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* UPDATED x1 - Raoul video * AG candidates at each others’ throats during Tribune appearance

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* The AP story really doesn’t do justice to yesterday’s Tribune editorial board meeting with the Dem AG candidates…

Several candidates took jabs at Raoul, who leads in fundraising and high-profile endorsements.

They questioned his campaign contributions from big tobacco and the gaming industry, focusing on possible conflicts of interest. Ruiz, a former Chicago education official, said he’s abstained from votes to avoid complications and questioned Raoul’s impartiality. At one point, Raoul shot back, calling Ruiz “a serial liar.”

“It hasn’t compromised me in the past,” Raoul said. “I’m not for sale.” […]

“How can people expect that things are going to be different if we keep electing the same people?” [Renato Mariotti ] asked Quinn. “If you can’t defeat Bruce Rauner, why we would trust you take on Donald Trump?”

* Channel 5 gets closer…

Two of the Democratic candidates — state Sen. Kwame Raoul and former Chicago Board of Education head Jesse Ruiz — clashed loudly over political contributions.

When asked if Raoul’s campaign funds from tobacco companies would compromise his ability to litigate against them as Illinois’s attorney general, Ruiz upped the ante by insisting Raoul was contradicting his comments to the Chicago Sun-Times from another forum earlier this month.

“Jesse, you cannot tell me what I said,” Raoul yelled across the table. “You are a serial liar.” The exchange was broken up by tabletop bell wielded by the Tribune.

* The entire Tribune story, however, is a must-read…

“You cannot tell me what I said,” Raoul shouted at one point.

“I heard you,” said Ruiz.

“You are a serial liar,” Raoul replied. […]

“I think one of the big problems that we have in this room is that we have people that are beholden to powers that be that don’t want to change anything,” Drury said. He called Quinn “the patronage pal of Mike Madigan.”

Rotering accused Drury of “the height of hypocrisy,” noting that he had “taken money from people who are funding Rauner.” Drury countered that one of Rotering’s biggest donors was also a contributor to Rauner. […]

“You know, we keep hearing about laws that you passed when you had all these different roles in state government, and we’re left with a corrupt government that is corrupt and a government that people don’t have trust in here in Illinois,” Mariotti said to Quinn. “And I guess the question is: How can the people of Illinois expect that things are going to be different when we keep electing the same people who’ve been in charge, when these laws are passed that are supposedly enough to deal with corruption in Illinois and it hasn’t been done?”

Go read the whole thing.

*** UPDATE *** Thanks to a reader, here’s video of the heated exchange with Raoul…

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:22 am

Comments

Raoul is better off avoiding these types of things, not that most voters pay attention though. He isn’t the greatest speaker and he loses his temper easily.

Comment by m Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:28 am
It was quite an undignified pie fight in my opinion. Drury v. Rotering, Ruiz v. Raoul, Goldstein defending Quinn from Mariotti, it had something for everyone.

Quinn, surprisingly (and wisely) kept his mouth glued shut. He still got hit with some pies, but the rest of them looked like something out of a Three Stooges short.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:30 am
I want an AG who isn’t afraid to stand up for me. I also want one who won’t take crap. That is Kwame.

Comment by Tom Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:32 am
===Quinn, surprisingly (and wisely) kept his mouth glued shut===

Yep. And was smiling almost the whole time. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:33 am
Quinn thinks his name rec and ballot position will carry him through. He may be right.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:43 am
=I want an AG who isn’t afraid to stand up for me. I also want one who won’t take crap. That is Kwame.=

There is a difference between standing up and losing your mind and making a fool of yourself in a room where everyone else has the ability to remain calm and collected. You should watch him in a committee hearing on a controversial bill.

He’s a good legislator overall in my mind, but I don’t think he’s a good choice for the spotlight and a bigger stage.

Taking big money from tobacco while running for AG demonstrates in another way that he is not ready. Anyone who thinks it’s ok to raie money from the people you will be opposing as AG is not ready for primetime.

Comment by m Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:43 am
I saw an ad for Goldstein yesterday on WICS in Springfield. The only AG ad I’ve seen on television so far. I can’t say he got my vote with it, but it made me take notice of a candidate I hadn’t thought of previously.

