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* State Sen. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap)…
“I’ll tell you many (Senate) members that you meet in Chicago, they come from an entitlement mentality, that you are entitled to things,” LaHood said. “That’s not what made our country great. You can work hard, get an education, and the sky is the limit in this country. Many of you have done that … but it’s not about being entitled to things. That has permeated through many parts of our urban cities and that, in turn, affects many of the legislators. That entitlement mentality, I don’t think has served us very well in certain aspects of our society.”
That’s more than a little ironic at a time when so many Downstate legislators are fighting hard to keep their local state facilities open.
Discuss.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:09 am
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LaHood ended, “My Dad tells me that all the time …”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:12 am
Perhaps some corn farmers or ethenol producers would care to comment as well?
Comment by awh shucks Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:14 am
“I am not entitled, I’m ordained.”
“Sometimes entitlement skips a generation, like with me.”
“When I got this job, I was not entitled to it … far from it … my job had to be orchestrated.”
LaHood finshed with, “Let them eat cake.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:15 am
“Take this pot for example, I look at it, and I think its very different from my kettle.”
“Look, make no mistake, the way I see it, I am only entitled to this job, maybe a congressional seat, and if it works out real good, a cabinet spot like my Dad, but that’s about it, folks.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:19 am
Other people feel entitled. I earned everything I got. Sounds to me like many tea partiers.
Comment by bourbonrich Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:21 am
Funny coming from a kid appointed to his seat solely because of his famous last name.
Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:21 am
Interesting that he would single out Chicago State Senators, as opposed to Dems generally. Am I the only one that gets the impression that he’s not exactly talking about Cullerton or Feigenholtz?
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:22 am
I dare Darin to say that line about getting an education to a group of recent college grads. We don’t live in that America anymore. In addition to an education and working hard, these days you need something more — usually a leg up from family — to make the sky the limit.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:22 am
Let’s strictly put highway and transportation funding on a population formula. And let’s see how downstaters like that. Such a change would have the effect of shifting about a quarter of the state’s total transportation spending from Downstate to the Chicago metro.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:24 am
Thinly veiled racism from an entitled brat.
Comment by Ray del Camino Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:25 am
Really Darin? A guy who everyone knows wouldn’t have the seat he does now had daddy not been a Congressman.
Pot meet Kettle.
Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:25 am
“I have earned every single thing I have been handed …”
“I have qualities that others that could have been appointed didn’t have … like my last name.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:28 am
Oh Rich, no you didn’t. Those places are called institutions because they’ve been there forever and that’s just how it’s supposed to be and those jobs are there because the institutions are there and that’s how it’s supposed to be. It boils down to votes-vs.-political fear-vs-what’s right. It’s time for the elected officials of this state to do what’s right, because that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
Comment by conservatively liberal Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:29 am
Hilarious, coming from someone who’s made a career in appointed government jobs.
His old man’s boss was a state senator from Chicago. Does that apply to him, too? Maybe someone should ask both LaHoods and Obama about that.
Geez, I grew up downstate and only rubes buy that red-meat stuff.
And just in case anyone’s wondering, he’s talking about black people.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:30 am
@Skeeter - I think you’re on to something. When the Sen. says “urban cities” is what made me cringe a little bit.
Comment by Curious Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:34 am
I was waiting for the “them” and “they” references to complete his veiled thoughts …
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:36 am
I REALLY love that these comments were delivered to a room full of “elderly constituents” at the WoodRidge Supportive Living Residence. Please, Rep. LaHood, tell us more about the “entitlement mentality”, right after you get done telling us about what you’re doing to preserve our Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Comment by lincoln's beard Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:37 am
A LaHood saying this extremely funny, but one of the nice lessons we’ve learned the last 18 years from Republicans being in power in congress in dc is that they love their government handouts just as much as democrats love theirs, they just come packaged differently.
I don’t think he’s talking about black people-that’s a charge you only make if you are 1100% certain. We don’t need that right now.
” usually a leg up from family .”
Lisa (madigan) Smith would not be attorney general, andy (mckenna) thompson would not have been a senate candidate, dan (hynes) harris would not have been whatever office he was, alexi-well that guy was so bad even his family’s connections couldn’t get him a senate seat.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:38 am
http://www.qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=590080
Darin was in the Quad Cities demanding money from……………
Comment by western illinois Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:39 am
“…Many of you have done that … but it’s not about being entitled to things. That has permeated through many parts of our urban cities and that, in turn, affects many of the legislators. That entitlement mentality, I don’t think has served us very well in certain aspects of our society.”
