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* This press release was sent yesterday, but I didn’t see it until early this morning…
“It’s become apparent that Mike Madigan used his power to cover up sexual harassment in his political organization, and only went public when he knew Alaina Hampton was on the verge of speaking out. Today, J.B. Pritzker was asked repeatedly whether Mike Madigan bears responsibility for these actions, and Pritzker refused to answer the question every single time.
“What’s even more striking is that just yesterday Pritzker released a statement saying we need to focus on Alaina’s story, but when pressed by reporters for a reaction to Mike Madigan’s involvement in Alaina’s story, Pritzker dodged the question. Pritzker said we shouldn’t focus on Madigan’s involvement, but we should rather focus on sexual harassment generally because he knows he can’t speak out against Madigan - the man behind his campaign for governor.
“J.B. Pritzker’s repeated silence on Mike Madigan shines a light on Pritzker’s character and reveals a man who believes behind-the-scenes support from a corrupt politician is more important than speaking out for a woman who faced harassment. Just like his conduct on the Rod Blagojevich calls, Pritzker chooses the insiders over everyone else.” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Aaron DeGroot
Today, J.B. Pritzker held a press conference in Springfield and faced a volley of questions about the recent sexual harassment case in Mike Madigan’s political operation. Not once did Pritzker criticize Madigan or his handling of the case. Instead, he chose to dodge and deflect because his campaign is dependent on Mike Madigan’s support. From the press conference:
Question: “You said that you want to believe [Alaina Hampton’s] claim. One of the claims she made was the Speaker’s announcement to fire Quinn was preemptive right out in front of the story. He’s the Chairman of the Democratic Party [of Illinois], and we are five weeks from a primary that you’re running in. At what point does his involvement in the party become a political liability?”
Pritzker: “We’ve got to find out exactly what the facts are… Each piece of information that leaks out is yet another, you know, piece of information. Focusing this on one thing isn’t good enough. This is a pervasive problem throughout private and public sectors and that means to me making sure all the facts are brought to the fore.”
Question: “If you called on Mike Madigan publicly to clean up what happened here, wouldn’t that put pressure and send a signal to women that they were safe working on his campaigns?”
Pritzker: “Again, I would say focusing on one person when this is a pervasive problem, what I would tell you is we need to make sure that all the facts come out…”
Just yesterday, Pritzker released a statement saying in part that “today should be about Alaina and Alaina’s story,” but when pressed by reporters today to respond to what Mike Madigan’s involvement in Alaina’s story was, Pritzker balked, said we shouldn’t focus on Madigan, but rather we should focus on the issue of sexual harassment generally. Yet again, Pritzker refuses to criticize Mike Madigan because he knows he can’t speak out against the man behind his campaign.
Watch Pritzker absolve Madigan of responsibility HERE.
To be fair, Pritzker did eventually kinda answer the questions. The Tribune has the full exchange here. But the back and forth is much longer than even the ILGOP press release indicates.
The Trib’s story is entitled “Pritzker on Madigan’s handling of sexual harassment complaint: ‘It shouldn’t take that long’” but maybe it should’ve been “It shouldn’t take that long for Pritzker to answer a simple question.” The Sun-Times headline was better: “Pritzker takes a while to say Madigan took too long to fire aide.”
* “A while” is right. The painful ILGOP tracker video shows it took Pritzker five full minutes to finally offer up that bit of criticism…
For crying out loud, if you’re just gonna say it anyway, don’t make reporters drag it out of you.
The man is simply much too wedded to his talking points.
* Sun-Times…
J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday tiptoed around criticizing Mike Madigan over the state Democratic Party chairman’s handling of a sexual harassment complaint.
But under repeated questions from reporters, the billionaire entrepreneur did question why it took three months for a Madigan political aide — and brother of an alderman — to be fired.
“It shouldn’t take that long,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker is in a precarious spot. His Democratic campaign for governor is backed by heavy-hitting state Democrats and unions, many allied with the powerful House speaker. But Pritzker has been careful not to signal public support for Madigan — which many Democratic and Republican opponents would pounce on — given Madigan’s growing unpopularity with some voters.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 9:50 am
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Still better than Madigan’s bizarre press conference in which he blamed the sexual harassment story on Rauner and a vast right-wing conspiracy. And then didn’t say anything else and let his attorney answer.
Comment by Synopsis Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 9:55 am
I blame Madigan for Pritzker’s inability to criticize Madigan.
And also Pritzker.
Classic headline by the Sun-Times.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 9:59 am
Pritzker’s campaign isnt “dependent” on anyone. He is a man w a lot of money that chose to give it to Democratic candidates and progressive causes over the years.
He could have sat on it like the Trumps and done nothing or been like Rauner and gone in and ripped off nursing homes.
Comment by low level Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:01 am
He answered the question. I agree it should have been quicker. I do however where this type of questioning style has been for the last three years regarding the current Governor. These reporters have given a complete pass to Rauner on key issues. It is nice the press may be finding a voice. Now ask the Governor about Veterans, debt, his phony budget, etc. etc.
