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* My phone rang Sunday morning. It was a good friend of mine, but I had been out late in St. Louis the night before, so I let his call go to voicemail. We talked later in the day. He said a pollster had called his house at 10 o’clock that morning and asked to speak with the female voter. His wife took the phone. She was asked something about a gun and a woman and Bruce Rauner and she couldn’t really remember what else. Did I know what was going on?
I said I didn’t. Maybe it was the Republican Party stuff with the Libertarians? I didn’t know. I also found it very weird that a pollster was calling on a Sunday morning. That never happens. Not only that, but my friend’s wife is a “hard” Republican, and the poll was full of push questions against Bruce Rauner.
So, I filed it away and figured I’d find out what was up sooner or later.
* Last night, my friend texted me that the Sun-Times had the story which was outlined in the poll. Not long after, I asked for and obtained audio of the poll from a GOP source. Here’s the question…
CALLER: Okay. These’ll be like the last three questions. So Bruce Rauner, I’m just going to read another one, Bruce Rauner lacks the character and temperament to be governor. He won’t be a governor we can trust.
He allegedly threatened to quote bury unquote a woman CEO he hired telling her quote we’ll hurt you and your family endquote. At the same firm, Rauner let threats and violence against women occur without speaking up. When told that the male executive repeatedly threatened coworkers with a gun, physically struck a secretary, Rauner said addressing it was not a high priority, was more concerned with turning a profit than the wellbeing of his employees.
* Raw audio…
* If you listen to the full thing, you’ll hear the respondent ask the pollster a question…
PERSON: Oh, and one last thing.
CALLER: Mhm.
PERSON: Where were you calling from? I didn’t catch it in the beginning.
CALLER: We’re doing an interview down here in California.
PERSON: Oh wow, alright, cool. With what company?
CALLER: Mhm. ADG Research Group company. American Directions.
ADG is a Democratic outfit.
For the record, the Quinn campaign denies that it did the poll, but there are plenty of other Democratic organizations playing in this pond.
* And then, almost like magic, we got the Sun-Times story…
Kirk also alleged that Rauner, wary of her possibly suing, relayed a similar threat to her a few days earlier through another board member, Thomas Gilman, a consultant and ex-top executive at Chrysler Financial.
“I will bury her,” Rauner is alleged to have told Gilman. […]
Shortly before her firing, Kirk recorded a board meeting in February 2001, where discussion about the company’s precarious finances was sidetracked after she brought to the board’s attentions allegations that a LeapSource manager routinely brought a gun to work in his car, had a violent temper and had threatened to “take someone out” at work, according to a transcript in the court record.
Kirk also alleged the same employee, Matt Appel, wound up striking his secretary, causing her to quit, and posed “some big risks” to GTCR “from a litigation perspective,” the transcript shows. […]
Rauner expressed sympathy for the former secretary but also suggested LeapSource’s precarious financial condition trumped concerns about the manager and any liability related to the secretary being struck.
“In a normal operating company, there would be certainly channels on how to deal with that and no company and no civil person would want to have anything to do with an employee like that,” Rauner said at one point, according to the transcript. “The flip side is, we as a board … are you know, debating issues of whether LeapSource has its lights on on Monday. I mean, and so, you know, whether the secretary sues or not, you know, pales by comparison.”
There’s a whole lot more, so go read the whole thing.
