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Kennedy fundraises off of proposed budget cuts

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Illinois

Democratic governor candidate Chris Kennedy used a fundraising email Tuesday to criticize proposed cuts in Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget affecting people with disabilities.

“Working to better the lives of people with developmental disabilities wasn’t so much a suggestion as it was a call to action in my family, and we are all better people because of it,” Kennedy said, a reference to his aunt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and her husband, Sargent Shriver, who formally launched the Special Olympics in Chicago in 1968.

Kennedy called the Special Olympics movement “perhaps our single greatest export to the world” from Illinois.

He said he was “angered” that Rauner’s budget plan “zeroed out funding for a number of nonprofit organizations aimed at improving the lives of our special needs brothers and sisters.”

“This is not who we are in Illinois. We are kinder, more compassionate and more forward thinking than this. The path to economic prosperity and fiscal responsibility for our state does not lie in jeopardizing the wellness of Illinoisans with disabilities,” Kennedy said.

That story is a whole lot more crisp than the e-mail was. Click here to read it in full.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 8:56 am

Comments

Seems to me that’s a pretty effective line of attack and good contrast for Kennedy to draw against a guy whose bottom line concern is how proposed policies impact the corporate world.

Comment by slow down Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:04 am
I think what is most important here isn’t the dollars being mined here.

What is important is the messaging. What is important is Kennedy’s Crew recognizing that Rauner has proven as a governor that he cares very little for social services, using them as a wedge Rauner himself telegraphed well before he (Rauner) ran and became Illinois’ governor.

It’s an “ask” to energize the reader to empower Kennedy to take on Rauner’s heartless stewardship of Illinois.

That’s a huge beginning in laying a messaging groundwork.

What Kennedy really needs to do is get a national monetary network, like the challenger Rauner did in his Primary 3 years ago with monies coming from literally everywhere and almost “but Illinois”. That’s Kennedy’s real financial viability, the ability to raise large dollars from everywhere. Can the Kennedy Crew do that?

This appeal, it’s great for its purpose, but its main purpose isn’t dollars, but to make sense of where Kennedy is and why “Bruce Rauner fails”.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:10 am
It’s a good start. It doesn’t chase the rabbit of what Rauner says but focuses on his actions. It has theme potential since it can grow to include Rauner’s identification of human services as a wedge issue. It leads reporters to a specific question they can ask.

Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:15 am
Can Chris Kennedy release a statement or a quote that doesn’t use the phrase “my family”? I won’t hold my breath.

Comment by Chairman McBroom Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:37 am
At last! This is what we’ve been wanting to hear.

Comment by illinoised Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:42 am
Good hit with the Sargent Shriver angle. Although, I appreciate that Pritzker gave 100 mil to my alma mater, I like the Kennedy philanthropies better, Food and disabilities. I know neither but I am drawn to Kennedy already.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 9:50 am
The service of the Kennedy family, including Chris, contrasts well with the heartlessness of Rauner.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:29 am
Service of the Kennedy family?

Let’s not forget about Ted Kennedy’s involvement in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne or
The rape charge against Kennedy nephew William smith or
michale Kennedy’s affair with the family’s 14 year old babysitter or
Kerry Kennedy’s philandering or
Joe Kennedy’s secret annulment of his marriage or
Joe Kennedy’s support of the Nazi’s or a million other things this family has done.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 10:55 am
Worth noting, in the two weeks since he created his committee Kennedy hasn’t reported receiving any contributions. He would only have to report them so far if they were $1,000 or more but I’m still surprised that he hasn’t raised some of those types of contributions, either personally or from early supporters, if only to fund startup operational expenses.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:00 am
This is a call to arms as said above. Actions like this are among the reasons I think Chris was compelled to enter the race. As Rauner is ready for a long hard slog, guess what, it looks like Chris is too!

Comment by prairiestatedem Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:03 am
**He would only have to report them so far if they were $1,000 or more but I’m still surprised that he hasn’t raised some of those types of contributions,**

Only has to report them when he cashes them…

Comment by JoeMaddon Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:18 am
@JoeMaddon that’s also true.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 11:43 am
To Anonymous
Let’s not forget JFK and Bobby’s sacrificing their lives.
Let’s not forget Ted’s years of service in the Senate.
I expect your family is perfect. Otherwise you wouldn’t be throwing stones

Comment by truthbetold Wednesday, Feb 22, 17 @ 4:22 pm