Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Demmer strikes a nerve over cartoon as GOP primary threatened

Posted in:

Illinois
YouTube
Updated Posts

* Last week, GOP state Rep. Tom Demmer tweeted this about the Illinois Policy Institute’s cartoon…

Cartoons don't make racism any more palatable. @illinoispolicy should delete their cartoon and apologize. That has no place in policy debate

— Tom Demmer (@tomdemmer) August 16, 2017

* Dan Proft and Patrick Hughes of the Illinois Opportunity Project launched on Demmer during Proft’s radio show, which is sponsored by the Illinois Policy Institute…

PROFT: Tom Demmer is stepping out to criticize the Illinois Policy Institute, to pile on and to provide again the political cover for the Democrats because that’s what so many Republicans do in this state, provide political cover. You point your finger, poke your finger in my chest and I fold. And Tom Demmer is a good example of why Republicans are the super-minority party in the state. Just as those 15 Madigan Republicans who voted for the Madigan tax increase without spending reforms are a good example of why Republicans are the super-minority constituency in the state. And why there’s an enthusiasm gap right now between Republicans and Democrats in Illinois, looking forward to the 2018 election.

And, boy, I gotta tell you, if you wanna ensure another generation of Madigan and Cullerton lordship. You wanna switch out Rauner for one of the fungible Chicago Democrats that are running for the Democrat nomination for governor? You know what you do? You entrust the Republican Party to the likes of Tom Demmer and those 15 surrender Republicans who voted with Madigan on the tax increases. And you won’t have to worry about the Republican Party being in charge of anything in Illinois again.

HUGHES: Yeah, and I remember when Tom Demmer ran the first time and he was very young, supported by the local party because he’d been sort of a volunteer and all that good stuff. I supported and you supported another candidate back then and I’m really sitting here today wishing mightily that that other candidate had won. And I’m wondering whether or not there should be someone else to run against Tom Demmer in this next cycle.

PROFT: Well, I gotta tell ya, I think we have enough dinks in the Republican caucus. We don’t need any more and we need to excise those that we have.

The video is here. It starts at the 5:09 mark.

…Adding… Hughes, by the way, is listed as the “External Relations Advisor” for the Illinois Policy Institute on its website.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:01 pm

Comments

Demmer is the future of the Republican Party. What will keep the Republicans in the super minority is the idea of ideological purity. Watch how many of Proft’s uber right wing plants lose this coming general in a Trump off year.

Comment by LilLebowskiUrbanAchiever Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:07 pm
The moral of a story is don’t criticize the puppet masters with the money.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:08 pm
Uhm…sounds more like a couple paid for Raunerite’s trying to make sure the gravy train continues beyond 2018…

Comment by JC is just saying... Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:09 pm
1) Tom Demmer is extremely talented, smart, and as others had already said, the future of the IL Republican Party.

2) there have been few republican legislators in Illinois in the last two years that have been more loyal to the Rauner ministration than Tom Demmer.

If this is now who Rauner’s friends want to attack, things are looking way, way up to the Illinois Democrats.

Comment by JoeMaddon Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:13 pm
Dan Proft got 7% the last time he ran. That’s all I have to say.

Comment by Northside City Dweller Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:13 pm
I’m back. Did ya miss me?

Comment by Circular Firing Squad Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:13 pm
To the Post,

While I personally thank Rep. Demmer for the take/tweet on the cartoon, and along with the entire Illinois House stood to show the distain for the cartoon…

…

Demmer refused to be someone who overrode Rauner’s vetoes…

… Demmer gets whatever Proft, the IPI, Rauner, give him.

“At least, that’s the way I feel about it”

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:14 pm
The candidate Proft supported against Demmer supported was now Dixon mayor Liandro Arellano. He is Hispanic. Liandro would have been great, but Demmer has been good too. The fact that Arellano is Hispanic and was preferred by Proft over Demmer, who is white, in a district without a large Hispanic population is something that should be mentioned in context with this issue.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:16 pm
“Dinks”, that’s the best they’ve got?

Comment by Flynn's mom Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:16 pm
How many actual voters in Dixon/Rochelle are listening to and swayed by that station?

Comment by Annon3 Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:16 pm
==Dan Proft got 7% the last time he ran. That’s all I have to say.==

‘Nuff said, for sure. And Proft needs to go work for Breitbart’s Ghost.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:17 pm
Has Proft actually won a race? I know he has tried to take credit for some races to justify his existence with the Uline gravey train. Tom Demmer is a solid statesman period. When the new group that is in charge of the money flowing in the Republican Party wants to take Tom Demmer out god help us all because there are anterior motives in play.

Comment by Suburban Hillbilly Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:19 pm
This is a level of dysfunction I couldn’t even predict after years of following this clown show.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:22 pm
It is a proxy war.

Lawmakers cannot directly criticize the governor, and they are clearly taking it out on his silent partners over at the IPI, the group he consistently claimed to have no relationship with right up until and after he hired all of their staff.

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Signal to all Republicans: if you dare speak out against racism on Twitter, prepare to endure the droning fury of overpaid loudmouth Dan Proft, the has-been who neither has nor signals any virtue higher than empty self-promotion and greed.

