Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Yes… but
Next Post: When government is run like a private equity firm
Posted in:
* These sorts of posts have been all over my social media feed this week…
Extremely well-known IL political operative has resigned amid vote fraud and violence allegations and sleepy IL media still hasn't covered.
— Dan Curry (@dancurry) October 18, 2016
* Here’s Illinois Review’s story…
If you think accusations of corruption and election rigging are “loser hysteria,” you need to take a few minutes and watch James O’Keefe’s latest undercover video released Monday morning.
The video features the escapades of Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s check-kiting husband Bob Creamer, who, according to one of his operatives, is a key instigator of Trump rally violence.
At about 3:30 in O’Keefe’s latest 16 minute video, the subject turns to Bob Creamer, starting with an undercover interview with Creamer.
“Wherever Trump and Pence are going to be, we have events,” Creamer tells the undercover reporter. “And we have a whole team across the country that does that. Both consultants and people from the Democratic Party apparatus and people from the campaign, the Clinton campaign. And my role in the campaign is to manage all that.”
If you watch the video, what they’re actually talking about is egging Trump supporters on so that they react violently.
* Since then, another video has emerged. And the Tribune published the Washington Post’s look at the controversy…
Robert Creamer, husband of Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Scott Foval — two little-known but influential Democratic political operatives — have left their jobs after video investigations by James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas Action found them entertaining dark notions about how to win elections.
Foval was laid off on Monday by Americans United for Change, where he had been national field director. Creamer announced Tuesday night that he was “stepping back” from the work he was doing for the unified Democratic campaign for Hillary Clinton.
The moves came after 36 hours of coverage, led by conservative and social media, for O’Keefe’s video series “Rigging the Election.” In them, Foval is filmed telling hidden-camera toting journalists about how they’ve disrupted Republican events; Foval also goes on at length about how an organization might cover up in-person voter fraud. In another Tuesday night statement, the Creamer-founded Democracy Partners, which used Foval as a contractor, denounced both Project Veritas and the statements caught on camera. […]
The result of all that was that the “Rigging the Election” videos got a skeptical reception — at first. But the video of Foval, a Wisconsin-based politico with a long résumé, had him bragging about a litany of political dirty tricks. In the first video, he boasts of “conflict engagement in the lines of Trump rallies,” takes credit for the violence that canceled a Trump rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago, admits he has paid “mentally ill” people to start trouble and says there’s a “Pony Express” that keeps Democratic operatives in touch, regardless of whether they work for super PACs or the campaigns not permitted to coordinate with super PACs.
In the second video, Foval spends five minutes discussing how voters might be brought from outside Wisconsin to commit voter fraud, buying cars with Wisconsin plates to avoid looking suspicious. “We’ve been bussing people in to deal with you f—kin’ a–holes for 50 years, and we’re not going to stop now,” he says.
* From Schakowsky’s Republican opponent…
Republican Ninth District Congressional candidate Joan McCarthy Lasonde of Wilmette today released the following statement in reaction to video released Monday by Project Veritas, linked here.
“Today, I am delivering to Rep. Schakowsky a letter demanding her resignation. She must be held responsible for what’s on that video.
“Millions of voters across America, in both parties, are expressing horror over conduct described in the video. Their consciences have been shocked — as they should be — because nothing less than the sanctity of functioning democracy is threatened by that conduct.
“Rep. Schakowsky likely participated in those activities and, in any event, must have known about them and could have stopped them
“The video, along with a second one just released, unquestionably prove a widespread, concerted effort to disrupt political events with violence. Most sickening, those efforts include use of mentally ill and homeless people as pawns to provoke violence. Lives were put at risk.
“Violations of federal campaign laws prohibiting coordination between campaigns and independent political organizations are also clearly indicated.”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 11:57 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Yes… but
Next Post: When government is run like a private equity firm
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
They just don’t get any lower than Bob Creamer.
Comment by Indochine Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:00 pm
Cue the “kill the messenger” responses.
Comment by Saluki Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:02 pm
He is an ex-felon still hanging with our country’s most powerful at the top of the Democratic party. I can’t imagine this happening if Bernie was there.
Guys like this survive in festering rot among the most politically cynical. Politics like this has to be publically condemned. When voters see this, it confirms every conspiracy being peddled as truth. It undermines our government.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:03 pm
As with all James O’Keefe tapes, there’s probably less here than meets the eye since his selective editing is legendary. That said, I don’t know Foval, but he said some really shocking things. I do know Bob Creamer and I suspect that they really did a hatchet job on his video. Perhaps if O’Keefe would release the raw, we’d know if there really is a there there.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:05 pm
Oh no! She might get under 70% of the vote after this…
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:09 pm
Videotapes of Robert Creamer or Scott Foval bragging about possible past misdeeds are a legitimate reason to never support either man’s campaign to be President of the United States.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:09 pm
I’ve heard the Wisconsin stories before and have little doubt they’re true at least to some extent
Comment by Steve Schnorf Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:11 pm
-I do know Bob Creamer and I suspect that they really did a hatchet job on his video-
Yeah, Bob is clearly a man of great character… Oh, wait, he’s a convicted felon (bank fraud)…
Comment by Former IL Resident Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:12 pm
-I do know Bob Creamer and I suspect that they really did a hatchet job on his video-
No need to be “stepping back” then.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:16 pm
If I read this correctly, the author equates dirty politicking with vote rigging. That’s a bridge too far for me.
