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Rauner sticks tightly to talking points when asked about Trump and even David Duke

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Gov. Rauner said there was “no place in our political conversation” for vulgar language reportedly used by President Trump in a meeting on immigration, but would not call the president racist.

The governor, who was appearing on WVON radio on Monday, was asked about Trump’s description of places like Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations as “sh*tholes.” The president made those comments in a meeting to discuss a bipartisan agreement on immigration, according to Sen. Dick Durbin. Trump denies he used that language.

Rauner was asked directly by WVON’s morning show host Maze Jackson if Trump was a racist and Rauner wouldn’t answer, saying again that such language as no place in politics.

Co-host Charles Thomas pressed the governor again, saying “you won’t call him a racist?”

“You know what? We have racists in our society,” Rauner said. “We have got to come together to change the system in Illinois. Illinois is broken. Our system is broken. African-American families are suffering in Illinois. It’s worse than anywhere with unemployment. We have got to change our system.”

That’s not all Charles asked.

* From the transcript…

MAZE JACKSON: “The President of the United States used language that we’ve never heard before, we call – we said he said ‘shitolee’ on this show. You heard his comments. Is Donald Trump racist? Is he a racist?”

RAUNER: “I’ll say this. That language has no place in our political conversation.”

JACKSON: “But is he a racist?”

RAUNER: “That language has no place in our political conversation.”

JACKSON: “But we’ve got it. We heard it. He said it. So it’s in the universe. So, to a – to the Haitians that live in this city, in the state – what’s up with Donald Trump? How do you respond to that?”

RAUNER: “That language has no place in our political conversation.”

CHARLES THOMAS: “But you won’t call him a racist?”

RAUNER: “No place.”

THOMAS: “Is David Duke a racist? I mean, is… what about Donald Trump?

RAUNER: “You know what? We have racists in our society. We have got to come together to change the system in Illinois. Illinois is broken. Our system is broken. African American families are suffering in Illinois. It’s worse than anywhere with unemployment. We have got to change our system.”

* Video…

* Pritzker campaign…

“Donald Trump built his political career on pitting our communities against each other and now spews vile, hateful language from the White House on a daily basis,” said JB Pritzker. “From casual private conversation to tweets seen around the world, Trump’s racist views and words sadly represent our country. Strong state leaders have pushed back and defended the communities that are under attack by this president, but Bruce Rauner is sitting on the sidelines. To have the governor of this state remain silent and refuse to call Trump what he clearly is — a racist — is an embarrassing insult to communities across Illinois. Bruce Rauner’s corrupt pact with Trump, ratified by his silence, must end.”

…Adding… Sun-Times…

Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner refused in a morning interview on WVON 1690 AM to apply the “racist” label not only to Trump, but to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. The campaign of J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat running to challenge Rauner, quickly pounced.

“The governor believes that David Duke is a racist,” Justin Giorgio, a spokesman for
Rauner’s campaign, said later in an email. “As he stated in his interview this morning, the governor is working to bring all Illinoisans together to overcome the racism that exists in our society.”

…Adding… Pritzker campaign…

During a WVON interview yesterday, Bruce Rauner refused to call former KKK leader David Duke a racist.

Rauner fell back on his favorite talking point, “our system is broken,” to avoid criticizing the notorious white supremacist. While a spokesman later attempted to clean up Rauner’s dodge, Rauner failed to answer a simple question about one of the country’s foremost bigots.

“It is abundantly clear that former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke is racist and it is inexcusable that Bruce Rauner would rather mince words than answer a simple question,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Instead of having a spine and standing up for what’s right, Rauner dodges even the most basic of questions to avoid giving Illinoisans the answers they deserve.”

* Sen. Kwame Raoul…

Gov. Rauner’s refusal to call former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke a racist on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is flat out Trumpian.

Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter and Bruce Rauner’s inability to clearly state that David Duke is a racist is pretty damning.

In the spirit of MLK, I’m asking that we all speak out against the injustices that are taking place in our communities and across the state. We must speak a little bit louder against hate. We must speak a little bit louder against fear. And we must unabashedly speak louder against those who try to divide us!

