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New Biss ad claims “billionaire class” will say and spend anything to hold onto power

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* Press release…

Today, Biss for Illinois launched its latest television ad, Anything. The ad features Daniel meeting with voters and underscores his positive, progressive vision for taking our state back from the wealthy and well-connected.

“The billionaire class will say anything—spend anything—to hold onto power,” says Daniel in the ad. “The question is, will we, the people, let them? My name is Daniel Biss, and no matter how much they spend on dishonest attack ads, the truth is, your vote is more powerful than their money. We can make the make the millionaires pay their fair share. We can invest in good schools and healthcare for all. It’s time to level the playing field for the rest of us.”

* Rate it…

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:33 pm

Comments

B the problem is, it’s a Bernie imitation. maybe that’s the goal, but all I can hear is Bernie in it.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:36 pm
Biss can complain all he wants about “dishonest” attacks but they’re his real votes. Think it’s bad now, Danny? Wait til Rauner stops being your buddy and really unloads on you in the general.

Comment by One hand //ing Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:36 pm
It’s a tough sell, the working-class hero from the North Shore, Harvard, MIT and U of C.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:39 pm
–It’s a tough sell, the working-class hero from the North Shore, Harvard, MIT and U of C.–

And yet arguably less of a tough sell than a billionaire and a Kennedy.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:44 pm
And just a few years ago Comrade Biss was the agent for the billionaires as they tried to strip away pension benefits. What will he become a few years from now?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:44 pm
I’m not wild about this divisiveness, it has the potential to turn an imaginary division into a real one. Having said that I think the line “your vote is more powerful than their money” is going to resonate well with voters.

Comment by The Captain Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:45 pm
“To hold onto power”… The only one of the top three who holds political office is Biss. And Biss seems willing to say anything to stay in political power.

Comment by A Jack” Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:45 pm
C–with the caveat that I think his campaign is toast, and admit that opinion may be clouding my view of this ad. With that said, it’s the same message he’s been throwing out for months. Yes, it’s the end of the primary and candidates are generally making closing arguments, not unveiling new policy–but who does this appeal to beyond people who have already bought in? It seems to speak more to the true-believers than it does to undecideds. And if that PPP poll of Cook County voters is even remotely accurate, it doesn’t do anywhere near enough to solve his problem in connecting with African-American voters.

Comment by Anon324 Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:49 pm
D It’s the same spiel every four years. Did we not have a referendum 4 years ago whereby a tax on millionaires passed overwhelmingly? How would Biss actually make it happen? Details

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:51 pm
I’m no where near being a billionaire and I’m all for stripping away pension benefits.

Comment by Ron Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:52 pm
Biss talking about anyone else being willing to “say anything” to win is pretty rich.

Comment by Angel's Sword Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:53 pm
Biss is popular in the progressive white community on the north side. I like the old Biss more than the Bernie Biss.

Comment by Ron Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:53 pm
==And if that PPP poll of Cook County voters is even remotely accurate, it doesn’t do anywhere near enough to solve his problem in connecting with African-American voters.==

Honestly it’s probably too late for that, but I concur. This was a good message to make him a viable contender, but at some point he needed to branch out. Now he’s left with what appears to be too narrow of a coalition to put him over the top, and this won’t change that.

I rate it a C.

Comment by Nacho Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:55 pm
Many voters desperately want to believe the sentiment of “Your vote is more powerful than their money.” It’s a morality based, feel good statement even as it so frequently proves to be untrue (as walking around money gets handed out and the airwaves are pummeled). Still, Daniel has staked out his ground and his identity and this is a good ad for the people who are already leaning toward Biss and it may garner him some undecideds. Grade B.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:56 pm
Angel’s Sword - Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:53 pm:

I agree with you 100%

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:57 pm
=== The billionaire class will say anything—spend anything—to hold onto power, ===

Ahem. Let me clear my throat:

Daniel Biss should know about Billionaires trying to hold onto power.

The Crown family, With estimated assets around $5 billion or so, has given well over $50,000 to Daniel Biss throughout the years.

And that does not even include the money funnelled through Stand for Children.

For you youngins:

The patriarch or the Crown dynasty, Lester, was given immunity from prosecution by Jim Thompson after he contributed $23 K to a slush fund in 1972 to bribe Illinois lawmakers.

not long after, he was investigated as a board member for General Dynamics, one of the nations largest defense contractors, for padding contracts, stock fraud, and bribery. The Crown family owned 23 percent of the company, and admitted “misdeeds.”

Lester Crown is the poster child for everything Daniel Biss says is wrong with the system, and Dan Biss can’t cash Crown’s checks fast enough.

look in the mirror Biss.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150529/ISSUE03/150529815/happy-90th-birthday-lester-crown

Comment by Mirror Mirror Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:59 pm
When you have nothing else to say, you say this.

Comment by Because I said so.... Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:00 pm
- Responsa - Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 12:56 pm:

He can not be trusted and will do anything to gain power. No to Biss. I am still deciding on Kennedy or Pritzker. If Kennedy picks up steam, I will vote for him. If not, I will vote for Pritzker. My family and friends feel the same way.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:00 pm
Can someone in the press get a comment from Daniel about his donor Steven Schuler of Oak Park? A guy who became filthy rich trading options downtown? He recently gave Biss $250,000 and Biss’ spokesman said it was because Daniel will support the marijuana policies Schuler wants.