* But the Rauner campaign pushed back hard against the story last night…
THE LEAPSOURCE LITIGATION WAS WITHOUT MERIT AND SUMMARILY DISMISSED BY A JUDGE
The Lawsuit Was Dismissed By A Federal Judge On Summary Judgment. “IT IS ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment by defendants GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C., GTCR Fund VI, L.P., GTCR VI Executive Fund, L.P., GTCR Associates VI, Joseph P. Nolan, Bruce V. Rauner, Daniel David A. Donnini and Philip A. Canfield (doc. 347) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as hereinafter ordered.” (Order on Motion for Summary Judgment, Diane Mann, as Trustee for the Estate of LeapSource, Inc., et al., v. GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. et al., U.S. District Court for Arizona, No. CIV-02-2099-PHX-RCB, 3/30/07, p. 73)
IN HER SWORN DEPOSITION, CHRISTINE KIRK DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS HER CLAIM THAT RAUNER THREATENED HER
Christine Kirk’s Complaint Alleges That, After She Was Fired As Leapsource’s CEO, Rauner Spoke To Her On The Phone And Said “If You Go Legal On Us…We’ll Hurt You And Your Family.” “During the board meeting, Rauner told Kirk to call him the next day to discuss her severance. When Rauner spoke with Kirk the next day, he threatened Kirk in a booming voice, ‘If you go legal on us [by filing a shareholder suit], we’ll hurt you and your family.’” (Plaintiff’s Fourth Amended Complaint, Diane Mann, as Trustee for the Estate of LeapSource, Inc., et al., v. GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. et al., U.S. District Court for Arizona, No. CIV-02-2099-PHX-RCB, 6/14/04, p. 68)
In Her Sworn Deposition, Kirk Says The Phone Call She Referenced In Her Complaint Was “Entirely Professional.” ATTORNEY: “What did you say to Mr. Rauner and what did he say to you during that call?” CHRISTINE KIRK: “That — I said, ‘Bruce, you said to call you about my severance,’ and he said that I needed to work with Joe, that I had loans outstanding, and I needed to work with Joe on resolving those loans and the severance.” ATTORNEY: “Did he say anything else during that call?” KIRK: “Not that I recall.” ATTORNEY: “What did you say to him?” KIRK: “I told him I would do that.” ATTORNEY: “Was that call entirely professional?” … KIRK: “Yes, I believe so.” (Christine Kirk Deposition, 6/8/05, p. 999-1000)
CHRISTINE KIRK DID NOT COLLECT A PENNY IN DAMAGES
GTCR’s Settlement Agreement Explicitly States That The Settlement Payment Was For The Plaintiffs’ Out-Of-Pocket Legal Expenses – The Plaintiffs Did Not Collect A Single Penny In Damages. “The Defendants will pay $511,000.00 to settle the GTCR Litigation; the Settlement Agreement expressly provides that the GTCR/K&E Settlement Payment is being made by GTCR and K&E for the express purpose of reimbursing certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Plaintiffs and by their counsel.” (Motion of Trustee and Plaintiffs to Approve Settlement with GTCR Defendants, Kirkland & Ellis, and Makings Defendants, In re: Leapsource Inc, U.S. Bankruptcy Court – District of Arizona, Case No. B 01-09020 PHX JMM, 8/12/08, p. 11)
WHEN ALLEGATIONS OF LEAPSOURCE EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT SURFACED, RAUNER IMMEDIATELY ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION
During The February 27, 2001 LeapSource Board Meeting, Christine Kirk Accused An Employee Of Hitting His Secretary. CHRISTINE KIRK: “That’s right Dan that’s what I said. I think then I need to talk to Mike about, you know, the information we found and, you know, we get…what the lawyer just told us is that we have some big risks from a litigation perspective. The guy is at this point physically threatening people. We’re not talking about verbally assaulting them. I’m talking about he’s threatening to physically assault people.” RAUNER: “Did he hit anybody?” KIRK: “No. but he told people he’s a gun in his car, he’s told people he wants to take people out. Um he physically abused his secretary.” RAUNER: “He physically abused…what did he do?” KIRK: “He hit her.” RAUNER: “Oh, so he did hit somebody.” KIRK: “I mean…there’s…” RAUNER: “Is she still at the company?” KIRK: “No, she walked out.” (LeapSource Board Meeting, 2/27/01, p. 9)
Rauner Directed Kirk To Tell The Company’s New CEO, And That An Investigation Be Carried Out. DAN YIH: “Then aren’t we saying that Mike should review this?” KIRK: “Yeah, and that’s why I said I will go over it with Mike.” RAUNER: “That’s fair, I think it’s good….would be good if you did talk to Mike about it.” (LeapSource Board Meeting, 2/27/01, p. 9-10)
Rauner Clearly Denounced The Alleged Assault, Saying “No Company And No Civil Person Would Want To Have Anything To Do With That.” RAUNER: “Um…Chris in a normal operating company there would be certainly channels on how to deal with that and no company and no civil person would want to have anything to do with an employee like that.” (LeapSource Board Meeting, 2/27/01, p. 10)
The complete deposition referenced above is here.
