February 3 Evening Edition

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider Statement on State Rep. Jeanne Ives’ Campaign Ad Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ recently released campaign advertisement: “There is no place in the Illinois Republican Party for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity. Representative Ives’ campaign ad does not reflect who we are as the Party of Lincoln and as proud residents of our great and diverse state. She should pull down the ad and immediately apologize to the Illinoisans who were negatively portrayed in a cowardly attempt to stoke political division.” (DIERSEN: The ad does NOT attack “our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity.” It attacks Rauner’s failure/refusal to defend/advance the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform and especially its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks. In the interest of full disclosure, Schneider should disclose the amount and percent of the IRP’s donations that comes from Rauner and from Rauner’s supporters.)
https://illinois.gop/category/news/

 

ERIKA HAROLD
— Erika Harold Calls on Ives Campaign to Take Down Offensive Ad Republicans must promote dignity and value of every Illinoisan (DIERSEN: The ad does NOT denigrate, mock, or marginalize any group of Illinoisans. It attacks Rauner’s failure/refusal to defend/advance the Illinois Republican Party platform and especially its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks. In the interest of full disclosure, Harold should disclose the amount and percent of her campaign’s donations that comes from Rauner and from Rauner’s supporters.)
https://mailchi.mp/erikaharold/ives-ad?e=92ab74215a
(FROM THE STATEMENT: Republican Attorney General Candidate Erika Harold released the following statement on new Ives campaign ad: “This ad denigrates, mocks and marginalizes groups of Illinoisans and cannot represent our Republican Party. I call on the Ives campaign to immediately take it off the air. The Republican Party must be about fighting for the ideals and values that have made our country the envy of the world and promoting the dignity and value of every Illinoisan.”)

 

JIM DODGE
— GOP Candidate For Treasurer Jim Dodge Statement on State Rep. Jeanne Ives’ Campaign Ad (DIERSEN: The ad does NOT attack Illinois’ diversity. It attacks Rauner’s failure/refusal to defend/advance the Illinois Republican Party platform and especially its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks. In the interest of full disclosure, Dodge should disclose the amount and percent of his campaign’s donations that comes from Rauner and from Rauner’s supporters.)
https://illinois.gop/category/news/
(FROM THE STATEMENT: Republican Candidate for Treasurer Jim Dodge issued the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad: “Our nation’s collective diversity gives us our strength and makes us a beacon of freedom to the world. Illinois is a strong and diverse state – a microcosm of America. Representative Ives’ campaign advertisement is wrong on so many levels and an insult to everything that makes us Illinoisans and Americans. I believe this advertisement does not represent the Republican Party or our shared American values, and should never again see the light of day.”)

 

DARLENE SENGER
— GOP Candidate For Comptroller Darlene Senger Statement on State Rep. Jeanne Ives’ Campaign Ad (DIERSEN: The ad does NOT attack Illinoisans. It attacks Rauner’s failure/refusal to defend/advance the Illinois Republican Party platform and especially its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks. In the interest of full disclosure, Senger should disclose the amount and percent of her campaign’s donations that comes from Rauner and from Rauner’s supporters.)
https://illinois.gop/category/news/
(FROM THE STATEMENT: Republican Candidate for Comptroller Darlene Senger issued the following statement on State Representative Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad: “Illinois is facing real challenges that require common-sense, bi-partisan solutions. Hyper-partisan attacks that focus on our fellow Illinoisans do little to advance debate nor reach consensus. The Republican Party — The Party of Lincoln — has always served as a beacon of freedom and individual rights. Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate our commitment to that standard.”)

 

ABC7
— Cook County property tax system – BGA
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/weekend-watch-cook-county-property-tax-system/3023485/

 

NBC5
— Illinois GOP Chairman Criticizes Controversial Ives Ad – James Neveau (DIERSEN: The ad does NOT attack “our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity.” It attacks Rauner’s failure/refusal to defend/advance the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform and especially its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks. In the interest of full disclosure, Schneider should disclose the amount and percent of the IRP’s donations that comes from Rauner and from Rauner’s supporters.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/illinois-gop-criticizes-controversial-jeanne-ives-ad-472508653.html
— Thompson Retires, Rauner’s ‘G’ Problem – Carol Marin and Mary Ann Ahern (DIERSEN: My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors treated me just like Thompson treated Rutan. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted patronage, rejected civil service protections, and rejected the Rutan decision (http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/us/seeking-return-to-ways-of-patronage-in-politics.html), so therefore, they side with my Democrat superiors in federal government against me. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/WEB-governor-rauner-jim-thompson-472420173.html
— Campaign Text Messages the Next Frontier in Politics – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/campaign-text-messages-the-next-frontier-in-politics-472447513.html

 

CBS2
— Riverside Police: Man Talks Up Nazis To Girls In Candy Store
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/02/03/man-lectured-girls-about-nazis/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— GOP candidate stands by ad others call racist, homophobic – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/politics/gop-candidate-stands-by-ad-others-call-racist-homophobic

