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* Neil Steinberg interviews Sen. Daniel Biss…
“This has become a national referendum on whether you can run for office as a normal person at all,” [Biss] said. “In the era of Trump we have to decide if you can run for office if you’re not a billionaire. If you can’t run unless you are financing yourself, that is terrifying for democracy.” […]
I thought of quibbling at Biss, with his Harvard degree and MIT doctorate, casting himself as a regular joe. But I guess on the Pritzker scale he is.
We do seem to be at a watershed moment when it comes to our nation’s long slide back into the Gilded Age, when the rich crowned themselves in laurel branches and ate banquets on horseback while the poor sold matches in the street. […]
“Does it really have to be this way?” Biss asked. “Are we going to be told by Democrats that the only path forward is to pick our own billionaire?”
Isn’t it?
“I present the public a credible alternative,” he said. “Otherwise, we’ll have 17 billionaires having a meeting every four years to decide who will be governor.”
It’s probably a good debate to have. So, have it.
But Biss can instantly make his campaign much more “credible” by securing endorsements from left-leaning groups like the Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU, etc. That’ll give him money and troops. So far, he’s mostly been endorsed by legislative colleagues.
In other words, this Steinberg interview comes off as a bit whiny to me. The reality is what the reality is, and you have to deal with reality in this business.
* Yes, Biss is running against a billionaire. But that billionaire has been endorsed by much of organized labor and three statewide officeholders. He’s not just relying on cash and ads.
And he’s spending his cash well. Pritzker has opened thirteen field offices (Biss, by contrast, has one field office in his hometown of Evanston and one in his running mate’s hometown of Rockford). Pritzker has spelled out positions on a wide range of policies (most of which are just as “progressive” as Biss’ and some of which are more progressive than Biss’ legislative voting record). In other words, Pritzker has been showing everyone for months that he is capable of running a real campaign against Gov. Rauner. Biss? Not yet.
And even if Pritzker wasn’t in the race, Biss would be up against a different sort of inherited wealth. Chris Kennedy’s family has put less money into the race than Biss’ family, but Kennedy’s last name is worth a fortune to his campaign. Would Biss be complaining about that, too, if Pritzker wasn’t around?
So, again, go ahead and push this debate, Daniel. It’s reasonable. But also show people that you are up to the task of defeating a Republican with an unlimited checkbook and can help down-ballot candidates do the same.
* Related…
* Daniel Biss speaks at Town Hall hosted by College Democrats and Political Union: “If we respond to a set of scandals that have arisen around sexual harassment in the capitol building by doing anything other than acknowledging the massive institutions of racism, sexism and privilege that infuses every single corner of American society, if we pretend that there’s some sort of iron-clad wall that separates the causes of sexual harassment from the causes of gender and pay discrimination, from the causes of a situation where women are promoted in workplaces less frequently, from the causes of a situation where no democratic candidate for governor is a woman, but in this moment of all moments, with Donald Trump as the president and a women’s protest movement changing the world, you’ve got a whole bunch of unbearable dudes running for governor on the democratic side. That’s not a coincidence.”
* Governor candidate Sen. Daniel Biss speaks at Western Illinois University: “In my opinion, this election should be about not just how to stop someone who’s horrible at being governor from being governor and then declare victory no matter what we’ve replaced him with. Instead it should be an understanding of how we got to where we were at the end of 2014 with an unfair tax system, universities that weren’t properly funded, schools that were unfairly funded, social service providers that were fraying,” he said.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:02 pm
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I think Biss and his supporters should ask themselves what their top priority is.
Defeating Rauner? Or something else?
If it’s defeating Rauner, he/they should look at every decision they make through that lens.
I don’t see how equating the leading contender for the D nomination to Rauner (and to Trump) helps to defeat Rauner.
Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:09 pm
==(Neil on JB) “And he’s spending his cash well.”==
Uh, debatable.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:12 pm
**Biss is running against a billionaire. But that billionaire has been endorsed by much of organized labor and three statewide officeholders. He’s not just relying on cash and ads.**
That cash was/is a HUGE factor in those labor and statewide office holders (and helped by Mr Speaker’s support).
Comment by SaulGoodman Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:15 pm
Biss has $2+ Million in his campaign account - it might be time to start running ads to show CTU, SEIU that he’s serious about this otherwise it starts to look like a 2 person race with his 2 opponents on TV.
Comment by Fax Machine Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:19 pm
===That cash was/is a HUGE factor===
Your point?
You can’t wish Pritzker away.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:21 pm
== Uh debatable ==
If you look at recent poll numbers, given that Pritzker has leaped past Kennedy in the polls and Biss is lagging farther behind, I think it’s safe to say that he’s spending his cash well.