Comment by Retired Educator Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:01 am
–“Pritzker takes a while to say Madigan took too long to fire aide.”–
That’s pretty good, in the tradition of tabloid headers. I would shorten “takes a while” to “takes forever.”
Not “Headless Body in Topless Bar” quality, but you work with the material you get.
https://static.politico.com/dims4/default/fc31104/2147483647/resize/1160x%3E/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.com%2Fcapny%2Ffiles%2Fa-headlesspost.jpg
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:01 am
If there is one major hurdle between JB and the Governorship - this is it. Still boggles the mind why someone with his resources felt the need to hop so enthusiastically into bed with this baggage.
Comment by 42nd Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:01 am
Pritzker in a tough spot, so he tries to duck pertinent questions for several minutes. What does he say? “Quack, Quack, Quack…”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:03 am
You can’t blame one man for a pervasive problem. Correct, in theory.
But what if that one man could actually *do* something about the pervasive problem, given outsized, massive authority delegated to him under Illinois law and legislative rules?
I’ll hang up and listen for my answer.
Comment by JB13 Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:03 am
This is why Madigan needs to retire. He’s such a millstone around every Illinois Democrat’s neck.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:04 am
JB could of did the political thing and really not mean it. I agree there are more fact about who knew what when, before anyone can really say what really happen. It should of not happen to her, but why did it take so long to come out, was or is it a political move by someone close to her???? Not related to this topic, but I wish the reporters would keep after the governor to answer things, when they just let him slide
Comment by 13TH Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:04 am
–Pritzker’s campaign isnt “dependent” on anyone.–
Not financially. But there are other ways to be dependent.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:05 am
JB isn’t as smart as he seems. He isn’t dependent on Madigan. Madigan is dependent on him. He’s using JB to help fund downstate. Madigan needed someone with Rauner type money to compete. He’s been fooled.
Comment by samsung Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:10 am
Next time, simply say that whatever happened in Madigan’s political operation is the Speaker’s issue to deal w and as Governor there will be a special office to handle any claims.
Comment by low level Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:12 am
Madigan’s failures are right out there for everyone to see and they affect everyone in the State. This guys is in bed with this same political machine and we will see more of the same failures in the future.
Comment by Stand Tall Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:13 am
Rich, Pritzker and his team need to frame your quote and keep it on their desks- “The man is simply much too wedded to his talking points.”
Rauner has done and continues to do this over and over and over again. Pritzker needs to realize when he starts sounding like Rauner and stop, reset, and just answer the question. His team was right on top of the budget address yesterday with their “Reality Checks”. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be prepared for the questions he was thrown yesterday, or for that matter, on other topics where he also took far too long to give a straight answer.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:16 am
==JB isn’t as smart as he seems.==
Actually he is. Not very.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:21 am
=Still boggles the mind why someone with his resources felt the need to hop so enthusiastically into bed with this baggage.=
Yes. Although Madigan was probably a big part of getting everyone to line up behind JB so quickly.
But being Madigan’s candidate today is even worse than being Madigan’s candidate a week ago.
Comment by m Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:21 am
Is that an ILGOP press release being quoted / reposted?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:27 am
“The man is simply much too wedded to his talking points.”
Seems to be a sunk-cost problem involving wealthy candidates, their consultants and their messaging, i.e. “I paid top-dollar for these talking points, so I’m gonna use ‘em!”
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:30 am
Maybe some people beginning to notice that Pritzker is just a rich guy with no substance. The Dem machine is being very shortsighted with this. 2002 all over when a very capable guy lost to Blago. But for his money and promises to finance the Dem Party what does J.B. really bring to us
Comment by Sue Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:33 am
Pritzker has failed, like Feigenhotlz has failed, like Mussman has filed, like Currie has failed, like Chapa La Via has failed, like Fine has failed, like Ammons has failed, like Hurley has failed, like Kifowit has failed, like Hammond has failed, like Manley has failed, like Sente has failed, like Bryant has failed, like K. Burke has failed… Where is the #MeToo outrage now?
Madigan only took action when he learned she was going to the press. All those women wore black a few weeks ago to say “NO MORE!” yet because it’s Speaker Madigan they now choose to remain silent?
Comment by Just Visiting Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:39 am
“The Dem machine is being very shortsighted with this. 2002 all over when a very capable guy lost to Blago.”
True, but Burris did win White County.
Comment by Biftwich Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:42 am
“Pritzker takes a while to say Madigan took too long to fire aide”
Seems like a miss to me. Should read: “Pritzker took too long to say Madigan took too long to fire aide”
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:43 am
==But for his money and promises to finance the Dem Party what does J.B. really bring to us?==
His money and promises to finance the Dem Party. Wait, you already said that…
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:46 am
” given Madigan’s growing unpopularity with some voters.”
Perhaps a bit of an understatement
how about almost all voters except powerful democratic special interest groups?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:46 am
This is a failure of Pritzker’s team. Those questions were inevitable and if he was prepared to say it, he should have said it up front. The sense I get is that he wanted to say this but was trying to thread the Madigan needle. I strongly believe this will change after the primary and he’ll move into a much more critical position with Madigan, but for now it is tough.