Dear Darin,
I think you are on to something …
Al Campanis
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:40 am
clearly, it is time to move the capitol out of springfield and somewhere MUCH closer to the geographic center of the state (there’s some state land in peotone that could be used for that purpose)…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:44 am
“I am entitled to my opinion, like I am entitled to my Senate seat …”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:45 am
What about when the “entitlements” are actually earned benefits? I.e. things you are “entitled” to because you paid for them? I am thinking specifically of social security and medicare of course pensions but also bigger things like public education and a functioning justice system and services for people unable to care for themselves and protection of our parks and natural resources. We all pay a lot each year to ensure that we have these things and so yes, I now feel entitled to have them.
And with the possible exception of someone who has been institutionalized since birth every single person does pay for these things through sales tax if nothing else.
Comment by Lakefront Liberal Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:47 am
He could just say “Chicago has a lot of racial minorities” and save us all the fig leaf arguments…
Comment by Dirt Digger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:48 am
–I don’t think he’s talking about black people-that’s a charge you only make if you are 1100% certain.–
Yeah, he’s probably talking about the Irish.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:48 am
An “entitlement mentality” in our “urban cities” (there are non-urban cities?) that isn’t like the way you and I think, and “I don’t think has served us very well in certain aspects of our society.”
At least Pate Philip was direct about his racism when he said much the same thing.
Comment by Northsider Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:53 am
If you mean people in Southern Illinois feel entitled to the prison jobs then yes they are. I am old enough to remember the only prison in Southern Illinois was Menard. Most people were against new prisons in this part of the state. They felt like we were getting the worst of Chicagos thugs sent to us like a gift from above. Over the years people have become dependent on these jobs to support their familys, Now they want to take what few jobs that are doled this way and spend the money elsewhere. This will just put more people on unemployment and start the cycle of welfare for some.
Comment by Nieva Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:54 am
Close those state facilities and where do the people living in those facilities go? Into a community where the NIMBY yelling can start? That entitlement thought goes several ways. I want no troublemakers as neighbors. I want a peaceful place to live. I want my roads cared for. I want open state parks. I want criminals taken away. I want good schools. I want a good job. I want a grocery store in my part of town. Somewhere choices are made. How many ‘entitlements’ exist because people decided they wanted something they thought made their life better? When the bucks get tight, it is amazing how many things shift from ‘good things that help society’ to an ‘entitlement’ that now has to be earned or is no longer needed. Those ‘good things’ often require a job be done by someone to accomplish whatever that ‘good thing’ is. Then of course there is also the ‘gift’ given to someone who simply knows the right people.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:56 am
I think he did not articulate well what he was trying to say. I won’t put words in his mouth and his hypocrisy is obvious, but let’s not miss his point which has been well recieved on this site when it’s talking about corruption, pensions and Illinois not being able to pay its bills. There is an entitlement mentality that has not served our towns, cities and states and that, like everything else, must be changed. Quinn has made some affirmative moves in that direction (shockingly).
Comment by Not for Nuttin' Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:57 am
Daddy got Darren a job with another congressman. Daddy then got Darren a job with the Tazwell State’s Attorney’s office. Daddy then got Darren a job in the US Attorneys office in Las Vegas, where USA Today found him to be ONE OF THE TEN WORST PROSECUTORS OF THE DECADE FROM 2000 TO 2010. Then he lost an election for State’s Attorney. Then voila, a state senate seat suddenely became open and Darren was apppointed. He is entitled to that seat because his dad is Ray LaHood. Junior now rants about black people feeling entitled. Say what?
Comment by Say what Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 9:59 am
- Not for Nuttin’ -
Did you MISS the fact that Sen. LaHood (R-Ray’s Kid), was calling out a specific GROUP who felt that way?
This is an Al Campanis type quote, meaning Darin made it a veiled thought about a certain segment of citizen and their senators feel they are entitled, and he doesn’t like that.
“…many (Senate) members that you meet in Chicago, …”
Many? Not all? Many?
Darin makes it quite clear there is a seperation, Darin knows the seperation, and makes it clear the seperation exists.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:06 am
==USA Today found him to be ONE OF THE TEN WORST PROSECUTORS OF THE DECADE FROM 2000 TO 2010==
Really? Wow.
