DAILY HERALD
— Minor says he could drop out of race before November – Robert Sanchez, Burt Constable, Katlyn Smith, and Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180227/minor-says-he-could-drop-out-of-race-before-november
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Embattled legislative candidate Burt Minor says he won’t drop out of next month’s Republican primary but that he still could withdraw before the November general election. “Even if I win (the primary), it’s going to be tough to win in November,” Minor said Tuesday. “Would I step down and let someone else run? Maybe.” . . . Minor, the Winfield Township Republican chairman, entered the race with a long list of endorsements but has seen some of that support erode. On Tuesday, for example, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren said the Plano Republican has withdrawn his support and urged Minor to drop out. State Rep. David Olsen, a Downers Grove Republican, said he is not taking a stance on Minor’s comments but is withdrawing his support from all three GOP candidates in the primary — including Amy Grant and Ryan Byrne. Olsen said voters need to determine the truth of what was said and choose to support or not support Minor accordingly. “Comments that are racist and racially charged — and some of this very homophobic and inappropriate language — that really should have no place in the Republican Party,” Olsen said. “It should have no place in politics in 2018.” Addison Township Republican Chairman Pat Durante said he will continue to support Minor “on a personal basis.” He wouldn’t comment, though, on whether he thought Minor was telling the truth. “She (Harold) may be telling the truth,” he said. “He may be telling the truth. It’s allegations. I’m not going to have an opinion on allegations … I think people ought to just back off until somebody finds out the truth.” But even some Winfield Township precinct committeemen are questioning Minor’s comments. Suzanne Heffner Hackenbruch, who has been a GOP committeeman for roughly 20 years, said she was “shocked and offended” when Minor told a group of fellow Republicans about his conversation with Harold. She said Minor recounted how he asked Harold a series of questions that culminated with asking whether she was a lesbian. “I couldn’t believe what I heard,” she said. “At no time did he indicate that Erika had invited him to ask her any tough questions … I don’t see how her personal life has anything to do with (issues in DuPage).” Minor said he understands why Hultgren, Olsen and others “called me and said they were pulling their support for me.” “They all want to win in November. They don’t need to be involved in this. It’s a Catch-22 for them, unfortunately,” Minor said. With the primary less than three weeks away, it’s too late for Minor to remove his name from the ballot. To leave the race now, Minor said, “means I lied.” If Minor steps down after the primary, a three-person selection committee formed by the GOP would chose a replacement candidate. Meanwhile, Minor said he’s “getting destroyed by everybody; a lot of negative comments.” He said typing his name into online searches brings up words such as “racist” and “homophobic.” “I didn’t see this coming,” Minor said. “Let’s be good Republicans and stop this. It’s not good for the Republican Party. It’s not good for the people of Illinois.”)
— Candidates disagree on lesbian comment, use of N-word – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180226/candidates-disagree-on-lesbian-comment-use-of-n-word
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Minor now is accusing Breen — the Republican House floor leader who represents the 48th District — of organizing a political smear campaign against him. He said Breen is doing it for the benefit of DuPage County Board member Amy Grant, who, along with political newcomer Ryan Byrne, both of Wheaton, is running against Minor in the March 20 primary. Breen says that’s not what motivated him to speak out. “When I learned about his outrageous and offensive conduct, I resolved myself to ensure that he would not serve as a member of the House Republican caucus,” Breen said. Harold, meanwhile, said she’s “telling the truth because telling the truth is the right thing to do,” she said. Rauner and other Republicans, including Gary Grasso, Harold’s opponent in the attorney general race, have since called for Minor to withdraw from the race. However, Minor says no party leaders have called him directly to ask him to drop out. “I’m embarrassed by this,” Minor said. “I’m upset about this. I would love for this to go away. It’s not going to go away. If I dropped out of the race tomorrow, it wouldn’t make a difference. My name is still on the ballot.”)