Comment by Nishi Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:50 am
Temperament increasingly seems be an issue in Kwame’s candidacy. He gives off the appearance of being stressed and impulsively reactive to criticism. If he is indeed the front-runner among the Dems then he just needs to chill. But especially, If he does *not* believe himself to be the front-runner he needs to chill and come across as less angry.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:55 am
Goldstein said he won’t defend anymore pension bills. He won me on that one.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 11:08 am
I agree that this melee works fine enough for Quinn. His long experience is a key asset in this one. There aren’t many scenarios that will be new to him; including this food fight.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 11:22 am
Based on this and previous outbursts, Kwame appears to have serious anger management issues. People like a fighter, but more like a happy warrior. If it’s not too early for predictions, I’d say Quinn will win the primary. Name recognition matters.

Comment by phocion Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 11:35 am
I think Quinn would be a better AG than he was a Governor

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 11:49 am
=I think Quinn would be a better AG than he was a Governor=

He was horrible as a Governor so that’s not a high standard at all

Comment by Just Visiting Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 11:52 am
Kwame told some whoppers and then accused Ruiz of being a serial liar. Problem is the lie that led to the outburst is on tape. That’s gonna be a problem.

Comment by Anon0091 Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:01 pm
=I think Quinn would be a better AG than he was a Governor=

Agreed. He wants to be a watchdog/reformer type. AG is a better spot for what he’s selling than Governor was.

Comment by m Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:12 pm
Elected Cook County Democrats sure are behind some questionable candidates if they are serious about trying to appeal to an electorate that believes our state government is corrupt and the system is rigged.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:15 pm
As a Democrat, I’m worried that Raoul’s “temperament” issues would contrast poorly with Harold, who seems under control. Worse, I’m afraid Raoul makes another crack like his “Miss America” one, similarly “gender biased” - which could really hurt in this environment. Quinn seems like a safer choice; I’m inclined to vote for him.

Comment by DarkHorse Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:22 pm
Besides Raoul and Ruiz (and Quinn), my eyes were on the kind of cool image of Abraham Lincoln on the wall behind everyone.

Comment by Christopher Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:25 pm
Dark Horse,

Agreed about Kwame, but Quinn is definitely not a safer choice. He’s got his whole horrid record that suddenly all Dems on the ticket would have to answer for. And Harrold would sap a big chunk of the African-American vote which won’t help. We need a new face.

Comment by Anon0091 Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:28 pm
Vote for Quinn, he supports term limits with zero sense of self awareness

Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:29 pm
Kind of makes you sad that one of these folks is going to be our next AG

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:36 pm
The tronc edit board is the perfect site for a Romper Room Tantrum-fest.

Love the time-out bell. Cant’ make that stuff up.

These guys keep it up and people might start paying attention.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:39 pm
–Elected Cook County Democrats sure are behind some questionable candidates if they are serious about trying to appeal to an electorate that believes our state government is corrupt and the system is rigged.–

Tell it to the Blind Trust. And let’s see your boss’ investments that do business with Illinois governments.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Quinn is going to win - not sure why others are wasting their time and money at this point.

Kwame is tissue paper thin - he has never had a real election before, which is something people seem to forget. A statewide race is a tough place to be a beginner with no real political skills, charisma, or ability to connect with actual people.

The Gov and AG races (along with last year’s Senate primary) show the pathetic state of IL Dems - the voters of Illinois deserve better choices.

Comment by A. N. Onymous Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:47 pm
Serious question, from the back of the room: Why should we vote for anyone who believes the greatest priority for the Attorney General of Illinois or any other state should be to “stand up” to a president of the United States, even if that person happens to be Trump? Insert “Barack Obama” into that statement, and I think you’d agree with me.

Comment by JB13 Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 12:54 pm
A lot of schoolteachers remember Quinn, not in a good way. There is a clip of Quinn saying he was put on earth to “solve” (cut) their pensions.

Comment by DuPage Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:22 pm
Trump’s poll numbers have been around zero with democrats in some suburbs. Clearly, this has been shared with the AG candidates.

Comment by Soothsayer Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:24 pm
What JB13 said. Candidates, you are all Democrats and therefore don’t like Trump, but check out the Illinois Constitution for the job description of the AG’s Office and tell me why you’re the best person for that particular job. When you run against Trump in 2020 then focusing your attention on him will make all the sense in the world. Right now if Trump is your main focus it makes me think you didn’t check out what it is the AG does. We’ve already got a governor who didn’t read the job description, we don’t need more office holders who don’t know what they’re getting into.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 1:35 pm
https://capitolfax.com/2017/09/19/raoul-lets-his-temper-show-during-wvon-interview/

Not the first outburst from Raoul.

