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State GOP again demands that Durbin and Duckworth give away their Franken money

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Illinois

* ILGOP press release…

Following the sexual assault allegations against Minnesota Senator Al Franken, many Democrats who have received money from Franken’s PAC, Midwest Values, have donated the money to charity.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, who has received $30,000 in donations from Franken since 2006, has given that money to Missouri Food banks.

Sen. Jon Tester donated his $25,000 of Franken money to a Montana organization against sexual violence and harassment.

Sen. Sherrod Brown’s campaign has vowed to donate the $28,100 received from Franken to various charities.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who received $20,000 from Franken, is donating it to a group for women veterans in Wisconsin.

Congressional candidate and State Rep. Abby Finkenauer has vowed to return the $1,500 she received from the Franken PAC.

Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have both received $21,000 and $5,000, respectively, from the Franken PAC, yet neither of them have returned the money or announced any plans to.

Why are Durbin and Duckworth keeping Franken’s dirty money? Both should put their money where their mouth is and either return or donate all campaign cash received from Franken. Actions speak louder than words.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:03 am

Comments

Just give it away, its the easiest thing to do.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:07 am
If there is dirty money,how about Rauner money?

Comment by Red Rider Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:07 am
While I may agree with the sentiment of the demand, the GOP is not the right entity/person to be making it.

Comment by Bird Dog Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:09 am
I really don’t see why they would. With the second accusation it does seem like the bell is tolling for Mr. Franken, but why does that mean they should give back/give away the money? It’s not like he’s a corporation trying to buy influence, he’s just a potentially disgraced politician.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:14 am
These requests are simply ways to get free coverage of an opponents errors. Unless the money is stolen and can be returned to its owner, it does not matter what is done with it.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:17 am
To be clear, I understand the idea that the politicians want to look like they are distancing themselves, I get the publicity stunt angle in the giving away of the money, I just don’t understand why anyone else cares.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:17 am
Donating that kind of chump-change to a worthy cause would be worth 10 times as much in good PR, let alone would it would do for the recipient.

Comment by SAP Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:18 am
While they’re totaling up that “Midwest Value” money, they should probably keep an eye out for whatever Conyers was passing around, too. /s

Right the ships, folks. There’s nothing of value to be had from Franken’s twisted version of “Midwest Values.”

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:24 am
The question is, does the ILGOP stand on the principle that declares sexual harassment to be bad, and that those engaged in it are not fit for public office? I believe that this is a valid principle to stand on. By condemning Al Franken, and his money, the ILGOP is taking the correct stand. As much as I like Al Franken, he must go, because it appears that he has exhibited a pattern of very bad behavior (See also Charlie Rose — who must also go from CBS and PBS). It does not matter who you are, or what public platform you speak from, this kind of predatory behavior is unacceptable and should be actively opposed.

But if the ILGOP is standing on a principle, then they should also vocally condemn President Trump. It shouldn’t matter who is doing the harassment. And by mentioning Franken, they are bringing federal politics into the state political debates. Hence, they should call for President Trump to step down for being a serial sexual predator. And our IL Republican representatives such as Davis and Shimkus should be vocally condemning Trump. But the ILGOP does not stand on principle, so I won’t hold my breath waiting for a principled response.

Comment by Scamp640 Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:27 am
So all bad PAC money must be given away. Will Republicans give away NRA money? This is silly. PAC money is rancid on all sides. I refuse to give a penny to PACS. I donate to candidates only. That way I control who gets my contribution.

Comment by Stuart Shiffman Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:29 am
Is the state GOP asking Sangamon County GOP to return money raised by having Corey Lewandowski as their keynote speaker since he assualted a reporter, do I need to mention the presidents accusations.

Mathew 7:3 “and why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considers not the beam that is in thine own eye”

Comment by Publius Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:39 am
Rahm donated his Harvey Weinstein money.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:39 am
Perhaps a better place to start would be to ask Senator Durbin to return all of the money that he has recieved over the years from the Laborers Union, their PACS, and other arms linked to the family that has led the Southern Illinois Laborers Union, over their involvement in what has happened to the ACHA. The corruption that occurred there has caused more pain than Franken, but Durbin and others who benefitted from the Pyramid that is at the root of what happened there continue to embrace the Laborers Union, their money, and the votes that they line up. That wont happen either.

Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:40 am
Everyone who returned money is up for re-election…Durbin & Duckworth aren’t. #FoodForThought

Comment by ILDemVoter Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:48 am
Fair enough.

I’m certain the ILGOP will issue another release soon calling on all Illinois GOP officeholders, candidates, county committees, leadership committees and their very own state party itself to shed all contributions made over the years by Dennis Hastert and his associated PACS.

In case they forgot, the former highest-ranking GOP officeholder from Illinois after Lincoln and political-money rainmaker is a serial child molester, from way back.

There are about 200 Hastert contributions to Illinois GOP committees listed at ISBE. That doesn’t include the millions Hastert raised over the years for federal GOP candidates in Illinois and around the country.

That’s some dirty money, as they said.

So get busy, Illinois GOP, on the principle of the thing. Like you said, actions speak louder than words.

But keep an eye peeled for the stones coming at your glass house, Einsteins.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 9:49 am
This whole harassment thing is degrading into something that resembles a 4th grade playground scuffle.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:01 am
A handful of inappropriate liberties taken with women as a private citizen vs. as the sitting governor signing into law tax payers paying for abortions.

Which is more abhorrent to the ILGOP?

Of course they won’t be giving up their Raunerbucks. The ILGOP wouldn’t exist without them.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:02 am
Virtually all of them have so called “dirty” $. They should at least double down.

Comment by flea Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:04 am
They should give the money away. As a Democrat it rankles me that the GOP is getting on its high-horse, but that doesn’t change the fact that Franken and his money are problematic.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:04 am
I do like the phrase Franken money.

Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:33 am
Hey GOP. Give Up That Dennis Hastert Money..

Comment by Shake Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 10:46 am
The Hastert Point is well placed.

Question. Is there any gray area in the world of moral relativity, regarding the timing of the contributions?

Should money received prior to knowledge of wrong doing be treated the same as money received after knowledge of wrong doing?

Is all money subject to backward looking judgement, all the time?

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:40 am
Is the IL GOP doing anything to address concerns about POTUS? Will they refuse to take cash from him?

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:46 am
Waste of time. Durbin not up until 2020, if he even runs again. Duckworth not up until 2022.

Comment by DuPage Bard Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 11:56 am
soil–you are ridiculous

Comment by cicom Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 12:23 pm
ILGOP-pot meet kettle.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 21, 17 @ 1:28 pm