— GOP state House candidates differ on support for incumbent Harris – Christopher Placek
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180228/gop-state-house-candidates-differ-on-support-for-incumbent-harris
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Madigan digs in on his handling of harassment complaints: ‘I’m moving forward’ – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/madigan-digs-in-on-his-handling-of-harassment-complaints-im-moving-forward/
— With black voters in the driver’s seat, Dem gov hopefuls scramble to jump aboard – Fran Spielman (DIERSEN: What are the demographics of the voters in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? One could argue that the more votes that Clinton got than Trump got, the more anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors that voters are who are in the driver’s seat in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/with-black-voters-in-the-drivers-seat-dem-gov-hopefuls-scramble-to-jump-aboard/
— Ald. Pawar launches news outlet to promote ‘unity’ — and ‘disrupt’ conservatives – Tina Sfondeles (DIERSEN: I should write a book about news outlets in Illinois that claim to be conservative and/or Republican a) that have come and gone since 2000 and b) that are barely a shell of what they once were. Most commonly, their goals were a) to get the Illinois Republican Party to dump its traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the IRP platform, b) to promote booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, and/or c) to stop everyone from reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. Most commonly, they are/were run by Democrats and/or Libertarians who falsely claim to be conservative and/or Republican.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/ald-pawar-launches-news-outlet-to-promote-unity-and-disrupt-conservatives/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Nearly five months after dropping out of the race for governor, Chicago Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) is jumping into a new challenge — launching his own non-profit news outlet meant to be the “progressive response” to the conservative think tank, the Illinois Policy Institute. . .But one of the group’s goals is “disruption,” according to a pitch provided by One Illinois that singles out the Illinois Policy Institute. “One Illinois has the opportunity to disrupt the marketplace of ideas by countering the IPI narrative with a contrary story line based on empathy and unity,” the group says. “One Illinois will disrupt the IPI market ownership by highlighting the human impact its policies have on voters and by putting a face on those who suffer the consequences.” The Illinois Policy Institute, led by John Tillman, is a conservative and free-market think tank, which at one point had close ties with Gov. Bruce Rauner. The group has spent years developing a presence on its website, and also in newspaper editorials and on the radio. Many of the pro-business, anti-union proposals that made up the governor’s “Turnaround Agenda” had been advocated for years by the institute. Pawar has a staff of six, and he’ll serve as president. Ted Cox, a former DNAInfo Chicago and Daily Herald reporter, is the group’s senior advisor and editor. And political fundraiser Katelynd Duncan — who helped to spearhead Illinois’ #metoo movement by both signing a letter and speaking out about harassment she’s endured — serves as senior adviser and co-founder. Pawar has freelancers, a documentarian and a podcaster on board, and he’ll be featured as an “on-camera personality.” Pawar said he’s also planning live events such as town halls. Content will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but One Illinois will also utilize organized labor, progressive advocacy groups and national groups to push out its stories. There’s also plans to buy TV ads to increase viewership, with content also being offered to local newspapers, TV and radio stations. Pawar said he’s set up a partnership with the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the New America Foundation. He’s also calling his own donors and talking to foundations about additional partnerships. He said he understands it’s hard to launch new media efforts: “Obviously everyone is trying to figure out how to make journalism sustainable. I think initially what we’re going to focus on is developing good content, building rapport and support and donors. Down the road we’d like a subscription model, but our goal is just to produce good content.” . . . “I think the Illinois Policy Institute and Breitbart [News Network], they profit off of disunity. They are not trying to bring people together or onto a common agenda or on moving the ball forward,” Pawar said. “They have a very hyper-partisan view of the world. They like to turn other communities into the other. But by turning people against one another, they get people angry. They divide people. It paves the way for the status quo, which is the type of politics that perpetuates income inequality where the working class are pitted against the working poor and the middle class are against the working class.” Reached for comment, the Illinois Policy Institute said it has a “track record of uniting people and parties to pass policy solutions that improve Illinoisans’ lives.” “For 15 years, the Illinois Policy Institute has been the state’s strongest voice for taxpayers. We’ve built an amazing policy, media and messaging organization that holds politicians of both parties accountable,” spokeswoman Hilary Gowins said in an email.)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Endorsements for Illinois House, round 3 (DIERSEN: Includes Dan Brady, Caulkins, Durkin, Fricke, Griffith, Petty, Solano, and Stoddard.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-ilhouse3-endorsements-illinois-house-election-20180223-story.html
— Kennedy tosses out the term “immoral” regarding Pritzker, Biss – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-ohare-20180228-story.html
— Ives wants $10 million – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-ohare-20180228-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican governor candidate state Rep. Jeanne Ives says she needs to raise $10 million by primary day to get her message out in TV ads and for get-out-the-vote operations in her challenge to Gov. Rauner. In a red-meat-worded fundraising email to supporters, Ives refers to Rauner as a RINO: Republican in Name Only. “To liberal RINO’s, you are NOTHING but a vote,” Ives’ email begins. “But to me, the President, and your fellow patriots who make up our America First movement, you are the lifeblood of our country. You are what it means to be an American.” Ives continues: “To win, we will need to contact every voter in the state. We will need to get up on TV every single day. We will need to broadcast every single time Rauner has betrayed the people.” Ives has raised nearly $3.2 million since Nov. 1, with nearly 80 percent of the money coming from conservative mega-donor Richard Uihlein of Lake Forest. That money has largely been spent on TV and radio advertising.)