Comment by BucknIrish Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 2:34 pm
Not a Quinn fan, but agree that he might be better as AG than governor; maybe even better than Lisa. Look for him to be an activist on reform and corruption. What amazes me is how many on this blog are saying the same thing…and that is telling…

Comment by downstate commissioner Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 3:29 pm
Also in the PQ camp

Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 3:36 pm
Anybody but Quinn. I like him, but his time is up. His milk is past the sell-by date. His book is overdue at the library. The mustard in his refrigerator has expired. His flowers have wilted. His clock has run out. His hourglass is empty.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 3:42 pm
God forbid Rauner wins in 2018.

But if Quinn wins and can pair up with Mendoza, imagine the grief they could cause Governor Junk.

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 4:02 pm
Ruiz and Fairley I think have the best sense of what the AG’s office actually does. So, come January 2021 and maybe Trump becomes an ex-president. Then what, you guys? What’s your plan to protect victims of crime, the environment, defend the state against lawsuits, and hire and retain quality lawyers and staff to do the job? Early voting starts on Feb. 8, time’s running out.

Comment by AG-nonymous Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 4:16 pm
47th ward, enough of the tired expressions. Your exhaustion with Quinn is itself exhausting.

Do you dislike his ideas, his bald head, or what?

Whatever his faults, he’s got a command of the major issues and history in Illinois. Sincere progressive values and a practical, maverick streak. Sometimes wrong, sometimes rambling, but at least gutsy and authentic. A genuine willingness to battle on behalf of the poor and dispossessed. Not a phony bone in his body when it comes to vets and their families.

Good enough for me.

Comment by Sugar Corn Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 4:36 pm
===Good enough for me===

Well then. Dilly dilly.

I’m not going to get into the gory details, because as I said I like Pat and wish him well in retirement.

But he will be a drag on the entire Democratic ticket. Run a google search on Quinn Administration and (NRI) and (IDOT hiring) and (insert any other bungled Quinn admin project). Everybody from Mendoza to whoever wins the nomination for Governor is going to have to carry Pat Quinn’s legacy with them until November. That my friend, is a heavy left.

He has too much experience. There are no second acts in politics.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 4:47 pm
- he will be a drag on the entire Democratic ticket. -

Yeah, you and the rest of the insider crowd have been saying this for years. Get over yourself.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 5:59 pm
Yes, I’ve been saying that for years, the past three years to be exact. You know, the years following the end of his troubled administration and his electoral defeat.

No one is pining for a return of the hapless happy warrior. But he has a good shot at this nomination because he’s run statewide pretty much every time since 1986. Some Illinois Democrats have Stockholm Syndrome. I am not one of them.

And I say all of this as a fan and former supporter of his. The best job in politics is to be a former governor. He should embrace that role instead of reverting to his instinctive, habitual role as the gadfly perennial candidate.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 7:07 pm
47th, Glad you explained. But many, many expert politicos have been NOT pining for Quinn’s involvement in anything since he began. Proving the cynics and pessimists wrong appears to have inspired him for decades. (eg: on CUB, “Quinn, in a million years, you won’t do that!” said the big utility insiders…)

Compare his tenure to Rauner’s, or Rod’s, or any of the last several Govs. Quinn’s “former supporters” have plenty to celebrate and be proud of. LGBT Equality, Infrastructure, Vets, Budgets(!) to name a few.

Don’t surrender to the likes of the Trib Edit board as the final authors of Pat Quinn’s legacy. That’s a weak, counterproductive, self-destructive path for progressives in Illinois.

Comment by Sugar Corn Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 7:26 pm
Break out the anybody but Quinn bumper sticker

Comment by Generic Drone Thursday, Jan 25, 18 @ 10:57 pm
Sugar Corn,

Neither 47 nor I listen to the Trib edit board on much of anything. Our distaste for PQ come from knowing him all too well. And please don’t believe the whole maverick nonsense. PQ is an old fashioned cronyism hack who loves the power and lifestyle. Ask yourself how he blew through 600,000 in campaign funds between 12/14 when he left the governor’s office and 12/17 including more than $10,000 on White Sox tickets. Ask how he put his former body man buddy into a three year unbreakable contract (he could be fired but would still be paid three years of salary) as head of the Sports Facilities Board on his way out the door. Really check out the NRI scandal, where he directed more than $50 million in taxpayer funds to local political organizations in the guise of “anti-violence money.” PQ is to reform as toilet water is to fine beverages.

And like 47, I used to be an admirer of his and worked with him and his Administration all too much. It’s time for him to move on.

Comment by Anon0091 Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 1:02 am
0091,

I “really checked the NRI Scandal”.
Your characterization of it sounds like you write for the Trib edit board.

You harbor bitterness that maybe time will ease.

Comment by Sugar Corn Friday, Jan 26, 18 @ 9:49 am