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Kennedy responds to ILGOP attacks

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Illinois

* AP…

Kennedy says the Illinois’ current Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner needs to lead and not blame others such as Madigan for Illinois’ problems.

Which prompted yet another rapid response from the Madigan-obsessed ILGOP…

Chris Kennedy: Don’t Blame Madigan!

It’s just hours into his campaign for governor and Chris Kennedy is already defending House Speaker Mike Madigan and dodging questions about him.

“Chris Kennedy is already showing that his true loyalties belong to Mike Madigan,” said Illinois Republican Party spokesman Steven Yaffe. “If Chris Kennedy won’t stand up to Madigan as a candidate, he will never stand up to him as governor.”

A bit of a stretch.

* Kennedy campaign response…

Every minute Governor Rauner and the Republican Party spends attacking Chris or someone else is another minute he is not working on a balance budget, helping a small business grow, or helping someone find a job. That is what Chris will focus on as Governor.

* The Sun-Times asked Kennedy himself for a response to the anti-Madigan press releases from earlier today…

“The voters are too smart to fall for that. They know that I’m going to be an independent voice,” Kennedy said.

“I know the speaker and I think he’ll, as head of the Democratic Party, run a good primary — a fair and open one. And so be it,” Kennedy said when asked about his relationship with Madigan.

* On Rauner…

“I believe that negotiation is compromise. I don’t believe that compromise is surrender,” Kennedy said. “He doesn’t understand how to get people to work with him unless he’s paying them, and this must be a very frustrating experience. I think that differentiates us entirely.”

Kennedy called Rauner “ambitious,” “smart” and “bright,” but “heartless.”

“He has no heart and if you have no heart you can’t be part of a team — and you can’t get others to go out of their way to sacrifice for you,” Kennedy said. “What leader does not sacrifice? Every great leader sacrifices and has asked others to sacrifice. He’s never done that. A heartless leader who makes no sacrifice doesn’t deserve to keep the job.”

* The ILGOP also didn’t mention this from Greg Hinz’s piece…

But, interestingly, he not only left the door wide open to but seemed to back term limits, something unlikely to earn him plaudits from Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, even as the Illinois Republican Party put out a statement saying Kennedy “will never stand up” to him. […]

(A)sked about term limits, he replied: “If term limits encourage the nation that government is trusted, we ought to embrace them.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:36 pm

Comments

Very thoughtful, pointed, and meaty responses to questions above”attacks”.

Very well messaged for the day, could build on these responses in the days and weeks to come.

Good on the Crew and Kennedy to keep the focus and pressure on Rauner and not responding to their own “statement” that Rauner’s Crew tries to pivot.

That’s really good work by both Kennedy and his Crew.

Well done.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:42 pm
“He doesn’t understand how to get people to work with him unless he’s paying them, and this must be a very frustrating experience. I think that differentiates us entirely.”

Comment by Centenial Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:43 pm
Pretty impressive messaging from Kennedy so far. Not sure I would’ve used the term “heartless” to describe Rauner although I certainly think it fits to an extent. Also, those comments are confusing. I can’t discern what exactly about Rauner Kennedy deems heartless. Is it the attack on social services or not being willing to sacrifice or…? I would’ve described him as ‘out of touch’ or something to that effect instead.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:47 pm
Kennedy could provide a very effective counterpunch to the “but Madigan” rhetoric particularly if the only meaningful tie between the two is the “secret meeting” the ILGOP keeps referring to.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:48 pm
Rauner took GREAT exception to the term “heartless”…

… it’s perfect to get under Rauner’s skin, and, like I said, and you dragged out one of my thoughts further, these responses can build upon things, like Rauner’s own words… on his heartlessness.

There, I gave Kennedy one they already knew, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:49 pm
U of I Chris. Fighting Illini buddy.

You messed up. How are you gonna run the state when you #@&%* the University of Illinois system???

Comment by Piece of Work Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:52 pm
==I would’ve described him as ‘out of touch’ or something to that effect instead.==

Chris Kennedy of all people is going to have to proceed very deliberately if he wants to go all populist.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:53 pm
The Kennedy team knows how to put out a message and stay on it. That’s what will be needed.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:55 pm
===How are you gonna run the state when you #@&%* the University of Illinois system???===

I’m sure Bruce Rauner, refusing to fund the U of I system, vetoing funding for Higher Ed, and that total loss right now is $750 million and rising…

Chris Kennedy will have lots to pivot off of with Illinois.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:58 pm
Chris has to ramp up his messaging to continually point out 1.4%’s failings. He has to get out in front and make 1.4% start responding.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:59 pm
I’m with OW. “Out of touch” would have been milquetoast, and in fact, would not have been accurate. As OW has pointed out over and over again, Rauner is quite aware of the collateral damage he is doing. But he heartlessly thinks it is necessary in order to get his “reforms.”

Heartless is not just a rhetorical bomb: its the scientifically correct term here. We have a sociopath in our midst and the diagnoses by Kennedy is correct. Rauner is fully in touch, but does not care.

Comment by HistProf Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 1:59 pm
I am pleasantly surprised at what we are hearing from Mr. Kennedy. Maybe the sun is gonna shine in my back door one of these days.

