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* UPDATED x1 * Rauner talks up contributions to pro-life candidates while campaign highlights Dems’ worst moments of 2017

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Facing a primary challenge amid Republican unrest over his expansion of taxpayer-funded abortions, Gov. Bruce Rauner is offering a new answer to why abortion opponents should support him: Look at what his wallet has done.

“I am the strongest supporter of candidates for office who are pro-life. Nobody has worked harder to elect pro-life Republicans than I have and I remind everybody of that. I have fought hard,” Rauner said Friday on WJPF-AM 1340 in Herrin when asked what he was telling angry social conservatives.

“I supported Bill Brady when he ran. I’m supporting Erika Harold,” the governor said of the unsuccessful 2010 GOP candidate for governor and current Republican contender for attorney general, respectively. “I’m supporting legislators who are pro-life. I am a strong ally and strong supporter for pro-life candidates.” […]

“He happened to be on a very popular southern Illinois radio station and of course down there he told everybody he’s pro-life. That’s what you would actually think if you didn’t know the real story,” said [Rep. David McSweeney], a Barrington Hills Republican. […]

The lawmaker also said it’s another sign that for Rauner, “the issue is that it’s all about the money again.” Rauner pumped millions of dollars into GOP legislative campaigns last year, in part earning the allegiance of rank-and-file Republican lawmakers until earlier this year.

*** UPDATE *** Personal PAC is fundraising off the story…

Governor Rauner is committing to spend tens of millions of dollars to elect the most extreme anti-choice candidates to ever run for the Illinois House and Senate, all of whom are pledging to repeal HB 40 and ending reproductive rights in Illinois. And he is not shy about his plans.

This is what Personal PAC is up against. The most well-funded and extreme candidates imaginable who are committed to making abortion illegal in Illinois, ending access to birth control and making certain HB 40 is repealed.

Personal PAC does not need to match Governor Rauner and his right-wing allies dollar for dollar, but our amazing pro-choice candidates need us—and YOU!— to make certain we can adequately communicate with voters in order to win elections. Without your help, we simply can’t win.

The primary election is 13 weeks from today. Please make a year-end contribution to our vital work TODAY so that we can be as strong as ever in bringing our candidates over the finish line on election day. Donate here.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Rauner campaign…

2017 Illinois Democrats’ Not Top 10
After looking at Governor Rauner’s accomplishments yesterday, let’s take a look at Illinois Democrats’ worst moments from this past year

1. Madigan’s 32% Tax Hike
Mike Madigan forced through a 32% tax hike on Illinois families. Despite decades of irresponsible spending and tax increases, Madigan continues to ask more of hardworking taxpayers with reckless tax increases and no desire for real spending reform.

2. Madigan-Pritzker-Berrios Property Tax Racket
This month, the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica published a shocking report on Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and the corrupt property tax racket he oversees. Mike Madigan’s property tax assessment law firm benefitted from Berrios’ dereliction of duty, making millions while hurting small businesses and hardworking families. Not to mention political insiders like J.B. Pritzker utilizing their Madigan-Berrios connections to secure their own tax breaks.

3. J.B. Pritzker: Incompetent Investor or Avoiding Taxes?
When Hyatt Hotels heir J.B. Pritzker released his tax returns for the past year, he reported only $15 million in income. For someone who inherited well over $1 billion, it begs the question: is he an incompetent investor, or is he avoiding paying his fair share of taxes? Republicans and Democrats agree: J.B. Pritzker has a troubling record of cheating on his taxes.

4. Chris Kennedy’s ‘business prowess’ costs taxpayers millions
Utilizing family connections, Kennedy’s company received a no-bid contract to oversee a nearly half billion-dollar public-private partnership to build a Medical Mart in Cleveland, Ohio, a project which was “plagued by accusations of insider dealings, secrecy and failed promises.” Once Kennedy had made his millions, their company was gone, leaving taxpayers with “an inherited albatross” and the bill.