What about the other north shore billionaires whose funds he’s been happy to take over the years? Such a phony. Such a hypocrite.

Daniel is thinking about what happens after he loses. Getting on the left wing speaking circuit gravy train. This is just about burnishing his credentials to “prove” he’s a man of the people and a real Berniecrat. Probably already writing his book and planning his MSNBC appearances.

Comment by Moe Berg Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:04 pm
== Anonymous - Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:00 pm:==

Heh. Thank you for sharing that. I had been wondering who would be getting the coveted “Anonymous” vote.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:04 pm
But…. Billionaire!!!

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:06 pm
I moved to Illinois from Minnesota. Minnesota’s governor, Mark Dayton, is quite popular. He’s done a good job in leading the State in a progressive direction.

Dayton is very wealthy, yet he has been able to effectively advocate for marginalized communities. That someone is wealthy doesn’t prevent them from being a strong progressive leader. The question is: what type of character does the person bring to their leadership role? Do they live their values…or is it “win at any cost”?

Comment by Hiawatha Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:08 pm
** If Kennedy picks up steam, I will vote for him. If not, I will vote for Pritzker.**

So basically you want to vote for whichever candidate will win?

Comment by SaulGoodman Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:19 pm
–It’s a tough sell, the working-class hero from the North Shore, Harvard, MIT and U of C.–

And let’s not forget Princeton! (Institute for Advanced Study)

I noted on an earlier Biss thread that it’s a bit disingenuous to call himself a “middle-class” guy. His income is middle-class, but he belongs to the “intelligentsia,” typically represented by intellectuals, academics, scholars, artists, etc.

Comment by dbk Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:32 pm
Amalia, As a Berniecrat I find your comparison of Biss to Bernie Sanders extremely offensive. Biss is NOTHING like Bernie Sanders. He’s much more like a male Hillary Clinton. Or Donald Trump. He will say anything, tell any lie, to get elected. He slams Madigan, but he voted to make Madigan Speaker. He says he’s for the little people but he tried to steal the little people’s state pensions. NOTHING like Bernie Sanders.

Comment by Streamwood Retiree Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:33 pm
This ad doesn’t improve his credibility as a candidate. One of the main problem’s of Biss’s candidacy is that he is an incumbent reluctant to run on his record, because it isn’t as “boldly progressive” as his platform. This does nothing to fix it. At best, it’s an appeal to ignorance. The last frame was the best part, visually. Similarly, the appeal to African-American voters is obvious, but I’ll be surprised if it’s effective. For an “A”, these issues would have needed to be packaged differently. It’s not the worst ad, but Biss would’ve be be much better off buying spots on urban contemporary radio for an ad narrated by Wallace or Robin Kelly.

C+

Comment by Illinois Expatriate Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:42 pm
C.

It doesn’t have much oomph to it - so it pretty accurately reflects Biss’s whole campaign. I think for this to work, you’d have to have been invested in Biss before the attacks. I don’t see how this ad even gets him back to 2nd place. I mean, if you’re a not-Pritzker voter, would you rather have this or Chris Kennedy ripping Madigan, Berrios and Emanuel?

Comment by Century Club Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:46 pm
A robust whine with a (fiscal) note of envy.

Comment by Northsider Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:55 pm
“The billionaire class will say anything—spend anything—to hold onto power,”

6 of the 17 Illinois billionaire’s are named Pritzker. This will be a good tag line after JB wins the primary.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 1:57 pm
Streamwood, Bernie’s hardly a truth teller. Most of what he pitches is silliness.

Comment by Ron Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 2:02 pm
Biss is a failed mathematician who refused to rescind his erroneous findings. It is unclear if this was the reason why he left his position at U of C.

Comment by biss Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 2:11 pm
“Dayton is very wealthy, yet he has been able to effectively advocate for marginalized communities.”

Of course! The fact that Democrats have suddenly forgotten that the greatest leaders in the history of the Democratic Party were wealthy is beyond me. Wealth should not be a disqualifier. It wasn’t for Franklin Roosevelt. It wasn’t for John Kennedy. It hasn’t been for Mark Dayton. And it shouldn’t be for JB Pritzker.

That said, this ad will make his supporters very happy, but it is not likely to persuade undecided folks.

Comment by Anon0091 Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 2:16 pm
Ron; You are wearing us all out. I read your comments and my IQ drops 10 points. If I do it 10 times I will be about as dumb as you.

As to the ad, a solid c just more progressive nonsense. Everything for everybody, with no need to explain who pays for it. Socialism does not work. Ask around in Cuba and Venezuela, I am sure you can get the gist.

Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 3:08 pm
==It wasn’t for Franklin Roosevelt. It wasn’t for John Kennedy. It hasn’t been for Mark Dayton.==

While their wealth clearly wasn’t disqualifying, it was also used to attack them.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 3:21 pm
Hey Dan- it’s a pretty good ad and a great message but you’ve got to get out of Evanston for people to hear it.

What is your strategy to obtain more AA votes? You ain’t got a shot if you’re polling in single digits buddy.

Comment by Boone's is Back Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 3:30 pm
Top Five Wealthiest Presidents:

Trump
Kennedy
Washington
Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt

Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 3:37 pm
Unfortunately, it seems that J.B. is of the mindset to win at any cost. Not the values I want to see in a leader.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 3:49 pm
Pritzker has spent $63 million on this primary. So if that’s any indication, the ad’s premise is true.

Comment by Frankly Friday, Mar 9, 18 @ 4:01 pm