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Fact-checking the fact-checkers

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Illinois

In her latest campaign ad, Susana Mendoza calls herself a fearless fighter for the little guy.

That’s partially true. Which means its also partially false. As Chicago City Clerk, Mendoza did fight Mayor Rahm Emanuel on hiking city sticker fees, was a cheerleader for the impeachment of former governor Rod Blagojevich and has been a vocal opponent of current Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. […]

But Mendoza hasn’t done much standing up to powerful Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, who she has called her mentor. By all accounts, Madigan helped squeeze state senator Daniel Biss out of a 2016 comptroller’s primary, clearing the way for Mendoza.

And even now, out of the 1.7 million dollars Mendoza has in her campaign fund, more than a third, $650,000, is from the Illinois Democratic Party.

Madigan did, indeed, help push Biss out of that primary to benefit Mendoza. But the money stuff is really misleading. A simple search of the Board of Elections shows Mendoza received that Democratic Party of Illinois money in October of 2016 for her first statewide run.

She raised $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, spent $2.7 million and had $279K left in the bank. Since that time, she hasn’t reported receiving any DPI cash. So to claim that the 2016 money currently makes up a third of what she has in the bank is just false.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:07 am

Comments

I’ll take not understanding banking for 1000 Alex.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:17 am
I’m a fan of the “fact checking” that a lot of media outlets are featuring these days. But you can’t really fact check a politician’s use of a cliche like “I’m fighting for the little guy” or “I’m dedicated to public service.” Those statements are matters of opinion, not fact.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:21 am
=== Because Madigan ===

The story reads like it was written by a GOP operative instead of a journalist.

She’s the Comptroller and her performance in office has been very good.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:21 am
–That’s partially true. Which means its also partially false. –

Great writing, Derrick. Rivals your math and research skills.

Who watches Channel 2 news? People who can’t find the remote?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:22 am
I wonder if CBS2 would be interested in buying Lincoln’s axe - the handle’s only been replaced three times and the head just once.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:23 am
Agreed. Some of the “fact-checks” have been ridiculous. This is certainly right up there. Do much better.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:23 am
===Who watches Channel 2 news?===

Since I cut the cable cord, I can’t even get Channel 2 with the digital rabbit ears.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:25 am
===Those statements are matters of opinion, not fact.===
Or, as Rod Blagojevich’s attorneys claimed in court, “political puffery.”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:25 am
“Cheerleader?” Hm.

BTW, unlike Kwame and Democrats all over this state, I don’t think Mendoza has accepted any cash from JB. That says a lot about her and how she leads.

Comment by The Most Anonymous Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:37 am
This assumes without evidence or discussion that you have to “stand up” to Madigan to be “for the little guy.”

Comment by Whatever Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 10:44 am
==Who watches Channel 2 news?==

Old people who turn on 60 Minutes on Sunday and don’t get around to changing the channel until Weds-Thurs. (Only being semi-snarky here)

Comment by Anon Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 11:03 am
Every election, every post, every story in IL politics involves Madigan. He will be gone soon and then what.

Democrats have not had another viable leader in 30 years and Republicans have not since Edgar walked.

I believe Mendoza has the “It” factor, but needs to demonstrate the ability to do it on her own, without Madigan. She doesn’t have to pick a fight with him, but she is too young to hitch her wagon to him.

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 11:09 am
“I wonder if CBS2 would be interested in buying Lincoln’s axe” I hear there’s a hat that may be available as well.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 11:10 am
- I don’t think Mendoza has accepted cash from JB

Within the past 2 years Mendoza has received over $25,000 from JB.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 11:14 am
Fact off. We are in a post-truth world. The only thing that matters is how you feel about something.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 11:21 am
**BTW, unlike Kwame and Democrats all over this state, I don’t think Mendoza has accepted any cash from JB. That says a lot about her and how she leads.**

LOL - no, it doesn’t. It just says that Mendoza doesn’t have a real race and Kwame does.

Comment by SaulGoodman Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 11:47 am
I agree that fact check was kind of dumb. It’s not like she claimed to have stood up to Madigan. That said, assuming she stays Comptroller and doesn’t become Mayor of Chicago, she faces a bit of a test next year of her independent streak. Will she continue to speak up when possibly every one of her elected counterparts is on the same team? Or will she “play ball?”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 12:04 pm
An alliance, vague, or not, with Madigan is damning? By whose rule book? Madigan has been effective, unlike the feckless who have resided on E. Jackson St. The thing that smarts to so many is his effectiveness. Perfect? No….Preferable? Yes Just so ya know, I am a downstater, not a Madigan shill.

Comment by wondering Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 1:39 pm
One of the most head-scratching “fact checks”. No one watches CBS anyway.

Comment by Shytown Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 1:46 pm
I would hope that Channel 2 would issue a correction.

Comment by Maestro Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 3:55 pm
I was certain that the article had to be an opinion piece. How in the world does one fact check “standing up for the little guy,” and even if that was possible, what does getting support from Madigan have to do with anything.

This kind of stuff is why the news media has so little credibility today.

Comment by Shevek Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 4:39 pm
I like how she’s done her job and haven’t been aware of any wrong doing on her part. So unless some proven malfeasance proven in next two weeks,I’d say she’s done her job better than many holding a public office in this state.

Comment by cc Thursday, Oct 25, 18 @ 6:38 pm