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Sandoval issues another statement, but not another apology

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Illinois

* Sandoval succeeded in extending the story with yet another statement. Tribune…

State Sen. Martin Sandoval on Monday blamed a vendor hired to provide music and entertainment at a Friday fundraiser for photos posted online showing a man pointing a fake gun used as a novelty beverage dispenser at someone wearing a mask depicting President Donald Trump.

“I had absolutely no knowledge that this regrettable exchange between one of my 1,200 guests and a third-party vendor even took place,” the Chicago Democrat said in a statement. “Those individuals involved exhibited extremely poor judgment.” […]

The person wearing the Trump mask was from Harvey-based Party District Entertainment, which has provided entertainment at previous Sandoval fundraisers. Sandoval’s campaign fund has paid the company $7,700 since 2017. The company provides costumed characters, DJs and other services for parties and events. The “gun” in the photos was a novelty beverage dispenser.

“This offensive use of a beverage dispenser was in no way part of any scheduled program,” Sandoval said in his Monday statement. “I had no knowledge of it and neither did my staff. I want to again express my deepest regret that this unfortunate incident took place at (an) event in my name.”

Just because they ask a question doesn’t mean you have to answer it, Marty.

Also, the “beverage dispenser” in question is a tequila gun.

* Sun-Times…

The photos even got the attention of Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, who tweeted, “Every Democrat should be asked if they support or disavow this.”

And the U.S. Secret Service on Monday told the Chicago Sun-Times they are “aware” of the incident. Tim Gilroy, assistant to the special agent-in-charge of the Chicago office, said he could not comment on whether an investigation was underway, “but I can tell you that the Secret Service investigates all threats against the president, and we take them all very seriously.” […]

After a barrage of questions from reporters, Sandoval released a second statement on Monday — expressing “regret” but no apology.

“As a matter of clarification, I had absolutely no knowledge that this regrettable exchange between one of my 1,200 guests and a third-party vendor even took place. Those individuals involved exhibited extremely poor judgement,” the statement said.

* Fox News…

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise asked what it would take for liberals to denounce violence against conservatives after a Democratic state senator from Illinois came under fire last weekend over pictures showing his supporters at a fundraising event taking part in a mock assassination of President Trump. […]

“I am glad he took ownership, and said he was wrong,” Scalise said.

* Another party pic to give you an idea of how wild that event can get…

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:10 am

Comments

It’s supposed to be Thor’s hammer not Thor getting hammered.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:15 am
===“I had absolutely no knowledge that this regrettable exchange between one of my 1,200 guests and a third-party vendor even took place,” the Chicago Democrat said in a statement. “Those individuals involved exhibited extremely poor judgment.”===

This sounds like the 17-year old that throws a party at his house when his parents are away and the parents find out all that went on, and the kid blames the folks he invited to trash his parents’ house.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:23 am
Party Marty…ugh.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:23 am
The Republicans don’t have firm ground to stand on here. There a lot of displays of Obama with a noose around his neck at various GOP events for years.

Comment by Not It Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:25 am
Senator and Mrs. Blutarsky…

Comment by efudd Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:25 am
The real crime is mixing DC and Marvel characters in that photo.

Comment by Marty Meh-lan Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:26 am
I can think of a former governor who must look at that picture and wonder why he never had a fundraiser like that.

Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:29 am
“Every Democrat should be asked if they support or disavow this.”

One thing Democrats shouldn’t do is play by another set of rules on Trump’s behavior, where they punish themselves while the GOP lets Trump off scot-free for his violence-fomenting racist attacks and his daily denigration of the presidency.

The scripted GOP outage is entirely predictable. Democrats shouldn’t dance to that tune.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:33 am
“This offensive use of a beverage dispenser was in no way part of any scheduled program”

You don’t say?

2:00-2:30 - Lame cosplay
2:30-3:00 - Offensive use of a beverage dispenser
3:00-3:30 - Born to Hand Jive group dance

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:33 am
I’m sure more photos and a video or two will eventually be posted. He should donate the raised money to an anti-violence or hate group to change the subject.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:36 am
@OneMan, didn’t you see Endgame?

