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* Rep. Pat Kennedy talks to RollCall about whether his cousin Chris Kennedy or Treasurer Alexi Giannouolias has a better shot at getting President Obama’s support for US Senate…
“A couple hundred grand to Barack and playing hoops on the court with Barack, and you weigh that political capital next to the endorsement of my family for Barack at the critical juncture for his campaign when he did,” Rep. Kennedy said. “And to me, if that were a fight, they’d have to stop it because it’s a slam dunk for the Kennedys.”
Oof. Looks like a throwdown to me.
Giannoulias responds on the high road…
In a phone interview, Giannoulias responded to Rep. Kennedy’s statement by touting his long-standing relationship with Obama. “I’ve been friends with the president for a long time,” Giannoulias said. “He is like a mentor to me. He is one of the reasons I got involved in politics. I don’t want to get into an argument about who knows him better.”
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 3:48 pm
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Alexi has to admit it was a money thing that got him into the game, everyone knows his late father paid to get him access with the major players in this town, I like him and think he could be a good politician (He’s rich so he does not have to steal) but he did not work hard and pull himself up by his own bootstraps, He lived a playboy lifestyle in Greece before He decided to get into the Politics game, very similar to many in the Kennedy family.
Comment by Tom Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 3:58 pm
Obama will stay a million miles away from any or all candidates unless there is only one.
Comment by Cosmic Charlie Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:06 pm
This is more like the quote of two days ago… a little late on this story.
Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:13 pm
===This is more like the quote of two days ago==
Yeah, but it was only reported here today, so it’s quote of the day. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:15 pm
Alexi’s support is a mile wide and an inch deep. With out Barack/Axelrod twisting arms he falls flat on his face. He’d better hope Rep. Kennedy is wrong on this one.
Comment by Red Ranger Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:18 pm
That’s a pretty arrogant comment by the congressman. Stupid comments like that do not help his cousin.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:18 pm
Anyone Know This Guy?
Adam Andrzejewski
www.AdamForIllinois.com
Comment by John Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:19 pm
I think the DC set took the book “Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarden” a little to literally.
Comment by Scooby Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:22 pm
Oops, meant “too”.
Comment by Scooby Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:23 pm
Obama would throw almost anyone under the bus except Alexi. The Kennedys should remember that.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:35 pm
There the Kennedys go again - believing they have an ancestral right to the seat of gov’t.
Comment by dupage dan Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:36 pm
John asks the question: “Anyone Know This Guy? Adam Andrzejewski”
I answer: Some conservatives do — Sandy Rios, Fran Eaton, Bruno Behrend… A few of them appear to be working on his quixotic campaign and/or accepting his ads on their own sites.
But now that you’ve spammed the blog with his link maybe a few people will go read up on his same-ol/same-ol anti-Democratic screeds. They sound familiar … and worn out.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:37 pm
PS John - this is a post about Senate, not Governor.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:38 pm
Kennedy’s comment is not only insulting to Giannoulais, it is insulting to the President. The arrogance behind it is embarrassing.
No one needs to know that a possible presidential endorsement would be seen as nothing more than political payback by Obama to Kennedy for their media-salivating Camelot endorsement. Obama’s nod didn’t work for Carolyn Kennedy for either the New York senate seat, or for a nomination to be the ambassador to the Vatican. Considering the President’s persuasive powers at that time, and where they will be next Spring, and how well Obama’s endorsement worked for his cousin, it would be rather foolish to make that claim.
Just because they are princes of powerful rich families, doesn’t trump our power to show either of these rotten spoiled brats who decides whom becomes our political leaders.
I won’t vote for either.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:50 pm
Patrick Kennedy continues to show the class he’s always been known for.
Comment by JonShibleyFan Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 4:59 pm
The Kennedys were always arrogant, but they were also charming and talented. Now they are just arrogant.
Notice that this dope from Rhode Island talks in terms of “my family” and “The Kennedys.” It is symptomatic that this gereration has lost the magic touch, and run on their family name, not their own two feet.
Comment by Bubs Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 5:03 pm
There is no way that quotes like that help Pat. In fact, they annoy me enough that it makes me want to write a check to Alexi’s campaign (admittedly, at some point I likely would have done so anyway, but now that check will be earlier and larger).
Pat, you don’t get to be in the United States Senate because of what your FAMILY did. The people of Illinois don’t owe Chris a thing.
As others have said — what complete arrogance.
Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 5:43 pm
Did I hear that right? The mere blessing of the (ahem) sainted Kennedy family should mean more to Obama than personal campaign donations of “a couple of hundred grand” — at least $200,000, more than most of us could ever expect to earn in an entire year, let alone throw away on (er, I mean donate to) a political campaign — from someone whom Obama knows personally, well enough to “play hoops” with him. Is that arrogance or what?
Comment by Bookworm Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 6:32 pm
The reason I bring up Alexi’s campaign donations is simply to point out that Alexi seems to have put some significant “skin in the game” when it came to supporting Obama’s campaign. Apparently the Kennedys consider that chump change.
Comment by Bookworm Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 6:34 pm
Somebody just shoot me now. I am tired of living in the Twilight Zone.
Comment by yinn Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 7:40 pm
Sir Kennedy apparently forgets that Obama didn’t win the Mass. primary. In fact, he got stomped by Hillary by a wider margin than polls indicated BEFORE the “critical juncture” Kennedy endorsement.
