:30 pm
The other thing to mention about the cheap shot at Mautino is that it looks like he’s on the way out the door.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:35 pm
==- Boat captain - Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 2:33 pm:==

Bruce Rauner: “we’ll hurt you and your family.”

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:40 pm
People get tired of elections and could bring about apathy.

Comment by Liberty Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:42 pm
But what about the puppetmasters who control Rauner
…and the millions that have been contributed to legislate the corporate wish-list agenda in Illinois?

Comment by Enviro Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 3:43 pm
So on the same week he starts a series of letters selling his turn around agenda directly to legislators, Rauner attacks them at the mailbox?? Unbelievable, really. At first I thought he was a slow learner, now it’s clear he’s totally inept. The diplomacy, the mail, has no impact. He has lost credibility and, sadly, he’s dragging a lot of good people down with down with him.

Comment by Faded Red Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 4:06 pm
Very classy attacking Frank with this while he’s in the hospital.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 4:13 pm
If Rauner has a strategy would someone please explain it to me? I’m dumbfounded by this crap in the left hand and the nicey-nice letters in the right.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Jul 31, 15 @ 4:36 pm