* While many of the allegations in the Sun-Times story appear to be bogus or directly contradicted by other evidence, particularly since they were tossed by a judge, if Rauner loses the spin war on this thing he may very well be toast. Done. Put a fork in him. Ergo, the vigorous pushback.
* But there is one quote that stuck out for me. From a 2005 deposition taken from Bruce Rauner, with emphasis added for obvious reasons…
“That hard thing is getting customers; the hard thing is cutting expenses; the hard thing is laying people off. But that’s what good companies do when times are tough, and she just would not do it,” said Rauner, who sat on LeapSource’s board.
Hey, that really is the difficult truth about business, but people aren’t gonna want to hear it.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:23 am
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The story alone is devastating for the Mitt, Jr. campaign, but the quote the Suntimes uncovered from Christine Kirk will forever be ingrained in the minds of voters in the final month:
“I will bury her… I will make her radioactive.”
The Quinnsters are already furiously working on the ad. The voiceover guy is already reading the script.
Have we finally reached the point that we could point to this week as the week his campaign officially became unraveled?
Comment by Mike Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:53 am
Perhaps even more importantly, Carol Marin did the story on Channel 5 at 10PM
http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Hard-Ball-Lawsuit-Alleges-Rauner-Intimidation–278326501.html
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:03 am
Only an audio recording away from Bruce Rauner’s 47% moment.
Yikes. This one’s gonna hurt.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:11 am
And nobody cares about out and out deception by the media. What matters is the hit, no matter how devoid of facts or concealed sources.
Sigh
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:13 am
Is it too late to call Alan Keyes?
Comment by Illinoisvoter Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:31 am
I’m loving how Rauner’s pushback contradicts itself, i.e., “SUMMARILY DISMISSED BY A JUDGE” ≠ “GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as hereinafter ordered”:
THE LEAPSOURCE LITIGATION WAS WITHOUT MERIT AND SUMMARILY DISMISSED BY A JUDGE
The Lawsuit Was Dismissed By A Federal Judge On Summary Judgment. “IT IS ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment by defendants GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C., …, Joseph P. Nolan, Bruce V. Rauner … is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, as hereinafter ordered.”
Comment by zonzgr8 Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:40 am
The link below worked for me on this Carol Marin segment
Hard Ball: Lawsuit Alleged Rauner Intimidation
By Carol Marin, Don Moseley and Dave McKinney
http://goo.gl/AjIo8Z
Comment by zonzgr8 Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:49 am
I was prepared to read the worst but in the end this seems like a simple dispute between a failed CEO who happens to be a woman and a tough sob business person. Gender doesn’t seem particularly important in the story. That said, the quote about layoffs struck me as true but problematic. Not helpful but I doubt fatal.
I think this is the best they’ve got which is why they’re launching it during NRI week to distract. We’ll see how effective it proves to be.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 2:16 am
===Perhaps even more importantly, Carol Marin did the story on Channel 5 at 10PM=
Your link doesn’t work. Try this instead:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Hard-Ball-Lawsuit-Alleges-Rauner-Intimidation–278326501.html
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 2:24 am
I found it especially humorous how the Quinn campaign lucked out by having their $20 gift card ad air right after the NBC5 story.
Comment by mike Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 2:53 am
Truth we don’t need no stinking TRUTH!! We have an election to win.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 5:34 am
Channel 5 story came off much worse for Rauner than the sun-times story, IMHO.
Comment by Chi Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 5:56 am
It’s just where we are now, sigh…is right. There must be some very grave concerns over what Barbara Shaw might say. Remains to be seen. This didn’t land in anyone’s lap. Oppo ‘unearthing’and development are what we’re seeing here. It’s crazy time.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 6:22 am
Remember what Danny Kaffee says to Jo Galloway?
“It doesn’t matter what I believe, it only matters what I can prove!”
Yeah, this is the opposite of that.
If the depo was videotaped, and the Quinn Crew has it, and uses it…could be devastating.
