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Cleaning out my Irvin-related inbox

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* Richard Irvin’s campaign has the most active press shop of anyone right now. He’s also taking more fire from the Democrats. So, I’m just gonna corral everything I have in this post, although I did put his statement on the LaSalle Veterans’ Home lawsuits on that post.

Let’s start with Madigan and Pritzker…

It’s been a game of stop and go for JB Pritzker on the fallout in state funding to Mike Madigan’s pet projects after he pleaded not-guilty Wednesday to 22-counts of federal charges. Everything Mike Madigan touched is coming into question, including the over $10 million in campaign funding JB Pritzker designated to the criminal enterprise.

Last week, Democratic lawmakers pleaded for Pritzker to freeze the millions of dollars in state funding that was designated towards projects Madigan backed in the Illinois House. After agreeing to freeze them, following an internal caucus fiasco, the funding will again be released. But the larger question looms: if everything tied to Madigan deserves scrutiny, are campaign funds held to the same standard?

To date, it was reported that Madigan has spent nearly $5 million in campaign funds to pay for his ongoing legal fees as the federal investigation rages on. But just a few years prior, JB Pritzker gave $10 million to pad Madigan’s campaign coffers, which he used to enable his criminal enterprise, and now defend it in court.

“The money JB Pritzker gave to Mike Madigan enabled him to keep his power and channel that money to expand the scope of his criminal enterprise that has been under investigation for over two years,” said Irvin for Illinois Campaign spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “There is no clearer sign that JB Pritzker has let the culture of corruption live on in Springfield.”

* Road trip report, with one of the originally attached photos…

Gubernatorial candidate and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and his running mate, State Representative Avery Bourne, traveled throughout more than 20 counties over the last week on their #TakeItBack tour where they talked to voters throughout the state about how they will take Illinois back from out-of-control crime, skyrocketing taxes and public corruption.

Counties visited: Adams, Christian, Cook, DuPage, Fayette, Jefferson, Jersey, Kane, Lee, Macon, Madison, McDonough, McHenry, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Rock Island, St. Clair, Saline, Sangamon, Tazewell, Williamson and Winnebago.

* Blue Cross Blue Shield…

The JB Pritzker administration is facing scrutiny for failing to act after a recent investigative report into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois uncovered a dire situation where thousands of Central Illinois residents are facing higher health care costs and difficulty accessing healthcare. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s decision to remove Springfield clinic and its over 600 doctors from its provider network has resulted in countless Central Illinois patients being forced to choose between joining ever-longer waiting lists at other healthcare providers, or paying inflated out of network charges to continue being treated by their current doctors.

But while Blue Cross Blue Shield was refusing to cover visits to Springfield Clinic, it continued to list Springfield Clinic doctors and specialists on its provider network directory, creating what experts term a “ghost network.” The Blue Cross Blue Shield incident is just one example of what the President of the Illinois State Medical Association calls a statewide problem.

In light of this startling news that has left Illinoisans without proper care under the state’s watch, the Irvin for Illinois campaign is calling on the Pritzker Administration to take the following steps:

“This unfortunately isn’t the first time the health and wellbeing of Illinois residents was threatened under JB Pritzker’s watch,” said Irvin for Illinois Spokesperson Eleni Demertzis. “Mismanagement of state agencies is becoming a recurring theme of this administration and it’s clear that Illinois residents can’t afford to rely on this kind of leadership.”

* OK, let’s switch gears to some Dem oppo…

Hi Rich,

Thought you’d find this interesting: Irvin signed onto a letter with Mayor Lori Lightfoot urging stricter background checks in the US.

Signing on to this letter again puts him at odds with his running mate on gun control. You’ll remember Irvin called it a “distinct honor” to host the signing ceremony for HB 562 and thanked Governor Pritzker and “bold legislators” who “crossed the aisle to make House Bill 562 reality.”

Bourne voted against HB 562 and said we need to “reform or repeal our FOID System.” Bourne attacked Democrats for rejecting her repeal of the FOID card, saying “What’s worse is that the Democratic majority is doubling down on this failed process by rejecting Republican calls to repeal the FOID…”

Irvin said he wanted to “ensure we get less guns in criminals’ hands” which the Gun Dealer’s Licensing Act that Bourne voted against in 2018 would have also done.

And the other day, Irvin said he wanted to strengthen FOID requirements when asked if he favored getting rid of it altogether.

* DGA…

After two months of hiding from Illinoisans, Richard Irvin continues to dodge and refuse to answer questions. An updated website is now tracking the key issues Irvin’s remained radio silent on.

The DGA updated GriffinSlate.com with a new scorecard today. View the site here.

