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Ask a silly question…

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* I dunno. You gotta be pretty desperate for news to ask Rahm Emanuel, the mayor of a city in financial peril and dealing with a huge spike in violence and racial discord, if he plans to run for president in 2020. Just sayin…

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel had a fiery response when asked Thursday night whether he would consider running for president in 2020.

The former White House chief of staff to President Obama and senior adviser to President Bill Clinton flipped off consultant Neil Hare — twice — after being posed the question at BLT Steak, prompting laughter from others at the bar.

Emanuel, famed for his coarse language and caustic retorts, was hanging out at the restaurant located blocks from the White House during a swing through Washington this week.

But the mayor isn’t shy when it comes to how he feels about being asked about potential presidential ambitions.

“She’s a reporter,” someone at BLT said after the Chicago mayor gave Hare the bird, referring to your ITK writer.

“I don’t give a f— who she is,” Emanuel shot back.

Also, the guy’s at a bar. Not cool.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:48 am

Comments

Rahm could run and win. I have been saying this since 2008 that 2020 would be the year.

Comment by Rocky Rosi Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:52 am
I know I’m in the minority here, but I can’t help but like Rahm.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:55 am
Rahm: “Hey, Megan, if you still have a journalism job in 2020, come back and ask me again.”

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:56 am
==Rahm could run and win.==

Walk me through that one, ’cause I don’t even see how he’d be more than an also-ran in the primary.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 10:57 am
Flipping off a woman in a bar? Very recent history shows he clearly has the temperament to be elected president.

What a tough guy, Mayor Napoleon Complex. I’m guessing he had his bodyguards with him.

I’d suggest he not try that act in any of the taverns I hang at. He’d get a lesson in manners.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:03 am
Given the issues the city is facing this seems a bit silly. I agree his response was not at all cool. But coarse language and caustic remarks certainly can’t be considered disqualifying for Presidential candidates at this point.

Comment by Pundent Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:04 am
I just finished watching Rahm at Brookings on CSPAN. He has a lot of short and long term plans for Chicago. He didn’t sound at all like someone with whitehouse aspirations.

Comment by Casual observer Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:06 am
I think he’d be a good President. I like him and I’d vote for him. ALFONDO GONZ - I am also with you in the minority. I like Rahm

BUT I don’t see any way or how he could win. And I’m sure he sees that too which is why he won’t run.

Comment by hockey fan Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:10 am
Pundunt - you said exactly what I was thinking. The worst behavior possible gets rewarded.

Comment by Way South of I-80 Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:10 am
Of course he won’t run in 2020. His party controls the White House. /sarcasm

Comment by GraduatedCollegeStudent Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:19 am
Flipping off reporters is a valid campaign strategy now. But i wont think he is serious until he makes fun of a physically disabled reporter.

Comment by Lil Squeezy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:22 am
=Walk me through that one, ’cause I don’t even see how he’d be more than an also-ran in the primary.= I believe that line was used to refer to someone else about a year ago.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:24 am
It takes a lot to make Rahm sympathetic. Even more so to make him look sympathetic while flipping someone off

Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:24 am
The best thing about it perhaps is that no one is surprised. The laughter in the bar suggests that the question was obnoxious and out of place.

But, given the times we’re in, perhaps simply whispering his bon mot to her would have been a better option and equally effective.

Comment by A guy Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:25 am
I might have done the same thing. I get annoyed that people think they have a right to be all up in someone’s business just because they happen to hold a public office. Those people should get time to be a regular person too. Harassing someone while they were out at a bar relaxing is just bad form.

Comment by Demoralized Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:35 am
Did he flip her off with the “stump”? because that must look funny as hell.

Comment by ExCMS Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:38 am
==I believe that line was used to refer to someone else about a year ago.==

Look, when the question is “How could Rahm win a Presidential election?” “DONALD TRUMP” isn’t an answer.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:39 am
This is one of the funniest things I have ever read about politics.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:40 am
Rahm is who he is and makes no apologies…just like the Donald…

I do not doubt that he loves Chicago…he just can’t stomach many of the folks he considers to be riff raft that live and work here…

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:44 am
“Flipping off a woman in a bar?”
“Flipping off reporters”

I could be wrong, but my read is that he gestured at the consultant in the presence of the reporter. Did I misread?

Either way it’s better than the Eric Massa treatment. For everyone.

Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:47 am
Rahm would make a terrible president, but if it gets him out of Chicago I’d vote for him. Also, it gives me a bit of a giggle to think that Rahm is probably ordering cases of “Make Windy City Great Again” hats, following an inspiring meeting with Trump.

Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 11:52 am
Would Rahm flip off a guy reporter for the same question, in the same place? If, ‘oh, HELL yes,”, then isn’t he just being all for equality (and twisted political correctness ?”)

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 12:27 pm
Sorry, but politicians and public figures have to be held to a higher standard. Yep, democrats too.

Comment by Plesko Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:04 pm
A big man hiding behind his bodyguards.

I wonder how many red lights his entourage ran on his way home?

Comment by Plutocrat03 Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:07 pm
–Would Rahm flip off a guy reporter for the same question, in the same place?–

If he had his bodyguards with him.

By himself, I doubt it very much.

From my lifetime of research, if you flip off a stranger in a bar, you better be ready to back it up.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:16 pm
Rahm could be President? What is everybody smoking or drinking? He couldn’t get elected dog catcher.

Comment by The All Knowing Oz Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Not saying it was smart to flip-off the reporter–a man with Rahm’s public image isn’t gonna get any slack. However, that reporter sounds more like a member of the paparazzi than the press in this situation.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:32 pm
== He couldn’t get elected dog catcher. ===

Pretty sure is the elected mayor of one of the largest cities in the USA…

Comment by frisbee Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:41 pm
A Rahm-Trump debate sure would be interesting.

Comment by Old Timer Dem Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:46 pm
flip off anyone in a bar, man or woman. go ahead on Rahm. I’m totally with him on this one. what the everloving…..

Comment by Amalia Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:57 pm
Nothing to celebrate here. Rahm gets asked a softball / compliment of a question and he reacts like a petulant child. What a basket case.

Comment by Saluki Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 1:57 pm
–Nothing to celebrate here. Rahm gets asked a softball / compliment of a question and he reacts like a petulant child. What a basket case.–

No kidding. You think he was digging on someone actually pretending that he could be a presidential candidate?

The guy who couldn’t muster 50% in the first round of the Chicago mayoral election?

I’m sure Emanuel would be like Sherman through Georgia winning back the rural Obama voters in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:04 pm
I wonder if he can get reelected mayor? They will be out to get him I think

Comment by Blogman Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:05 pm
Let’s settle this once and for all…anyone can become President…so long as that anyone is a someone, they can say anything and be anything and become President. So Rahm could become President…and he will be reelected Mayor…no doubt about that…I wouldn’t vote for him to be President though…just sayin’

Comment by GetOverIt Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:13 pm
–So Rahm could become President…and he will be reelected Mayor…no doubt about that…–

Check back with us after the Van Dyke trial.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:24 pm
@Wordslinger:
I’m going to double down and throw in - Van Dyke takes a plea. I’ll get back to you after its all done.

Comment by GetOverIt Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:38 pm
I will give Rahm credit for one thing-he’s exactly the same person in public and in private. No smokescreens here. Can’t help but like him a little bit.

Comment by Eamus Catuli Friday, Dec 9, 16 @ 2:54 pm