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53 House Democrats actually unite on something: Leave families out of politics

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Illinois

November 20, 2020

As elected officials, our job is to be accessible to our constituents - even when they vehemently disagree with us and criticize our actions. This criticism must not be allowed to fester into threats against members of our family.

In this unprecedented time of a pandemic and economic crisis, there are many in our communities that want us to take sweeping actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Yet others that want us to scale back the mitigations even at the risk of their health, and the health of others.

This week, we were disgusted to learn that fake news on social media targeted one of Governor Pritzker’s children alleging COVID-19 violations, and the story was then magnified by other online outlets. This fake story was shared widely on social media, including by Republican elected officials, eventually leading to a $1,000 bounty being offered for a Thanksgiving picture of the Governor’s family.

We will continue to have a debate on the best ideas for moving Illinois forward, but we will never, ever, tolerate attacks on an elected official’s children. As we look towards a post-Trump future, we need to rebuild civility and compassion in Illinois - each of us must commit to leaving family members out of the debate.

Sincerely,

Carol Ammons
Jaime Andrade
Monica Bristow
Kam Buckner
Assistant Majority Leader Kelly Burke
Jonathan Carroll
Kelly Cassidy
John Connor
Deb Conroy
Majority Leader Greg Harris
Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman
Terra Costa Howard
Assistant Majority Leader Will Davis
Eva-Dina Delgado
Daniel Didech
Mary Edly-Allen
La Shawn Ford
Robyn Gabel
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
Deputy Majority Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth
LaToya Greenwood
Will Guzzardi
Mike Halpin
Barbara Hernandez
Yehiel Mark Kalish
Stephanie Kifowit
Lindsey LaPointe
Camille Lilly
Theresa Mah
Assistant Majority Leader Natalie Manley
Joyce Mason
Rita Mayfield
Debbie Meyers-Martin
Anna Moeller
Bob Morgan
Michelle Mussman
Diane Pappas
Yoni Pizer
Delia Ramirez
Nathan Reitz
Lamont Robinson
Justin Slaughter
Anne Stava-Murray
Katie Stuart
Curtis Tarver, II
Mark Walker
Larry Walsh, Jr.
Emanuel Chris Welch
Maurice West
Ann Williams
Kathy Willis
Sam Yingling
Michael Zalewski

Rep. Morgan circulated the letter and said he wanted to push this out quickly, so he wasn’t able to communicate with everyone. “I don’t think anyone in the caucus deliberately stayed off,” he said.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:09 pm

Comments

Ball’s in your court Leader Durkin.

Comment by Proud Sucker Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:12 pm
To be fair, this idea doesn’t have the votes to become Speaker either.

Comment by MG85 Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:13 pm
This is the political equivalent of “Look over there, a squirrel”

Comment by fs Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:15 pm
This idea is evidently less popular than Madigan is for another term as Speaker.

Comment by LC Illini Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:16 pm
If you can’t even call people who aren’t great at email for a letter, you’re not gonna have it in you to dial for dollars or whip for leadership. But at least Morgan is smart enough to note his own weaknesses, because being left off a letter like this can be deeply embarrassing to Morgan’s fellow caucus members by making them look heartless.

To the heart of the matter, this is good stuff. What the far right and their Republican enablers are doing will lead to a murder, and it’s sickening. We’ve already seen the plot against Whitmer in Michigan and Northam has been a target in Virginia.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:18 pm
Damn shame no GOPers wanted to sign on.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:19 pm
Did he ask Madigan to join the letter?

Comment by Jokes on you Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:42 pm
You put together a rush letter and don’t give all your colleagues the courtesy of time to jump on? Wow. With friends like Bob…

Comment by Centennial Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:47 pm
Isn’t it funny that Stephanie Kifowit signed on to this letter? Didn’t she want to kill Former Rep. Peter Breen’s family with a bowl of Legionella?

Comment by Southern Illinoisan Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 12:48 pm
Of course politician’s families should be off limits if they’re not political themselves but where was this letter when unions were driving around trucks with messages outside of Durkin’s and McAullife’s kids schools and their homes? Where was it when Kifowit stood up on the House Floor and said she wish she could force feed Breen’s kid and family legionella? Didn’t see any letters outraged about bringing up Rauner’s kids and where they went to school. I’m sure if given the chance, Republican members of the GA would’ve signed on to this letter but we all know that was never going to be the case. The lack of signatures doesn’t prove anything other than Morgan et al circulated this quickly to distract from the disorder in their own house.

Comment by Alex P Keaton Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 1:12 pm
Dems skirt ethics reforms by making families off limits in debate.
How many family members got jobs because of inside politics but now they don’t want to talk about it? I know what they mean but wording is everything, clarity is your friend

Comment by Frank talks Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 1:19 pm
@Frank Talks this isn’t about a job for a family member. It’s about a teenage kid wrongfully and recklessly being targeted by the right wing aggrievement brigade. Take off the tinfoil hat forms half a second and act like a human.

Comment by Luis Robert Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 1:53 pm
“How many family members got jobs because of inside politics” How many of them were 14?

Comment by Skeptic Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 1:54 pm
@Luis and @skeptic guess you’ve never seen campaign ads.

I didn’t write the letter. “each of us must commit to leaving family members out of the debate.”

They leave out Brad Stephens family? Nope. What about Rodney Davis? Nope.

Wording should have stopped at children. In a world of sunshine and rainbows none of it would happen nor a need to address it. But it is what it is I’m just calling it out.

Comment by Frank talks Friday, Nov 20, 20 @ 2:37 pm