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Bailey pushes back against Irvin ad

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Illinois

* Richard Irvin online campaign ad…

* The ad links to the “Obama” page on the RealDarrenBailey.com website…

Bailey’s Campaign Admitted That He Had Voted For Barack Obama In The 2008 Democrat Primary
* Chicago Tribune, January 15 2022

While Obama was campaigning against real Republicans like Richard Irvin, Bailey was hoping you never learned his Obama-sized secret

See for yourself! Darren even posed with his Obama cookies!

* From Bailey’s spokesperson Joe DeBose…

It’s clear that lying liberals like Irvin and his establishment campaign are desperate and willing to say anything to stop our conservative movement. Unlike Irvin and others in this GOP Primary, Darren Bailey is a lifelong conservative Republican and a proud supporter of President Trump. They are trying to lie and fool voters because their candidate doesn’t have an honest, conservative record to stand on. Bailey has voted against Clinton, Obama, and Biden and has always supported the GOP nominee. The cookies were handed to Darren by a child at an event, but I’m not surprised they’re grasping for straws.

* There is that Tribune article, however…

Irvin’s campaign also questioned the partisan purity of two rivals, noting Sullivan founded “OneWorld” magazine while attending Saint Louis University that supported then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, and his proposed global poverty act. They also said that in 2008 Bailey pulled a Democratic primary ballot.

In a statement, a Bailey spokesman said, “Darren was one of thousands of Americans who were pushed by conservative groups to vote in the Dem Primary to stop Hillary Clinton.”

* Back to DeBose…

Irvin has taken PPP and the only time he has pulled a GOP ballot was to support taxpayer-funded abortion after Rauner signed it into law. Nobody doubts Bailey’s conservative and Republican credentials. Just like nobody doubts Irvin’s liberal credentials. Both are well documented and no amount of money will distort the truth in this primary.

There were still several presidential candidates on the ballot in the 2008 Democratic primary here, so I guess it’s not a total lock that he voted for Obama. Still, if he won’t specifically answer the question, then he leaves himself open to attack, particularly since he constantly attacks Irvin for being a Democrat. But the same also goes for Irvin, who won’t say who he voted for when he took Democratic ballots.

* Meanwhile, Sen. Bailey said this during his daily Facebook video broadcast yesterday…

There’s a Republican platform and the Republican rules in the state of Illinois say you must have voted in the last two primaries as a Republican before you can run for office. Well, it’s interesting that the Republican Party is seemingly trying to change those rules right now. They’re making the attempt with the Chicago GOP and it is believed that that’s going to spill down below. The problem is when we water down our rules and we ignore them and, more so than rules, a platform, literally what we stand for, we become, you know, we can’t decipher right from wrong, and this nonsense of who’s running for office and why they’re running for office.

There’s nothing in the Illinois Republican Party platform about this requirement. What the heck?

* So, I reached out to Steve Boulton, the chair of the Chicago Republican Party, wondering if it was their rules Bailey was talking about…

Mr. Miller,

The provision you refer to is in the Cook County Republican Party Bylaws, not the Chicago Republican Party Bylaws, and has nothing to do with candidates for public office or the 2020 Republican Primary.

The provision currently imposes a qualification that Republican Ward or Township Committeepersons in Cook County must have voted in the past two Republican primaries before election or appointment. The original version with a similar but different test was passed in 2016 when a number of Democrats ran for Republican Ward Committeeperson in Chicago after the Illinois Election Code was amended to shift the power to submit lists of preferred election judges to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners from the County Chair of each party to the Ward Committeepersons of each party in the respective Chicago wards.

The recent proposal was to eliminate the existing provision. It was made by me, and I am neutral in the Governor’s race with no relationship, publicly stated or hidden, with the Irvin Campaign or any other campaign. No campaign had any knowledge of or participation in my action. A stronger Republican Party structure is emerging in Chicago as a protection in future elections, and the provision is unduly limiting the pool of possible appointments of Committeepersons and in turn Republican Party expansion in Chicago. For example, one excellent prospective appointee is a lifelong Republican voter who took a Democratic ballot for the first time in 2020 solely in hope of preventing Marie Newman from being elected to Congress.