— House members can now spend taxpayer dollars on bulletproof vests – Mike DeBonis
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-house-bulletproof-vests-20180227-story.html
— No progress for African-Americans on homeownership, unemployment and incarceration in 50 years – Tracy Jan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-no-progress-african-americans-20180226-story.html
ABC7
— Chicago Board of Elections hiring poll workers for March 20 primary
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/chicago-board-of-elections-hiring-poll-workers-for-march-20-primary/3147859/
NBC5
— Madigan Releases List of Harassment, Discrimination Complaints “I’m not resigning, I will move forward,” Madigan expressed – Patrick Fazio
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/madigan-announces-list-of-harassment-discrimination-complaints-475356813.html
— Should Illinois Teachers Carry Guns? Depends On Who You Ask
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-teachers-guns-475357583.html
FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois House panel OKs gun curbs on partisan votes – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/illinois-house-panel-oks-gun-curbs-on-partisan-votes
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DePaul investigating law professor’s racial slur – CLAIRE BUSHEY (DIERSEN: Should the Illinois Republican Party develop a) a list of forbidden words that Republicans (especially old White male Republicans who support Trump) should not speak or write in any kind of context and b) a schedule of punishments for speaking or writing those words?)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180228/NEWS04/180229894
WTTW
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats promote 6th Congressional District Democrat candidates.
https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2018/02/27/2018-primary-democrats-pin-hopes-6th-district-voters
WJBC
— LaHood: Stronger background checks could keep guns from mentally ill – Eric Stock (DIERSEN: Many millions do not seek federal jobs because they know that they cannot pass background checks.)
http://www.wjbc.com/2018/02/27/lahood-stronger-background-checks-could-keep-guns-from-mentally-ill/
WBEZ
— Read Some Of The Legionnaires’ Emails That Gov. Rauner Is Fighting To Keep Secret – Dave McKinney, Tony Arnold
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/read-some-of-the-legionnaires-emails-that-gov-rauner-is-fighting-to-keep-secret/286dd970-f4f7-46ec-9549-a659c8196849
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— OUTSTANDING: Council imposes one-year moratorium on new video gambling machines – Maria Nagle
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/council-imposes-one-year-moratorium-on-new-video-gambling-machines/article_2a5229f9-00d9-5e31-8102-15fdb4aa8982.html
TIMES
— Take a closer look at Rauner’s message – DON JENSEN, Ottawa
http://www.mywebtimes.com/opinion/letters/jensen-take-a-closer-look-at-rauner-s-message/article_314fd2b6-cd4f-59fe-a2e4-76bf53287bad.html
BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Taxes should be lower and people should not be high, GOP candidates say during forum in Highland – CURT LIBBRA
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/community/highland-news-leader/article202339104.html
WGLT
— Arm The Teachers? Illinois Educators Don’t Like The Idea – KATIE FINLON
http://wglt.org/post/arm-teachers-illinois-educators-dont-idea#stream/0
WPSD
— More women traveling to Illinois for abortions – AP
http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/02/27/report-women-traveling-illinois-abortions/
NPR ILLINOIS
— Congress Stalled On Bills To Tighten Gun Background Check System – KELSEY SNELL (DIERSEN: Many millions do not seek federal jobs because they know that they cannot pass background investigations.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/congress-stalled-bills-tighten-gun-background-check-system#stream/0
VANDALIA RADIO
— Gov Rauner blasts Madigan at Fayette County Lincoln Day Dinner, says it’s time to get him out as Speaker – Todd Stapleton
http://www.vandaliaradio.com/2018/02/27/gov-rauner-blasts-madigan-at-fayette-co-ldd-says-its-time-to-get-him-out-as-speaker/
HYDE PARK PATCH
— Governor Candidates Invited To Debate Criminal Justice Reform – Tim Moran (DIERSEN: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would be inviting Republican candidates to debate how they would defend and advance the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and other planks in the Illinois Republican party platform.)