So far, Irvin has dodged or flip-flopped on abortion, supporting Trump, denouncing the January 6th insurrection, being funded by megadonor Ken Griffin’s gun manufacturing money, and more.

“Radio Silent Richard continues to hide where he stands in a desperate attempt to hide his flip-flopping and unpopular views,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “Keep your eyes peeled for updates to the scorecard as Irvin continues to duck and dodge questions from his opponents, reporters, and Illinoisans.”

* While we’re on that topic, Benjamin Cox on WOYM interviewed Irvin the other day and the transcript came in over the transom…

Cox: Mr. Irvin, thanks for coming to Jacksonville. Appreciate it.

Irvin: Hey, it’s good to be here in Jacksonville.

Cox: So obviously, there’s going to be all kinds of questions that you have probably answered 100 times and I really, I don’t want to rehash any…

Irvin: No, no problem at all. I don’t mind answering again.

Cox: The question that I want to ask is, obviously, the litmus test for Republicans in this election is the Donald Trump question. What is your answer to the Donald Trump, January 6 Question?

Richard Irvin: Listen, you know, I think we have to look forward to the future. You know, this election is about who the next governor of Illinois is going to be. And everything that we need to do to compare, you know, myself, and all the other candidates, you know, running on Republican ticket to JB Pritzker. Now, I’m a former prosecutor. So I’m always gonna, you know, focus. And I believe in the Constitution. So, I believe people have the right to peacefully protest. When people break the law, as a former prosecutor, I think they’ve got to be prosecuted. But you know, I don’t know that we should be focusing on the past. We’ve got to focus on the future. We’ve got to focus on the failures that JB Pritzker has had here in the state of Illinois, and what we need to do to get Illinois back on top.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:19 am

Comments

  1. Pretty sure those are grasshoppers, not crickets.

    Comment by Buggo Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:26 am

  2. Irving, four “you know” one “I don’t know”

    Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:27 am

  3. “But you know, I don’t know that we should be focusing on the past. We’ve got to focus on the future. We’ve got to focus on the failures that JB Pritzker has had”

    Yes. We should focus on the future by discussing the failures of the past. But only the past of JB Pritzker, and not about January 6th. Because that’s in the past.

    “So I’m always gonna, you know, focus.”

    Cool. Can you, you know, let me know when you plan to start doing this?

    Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:27 am

  4. ==Counties visited: Adams, Christian, Cook, DuPage, Fayette, Jefferson, Jersey, Kane, Lee, Macon, Madison, McDonough, McHenry, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Rock Island, St. Clair, Saline, Sangamon, Tazewell, Williamson and Winnebago.==

    I would have thought Irvin would have made it to Kendall and Will easily so far on his campaign, since he lives in Aurora. Even if he just went a few Aurora city blocks into each county during “campaign travel.”

    Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:28 am

  5. “What is your answer to the Donald Trump, January 6th Question?”

    That is, uh, not how I would have phrased that question if I wanted to elicit any new information.

    Comment by vern Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:29 am

  6. Buggo … thank you. That’s what I came here to say.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:30 am

  7. Irvin stealing a page out of the Scott Drury play-book with all of the “former prosecutor” stuff. This thing really is a Rauner redux. Could flying in chickens from Iowa be far behind?

    Comment by Red Ranger Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:30 am

  8. Irvin’s word salad is obviously bad, but Cox phrased that question really poorly, too.

    Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:33 am

  9. ===those are grasshoppers, not crickets===

    I Googled green crickets and this came up https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/grasshoppers-and-crickets/great-green-bush-cricket

    Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:37 am

  10. First, hats off to the Irvin Press Shop… this is the low tide, it’s only going to get busier for y’all as all sides target the biggest piece on the board… not named Pritzker, of course.

    To the post,

    So much of what Irvin needs is allowing Rabine, Sullivan, and Bailey to cause enough of a stir amongst themselves and allow Irvin to get that 34-37% that can win this nomination… while not alienating the base so much they stay home.

    I look at what Irvin is “doing” or going snd not saying or being quoted, it’s like busy work without making those not keen on Griffin or Irvin to want to get too busy and rally around one candidate to beat Irvin.

    It’s like a sterile, clean, simple plan to some platitudes and positions without being too extreme, but playing to voters that won’t reject Irvin out of hand.

    That’s what I see, what I read, and why others feel a strong need to “educate” on “who Irvin is, what Irvin has been”

    Irvin isn’t an empty vessel, so this Press Shop needs to foood the zone with all kinds of pointed distractions and closed “open traveling” and visits.

