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* When Susana Mendoza first mentioned this story yesterday during her speech at the Illinois State Fair, I thought it was a goofy thing for a reporter to do. I mean, really, a pop quiz on multiplication tables? Is this grade school? The Tribune’s daily roundup of its own articles didn’t even include a link to the paper’s story, perhaps out of professional embarrassment.

But after thinking about it awhile, I’m kinda torn.

* Republican Comptroller Leslie Munger accused her opponent this week of not being able to do math: “We have to ask ourselves. What’s her deal? Maybe she’s not so good at math. Maybe she doesn’t really understand what the comptroller does.”

That claim came on top of her slam that Mendoza was a product of the Chicago machine, when Mendoza actually did battle against the much-vaunted HDO after she was elected years ago. Unlike Munger, Mendoza defeated an incumbent state Representative. She was a popular, hard-working, bipartisan legislator in Springfield. Did the Democratic Party help? Sure it did, right up to pushing her onto the statewide ballot this year and clearing her path. But Munger got a ton of GOP help in her first legislative race and was then appointed to her current position by a governor intent on dominating his party.

Stones, glass houses, etc.

* And, it turns out, Munger ain’t so good at math…

Chicago Inc. quizzed both candidates for the comptroller’s office, charged with paying the state’s bills, on their multiplication tables at the State Fair this week after Munger gave two stump speeches in which she got laughs by suggesting that as a former state representative, Mendoza shares blame for the state’s terrible financial situation. “What’s her deal?” Munger asked of her rival for the role of the state’s chief fiscal officer. “Maybe she’s not so good at math!”

The final scores in our off-the-cuff oral exam, though, told a different story: Munger, 33 percent; Mendoza, 100 percent.

Munger’s impromptu exam, given to her on camera moments after she stepped off stage at Gov. Bruce Rauner’s rally Wednesday, started confidently, with her boasting “my math is good — I have a master’s in business” and pointing to her experience managing an $800 million company.

Then the math started, and things started going wrong.

Asked what eight times seven was, Munger shot back “Eight sevens is 72,” before correcting herself, “no, 56.”

* And check out the lame excuses…

Munger’s campaign on Thursday said the math game was “just a cheap shot by a bush league columnist.”

“Leslie’s record of leading an $800 million brand speaks for itself,” Munger campaign manager Phillip Rodriguez said.

Her campaign said she was “blindsided” by the questions and had just stepped off the stage after making remarks in hot weather at the rally on Wednesday. The campaign said she also didn’t understand the columnist’s accent and wasn’t given a context for his questions.

Cheap shot? Probably, but you could also easily say that one cheap shot deserves another.

* And, if you watch the video, Munger repeated his math questions before answering them, so she did understand the guy’s “accent.” And she was, indeed, given the context. Also, it was hot yesterday when Mendoza was given the very same pop quiz.

* Meanwhile…

Rookie mistake for Munger: Politicians tend to get booed at sporting events or concerts, and the savvier ones try to avoid being put in that position.

So it should come as little surprise that rookie Republican Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger got booed at the state fair Wednesday night during a Kiss concert. The boos came as she recognized the Hall of Fame rock band for its contributions to military veterans. Doubling the pain, Munger mentioned that she was there on behalf of Gov. Rauner.

* Except one politician received a quite friendly reception, according to the Illinois Times…

Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder hoisted the two-fingered rock-and-roll salute, the crowd booed at the mention of Gov. Bruce Rauner. And there were also plenty of pyrotechnics and never-gets-old theatrical tricks as Kiss paid a visit to the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday. […]

Langfelder and state comptroller Leslie Munger took the stage during the encore, with the mayor getting plenty of applause and cheers for presenting the band with a key to the city, raising his arm in the air in the classic two-finger rock-and-roll salute first popularized by Black Sabbath and declaring his support for “the freedom to rock and roll.” You really had to be there. Munger thanked the band for supporting veterans and received a gracious reception but boos broke out when she said that she was there on behalf of Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Her mistake was mentioning Rauner’s name.

…Adding… From a top republican official who was at the KISS concert…

While the initial boos of Rauner’s name have been widely reported, no one has cared to report that those boos quickly turned into massive cheers when Munger let the crowd know Rauner was declaring the day “Freedom to Rock Day” in Illinois. So perhaps they’ve stumbled upon a new winning message…

Heh.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:34 am

Comments

Munger was totally asking for it; shoulda seen it coming.

Comment by Ray del Camino Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:43 am
===Her mistake was mentioning Rauner’s name===

Exactly Right.

Munger hasn’t learned a single thing.

“Wingman” and mentioning Rauner makes her race a proxy race, and a race Munger does NOT want. Can’t reach the unwilling to learn.

