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* NBC…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is calling out a conservative super PAC over a new attack ad aimed at Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, accusing the group of using “racist tropes” to create a scary image of Black Chicago and altering her skin to appear darker in the ad.
The ad opens with Lightfoot, who is Black, saying, “This will be the summer of joy in Chicago.” It then cuts to sounds of gunshots, screams and scenes of shadowy figures in the streets shooting. The words “Chicago violence is coming to the suburbs” appear on the screen. The clip of Lightfoot, a fellow Democrat, is from a speech she gave to the City Club of Chicago in April. Her skin color appears noticeably darker in the ad compared to the original video.
“News flash. I’m Black and I’m proud. Everyone knows it. No need to use cheap tricks to darken my skin and try to scare voters with false narratives about Chicago,” Lightfoot said in a statement to NBC News.
The ad was run by the People Who Play By the Rules super PAC, which is fronted by longtime Illinois conservative operative Dan Proft and largely funded by billionaire GOP financier Richard Uihlein. The PAC supports Pritzker’s Republican opponent, Darren Bailey, for governor in this fall’s election. Uihlein, who did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment, has given the PAC at least $26 million so far this year. The ad is filled with scenes of live shooting, sometimes prompting a warning on YouTube before it can be viewed. Three unaffiliated political ad makers — two who work mainly with Democrats, one who works with Republicans — who reviewed the ad after being contacted by NBC News said the mayor’s skin appeared noticeably darker than in the original video.
* The video was pulled from Lightfoot’s City Club of Chicago speech, here is a side-by-side comparison of both videos…
* Since the ad debuted Aug. 15, the People Who Play By The Rules PAC has reported spending more than $1 million on TV ads according to state campaign finance records. The video is age restricted on YouTube so click here for the link.
Pritzker’s campaign said GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey should demand that “his allies” take the ad off the air.
“It is disappointing but unsurprising to see Republicans relying on dangerous dog whistles to deflect from their own miserable records,” Pritzker spokeswoman Natalie Edelstein said. “Instead of insulting elected officials and Illinois’ economic engine, members of the GOP ought to figure out why they have to keep apologizing for everything that comes out of their mouths.” […]
Lightfoot accused “Bailey and his ilk” of using “dog-whistle tactics.”
“Darren Bailey says he wants to represent the whole state? Well then, enough of these dog-whistle tactics,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “He cannot be the governor of this great state by using racist tropes against Black Chicago. Real leadership addresses the root causes of violence and proposes solutions that bring people together. Darren Bailey and his ilk have proven once again he’s not the man for the job.”
* President of People Who Play By The Rules PAC Dan Proft’s official statement in response to Lightfoot…
“The assertions by Pritzker and Lightfoot as to Lightfoot’s presentation in the ad are insane–and par for the course from inveterate race hustlers like Lightfoot and Pritzker who are trying to misdirect attention away from the fact that she has turned the city over to repeat, violent predators and he aims to do the same statewide with his elimination of cash bail.
How are people enjoying Lightfoot’s ‘Summer of Joy’ so far? 1186 shot. 213 murdered. Most of the victims? Black residents of Chicago.
We did nothing to Lightfoot’s pigmentation in the ad just as we did nothing to the pigmentation of our pasty blowhard of a governor. The video of Lightfoot was pulled from the web from her City Club speech.
We are not ’scaring’ suburbanites. Are suburban prosecutors like Jim Glasgow and Bob Berlin also ’scaring’ suburbanites?
In fact, we are warning them about what is to come if they don’t make changes to the leadership of the city and state.
The two of them, Pritzker and Lightfoot, are two of the worst human beings on the planet who together have accomplished nothing other than to abdicate their collective, primary responsibility to provide for the physical safety of law-abiding families.”
Uihlein gave the PAC $8 million during the Republican primary, much of which was spent aiding Bailey by attacking the GOP credentials of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, one of Bailey’s top opponents in the six-man race. While the PAC is prohibited from coordinating directly with any candidate, Uihlein also gave more than $9 million directly to Bailey’s campaign.
