By Steve Rhodes
This was easily a better affair than last week’s ABC7 debate, and the main reason for that was moderator Carol Marin, who asked a combination of fresh questions and old questions wrapped in fresh formulations. She also actually listened to the candidates’ answers and wasn’t afraid to follow-up on their claims.
Let’s take a look.
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Carol Marin w/a great question at GOP debate: Disconnect between record corporate profits and wages & unemployment? But only asked Dillard.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Limit on how much Rauner will spend? As much as it takes. Brady: So he’s trying 2 buy the race. Yup. Ur like the minimum wage worker, Bill!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard: Rauner’s made race obscene. You’re the minimum wage worker, Kirk!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Another good Marin question: How many more task forces are needed? Don’t you know enough by now?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner is totally being lit like Montgomery Burns. Good job, U of Chicago theater department!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner debating from the shadows. Who’s directing this, Hitchcock?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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The incredulous answer portion: Rauner didn’t ask Arne to get his daughter into Payton; Dillard testimonial for Obama wasn’t a commercial.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford: Taxpayers don’t have a right to know what’s in his sexual harassment report – the one he hasn’t read. Report won’t be released.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford: Lawsuit filed in federal court so it’s not a personal suit. Otherwise, would be filed in personal court?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Brady homebuilding business collapsed in world financial scandal. “I know how to rebuild businesses.” Um, okay …
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford: Charter schools should not get taxpayer funding. Um, then it’s not a charter school!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard agrees on charter schools, will leave it to experts and parents. Not the governor, apparently.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: “Charter schools are public schools.” Unfortunately, he’s right. Also, says ISAT is a terrible test. Unfortunately, he’s right.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Brady: Publicly funded vouchers 4 private schools will make public schools stronger because competition. Is Rauner’s money making u better?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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If you could overturn Roe v. Wade, would you? Brady refuses to answer. Because he would.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford also dodges.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard: “Same answer as the Treasurer.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Pro-life or pro-choice? “I don’t use either term,” Rauner says. “It’s a decision that should be made by a woman.” Pivots to Mitch Daniels.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Invite same-sex couple to spend night in Guv Mansion? Rutherford: “In their own rooms.” [laughter] “In their own room.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Brady will apply for concealed carry permit but won’t say if he will carry. Rutherford says he will carry. “Absolutely.” A governor packing.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner dodges death penalty question – like most questions except those about government union bosses.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard: I was sponsor of the law that brought Boeing to Illinois. (CEO later said $55 million subsidy was “irrelevant.”)
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: Obamacare will dwarf pensions as problem for state. (Um, I think they call them little people.)
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Should Rahm get to put off balloon pension payment? No. Rauner will turn to his Super Task Force to fix. Also, term limits.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Brady: Rauner is tied to more felons in jail than Blago. And he’s gonna clean up Springfield?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: I’m being attacked relentlessly because we’re winnin’ … um, Bruce, you can afford g’s …
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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How many of you have visited a state prison? Camera wasn’t on candidates when some raised hands (or didn’t.)
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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U of C student: Why is Illinois so corrupt? Rutherford: gerrymandered maps to blame. How does that account for Ryan, Blago?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard would revisit Patrick Collins reform recs. But doesn’t answer question: Why is Illinois so corrupt?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: We need term limits. Doesn’t answer question. Pivots to Mitch Daniels. Then back to government union bosses. Like Ryan, Blago?
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Brady: Need term limits. No one has answered question from U of C Ph. D (in physics) student. Perhaps she can diagram later.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Does anyone need an assault weapon? Rauner: not about hunting, about constitution. and shooting it up.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford: If they want to do target shooting, yes, they need assault weapon. Tough targets!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Pretty sure a psychological exam would find Dillard the most reasonable of the bunch. Also, can’t run a campaign.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: I believe in local control of gambling. Slots in my apartment!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford is a bit unhinged tonight. Maybe he read the report.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Are Koch Bros. good for GOP? Brady: they are about capitalism. they have opportunity to weigh in. So their money is good but Rauner’s isn’t.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutheford: Our biggest issue is being seen as intolerant. We’re prejudice against people who haven’t read the report.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard: Jokes about first mention of Jim Edgar. Name-checks Mitch Daniels, Sam Brownback, Jim Thompson, Quimby.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford: I couldn’t name 10 governors in US today. So you would have failed today’s ISAT.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: I couldn’t name 10 poor people in US today.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Brady: Against progressive income tax. Marin: Why? Brady: Because it’s wrong for Illinois. Why? Because.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard: “Just outside of Cook County, there’s a place called Ellinois.”
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Brady: I worked with Rahm on MERC subsidy. Subsidy to free market bulwark? Economic distortion!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: Unions will have a seat at table on his Super Task Force. The children’s table.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: Businesses who give $ to pols and want a special deal are committing bribery just like unions. So Boeing, Merc, Sears …
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Dillard: A thousand reasons why Rauner is unelectable. Name them all!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: Government union bosses are influencing politicians. That’s my job!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner: Every one of my daughters stands up for herself. Even if I have to call Arne on their behalf to do so!
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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We’re now into the “some of my best friends are women” portion of the debate.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rutherford on heroin: “If I had a solution, I’d tell you right now.” But he hasn’t read the report, so …
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Rauner won’t just admit he’s met with Michael Madigan, instead lumping him in with all legislators he’s met. Won’t reveal what he discussed.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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For a guy who’s not a politician, Rauner can sure dodge questions like a politician.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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“[Madigan] came to my birthday party at my state office, if that’s a big deal.” Rutherford, of course.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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And Arne doesn’t remember any of ’em RT @sfornek: Rauner says ‘100s of parents’ called Duncan abt process to get kids into selective schools
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 5, 2014
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Analysis: Rutherford’s been exposed, Brady isn’t really cosmopolitan enough to run the nation’s fifth-largest state, Rauner is a phony baloney rich enough to buy the nomination and Dillard is the classic Edgar-Ryan-Thompson candidate except for his inability to run a campaign.
And let’s not forget: Pat Quinn is indeed the luckiest Illinois pol this side of Barack Obama because if Bill Daley and/or Lisa Madigan were in the race, he’d be getting beat up pretty good right now in debates too.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on March 5, 2014