===- Rich Miller - Monday, Oct 6, 14 @ 11:09 am
===Quinn unloaded the entire arsenal on Rauner===
Don’t kid yourself.===
Rich was right, and we saw it last night.
That NRI thing today, think this pivot changed the subject? Yikes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 6:23 am
Gender has nothing to do with the story. The sex of the persons does.
Gender is your presentation to the public. For instance, an effeminate acting man or a masculine acting woman. Those traits have nothing to do with the underlying sex of the individual.
Taking another example, “same-gender marriage” is not an issue. When Bush was running for re-election and we had the avalanche of “one-man, one woman” marriage amendments…none of them said that only people of the same gender could marry. Or only Masculine acting men can marry Masculine acting women.
Gender and sex are 2 very different things. Hugely different.
Comment by Jack Stephens Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 6:30 am
I’m no fan of Rauner at all, but the information released by his campaign showing that the story changed significantly during her deposition makes me question if there is any truth to the allegations. For a rational, informed individual, I don’t think this allegation changes their opinion of Rauner unless other evidence which substantiates her claims emerge. The problem for Rauner is that most voters are either irrational or uninformed. This could be his Swift Boat moment.
Comment by Pelonski Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 6:40 am
Without seeing the rest of the file “granted in part and denied in part” usually means certain counts are stricken and others go forward.
Also, whether you call it damages, legal fees, etc., payment of $500,000 plus means that there was something there.
So based on what Rauner provided, I’m not buying the “nothing to it” story.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 6:53 am
Per the Sun Times story, Rauner allegedly said that the company’s bottom line is more important than a manager who allegedly physically hit an employee, threatened to kill someone at work and brought a gun to work:
“In a normal operating company, there would be certainly channels on how to deal with that and no company and no civil person would want to have anything to do with an employee like that,” Rauner said at one point, according to the transcript. “The flip side is, we as a board … are you know, debating issues of whether LeapSource has its lights on on Monday. I mean, and so, you know, whether the secretary sues or not, you know, pales by comparison.”
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:00 am
I must be missing something? I can’t see where Rauner has done anything wrong. He is acting in the best interests of the company. That is what he is supposed to do. He hasn’t done anything illegal. I don’t see him condoning that a man threatened to hit a woman. Quite it is quite the opposite. It seems that Christine Kirk has stated that Rauner was not threatening her but instead he acted in a very professional manner. It is as if someone (Mr. Quinn & Democrat Party) is maliciously attempting to turn Mr. Peepers into Jack The Ripper in order to tarnish & stain his character and reputation prior to Election Day.
Comment by Coffee Cup Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:06 am
It fits into a growing narrative and it doesn’t help that Rauner has been talking about twisting and breaking arms as a governing strategy.
Comment by my two cents Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:08 am
===I must be missing something? I can’t see where Rauner has done anything wrong. He is acting in the best interests of the company.===
Taken from above;
“…”I will bury her,” Rauner is alleged to have told Gilman. […]”
“It doesn’t matter what I believe, it only matters what I can prove!”
It’s the opposite of that - it’s doesn’t matter you can prove, it only matters what voters will believe.
Right or wrong, refutable or not, the depo is out there, and being used, not a fact, far from it, it’s being used to portray Rauner as “unhinged”.
If you can’t refute it in a short response, “you’re losing”. The Rauner Crew did a good job responding, but the problem both Crews have; rapid, yes, too wordy, yes-yes.
The depo, while not proven to be true, the answers and statements, in a stand alone vacuum, just plain damaging.
…and none of it is proven to be absolute in its truths.
That is what will be most damaging of it all.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:15 am
Coffee —
this is a hit. it matters not what you see, it matters what a lot of other people see. AND believe. matter not if its 1% true or 100% true. the allegation is out there.
It is laid out to have a gut reaction — a negative one.
At this point what was it Jack Ryan did that was so wrong?
Comment by Todd Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:21 am
–Hey, that really is the difficult truth about business, but people aren’t gonna want to hear it.–
Very true, it can also be a hard reality of government, but people want to hear that even less.