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Paul Ryan celebrated the tax cut with a tweet about a secretary saving $1.50 a week – Avi Selk
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-paul-ryan-tax-cut-tweet-20180203-story.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Ives team – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180203/bernard-schoenburg-londrigan-jones-lead-fundraising-in-13th-dem-race
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The GOP gubernatorial primary campaign of state Rep. JEANNE IVES, R-Wheaton, recently put out a list of county coordinators and contacts. Among them, in Macoupin County, is CHRISTOPHER HICKS. Hicks was removed from the ballot as a GOP candidate in the 48th Senate District for lack of adequate signatures. He was also questioned by police after a visit to State Rep. AVERY BOURNE’s office in Litchfield, where he told an aide there would be “political blood and vengeance” if the representative did not co-sponsor a bill. No charges resulted, and Hicks said his comment was political and not a threat. Meanwhile, in Sangamon County, the Ives contact list includes STEVEN WESTERFIELD. Westerfield also was removed from the ballot for the 99th House District GOP race. He and Hicks are both running as write-in candidates in the March 20 primary. Also listed for Ives in Sangamon County is LIZ EILERS BRON, whose political involvement has included being 2012 state director for the HERMAN CAIN presidential campaign; and ARI SHROYER, a government affairs associate with the Illinois Policy Institute. In Lake County, the campaign contact is DENISE ROTHEIMER, who was recently in the news as she accused state Sen. IRA SILVERSTEIN, D-Chicago, of harassment. The legislative inspector general said Silverstein made inappropriate comments to her, but did not sexually harass her. “I am happy to help Ives any way I can,” Rotheimer said. Bourne, by the way, was among lawmakers who took to social media to criticize the planned speaker for an Ives fundraiser in McHenry County last week. Ives ended up canceling a speech by BILL WHITTLE, who had, among other things, called the Democratic Party “the largest slaveholder in the history of the world,” and, the Chicago Tribune reported, has said blacks are inferior to whites. “Whittle’s racially-charged comments are embarrassing and reprehensible,” Bourne had tweeted. “Rep. Ives should do the right thing — cancel her fundraiser.” Speaking of racially charged: BLAIR GARBER of Evanston, who last week resigned as chairman of the Illinois Lottery Control Board after using a profane word on Twitter to describe East St. Louis, also resigned from the Republican State Central Committee.)
— Sometimes Rauner sounds Trumpian – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180203/statehouse-insider-sometimes-rauner-sounds-trumpian
— Hopes for pot legalization not high this year in Illinois – Brenden Moore (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180203/hopes-for-pot-legalization-not-high-this-year-in-illinois
— How Illinois governor candidates would fix transportation – AP
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180203/how-illinois-governor-candidates-would-fix-transportation

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote anti-Trump marchers.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-02-03/marchers-brave-cold-support-dreamers.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Fantasy fight card does not read Rauner vs. Pritzker – Editorial
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article197927354.html

 

ROCK RIVER TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ives stands by her ad. Rauner supporters say that the ad is “racist, homophobic.”
http://rockrivertimes.com/2018/02/03/ives-stands-by-racist-homophobic-ad-for-governors-race/

 

SOUTHERN
— Illinois governor candidate Ives stands by ad blasted as racist – AP
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-governor-candidate-ives-stands-by-ad-blasted-as-racist/article_26712129-ac13-5b6c-8599-90286e1ed58a.html

 

WBEZ
— Ives v. Rauner: Two Vastly Different Republicans — And Getting Pedantic In The Pedway
https://www.wbez.org/shows/illinois-elections-2018/february-2-2018-two-vastly-different-republicans-and-getting-pedantic-in-the-pedway/5c6c2e05-9451-4d09-bfe9-c2a08062e1a0

 

WRAL
— Ives stands by ad blasted as ‘racist’
http://www.wral.com/illinois-governor-candidate-stands-by-ad-blasted-as-racist-/17311068/

 

WVNS TV
— Illinois governor candidate stands by ad blasted as racist – AP
http://www.wvnstv.com/news/politics-do-not-use/illinois-governor-candidate-stands-by-ad-blasted-as-racist/950722037

 

  1. LOUIS TODAY
    — Illinois governor candidate stands by ad blasted as ‘racist’ – AP
    http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/illinois-governor-candidate-stands-by-ad-blasted-as-racist/article_3afc11dd-abba-51b6-abab-7225cd91b27d.html

 

WGLT
— Schneider and Blumenshine To Ives: Take Down Offensive Rauner Video – RYAN DENHAM
http://wglt.org/post/republicans-ives-take-down-offensive-rauner-video#stream/0
— Rauner: Video ‘Shows How Unelectable Jeanne Ives Really Is’ – RYAN DENHAM & STUDENT REPORTER BAYLEE STEELMAN •
http://wglt.org/post/rauner-video-shows-how-unelectable-jeanne-ives-really#stream/0

