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* I’m not sure Chris Kennedy should’ve retweeted this interview about JB Pritzker’s wiretapped conversations with Rod Blagojevich …
Our interview with gubernatorial candidate Chris @KennedyforIL where he took Pritzker to task. https://t.co/cALc1E5sXj
— WLS-AM 890 (@wlsam890) June 5, 2017
* Transcript…
WLS: But, certainly, I mean, even your own family, the rich history, the political history of the Kennedy’s, you’re no stranger to backroom dealings.
KENNEDY: On an FBI wiretap? I mean, please, please. I don’t think there’s anything in the history of the Kennedy family that looks like that… The Kennedy’s have never done that. Please, don’t lump us in with that behavior.
“The Kennedy’s have never done that.”
Really?
* Look, I freely admit that I’m a Kennedy family fan. My grandmother met JFK at a Teamsters’ Union event in Chicago in 1959. The future president hugged her, kissed her on the cheek and told my grandfather that he had a beautiful wife. You couldn’t say a cross word about any Kennedy in front of my grandma after that, and she lived well into her 90s.
But, I mean, come on. I can think of a dozen nefarious things that the Kennedy family was involved with which trump that silly little Pritzker FBI tape. Joe Kennedy and booze running and Hitler? Chappaquiddick? William Kennedy Smith? The anti-vaccer Robert Kenndy, Jr.? Need I go on… and on… and on… and on… ?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 12:56 am
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I mean, come on, the Kennedy family spans four generations if you’re counting the sitting Massachussets Congressman. I’m sure none of them ever even hinted at giving money or connections in return political favors. Chris Kennedy’s attempts at positioning himself as an outsider is just as laughable as Pritzker’s attempts to portray himself as one who understands the common struggles among the working class.
Comment by RogersParkProgressive Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 1:14 am
And let’s don’t forget, all the money grandpa Joe Kennedy made in the stock market in 1929, or Gloria Swanson as his mistress. And his mother’s family–the Skakels– are all their business dealings at Carbon and Carbide clean? Or Michael Skakel and Martha Ann Moxley.
Kennedy better think long and hard about where he’s going. The path may wind up circling back around to his clan quicker than he thought.
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 1:46 am
I mean if he keeps this up, he might help Pritzker. Who is running that Kennedy campaign since Thompson & Weir are gone?
Comment by Truth Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 3:18 am
I just flipped around this morning and saw RFK jr on Russia Today at this moment. Anything to do with them should not help you in a Democratic primary. I am really annoyed at Obama for not telling us that the Russians were in our systems to alter the elections.
Comment by David Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 5:47 am
Allegedly, Joe Kennedy agreed to bankroll James Michael Curley’s final (successful) mayoral campaign in return for Curley agreeing not to run for Congress in the district where JFK launched his political career. Curley was a notoriously corrupt politician who made Richard J. Daley look like a piker.
Comment by Ward Heeler Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 5:47 am
Let’s see, I believe the Kennedy family owned the Merchandise Mart. In Chicago right? once the worlds largest store/office. I am sure no zoning, tax code issues with city. I am sure no political donations or consideration for any of the Kenedys or Schrivers in his town. No phone calls or favors made. Chicago always plays it straight
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:13 am
OK, I see Rich Miller has already decided who his next meal ticket is going to be.
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:35 am
“OK, I see Rich Miller has already decided who his next meal ticket is going to be.”
Subscribers who want the straight dope on Illinois politics? Yup.
Same as it ever was.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:41 am
One can not be held responsible for what our uncles did. Brothers did. Cousins did ect ect. Everybody has to stand on his own two feet. I hope Chris Kennedy stands tall on his own right to make his own legacy. We need a strong tough smart smart individual to lead Illinois out of this mess. We needs solutions to the current mess. I’m ready to hear some
Comment by Hhood Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:41 am
Since ya’ll thought i made an insensitive comment the other day. Heres to RFK.
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:54 am
” Hhood - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:41 am:
One can not be held responsible for what our uncles did. Brothers did. Cousins did ect ect. Everybody has to stand on his own two feet. I hope Chris Kennedy stands tall on his own right to make his own legacy. We need a strong tough smart smart individual to lead Illinois out of this mess. We needs solutions to the current mess. I’m ready to hear some”
I assume you apply the same logic to Pritzker?