…Adding… DGA…

Like clockwork, Governor Bruce Rauner was in the news again for failing to take a strong moral stand on an easy-to-call situation. Yesterday, during an interview with WVON, Governor Bruce Rauner was pressed on President Donald Trump’s most recent and outrageous comments on immigrants. Rauner fell back on talking points, refused to address the substance on Trump’s comments, and would not condemn David Duke as “racist.”

Rauner’s campaign later clarified that, of course, he believed David Duke was racist. But the WVON interview is another example, just in the past six months, of Rauner’s reluctance to show real leadership on moral issues:

Charlottesville and Terrorism: Rauner initially refused to use the term “terrorism” to describe the Neo-Nazi attacks in Charlottesville. Rauner had to be shamed into clarifying his language later that day.

Charlottesville and Trump: Rauner waited days to addressed President Trump’s “both sides” comments on Charlottesville, and only after Trump repeated his comments. Rauner was questioned by reporters why he initially didn’t use Trump’s name in his condemnation of his language.

Illinois Policy Institute Cartoon: Rauner infamously refused to look at a cartoon denounced by the Illinois legislature, but drawn by his close allies at the IPI. A week-long saga would eventually result in Rauner’s office issuing a statement that said, “as a white male”, he had nothing to add. Multiple communications staffers were fired.

Anthem Protests: Despite his tepidity to address pretty much any issue spurred by Trump, Rauner jumped into the debate on protests at football games, siding with the President.

The pattern is getting hard to ignore.

“Bruce Rauner’s wait-and-see approach to leadership really clarifies who he’s looking out for, and it’s not Illinois residents,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Time after time, Rauner has had to be shamed into taking a moral stand on issues offensive or upsetting to Illinoisans. Rauner’s reluctance to take on President Trump is only hurting Illinois families.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:08 am

Comments

Pineapple pineapple Madigan taxes.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:15 am
===“You know what?…===

No. What. What? What do I know? I know you’re going to dodge that Donald Trump is being questioned as racist but you won’t say either way…. that’s what?

This is a failed governor on total display…

===RAUNER: “You know what? (No, what?) We have racists in our society. We have got to come together to change the system in Illinois. Illinois is *pineapple*. Our system is *pineapple*. African American families are suffering in Illinois. It’s worse than anywhere with unemployment. We have got to change our system.”===

“RAUNER: ‘African American families are suffering in Illinois. It’s worse than anywhere with unemployment. We have got to change our system.’…”

Bruce Rauner has been governor for 3 years.

Bruce Rauner has failed Illinois.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:16 am
For crying out loud, Rauner is so insecure in his abilities to go off-script and think on his feet that he’s scared to acknowledge that David Duke is a racist?

Dude, David Duke is a proud racist; he sings it loud. That’s his bread-and-butter, how he makes his living.

That’s like being afraid to answer the question “does the sun come up in the morning?”

The answer is “yes, obviously.”

Geez, what a scaredy-cat.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:19 am
Why would he go on that show? Anybody with half a brain would know what it was in for.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:23 am
I am caught in a pickle. I don’t believe a word Trump says. Through personal experience I don’t believe a word Durbin says. I wonder if they both can’t go away.

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:37 am
===Why would he go on that show? ===

They’re actually not as hostile to him as you’d think.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:38 am
I’m also w/Word on Duke. I mean, what the heck. Not identifying Duke for being a racist is wrong and irresponsible. I don’t even understand it, to be honest. That’s an easy call.

Comment by New Slang Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:41 am
The thing the Governor doesn’t seem to understand is he has nothing to lose at this point. He’s in as tough of a reelection race as he can be and the thing that might just save him a bit is being a human being and calling out bigotry.