Biss is a good guy, but he’s getting into the gutter with some of this rhetoric about his opponents. That’s not who he is and it’s tarnishing his likability. The bad guy here is Rauner. So run on your credentials and vision and remind people about who the problem is. And, stop using the word “dudes” to describe your opponents when you’re talking to college students. It doesn’t make you more “cool”.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:27 pm
I think Biss’ point is less whiney (sp?) if it’s properly viewed as a shared concern over this trend around the country. As for Pritzker, my biggest concern is that this has the same feel as the Clinton-Trump 2016 race…inevitable Dem candidate who’s well-financed, runs safe TV ads, and sticks hard to talking points. Everybody thinks that Dem candidate is a lock to win because the GOP candidate is a train wreck. Right. Then there’s the question of how accountable will a billionaire (Dem or GOP) will be to regular folks when he can buy his own party. We’ve seen Republicans make that deal with Rauner and see how it went for them. I’m not blaming Pritzker, but the imbalance of power is a serious structural concern for our democracy.
Comment by Veil of Ignorance Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:28 pm
–(Neil on JB) “And he’s spending his cash well.”
Uh, that’s debatable.–
Uh, read harder. That’s Miller on JB, and he gave his reasons for the statement, if you’re capable of “debating” them beyond an empty drive-by.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Rich, I think you may not fully grasp the point Biss is making. Pritzger’s endorsements from elected officials and much of organized labor is precisely because he is a multi-billionaire. It makes Biss’s point. Of course, a rich person could be a progressive Governor, Mark Dayton in Minnesota for one. If J.B. is the nominee the Biss supporters will move over to supporting JB because Rauner is a disaster as Governor.
Comment by formerpro Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:31 pm
@Veil: Biss is making a huge sacrifice by giving up a safe seat for a statewide gamble, and he seems surprised and even frustrated that his vision for the party isn’t resonating more. But he should look in the mirror more and see that he’s not a perfect candidate either and he may not be the best messenger for his message.
He’s lost before and come back stronger. If that happens next year, the state would be better off if he studied the lessons and then ran again with the right opening.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:35 pm
Rich’s headline says it all. At the end of the day, Rauner’s money is the biggest reason he was elected, and his use of that money since then is probably the biggest reason Illinois is in the situation it is in. No one who’s serious about winning elections (and no one who is serious about change) can afford to ignore that. Biss’s argument is “it shouldn’t be that way” and we can probably all agree it shouldn’t. But the reality is that it is that way, and unless you win you can’t change it.
Comment by One hand //ing Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:43 pm
It is ironic that over the last two years, the Democratic party, and their MSM propaganda machine, have tried very hard to vilify “populism” by tying it to all kinds of darkness.
But that’s exactly what Pritzker is buying and promoting. Biss just wishes he had the resources and the counter-punch to do it.
I’ll take populism over elitism, any day, all day. Elitism is behind many of today’s problems in the world, IMHO.
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:43 pm
=== Pritzger’s endorsements from elected officials and much of organized labor is precisely because he is a multi-billionaire===
No. You missed my point. Rich guys have mostly not done well in Illinois politics. He had to prove he knew what he was doing first. You’re operating on a very thin understanding of politics here.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:43 pm
===Rauner’s money is the biggest reason he was elected===
Nope. It’s how he spent his money. Lots of rich guys have spent lots of money and they all (except Peter Fitz) lost here, until him.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:45 pm
Great points, Rich. Biss should look at what Bernie did, he weren’t a billionaire. Start by not making unforced errors in choosing a running mate.
Comment by Molly Maguire Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:45 pm
I agree with Biss’s point about we are moving toward a Billionaires club powering things politically in this country. Maybe they always have, but just preferred to keep in shadows. Now Trump has shown them there’s litttle downside to flaunting it. /s. 1% own 50% of worlds wealth we’re told.
That’s not a harbinger for optimism for the remaining 99%. Biss (and all the rest of the like minded) can stick to his firm beliefs, and get creamed. Or, he can tell each group what they want to hear, and get creamed. Given the choice, I’d say stick to your beliefs. The game is, and always has been, fixed.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 12:48 pm
Biss’s one hope is to hold together a lot of that 48% who went for Bernie in the 2016 primary. It’s harder to do with the Rosa fiasco, but NDFA endorsing him shows that he may still be able to be Mr Progressive.
Comment by Fax Machine Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:02 pm
===hold together a lot of that 48% who went for Bernie===
And he’s demonstrated he could do that… how? I’m not saying he can’t do it, but I wonder if the support is at all transferable, even with a visit by Bernie himself.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:04 pm
Biss’ message regarding the inability of non-money’d free speech to compete with money’d free speech is spot on. Monopolizing the soapbox (TV & Print) by drowning out your opponent’s message via a funding level that cannot be comparably funded, much less matched, by your opponents is not democracy it’s plutocracy.
