MATT DIETRICH
AUG 13, 2014
Of all the video and speech-giving to come out of Governor’s Day at the 2014 Illinois State Fair, none are more essential than this one.
Chicago Sun-Times political reporter Natasha Korecki posted it on the paper’s Early & Often political portal following a day of Democratic pep rallies in Springfield. It captures an unprecedented moment of harmony between Quinnocchio — the mocking (and, to me, creepy) mascot the Bruce Rauner campaign sends to many of Gov. Pat Quinn’s events — and Baron von Moneybags, an equally mocking send-up of the wealthy Rauner.
Oddly enough, the Rod Blagojevich character in the background doesn’t seem amenable to the display of mascot unity provided by his two costumed colleagues.
Coincidentally, this mascot summit comes on the very day that Republicans sent out a press release heralding the debut of the website patquinnocchio.com. The site is “dedicated to exposing Pat Quinn’s broken promises – from raising taxes and cutting education to record job losses and Blagojevich-style corruption,” the press release said. Here’s what you’ll see if you visit the site:
The Illinois Republican Party launched the website patquinnoccio.com on Aug. 13, 2014.
I have to say, I’m not crazy about the whole mascot-vs.-mascot sub-theme in this campaign. It’s not just that I find Quinnocchio creepy in a “Clockwork Orange” sort of way, nor that I don’t find Baron von Moneybags’ play on “This Land Is Your Land” amusing.
It’s that I think it serves more to fuel voter cynicism than to educate voters or encourage them to vote on Nov. 4. Hiring clowns to annoy your opponent doesn’t make your candidate look any better to voters. It gives the impression that the system is run by clowns. (Not a stretch, when you consider our governor from Januaury 2003 to January 2009.) Likewise for Photoshopped images of your opponent posted by your political party.
How about sending these characters off into the sunset together until after Nov. 4? The Baron and the creepy boy-puppet seem like they’d enjoy the ride.
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Here’s the full press release the Republicans issued to announce their new site:
On Governor’s Day, ILGOP Launches PatQuinnocchio.com
As Dems cancel rally, new Quinn website marks Governor’s Day at State Fair
Chairman Schneider: “Pat Quinn has broken almost every major promise he’s made, and the people of Illinois are going to hold him accountable.”
SPRINGFIELD – Today is Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair. But for the second year in a row, Pat Quinn and Illinois Democrats won’t hold their traditional all-out rally. Why? With a laundry list of broken promises, record job losses and multiple criminal investigations, Pat Quinn and his allies have little cause to rally.
If Pat Quinn won’t share his record on Governor’s Day, the Illinois Republican Party will do it for him throughout the day. The ILGOP begins this morning by launchingPatQuinnocchio.com, a website dedicated to exposing Pat Quinn’s broken promises – from raising taxes and cutting education to record job losses and Blagojevich-style corruption.
“As a career politician, Pat Quinn has broken almost every major promise he’s made,” Illinois GOP Chairman Tim Schneider said. “After saying he wouldn’t raise taxes on middle-class families, he increased taxes on everyone by 67% and now wants to make his tax hike permanent. Pat Quinn promised he’d invest in education, but cut it by $500 million instead. And he said job creation was a top priority, but Illinois leads the Midwest in job losses. Illinois has had enough of Pat Quinnocchio’s lies, and we’re going to hold him accountable in November.”
Matthew Dietrich is Reboot’s executive editor. An award-winning journalist, Dietrich is the former editorial page editor of the State Journal Register in Springfield. He believes in holding our politicians accountable. Read Dietrich’s take on the leadership vacuum that sent Illinois sinking. You can find Reboot on Facebook and on Twitter @rebootillinois.