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* UPDATED x2 - Raoul responds to Quinn - Quinn airs response ad * Kwame Raoul ad calls out “failed” Quinn for “illegal hiring”

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[This post has been bumped up to Wednesday for visibility because it was posted after normal business hours yesterday.]

* CBS 2’s Derrick Blakely…

State Sen. Kwame Raoul released a new TV commercial Tuesday that leaves no doubt as to who he believes is his prime opponent.

“Pat Quinn’s incompetence in illegal hiring gave us Bruce Rauner,” the ad says. “Quinn failed as governor. Why would we want to make him attorney general?”

Quinn said he doesn’t believe he failed as a governor. “I signed six straight budgets and the guy who came after me didn’t do any. I’ve been a lawyer for everyday people, I’m not a corporate guy, I don’t take campaign contributions from utility companies, or banks, or red light camera operators.”

According to Quinn, Raoul has taken donations from all three.

…Adding… Here it is…

* Script…

Pat Quinn’s incompetence and illegal hiring gave us Bruce Rauner. Jobs for friends and family, endless investigations, and now Illinois is a broken mess. Quinn failed as Governor.
Why would we make him Attorney General?

Kwame Raoul was called to fill Barack Obama’s seat. Now Kwame’s endorsed by teachers, firefighters, nurses, and the state’s pro-choice group to protect Illinois and serve us. Kwame Raoul – Attorney General

*** UPDATE 1 *** The Quinn campaign was already up with a response ad last night…

…Adding… Quinn is also running the sound from the TV ad as a radio spot. Click here.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Raoul campaign…

Quote: Pat Quinn’s incompetence and illegal hiring gave us Bruce Rauner
“Audit draft shows more mismanagement in Quinn’s anti-violence program,” Joe Mahr, Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 4/5/2016.
Republican Bruce Rauner went on to beat Democrat Quinn in 2014 after relentlessly charging that Quinn used the grants as a political slush fund to help win votes in Democratic strongholds. Rauner’s administration declined to comment on the draft audit, citing the confidentiality of the process before an audit is released. But in the administration’s response to auditors, also obtained by the Tribune, the agency’s new leaders blame the Quinn administration for the debacle.

“Jim Dey: Investigation into illegal hiring under Quinn expanded,” Jim Dey, The News-Gazette, 5/4/2017.
Last week, a court-appointed outside monitor released a voluminous report that laid bare all the gory details surrounding five years of illegal patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation. But that report didn’t close the book on the wide-ranging conspiracy to violate state hiring rules by top officials in former Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration. Indeed, there could be more much forthcoming.

Quote: Jobs for friends and family…
“Watchdog details how top Democrats under ex-Gov. Quinn got state jobs for friends, family,” Monique Garcia, Ray Long, Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune, 4/25/2017.
A new report issued Monday by a court-appointed watchdog charged with looking into patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation details how top Democrats clouted relatives and friends into positions under former Gov. Pat Quinn, even as many of those hired had little or no experience. “

Quinn and his administration under yet another FBI investigation!” Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs, 10/27/2014

Quote: Endless investigations and and now Illinois is a broken mess thanks to Quinn.

“Jim Dey: Investigation into illegal hiring under Quinn expanded,” Jim Dey, The News-Gazette, 5/4/2017.
Last week, a court-appointed outside monitor released a voluminous report that laid bare all the gory details surrounding five years of illegal patronage hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation. But that report didn’t close the book on the wide-ranging conspiracy to violate state hiring rules by top officials in former Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration. Indeed, there could be more much forthcoming. Why? Federal Magistrate Sidney Schenkier on Monday signed an order directing the court-appointed monitor, Chicago lawyer Noelle Brennan, to conduct a wide-ranging examination of “all positions under the jurisdiction of” Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office and file a “preliminary status report” of her findings by July 31. The question behind all this is: If IDOT became a patronage dumping ground for politically connected job seekers under Quinn, what about the rest of the state’s executive departments and bureaus? “Editorial: Was Pat Quinn running the state of Illinois – or a job fair?” Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4/28/2017 The OEIG’s 2014 investigation stopped short of blaming the governor’s office for the explosion of exempt “staff assistant” jobs created under Quinn, but Brennan’s report says Quinn staffers were “the driving force.” The report notes that of 154 staff assistants hired from 2009 to 2013, 53 had connections to Quinn’s office and another 56 were sponsored by other elected officials.

“Feds subpoena emails in Quinn anti-violence fund inquiry,” Ray Long & Monique Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 7/4/2014
federal grand jury has issued a subpoena for emails of key players in Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s troubled $54.5 million anti-violence program, including the former head of the program and two former ranking members of Quinn’s administration.

“Quinn and his administration under yet another FBI investigation!” Kirk Allen, Edgar County Watchdogs, 10/27/2014

“Watchdog details how top Democrats under ex-Gov. Quinn got state jobs for friends, family,” Monique Garcia, Ray Long, Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune, 4/25/2017.

Bottom line: Fact’s don’t lie but Pat Quinn and his campaign sure do.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 6:29 pm

Comments

Contested primaries are entertaining.

Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 6:35 pm
Former governor of Illinois can’t make a living so he’s running for another elected position. Please just lose and go away.