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Even When Black Unemployment Is At Record Lows, It’s Dangerously High – GENE DEMBY (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should have gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2018/02/03/582936744/even-when-black-unemployment-is-at-record-lows-its-dangerously-high

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— OUTRAGEOUS: Rauner, Rahm headline Chicago fundraiser for transgender activist group (DIERSEN: The Illinois Republican Party platform promotes the traditional family.)
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511328342-rauner-rahm-headline-chicago-fundraiser-for-transgender-activist-group

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Rauner’s refusal to debate Ives is out of fear, Miller says – Angela Underwood
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511327762-rauner-s-refusal-to-debate-ives-is-out-of-fear-miller-says

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Rauner Is The Most Unpopular Republican Governor Running For Re-Election
https://mailchi.mp/8ac0c783960e/icymi-rauner-is-the-most-unpopular-governor-running-for-re-election

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— GOP GOV POKES IL SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES IN EYE ATTENDING ABORTION, GAY RIGHTS EVENT
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/02/gop-governor-pokes-il-social-conservatives-in-eye-keynoting-abortion-gay-rights-banquet.html
— NEW SURVEY RANKS RAUNER ONE OF THE MOST UNPOPULAR GOVERNORS UP FOR ELECTION
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/02/new-survey-ranks-rauner-one-of-the-most-unpopular-governors-up-for-election.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Ad is “shameful” *** Rauner still hasn’t commented directly on the Ives ad, but will he tonight?
https://capitolfax.com/2018/02/03/rauner-still-hasnt-commented-directly-on-the-ives-ad-but-will-he-tonight/

 

THE HILL
— GOP turns Pelosi’s words into weapon for tax law – NAOMI JAGODA
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/372096-gop-eager-to-use-pelosis-crumbs-remark-against-dems-in-midterms

 

TPM
— Ryan Celebrates School Secretary’s ‘$1.50 A Week’ Paycheck Increase From Tax Bill – Matt Shuham
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ryan-celebrates-school-secretarys-1-50-a-week-pay-raise-from-tax-bill

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— U.S. Pays Billions for ‘Assisted Living,’ but What Does It Get? – Robert Pear (DIERSEN: My aunt is paying $239 a day out of what is left of her own money for assisted living.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/us/politics/assisted-living-gaps.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— The Latest: Illinois GOP leader wants ad pulled, apology – AP (DIERSEN: The ad does NOT attack “our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity.” It attacks Rauner’s failure/refusal to defend/advance the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform and especially its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks. In the interest of full disclosure, Schneider should disclose the amount and percent of the IRP’s donations that comes from Rauner and from Rauner’s supporters.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/the-latest-illinois-gop-leader-wants-ad-pulled-apology/2018/02/03/acb06f2c-0905-11e8-aa61-f3391373867e_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The chairman of the Illinois Republican Party says a GOP governor candidate should stop airing a campaign ad that critics have called racist and homophobic. Tim Schneider said in a release Saturday that conservative state Rep. Jeanne Ives should “immediately apologize to the Illinoisans who were negatively portrayed in a cowardly attempt to stoke political division.” He says there’s no room in the Illinois GOP “for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity.” The ad features actors portraying a transgender woman and an African-American union member, among others, all thanking Rauner for his policies. The transgender woman is deep-voiced and wears a dress that shows chest hair. Ives says the ad illustrates Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “betrayals of conservatives.” The Illinois GOP is almost entirely funded by Rauner.)
— High-skilled Indian workers rally for Trump’s merit-based immigration plan – Antonio Olivo (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What indicates that someone is high skilled? ANSWER: He/she has lots of job-related work experience, education, professional certifications, and professional licenses.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/high-skilled-indian-workers-rally-for-trumps-merit-based-immigration-plan/2018/02/03/702e617e-08fd-11e8-8777-2a059f168dd2_story.html

 

NEW YORK POST
— Illinois lawmaker defends ‘repulsive’ ad in governor’s race – AP
https://nypost.com/2018/02/03/lawmaker-defends-repulsive-ad-in-governors-race/

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Illinois Governor Candidate Stands by Ad Blasted as ‘Racist’ A Republican lawmaker trying to unseat Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is standing by a campaign ad that’s being blasted as racist, homophobic and “repulsive.”
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/articles/2018-02-03/illinois-governor-candidate-stands-by-ad-blasted-as-racist

 

WENY
— Group discourages Amazon from building in Atlanta, says city isn’t LGBT-friendly – Giovanna Drpic
http://www.weny.com/story/37420052/group-discourages-amazon-from-building-in-atlanta-says-city-isnt-lgbt-friendly

 

CHICAGO PRIDE
— VERY SAD: Tributes, celebration, and next steps for LGBTQ civil rights to mark 2018 Equality Illinois Gala
http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/91330704

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.