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* Heather Cherone at WTTW…
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin’s opening argument in his bid to win the Republican nomination for Illinois governor touts his response to the protests and unrest triggered by the police murder of George Floyd in June 2020 as evidence of his tried and tested law-and-order first approach to crime and violence.
But the first salvo by Irvin in what promises to be a fiercely contested gubernatorial election erroneously claims he deserves credit for “calling out” the Illinois National Guard once the protests turned violent on June 1 and falsely claims that Chicago officials “did nothing to stop looting.”
Illinois law gives only the governor the authority to deploy the Illinois National Guard and set members’ mission and the rules that govern them, officials said. Pritzker acted in response to requests for help sent to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency by local leaders, officials said. […]
Irvin announced he would run for governor on Jan. 17 with the launch of a campaign website which also asserted that he had “called in the National Guard” as part of his claim to be “tough on crime and criminals.”
Irvin contrasts that approach with what he said happened in Chicago, where he said officials “did nothing to stop looting.”
However, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked Pritzker on May 31 to deploy 375 members of the National Guard to Chicago. Pritzker agreed, and said the troops would be tasked with closing down streets.
* Democratic Party of Illinois…
As Richard Irvin hits Day 10 of hiding from reporters and voters, let’s take a moment to remember what happened the last time a Republican held power in Illinois. From 2015 to 2017, Bruce Rauner’s budget impasse gutted human services, dropped our credit status to near junk, wasted billions in taxpayer money, and caused widespread crisis that we are still recovering from today. Just this week we were reminded of damage done when a new study from Northwestern University demonstrated the Rauner budget impasse triggered a spike in youth homicides.
Now, Bruce Rauner’s moneyman, Ken Griffin, and Rauner’s old campaign team are teaming up to try and re-install a slate of Raunerites to take our state backwards. The centerpiece of the Rauner Reboot is Irvin, a longtime admirer of the failed governor. In early 2018, Richard Irvin endorsed Bruce Rauner for re-election despite Rauner’s pitiful performance. Now, Rauner is calling Irvin a “good guy” who has the “best chance” of winning the GOP primary.
While Irvin continues to duck the media, at some point he will need to answer a basic question: what was it about Bruce Rauner’s disastrous tenure that led Irvin to endorse Rauner’s re-election campaign?
Irvin and the Rauner Reboot have been touting their plans to “Take Illinois Back,” but we all know what that really means: dark days for Illinoisans and an administration that doesn’t work for working families.
The Rauner comments about Irvin were from December, but Irvin wasn’t an official candidate then.
* Meanwhile, Richard Irvin’s new “Law Enforcement Advisory Council” includes Anthony Beckman, a police officer and Norwood Park Township Republican Committeeperson. I received this late yesterday, so you may have missed it…
The following is a statement from Illinois Senate Democrats Executive Director Magen Ryan:
“Richard Irvin might not talk to the press, but he’s making his disrespect for democracy painfully clear.
“How can Richard Irvin stack a “law enforcement advisory council” with someone who dishonored the memory of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick by calling the January 6th insurrectionists “patriots”? A candidate for Governor who embraces people spreading vulgar misinformation about the Presidential Election and the deadly attack on our Capitol police – and follows their guidance – is a threat to the future of our state and our nation’s democracy.
“How does surrounding yourself with people like Anthony Beckman, despite the violence they encourage, protect law enforcement? Add this to the list of questions Richard Irvin should have to answer whenever Ken Griffin allows him to speak.”
* OK, so who is Anthony Beckman? Well, for one, he was very excited about January 6, 2021…
* Oops…
* Yikes…
* There’s lots more, but you get the idea.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 9:36 am
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There’s lots of bad to see there, but for some reason, the part that really makes me laugh is the fact that he’s calling out “Rhinos.”
Comment by This is ridiculous... Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 9:43 am
When people show you who they are believe them.
Comment by Frank talks Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 9:45 am
The Beckman stuff shows either a willingness to embrace insurrectionists or “not ready for prime time” vetting. Given the seasoned group of consultants around Irvin & the Griffin group, I have to lean toward the former
Comment by Lt Guv Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 9:46 am
I at least agree that Vice President Mike Pence was a traitor, but for very different reasons. Vice President Mike Pence was complicit up to a point.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 9:52 am
— The Beckman stuff shows either a willingness to embrace insurrectionists or “not ready for prime time” vetting.—
Insurrectionist sympathizers compose the GOP base. Irvin can’t win without capturing a chunk of their votes.
