Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Open thread
Next Post: It’s just a bill
Posted in:
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
Several stories and columns appeared in the national news media shortly before and during the recent Democratic National Convention about Vice President Kamala Harris’ emphasis on the concept of “freedom” in her speeches and messaging.
Convention delegates in Chicago hoisted signs with the word “Freedom” on them all week. Oprah Winfrey even talked about freedom in her speech to the DNC. Quite a few pundits seemed to be caught off guard by how popular the concept had suddenly become with Democrats.
The word has been used by Republicans to define their own party for decades and decades. These days, for instance, far-right congressional Republicans belong to a “Freedom Caucus,” as do several Illinois House Republicans.
I don’t know if he pioneered it or not, but while reading the national commentary, it occurred to me that Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has been pressing home the importance of “freedom” for several years here.
His staff hasn’t always been comfortable with the rhetoric, viewing the word as almost a lost cause. But Pritzker has told his staff that he believed that Republicans were “usurping” freedom and that he and his party were supporting it.
Pritzker has long described abortion rights as “reproductive freedom.”
“The GOP should be ashamed of themselves,” the governor said two years ago on social media. “For a party that says they’re all about individual freedom, they’re hellbent on taking away freedoms for women.”
His use of the word has not been confined to abortion, however. Two years ago, Pritzker said, “As long as I’m governor, Illinois will remain a beacon of freedom among a rising sea of right-wing extremism.” Democrats, he said last year, will keep fighting for “more freedom.”
As far back as 2018, Pritzker said of then-President Donald Trump and then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, “While Trump and Rauner attack the freedom of working people to come together and fight for a better future, we must defend the hardworking men and women of the labor movement.”
“Trump and the anti-democracy, anti-freedom ideology he represents will systematically destroy our constitutional democracy if left unchecked,” the governor warned in January.
Pritzker described marriage equality in 2022 as “the equity and freedom that characterize America.”
In 2021, he described a bill to prevent discrimination against students for their hairstyle choices as “freedom of expression.”
In 2020, he said a bill he signed to excuse students from school for two hours to vote gave kids the “freedom to fit voting into their school day without fear of repercussion for engaging in the very civic education we should all be proud to encourage.” Getting a COVID booster shot in 2021 was, Pritzker said, “freedom from the virus.”
Two years ago, after attending a Juneteenth celebration, Pritzker said, “We’ll continue ensuring Illinois lives up to its promises of freedom for all.”
After I had pulled up all those quotes (and more), I asked the governor’s people why he has leaned so heavily on the concept.
“The governor uses freedom to describe Democratic policies to call out the truth about so many Republican policies: they’re about control,” a spokesperson said. “It is the Democratic Party that stands up for your right to make your own health care decisions, to choose what book you read, to live without fear of gun violence, to build a family on your own terms. It’s Democrats fighting for equal access to these rights. Republicans use buzzwords and branding, but what they don’t say is that their freedom only goes so far as the choices they would make for themselves. The governor truly believes that the Democratic Party is the party of freedom, and is working to ensure that freedom for all Americans.”
Pritzker also said a couple of years ago that he believed the state government standing up for these rights and freedoms will eventually help attract businesses to Illinois. “I do think in the long run it benefits the state of Illinois,” he said during a Crain’s Fast 50 Business Luncheon in 2022. “Does it happen overnight? Like everything, right, creating one tax incentive or creating a benefit for individuals and protecting people’s rights. That’s something that seeps into the groundwater, in my view, for workers and for companies.”
Now, you may understandably disagree with Pritzker over his definition of the word, his attacks on Republicans and how he believes this could eventually help Illinois’ economy, but there can be no doubt that the national party has finally caught up with him, even if he didn’t get the nod for national office.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 7:42 am
Previous Post: Open thread
Next Post: It’s just a bill
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Nice commentary. I always like to ask if we are discussing “freedom from” or “freedom to.” One form is limiting while the other liberating. Republican politics tends to lean too much in one direction (e.g., freedom from social responsibility). The rush toward false libertarian ideals of rugged individualism has always led to the collapse of community and state.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 8:20 am
Rich,
With all due respect, Pritzker claims he’s against right wing extremism, ” “As long as I’m governor, Illinois will remain a beacon of freedom among a rising sea of right-wing extremism.”
But JB used his financial heft to involve himself in the 2022 Republican primary and destroy Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin’s growing candidacy. He undermined Irvin’s candidacy for the sole purpose of promoting Bailey (who he claims is ‘right-winger’).
JB’s words don’t necessarily reflect his actions.
Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 8:56 am
Governor says it well , but the Kris K. & Janis J.
song definition always comes to mind :
“Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose,
And nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free,”
Comment by Red Ketcher Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 8:56 am
- He undermined Irvin’s candidacy -
It’s called winning. He didn’t help sink Irvin with the hope that Bailey would then beat him.