Comment by Robert Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:20 am
Like I said, his hypocrisy is obvious, but the point - as applied to the entire state - is legitimate. The solution does not rest in calling out a dingbat, the solution rests in our changing the culture of the state, which includes over extended entitlements, the House of Lords and special privileges to the privileged. Oh gee, a non-Chicago legislator calling out Chicago. Tomorrow it’ll be an appointed Chicago legislator calling out a non-Chicagoan.
Comment by Not for Nuttin' Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:28 am
=== That’s more than a little ironic === when the source of these comments was appointed to his position courtesy of Daddy’s coattails.
Having powerful parents is not the fault of a son or daughter. But you’re supposed to earn what have. No “entitlements” here. That’s not what made this country great. Right, Senator LaHood?
Comment by Freeman Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:30 am
“It’s Chicagoans like Dan Lapinski who think they are entitled to something, like, say, a congressional seat.”
“THe state budget must be CUT, CUT, CUT! — so long as it doesn’t mean closing a single downstate facility.”
Comment by reformer Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:33 am
Sounds like a Tea Party Rally:
Two thirds of the people attending are getting some sort of government benefit. Of course they all “earned” that benefit while the other guy is getting a free ride.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that everybody in America from top to bottom has an entitlement mentality. We have all come to believe that we are guaranteed a better standard of living than our parents–or that if we work hard we are guaranteed someting. Nothing is this life is guaranteed–to anybody!!
The reason it becomes so political is that it is so much easier to point out the entitlement mentality in the other guy than to look in the mirror and see it in ourselves.
train111
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:35 am
D’oh.
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:36 am
Speaking of entitlements, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals found on three separate occasions that LaHood engaged in prosecutorial misconduct and defendants were entitled to new trials.
In one instance, Lahood “encouraged the jury to convict in order to alleviate social problems.”
http://www.lvrj.com/news/42891442.html
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:42 am
Reminds me of my drive to the Murray closure hearing last week in Centralia. On the way I passed the Taylorville, Hillsboro and Vandalia DOC facilities. You know, those cities whose voters demand less government and to cut the budget.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:47 am
Multiple postings above accuse LaHood of “racism”, taking shots at minorities and otherwise (some of which have been deleted) in his comments.
Enough anti-Chicago sentiment exists among voters to have fueled his comments without imparting meaning of one’s own conjecture.
Far as I know, the guy has nothing in his background to justify jumping to the worst possible conclusions.
Now, can we please return to the topic at hand? Ripping on and enjoying the hypocrisy of his “entitled” self.
Unless he evidence exists to support such claims and accusations.
Comment by Freeman Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 10:49 am
@ Freeman -
Go back and read the Register-Mail story in context, and you’ll find the evidence you’re looking for. You don’t have to use the n-word to peddle racially charged stereotypes.
Comment by olddog Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 11:16 am
Forgot to add this; This Illinois at it’s best, in one yard near Sandavol there are two signs about three feet apart. One says, “No New Taxes”, the second one says “Save Murray Center”. They simply don’t get it.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 11:19 am
What’s the difference between legitimate advocating for one’s constituents and having the wrong attitude about being entitled?
If your “White” and live in “real America”, it’s advocating for your constituents?
And if you are advocating for Blacks, Native Americans, immigrants and poor people it’s an “entitlement” attitude?
Maybe it has nothing to do with how LaHood perceives the social hierarchy should work. But I’d like to hear the nuance between “advocating for constituents” and the “entitlement attitude”.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 11:19 am
Here is the perceived difference….
Southern Illinois legislators are fighting for facilities that have employees working for a pay check issued by the state.
Many urban legislators are fighting for programs that are simple social programs or handouts.
Comment by John A Logan Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 11:44 am
–Southern Illinois legislators are fighting for facilities that have employees working for a pay check issued by the state.–
The state wants to close the facilities. They deem the jobs no longer necessary. How is it not an entitlement to argue to keep them open as a state supplier of unnecessary jobs?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 11:50 am
Are ethanol subsidies an entitlement?
How about counting prisoners for purposes of reapportionment, even though those prisoners can’t vote and don’t get their interests represented?
