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Quinn’s latest diversion: Chief DGA fundraiser

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Illinois

* Just what Illinois needs right now, another distraction for Gov. Pat Quinn…

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is the new finance chair of the Democratic Governors Association, I’m told, responsible for raising millions of dollars from across the country to help bankroll upcoming governor contests.

Quinn was tapped for what is his first big national political role by DGA chairman Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. Taking on the finance chair chores means Quinn will travel more around the country to raise Democratic cash.

At one-time seen as reluctant to be involved in major fund-raising, Quinn stepped up to the plate when it came to his battle to win election on his own in 2010, after becoming governor after Rod Blagojevich was impeached in 2009. Quinn raised $23 million in what was a brutal Democratic primary and general election campaign against Illinois State Sen. Bill Brady.

There are four governor contests in 2011: Republicans are governor in Mississippi and Louisiana and Democrats hold the seats in Kentucky and West Virginia.

He really needs to finish fixing some of the bigger problems at home before taking on these added, partisan responsibilities. But, he’s tight with public employee unions, which contributed heavily to his campaign last year. And he’s spoken vigorously on their behalf during the Wisconsin/Indiana turmoils. For instance…

“It’s a war on workers: You know, the people who teach our kids, who plow the snow off our interstates,” Quinn Monday said on MSNBC. “Those are working men and women and they deserve a decent pay and decent retirement. They’ve already given up concessions in that area.

“The right to have a union and collectively bargain – about your conditions, working conditions – that’s a fundamental American right,” he said. “So what Governor Scott Walker’s doing in Wisconsin is just plain wrong. and I think he’s going to realize it. The people of America are not on his side.

“He didn’t show up at our governors’ conference here in Washington,” Quinn continued. “I think that he knows even Republican governors – many of them know – that he’s on the wrong track and he’s not going to help working people and middle class people retain a good job in America.” […]

“We’re not going to give in and roll over here,” Quinn said. “The governor of Wisconsin is just plain wrong. I noticed today – this past couple days – many other Republican governors are not buying into this trying to bash unions, and bust unions, and hurt working people. That’s not what America is all about. We believe in hard work and rewarding that with decent pay and a decent retirement.”

Those unions have big bucks and the DGA will likely use Quinn to get their cash for Democratic candidates.

Also, it’s a bit of an irony that the DGA is tapping Quinn to raise money now, after having to run TV ads for him last summer because his campaign apparatus was stuck in low gear.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:09 pm

Comments

Once he gets going, Quinn’s persuasiveness, colorful vocabulary tics, and overall stellar communication skills will astound the DGA.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:21 pm
Oh sure…..not one comment about PQ’s war on state employees and retirees in Illinois….its just those ‘other’ guys!

Comment by one day at a time Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:22 pm
He should subcontract this job to Blagojevich.

Comment by Pat Robertson Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:42 pm
“In his spare time, Governor Quinn is in charge of …

fundraising for the Democratic Governors Association

Springfield’s Toastmasters - Speech Mentors Chairman

The Illinois Association of Unaffilliated Groups, Useless Titles, and Organizations Organization - 2nd Vice President

Association of Governors Organizing for Cool Titles - Secretary of Rockin’ and Rollin’

The Association to Reduce Associations Associated With Titles That End With ‘Accociation’ - Scribe/Editor

….”

Pat Quinn, with myopic focus, will be able to get Illinois on the right track …

Or …

They say politics is kinda like High School, so maybe Pat Quinn’s guidence counselor told Ole Pat to “get involved, join some clubs…”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:46 pm
OW–and used that old saw “it’ll look good on your resume”.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:52 pm
Responsa -

You know it … that is in the “manual”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 12:56 pm
Rich, when did CapFax become a competitor of the Onion? What is the next story, Scott Walker to speak at a pro-collective bargaining for State Employees Event?

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:33 pm
Not a bad idea. I’ll ask Henry Bayer if he’d be up for it today.

Heh.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:34 pm
One thing I will say in Quinn’s defense is that many D.C. officials wear two hats as fundraisers, political spokespersons, campaign committee chairpersons, etc. They too have daunting tasks ahead of them and also have to balance home lives in their districts and in D.C., and many of them have little children or family issues that also take up quite a bit of time. A lot of hard-charging politicos often stretch themselves too thin. One thing Quinn’s new commitment brings to the forefront is the need for his staff to step up and really show it can tackle the tough issues while their boss may be away on political business.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:36 pm
I will say one thing, Rich, that my first responses have been of a comic nature lately, not by your “spin”, “word choice”, etc., in the post titles, but of the Onion-like stories that have sprouted up in the last 9 months.

You can’t make some of this up!

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:43 pm
I guess with the diminishing numbers of Democratic governors across the country, Quinn was their best option of bad options. Kind of like his last election.

Comment by Seriously??? Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:45 pm
So this is what happens when you miss a meeting - the attendees assign you some onerous duty - like fundraising.

PQ outta respectfully decline with a short (!) speech about how he has to help the people of Illinois, that beautiful state next to the mighty mississip, that river of life that flows thru the middle part of this great nation - not dividing, but bringing us all together in our great national cause, freedom. I say freedom because we need to keep focused on the most important issues of the day, the need to protect those who need our help the most. I’m talking about the vanishing species of fish that inhabit that great, winding, river we call our great Illinois friend. That reminds me of a story……

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 1:54 pm
Quinn could make a bundle for the DGA on the speakers circuit.

Fee for speaking without notes: $5,000

Fee for speaking from a strict script: $10,000

Fee for sitting mute on a stage for 20 minutes: $20,000

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:01 pm
word -

Don’t forget the “Patron” level - $100,000, and you get to NOT show up to the event…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:31 pm
He’d better dial down his Land of Lincoln references when he’s in Kentucky.

Comment by And I Approved This Message Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:51 pm
–He’d better dial down his Land of Lincoln references when he’s in Kentucky.–

Actually, Kentucky tourism makes a pretty big deal about being Lincoln’s birthplace. They also maintain a site about 100 miles down the road for Jefferson Davis’ birthplace.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:11 pm
Pat Quinn is head of fundraising for the DGA?!

What in the heck? I guess they’re hoping that being close to Obama-central will make the fundraising easier, but yeesh.

You’d think they’d just make it easy on themselves and tap Cuomo.

Could be worse for the DGA - they could have tapped California’s new governor. I think Jerry Brown financed most of his campaign with some loose change he found in his couch.

Comment by jerry 101 Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:17 pm
I Paid AFSCME dues for almost 30 years never had a choice. Never once got to vote for Henry Bayer. I guess he’s himself to be Illinois life time appointed dictator. So jump up and down and scream, its all about the Money for AFSCME and the Democrats. The public employees don’t have a choice!

Comment by Bob Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:57 pm
its too bad the DGA isn’t a publicly traded security - if it was with Quinn in a leadership position it would make a great short

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:18 pm
The DGA must have been hurting for a body to put in this position, but on a good note Gov.Quinn will have something to keep him busy so he cannot come up with his silly ideas for illinois. Might not be a bad thing…..Wonder if Madigan arranged it….

Comment by dumb ol' country boy Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:19 pm
As a Republican, I’m more than pleased by this appointment.

Comment by Park Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 8:39 pm
Awesome. This will give Jack Lavin more time to stack the deck with Rezko cronies and “yes-men”. I’m all for it!

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 10:50 pm
Did they look at his D-2’s?

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 7:08 am