Comment by Ahoy! Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:26 am
The NBC report had another board member (and fellow plaintiff) corroborating Kirk’s claim that Rauner threatened her. Not good.
Comment by Chi Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:36 am
the speaker in that audio is hilariously monotonous considering the things he’s saying
Comment by Nony Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:42 am
Oswego Willy:
The challenge for Rauner is that these allegations fit into the narrative he has already built for himself.
He has promised to shake up Springfield, he has rallied the townsfolk with pitchforks and torches.
Well, now we know how Rauner gets when he wants to shake things up.
Denying it is foolish.
On the side, we have the nasty image of him threatening a woman and dismissing allegations of workplace intimidation. He did that to himself by being so dismissive of rampant abuse in the NFL.
I’d feel sorry for him a bit if he weren’t running brutally dishonest ads right now falsely blaming Pat Quinn for child abuse deaths.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:47 am
And to think, a commenter stated yesterday that Quinn had unloaded his best stuff as preparation for the upcoming GA hearings this week. Hardly–Quinn’s campaign is just warming up. Expect a whole lot more.
train111
Comment by train111 Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:50 am
The only reason to want Rauner to win this race would be to hear him say these things to Mike Madigan or John Cullerton.
Comment by DuPage Mama Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:53 am
“I’m going to be twisting arms. *** I might have to break a couple of arms.”
https://capitolfax.com/2014/10/06/todays-quotable-26/
“If you go legal on us, we’ll hurt you and your family.”
http://politics.suntimes.com/article/springfield/hardball-tactics-alleged-lawsuit-against-bruce-rauner/mon-10062014-959pm
Run Illinois like a business?
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 7:55 am
Just need to remind all of the Rauner bashers applauding the Quinn strategy which mirrors what Obama did to Romney- most voters if given a chance today to vote for Romney against the President would elect Romney President- Quinn’s policies like the Presidents are not doing the job to lead us forward
Comment by sue Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:04 am
You think the Blago administration was rough? You ain’t seen nothin yet.
Comment by Snucka Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:08 am
“The judge’s ruling did not address the alleged threats.”
http://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/Hard-Ball-Lawsuit-Alleges-Rauner-Intimidation–278326501.html
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:09 am
^^^^^From two cents: It fits into a growing narrative and it doesn’t help that Rauner has been talking about twisting and breaking arms as a governing strategy.^^^^^^
exactly
Comment by Peoria guy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:13 am
the abnormal culture of bruce`s super stars, get his seal of aproval
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:18 am
Maybe the sledgehammer was not so metaphorical.
Rauner burst onto our political scene with the sledgehammer and allegations that union leaders and politicians are corrupt. He helped set the tone for this negativity, with his contemptuous views.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:19 am
Name a dozen big companies that produce real products (not in financial sector).
I doubt any of them got big by laying people off.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:22 am
===He has promised to shake up Springfield, he has rallied the townsfolk with pitchforks and torches.
Well, now we know how Rauner gets when he wants to shake things up.
Denying it is foolish.===
You should be telling that to all the “defenders” of Rauner.
Rauner’s narrative has been hammered and shook.
Bruce Rauner is downright awful on his feet and “explaining away” negatives. Rauner looks like the bulky he’s trying to say he isn’t.
Irony.
You can’t be a “tough guy” and then claim you don’t use tough guy tactics, or be dismissive of the NFL allegations as you focus on talking points.
A really good campaign could have an outstanding candidate would be able to get in front of mics and defuse without looking unhinged or looking like a bully. We have none of that with Rauner or his Crew.
Rauner wants to “shake up” Springfield, “twist arms” because MJM “never had to deal with someone like me”.
Words matter. Words haunt.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:25 am
==Just need to remind all of the Rauner bashers applauding the Quinn strategy ==
I believe Rauner has a pretty nasty strategy as well don’t you? You might want to go to the Rauner DCFS ad blog. Educate yourself Sue.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:28 am
I’ll agree with “Coffee Cup”.
Comment by Mister M Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:37 am
===- Mister M - Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:37 am
I’ll agree with “Coffee Cup”.===
So does “Jack!” Ryan and Blair Hull…
Agree all you want, can’t unring a bell.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:38 am
Well they paid her $511,000, but that was not a “settlement” related to her charge, but rather “for expenses.” Could be I guess.