If you’re blaming a reporter because you can’t do multiplication… You are, indeed, doing it wrong. Seriously, this is beyond sad, do better.

===… “Maybe she doesn’t really understand what the comptroller does.”===

Dear Comptroller Munger,

Do you know your own oath and constitutional duties?

Since when does a Conptroller get to “sign off” as to when the legislative branch fulfills its duties to be paid, as prescribed by the constitution, and framed by statue as to the when.

Maybe Comptroller Munger needs to “reasses” if SHE knows what the duties are of the Constitutional State Comptroller.

Do. Better.

You are letting yourself and others down. Honest.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:45 am
1 + 1 = 2 funny.

This is on video too (2), isn’t it? Lol!

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:47 am
Well in defense of Leslie, she is in fact here on behalf of Rauner. I’m sure he reminds her of that so often that it has become second nature for her to tell others. Both Munger and Mendoza are products of machines.

Comment by pundent Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:50 am
I don’t care for the gotcha stuff but we always prepped our candidates for it. The usual one was asking about Lincoln County.

Comment by The Captain Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:51 am
It would be helpful if Mendoza knew how to spell the office that she’s running for:

https://twitter.com/IllinoisTattler/status/766547488346038274

Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:51 am
Hairbrain

Comment by Rabid Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:52 am
So funny seeing a politician getting stung by her own rhetoric. Wingman needs to go!

Vote accordingly!

Comment by Norseman Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:54 am
===It would be helpful if Mendoza knew how to spell the office that she’s running for:===

Yeah, because Twitter typos never happen.

It would also be helpful if you didn’t end your sentence with a preposition.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:58 am
Leslie thinks she’s a paymaster, when she’s supposed to be an accountant. BTW, what’s her plan for reducing the 7B deficit?

Comment by Jocko Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:58 am
Bruce Dold even Tweeted it out. Reporters from all across the state were goofing on it as well.

I don’t think the Tribune was hiding it out of embarrassment.

Comment by P. Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:58 am
“Instant Karma” — that nails it, Rich.

I worked with the reporter, Kim Janssen, when I served as a government media spokesman a half dozen years ago. Maybe he’s changed, but he was far from being a “cheap shot” guy or a “bush leaguer” back then.

Killing the messenger isn’t gonna win the Munger folks a lot of friends among the press.

Comment by Teddy the K Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:59 am
Great trick. I’ll be sure to tell my kids that, if their teacher asks a multiplication question and they don’t know the answer, just say they can’t answer the question without knowing the context. “What is 8 times 7?” “I would need to know the context.”

Comment by Twirling Towards Freedom Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 9:59 am
What’s the big deal? Comptrollers only need to know how to add and subtract.

Oh, but then there’s that interest on late payments. Whoops.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:02 am
Not a typical bad day for Munger which would usually be soon washed away in the daily news cycle. No, this really embarrassing episode will be the subject of some effective TV and radio spots against her. I can just see it: “Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger can’t do basic math, third-grade math. Maybe that’s why the State’s financial condition is so bad.”

Munger’s mistake here could be very costly.

Comment by Deft Wing Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:03 am
Going down, going down now, going down.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:04 am
Munger’s campaign manager channels Jake Elwood in the Making Excuses Dept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvujknrBuE

Comment by Linus Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:04 am
(Pardon: Jake Blues, sans Elwood)

Comment by Linus Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:05 am
Know the context?
As in a ’story’ question….Leslie has 7 glass plates (to install in her glass house) and each one is worth $8.
That kind of context?

Comment by Belle Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:15 am
Both candidates appear to have adequate technical skills to do the job. This year that may not matter.

Munger is a proxy for Rauner and that is not a good place to be, especially with Trump at the top of the ticket.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:18 am
===she was “blindsided” by the questions and had just stepped off the stage after making remarks in hot weather at the rally on Wednesday.===

So Leslie Munger can do math a “comfortable” temperatures, but can’t be… counted… on to do basic math under any other circumstances?

What kind of Keystone Kop Kampaign is going on?

“It’s too hot to be correct”.

Wow.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:22 am
What’s Leslie’s deal?

Comment by Anon Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:23 am
Politics can be petty and stupid. Whatever.

If my life literally depended on it, I would choose Susana Mendoza in a heartbeat. Tough, smart, clear vision, frank speaker, never-say-never attitude. JBT fans will come to like her.

Comment by walker Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:25 am
=== Did the Democratic Party help? Sure it did, right up to pushing her onto the statewide ballot this year and clearing her path. ===

And who did the Party clear out of her path?

St. Sen. Dan Biss, who taught math at the Univesity of Chicago. Go figure.

