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Rauner dodges questions about veterans’ home problems

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* The background is here. Gov. Rauner was asked today about the 12 deaths at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy in 2015 from Legionnaires’ disease

Rick Pearson: Do you as governor bear any moral responsibility for those deaths? Moral responsibility.

Gov. Rauner: Um, I’ll tell you this, it’s heartbreaking that any, anyone should have suffer, um, a health challenge or, uh, be exposed to a bacteria. Um, and we are taking every step we can, every step we can to keep our veterans safe and reviewing every option and being as aggressive as, as possible with every expert from around the nation.

Rick Pearson:As governor, do you bear any moral responsibility for what happened to those deaths in Quincy?

Gov. Rauner: Bottom line, I work every day to support our veterans. They are our heroes and I will never ever back down or give up on fighting and workin’ to keep our veterans safe.

Amanda Vinicky: Have you reached out to the families?

Gov. Rauner: I have been to that veterans’ home several times, meeting with the veterans and meeting with their families. And Erica Jeffries, our director of our veterans administration, has been constantly reaching out and talking to members of the families, the veterans and their representatives.

…Adding… Video of his answer to the first question is here. He seems to shrug it off.

* These family members say they haven’t been contacted

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:14 pm

Comments

  1. Wow just wow. And did he say bateria just to let everyone know that he knows it’s not a virus like his press release said. Unreal.

    Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:18 pm

  2. I wish the other reporters would have let Pearson keep asking his question until Rauner had no choice but to answer.

    Comment by Father Ted Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:18 pm

  3. Pearson’s been knocking down threes lately.

    Comment by walker Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:18 pm

  4. Candidate Rauner held Gov. Quinn responsible…

    In 2014, Candidate Rauner, talking about the DCFS tragedy made the following remarks;

    ===“Pat Quinn is, in the end, responsible for the failings at the Department of Children and Family Services. If it was a one-year problem or a temporary problem you could say, ‘OK, maybe, there was, it’s not really his responsibility.’ But he’s been governor for six years. He’s had a revolving door of failure at Department of Children and Family Services for years and years,” Rauner said.===

    Governors are held responsible, according to Candidate Rauner.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:18 pm

  5. Accepts no responsibility for anything and blames others. A great display of strong character and family values the GOP is always lecturing everyone about.

    Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:20 pm

  6. Accountability for thee, but not for me, sayeth Rauner.

    Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:21 pm

  7. “health challenges”?(exclamation)

    He is really trying to categorize the deaths of 12 veterans in homes operated by his administration as mere health challenges?

    The reason why the Guv couldn’t answer Pearson’s question is because he obviously has no understanding of the words “moral” and “responsibility”

    Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:26 pm

  8. “Do you as governor bear any moral responsibility for those deaths? Moral responsibility.”

    If we’ve learned one thing from his time in office, it’s that neither ‘morality’ nor ‘responsibility’ are Bruce Rauner’s strong suits.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:33 pm

  9. The Governor needs to figure out a better strategy.
    As Rich says - this is not going away

    Comment by DuPage Bard Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:33 pm

  10. ==Gov. Rauner was asked today about the 12 deaths at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy in 2015 from Legionnaires’ disease…==

    Why does he only mention the 12 in 2015? The 13th person this year doesn’t matter? Seems to me there is more responsibility for the 13th because they “fixed” the issue after the 2015 outbreak.

    Comment by ImNotTaylorSwift Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:37 pm

  11. What if it was your loved one? Would you be satisfied with “we are taking every step we can”? 13 deaths later?

    This goes beyond politics. To shrug off these deaths is callous.

    I hope the families who have suffered losses will continue to share their stories.

    Comment by Sugar Corn Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:39 pm

  12. Rauner’s refusal to take responsibility for his actions throughout his term have gone from crafty political maneuvering to comically entertaining to now frighteningly disconnected from reality.

    Comment by Concerned Dem Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:39 pm

  13. This veteran works for you in afscammy. You do not suppprt me. You’ve crippled me actually, taking away any new income. Thanks boss..

    Comment by ComeTogether Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:40 pm

  14. You don’t say you talked to victims’ familes… unless you talked to victims’ families…

    What the heck.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:49 pm

  15. “be exposed to a bacteria”

    Is this guy for real? “A bacteria.”

    We’re exposed to all kinds of bacteria every moment of our lives. Most of them are good. We couldn’t digest food without them. We wouldn’t have medicines or fermentation without bacteria.

    Rauner is going to a whole new level of clueless.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 1:57 pm

  16. –These family members say they haven’t been contacted…–

    There’s nothing this guy won’t lie about. Way creepy.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:00 pm

  17. Nice Quinn catch, OW. Each day brings fresh opposition fodder for J.B. BR is more Trump-like each day. He seems exhausted and just goes to the same “because everyone but me” line when a tough question is posed. I’m still blown away he sticks with the “I’m not in charge” line. Dude. You’re the freaking Governor. My goodness. Illinois politics is embarrassing.