You want to preserve your status on the cocktail circuit tear into Trump and say what I think you feel Governor. Be a human being.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:43 am
Rich,

I know they’re not as hostile generally, but it was 100% predictable that Rauner would be pushed about the Trump stuff and that he was going to bob and weave and generally look like a schmo in the process. He couldn’t win that one. And btw, I’m not excusing his pathetic inability to call David Duke a racist and dodge on Trump. Just befuddled that he would do this.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:43 am
An In-Charge Governor would have no problem answering that question, but we’ve got Rauner.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 9:55 am
Apparently no one told Rauner that the “system is broken” meme didn’t play well on FOX news.

Why in the world would he do the same thing here? What’s Rauner afraid of? Taking a moral stance?

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:02 am
BTW — You watch that video and realize: Rauner is staggeringly weak. What’s going on there?

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:04 am
“We must name that system. We must name it, describe it, analyze it, understand it, and then change it.”
Paul Potter

Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:09 am
Rauner is scared because the base he wants support from is racist republican Trump supporters.

Comment by Real Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:12 am
The Guv looks really lost and befuddled. I guess as a white male he can’t comment on who is racist.

He was a total bump on a log.

But when he started talking about the system being broken, it was like he was injected with 200cc of adrenaline.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:15 am
== You watch the video and realize: Rauner is staggeringly weak. What’s going on there? ==

Is this the first real sign that Ives has him rattled and worried about his right flank? He won’t condemn Trump or Duke, and a few days ago he opened the door to Medicaid work requirements.

Many have opined that Ives will ultimately help Rauner by making him appear to be a centrist. There is also a danger that she will hurt him by pulling him right during the primary. Something to watch.

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:18 am
Both Jackson and Thomas have supported Rauner. I hope they will look themselves in the mirror as well.

Comment by Reality Check Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:23 am
This shows once again that Mr. Rauner’s communications skills end at “Madigan bad.”

For a guy who may well be very intelligent, he does not seem to think well on his feet.

In the alternative (assuming for a second that the performance was intentional), you do have to wonder if he’s more concerned about the GOP’s hard line base than he lets on.

Condemning racism probably does not play well to GOP primary voters. Had he made a comment, I suspect the Ives people would be suggesting he’s a “race-baiter” in the pocket of not just Madigan but Sen. Durbin.

If that’s true though — if this really was on purpose — that does say terrible things about his character. Maybe he really is the person Democrats have claimed that he is.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:30 am
===They’re actually not as hostile to him as you’d think.===

Maybe because he wears a tie for them? /s

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:31 am
Good grief (exclamation point) why not take the “out” by saying, IF Trump DID say these things they could’ve been misinterpreted as racist.

I’ve read elsewhere that the racist part of Trump’s question wasn’t sh*thole, but “Why the United States would want to have (immigrants from Haiti and African nations).”

Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:50 am
Jocko raises a good point.

Calling some of these countries “S-holes” was not the problem.

Claiming that he wants people from Norway and not those countries was the problem. Mr. Trump seems to want white immigrants and not Haitian or from anywhere in Africa.

That’s sort of getting lost in all the talk.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 10:56 am
Republicans and Trumps Racist Base? Hurry up delete delete…someone kept it simple and told the truth.

Comment by DeseDemDose Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 11:02 am
–I’ve read elsewhere that the racist part of Trump’s question wasn’t sh*thole, but “Why the United States would want to have (immigrants from Haiti and African nations).”–

Yes, he said he didn’t want “the people” from those countries, a blanket statement, not judging anyone by their skills or the content of their character, but on guess what?

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security just testified to a Senate committee that in addition to her terrible hearing loss, she does not know whether or not Norway is a predominantly white country.

Her name is Kirstjen Nielsen.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 11:09 am
==Is this the first real sign that Ives has him rattled and worried about his right flank?==

I don’t think it’s Ives per se, just his tough re-election in general.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 11:30 am
This was a softball question and he swung and missed. The man seems afraid to take a position on anything.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 11:35 am
If your electoral success depends on not alienating a voter base that would be turned off by you calling out racist behavior as racist then you have zero to gain sitting for an interview with WVON.

I get Rauner’s comments. He’s an unprincipled coward with weak character. What I dont get is why he went on the show. Unless he thought Maze would give him a soft interview because of their Ken Dunkin project together

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:16 pm
No surprise Democratic Illinois politicians are trying to deflect all of Illinois problems onto David Duke, Donald Trump and Governor Rauner.