Where he’s wrong is that he’s just not a good messenger.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:07 pm
I agree - I’m not saying he will do it, I’m just saying that’s really his only path - I think he knows it too which is why he initially selected Carlos Rosa.
Comment by Fax Machine Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:07 pm
A little Thucydides for Biss
“The strong will do as they will.
And the weak,
Will suffer what they must”
Quote from the Athenians in the Melian Dialogue
History of the Peloponnesian War
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:26 pm
talking to voters, this is consistently at or near the top of what people are talking about and frustrated with. They aren’t dumb. They know JB is the hand picked “chicago billionaire” candidate. Voters are telling me this, and it’s hard to argue.
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:27 pm
== He had to prove he knew what he was doing first.==
::spit take::
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:31 pm
Honeybear, I really don’t think anyone could use history better to describe why open primaries are good, considering the reality of the ancient world.
Back on topic, I think suppressing a competitive primary will end up hurting the eventual nominee. The left would be turned off and not show up in the general without a competitive primary. People should support who they want and worry about beating Rauner after March.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 1:57 pm
Question: How do you properly pronounce Thucydides? Sounds dirty when I try it. Anyway, from Raunerdides:
“it’s better to own politicians than rent ‘em”. (see ‘Overrides, Veto”)
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 2:11 pm
@Anonymous(?): I agree it was always a big risk for Biss to run for office, but I think his frustration and desire to change Springfield (beyond Rauner) is real and he decided it’s worth going for it. If he runs a smart campaign that pushes the right issues then regardless of whether he wins or not there will still be a political future for him. That being said, I think Democrats have to consider whether embracing their own billionaire - who has decent Blago baggage - is really what’s best for the party. It strikes me as super cynical and uninspiring, but more importantly it seems tone deaf to the mood of what progressive voters are looking for. Biss’ messaging isn’t perfect and there’s a definite pragmatic moderate streak in parts of his record, but if he’s still there next year I think he’s going surprise alot of folks. I’m guessing Rauner is hoping for Biss or Kennedy, but Pritzker may turn out to the easier opponent for him.
Comment by Veil of Ignorance Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 2:59 pm
“Eating banquets on horseback?”
Please explain that reference Senator Biss.
Comment by Say What? Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 3:03 pm
==Uh, read harder. That’s Miller on JB, and he gave his reasons for the statement==
Typed too fast Sling. Occasionally the pesky job gets in the way. Your observation is correct.
I simply disagree (with RM, in this case). He’s spending a lot of it, and it’s effective given no one else in that side of the race is spending well or a lot.
But, it’s still debatable to me how well he’s spending it. He’s definitely proven he’s got more. In my opinion, there could be more proof, lots more proof….if he was spending it….weller.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 3:14 pm
I’m not privy to any candidate, but anyone who reads up cannot deny Daniel Biss is the most qualified, which in most places…would win him the election. In some cases, the billionaires also happen to be rich AND qualified, but the IL Gov Dem. primary is not one of those cases. Nothing Biss is saying is wrong– if we are depending on billionaires to come in as saviors, well Democrats are going to run out ALOT faster than Republicans…and then what?
Comment by ILDemVoter Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 3:35 pm
===which in most places…would win him the election===
The most qualified candidate wins most of the time? Really? Which planet are you from?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 3:43 pm
===he seems surprised and even frustrated that his vision for the party isn’t resonating more===
Vision, LOLOLOLOL. Pure white liberal, Daniel is not, no matter what he’d have you believe. His “vision” seems to change pretty readily with whatever circumstances he faces. Just look at his House race, the pension bill, and others to see what I mean here. Biss is about Biss, and this whining just verifies it. Same as it ever was.
===anyone who reads up cannot deny Daniel Biss is the most qualified,===
And anyone who *knows* all of the candidates can easily deny this. He definitely has the smartest math brain. That doesn’t necessarily translate to governing prowess or likability, and it sure as heck doesn’t translate to charisma.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 3:59 pm
==if we are depending on billionaires to come in as saviors, well Democrats are going to run out ALOT faster than Republicans…and then what?=
There’s a lot of daylight in between voting for Pritzker in the 2018 Democratic primary and being dependent on billionaires as saviors.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 4:05 pm
Biss is in a win-win situation. If he wins, he’s governor, if he loses, he’s free to make real money. From his taxes returns, it’s clear that public service has created a financial hardship for him and his family. This is his exit strategy.
Comment by Trapped in the ‘burbs Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 6:46 pm
Ask the Google “Illinois pension ponzi.”
113,000 hits. Seems to be a popular topic.
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 6:47 pm
–Ask the Google “Illinois pension ponzi.”
113,000 hits. Seems to be a popular topic.–
Ask the google “9/11 inside job.”
4.8M hits. I guess that settles that.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 6:51 pm
wrong thread.
my apologies.
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Nov 15, 17 @ 6:51 pm