Comment by King Louis XVI Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:00 am
yep, this is a big opps on the part of the Irvin campaign, interesting to see how they respond/react to it.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:01 am
And this is just part one when it comes to the opposition research of the law enforcement advisory council. After looking at the names and doing some low-level googling… there will be more.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:08 am
The few in the Illinois GOP can keep trying to distance themselves from what their party has become but this is their party. They embraced it when it worked for them and now it’s their brand.
Comment by Long year Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:12 am
Well, he’s a real Republican now.
Comment by DrurysMissingClock Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:13 am
Hard to claim you are for law and order when you encouraged un-lawful activities. All the opposition research folks are working overtime I am sure. Also, I bet the folks at Chicago Public Media and their take over of the Sun Times will have plenty to do to fill the paper in the next year.
Comment by Publius Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:15 am
Madigan would not have made this mistake. Just sayin…
Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:16 am
And Irvin’s running mate is Rauner’s favorite pet GA member.
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:17 am
===And Irvin’s running mate is Rauner’s favorite pet GA member.===
Yep. The Rauner Reboot commercials are writing themselves.
Comment by Wading in... Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:20 am
=The Beckman stuff shows either a willingness to embrace insurrectionists or “not ready for prime time” vetting. Given the seasoned group of consultants around Irvin & the Griffin group, I have to lean toward the former=
I don’t buy that. He could find someone that appeals to the Trump crowd without going this far. I think there are still too many involved in the decision-making process of major campaigns that fail to realize the very obvious need to check people’s social media history.
Comment by phenom_Anon Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:21 am
I’m beginning to think Irvin’s glare (pictured yesterday) was directed at Anthony Beckman and/or JB’s oppo staff.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:23 am
Rauner’s hand picked state rep. will be one heartbeat away from the Gov’s Office. Does that make AFSCME members feel all warm and fuzzy?
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:25 am
That Beckman endorsement probably helps in the R primary though and Griffin’s hundreds of millions will help people forget by November.
Comment by Chicago Blue Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:27 am
This is proof that money can’t overcome bad campaign practices. And just because someone is smart enough (or lucky enough) to make a whole lotta money doesn’t mean they are smart enough to run a successful campaign. Who in the world let that Beckman appointment through?
Comment by Me2 Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:28 am
“Beckman, Beckman, beckman”. What is, guilt by association?
THAT is not a good look.
Comment by Bad Goya Vitch Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:39 am
If the Beckham appointment was intentional, their strategy is inherently flawed for Cook and the collar counties. It’s a complete misread of Illinois voters in those areas. If it was poor vetting - an announcement separating from those views needs to come out today or tomorrow.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:45 am
Game over. This is all voters will be talking about until election day. How will he ever overcome this? He’s no match for our squeaky clean JB.
Comment by Pajaro Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:45 am
And why is Beckman still a cop?
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:47 am
Solid defense of your candidate collaborating with extremist psychos, Pajaro. I sure hope you’re one of the Irvin campaign strategists.
Comment by P. Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:55 am
“This is all voters will be talking about”
I get the sarcasm, only problem with your analysis, you think this will be the only foul-up? Dude has yet to say boo to the press.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 10:57 am
Far be it for me to defend GOP’s Rauner Reboot slate, but I think y’all are making too much about a volunteer pick for an irrelevant advisory committee. Yea, he’s scum. But so what? And if this is the standard you have to exclude in the GOP, good luck with that. Waaayyyyyy too many like this around. Now whether he should still be a cop is a whole different matter.
Comment by New Day Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 11:00 am
Money can’t buy you love. Irvin is no shoo-in. What odds can I get on Sullivan?
Comment by Bad Goya Vitch Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 11:00 am
==And why is Beckman still a cop?==
I’d say the reasons are all laid out pretty well in his posts above.
Comment by Roadrager Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 11:02 am
Irvin, whoever he is or was before, is buying into the entire GOP package, which includes insurrectionists and many sympathizers (it’s still Trump’s party). The ILGOP could have separated itself from Trump, but the party opposed his insurrection impeachment. Both Irvin and the ILGOP are tied negatively to the insurrection.
And these are the people who are attacking opponents on crime, those who politically absolved someone who fomented a violent attack on our national government? Alrighty then.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 11:17 am
“interesting to see how they respond/react to it.” My money is on him going double-down.
Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 11:23 am
==Yep. The Rauner Reboot commercials are writing themselves. ==
Maybe, but I think it’s a long walk around the park to explain Bourne’s connections to Rauner to voters. And nobody votes on the LG pick, anyway.