A lot of slick ways to get out clean.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:46 am
And after her initial charge, she was still negotiating her severance with the firm. Might have an effect on her statements going forward.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:49 am
===Well they paid her $511,000, but that was not a “settlement” related to her charge, but rather “for expenses.” Could be I guess.
A lot of slick ways to get out clean.===
“Mr. Rauner, why admit you would pay a half a million dollars to all these plaintiffs, for expenses, according to you, for nothing? Can you document the expenses you paid all of them for?”
That’s one way to go at it.
It’s nasty business, explaining way things you are in the box for but can’t because of optics.
“Bruce Rauner even admitted he paid…”
Nasty business.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:49 am
seems like he took the lessons from “how to succeed in business: lessons from the Godfather” a little too much to heart
Comment by goose/gander Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:52 am
The real power of this story is that everyone has had an a hole boss, no one likes them. Rauner is that guy.
Comment by 618662dem Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:53 am
Now Rauner’s talk about “punching people” and “breaking arms” takes on a new meaning. It was there from the get-go — this weird thug talk.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:54 am
Carol Marin would be lucky to have her journalistic credentials favorably compared to Jerry Springer after a hit piece like this.
Comment by Meanderthal Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 8:55 am
I have notice this as all these “hits” of Rauner keep dragging him through the mud;
No one but Rauner’s Press Spokesman, Rauner’s Campaign Manager, or Rauner himself…come to Rauner’s defense.
No even…Slip and Sue.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:07 am
–Hey, that really is the difficult truth about business, but people aren’t gonna want to hear it.–
Even better however is when you get someone below you to do all the firings and downsizings, and then if you run for office and it becomes a hot topic you explain that you weren’t really paying that much attention and it was all being handled by underlings.
Comment by ZC Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:08 am
Ironic how, on a story credited to three people - two men and a woman - the Raunerites on this thread and elsewhere (eg Proft on Twitter) baldly attack only the woman.
Revealing.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:08 am
Anonymous, I would have attacked Don Mosely’s integrity and bias but he really has never done anything but be Carol’s coat holder anyway. It would be like attacking Barney Fife for something Andy did wrong.
Comment by Meanderthal Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:16 am
If rauner is elected , impeachment in 2016.
Comment by foster brooks Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:21 am
This is an incredibly detailed, thorough and fair post that leaves you with only the conclusion that Rich posts in the comments.
“And nobody cares about out and out deception by the media. What matters is the hit, no matter how devoid of facts or concealed sources.”
It is why I read this blog every day. Thanks Rich.
Comment by Robert Lincon Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:22 am
===but the information released by his campaign showing that the story changed significantly during her deposition makes me question if there is any truth to the allegations.===
Her story changing is important but so is the timeline. Maybe she changed it after having her and her family threatened? Or as ‘walker’ notes, the $510,000 may have changed her mind.
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:49 am
Rauner’s been lucky until recently to avoid all the GOP cliches — mainly because he’s refused to embrace his base — but here, finally, Rauner not only embraces the cliches but becomes them.
This kinda stuff is GOP cliche all the way.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 9:55 am
Gooner had it right (way up above): you don’t pay $500,000 as reimbursing legal expenses if there’s no there there.
And an order dismissing some of the claims does not mean much without knowing the judge’s reasoning. What if it was dismissed on purely technical grounds? Or for being outside the statute of limitations? That simply means the case cannot proceed in court, not that the allegations are not true.
Yes, this one is kind of convoluted — but for both sides. It was smart saving it until after so many other stories of GTCR were already out there. It would be a little too outrageous and risk backlash as the lead story.
I do wonder, however, what’s next. The thing is, private equity is a dirty business once you look under the hood. The deals are rarely about expanding companies and hiring more employees. Generally, the ideal target company is one that is doing well and has few debts. A PE firm can come in, load it up with debts, make changes to the income statement (by firing employees, because who cares if they are really necessary in the long term), and sell the company to someone else. Is it any wonder that the same business model leads to so many peripheral issues about less than appropriate activities?
