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* Proft’s PAC…
People Who Play By The Rules PAC has launched a new ad, “I Can Trust This Guy,” featuring former ABC 7 political reporter Charles Thomas. It is available on YouTube, the PBR PAC Facebook Page and will run on statewide media this week.
:30 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyFJV6drnWI
TV Script:For 25 years, ABC 7 political reporter Charles Thomas gave you the straight news. Now he’s giving you real talk on the governor’s race:
“Darren Bailey? I met the man. He’s a family farmer. Somebody who understands what it’s like to go to work every day. Somebody who’s fair minded. I can trust this guy. I can trust this guy. Yeah, a farmer from southern Illinois? Yeah, yeah — A farmer from southern Illinois.”
* Here you go…
*** UPDATE 1 *** WBEZ reporter…
I took some notes. It was the evening of Sept 20.
Charles Thomas said the media had been very unfair to Darren Bailey and Donald Trump …
— Dan Mihalopoulos (@dmihalopoulos) October 4, 2022
Charles Thomas said the Democrats do not act in the interest of Black voters.
CT said he lives downtown but believed he was speaking for the south and west sides of Chicago when he said, “African Americans have more in common with Darren Bailey than JB Pritzker”
— Dan Mihalopoulos (@dmihalopoulos) October 4, 2022
*** UPDATE 2 *** If you click here, you’ll see that Proft’s People Who Play By The Rules PAC paid Charles Thomas $50,000 on September 16th for “Consulting” in opposition to Gov. Pritzker.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:02 am
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So much for the biased left-wing media.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:03 am
Jimmy Carter was a farmer but not a successful president.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:04 am
wow. so long, journalistic credibility.
Comment by former cubs fan Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:04 am
Am I wrong in thinking he was well-compensated for his appearance in this ad?
Comment by Travel Guy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:07 am
LOL wut was that?
Comment by Lion Guy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:09 am
===Am I wrong in thinking he was well-compensated===
I heard last week that he was stumping for Bailey, but forgot to call him.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:09 am
==will run on statewide media ==
Paid? Broadcast? How many points?
The former reporter never actually says he endorses Bailey or even that he’d vote for him, but he’s scotched his credibility by giving this video to Proft, and for what? If no one sees it, it won’t help Bailey, but Thomas will have to live it down just the same.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:09 am
This is like a reverse Kirk Dillard endorses Barack Obama ad. Maybe Charles can ask Kirk if he had any regrets?
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:11 am
Is repeating himself supposed to be a positive? Sounds like he has time to fill but can’t think of anything else good to say about the guy.
Farmer. Trust. Trust. Farmer. Farmer.
I can’t imagine ABC7 is happy about being named in a political ad either, I wonder if they will run it.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:12 am
At the risk of pumping his ego, let me just say that Charles Thomas ain’t his predecessor in terms of name recognition and celebrity. Andy Shaw held the job for decades and was a local celebrity. Very few people know who Charles Thomas is, but hey, Bailey has very very little to work with so why not.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:16 am
The ad mentions Bailey’s name just once, and it’s spoken while Thomas is off-camera, distracting from the message. Bailey’s name is never even flashed on-screen. Charles’ pitch seems heartfelt. Too bad the producers messed it up.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:16 am
Retirement often does strange things to people.
Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:17 am
=== I can trust this guy. ===
Charles, I have a beautiful bridge to sell you.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:17 am
It’s kind of sad in a way how they wasted a golden opportunity with a credible face, a face to actual news, and it’s like a throwaway “aside” in between another conversation about anything else.
It’s that sad.
Not bad. Sad.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:19 am
The ad is brimming with so many compelling reasons to vote for the man for governor, but I’m still a little unclear on one thing: Is Darren Bailey a farmer?
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:20 am
Charles has been a little quirky for awhile. Hopefully someone goes to ask him questions. Trying to remember if he and Maze got tossed off the radio together or separate?
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:20 am
===Trying to remember if he and Maze got tossed off ===
He left before Maze got the boot.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:22 am
I rate this a solid B.
I did not like the music in the background. It was just to distracting and seemed to lack the context of trying to sell a candidate to working class voters.