Comment by Anon0091 Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 7:59 am
When Chris Kennedy (and/or Crew) stated about the Pritzker FBI tapes, paraphrasing…
“The tapes speak for themselves”
… I thought, given everything, that was the best response, still “feel” that way.
The reason I felt that way isn’t what this Post is about, per se, but exactly what this Post is saying…
Less… is more. Less keeps candidates from going “too far”. Less… says more, by saying so little.
Kennedy needs the warm memories, of his uncles, of his father, and today, the anniversary of his father’s death, the great and giant doings of the Kennedys are embraced and today we remember more pointedly the Kennedy legacy.
There was no reason to compare by Kennedy. Sometimes it’s best to let what’s not said stay unsaid, and to allow sentiment, memories, feelings warm people’s memories without words to diminish that warmth.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:10 am
I don’t particularly have a dog in this fight — I will be voting proudly for Anybody But Rauner in 2018.
But this thing is going to get messy(er) fast if we start bringing in everybody’s families. “I’ll see your Gloria Swanson and raise you Liesl.” If we’re not careful, this thing could turn off voters and lead to “A pox on both your houses.”
Strongly recommend staying focused on the guy you’re running against, and not his sisters and his cousins and his aunts.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:11 am
William J. Kelly, career gadfly without a portfolio has resurfaced. Please go away.
Comment by War Heeler Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:15 am
Don’t forget uncle Bobby wiretapping Dr. King.
Comment by J Edgar Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:15 am
Soccermom,
You’re absolutely right. But Pritzker hasn’t attacked anyone. Every Dem has attacked him - including the way over the line Kennedy attacks on Pritzker. Kennedy is saying things he knows aren’t true but that will be cited later by Rauner. So maybe someone should have an intervention with teams Kennedy and Biss to tell them to make their case first and leave the attacking to the GOP.
Comment by Anon0091 Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:15 am
===- J Edgar - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:15 am
Don’t forget uncle Bobby wiretapping Dr. King.===
‘Nember what I said, “Less is more”…
Maybe know something before typing anything.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:21 am
I remember the shabby role he played in the firing of professor Steven Salaita from his job at the University of Illinois. Kennedy was chairman of the U of I board at the time.
Comment by Terry Salad Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:28 am
Isn’t there a risk in going overboard on attacking Pritzker. Yes It’s a primary & Everyone is playing to win, but once you win you face Rauner of the bottomless checkbook, wouldn’t it be best to not say something you can’t walk back to your best source of cash? “Hey JB can I get a donation, no I really didn’t mean you we’re a shameless corrupt political hack.”
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:30 am
1963
October 10
AG Robert Kennedy Approves Wiretaps on Martin Luther King
In September, Kennedy consented to the technical surveillance. Kennedy gave the FBI permission to break into King’s office and home to install the bugs, as long as agents recognized the “delicacy of this particular matter” and didn’t get caught installing them. Kennedy added a proviso — he wanted to be personally informed of any pertinent information.
Comment by Arock Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:30 am
- Anon0091 -
Pritzker has yet to shut the door on the Blago tapes.
Days have passed, nothing of significant pushback or response that allows Pritzker and/or his Crew to move forward, and that in of itself allows the attacks to be made, and if not made, gross malpractice if his opponents, now, don’t go after JB Pritzker.
I see 2 really good outs for Pritzker, I even see 2 paths to move forward.
What I see… from Pritzker and Crew… is what I’ve been saying about them since they were getting attacked solely by Rauner…
The glaring hole, the obvious weaknesses of Protzker and the Comm Crew is handling crisis messaging and understanding and being able to answer their own oppo.
The debate here is Kennedy not understanding his own “name” history and all, the good and not so good that the “name” has when deciding how to attack opponents.
Pritzker, until that Comm Crew and Pritzker himself fix the glaring issues they have, they will face “scrutiny”. They need to be way better.
Kennedy? Kennedy needs to be the candidate that says so much by really saying little that takes him through doors that lead to places he should be staying away from in comparing.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:31 am
Rich,
More overnight posts please - some of the best conversations happen before 9AM.