Comment by Anon III Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:25 am
“Context” has quickly become my most hated excuse. “My words were taken out of context.” “I didn’t understand the context.”

Yeesh. Sometimes, words are taken out of context, yes. Think “You didn’t build that” or “binders full of women.” Which, admittedly, is disingenuous, annoying, and cheap. But I’d venture to guess 90% of the time public figures defend their idiocy by saying their words were “taken out of context,” they were, in fact, not.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:27 am
If they think something like this will be useful in a campaign ad, pictures and videos like this may hurt Mendoza even more: https://capitolfax.com/2016/07/07/mendoza-raises-big-bucks-but-advantage-could-be-fleeting/
Mayor Emanuel’s Co-Chair, who was against a Chicago Hispanic candidate. Sure segments from this will play well in a 30sec ad. http://abc7chicago.com/politics/mendoza-speaks-on-emanuels-next-steps/533800/

Hopefully the grammar police doesn’t bust me on this post here too. Jeeze…

Comment by Runner Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:29 am
“We have to ask ourselves. What’s her deal? Maybe she’s not so good at math. Maybe she doesn’t really understand what the comptroller does.”

Gee, this reminds me of that time Mark Kirk said Chuy just didn’t have Rahm’s “gravitas” with the money stuff.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:34 am
Seriously Mike Z couldn’t have given his hand picked replacement a simple math quiz or maybe he did and she gave him the same answers and Z boy gave her an A. Would certainly explain a lot in this Administration

Comment by Math Teach Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:34 am
- Runner -

Leslie Munger is Bruce Rauner’s “wingman”. Leslie Munger told us so.

Stones, glass, houses…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 10:35 am
Politics is a contact sport and if you’re not ready to throw punches as well as take them then this business is not for you. Now Munger knows what it’s like to be on the ropes and next time she might want to think twice before throwing punches that could boomarang on her. And next time, don’t attack the media for doing their job. That was truly amateur.

Comment by Shytown Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 11:00 am
So a GOP official takes it as a positive sign that Munger got some cheers when she proclaimed the day as “freedom to rock day” while at a rock concert. Now that’s funny.

Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 11:34 am
Mendoza misspelled “Comptroller” at least four different times on social media.

https://twitter.com/IllinoisTattler/status/766550251763224577

Comment by Southlander Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 11:48 am
=== Leslie has 7 glass plates (to install in her glass house) and each one is worth $8.
That kind of context? ===

Belle, I think that should be “to install in Bruce Rauner’s 7 glass houses” !!

Comment by Betsy Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 12:05 pm
When you say your opponent can’t take a punch, you’d better be able to take a punch.

When you say your opponent can’t do math, you’d better be able to do simple arithmetic.

Anything less is pure bush league.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 12:26 pm
These superstars couldn’t see the obvious opportunity to declare it “Right to Rock” day? Total bush league.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 12:43 pm
Maybe I am out of touch but I have never heard a politician’s name mentioned by another politician on the stage during a rock and roll band show. This whole thing reeks of PR and campaignin’. What a way to ruin a good night. Who the heck wants Munger on that stage? Again, maybe it’s me that’s out of touch.

Comment by Dale Cooper Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 12:48 pm
@Walker - Agreed. I was a fan of JBT as well, and I am a Democrat. We all miss her!!!!

Doubt that I will have the same feelings about Munger - a bought and paid for shill for our Governor and his agenda. Sad.

Comment by illini Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:08 pm
It’s a good thing Munger wasn’t asked to spell ‘tomato.’

Comment by The Fool On The Hill Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:32 pm
===And, it turns out, Munger ain’t so good at math…

Doing math in front of people is never as easy as just doing math, however, that’s why you don’t attack your opponent on it unless you are Daniel Biss and had a career of doing math in front of people.

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 2:38 pm
==Doing math in front of people==

C’mon man. Did you memorize your times tables in front of a mirror? You never raised your hand in class? Sorry pal, Munger deserves all that’s coming to her.

Comment by Jocko Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:21 pm
Unfortunately for Munger, “I’m here on behalf of Governor Rauner” describes her time as comptroller so well, Mendoza is about to make it a campaign slogan.

Did Team Rauner send her there just to get booed? Maybe.

As for the math quiz: she blew it. Period. Maybe she was a real whiz at Unilever. I dunno. Has she ever explained why she left? What did her former colleagues say?

I know this much: on the day she was sworn in, Munger promised to lobby “relentlessly” to enact Judy’s Amendment. Instead, she has spent two years promoting herself and protecting Rauner as his Wingman.

I believe she will underperform Kirk.

Comment by Juvenal Friday, Aug 19, 16 @ 4:26 pm