On the whole however, I think the ad will resonate with working class citizens, who might not otherwise be vested in this election cycle. It could generate some votes from independent, working class Illinoisans.
But change the musical score.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:22 am
What? Charles Thomas.
Was the “My Pillow” guy unavailable for a thirty second spot? Where’s Rudy G.?
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:23 am
No rating.
One would think a veteran TV person would know to look at the camera. Like in eye contact.
Comment by Stix Hix Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:29 am
Just saying you can trust a guy, versus what you can trust him doing - say running the state - isn’t exactly a rousing endorsement.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:32 am
Who?
Comment by DougChicago Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:34 am
Farmers go to work everyday?
The weeks at the lake house in Missouri in the summer and the winter excursion to Florida would beg to differ.
But yeah - farmer. from southern Illinois.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:34 am
“One would think a veteran TV person would know to look at the camera.”
But then he wouldn’t be looking at his cue-card: “FARMER”
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:35 am
Why is it so surprising an African American from Chicago would less supportive of the status quo brought to us by Illinois Democrats than they were two years ago?
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/10/02/politics/democrats-black-voters-midterm-elections/index.html
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:35 am
Speed it up a little and add some Max Headroom effects. T-t-t-t-r-r-r-u-u-st-st-st Yeah…Ye–ye-ahahah.
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:42 am
As Ron B said above, trust him with what? I can trust Bailey too. I trust him to be a terrible governor with terrible policies. Trust me.
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:42 am
The repetition of “yeah”, “farmer from Southern Illinois”, is just odd. It’s rather as though he’s trying to convince himself.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:49 am
Would a “fair-minded” guy question his opponent’s patriotism based on nothing?
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:49 am
==One would think a veteran TV person would know to look at the camera. Like in eye contact.==
Except that’s the exact opposite of what they do.
Comment by Zombie Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:50 am
Charles always had a thing for Republican governors…buddies…
https://abc7chicago.com/charles-thomas-retires-retiring-thoms-retirement/1782812/
Comment by George Ryan Reynolds Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 11:56 am
Soooo…Bailey is a farmer. Check.
Thomas speak for all blacks? Hmmm…I didn’t know he was elected by the community to speak on their behalf. I am guessing that more than a few members of the black community would disagree.
Funny he didn’t mention tressel either.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:03 pm
Charles has got to eat I guess…
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:06 pm
I would love to hear specifically how the media has been “very unfair” to Trump. Fox News was his personal cheerleader for years and newspapers that should have known better endorsed him both times.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:07 pm
Waiting for Walter Jacobson to tell me who to vote for
Comment by TradedUpForMitch Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:10 pm
“African Americans have more in common with Darren Bailey than JB Pritzker”….
Some may differ with that statement… especially when it comes to farm programs.
https://tinyurl.com/36yhzr9j
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:10 pm
That pesky Bidenflation. $50,000 just doesn’t go as far as it used to. Nowadays it barely gets you someone to blubber out “farmer” on loop for thirty seconds and call it an endorsement.
Mr. Uihlein, it’s going to take at least $175,000 if you want someone to say “faith” in support of Bailey in an ad next week. That’s just the going rate.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:11 pm
D-
Barely acceptable as an introductory campaign ad for the primary. Bailey, farmer, trustworthy. OK, let’s look at this guy Bailey. But even as an intro ad, it’s weak, for the reasons others have given.
Bailey has been absolutely tattooed by Pritzkers money and ads. Pro-Trump. Pro gun. Antiabortion. And that’s before the other extremist ads. Way too late for trustworthy farmer. How much money is behind it?
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:14 pm
I give it a C. Will anyone outside of Chicago even know this guy? How will the voters in Chicago react to him saying over and over that Baily is a farmer, from Southern Illinois no less.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:15 pm
well now the mention back in the day from another political reporter in a private conversation that Thomas was ridiculous rings very true.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:15 pm
50 Grand will buy a lot of trust.
If this ad was selling anything other than a political candidate, the FTC would likely require a “Compensated Endorser” tag on it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:16 pm
50,000 to have Charles Thomas say I like this guy. Money well spent by Proft again.
