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Another oppo dump, this time on Kennedy

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Illinois

* From the ILGOP…

Illegal Hiring Making a Comeback: Former U.S. Rep. Phil Hare Endorses Chris Kennedy
Hare thinking Kennedy will dole out government jobs just like Pat Quinn did

“After witnessing Chris Kennedy’s pathetic attempts to court Mike Madigan, Phil Hare must be thinking Kennedy would dole out illegal patronage jobs just like Pat Quinn did. Since he’s failed at running as a political insider, Kennedy is now running as a phony reformer.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot

Illegal political hiring may be making a comeback after former Congressman Phil Hare endorsed Chris Kennedy’s campaign for governor this past weekend.

After witnessing Kennedy’s pathetic attempts to court Illinois patronage king Mike Madigan (here, here, and here), Hare must be thinking that Kennedy would dole out illegal government jobs for him just like Pat Quinn did.

When Hare lost his congressional campaign in 2010, Pat Quinn took care of him. According to an Office of the Executive Inspector General report on Quinn’s IDOT patronage scandal, IDOT “absorbed” several former staffers from Phil Hare’s Congressional office who were put out of work by Hare’s loss.

News reports said the illegal hirings at IDOT spiked significantly under Quinn and Quinn’s former IDOT secretary even said the “vast majority” of people hired illegally were recommended by Quinn’s office.

It didn’t end there. Quinn’s administration even hired Hare’s son - whose only previous management experience was as assistant manager at a video store - as an assistant warden for the Illinois Department of Corrections. A separate OEIG investigation found that Hare’s son was not qualified for the position.

In Phil Hare’s eyes, Chris Kennedy would run state government like a Chicago political machine.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:20 am

Comments

Now, let’s see who locks up the Jacob’s endorsement out there. Then we’ll know. /s

Comment by A guy Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:23 am
This is great for Team Kennedy because it shows:

1) He’s still polling high or else the ILGOP wouldn’t be attacking him

2) There apparently isn’t any good oppo to attack him with.

Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:24 am
I don’t know if shows anything good about Kennedy, but it sure is some pathetically weak sauce from the Repubs. Sad!

Comment by Reality Check Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:26 am
The IL GOP is attacking on the basis of “absorbing” out-of-work staffers?

Can someone introduce the Republican Party to Leslie Munger?

Comment by South of Sherman Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:28 am
This qualifies as an oppo dumb? Talk about underwhelming.

Comment by Red fish blue fish Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:36 am
Must. Must. Do. Something. This. This. This. splat.

wow, the ILGOP fears Chris Kennedy.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:39 am
Really??? Munger and her staff, didn’t Rauner also hire some Kirk staffers? If this is what they have to work with, and Kennedy is the nominee, expect to see a lot of Carhart commercials coming our way bc that’s gonna be Rauner’s only shot with this kind of oppo research.

Comment by Southwest Burbs Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:39 am
Some will say anything to deflect from DCFS Superstar Executive Management, and those fancy building leases.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:44 am
As FaxMachine noted, this is good news for Kennedy. The GOP cares about him and the hit is pretty ineffective.

The downside for Kennedy is that his campaign is weak enough that a Phil Hare endorsement might help.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:48 am
“Can someone introduce the Republican Party to Leslie Munger?”

With these people, accusation is confession.

Comment by Nick Name Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:49 am
To be fair to the Republican party, we should be reminded of all the people that quit/fired from Rauner’s staff, after having been loyal, and weren’t found a job.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:50 am
A simple linkedin search reveals some fascinating things about experience and the absorbing phenomenon here…

IL GOP takes Chris Kennedy seriously? OK then.

Comment by low level Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 11:52 am
ILGOP seems a bit panicked these days

Comment by Ghost Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:21 pm
==wow, the ILGOP fears Chris Kennedy.==

I don’t know if “fear” is exactly the right word, but I do think they take him seriously
and it’s likely that Chris would fare better in a statewide general election against the current governor than JB.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Phil Hare?

Next, ILGOP will tell us that once, Chris Kennedy smoked a cigarette in high school.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 1:13 pm
The GOP is going after the Dems for patronage hiring? Has anyone bothered to read a history book? The only way to get a patronage job in Springfield for the better part of a generation was through the GOP.

Comment by Back to the Mountains Monday, Sep 18, 17 @ 6:40 pm
Not surprising GOP is going after Kennedy - the only way Rauner has a chance is if JB is the Dem nominee.

Comment by CatAttack Tuesday, Sep 19, 17 @ 7:39 am