@Marty Meh-lan, Amen. I keep thinking of the Sesame Street song, “one of these things is not like the others; one of these things just doesn’t belong.”

Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:36 am
C’mon Marty. Politics 101 tells you to know what the script is before a paid show/ad/event. As Forest’s momma says: “stupid is as stupid does.”

As for the GOP/Trumpies, they love to get news of stupid acts like this. Given the volume of terrible actions on their side, they salivate over and repeatedly rehash the fewer but still disgusting ones perpetrated by the Dems/progressives.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:37 am
@SteveRogers
well played.

Really the only Marvel character I could cosplay.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:39 am
Is Sandoval keeping the contribution from the gentleman who pretended to be shooting the president?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 10:45 am
=== There a lot of displays of Obama with a noose around his neck at various GOP events for years. ===

I hardly think there have been “a lot” of displays of Obama with a noose around his neck at “GOP events.” Memes on the internet depicting that… absolutely. Pictures of that at credible GOP events… a bit of a stretch. And I’m saying this as a Dem that voted for Obama.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 11:12 am
Well, Sandoval did not say he would not use that vendor for any of his events again. If IL Democrats do a DCCC Chair Cheri Bustos, and give that vendor the same treatment she gave to vendors who support Democrat primary challengers against elected Democratic congressional incumbents, that would send a real message.

Comment by Former Quigley Supporter Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 11:18 am
=House Minority Whip Steve Scalise asked what it would take for liberals to denounce violence against conservatives =

Trump apologies.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 11:33 am
===House Minority Whip Steve Scalise asked what it would take for liberals to denounce violence against conservatives===

Is Scalise completely clueless as to the glass house he’s in?

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 11:36 am
Juggalo party next year?

Comment by 44th Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 11:39 am
=Is Scalise completely clueless as to the glass house he’s in?=

No, he/they know. They just don’t care and the Democrats continue to fall all over themsleves to apologize for everything and anything. The left needs to toughen up a bit.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 12:11 pm
I’ll see you that statement Kellyanne, and raise you… Ask every Republican, do you support Trump or do you disavow him? except we’d have to be playing that game about 3 times a week based your boss Donald.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 1:44 pm
==the Democrats continue to fall all over themsleves to apologize for everything and anything. ==

Yeah. Sure they do.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 1:55 pm
==Is Scalise completely clueless as to the glass house he’s in?==

Oh please, Of all the people on the planet, Scalise (who was nearly assassinated at the congressional baseball practice by James Hodgkinson who hated Republicans) is entitled to speak about politically motivated violence. There is not justification for the “play acting” that occurred at the Sandoval event no matter who was responsible.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-steve-scalise-shooting-20171006-story.html

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 1:55 pm
as someone that has been to a MAS golfing outing, the Trump mask incident was likely one of the less offensive things to happen last Friday.

Comment by senateobserver Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 2:02 pm
““I am glad he took ownership, and said he was wrong,”

LOL- when is Scalise going to use that same logic on his own party?

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 2:26 pm
If Sandoval had no prior knowledge or involvement in this then he owes no apology.

Comment by Nonbeliever Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 3:37 pm
===then he owes no apology===

You throw a party, something bad happens, you owe an apology.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 3:38 pm
“Just because they ask a question doesn’t mean you have to answer it, Marty.

Also, the “beverage dispenser” in question is a tequila gun.”

Not really, it was a champagne dispenser not tequila. It was said so matter of factly like a “duh gotcha” when you didn’t even know.

Comment by smartypants Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 3:42 pm
===then he owes no apology===

Every teenager who had friends trash their parents’ house agree… that’s how ridiculous that is.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 3:51 pm
The guy with the tequila gun, the most offensive actor, does not work for the vendor. Sandoval isn’t being honest.

Comment by Heather Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 4:24 pm
@Heather Sandoval didn’t say the guy holding the gun worked for the entertainment company. He said the exchange was between a guest and a person from the entertainment company. In both statements he said it was a guest. The entertainment company provided the champagne dispenser.

Comment by Smartypants Tuesday, Aug 20, 19 @ 5:41 pm
What is the purpose of a tequila gun anyway? Why do tequila companies make them?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Aug 21, 19 @ 10:31 am