Comment by reformer Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:11 pm
“Let’s strictly put highway and transportation funding on a population formula. And let’s see how downstaters like that. Such a change would have the effect of shifting about a quarter of the state’s total transportation spending from Downstate to the Chicago metro. ”
Highway funds are already allotted by a population formula.
It is State law that about 50% of the State motor fuel tax goes the the local agencies such as towns and counties. The cash that the towns get is apportioned by population. Counties and townships get their money based on how many miles of road under their jurisdiction. About 25% goes directly to IDOT District 1 (Cook, Lake, McHenry,Kane, DuPage and Will Counties) while the remaining 25% get split up by the rest of the State.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 12:13 pm
There are lots and lots of folks who have the entitlement mentality in this state as has been pointed out by many of the commenters beginning with Senator La Hood and all of those IL legislators who were first appointed to a relative’s position. After them the next largest entitlements go to the farmers who are always the first to criticize others. And the list goes on and on from big banks to big companies. LaHood owes an apology to urban centers, or in other words minorities, for his comments.
Comment by Just a Citizen Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 1:10 pm
ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY you say. Both parties are guilty of passing their political power and positions on to their entitled brats and that’s one of the things that lit the Tea Party fires.
We need to throw the rascals out!
Comment by Geneseo Gent Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 1:31 pm
Because CAT certainly don’t think it’s entitled to anything.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 2:22 pm
The Illinois Senate staff certainly doesn’t have a problem with Lahood’s comments. If you look at the twitter feeds on the live session coverage thread, they put out a link to them about 45 minutes ago.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 2:32 pm
===- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 2:32 pm:
The Illinois Senate staff certainly doesn’t have a problem with Lahood’s comments. If you look at the twitter feeds on the live session coverage thread, they put out a link to them about 45 minutes ago.===
And that is why we are the Minority Party …
Thanks Senator Radogno!
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 4:41 pm
–And that is why we are the Minority Party …–
I don’t get it, dude. It’s unproductive, insulting and so unnecessary. The only thing I can figure is that there’s a crew that’s comfortable in the warm blanket of X number of safe seats, staff and no responsibility.
The GOP used to be a real force in this state. Now, it’s the Dems that have to cut Medicaid and whack pensions while the GOP sits on the sidelines and clucks.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 5:44 pm
ILGOP has lost its identity, by “searching for its soul”, while NOT understanding what made the GOP in Illinois a clear alternative and a powerful foe to the Dems.
The Reagan quote of “80-20″ is lost on the conservatives, and seems to be unknown to the moderates.
“Let the conservatives drive themselves into ditches”
“Let the moderates see what its like without our support.”
I was having an “adult” beverage, where they are served a few weekends back, and the ILGOP was discussed. In the middle of our 2 person talk, we were stop by a 3rd person we were sitting with who said something very profound:
“The difference between Madigan and the GOP in both chambers is very simple, but no one wants to see it;
Madigan is just worried about a Dem winning. Period. Madigan just wants his caucus to have more “D”s than “R”s in the House.
Once Madigan gets his majority, he looks at the hand he has … some very far left, some left, but rationally left, and some “Dems”, but lean conservative on “hot” issues. That caucus is far from perfect, but leaders can deal with far from perfect.
Now, the HGOP and the SGOP go for “perfect” candidates. Acceptable to the “right”, but can … maybe … garnish some moderate help.
What!?!?!?
That model candidate will never be a majority member, no what what caucus we are talking about!”
That is the Rub. the GOP wants PERFECT, and the same for everyone. Perfect for conservatives, perfect for ideology, a perfect model Republican.
Guess what? How about a perfect candidate for a district, in every district you can, with that “R” next to their name, and THEN sort them out, as leaders do, in a majority caucus.
Darin’s antics, and the SGOP just flat-out ignoring the overtones, reeks of the “perfect” candidate syndrome, and yet, it can’t be a “majority caucus” with those dopey leanings as “perfect” indescribing what we as the GOP believe!
Until we see that expanding is better than tearing down, or looking bigoted, we will never have success.
Or, wordslinger, I may be beating my keyboard to no one, and both the SGOP and HGOP are indeed “happy with what they get.”
I alway hope tthat is not the case, but when will they prove me wrong?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 6:36 pm
As of 6 pm tonight … the link to the newspaper article was posted on IR … just the link, no editorial comment on LaHood or the article … interesting.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 24, 12 @ 8:26 pm