We’re not all state workers who first check the blog when we get to our desk…
Comment by Fax Machine Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:36 am
Bobby Kennedy also worked as an assistant counsel for US Senator Joseph McCarthy for about six months during the Fifties. The truth was that the Kennedys were anti-communists during the McCarthy Era — something that the Progressives whitewashed during the Sixties.
Comment by Walter Concrete Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:38 am
- Arock -
Chris Kennedy was born July 4th 1963.
While Chris Kennedy’s flippant response to the questioning is without any question fair game…
Chris was barely 3 months old when this occurred.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:38 am
Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:39 am
Kennedy sounds genuinely offended that Pritzker is laughing at his sister’s misfortunes. Not that anyone doubted it but it shows he’s serious when he talks about how important family is to him.
With that, he’a very aware of the fact that his father and uncle both primaried sitting Presidents and I don’t see him going anywhere just because he’s got an opponent with gobs more money than he does.
Comment by Fax Machine Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:47 am
Rich, I don’t think you’re being fair here. Chris Kennedy had nothing to do with his grandfather’s past, or for that matter, his uncle’s transgressions.
Comment by Lovie Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:56 am
Well there is no evidence anyone of anyone in his family talking to Rod on tape so there is that…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 8:58 am
Waves hand slowly ” those are not the Kennedys you are we are speaking of…”
Comment by Puddintaine Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:00 am
=I remember the shabby role he played in the firing of professor Steven Salaita from his job at the University of Illinois. Kennedy was chairman of the U of I board at the time.=
TS makes an excellent point @ 0828. It will be hard for anyone to deny that this is the same Kennedy who’s running for governor.
The U of I was an out-of-control administrative cesspool when Kennedy was board chair. It certainly raises a question of how will he oversee the State bureaucracy.
Comment by Pritzker Logic Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:07 am
So fax machine, it’s ok to hold Pritzker responsible for His family but not Kennedy? How about if we hold each candidate responsible for what they do and not what their family does? That’s kind of the point of the post.
And Willy, no argument on your point.
Comment by Anon0091 Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:09 am
The criticisms here are fair in that Chris stupidly said ‘the Kennedys never did that…’. See Rich’s paragraph where he is basically calling out Kennedy for perpetuating the myth/BS of the Kennedys are blameless victims. They have done good things and bad things, but don’t tell me The Kennedys are above reproach, which Chris seemingly implies.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:10 am
Bruve Rauner has not fully funded higher education, with the U of I system owed $750 million nearly 7-8 months ago, with a number, arguably, growing into a billion dollar neighborhood…
… Rauner’s own destruction of higher education… that seems far more purposeful and damaging(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:10 am
===Rich, I don’t think you’re being fair here. Chris Kennedy had nothing to do with his grandfather’s past, or for that matter, his uncle’s transgressions.===
“I don’t think there’s anything in the history of the Kennedy family that looks like that… The Kennedy’s have never done that. ”
Look, if Kennedy brings his family into this as paragons of virtue in direct contradiction of the historical reality, then yes, people have a right to call him on it.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:18 am
Chris Kennedy was never recorded on a FBI wiretap, JB was. Chris just stepped in it now, should’ve just redirected the question with a simple answer of I’ve never been caught on a wiretap. If he wants to have a shot, this campaign needs to stop taking one step forward and two steps back.. And is anyone else wondering if Team JB is the one leaking the oppo research? Get it all out there in may and June while no one is paying much attention to the race, just a possiblity..
Comment by Southwest Burbs Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:18 am
Anonymous at 9:18 was me.
Comment by Graduated College Student Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:18 am
In response. I believe anybody caught on tape asking for special favors is not very smart. No matter who it is. We need the smartest people in play working to fix the mess which is the state of Illinois. And the professor at the u of I was obviously not the smartest guy in the room. We need to remove those not capable of doing the job. No matter where they are working in the state of Illinois. For the record. Past political hires are still on the job. Qualified or not.
Comment by Hhood Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:19 am
I guess the point Kennedy is trying to make is that Pritzker attacked his own family in a way to benefit himself, and it’s on tape. just say that, Chris.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:22 am
Southwest Burbs nailed it. Kennedy should have corrected WLS and said he is not talking about the Pritzker family or anyone’s family. Should have said he was referencing only the candidate, JB.