Since the primary, the Uline packaging supplies founder has given $20 million to Proft’s committee but nothing to Bailey’s campaign, state records show.
Despite the committee supporting Bailey’s candidacy, his campaign noted in a statement Tuesday that it has “no communication with or control” over the PAC.
Bailey spokesman Joe DeBose said Pritzker and Lightfoot have control over crime afflicting Chicago “and they should be more concerned with the people being killed and set on fire in the city.” […]
According to the ad, criminal suspects will be “set free” if they’re charged with myriad violent offenses, including kidnapping and robbery. But proponents of that provision say the ad’s claim is “patently not true.”
posted by Isabel Miller
Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:26 pm
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==Pritzker and Lightfoot, are two of the worst human beings on the planet==
I think they should look in the mirror
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:31 pm
Not commenting on intent but it looks like the whole thing is darker, the blues, etc.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:31 pm
“Are suburban prosecutors like Jim Glasgow and Bob Berlin also ’scaring’ suburbanites?”
I mean, objectively, yes.
Comment by The Opinions Bureau Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:33 pm
The video image as a whole is darker. Proft should hire someone who has better video editing skills… Apparently,he works with people who share his talk show skills…
Comment by Lane Change Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:36 pm
The real problem? The real that’s here?
The real problem for Proft… is that his poor quality is the feature, not the bug, in so far as poor quality and accidental looks aren’t bad in their eyes.
Maybe it’s not a problem for Proft. That’s the ball game. Ignoring that is what Proft hopes.
Either way, it reminds me of the Proft/Ives ads in the primary against Rauner?
There *are* no accidents.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:39 pm
This shows how bad Bailey’s campaign team is. Someone needs to tell Joe DeBose that Governor is a state position, not federal….
Sun-Times:
Bailey’s campaign, which has not yet begun airing TV ads with just 77 days until the general election, said they have had no communication with Proft’s political action committee, as required by federal law.
“We have no communication with or control over this PAC, but Pritzker and Lightfoot have control over the skyrocketing crime in Chicago, and they should be more concerned with the people being killed and set on fire in the city,” Bailey spokesman Joe DeBose said in a statement.
Comment by Ice Scream Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:44 pm
If you notice the light patches above the eyes, it is clear that Proft’s PAC edited the picture. In the original, the lighting just appears a lighting. In the ad that was produced, the lighting appears as horns. Deplorable, right?
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:45 pm
Fix your video, Proft. you made it all darker and her face looks like a copper statue.(subliminal statue message?). Yeah, YOU look bad, Dan.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:48 pm
” . . . The two of them, Pritzker and Lightfoot, are two of the worst human beings on the planet . . .”
Seriously?! If sounding completely unhinged is what these people are going for, then they are really hitting the bullseye.
Comment by charles in charge Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:50 pm
With video editing software now available basically for free - many folks consider themselves videographers - but they really are not. It is just as likely a case of someone trying to edit the entire video rather than purpsoely darkening lightfoot.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:51 pm
Whether or not the editing was intentional, the racist intent of the “scary criminals are coming to your suburbs” message is clear as day.
Comment by wildcat12 Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:51 pm
That statement by Proft is [yikes emoji]. Reads like Illinois’ crazy, drunk uncle.
Comment by IL4Ever Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:51 pm
“Are suburban prosecutors like Jim Glasgow and Bob Berlin also ’scaring’ suburbanites”
Yes. Yes they are.
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 12:52 pm
I guess this is what Proft calls a “dark money ad.”
Comment by Save Ferris Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 1:03 pm
I really wish people would focus less on the racist coloring and more on the racist imagery or the dishonest content. The ad says “Pritzker’s mandatory release of violent criminals.” Say what? That’s just a lie. There is no such thing.
