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Kwame Raoul and Maze Jackson bury the hatchet

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Illinois

* From the Sun-Times story on Sen. Kwame Raoul…

On Day One of his campaign, the state senator is already fighting back against criticism over his “temperament” on a WVON interview on Tuesday, as well as comments he made to the State-Journal Register about Harold. […]

Asked about the comments, Raoul said he’s a “human being like anybody else.”

“I’m a fighter and I think whomever we elect to be attorney general needs to be a fighter,” Raoul said of the radio interview, while adding the two apologized to each other after the interview. He said he also called co-host and former political reporter Charles Thomas on Tuesday: “We had a very pleasant exchange.”

And Raoul said he would “rewind the tape” on his Harold comment if he could.

“I think Erika Harold has exceptional credentials,” Raoul said. “If I could rewind the tape and not make reference to that certainly I would, but I’m ready to march onto a campaign and if she is the nominee, I look forward to talking about the issues.”

Background is here and here.

* WVON host Maze Jackson has also walked it back. From his Facebook page…

I would like to encourage everyone to really think hard about voting for Senator Raoul. He is a qualified candidate, a gentleman, and a scholar. I wish him all the best in his pursuit of the office of Attorney General. He’s an awesome public speaker, thoughtful, and measured in his approach to the voters and media. He has been known to be a champion for criminal justice reform, public education, and opioid addiction prevention.

I think the Sun-Times article leaves room for speculation that there could have possibly been some hostility in the exchange. I thought it was positive experience and I would have loved the opportunity to continue the conversation at a local coffee shop or bar which is what I am sure he meant. He will be a really great candidate and represent Black People well!

Um. Wow. That’s a long way away from all but accusing the guy of assault.

* From the Republican Attorneys General Association…

“Illinoisans need not look further than the past few days to know that Kwame Raoul lacks the temperament and disposition needed to serve as the state’s top law enforcement officer,” said RAGA Executive Director Scott Will. “Raoul needed to announce his candidacy today to divert all the negative attention he has received for inappropriate comments and actions he has made since Attorney General Madigan decided to retire last Friday. First, Raoul made an inapt remark aimed at Republican attorney general candidate, Erika Harold, which he later apologized for after others alleged him of being sexist. And just earlier this week, he lost his temper when asked about sanctuary states (which he supports, unwilling to use state resources to carry out immigration policy) on a radio morning talk show, threatening physical harm to an interviewer. These actions are shameful and unbefitting of someone looking to serve as the state’s attorney general.”

* Related…

* Raoul launches bid to replace Lisa Madigan as attorney general

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:23 am

Comments

So Maze’s boss made him read a written apology for his positive experience?

Some people aren’t as good at spinning as they think.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:38 am
Gee Word, ya think? You mean that didn’t sound like Maze to you?

And yea, loved this headline: “Raoul enters AG race, apologizes for ‘Miss America’ comment.” Nothing like a combination announcement/apology.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:40 am
Interesting how quickly/effectively he’s addressing these initial stumbles. But then, I never thought they were huge to begin with; we saw last November that concerns about a candidate’s temperament only get you so far.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:43 am
==and represent Black People well==

“Black People” is a proper noun now? I would hope he might represent others as well.

==I think Erika Harold has exceptional credentials==

I might play that in a campaign commercial if Raoul is the nominee.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:49 am
@Arsenal

I’m think it remains to be seen whether he’s effectively addressed the “initial stumbles.” It’s gonna be a crowded field so any stumbles–especially this early–are likely to be amplified.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:50 am
The Maze mess almost disappears the Erika Harold sexist remark. And makes Kwame the victim. how ridiculous.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:53 am
I want to see people actually bury a hatchet sometime. That is all.

Comment by Curl of the Burl Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 9:55 am
Good to bury the hatchet before Indian summer arrives. Warm weather after the first frost is when the Indians liked to go on the warpath. Back in the day, Indian summer was not a good time.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:03 am
==I’m think it remains to be seen whether he’s effectively addressed the “initial stumbles.” It’s gonna be a crowded field so any stumbles–especially this early–are likely to be amplified.==

Fair enough, and I don’t think the “Miss America” comment has gone away, but it’s hard to tie a better bow on the Maze Jackson story that Jackson apologizing and singing Raoul’s praises.

I also think that this could go another way, that with 4 candidates for AG and another 4 for Governor, there’s just going to be so much noise that something like a bad radio interview gets lost in the shuffle.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:11 am
Bury the hatchet, and rewind the tape all you want. But words have meaning, particularly when they are recorded on the public airwaves. Campaign kick-off’s are supposed to be all smiles and parade waves, this does not bode well for Raoul.

Comment by Texas Red Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:17 am
From the lede I was half expecting a murder tale…..

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:19 am
I think the result is….

“Who else is running”?

Comment by OkComputer Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:30 am
“He will be a really great candidate and represent Black People well!”