    Comment by New Slang Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:02 pm

  18. Perhaps he meant to say that his immigrant grandfather actually called the families on his behalf.

    Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:08 pm

  19. - New Slang -

    Thanks.

    What’s been so telling is “Skyhook, in reverse” (Beating Rauner as Rauner bear Quin) is sitting out there like a big ole meatball.

    There’s loads of accountability quotes Rauner held Quinn to, now Rauner says he’s not in charge.

    Take a moment and think…

    What would have Candidate Rauner said if Quinn uttered he wasn’t in charge?

    Whew.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:12 pm

  20. A bacterium, bacteria is plural. But hey not a virus. The sorry state here is that this is an old story, where repairs did not work. I think most leaders would have shut down the facility by now. Not contacting relatives is unacceptable.

    Comment by Barrington Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:13 pm

  21. ===Gov. Rauner: I have been to that veterans’ home several times, meeting with the veterans and meeting with their families. And Erica Jeffries, our director of our veterans administration, has been constantly reaching out and talking to members of the families, the veterans and their representatives.===

    Fire off the FOIAs…let’s see the Governor’s daily schedule and Director Jefferies’ State phone records & calendar. We know the Governor enjoys photo opts, but I find it hard to believe that he has “been to that veterans’ home several times meeting with veterans and meeting with their families” and we haven’t seen tons of pictures of him with the veterans or their families.

    Comment by Sigh Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:14 pm

  22. –I have been to that veterans’ home several times,–

    Maybe that’s where he held all those meetings lining up the “dozens” of companies to relocate here.

    How many contacts would it take to line up “dozens” of companies. Has to be hundreds if not thousands.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:16 pm

  23. Go to the 13 second mark of the video. The Guv gives the crazy eyes that he always gives when he has no clue how to answer.

    Does Diana still think that Bruce being governor is a good look?

    Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:16 pm

  24. Every day closer to the election and, from his own comments, Rauner’s hold on the office of Governor is slipping and slipping away.

    Comment by Christopher Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:35 pm

  25. ==What would have Candidate Rauner said if Quinn uttered he wasn’t in charge?==

    Seriously, what would have Candidate Rauner done if 13 died under the same circumstances at an Illinois Vets Home in 2012-2013?

    Comment by Sugar Corn Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:35 pm

  26. A) Can you be morally responsible when you don’t think your in charge?

    B) Or, are you morally responsible because you didn’t take charge?

    “B” would be my answer.

    Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 2:36 pm

  27. OW notice Rauner never said he talked with victims families he said he has been out to the VA and talked with veterans and families nothing about going out to talk with victims

    Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 5:04 pm

  28. ===…notice Rauner never said he talked with victims families he said he has been out to the VA and talked with veterans and families nothing about going out to talk with victims===

    It’s enough of a bad drive-by by the governor, that the direct question to it, it almost has to be asked.

    Rauner has this awful knack that he wants you think one thing, but don’t press him on the details.

    That leads to misspeaking… or worse

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 5:10 pm

  29. OW By now and I admit to being a slow learner I think it is or worse

    Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 5:34 pm

  30. ===Seriously, what would have Candidate Rauner done if 13 died under the same circumstances at an Illinois Vets Home in 2012-2013?===

    I believe the Veterans Home tragedy and its aftermath, we know how Candidate Rauner responded to DCFS, there isn’t a need or a reason to speculate. It happened with DCFS.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 5:44 pm

  31. ===I think it is or worse===

    Those covering the governor aren’t letting this go, nor are the familes.

    We may find out more, or “worse or not”.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 5:46 pm

  32. Trib, 10/7/14

    –Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner today said he blames Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn for the deaths of child-abuse victims whose families previously had contact with the state’s child-welfare agency.–

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-rauner-blames-quinn-for-dcfs-child-deaths-20141007-story.html

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 5:49 pm

  33. He seriously looks like a deer in the headlights.

    Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 6:01 pm

  34. Just talking, not fixing. I have not seen any effort yet by anyone from the Governor on down to do anything but talk. We do not have leaders, just talkers.

    Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 6:40 pm

  35. 8 veteran’s in my family. 2 purple heart winners.
    1 spent 37 years in military.
    At least 1 of the 8 had someone they knew and visited in Quincy and said it was a hell hole and that was many years ago before they both passed on.

    I’ll leave it at that since whole subject is too painful.

    Comment by cc Wednesday, Dec 20, 17 @ 11:32 pm

  36. Last month, the BBC had an article about lying by telling the truth.
    www.bbc.com/future/story/20171114-the-disturbing-art-of-lying-by-telling-the-truth

    The story even gives it a name, “paltering”.

    Essentially, lying by telling the truth is deflecting the question by answering with a truthful response.

    Comment by Huh? Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 7:39 am

  37. There was a radio story last night where 1.4% said that he would drink the water at the Quincy Veteran’s Home. While that is nice and everything, it is a meaningless gesture.

    The only way he could contract Legionaires’ disease from that glass of water is to aspirate (choke) it. Legionaires’ disease an air borne disease carried in microscopic water droplets or mist.

    Comment by Huh? Thursday, Dec 21, 17 @ 7:47 am

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