Comment by VM Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:15 am
Adding: I am surprised that the nature of Leapsource hasn’t come up yet. It was a business outsourcing firm — a company that made it easier and encouraged other companies to fire their employees and oursource work to Leapsource.
I am sure that’s another interesting vein to mine.
Comment by VM Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:25 am
I have said it before and I will say it again, Pat Quinn might be a terrible governor, but he is one of the best politicians ever.
Comment by tominchicago Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:35 am
Quinn is desperate.
Do you think it is going to be easy to do what’s necessary to save this State? Does anyone think Quinn has what it takes to do it? Crickets… Buehller? Anyone?
Give me someone with experience in restructuring and turnarounds. We need it.
You do realize without it that Illinois is going bankrupt and your house value is going to zero, right? Just like Detroit.
So if you enjoy eating Alpo while “public servants” on pension play golf in Florida then go ahead and vote for Quinn. I’d rather we all eat Ramen together and do what it takes to do the right thing to halt Illinois’ slide
Comment by BillionDollarSmear Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:35 am
===Quinn is desperate.===
Appears to be working, regardless of motives: https://capitolfax.com/2014/10/07/poll-quinn-over-rauner-44-40/
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:37 am
Did ADG write the article for the Sun-Times?
Summary judgment on the “threatening” charges against the plaintiff and in favor of Rauner? In order to obtain summary judgment, the court needs to be shown that there is no genuine or material dispute as to the facts concerning that certain issue.
So the judge tossed those charges? Then what is the big fuss about? That Rauner is a “hard ball” negotiator?
No genuine facts to support the unfounded allegation, and the Sun-Times still runs with this story? So what is left? Hardball negotiations and rumor mongering?
This is the same newspaper that ran with the “Republicans Threatened Petition Signers And Circulators At Gun Point Frightening Them All Half To Death” stories. Yet the Decisions of the State Board of Elections and the Circuit Court didn’t even mention that nonsense in any findings of fact.
The return of Yellow Journalism! That will save the failing newspaper industry. Not.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:42 am
Louis,
You know as well as the rest of us that there could be 100 different reasons for summary judgment.
Without seeing the order, it is meaningless to claim some significance.
The only detail that strikes me as significant is $500,000 to settle.
Unless attorney fees for Team Rauner were through the roof, that goes way beyond nuisance value.
They sure thought there was a remaining trial risk.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 10:57 am
Wow ReBooters flip poll numbers and have PQ winning with women….Mitt gets slammed and JumpinJason gets caught shilling for a ambulance company … bad day for GOPies and it isn’t even noon.
Guess it can be mentioned now. Can someone explain why all of Mitt’s check grabbers and rentals did not sit down with Little Vinny and Mrs. Mitt and say let’s INNOCULATE OURSELVES AGAINST all the crappy stuff you did in your BizWiz life and personal life, rather than claim you never made a mistake?
Now it is too late and the flood gates are on “full open” and you are toast
All those Presidential Campaign plans are ready for the shreader….Mr Shrimp start the shredder.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:05 am
Gooner, when deciding on a motion for summary judgment, the judge is supposed to evaluate and consider the undisputed evidence in a light most favorable to the plaintiff. If there is still something there, even to a small degree, a summary judgment motion is denied.
Summary judgments aren’t handed out like toothpicks in a restaurant.
This is flat out Yellow Journalism. The Sun-Times should be ashamed for running this nonsense. Those peddling this crap to the Sun Times have no shame. Journalists and editors should know better.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:21 am
“This is flat out Yellow Journalism. The Sun-Times should be ashamed for running this nonsense. Those peddling this crap to the Sun Times have no shame. Journalists and editors should know better.”
“Signed,
Dan Rutherford, the Treasurer”
…and Rutherford would be also be right.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:24 am
Gooner, I’ve been involved in plenty of cases where something was paid just to shut down the continuing costs of litigation. They are usually called purchases of peace. The article is unclear as to the reasons for the payout. What is clear is that at the time of settlement, the “threatened” stuff was already swept out the door by the judge through a summary judgment.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:24 am
OW, sure looks that way. Dismissals of sensational lawsuits filed never generate the press the initial filings do.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:26 am
Louis,
I understand the standards for summary judgment.
