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Raoul takes “full responsibility” for “bad” Erika Harold comment, Maze Jackson apologizes to listeners

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* SJ-R

State Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, who says he will run for attorney general in 2018, on Wednesday apologized for how he referred to Republican candidate Erika Harold when discussing the office last week.

“I’ve seen the reaction to the comment that I made, and I don’t blame anybody for being offended,” Raoul told The State Journal-Register. “If I read them without the full context of our full conversation, I would have the same reaction. … I take full responsibility for the bad characterization.”

Raoul told the newspaper on Friday, after Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced she would not seek another term, that “I think Lisa would have acquitted herself well against Miss America. I don’t know what’s behind the attorney general’s decision … but I doubt seriously it was any fear of Erika Harold.” […]

Raoul was issuing a video Wednesday with the announcement of his 2018 candidacy, he said.

* Meanwhile, Maze Jackson started out his WVON broadcast this morning by saying

So, ladies and gentlemen, yesterday I got a note that came down from the top that suggested that I should apologize to the WVON listeners for bringing the streets to my listeners.

He was referring, of course, to yesterday’s on-air interview of Sen. Raoul which devolved into a street-style argument.

Jackson said he had trouble sleeping last night. “I couldn’t believe the conversation digressed to the level it did,” he said, but admitted to being an “antagonist.”

He also acknowledged the bad blood between the two going into the interview, and said his public comments have caused issues in his business, among his friends and even within his own family. Jackson is well known for calling out black politicians on a daily basis, and they and their supporters are just not accustomed to those sorts of attacks coming from WVON.

After he appeared to read from a long statement, Jackson said “I apologize to every listener that I offended with yesterday’s exchange.”

“I enjoy what I do, I love what I do every day,” he went on to say, “But sometimes maybe I’ve gone too far, and my sincerest apologies, especially to the intelligentsia that I’ve offended, to the people who took time to write letters that were outraged by what happened yesterday.”

And then he acknowledged that the show wasn’t supposed to be his “personal vendetta.” Instead, he said, “This is the mic of WVON.”

* He did not apologize to Sen. Raoul.

Jackson, you’ll recall, pointedly asked Raoul to respond clearly to a question. Raoul obviously took offense and it very quickly devolved into a verbal sparring match.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:23 pm

Comments

  1. Cry me a river. Snowflake Maze makes himself the center of attention in everything he does, then gripes about paying the cost. The entire self-pitying statement was pathetic.

    Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:26 pm

  2. Maze knew what he was doing, and that was to antagonize the Senator.

    Further, the Senator is going to be running in a democratic primary in the Trump era. He can’t sugarcoat/beat around the bush any questions about sanctuary cities and immigration.

    Comment by Here we go again... Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:29 pm

  3. Maze, apologies offered after the boss says do-it-or-else are not the “sincerest apologies.”

    Did Maze get “checked?”

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:32 pm

  4. I think Raoul just took himself out of the AG race before it began.

    Comment by ADL Staff Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:34 pm

  5. “If I read them without the full context of our full conversation, I would have the same reaction.”

    So in context those sexist comments were ok? /s

    Comment by Reaganing Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:34 pm

  6. Half apologies are no way to get yourself out of this one… We are watching his candidacy fall apart before it even officially starts.

    Comment by Iggy Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:36 pm

  7. Apology written by bosses with side-note to Maze: Read it or else. “I love what I do every day…”, like being the antagonista.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:42 pm

  8. Let’s see how long Maze can hold to the stations’s expectation that the mic belongs to them.

    Comment by walker Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:42 pm

  9. So is the Kwame Raoul officially announces post?

    Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:42 pm

  10. If Harold is this juggernaut, you think Rauol’s “falling apart” wouldn’t make much of a difference.

    If you know Harold will have problems with the likes of Rauol or others and those hurt by missteps helps a weak Harold candidacy.

    If the wisdom is Harold can beat Raoul, you should be cheering more missteps and Raoul winning the nomination.

    So… which is it? Harold can beat Raoul no matter, and missteps only solidify that victory… or claim that the candidacy is in dire straits in hopes Raoul isn’t the candidate at all.

    Interesting, ain’t it?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:43 pm

  11. Grand Avenue, no.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:46 pm

  12. To the Post,

    Raoul was far off base, allowing himself to not only get baited by the antagonizing and history of Maze, but allowing himself in that setting to himself fighting back with disappointing and terrible words.

    Maze? Meh. Maze is gonna Maze. The problem her was the overt manner Maze decided to Maze with the history. I think the only disappointment Maze might have is his disappointment that he was so overt and less sneaky in going after Raoul.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:47 pm

  13. When have i ever used the word Juggernaut?

    Thus far I have said, she was not ready for primetime when she challenged RD, she is now running with the full support of the ILGOP and Rauner Apparatus, and that quiet frankly her being an outsider is a strong positve considering the person who currently holds the office.