Comment by New Day Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 1:04 pm
“The two of them, Pritzker and Lightfoot, are two of the worst human beings on the planet.”
So worse than Putin or MBS or Xi or Assad or myriad African warlords or the dictator of Rwands who kidnapped Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina? Yup - way worse than all those people who have the deaths of millions on their hands. The list goes Bashar Al Assad then Lightfoot then Pritzker. Good Lord, Dan. You’ve truly lost your marbles.
Comment by New Day Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 1:09 pm
“If sounding completely unhinged is what these people are going for, then they are really hitting the bullseye.”
Dan Proft has one audience and it’s an audience of one: his paymaster, Richard Uihlein.
Everything that Dan Proft says or does is intended to please Richard Uihlein.
That unhinged rant tells you something about Dan Proft’s character — but it tells you even more about what Dan Proft thinks about the character of Richard Uihlein.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 1:19 pm
Been S O P on campaign ads for years now The jerks think they’re being clever. Both sides have done similar things with shading, but GOP have had more opponents of color. Sad all around
Comment by walker Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 1:28 pm
Can Proft also be called out for moving to Florida a few years back? Why does he continue to meddle in Illinois politics?
Let him produce garbage ads for Ron DeSantis.
Comment by Ice Scream Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 1:42 pm
Wow just wow. What planet is Proft from?
Comment by Frumpy White Guy Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 1:56 pm
==So worse than Putin or MBS or Xi or Assad or myriad African warlords or the dictator of Rwands who kidnapped Hotel Rwanda hero Paul Rusesabagina?==
If you really want to make Proft look ridiculous to his audience, replace Putin, MBS and Xi with Pelosi, Biden and AOC.
Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 2:04 pm
It’s so amateur. Lightfoot is on the news all the time, people know what she looks like for heaven’s sake.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 2:10 pm
Since Gov Pritzker has released all the criminals, does that mean we can end the Downstate jobs program called “prisons?” That would save billions in taxes.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 2:18 pm
If you listen to this show, no surprise. His audience thinks Ashli Babbitt was murdered and George Floyd wasn’t. Tells you most of what you need to know.
Comment by Ste_with_a_v_en Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 2:27 pm
Proft is the same guy who ran ads in the primary citing Black Lives Matter as a negative on Richard Irvin. Darkening skin tones is just more of the same for him.
I consider myself somewhat conservative, but I can’t support this garbage coming out of the Florida Swamps.
Comment by SKI Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 2:33 pm
–Are suburban prosecutors like Jim Glasgow and Bob Berlin also ’scaring’ suburbanites?–
Jim Glasgow goes into the sunset of his career, by attaching himself to Dan Proft.
yikes.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 2:54 pm
== People Who Play By the Rules===
Where do I find these rules?
I would like to read them.
Thanks
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 3:08 pm
===race hustlers===
Oh, yeah. Skin pigmentation isn’t on this guy’s mind AT ALL.
Comment by North Park Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 4:34 pm
==How are people enjoying Lightfoot’s ‘Summer of Joy’ so far?==
To Proft’s credit, his original post was “How are 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 people enjoying…”
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 5:59 pm
Proft’s darkening story made it to the British press, the Daily Mail. jeez…..
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 7:01 pm
Will Proft next go for the “Bailey for Governor… Before it’s too late” line like Bernie Epton did for mayor of Chicago in ‘83?? Remember seeing that ad run and dropping my jaw hard. It’s either that or comparing JB and LL to this guy with the last name of Hilter or something like that. Wait for it; any moment now… this is all they got left apparently.
Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Aug 24, 22 @ 7:56 pm
Bruce (No not him)
I’ve always assumed these were the rules Proft was talking about
https://www.amazon.com/All-Rules-Time-tested-Secrets-Capturing/dp/0446618799/ref=asc_df_0446618799/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312021238077&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4864765572423529397&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021571&hvtargid=pla-454476994785&psc=1
Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Aug 25, 22 @ 9:28 am