Comment by illinoised Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:00 pm
Thanks to the commenters who explained the framing of the “heartless” comments. I get it now. Heck, those might even elicit another response from Rauner about how he and Diana have given ‘millions’ to (fill in the blank).

Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:03 pm
- Cubs in ‘16 -,

No worries. If anything, it’s messaging setting up a longer messaging base, without tipping their hand “too much”.

It’s subtly making its case for later. It’s nicely done. I’m impressed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:11 pm
Willy, not about Rauner, it’s about Kennedy. Use that Google thingy to check his performance.

Kennedy owns that bro!

Comment by PoW Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:42 pm
===I would’ve used the term “heartless” to describe Rauner===

There are a lot of service providers and folks doing without essential services that might disagree. Lots of folks that have had their college educations interrupted or diminished that might disagree.

The list just goes on from there…

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:45 pm
Again with the “bro” thingy.

What is it with the “bro” thing.

The point you feebly tries to make is that the Illinois problems that Kennedy will own will be deviststating.

That’s comical, given Rauner will own $750 million+ in funding purposely denied by Rauner through a veto and no budgeting for Higher Ed.

So, the faux “Illinois”… “Gotcha!”…

… is probably a door Rauner should open… cautiously.

No governor since 1857 has funded Higher Ed at a level of zero. So… Have at the “Illinois” silliness.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:47 pm
=Chris Kennedy will have lots to pivot off of with Illinois.=

Agreed. Particularly since the Rauner strategy has devolved from “reforms” to “Madigan”.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 2:51 pm
If Kennedy wants the people of Illinois to believe he’s going to be “an independent voice” and will stand up to Madigan, he will have ample opportunity to prove it during the campaign.

But if his campaign merely spouts the nonsense actively promoted by many on this board on a daily basis that everything is Rauner’s fault, he will be hard pressed to make people believe he’s serious about being anything other than a useful tool for whatever the Speaker wants; most people, I believe, understand Illinois wasn’t in a great position in 2014, either.

I would like Kennedy to name two serious issues with which he disagrees with Madigan, and how much of the blame he believes Madigan should receive for Illinois’ current situation.

Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 3:03 pm
I really agree with the heartlessness and no sacrifice quote. Rauner is heartless in that he’s used so many vulnerable people’s lives as leverage for something impossible to achieve–Democratic votes for passage of his TA demands.

The lack of sacrifice part speaks to the harsh contract terms Rauner is trying to force on state workers and his absolute refusal to support a progressive tax increase.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 3:14 pm
Illinois could afford to be a lot more generous to social services if we weren’t spending 25% of our revenue to fund pensions instead 5-8% like well run states do.

The General Assembly’s dereliction of duty has forced this “heartlessness”. What is Mr. Kennedy’s solution other than blaming our Governor for the past two years and not the legislators who caused this?

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 3:41 pm
===General Assembly’s dereliction of duty has forced this “heartlessness”.===

If that was a choice, Rauner made it. Rauner chose to be heartless.

===What is Mr. Kennedy’s solution other than blaming our Governor for the past two years and not the legislators who caused this?===

All Kennedy needs to remind those Social Service providers, and Labor is “Pat Quinn failed”

“Bruce Rauner failed

===What is Mr. Kennedy’s solution other than blaming our Governor for the past two years and not the legislators who caused this?===

That past two years Rauner has heartlessly destroyed social services, and The Ounce made sure they were fine with Diana there and The Pritzker monies.

What has Rauner done as the incumbert to help people?

Not pay signed social service contracts?

Diana Rauner thinks these issues are business decisions…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 3:48 pm
Can’t wait to see Mr Kennedy sit down for a friendly chat with Mike Flannery. Get out your popcorn for that one.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 3:56 pm
Wow, I am impressed.

Comment by So_Ill Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 4:02 pm
OW you might have missed that detail in the State constitution that binds the legislature to make sure spending cannot exceed revenue

The fact that this has been ignored under Speaker Madigan for decades does not make it ok to continue.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 4:11 pm
- Lucky Pierre -

Article VIII, Section 2, (a)

Rauner could put an end to your utter ignorance if/when he himself follows the constitution.

I ha e reminded you once now about the constitution.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 4:15 pm
Got only Rauner should follow constitution not the legislature

Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 4:32 pm
===Got only Rauner should follow constitution not the legislature===

So you advocate Rauner still refusing to follow the constitution?

That’s the only way that drivel makes sense.

You should want Rauner to show everyone he’s following the constitution, why aren’t you?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 4:35 pm
How do we know that Chris Kennedy will be an independent voice? He has no political track record and when he opted to make his first campaign (like his ancestors) he swiftly ran to embrace the bosses.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 5:05 pm
“The Governor doesn’t give a (expletive deleted) what anyone thinks.”
Pound that message home.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 5:50 pm
“..negotiation is compromise.” Rauner was less than truthful during his campaign. What do you, Chris Kennedy, feel the areas of compromise are?

Please save us all the waste,fraud, abuse and procurememt reform b.s. please

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Feb 8, 17 @ 8:35 pm
Start driving video screen trucks, one with how many days hours minutes without a budget. Followed by a running total of the governor’s debt and interest since he took over

Comment by Rabid Thursday, Feb 9, 17 @ 3:00 am