However, unless you’ve seen the order, you don’t know the basis.
There could be 100 that have nothing to do with credibility. I’ve won summary judgment where the plaintiff sued the wrong entity. I’ve won it on statute of limitations grounds. Unless we see the order, we don’t know the grounds.
We simply cannot intelligently comment on the order without seeing it.
And yes, countless times I’ve paid on weak cases. However, I’ve never paid $500,000 on a frivolous case. That’s a huge number for a case where defense counsel believes counsel has a sure winner at trial.
The only way that much would be paid would be if defense counsel thought it would be a lengthy and expensive trial. If defense trial expenses are going to be $500,000, there is something there.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:31 am
Can November 5th get here soon enough?
Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:35 am
Except that, in this case and others, the judgement itself matters very little when there’s a pattern of behavior.
Rauner’s ongoing pattern of implied violence in his interviews — “break some arms” and “punch someone” — is usually a good indicator that, yeah, this is how this guy talks. And the fact that he made alleged threats to someone — and included that someone’s family within the threats — actually does fit the pattern.
Plus, for me, at least, there’s something very disturbing about this story — the violence, the threats — it’s weird. And it seems (again, for me) to fit within the pattern Rauner has established for himself. He seems like a very insecure guy made secure only because he puts himself — or is put — in positions of power over people. He seems to care for more business than human decency and respect — and I suspect this will actually resonate with voters.
Finally, the fact that Rauner profited — immensely — from all of these disturbing deals is something else that … doesn’t sit right. He’s making money — literally money in his little wallet — from acting like this. Carrying around bottles of wine, buying up land like he’s some railroad robber-baron.
The pattern is emerging — and it’s hard to miss or pretend like, “Okay, well, it doesn’t matter.” To many Illinois voters, it does matter. There’s governing — and then there’s … this stuff. This stuff has no place in governing. You gotta respect people if you want to govern effectively. These stories show that Rauner has very little respect for people.
Comment by Frenchie Mendoza Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:36 am
@Frenchie:
“Finally, the fact that Rauner profited — immensely — from all of these disturbing deals is something else that … doesn’t sit right. He’s making money — literally money in his little wallet — from acting like this. Carrying around bottles of wine, buying up land like he’s some railroad robber-baron.”
Well, “having the WH Chief of Staff and future Mayor of Chicago carrying bottles of wine for you” is a more accurate description.
Comment by VM Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 11:56 am
it is entirely plausible to me that, after being threatened by rauner,she clammed up. the threats worked. that seems much more likely than she made up the threat, and got another exec to support it under oath.
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:13 pm
#fightraunerfight
Comment by Black Ivy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:14 pm
#BuryRaunerBury
#Dope
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:17 pm
My guess is Rauner practices equal opportunity with his threats.
Comment by Liberty Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 12:18 pm
If Democrats in Illinois were even remotely as good at running the state as they are at running for re-election, I’d probably be a Democrat.
Comment by liandro Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 1:33 pm
Does rauner stand by his contention is that what he is good at is identifying and hiring good talent- in this case, Kirk- to run his businesses?
He says she knew how to spend, as did Stu Levine, as we later learned.
Who were his good picks? The sexual harasser from the Trib?
Comment by truthteller Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 2:19 pm
liandro- and if the Republican Party of Illinois was an actual political party we wouldn’t have Sledgehammer able to complete an easy takeover of it’s top spot . That’s the biggest shame.
Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Oct 7, 14 @ 2:27 pm
Simply cannot believe:
- No one points to the fact that Rauner himself recruited Kirk (from a partnership at Arthur A.) to start a new venture, then is willing to toss her after 24 months … bad recruitment, impulsive decision IMO. Notice he talks about her inability to limit company $$ losses.
- No one points to the fact that Rauner identified the business opportunity, was Board Chairman from the beginning, watched the company grow to 400 employees, then makes Kirk the “fall gal” with -0- in her pocket when he decides to pull the plug on the business.
NOT the behaviors of a decent business person.
Comment by zonzgr8 Wednesday, Oct 8, 14 @ 6:06 pm