The numbers please …
(candidate, votes, percent, delegates)
Hillary Rodham Clinton 705,185 56.2% 55
Barack Obama 511,680 40.8 38
Whoops!!!
Comment by Frank Booth Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 8:04 pm
Do not confuse Alexi’s family’s support of Barack’s ‘04 Senate campaign with the Kennedy’s support of the ‘08 Presidential campaign.
Barack came back for Alexi in Alexi’s ‘06 campaign as a result of the former; the latter is an entirely different game–one which Alexi’s support would not have helped him significantly on a national level. No one knows or cares who he is at that level. Or here, for that matter. He’ll back down and save face–why do you think his Chief of Staff is already “running?”
Barack helped Alexi more than Alexi helped Obama.
There is no way, like Cosmic Charlie said, that Barack will come back for anyone in the upcoming primary.
Kennedy sounded classless in saying this; however, he is correct. The Kennedys helped him more than Alexi ever did.
And, why criticize Kennedys for speaking in the third person? Roland Burris does.
Comment by Ball of Confusion Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 8:24 pm
Actually, Frank that’s not quite true. There were several polls that showed Obama down by 25 to 30 points BEFORE the Kennedy endorsement. So, It did help. Now having still said that Patrick Kennedy needs to shut up.
Comment by Diana24 Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 8:30 pm
They are both spoiled brats. Surely we can do better than this. Alexi lacks dept and experience and would do better to hold off until he gains both……and they both need to read the FDR biography “A Traitor to His Class.” At one time class meant more than just money. Which one of these young men has spent a day (without cameras) at the unemployment office, or e to a VA hospital for returning Iraqi vets, or gone to a womens shelter, people all over this state are hurting more than ever……these young men stay in their cozy confines in the city and seem to lack drive that only true empathy engenders.
Comment by disgusted Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 9:26 pm
===Obama’s nod didn’t work for Carolyn Kennedy for either the New York senate seat, or for a nomination to be the ambassador to the Vatican. ====
Doesn’t Obama name the ambassador to the Vatican? If he was “nodding” I would think she would be the ambassador unless there is a Senate approval.
Comment by Been There Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 11:53 pm
Perhaps Patrick doesn’t realize that his cousin would be running for office in Illinois, not Boston Mass. Kennedy’s last name may carry special disensation on the East Coast, but here in Illinois it doesn’t count for much.
Alexi is odds-on favorite, while young Chris Kennedy is still somebody who wishes he was somebody. When all is said and done — the Kennnedy Clan will say more than they do. The waters fine Chrisy boy, come in and get wet!
Illinois politics ain’t bean bags son!
Comment by WaxonWaxoff Thursday, Jun 11, 09 @ 11:55 pm
Bleep both these guys–Burris will win by a landslide.
Comment by Rod B. Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 12:04 am
“Doesn’t Obama name the ambassador to the Vatican? If he was “nodding” I would think she would be the ambassador unless there is a Senate approval.”
There was a rumor that he tried to nominate her to be the ambassador to the Vatican, but she was turned down by the Vatican because she was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. Although I suspect it really didn’t happen.
Comment by Diana24 Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 12:08 am
Handled very nicely by Alexi.
I know that some have great expectations for how the Kennedys will play here, but I’m still doubtful.
Comment by Ahem...The REAL Anonymous Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 12:41 am
Both camps seem to miss the point.
Alexi should have said:
“Rep. Kennedy seems to miss the point. Serving in the U.S. Senate isn’t — or atleast shouldn’t be — about who has the most clout.”
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 6:43 am
What a crass and arrogant comment from the kennedy clan.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 8:07 am
So that’s what Illinois politics has come to, who knows Obama better or supported Obama first. I passed out literature for Obama when Bobby Rush beat his brains in in the Contgressional race, does that mean I should get his support for alderman?
Comment by James the Intolerant Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 8:15 am
Diana,
The Vatican rejected Obama’s first THREE choices to be ambassador, including Ms. Kennedy. Why do you suspect this to be false? The Vatican openly states people who oppose basic fundmentals of Catholic dogma (abortion and heterosexual marriage) will not be supported.
Comment by South Side Mike Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 8:22 am
Giannoulias showed some class and character in his response and earned a few bonus points on my vote card.
The Kennedy arrogance is not appealing at all. Though its is not fair, the Kennedy comments remind me of the Kennedy-Smith trial and the accusations that he got off because he was a Kennedy…I am tired of the arrogant old guard in Illinois and I am not impressed because of who you aunt and uncles endorsed.
BTY I ran into Giannoulias at a local gas station he said with a smile that he was buying granola bar and a drink for his drive back to Chi…He was personable and seemed to be a genuine regular guy.
That I think will help him in his efforts.
Comment by Larry Mullholland Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 9:03 am
South Side, what I mean is it was never really confirmed that he put her up for the position, or that she was interested. I have no doubt that they would reject someone who was pro-choice.
Comment by Diana24 Friday, Jun 12, 09 @ 10:19 am
=================
I am tired of the arrogant old guard in Illinois…
=================
I’m not sure that the Kennedys have achieved such status in Illinois. Money, fundraisers, and the “panache” social scene perhaps, but not “old guard”.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the Kennedys and the Irish vote. Will Midwestern values triumph over the name?
It’ll also be interesting to see who on the D side comes out strongly for Kennedy.
Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Jun 13, 09 @ 2:17 pm