Comment by Trapped in the ‘burbs Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 6:35 pm
Running for office is like loving licorice. Most people wouldn’t think of running for office, but people who like running for office REALLY like running for office.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 6:39 pm
“Property tax lawyers are the backbone of America salt of the earth.”- PQ

From the CBS article- looks like Erika will be the wingman Leslie Munger never lived up to. I’ll put away Mike Madigan. That’s very Trump maybe the next rally they could all scream “Lock him up”

Love the primary great to watch.

Comment by Dupage Bard Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 6:56 pm
Actually he went after 400000 retirees but Rauol went along even though he actually knew better

Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 7:05 pm
Kwame was all for PQ in 2014. His attacks on Quinn ring hollow for anyone who is paying attention.

Misleading, mean-spirited and driven by short-term self-interest.

Comment by Oh, please! Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 7:22 pm
I will never forgive Quinn for disrespecting our democratic system by refusing to attend the inauguration of his successor.

Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 7:25 pm
Between PQ’s patronage hires and his pardon of a pal who didn’t even go through the Prisoner Review Board while a backlog of hundreds went to Rauner, I don’t know how anyone can think PQ should be our top lawyer.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 7:32 pm
Quinn can’t make a living? LOL

He draws at least $130K in annual pension benefits despite only contributing $200K over his career to the pension fund.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 7:37 pm
I actually think Quinn did more harm to this state with his cut back amendment than even Rauner has accomplished. Didn’t know he did not show up at Rauner’s inauguration; petty. Probably to be mimic by Trump in a few years

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 8:01 pm
I don’t take money from all those bad people. Just six figures from property tax appeals lawyers, you know, the common folk. Like Everyman Joe Berrios.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 8:49 pm
I hope Kwame’s ads work to help remind people about who PQ is in case they have already forgotten his last minute stunts as governor.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 9:02 pm
In the general if PQ is the nominee, I might have to vote for him as insurance against Rauners re-election. He also might keep JB and the Speaker in check…what a weird set of circumstances.

Comment by Con Flicted Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 10:12 pm
Thanks Kwame. Now I know where my vote should go. And not to you.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 10:27 pm
===incompetence in illegal hiring=== Isn’t being incompetent in illegal hiring a good thing? Is this a misquote?

Comment by Swift Tuesday, Mar 6, 18 @ 10:39 pm
I find raoul, Ruiz, and rotering as unacceptable choices. I like Goldstein. Mariotti and fairly are ok as is Quinn in my opinion.

Comment by Red tower Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 3:33 am
Kwame should take care to not lose the democratic insiders who know the true story of the PQ Administration. Quinn was and always has been well intentioned, but received horrible service from several senior staff people who lost him support from his own team. The whole fell apart because of the few, and the election was lost. Attacking the whole could cost Kwame their support as well on primary day.

Comment by Looking back Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 5:40 am
“Failed Governor?” I am inclined to agree with Raoul (who ordinarily doesn’t impress me too much) because I believe that had the Democrats had any other nominee than Quinn in 2014 Rauner could not have eked out a victory.

Comment by Practical Politics Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 6:13 am
@ Looking back

So, poor PQ was just victim of shoddy staff work…..please. Guy’s a mess and was a mess of a governor.

Comment by McGuppin Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 7:01 am
The worst choice for ag is roterang.

Comment by Shamus Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 7:03 am
I thought Quinn was put on this earth to solve pension funding

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 7:41 am
The problem with Kwame’s attack is that we have to wonder why Kwame did nothing when Quinn was Gov. and Kwame was in the State Senate.

Now it matters?

Comment by Gooner Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 8:32 am
The anti-Kwame ad is a perfect, short shot that was obviously in the can and ready for this moment.

Comment by Anon0091 Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 9:25 am
I second Anon0091. Good counterpunch.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 9:28 am
The deep voice narrating the Quinn back-atcha ad to Kwame gives it extra punch.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 9:45 am
Just Me -
He did something similar when he left the Treasurer’s Office in 1995. Prior to that time, the outgoing Treasurer met the incoming Treasurer at the Vault to “hand over” the Vault. In 1995 Pat Quinn was =not= there to “hand over” to Judy Baar Topinka, and the ritual never really resumed.

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 10:00 am
Sharp, effective, quick counterpunch from the Quinn camp.

Odd how all the sudden Senator Raoul echoes Bruce Rauner and the Edgar County Dogs. That’s a dubious change for Raoul who supported Quinn bigly in 2010 and 2014.

When you become a born-again liberal-basher two weeks before a primary election, your attacks should be taken with a huge grain of salt.

Comment by Sugar Corn Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 10:51 am
Kwame should be asked why as a state senator did he vote to give his fraternity - Kappa Alpha Psi - $500,000 of taxpayer money to build a frat house:

Agency Name -DCEO

Grantee -Edward G. Irvin Foundation of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

Appropriation Name: acquisition and

renovation of a facility

FY10 HB0312 and SB1221

$400,000

Comment by jeff Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 11:17 am
Can’t Brooke and Lou gift a job at Uber to Pat? It would even out their wedding gift from him.

Comment by Jose Abreu's last homer Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 2:25 pm
@Practical Politics:
Really, do you stand by that? ANYONE would have beat Rauner? Rauner put 25 million in his own campaign, which is more than most governors raise in total.

Comment by State worker Wednesday, Mar 7, 18 @ 7:10 pm
Have health insurance but can’t afford to use it?

Comment by Jackie Bailey Monday, Mar 12, 18 @ 7:58 am