Comment by ste_with a v_en Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:17 pm
I wonder how voters would react to the disclosure that the endorsement was purchased.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:20 pm
So based on the timeline, trust came with the caveat that the check cleared first. Had to make sure he didn’t say “50,000 dollhairs.”
Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:21 pm
===paid Charles Thomas $50,000===
Fairly cheap, given the poor quality of the ad.
What will Thomas do for ,say, $60k… $80k…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:21 pm
“CT said he lives downtown”
Or as the Bailey campaign calls it: the inner city.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:24 pm
Thomas really did not have too much to say. Farmer, Trust, Bailey. Okay. So what else?
Reminded me when former Mayor Eugene Sawyer cut a commercial for an optical company. Not much there.
Comment by Gravitas Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:25 pm
For only $40,000, I will provide the names of the Illinois schools that have installed litter boxes for children.
Comment by Skokie Man Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:27 pm
Yo Charles, you did all this for 50k?
DBs entire campaign is built on lies. He is living proof that farmers lie.
Stop disgracing IL farmers, Charles.
Comment by Politix Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:28 pm
For $50K I would have expected tears.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:30 pm
CT says the media has been very unfair to Darren Bailey and Donald Trump. Was Fox News, NewsMax, OANN, Proft “newspapers” considered in that assessment, or just CNN pending yesterday’s lawsuit?
Was the Jan. 6 insurrection and the still-to-this-day election denial unfair to either of them, along with the ongoing undermining of our democracy?
Comment by Baloneymous Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:32 pm
You have to hand it it him.
Proft has an uncanny ability to put Democratic politicians back on their heels and make liberal base heads explode for very little investment
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:32 pm
To me this is a big deal. I’ve always considered Charles Thomas one of the best reporters on TV. I wasn’t expecting this.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:34 pm
===You have to hand it it him.
Proft has…===
… continually and consistently lost when it mattered.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:35 pm
== You have to hand it it him.
Proft has an uncanny ability to put Democratic politicians back on their heels and make liberal base heads explode for very little investment ==
Call me when he can win close general elections. The goal of an election should be to win, not to troll.
“Well, we lost the game, but dang, our guys managed to tick off the other team’s fans. So I consider that a win,” said no coach ever.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:38 pm
Proft has an uncanny ability to… not win elections.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:46 pm
“If you click here, you’ll see that Proft’s People Who Play By The Rules PAC paid Charles Thomas $50,000 on September 16th for “Consulting” in opposition to Gov. Pritzker.”
See? There goes the news media being unfair to Bailey again. /s
Comment by Johnny Tractor Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:49 pm
==ability to put Democratic politicians back on their heels ==
I’m pretty sure nobody has been put back on their heels from this.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:55 pm
People are actually rating this video? Lol.
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:55 pm
=Proft has an uncanny ability to put Democratic politicians back on their heels=
LP must have gone to the same neurologist as Tua.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:55 pm
>very little investment
>blowing $28m of Uihlein’s money
Chose one
Comment by Buford Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:56 pm
Proft et al. chose the wrong spokesperson for the Bailey ad. Why not hire activist Ja’Mal Green to speak passionately about Candidate Bailey.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 12:57 pm
===The goal of an election should be to win, not to troll.===
I think the troll part is what LP admires most since that’s basically what he does here most of the time. This is just another “own the libs” moment that leads to nothing other than short-lived self-satisfaction.
Comment by Baloneymous Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:03 pm
“You have to hand it it him. Proft has an uncanny ability to put Democratic politicians back on their heels and make liberal base heads explode for very little investment”
Wrong again, LP.
Between 2012 and 2020, Richard Uihlein gave Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC more than $17.5 million, including $8.5 million in 2018 alone.
Uihlein also provided $595,000 to the misbegotten Proft for Governor PAC.
And his newest PAC?
And as of the most recent quarterly report, Proft’s People Who Play By The Rules PAC has taken Uihlein for $28,095,000.00.
That “very little investment” amounts to $37,190,000.
More than thirty-seven million dollars to “make liberal base heads explode” and lose elections.
You have to hand it to him.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:03 pm
People Who Play by Their Own Rules PAC comes up with another “Huh?” ad.