==and Griffin’s hundreds of millions will help people forget by November==
I don’t think Pritzker will really run on this, but anytime you say that “Griffin’s hundreds of millions will push Message X” just remember that Pritzker is going to have hundreds of millions, too, as well as probably a lot more earned media.
==I think y’all are making too much about a volunteer pick for an irrelevant advisory committee==
I’m not sure comments on a blog constitute “too much”, but the thing is that all of these advisory committees are just empty symbolism. So if the Griffin Gang can’t even get *that* right…
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 11:47 am
Bourne was handpicked by Rauner, not too hard to explain that.
Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 12:08 pm
==Bourne was handpicked by Rauner, not too hard to explain that. ==
It kinda is, tho, at least in a way that will really break through to voters. Because, I mean, governors don’t directly appoint people to fill legislative vacancies. We all know he leaned on the relevant county chairs, but that’s, again, a lot to explain in a 30 second spot.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 12:17 pm
More than fully understand that embracing the insurrectionists is required to win the primary for what the Republicans have become. Sadly, that also marks you as cozying up to traitors.
Comment by Lt Guv Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 12:18 pm
A sledgehammer and duct tape will fix this
Comment by Rabid Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 12:39 pm
Having Beckham on board will help with the GOP primary. The law and order types who cheered on Jan 6 and called those folks patriots etc. are really just showing that they are fans of the kind of law enforcement that jacks up black people for driving in the wrong neighborhood.
Comment by The Way I See It Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 12:50 pm
Dude, it is rino. Not rhino.
It is not an animal name.
It is a reference to their perceived party.
But I’m sure he will blame auto correct.
People like him always have someone or somebody else to blame.
Comment by Crash Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 1:28 pm
When someone is termed a RINO, I simply assume they are sane. If the Eastern Blockheads deem someone unworthy, they are likely more thoughtful, politically sophisticated and kinder human beings than those at whom they are throwing stones.
Find an Eastern Blocker who can even present a bill in committee. I will wait. A hot mess one and all. Bottom feeders.
That said, one may have partisan political disagreements with Avery Bourne, but be careful about the guilty by association stuff. She is a delightful person. Ask ANYONE in the IL House from any political faction. She is a kind, bright, respectful individual.
Remember when some idiot put her face on a nude body to try to smear her? She handled it very professionally.
The Rauner is bad therefore Avery Bourne is bad logic is a huge stretch and a tough sell in light of what a genuinely good person she has consistently shown herself to be.
Comment by Say What? Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 1:53 pm
Wow…heqrin’ RichieRich orderin’ LetsGo Beekman Tsvfor his pop up webstore
Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 2:06 pm
I personally know a few people on Mayor Irvin’s Law Enforcement Advisory Council. While I may not agree with them politically, I found them to be decent, honest people. I would hope for the sake of their reputations they would ask Irvin to remove Beckman from the Council, and if he doesn’t, remove themselves. But, maybe asking people to do the right and honorable thing in these times is too much.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 2:46 pm
“am:
“Rauner’s hand picked state rep. will be one heartbeat away from the Gov’s Office. Does that make AFSCME members feel all warm and fuzzy?”
Almost as warm and fuzzy as when they taught Pat Quinn a lesson in that there election.
Yup…..they sure did.
Comment by btowntruthfromforgottonia Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 3:36 pm
==Almost as warm and fuzzy as when they taught Pat Quinn a lesson in that there election.
Yup…..they sure did. ==
Gotta admit, tho, that Pritzker has been way friendlier to AFSCME than Quinn was.
I still don’t think they’d do it that way again if they could, but it’s funny to note.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 4:02 pm
===[Avery Borne] is a kind, bright, respectful individual.===
The issue isn’t her personal demeanor, it’s her politics. She’s a Raunerite.
===…it’s a long walk around the park to explain Bourne’s connections to Rauner to voters. And nobody votes on the LG pick, anyway.===
Respectfully disagree. DPI knows that all Dems and a good number of Republicans despise Bruce Rauner. Just in the release above, DPI uses Bruce Rauner’s name ten times. They go on to link Griffin, Irvin, the campaign team and a “slate of Raunerites” that will “take the State backwards” directly to him.
Bruce Rauner is the biggest hammer in the Dem toolbox, and everybody that can be linked to him stands to get smacked. Avery Bourne is a well-documented Raunerite. Where past LG picks might not have mattered much, this one stands to be different.
When DPI mentions that “slate of Raunerites” that will “take the State backwards”, who might be one of the people they are referencing?
Comment by Wading in... Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 7:35 pm
Any candidate Rauner endorses is enough for me to not vote for them.
Comment by Fivegreenleaves Thursday, Jan 27, 22 @ 9:04 pm