Comment by Anon 7 Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:28 am
@Hhood–
You may disagree with Steven Salaita’s politics.
And you seem to be shilling hard for Kennedy.
But that doesn’t make Chris the smartest guy in the room, or entitle him to my vote in the Dem primary.
If Kennedy’s as smart as you say he is, why is his campaign making so many dumb errors? And why isn’t Kennedy committing his own $$ the way Pritzker is?
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:29 am
May I repeat part of the first comment of the thread, “Chris Kennedy’s attempts at positioning himself as an outsider is just as laughable as Pritzker’s attempts to portray himself as one who understands the common struggles among the working class.
Kennedy is a Bubble Boy, and doesn’t know it. Always has been. Always will be.
Pritzker is a Faker, and honing his fakes by the hour with high-priced trainers. This, is the more dangerous of the too.
Billionaires and their common man sales pitches. Yuck.
Comment by cdog Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:31 am
As an aside, I wonder if any of us here - me definitely included - would like to hear their own taped conversations in the course of any week…..bar talk, coffee shop talk, …… what a revelation that might be
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:35 am
“We need the smartest people in play working to fix the mess which is the state of Illinois.”
It sounds like you’re saying we need SUPERSTARS!
Comment by Fax Machine Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:38 am
Behind every great fortune is a great crime. Look at some of Rauner’s documented business practices — that he knew nothing about, of course.
In Gus Russo’s book on Sidney Korshak, you’ll find that both Abe Pritzker and Joe Kennedy at times shared some rather colorful associates from a certain Chicago business outfit.
For that matter, Nixon and Reagan played ball with the boys at various times in their careers. Teamster cash was the likely source of the hush money for the Watergate burglars.
And as SAG president, Reagan granted highly lucrative union contract waivers to Korshak associates, who were later instrumental in furthering both his acting and political careers. They even set Reagan with a Vegas act at an Outfit casino when his career was at rock bottom and he needed cash.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:40 am
William Kelly’s press conference in the Blue Room will begin in 5 minutes.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 9:44 am
===I wonder if any of us here - me definitely included - would like to hear their own taped conversations in the course of any week…..bar talk, coffee shop talk===
Yep. Kinda scary to think about it.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:00 am
And just when I thought he had learned his lesson, Chris Kennedy runs right back in the elevator.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:02 am
And Google, ‘Rooster Sun’, you’ll see who has the portfolio to affect the night-into-day cycle.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:11 am
Kennedy is the Dem version of Onerweiss, seems ibsessed with the idea of winning an election over the actual job.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:11 am
“- William j Kelly - Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:03 am:
Rich, be careful, I might decide to put 2 billionaires heads on my wall in 2018.”
What the hell does that mean? Trolling…
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:19 am
I’m *not* a fan of Kennedy’s campaign so far, but I’m not really comfortable roping stuff Joe Sr. did into this. Same goes for those Pritzker trusts that were set up in the ’50s. The guy actually in the campaign was a child when it went down.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:32 am
Answer should have been, “I’m not my family. I don’t hold J.B. responsible for his family. I DO hold him responsible for his own actions.”
Period.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 10:33 am
Anon0091 — I may or may not have had that exact conversation with somebody yesterday…
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 11:31 am
=- Arock -
Chris Kennedy was born July 4th 1963.
While Chris Kennedy’s flippant response to the questioning is without any question fair game…
Chris was barely 3 months old when this occurred.=
Where was Madigan then? Mike Madigan and the infants he controls!!!
Comment by Pritzker Logic Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 11:37 am
Rose Kennedy was declared a resident of Florida at her passing, thus avoiding inheritance tax in the state of Massachusetts. It appears that she’d not been to Florida for nearly a decade prior to her passing. Hope Governor Kennedy will fight for my right to get the same deal!
Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 11:52 am
If you are going to bring up all the good your family has done expect all the bad to be brought up also. The Kennedy name has many good deeds associated with it but the dark side will come to light in an election.
Comment by Nieva Tuesday, Jun 6, 17 @ 12:47 pm