Much easier than defending their terrible record raising taxes and chasing so many employers out of this state.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:22 pm
You know what? He’s a befuddled billionaire. You know what else? He might win again.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:29 pm
Interesting point, Lucky.

You realize yesterday was a holiday, right? Do you recall the nature the holiday?

Do you have any idea why yesterday (or over the past weekend) there may have been a special focus on issues of race?

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:45 pm
“No surprise Democratic Illinois politicians are trying to deflect all of Illinois problems onto David Duke, Donald Trump and Governor Rauner.”

LP, I believe what you meant to say was, “yea, that was really weird. Why wouldn’t he call out David Duke as a racist…or put a qualifier in there like ‘if he said it’ or something. Boy Bruce makes it really hard to defend him.”

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:46 pm
===Do you have any idea why yesterday (or over the past weekend) there may have been a special focus on issues of race?===

LOL. Nope. Runs contrary to his programming.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:48 pm
Speaking of senate hearings on homelamd security. Both Hatch and Leahy need to be put out to pasture. Maybe they can join old Blue at the McDonalds coffee brain trust each morning to round out the table of has beens.

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:48 pm
“Lucky Pierre”

So you must think David Duke, Trump and racism… Rauner answered those questions?

If Rauner supports David Duke or not… that should be a no-brainer.

If Rauner decided the remarks are racist then Rauner should say so.

Why all the dodging?

These are the EASY questions.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:48 pm
Rauner part of a group trying to flex muscles with the Steelers. He may not have wanted to discuss race while part of a group calling for the ouster of the head coach

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/01/16/source-some-steelers-limited-partners-want-a-coaching-change/

Comment by lostintranslation Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 1:34 pm
LP:

This was an interview with the Governor. He was asked the question. He gave a weasel answer. You’re problem is with him not the Democrats for pointing out he gave a weasel answer.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 1:41 pm
Why is David Duke a valid line of question for Rauner, but Kennedy is never asked about his uncle’s actions regarding Chappaquiddick?

Oh that right, because political biases.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 2:12 pm
No surprise Rauner trying to evade all of Illinois problems onto David Duke, Donald Trump and Governor Rauner.

Much easier than defending his terrible record raising taxes, running up the debt and causing so much hardship among contracts and so many social services to close down.

There, fixed it.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 2:17 pm
===Why is David Duke a valid line of question for Rauner===

If you watch the video, Charles was obviously exasperated that Rauner wouldn’t answer the question about Trump so he threw out David Duke to see if Rauner would answer that one.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 2:20 pm
==
If you watch the video, Charles was obviously exasperated that Rauner wouldn’t answer the question ==

I can’t imagine you going that route, even in exasperation. He made his question sound very salacious and silly and gave viewers sympathy to the Governor by doing that.

Whover mentions David Duke loses the argument.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 3:43 pm
You look silly defending a guy who can’t even say David Duke is a racist. Anyone doing that loses the argument.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 3:47 pm
===I can’t imagine you going that route, even in exasperation===

Don’t put words in my mouth. I may or may not have gone that route, but I certainly don’t fault Charles for going there.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 3:50 pm
When your old…..last week I misplaced my keys(yes, blamed wife). Had remnants of the flu for 4 weeks. And had to google David Duke. Yikes.

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 5:25 pm
===Why would he go on that show? ===

They’re actually not as hostile to him as you’d think.–

Not hostile at all. Jackson was on the Rauner gravy train during the Dunkin primary. Thomas has called Rauner a “fiscal conservative” despite all evidence to the contrary.

Rauner wasn’t in the lion’s den. He got a beach ball down Broadway but was scared to swing and move off his scripted chanting because he babbles incoherently when speaking extemperaneously.

It occurs to me now that Rauner might not have known who David Duke is. In his public comments, his universe is pretty much limited to “Because Madigan, regulations, Chicago Democrats, blah, blah, blah.”

He’s never demonstrated much interest or knowledge of the world outside those talking points.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 7:51 am