Comment by Harvest76 Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:18 pm
“Today, I am delivering to Rep. Schakowsky a letter demanding her resignation.”
Attagirl Joan!
You’re going to get rolled in this election but you’re not letting that stop you from seeking federal employment. The USPS isn’t congress but it is a great place to work. Best of luck to you.
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:19 pm
Creamer has had over 300 appointments in the White House, since 2009.
45 of those scheduled with POTUS, as recently as June 2016.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-10-18/robert-creamer
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:20 pm
Term limits and redistricting will take care of this problem! And, if they’re not enough, local opt-out of collective bargaining and repealing prevailing wage will certainly do the trick.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:43 pm
You buy cars to commit one-person at a time, in-person vote fraud?
Doesn’t sound very cost-effective.
I don’t doubt sending disruptive elements to opponents rallies. That’s been going on since Adams vs. Jefferson.
And have “millions of voters, across the country, in both parties” really been reacting in “horror” to these two goofs?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:47 pm
So a pair of schmuck Dem operatives are exposed by a GOP schmuck operative. Kind of like two guys in the mud with one accusing the other of being dirtier.
Meh
train111
Comment by train111 Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:47 pm
James O’Keefe is Biosafety level 4 pathogen, isn’t he?
Comment by James Knell Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:48 pm
Wow! Rod Blagojevich was convicted of federal crimes on lesser evidence than that.
Interesting that Chicago IG Joe Ferguson was the prosecutor for Creamer bank fraud case. At sentencing he argued that the 5 months was too lenient. This latest episode has to irk other feds who worked on that bank fraud case. Part of sending a convicted felon off to prison is the belief that it has deterrent effect on future bad conduct of the offender. That clearly didn’t work with him.
Comment by Juris Prunejuice Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 12:51 pm
Quit your “whining” there’s no such thing as vote fraud.
Comment by weltschmerz Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:02 pm
how does O’Keefe still have any credibility to get any attention for anything he says. He’s as honest as T-Rump.
Comment by d.p.gumby Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:03 pm
“Rod Blagojevich was convicted of federal crimes on lesser evidence than that.”
Friend, there might be places where folks’ll buy that hogwash, but this ain’t one of ‘em.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:04 pm
-So a pair of schmuck Dem operatives are exposed by a GOP schmuck operative. Kind of like two guys in the mud with one accusing the other of being dirtier.
Meh-
Ummm It’s not like O’Keefe is married to a congresswoman and has had dozens of meetings with the President. My God your willingness to not recognize bad actors that hurt our democracy is sad…
Comment by Stand Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:06 pm
It never ceases to amaze me that Rep. Schakowsky continues to skate by when her husband has been criminally convicted yet continues to engage in unethical behavior. Does Jan seem to you to be the sort of person who has no idea what her husband is doing?
Of course not.
But her district is R-proofed, so she faces no political fallout no matter what happens. UGH.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:13 pm
And those of us seasoned follows know the relationship between Creamer and Bill Ayers. Unfortunately those under 50 never heard of the Weathermen.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:13 pm
Jan Schakowsky is easily the most unpleasant person I have ever met in this Godforsaken business. That is all.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:20 pm
Honest question. What illegal or even dishonest things did Creamer admit to? Campaign hi-jinks are as old as this country.
Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:22 pm
Creamer is just bad news.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:25 pm
===Jan Schakowsky is easily the most unpleasant person I have ever met in this Godforsaken business. That is all.===
You’re lucky you missed the Joe Walsh years. Blah.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:33 pm
—Campaign hi-jinks— Inciting violence is ok? People have been physically harmed as a result of this campaign hi-jinks, but there is nothing to see here… move along.
Comment by TheGoodLieutenant Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:36 pm
Team S,
Agreed. Vilely unpleasant. This is all a big pile of Ick.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:37 pm
So, how is this different than what Alex Jones is doing in disrupting Clinton events? Heck, Jones is even offering money. To quote any Fox news host, “where’s the outrage?”
Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:39 pm
Yea nobody has ever heard of Bill Ayers. Unless you were alive in 2008
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:40 pm
Creamer has visited the Obama White House 342 times since 2009. Can’t get much more plugged in than that. This goes almost all the way to the top, maybe further. http://dailycaller.com/2016/10/18/exposed-dem-operative-who-oversaw-trump-rally-agitators-visited-white-house-342-times/
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:43 pm
If James O’Keefe has it on tape, well by God, you can take it to the bank. He’s never been wrong before has he? He’s the Dan Rather of the Alt Right.