5. Pritzker’s Embrace of Mike Madigan
It’s taken some time for him to come out of his shell, but J.B. Pritzker is embracing Mike Madigan. It makes sense after all. Whether it’s term limits on elected officials or property tax reform to reduce the corruption in the Cook County Assessor’s Office, Pritzker’s responses are flippant and deferential to the man lining up support behind him: the longest serving state Speaker of the House in U.S. History, Mike Madigan.

6. J.B. Pritzker Pays to Play
The Chicago Tribune published a bombshell report highlighting a $100,000 campaign donation from J.B. Pritzker to incarcerated former governor Rod Blagojevich, which was followed just days later by a $1 million state grant to the Holocaust Museum. That project’s chief fundraiser was none other than J.B. Pritzker. Pritzker was already caught on FBI wiretaps discussing potential appointments, proving just how deep his ties are to the corruption and cronyism that plague Illinois.

7. Cook County Democrats Line Up to Save Their Friend Blago
A number of Cook County Democrats have signed on to an amicus brief requesting the Supreme Court hear disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appeal for a reduced prison sentence. Among those Democrats who have signed on to the amicus brief are Luis Gutierrez, Mike Quigley, and Glenn Poshard, three key endorsers of J.B. Pritzker’s candidacy. Does he stand with his endorsers in calling for the Supreme Court to hear Blagojevich’s appeal?

8. Unfunded Pension Liabilities
Another year and Mike Madigan continues to disregard Illinois’ massive unfunded pension liabilities. Since Madigan joined the General Assembly in 1971, pension liabilities have skyrocketed from $2.5 billion to $151.5 billion dollars. Madigan has been called the “constant in key decisions that created the mess” Illinois finds itself in.

9. Soda Tax Goes Pop
Cook County Board President and Madigan ally Toni Preckwinkle enacted an unpopular and unclear soda tax this year, leading to an overwhelming outcry for tax reduction and spending reform. Preckwinkle defended the tax despite its clear and disproportionate impact on low income communities throughout Cook County. Thankfully, public outrage led to its repeal.

10. Daniel Biss picks Socialist Running Mate, Promptly Replaces Him
State Senator and candidate for governor Daniel Biss took proving his progressive bona fides too far when choosing a self-proclaimed socialist Carlos Ramirez-Rosa as his running mate. Biss’ former running mate supports BDS - a total boycott and divestment from Israeli organizations, a stance that Biss has made clear he does not support. After just one week, Biss dropped his running mate and broke the hearts of Illinois’ socialists.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:00 am

Comments

=“I am the strongest supporter of candidates for office who are pro-life. Nobody has worked harder to elect pro-life Republicans than I have and I remind everybody of that.=

I believe what he’s trying to convey is his belief that regardless of principles, anyone can be bought. That’s Bruce Rauner in a nutshell.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:07 am
Dear Gov. Rauner,

Govenors own their signatures. You said yourself, this decision is who you are.

Money covers a great many sins, but signatures are what defines a Governor’s policy.

When pro-life advocates, like Blase Cardinal Cupich sought your support, you misled them.

No amount of money or “support” can undo the signature.

You’re a coastal, limousine, ultra-liberal social agenda Democrat running in the alleged Raunerite Republican Party.

Your signature tells me so.

Come to grips with who you are, as you also want labor destroyed and social services to fold too.

Sincerely,

Oswego Willy

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:11 am
“Cook County Board President and Madigan ally…”

Yeah, I’m gonna have to stop you right there.

Comment by You could say that, I couldn't Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:11 am
His quotes are from the Onion, right? He doesn’t think anyone believes his line of Yazzoo garbage does he?

Comment by I have to ask Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:12 am
# 8

The courts have spoken.
What can Madigan do to reduce the pension obligations?

Nothing….

Comment by MOON Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:23 am
Being pro-choice is the only thing I like about him.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:23 am
==Chris Kennedy’s ‘business prowess’ costs taxpayers millions==

That didn’t happen in 2017.

This list has six really good points, three really bad points, and the inapplicable Kennedy point. Let’s get our chronology right, lest we commit perfidy upon others?