https://patch.com/illinois/hydepark/governor-candidates-invited-debate-criminal-justice-reform
MCHENRY TIMES
— McConnaughay chastises state schools chief over school funding proposal – Angela Underwood
https://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511352610-mcconnaughay-chastises-state-schools-chief-over-school-funding-proposal
SOUTH COOK NEWS
— Flossmoor Planned Parenthood spurs Ives’ protest and formation of pro-life coalition – W.J. Kennedy
https://southcooknews.com/stories/511352537-flossmoor-planned-parenthood-spurs-ives-protest-and-formation-of-pro-life-coalition
DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Oberweis makes plea to stop special interest legislation – Angela Underwood
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511352630-oberweis-makes-plea-to-stop-special-interest-legislation
IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Responds to WBEZ Report About Rauner Administration Emails Regarding Legionnaires Outbreak
https://mailchi.mp/147b18ecc8e8/ives-response-to-wbez-report-about-rauner-administration-emails-regarding-legionnaires-outbreak
DAILY CALLER
— ‘I Know You Have A History Of Race Baiting’ — Tucker Takes On Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar Over Illegal Immigrants Voting – Justin Caruso
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/27/tucker-carlson-race-baiting/
— YouTube Secretly Using Southern Poverty Law Center To Police Videos – Peter Hasson (DIERSEN: If you do not promote LGBTQ activity, SPLC wants to get rid of you.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/27/google-youtube-southern-poverty-law-center-censorship/
BREITBART
— Black Illegal Aliens Gather at Capitol to Fight Trump Administration Immigration Policies: ‘White Supremacist Wish List’ – PENNY STARR
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/27/black-illegal-aliens-gather-capitol-fight-trump-administration-immigration-policies-white-supremacist-wish-list/
— Log Cabin Republicans President Discusses CPAC, Threat of Radical Islam to LGBT Community – CHARLIE NASH
http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2018/02/27/log-cabin-republicans-president-gregory-angelo-cpac-threat-radical-islam-lgbt/
LIFE SITE NEWS
— LGBT lobby pulls out big guns to force ‘Pride Parade’ on small town USA
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/lgbt-lobby-pulls-out-big-guns-to-force-pride-parade-on-small-town-usa
COLLEGE FIX
— Student government refuses to approve conservative student club, calls it ‘hateful’ – EMA GAVRILOVIC
http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/42418/
CNN
— From top secret to secret: What Kushner’s clearance downgrade means – Eli Watkins (DIERSEN: Many millions do not seek federal jobs because they know that they cannot pass background investigations.)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/27/politics/top-secret-security-clearance-kushner/index.html
NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats use children as cannon fodder.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/opinion/american-families-immigrants-deportation.html
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Can Help Overcome Identity Politics Americans are divided in part by decades-old bureaucratic decisions the president could undo. – Edwin Meese III and Mike Gonzalez
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-can-help-overcome-identity-politics-1519772254
— A New GOP Entitlement Some Republicans want to raid Social Security for paid family leave. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-gop-entitlement-1519776031
— Why ‘Deaths of Despair’ May Be a Warning Sign for America – Moving Upstream – Jason Bellini (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the more of the following that you are, the more bleak that your future is: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time. Ever-increasingly, Republican elected officials and Republican Party leaders make it clear that they are dumping the aforesaid voters to pander to voters who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-deaths-of-despair-may-be-a-warning-sign-for-america-moving-upstream-1519743601?mod=djemwhatsnews
BLOOMBERG
— Pritzker’s $171,000-a-Day Campaign Costs Him in Illinois Race – John McCormick
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-28/pritzker-s-171-000-a-day-campaign-costs-him-in-illinois-race
FED SMITH
— Legislation Would Require Naming All ‘Nonessential’ Federal Employees in a Shutdown – Ian Smith (DIERSEN: Of course, since 1966, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned me as having been a nonessential Post Office employee 1966-1969, a nonessential IRS employee 1971-1980, and a nonessential GAO employee 1980-1997.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2018/02/27/legislation-require-naming-nonessential-federal-employees-shutdown/
