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* Sun-Times…
On the same day Pritzker released a TV ad featuring a family member of a veteran who died of Legionnaires’ disease at the home, Rauner apologized to family members of those affected by the outbreak: “I am sorry for your loss. It is deeply painful.”
But the embattled Republican governor still asserted that the outbreak was dealt with “immediately.”
“When the Legionella infection occurred, immediately the first day, action was taken to keep the veterans safe,” Rauner said. “Water supplies were shut off. Windows were closed. Fountains were shut down. Bathtubs drained and no longer used. And the veterans were evaluated for their health condition. Those who were infected were treated properly. Everyone else was monitored, and the families of those veterans who showed some symptoms were notified immediately when a change in health condition of their loved ones.”
“No one is perfect. In retrospect we could all learn lessons about how to do things better, but the veterans were well served by the outstanding staff here,” Rauner said. “Action was taken immediately to keep them safe.”
* WGN TV’s called Rauner out on his pre-debate press conference claim…
At a news conference before the debate, Rauner made this false claim: “There were no delays. Immediate action was taken and if there were any change of the health status of a veteran, family members were immediately notified.”
However, e-mails show there was a delay. The state did not notify the families of the veterans living in the home and it also did not notify staff.
* Herald Whig…
“Immediately, the first day, action was taken to keep the veterans safe,” Rauner said.
“Water supplies were shut off. Windows were closed. Fountains were shut down. Bathtubs were drained and no longer used. And the veterans were evaluated for their health condition. Those who were infected were treated promptly. Everyone else was monitored, and the families of those veterans who showed some symptoms were notified immediately when a change in the health condition of their loved ones” was detected.
Pritzker countered that “actions were not taken immediately. In fact, six days went by (before residents and families were notified), and as a result, people got sick and someone died.”
Pritzker pledged he would keep open the Veterans Home if elected governor.
* WTTW…
“Actions were not taken immediately,” Pritkzer said. “And as a result of his failures and his fatal mismanagement, he’s now under a criminal probe, as is his administration. It’s a shameful neglect of our veterans, who we should be standing up for every single day.” […]
Insiders say Rauner has come to be embraced by some locals, though, who he’s gotten to know after making trips to the area, even staying overnight at the veterans home and pushing for this year’s budget to include funding of a new campus for veterans, complete with updated plumbing.
* AP…
The debate played out on a sensitive stage - Quincy, home of the state-run military veterans’ home beset by a deadly Legionnaires’ disease crisis. […]
Rauner has been sharply criticized for his handling of the Legionnaires’ situation and whether his administration notified the public in a timely enough manner, which has become the focus of the criminal investigation launched last week by Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who’s not seeking re-election.
“Much of this so-called criminal investigation is a political ploy to divert attention from the tax fraud that Mr. Pritzker engaged in, and it’s a shameful abuse of power by the attorney general,” Rauner said.
* Tribune…
Rauner has been a regular visitor to the Quincy veterans home and plans to return for another stay later this month. The 1886 facility saw a deadly Legionnaires’ outbreak that killed 12 residents and sickened dozens more in 2015. Since then, there have been annual outbreaks at the home. A dozen negligence lawsuits have been filed by families against the state, and the governor’s veterans affairs director at the time resigned in June.
This year, a guest from the Quincy home that Rauner featured at his State of the State speech, Ivan Jackson, was later diagnosed with Legionnaires’ and subsequently died.
An investigation by WBEZ-FM 91.5 found that the Rauner administration waited six days before notifying the public about the initial outbreak. The governor has said his staff acted properly because the Legionella bacteria is not contagious and he wanted to avoid any potential panic.
* The juxtaposition here is just… Ouch…
After the debate, Rauner told reporters he’s cried over the deaths at the Illinois Veterans Home and he does not believe he’s trailing by 20 points as a recent poll suggests.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 9:58 am
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== he does not believe he’s trailing by 20 points as a recent poll suggests.==
Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.
Of course with the way he’s been campaigning I would say he doesn’t believe he is trailing by that much. If he did he wouldn’t keep pounding the same talking points day in and day out. Because it isn’t working.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:02 am
“Rauner told reporters he’s cried aligator tears over the deaths at the Illinois Veterans Home.”
Fixed it for ya
Comment by Huh? Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:06 am
“Don’t believe the polls” said every loser in every election.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:10 am
Keep telling yourself that Governor. You will be lucky to finish second. Quincy is the straw that broke your back. You were well behind, this just ads to your downward slide. Everyone is a veteran, has one in their family, or knows some who served.
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:10 am
“Sorry” can be used as an apology or an expression of regret.
“I am sorry I broke your window with my baseball.”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
The first is an acceptance of responsibility.
The second is an implicit denial of responsibility.
Leaders who think they are infallible and never own up to their mistakes are not leading, and they endanger us all.
Comment by Thomas Paine Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:14 am
He paid attention to the polls in the primary. Every poll indicated a tight race in the primary which he admitted to then. Now that polls show a landslide for the general all of a sudden he doesn’t pay attention to polls.
Comment by Real Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:14 am
This is his ending.
Who would have thought a little town on the Mississippi River with a facility serving Veterans since the Civil War would be the nail in his coffin?
The worst part for the Governor is this will be his legacy. Not historic education reform, not best gov ever for black people, or any other talking point he tries to make.
I always thought the bar was set pretty low for you. 2 out last 3 had gone to jail and PQ was terrible yet you couldn’t even get above that bar?
Comment by DuPage Bard Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:15 am
From yesterday’s Cap Fax:
–Let’s start with a family member…
“That’s what makes me sick. Do they think we’re all stupid? Here they are, not telling us for six days, and our family members are in there. We could’ve had a choice, people. We could have took our fathers and others out. We could have gotten them other help, and they have the audacity not to tell us for six days?”–
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:17 am
Maybe someone should sit down with Bruce and explain to him that him coming across as a pathological liar isn’t the best way to make a comeback from 20 points down with 26 days to go.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:24 am
Not historic education reform, not best gov ever for black people,
-one poll shows Rauner with only 3% of the black vote. We prefer Blagoevich and pretty much anyone else over Rauner.
Comment by Real Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:26 am
Deep down, he knows he is a total failure. Public office holders really don’t believe their own swill.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:46 am
===This year, a guest from the Quincy home that Rauner featured at his State of the State speech, Ivan Jackson, was later diagnosed with Legionnaires’ and subsequently died.===
Veterans were well served by the staff. We did everything right. These things happen.
Comment by Langhorne Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 10:58 am
It’s simple-Rauner lied, veterans died.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 11:02 am
I have to think that Pritzker is sitting on a Dolores French ad. It would be political malpractice not to bring attention to what happened.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 11:10 am
The delusion is strong in this one …
Comment by RNUG Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 12:54 pm
I’m with Thomas Paine. When I heard WBEZ this morning labeling Rauner’s statement “an apology” (as does this quote from the S-T), I thought, “Nah, it’s an expression of condolence.”
Comment by Careful Ear Friday, Oct 12, 18 @ 1:41 pm