I’m glad to see JB and the party pushing the freedom rhetoric. It’s bothered me since I was a kid that republicans pretended to support it while their actions undermined it in every way.
Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 9:02 am
Downstate, Irvin had $50 mil from the state’s richest person. He could have run a good campaign, but he didn’t. You gotta fight to win elections, it’s not just about money and Irvin was a flawed candidate from the get go. Takes more than just money to win a race and Irvin is the textbook example of that.
Comment by blues Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 9:37 am
What -blues- says above is exactly right. Irvin proved money doesn’t make the candidate.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:10 am
JB could’ve saved his $50 million and Irvin still would’ve lost.
Thinking the republican primary electorate was going to elect him is kind of foolish, IMO.
Comment by So_Ill Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:26 am
“Downstate, Irvin had $50 mil from the state’s richest person.”
That doesn’t excuse JB’s actions. He denounces “right-wing” candidates while promoting their nomination.
He promotes the very thing he condemns.
Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:27 am
Interesting column that brings up something that should be on the minds of voters in our state. Had to have been a tough area in the column to wrestle with. Appreciate the effort that went into the column on Sunday.
Freedom is a tough word in politics. Everyone uses it, but is it a core belief of Governor Pritzker?
In IMHO, hard to have a record as Governor Gerrymander and claim “freedom” as a core belief. JBP should work on another buzzword.
Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:27 am
=He denounces “right-wing” candidates while promoting their nomination.=
I believe he called Bailey out for being too extreme. Republican voters did the rest. Not sure how that flies in the face of freedom. Perhaps you should take the issue up with ILGOP since they don’t share your warm feelings about Richard Irvin.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:32 am
- He denounces “right-wing” candidates while promoting their nomination. -
So he can beat them, by double digits. Is it JB’s responsibility to make sure the opposing party nominates a sane candidate?
I’ve said it a hundred times, you ILGOPers are simply lazy.
Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:33 am
===He denounces “right-wing” candidates while promoting their nomination.===
It’s called playing the long game.
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:35 am
Freedom Pledge
“I am an American, a free American. Free to speak without fear. Free to worship God in my own way. Free to stand for what I think right. Free to oppose what I believe wrong. Free to choose those who govern my country.
This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”
Dedicated August 27, 1948. Commemorating the visit of “The Freedom Train”
Inscription on a monument in park, Port Huron, MI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Train
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:40 am
==I’ve said it a hundred times, you ILGOPers are simply lazy.==
Lazy with an odd sense of victimhood. A rather incredible turnaround for a once strong and principled political party.
Comment by low level Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:42 am
== Pundent - Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:32 am:
I believe he called Bailey out for being too extreme. Republican voters did the rest. Not sure how that flies in the face of freedom. Perhaps you should take the issue up with ILGOP since they don’t share your warm feelings about Richard Irvin.==
And it wasn’t even close. Irvin lost by 42 points. I don’t think you can blame a 42 point loss on the other party.
Comment by So_Ill Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:47 am
First, good article Rich.
2nd, it’s ridiculous to compare JB’s gov campaign tactic with government restrictions on the rights of individuals for the benefit of a party of religious groups.
JB didn’t advertise for Bailey, he advertised against Irvin. He was using his resources to weaken an opponent of his. While too many got their knickers in a bunch, it was an age-old move to win. That same tactic worked well for the Dems in 2022.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:48 am
Oops “party or religious groups”.
Which most of the times include both, i.e. the MAGA GOP pushing restrictions to placate their extremist and religious base.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:53 am
Never has this Democratic strategy been more necessary. Republicans are now an authoritarian party, supporting a movement that wants to turn millions of Americans into ruling subjects and not free citizens choosing their government. Thankfully Pritzker and others are calling them out, but it’s not enough. It’s literally the job of political news media to honestly name the problem and warn about it. The National Weather Service issues watches and warnings for dangerous weather, news media ought to do the same for the threat to democracy.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:57 am
Thing that kills me is the GOP has always been this way, at least during my lifetime. Their idea of “freedom” was always “they get to do whatever they want, and you can’t stop them, but you have to live your life the way they want to.”
This is who they have always been.
I’m glad more people are talking about it, but why the (expletive) weren’t more people talking about it before?
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 10:59 am
== And it wasn’t even close. Irvin lost by 42 points. I don’t think you can blame a 42 point loss on the other party. ==
To add on to this, 85% of the GOP primary electorate voted against Irvin. For a person bankrolled to borderline infinity and back to only finish a distant third and not even win a single county? He’s an astro-turfed nobody. Pick basically any random Illinoisan, and Griffin money could’ve probably gotten them to 15% of the vote in an ILGOP primary in all likelihood.
Comment by TJ Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 11:02 am
harris’ usage stems from the successful abortion amendment to the state constituion in kansas…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Sep 3, 24 @ 11:10 am