    Not once did I say shes a juggernaut, nor did I refer to her as the end all be all that you think I am implying she is.

    Raoul’s misteps should be pointed out because it shines a light on the problem of sexism in the democrat party. I think it would be a very big mistake for my friends on the other side of the isle to attach themselves to someone with this character trait. this goes beyond winning and losing elections. It is an issue of character. With that I say, do better.

    Comment by Iggy Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:50 pm

  14. ===When have i ever used the word Juggernaut?===

    I used it. Heck ALL those endorsements and ALL that support, support allegedly Munger never got, but swamped Mendoza in monies and ads…

    I used it. Isn’t Harold’s support… “overwhelming”?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 1:52 pm

  15. I didn’t see out of bounds antagonism from the radio host, did you? Have you watched CNN or FOX lately? I saw a radio host press for a straight answer and Raoul threatening to ‘take it outside’ because he didn’t get a pass. Raoul should be the one apologizing, not Maze. Wait til the R’s get a hold of Raoul and his temper.

    Comment by The Elephant in the Room Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 2:20 pm

  16. “I take full responsibility for the bad characterization” is not a real apology. And if Kwame is so insecure that he’s incapable of a real apology, this is going to be a very long campaign indeed.

    Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 2:24 pm

  17. “If you know Harold will have problems with the likes of Rauol or others and those hurt by missteps helps a weak Harold candidacy.”

    Huh? English please.

    Comment by J. Nolan Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 2:27 pm

  18. First “Harold”, then “Maze”. Reporters are going to smell blood with Raoul, if they don’t already, keep trying to trip him up. Also, how can this guy not have a “down pat” answer to “sanctuary cities” if he’s actually a strong candidate. I’ll admit, though, I’m curious to hear Harold’s answer to “sanctuary cities” and how it plays.

    Comment by DarkHorse Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 2:56 pm

  19. Whether or not Maze Jax got paid to do political strategy/urban marketing for GOP candidate, dies not mean that his HEART ain’t IN IT for the Black People. Raoul is still going to have problems relating to the Urban informed electorate. Ericka Harold is an attractive media-savvy candidate for AG. GOP may not be a deterrent. The masses voted for the Princess of Madiganistan, did they not ???

    Comment by Spook by the Dough Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 3:15 pm

  20. Be very careful with Rauner’s guy maze. He will distort and twist your conversation to feed his psychotic agenda.

    Comment by Mazed and confused Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 3:17 pm

  21. Speakin’ of GovJunk’s guy Maze anyone sighted Rev Meeks lately do we need to file a MIA report?
    Same goes for the $1 million deposit GovJunk made at that south side credit union

    Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 3:25 pm

  22. ===Raoul is still going to have problems relating to the Urban informed electorate.===

    That is news to me as well as my friends and family who all belong to the “Urban informed electorate.”

    Comment by wndycty Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 3:27 pm

  23. Maze is sorry, I accept his apology. I don’t have to worry about him affecting me & my son’s everyday life with legislation and policy…
    Kwame is sorry, I’m worried big time.

    SEE THE DIFFERENCE

    Comment by All of y'all crazy Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 3:29 pm

  24. I didn’t see anything wrong with Maze looking for a straight answer not spin. Maze wasn’t the one that offered a alternate way of settling the beef from what I saw.

    Comment by Kehinde Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 3:42 pm

  25. of course the story becomes Maze. that actually helps Kwame. because if you stick to the story of the woman he disparaged, his words are horrible, sexist and demeaning and bad for Kwame. jeez.

    Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 3:51 pm

  26. Speaker Madigan is safe within his own representative district, but could it be that Lisa could have suffered at the ballot box on account of the people who cannot vote against MJM, but can treat Lisa as his proxy.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 6:34 pm

  27. To anyone who thinks Raoul’s comments about Harold were disqualifying, or that his apology is insincere, you better have voted for Hillary in 2016. Otherwise, you’ve got no right to talk.

    Comment by Not a Superstar Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 6:34 pm

  28. It was an ugly emotional interview on both sides, but after the somber apology to his listeners Maze came out looking like the adult. Kwame’s apology to Erika was only half of what he needed to say to clear the slate and move foreward.

    Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 6:39 pm

  29. ==Speaker Madigan is safe within his own representative district, but could it be that Lisa could have suffered at the ballot box on account of the people who cannot vote against MJM, but can treat Lisa as his proxy.==

    I would have been one of those voters.

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 20, 17 @ 8:23 pm

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