It seemed so lightweight to me, my reaction was “Huh?”
Like it suddenly came on Thomas that a FARMER would make an ideal governor. Sure, farmers are smart. They work hard. They have to deal with changing weather and markets. They deserve our respect.
But this came off like, “Yeah, a farmer.” Why not, “Yeah, a plumber?” “Yeah, a sanitation worker?” “Yeah, a truck driver?”
All worthwhile jobs. Just not sure being a hard worker qualifies you to be governor.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:16 pm
In the last 24 hours, comments from two guys I know have almost made me fall out of my chair. First, Laurence Msall actually liking Mayor Lightfoot’s budget proposal and now Charles Thomas. Left is right, up is down, this is blowing my mind.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:17 pm
I would have held out for one years farmers subsidies instead of just $50k.
And to those asking if us downstaters know this guy or care what he says, that would be a no. For us this ad is an F
Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:31 pm
Using - MisterJayEm -‘s numbers?
“Dear Mr. Uihlein,
I could do, likely, the same silly that Proft does for $18.5 million, just make the check out to cash.
Thanks,
Oswego Willy”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:39 pm
$50,000? Wow, Charles.
So I was never impressed with Charles as a political reporter but I really didn’t think he was for sale nor did I think he would be sold in such a stupid, ham-handed way. It’s called a monthly retainer, dude. When you put it in one big chunk you look like you’re…well…for sale.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:42 pm
I give it a C-
This endorsement is the political equivalent of “It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.”
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 1:51 pm
Between the Daily Herald and Charles Thomas, the fake news guy sure has managed to deal some serious blows to the credibility of some Chicagoland media institutions.
Comment by Surly Dan Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 2:44 pm
This is a new earworm for political hacks.
“Yeah, yeah. A farmer from Southern Illinois.”
It should be a ringtone.
Comment by Dan Johnson Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 3:25 pm
Please tell Uihlein that for 150k I could make my own head explode. Skip the middle man.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 4:05 pm
Dan Johnson–
It would have been more believable from John Lovett:
“Yeah…a farmer from southern Illinois. That’s the ticket.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 4:21 pm
You got to hand it to him, LP can’t tell the difference between an exploding head and a yawn.
Comment by The Velvet Frog Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 4:27 pm
Yep, you can trust a guy who uses the misfortunes of others and his faith for political gain. You can trust a guy who moves into downtown Chicago into a high rise tower, then goes to the crime ridden neighborhoods for photo ops. You can trust a guy who votes against every law enforcement funding bill, then claims to support law enforcement. You can trust Darren Bailey, I don’t.
Comment by Fivegreenleaves Tuesday, Oct 4, 22 @ 5:26 pm
So Charles Thomas gets paid for an ad - bad
JB talks about Black people behind their backs and then uses his wealth to make it go away - good
Make it make sense…
Comment by Unbelievable Wednesday, Oct 5, 22 @ 7:51 am
===So Charles Thomas gets paid for an ad - bad===
Not for Charles, lol. It’s good for him.
===JB talks about Black people behind their backs and then uses his wealth to make it go away - good===
Are you African-American or Jesse White?
===Make it make sense…===
You may need more help than ignoring why you can’t understand this
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 5, 22 @ 8:19 am
It seems like it was a A/V project from a community college. Like it was spliced together to give the impression of an endorsement, but never solidly endorsing Bailey. Charles wasn’t looking at the camera because he was waiting for the deposit to hit his Cash App.
Comment by Skull Fuggery Wednesday, Oct 12, 22 @ 10:23 pm
So now we have two black people endorsing DB. Neither looking into the camera
Comment by 'Lectric Thursday, Oct 13, 22 @ 3:27 pm
The dumbest endorsement I have heard for a candidate. I do not trust the endorser’s motives why would I trust the candidate he is stumping for…
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 13, 22 @ 10:34 pm
Charles Thomas, how sad when did you become an advocate to blacks of Chicago or blacks anywhere, whom ever chose you for that job head should be examined. DB himself might as well have voted for JB
Comment by Kacysawyer Tuesday, Oct 18, 22 @ 10:05 am