They have got to let him be more forthcoming in these interactions. Every time he comes across as evasive and not direct, his likability takes a hit. It’s his best asset and he can’t afford to lose it.
Comment by A Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 10:51 am
The democrat litmus test is now whether you’ll criticize Mike Madigan? I for one don’t really care how they feel about him, or what they say about him. That’s not going to make me vote one way or the other.
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:14 am
A Billionaire who is much too wedded to their talking points… where have I heard that before?
The similarities between Pritzker and Rauner should give every Dem voter pause.
Comment by Lil Lebowski Urban Achiever Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:14 am
Do not absolve Kevin Quinn while trying to witch-hunt Madigan. It’s guys like Kevin Quinn who are pervasive in politics and government. They hide behind perceive power, harrass women and marginalize minorities. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with unprofessionals like this, moved me away, voluntarily, from this industry.
Comment by Make a statement Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:14 am
And if he’s a millstone, it is my observation that Democrats are making him a millstone as much as Republicans are. Maybe it would be better to circle the wagons and support him.
Comment by NoGifts Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:16 am
–Seems like a miss to me. Should read: “Pritzker took too long to say Madigan took too long to fire aide”–
That would be one ugly looking headline. In most cases, repetition is just lazy, bad writing.
The
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:42 am
I’m not sure any politician should be commenting on this situation. Do any of the politicians have the facts, or are they going off of the media coverage? The Silverstein case is a perfect example of waiting for the facts.
Yes, the Kevin Quinn text messages prove harassment. But what is interesting is the victim according the the media coverage said she didn’t want him fired, wanted it to stop and was fine with he complaint staying with MQ. Then months later wrote a letter to the Speaker, which backs up what MQ said.
As someone pointed out yesterday, she left in April 2017. Writes a letter in Nov 2017 and when the Speaker’s Atty met with Ms. Hampton, she asked for a job. Who asks for a job during an investigation?
If we want to talk about bizarre press conferences, go back and watch Ms. Hampton’s press conference when a reporter asked the attorney about calling on the Speaker to resign. The attorney said she did not say that and the reporter pointed out that it was in the press release. The Atty followed up with lame excuse.
There are holes in this story.
Comment by Sigh Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:44 am
Similarities between Pritzker and Rauner?
This classic clip shows those similarities well. It’s always worth another look:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-MCytLRuGG0.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:52 am
The “Madigan Question”? So odd that it is asked as if there was nothing more important … that, given the Governor’s rants, that everyone has bought into the idea that MJM is THE ISSUE. The only real issue now is the Rauner Budget — how it will continue the State’s downward slide.
Comment by ANALYST Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:55 am
=- Make a statement - Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 11:14 am:
Do not absolve Kevin Quinn while trying to witch-hunt Madigan. It’s guys like Kevin Quinn who are pervasive in politics and government. They hide behind perceive power, harrass women and marginalize minorities. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with unprofessionals like this, moved me away, voluntarily, from this industry.=
And who leads such an organization? Who allows this behavior to go unchecked? The culture of any organization stirs at the top. Madigan enables this type of behavior and those that put him in power turn a blind eye.
Comment by Just Visiting Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:13 pm
==The only real issue now is the Rauner Budget — how it will continue the State’s downward slide.==
So Dems should push this aside, ignore questions unless they involve budget stuff, and not take the issue of sexual harassment seriously. Yeah, go with that.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:18 pm
*starts* at the top not stirs…
Comment by Just Visiting Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:26 pm
JB is the status quo candidate. I don’t expect anything more. Fighting Madigan sure worked for Rauner..
JB will inherit the Illinois finances and then the real work starts. This is the true test of his leadership. Will Illinois finances stabilize or continue to get worse.
Comment by Blimp Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 12:54 pm
If Pritzker and Rauner are the same (as many comments above posit), that’s not really an argument against Pritzker. Neither one will introduce the reforms needed to save the state (tax retirement income as ordinary income, progressive income tax, criminal justice reform, etc), so it’s just a question of letting the state burn until competent federal judges can sort out our finances in 2030 or 2050 or whenever it is.
Comment by Chris Widger Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 1:47 pm
==This is a failure of Pritzker’s team.==
Yes. One of many such failures by that team and by him personally. Talking points and message discipline are important when a candidate’s over all narrative is being crafted, honed, and burnished. Sticking to pre-written talking points is dangerous, obvious and insufficient when a situation requires thinking on one’s feet, sincerity and genuineness.
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 3:14 pm
You want to play the attack dog calling out Rauner and Trump you need to answer questions as well when your foundation shows cracks. This race is going to continue to get closer
Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 3:51 pm
Speaking of talking points, the witty and wonderfully snarky Mark Maxwell just pointed out on the local teevee that JB needed 12 tries to give a non-talking point answer on the Madigan matter.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Feb 15, 18 @ 6:28 pm