Comment by Mugsy Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:28 pm
Once again, Proft can’t handle GOP members that actually have a brain and think for themselves. Demmer is the type of Republican that republicans should be embracing. He knows how to work with people but tows the party line when necessary.

Comment by Huh Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:30 pm
When did speaking out against racism become a bad thing? This must all be a bad dream. Time for Proft to move to Washington (but only rent short term, don’t buy anything).

Comment by Lincoln Lad Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:31 pm
IPI is going to be undone completely if they continue to mismanage this. They can get wired all the money in the world, but they won’t be able to buy their credibility back.

Comment by P. Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:33 pm
Demmer wasn’t the one who made it “bipartisan.” The entire House GOP was up on their feet clapping except like one or two older members. It was entirely bipartisan, and Proft just doesn’t want to admit that he and his shady league of instigators are becoming increasingly irrelevant in Springfield.

Comment by Mrs Robinson Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Compare the guy who said this:

Tom Demmer is stepping out to criticize the Illinois Policy Institute, to pile on and to provide again the political cover for the Democrats because that’s what so many Republicans do in this state, provide political cover. You point your finger, poke your finger in my chest and I fold. And Tom Demmer is a good example of why Republicans are the super-minority party in the state.

To the guy who said this:

The last weekend in January at a meeting of the Illinois Center-Right Coalition (ICRC), an organization of grassroots conservatives from throughout the state, WLS-AM 890 radio personality Deborah Rowe, an African-American, delivered some very poignant remarks on the topic of GOP/conservative outreach to minorities.

One of the themes she stressed which has stayed with me is that Republicans and conservatives need to “stand up when you should stand up.”

In other words, when a transgression is committed against a minority or a minority group, conservatives need to be there, at the front of the line, standing up to denounce inappropriate remarks or behavior. That is how to build trust.

Demonstrate the concern is genuine. Be there for someone else when it is not politically expedient for you to do so.

What if I told you it was the same guy? I prefer the 2003 version of Dan Proft, but that’s just me.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:44 pm
‘Well, I gotta tell ya, Proft you’re one of those dinks…’

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:45 pm
==What if I told you it was the same guy? I prefer the 2003 version of Dan Proft, but that’s just me.==

Don’t be so sure. The 2003 version of Dan Proft gave us Larry Dominick (and gave himself a $550k contract with Cicero).

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 12:51 pm
LOL
Isn’t there a Confederate statue somewhere these mouthbreathers can fly in a halo around?

They are members of an exclusive club ensuring exclusivity for a couple more generations.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:17 pm
Demmer must be thrilled that he toed the party line, and repeatedly voted against his district, only to face a potential IPI primary over this garbage.

The lesson — you can’t win with these guys.

Comment by ILPundit Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:20 pm
Proft’s show is just soft-core dirty talk for his old sugar daddies. They like it and Proft is more than willing to take money to give it to them.

The dude got 7% in a GOP primary. He finished last, behind Adam A. (Schillersrom was on the ballot, but had already quit).

You’re not paying that guy for strategery on winning general elections.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:24 pm
Rep. Demmer is one of the most thoughtful and most intelligent members of the ILGA. The GOP would be lucky to have him in the caucus 15 years from now. He’s also been one of the loudest and most clear voices on reform in the state. Proft/ Hughes trying to tie him to Madigan or being weak doesn’t stick.

Comment by TerribleTowel Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:36 pm
If Tom Demmer is the problem with the Illinois Republican Party, then I don’t want to know what the answer is.

Comment by Phenomynous Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 1:38 pm
Boy. First time I see the post and I have already posted something at 12:30. Must be my doppleganger.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 2:07 pm
Read what he said “… it has no place in policy debate.” What now there is a Thin Skin rash going around the Dome? Demmer is very intelligent, thoughtful and not a mushroom. So because won’t be a water boy for some some how he is now to be vilified? Let’s destroy the up and comers and wreck the GOP must be the modus operandi for them.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:38 pm
Sorry for ignorance (despite my nickname), but “dinks?” Not “dual-income no kids” so what is it?

Comment by Veil of Ignorance Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 3:58 pm
This is exactly what’s wrong with the Republican Party these days. It’s become a party of bullies. Good for Tom Demmer for having the guts to stand up to them. The party needs more Demmers and fewer Profts.

Comment by GA Watcher Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:25 pm
===Tom Demmer is a good example of why Republicans are the super-minority party in the state.===

Wait… Proft literally just admitted his dream of Republicans gaining power in Springfield is somehow undercut by white GOP men speaking out against racism and insensitive stereotypes. That tells you everything you need to know about windbag Proft.

Comment by Anon312 Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 4:40 pm
PLEASE Proft keep coming after House Republicans like Tom Demmer and it might finally be your final loss in a long history of epic losses. You and the IPI may have finally done yourselves in. Mike Madigan and the Democrats thank you everyday for helping them out. Keep up the good work…you all should be very proud of yourselves.

Comment by OMG Wednesday, Aug 23, 17 @ 5:42 pm