    It’s gonna be interesting to watch.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:38 am

  11. That Griffin man is just burning his hard-earned money up.

    Comment by The Hills 60010 Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:41 am

  12. For a press shop to be “busy” there is a need to be on point. This mish mash fails the busy test. Wait they have to Everybody’s Favorite medival abortion stance and the RichieRich buffet line. Then we can turn to sanctuary cities. BTW the same compare and contrast should apply to Sullie &”SingleMom”

    Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:48 am

  13. Richard Irvin desperately needs a speech coach, you know. Cringeworthy.

    Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:48 am

  14. === For a press shop to be “busy” there is a need to be on point. This mish mash fails the busy test.===

    It’s busy… work?

    Reminds me of that John Wooden quote about activity… and achievement?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:50 am

  15. ==For a press shop to be “busy” there is a need to be on point.==

    Well, that’s what they’d need to be “good”, but not “busy”.

    They may also not need that to be “effective”, but so far, it doesn’t really feel like much they’ve done has broken through.

    Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 11:53 am

  16. All I could think of seeing those green crickets is “The Beginning of the End.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s a classic 1950s scifi about giant grasshoppers grown at UIUC that manage to invade Chicago.

    Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:03 pm

  17. ==All I could think of seeing those green crickets is “The Beginning of the End.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s a classic 1950s scifi about giant grasshoppers grown at UIUC that manage to invade Chicago. ==

    If I’m thinking of the right movie, it has some beautiful shots of Illinois’ many, um, mountains.

    Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:07 pm

  18. Eleni is an obscenity. Maybe the biggest obscenity in the political comms scene these days. Good for her for keeping everyone busy.

    Comment by Pekin Pete Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:15 pm

  19. Although dollars are fungible- you could argue that JB is paying 100 percent of Madigan’s defense costs

    Comment by Sue Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:17 pm

  20. If Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne visited Rock Island county, maybe they can tell us what is the relationship between Rock Island county Sheriff Gerry Bustos and Whiteside county Sheriff John Booker? Booker is pictured behind Congresswoman Cheri Bustos and Senator Dick Durbin in a press release from Oct. 8, 2019. Who invited him?

    Comment by Buford Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:17 pm

  21. ==So I’m always gonna, you know, focus.==

    It really is Rauner 2.0: “Focus, Amanda. Focus.”

    Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:19 pm

  22. Arsenal -

    Kolchak, The Night Stalker, a state legislator, while in Springfield, drove his car over a cliff and into a ravine.

    https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-03-29-0603290138-story.html

    Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:24 pm

  23. When Irvin says “Listen”…it would behoove you not to waste your time actually doing that.

    Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 12:36 pm

  24. Pritzker’s doing the right thing by allowing the projects. The taxpayers in those communities are entitled to them. Griffin and Rauner whacked those communities deliberately, and now Irvin and his comms crew gladly take Griffin’s millions without a care about his legacy.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 1:06 pm

  25. ==Although dollars are fungible- you could argue that JB is paying 100 percent of Madigan’s defense costs ==

    You could, if you wanted to sound daft.

    Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 1:12 pm

  26. What? Irvin didn’t go to Tuscola County on his trip?

    Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 1:38 pm

  27. Irvin’s response to any of these questions is simple. Pivot to how JB’s negligence killed 36 veterans. Irvin is a veteran and understands the sacrifice and hard work associated with serving in the military. Gov. Pritzker has likely never even gotten dirt under his fingernails.

    Comment by Private Servant Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 4:23 pm

  28. Not sure where the WOYM call sign came from, Rich, but Benjamin Cox works at WLDS/WEAI, not WOYM.

    Comment by PointOfClarification Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 4:49 pm

  29. ==36 veterans==

    Can someone be taken seriously if they try to campaign on 36 covid deaths while at the same time trying to say that covid was no biggie and it was a mistake to do anything about it? It would have the potential to be a great campaign point, but not coming from someone who’s pushing the exact opposite narrative about covid for everyone else.

    Comment by The Velvet Frog Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 6:40 pm

  30. =Pivot to how JB’s negligence killed 36 veterans.=

    What responsibility does the anti-mask anti-vax/testing, no mandate ILGOP have for the 30K+ Covid deaths in Illinois? I’m not saying Pritzker doesn’t bear responsibility for LaSalle. It happened on his watch. But this may not be the pivot you think it is.

    Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 7:13 pm

  31. Irvin spent more time at the defense table than the prosecution table, one aspect he’d like to not remind people of.

    Comment by Fivegreenleaves Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 7:41 pm

  32. Liz was an integral part of the enterprise and now JB is backing her for office–not sure that’s so smart.

    Comment by ANON Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 8:42 pm

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