That proves the Democrats are behind wide spread election fraud. As if anyone doubted that fact. After all, that’s all you hear from the Trumpsters, and Red State, and Drudge. It’s like a vast left wing conspiracy and the Lame Stream Media is in on it.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:46 pm
I have met Ayers and his wife. To be honest, they’re academics in late middle age. Pleasant enough, kind of innocuous.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:46 pm
**I can’t imagine this happening if Bernie was there.**
LOL - if you say so. Most of the radical left types were Bernie supporters.
As for Creamer - if you watch the videos - especially the second one - Creamer said everything right. Foval looked like an obnoxious blowhard, and made Creamer look bad. But when the worst Okeefe could get from Creamer was “let me run this by the lawyers”, you know there’s nothing there.
Comment by JoeMaddon Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Ducky - nope. I met Joe Walsh a couple of times. Jan is worse.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Those of us who know some of the players, know that everything that has been said as to them and their disrespect for the law and the system will tell you that what’s been uncovered is just the tip of the mountain
Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:54 pm
Hillary called out infowars and they have responded why don’t you sue them if it’s not true? Now they are afraid to appear in public with a $1000&$5000 reward anyone can play
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:55 pm
Disrupting campaign events is one thing, which is discussed on the tapes. An ugly practice, which both sides have been doing for years. Stepping over the line to egg people into physically acting out for the cameras, is indefensible.
“Voter fraud” is a Trump talking point, which is not evident from these tapes. They are stretching to justify the “rigged” meme Trump has jammed into his campaign.
Still: Why don’t adults leave the frat boy hijinks to the college kids?
Comment by walker Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 1:56 pm
===Ducky - nope. I met Joe Walsh a couple of times. Jan is worse.===
As hard as that is to imagine, I will take your word for it. Now I hope I never meet her.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:27 pm
Why did Creamer resign if he did nothing wrong???
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:29 pm
Meanwhile, back on Planet Earth….
–A comprehensive investigation of voter impersonation finds 31 credible incidents out of one billion ballots cast.–
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/08/06/a-comprehensive-investigation-of-voter-impersonation-finds-31-credible-incidents-out-of-one-billion-ballots-cast/
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Steve - Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:29 pm:”Why did Creamer resign if he did nothing wrong???”
Ask Sherry Sherrod.
Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:32 pm
Maybe , we will get a better picture after 3 more videos are released.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-03-11/news/8701190642_1_election-officials-election-watch-fraud-and-irregularities
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:39 pm
Yikes! Creamer has visited the White House an average of ONCE A WEEK since the start of Obama’s term!!!!!
Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:53 pm
This has been a problem for a long time. How we view what is politically right vs what is humanly right.
Comment by pool boy Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:55 pm
Congresswoman Schakowski is too liberal for me on most issues, and she doesn’t suffer fools very well, but I don’t hold her responsible for her husbands actions. I certainly don’t expect my wife to be held responsible for mine
Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 2:56 pm
- I don’t hold her responsible for her husbands actions -
This is true. She may be guilty of being a loud, one note partisan of the type we need less of in Washington, but there is no evidence presented tying her to this.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 3:07 pm
Steve Schnorf, do you believe that Creamer’s access to the highest levels of the DNC and White House are due to anything other than his association with powerful Congresswoman Schakowsky?? Do you honestly think she is immaterial to this situation? Is she not obligated to make some sort of statement?
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 3:14 pm
Politics ain’t bean-bag, pool boy
Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 3:16 pm
- pool boy - How we view what is politically right vs what is humanly right.
None of this is Political right nor is it humanly right…. it is Ethically and Morally wrong, even without bringing the law in to it.
Comment by Allen D Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 3:26 pm
It’s all been rigged.
Comment by nadia Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 3:59 pm
Responsa, yes,I think she is immaterial. Creamer was a liberal activist before they were married. He isn’t around on her dime but on his own. I disagree with her politics but have found her to be a vigorous and effective advocate for her constituents. You’re giving her a bad rap in my opinion.
Comment by Steve Schnorf Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 4:20 pm
I heard the 342nd visit to the White House is the charm.
Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 4:51 pm
And to think, Bob Creamer started out fighting property taxes.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 5:46 pm
Oooh, a Bill Ayers reference! I’m sure if it weren’t for Rich’s justifiable intolerance for national politics, we’d have a George Soros reference as well. Am I missing any other bogeymen in this nothingburger?
Comment by Bill F. Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 6:03 pm
Creamer is a ex con - he is as progressive liberal will do whatever he can (legal or ?) to advance the cause. is the
Jan is poster child for get nothing done politics, a pure machine creature and will never step outside the party line.
Term limits please
Comment by cannon649 Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 10:28 pm
I’m a Democrat, but Jan and Bob…please go away. You became tiresome decades ago.
Comment by Former Legislative Aide Wednesday, Oct 19, 16 @ 11:56 pm
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Il has got to go….
Comment by Northsider Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 8:13 am
@ Team Sleep, are you sure you’ve met Schakowsky?
Why O’Keefe gets any play at all after the cut-and-paste editing he’s done that’s worthy of a ransom note, it’s beyond me. The reaction to his actions has simply given him credence that he does not deserve.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 8:48 am