While formal notice of a vote on the Cook GOP Bylaws change was sent prior to the last Cook County Central Committee meeting, I withdrew the measure in favor of discussion of the need for a change. Alternatives short of complete elimination of the provision are under discussion, but none have been either proposed or acted upon in the Cook County Central Committee.

As Cook County Chair, Sean Morrison was aware that I was proposing the change, and he is affiliated with the Irvin Campaign. He had no substantive role in it, however, as this came entirely from me in connection with my job of rebuilding the Republican Party structure in Chicago.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:43 pm

Comments

“The Bailey Televangelist Facebook Show is on the air…

Like the disgraced televangelists of days gone by… Bailey will continue to try to weave a story that makes him a hero to something or another that shields him from past choices that haunt.

Our show is brought to us by… “

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:51 pm
I wonder to what extent every Republican calling every other Republican a ’secret Democrat’ could impact turnout at the general election.

If for example Bailey wins, will Irvin be willing to turn the other cheek and campaign for him? Or will the damage be done?

Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:54 pm
Look to the cookie, Elaine! Look to the cookie.

Comment by TradedUpForMitch Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:54 pm
Shorter version:

“Did too.”

“Did not.”

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:55 pm
= Tired of career politicians like Darren Bailey =

So what do you call someone who has run for public office multiple times, has served as both alderman and mayor, and is now running for governor? Sounds like a career politician to me.

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:58 pm
“we can’t decipher right from wrong”

I believe Darren Bailey.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:58 pm
Another fight Irvin would lose if the battle was being fought on a level playing field.

Griffin’s money makes the playing field uneven so Irvin can fire away all he wants attacking others conservative credentials.

Comment by Lord of the Fries Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:59 pm
Only 125 days left in the Purity Olympics, enjoy them while they last

Comment by Humboldt Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 12:59 pm
“It’s clear that lying liberals like Irvin and his establishment campaign are desperate and willing to say anything to stop our conservative movement”

I urge Bailey and his conservative movers to employ an even strain…release the Kraken.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:04 pm
He’ll never accept cookies from a child again, I’m sure.

With the kind of Republican operatives we have in this state, this primary is going to get nastier and nastier…

Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:04 pm
One man, without any credibility, attacks another for a total lack of credibility. Can anybody tell me which man I am talking about?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:06 pm
Bailey better ask Uihlein for some more cash…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:07 pm
Let’s just get past this and acknowledge that Irvin is a Democrat running as a Republican. This is already established by his voting record and actions. He was told don’t worry about it, don’t talk unless we (Rauner’s Team) approve and the money will fix this before the primary.

Comment by Primate Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:11 pm
Ken Dunkin 2.0 need we say more?

Comment by Real Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:14 pm
Richard Irvin — Proud Dennis Kucinich supporter.

/s

Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:16 pm
It is funny this “phony” purity proxy fight to rules that seemingly don’t exist, kinda exist, maybe… but the purity part is there without question.

They all are shrinking the party in hopes a smaller party means a primary win… but at a big cost of Indie voters who may “hear” about the purity and think it… off-putting

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:20 pm
==If for example Bailey wins, will Irvin be willing to turn the other cheek and campaign for him?==

I think so- but turn it around. Will Bailey campaign for Irvin? I’m not so sure.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:21 pm
===If for example Bailey wins…===

… the whole ticket goes down.

Bailey ain’t bringing voters from the suburbs, (Indies, women) to the party… then if we’re playing the “if” game… Bailey with an abortion ruling…

… that’d be perfect for the GOP I’d bet.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:23 pm
Will Bailey campaign for Irvin? I’m not so sure.

Bailey would be right not to campaign for someone that would never win on a level playing field.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:26 pm
===…that would never win on a level playing field.===

This ain’t bean bag.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:27 pm
To be fair, guys like Sen. Bailey and myself wouldn’t turn down a cookie if it had a Hammer and Sickle on it. I mean… free cookie.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:30 pm
=Bailey would be right not to campaign for someone that would never win on a level playing field.-

Where’s the rule that says the playing field has to be level? You think that Irvin isn’t going to face some disadvantages with downstate voters being from “Chicago?” And if Bailey has a message that resonates he should be able to put some money behind it.

Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:34 pm
The Rauner/Irvin campaign ran the ad to weaken Baily not take him out. They need him in the race just not as a clear frontrunner. Baily needs to be brought back to the percentages of the other conservative republican candidates so the vote is split. Z 101.

Comment by Primate Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:34 pm
===not take him out===

Who said a little Facebook ad was designed to do such a thing?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:39 pm
If a Facebook ad can take a candidate out, they weren’t much of a candidate to begin with.

The $20 million is designed and will be allocated to win, however that’s gonna look, in June… not February

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:41 pm
Rich & Oswego - I agree. Shouldn’t have written the post where it could be seen that way. I was just highlighting the Rauner Team’s consistency with how they operate.

Comment by Primate Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:51 pm
Will this race eventually be Bailey vs. Irvin? That match-up could be a real hoot to watch. Irvin calling out Bailey on Obama 2008 stuff also brings attention to Irvin’s recent and ample support of JB, BLM and other Democrats. That is the juice that fuels GOP base animus. If Bailey and crew could work that angle good, especially with a Trump endorsement, we could be having some real fun.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 1:55 pm
==I mean… free cookie.==

Right? I’m all for seeing Bailey getting taken down a peg, but this is a stretch even for me. The PPP loans, farm subsidies, etc, seem like a much better line to push him on than a cookie equating him as an Obama supporter.

Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 2:05 pm
So Obama has now become the IL GOP’s Darth Vader? Is this really the best they got?

Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 2:11 pm
“No true Scotsman votes for Obama.” Instead of fighting over which candidate is the Republicanest, Republicans need to find a candidate who has a prayer of winning a general election. And what kind of amateur thinks the “playing field” is level in politics? Do Bailey’s supporters think he’s going to have a “level playing field” against JB if he wins the primary?

Comment by The Ford Lawyer Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 2:13 pm
I’m thinking the morning after the primary, “unity breakfast” might be more of a “if I happen to see you in line at the drive up window I won’t try and run you over.”

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 2:18 pm
These guys are doing a fantastic job of destroying the GOP.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 3:03 pm
Darren Bailey took party in Operation Chaos. I guess you have to say “stop Hillary Clinton,” because “cynical party raiding to hurt Democrats” doesn’t play well even in Republican primaries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rush_Limbaugh_Show#Operation_Chaos

Comment by Nuke The Whales Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 3:07 pm
So did Mr Boulton and Sean Morrison attempt to suppress the voices of legally elected African Americans as Committeeman in Cook County? This case went to the 7th circuit where Judge Shadur ruled in favor over the 13 African Americans. They can all point fingers but this was and is a embarrassment to the Cook County GOP. JMO

Comment by Long time Independent Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 3:10 pm
FWIW, the Irvin ad was texted to me three times yesterday from three different numbers (now blocked).

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 4:15 pm
It’s like watching a guilty pleasure series on Netflix.

Comment by danray Wednesday, Feb 23, 22 @ 6:18 pm
You have to wonder if there’s ever been “Billionaire Blowback” when they or their hand-picked candidate use their money excessively (and foolishly) attempt to redefine the truth and unfairly label a “regular guy” opponent like Darren Bailey?

Comment by Jennifer Thursday, Feb 24, 22 @ 8:36 am
“Billionaire Blowback” when they or their hand-picked candidate use their money excessively (and foolishly) attempt to redefine the truth and unfairly label a “regular guy” opponent like Darren Bailey?”
This usually happens by the rich guy booting the pooch– and with no deep base of support, they can fall quickly. Ryan (not that one), Hull, etc. Rauner and Pritzker managed to avoid this.

Comment by 47th and Lake Park Friday, Feb 25, 22 @ 3:47 pm
===unfairly label a “regular guy” opponent like Darren Bailey?”===

What does that even mean?

It’s fair, Bailey even posed for the picture, it’s not photoshopped, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 25, 22 @ 3:51 pm