I’m puzzled by Raoul’s image as the Great Black Hope, civil libertarian, and heir of Barack Obama’s liberal mantle, especially when it comes to criminal justice reform, etc. From my experience, he never interacts with citizens in any way, except at staged public forums.

In 2013 during the six month debate over Brandon Phelps concealed carry bill, when Raoul was chairman of the judiciary committee that heard the bill in the state senate, I phoned Raoul at his Springfield and Chicago office more than once, wrote a letter, personally stopped in at his Hyde Park office, and never received a phone call back. In hopes of getting a call back about the issues, I reached out to his house judiciary committee counterpart Elaine Nekritz, my state senator, and the only other state senator I know personally, Chapin Rose, all to no avail. He never got back to me.

In the house debate on the concealed carry bill, Will Davis, LaShawn Ford and Chris Welch opposed Phelps Duty to Inform regarding the dangers of profiling blacks, which fears were borne out with the execution of Philando Castile in Minnesota by police during a vehicle stop.

Raoul did nothing positive with Phelps carry bill, and ducks interactions with constituents from what I can see. It looks to me that his puffed up reputation as a thoughtful, caring, statesman is a myth.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:33 am
if you would have heard it live…it was a clear instigation on Raoul part…he won’t win anyways, I predict a Republican will win the AG’s seat.

Comment by pskila Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:43 am
Small potatoes. Maze poked, as he’s won’t to do, Raul shot back. The rap accelerated, and when you accelerate rapidly, playing it cool loses to one upmanship. Raul apologized, and Maze apparently became Raul’s campaign manager.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:46 am
===I predict a Republican will win the AG’s seat.===

Munger was the last GOP to run statewide and lost.

What do you base your driveby on?

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:47 am
===and Maze apparently became Raul’s campaign manager===

Hilarious.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:47 am
I have made had my issues with Former Federal Prosecutor Scott Drury, just like everyone else, but I could see him as AG and am finding myself rooting for his campaign.

Comment by anon Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 10:57 am
We see early on that the Republican Attorneys General Association is looking to turn Kwame into the “sexist angry Black man.” This will be the frame that will be used, duly noted. I’ll paying attention to whomever takes the bait.

Comment by wndycty Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 11:49 am
Kwame - stop saying your opponent is exceptionally qualified. #MediaTraining

Comment by JoeMaddon Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 12:00 pm
=== …at a coffee shop or a bar which is what I am sure he meant. ===

Rich, pretty sure he is quoting my comments.

And I am pretty sure that the GOP and Sun-Times owe you a citation.

Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 12:08 pm
=- wndycty -=

“Republican Attorneys General Association is looking to turn Kwame into the “sexist angry Black man.”

I would suggest that Raoul did that to himself.

Comment by Texas Red Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 12:17 pm
So its agreed, RNUG for AG….

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 12:30 pm
@Texas Red
===I would suggest that Raoul did that to himself.===

Kwame made 2 unforced errors, but its up to the Republican Attorney General Association to decide if they will use those mistakes to play to racial stereotypes. By all means exploit the mistake, but if that exploitation leads them to advance racial stereotypes they would be judged accordingly.

After all, white men can show anger all the time and not be penalized by it. Ask President Trump, who also bragged about sexually assaulting women, and Congressman Bost.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 12:43 pm
Whoops, Anonymous 12:43 pm was my post. . .

Comment by wndycty Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 12:58 pm
Glasgow gets validation from IL Supreme Court today on Drew Peterson….probably a long shot IF he makes the race but he could be packaged as a non Chicago lawman for the rest of the state….especially with that TV hair!

Comment by Glass half full Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 1:12 pm
The Miss America dust-up is the kind of goofy political opportunism that really grinds my gears. If you think being called “Miss America” is a negative, don’t included it in your campaign bio. Raoul shouldn’t have apologized for that.

…And I always raise an eyebrow when a black candidate’s “temperament” is questioned.

Comment by Salonica's Backroom Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 1:41 pm
=======@Salonica’s Backroom====
The Miss America dust-up is the kind of goofy political opportunism that really grinds my gears. If you think being called “Miss America” is a negative, don’t included it in your campaign bio. Raoul shouldn’t have apologized for that.

…And I always raise an eyebrow when a black candidate’s “temperament” is questioned.
=======

What a ridiculous, yet par-for-the-course, little bit of hypocrisy you’ve managed there. So it’s just a “goofy” “dust-up” for a candidate to attack another with a sexist ad hominem, but it’s clearly racially motivated for someone to question a guy’s temperament to hold the office of AG right after that guy tried to pick a fight on the radio after being asked about a very legitimate policy topic.

Comment by CommonSense Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 4:20 pm
==I’m a fighter==

We know, Senator. We just watched a video of you challenging a radio DJ to a fight on live radio. Not the best choice of words.

Comment by The Elephant in the Room Thursday, Sep 21, 17 @ 11:23 pm