Comment by Chris Widger Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:30 am
Holy cow, he just torpedoed his “social moderate” strategy.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:31 am
“I’m Bruce Rauner..and the truth doesn’t matter.”

I think that is pretty much what he thinks. It should be his bumper sticker.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:39 am
“Nobody has worked harder to elect pro-life Republicans than I have.” - Bruce Rauner

Yes, Bruce, you must be exhausted after signing those checks. Not exactly “working hard.”

Comment by ??? Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:57 am
What an unbelievably crass and brazen hypocrite.

Words/cash versus deeds/hb 40

Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 11:58 am
Rauner could teach a seminar in how to simultaneously alienate pro-life and pro-choice voters.

Comment by Nacho Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:02 pm
So are those “pro-life” candidates going to give that money back now? Because principles?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:09 pm
Governor Rauner; You can say and do whatever you choose to do in this election cycle. Go 100% negative, attack your opponents, make things up, lie, deceive, etc. It no longer matters. We know what you are, and you can’t buy my vote. You have been a gigantic failure. Why you would want four more years, when you are totally unsuited for the job, is unbelievable. I can not speak for others, but as for me, my vote is long gone.

Comment by Retired Educator Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:11 pm
The Not Top 10 is off message. “Madigan” isn’t in every headline,

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:19 pm
“I am the strongest supporter of candidates for office who are pro-life. Nobody has worked harder to elect pro-life Republicans than I have and I remind everybody of that. I have fought hard.”

Well, I’m sure that quote will never reappear in mailers targeting suburban women.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:21 pm
Don’t play Rauner in a game of Twister.

Pro-Life and signed HB40. Wow, that is some contortion.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:43 pm
Again, this begs the question…

Who is Rauner’s constituency?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:45 pm
Run Jeanne. RUN.

Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 12:50 pm
==“I am the strongest supporter of candidates for office who are pro-life. Nobody has worked harder to elect pro-life Republicans than I have and I remind everybody of that. I have fought hard,” Rauner said==

A strong supporter of pro-life candidates should be pro-life, right?

What a horrible man.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 1:28 pm
“Some of my friends are pro-life…others are pro-choice. As governor, I am here to proclaim my solidarity with my friends.”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 1:54 pm
It’s almost as if he has a terrible campaign advisor whispering exactly the wrong things in his ear. Does he ignore what Betsy Ankey and her folks are telling him, or is Ms. Ankey and staff telling him to say and do these dumb things?

I cannot for the life of me come up with a reason why he would think going on 1340 AM to say something like this is a good idea, or why a competent campaign manager would allow him to say it. He’s pretty much insinuating that the pro-life reps and senators that conservatives in Illinois vote for are his to purchase. Ankey’s history is pretty impressive, so I’m going to have to assume that Bruce is just ignoring the advice he’s getting.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 2:16 pm
To the ILGOP/Raunerites “Not Top 10”

It’s actually really great…

… but in your exuberance to be loved…

…

You, yourselves, are also trolling Rauner’s Top Ten.

How. Delicious. Is. That?

lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 3:19 pm
To PersonalPAC update,

“Diana and I have donated millions for women’s issues, and I even signed clean HB40, something even an ultra-liberal, California limousine liberal hasn’t done” - Phony Bruce Rauner

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 3:22 pm
Other commenters say it better than I can but still I am amazed about the things the Governor says. How on earth does this help the Governor with anyone? My feeling is that even the best politicians are guilty of hypocrisy sometimes, and I don’t really fault them most of the time - its all in the game. But this? These are the words of a rank amateur and I don’t think all the money in the world can save him.

Comment by paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 3:33 pm
To the update:
Personal PAC calling anyone else, and I mean anyone, “the most extreme” is almost too rich to absorb. What a den of kooks.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 3:54 pm
“What a den of kooks.”

Say what you will about Personal PAC, at least you know where they stand on abortion issues.

And that’s more than you can say about the kooky goof you vocally supported for more than three years.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Dec 19, 17 @ 4:50 pm