Illinois Democrats go all-in on class warfare theme

Chicago Tribune ^ | March 21, 2014 | Ray Long, Monique Garcia and Maura Zurick

[reaganaut1]

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Democrats went all-in Thursday with their election-year class warfare theme as Speaker Michael Madigan pitched the idea of asking voters to raise taxes on millionaires, Senate President John Cullerton advanced a minimum-wage increase and Gov. Pat Quinn compared wealthy opponent Bruce Rauner to TV villain Mr. Burns.

The moves continued a Democratic push to highlight income inequity that started Tuesday night before Rauner had even claimed his narrow victory in the Republican primary for governor. Rauner and Republican legislative leaders have countered by accusing Democrats of being tax happy and trying to drive a wedge between the rich and poor.

The newest front in the campaign battle came as Madigan held a rare news conference to announce he wants lawmakers to put a question on the Nov. 4 ballot asking voters whether the state should raise the income tax by 3 percentage points on those who make more than $1 million a year.

The powerful Democratic speaker said the tax hike on millionaires is a way to generate more than $1 billion for elementary and high schools. Madigan based his calculations on what he said are roughly 13,675 millionaires that lived in Illinois in 2011, brushing aside a question about whether such a tax hike might drive them out of the state.

“Well, if they’re in Illinois today, they’re probably so much in love with Illinois that they’re not going to leave,” Madigan said. “We’ve done this because we feel that the millionaires in Illinois are the ones that are better equipped to support education than others.

Rauner, who has disclosed that he made $53 million in 2012, seized on Madigan’s proposal to bolster his campaign theme that Democrat-run Springfield needs a shake up and to remind voters Democrats raised the income-tax rate for everyone

[Robert357]

Kind of makes me wonder if all those Boeing executives who moved from Seattle in Washington State (with NO income tax) to Chicago regret their decision?

[Carry_Okie]

The class warfare BS could be shot down rather easily by simply asking the rats where rich people come from. Surely not even dems are dumb enough to believe someone just goes to bed one night and wakes up a millionaire the next morning.

The Rockefellers, Pews, Fords, Carnegies, Packards, etc. that fund the left are NOT the people who built those great fortunes. They hang onto all that lovely money by gaming the system through their tax-exempt foundations.

[Rockpile]

The Boeing brass moved far away from the employees to make it easier to slash the work force and not get picketed.

The 787 Diversityliner shows how they intend to shift much production to foreign countries.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Dividing Americans is what democrats excel in.

[usconservative]

If Rauner is smart he’ll run an aggressive campaign. Democrats have run Illinois into the ground. If he wins, there’s little he can do, but it’s a start.

Fact is, the Illinois State Legislature is dominated by Democrats to the point of Super-Majority status in both houses of the legislature.

If all Rauner does is prevent them along with Mike Madigan (IL Speaker of the House, lifetime career politician and Democrat) from making the 66% tax increase Quinn passed 4 years ago permanent and rolls it back, I'd consider a Rauner Governorship to be successful.

[Hoodat]

The class warfare BS could be shot down rather easily by simply asking the rats where rich people come from.

It can also be shot down by asking Democrat politicians why they have never proposed a tax on accumulated wealth. They are quick to tax the creation of new wealth, but never ever ever tax the wealth they have already accumulated themselves. They are the epitome of the elitist class, protecting their own, but working feverishly to ensure that no one else ever joins their ranks.

[RWB Patriot]

The money has to be created and earned before anything can be done with it.

[1010RD]

Madigan is afraid. That’s why he’s pushing the entire class warfare scheme. Rauner will have a bully pulpit. He can call them out on spending and corruption.

It will kill their super-majority because it’s held together by money and favors. That’s the start of the crack. He’s seen what has happened in Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.

Once that door opens and the voters see they have an alternative it’s lights out. That said, this is Illinois. They’re as likely to reelect Quinn as they are to breathe.

[Carry_Okie]

The money wealth has to be created and earned before anything can be done with it.

There, fixed it, as if you needed to explain that to me. The problem is that these wealthy Marxist brats of industrial genius are pissing away wealth while making more money, usually by means that is little more than resource racketeering by regulatory means. These are the same people who sponsor those who print it for a living (see "Fed").

It is not only a fair political game but a profitable one to point out that this is how socialism benefits only the extremely rich (which is who cooked up Marxism in the first place). Conservatives can and must win the class warfare argument (you know, the subject of the thread) by turning it against the Slave Party and going after these creeps, if necessary prosecuting them for what are in essence crimes of fraud, graft, and tax-evasion.

I don't need your kindergarten talking-point instructions on economics. Learn the lesson and apply it, please. These blind blandishments on the real advantages of free enterprise while ignoring criminal abuse of the system paint us into a political corner.

[usconservative]

Rauner will have a bully pulpit. He can call them out on spending and corruption.

I don't see how Rauner has the bully pulpit since he's given tens of thousands of dollars to the Democrats also (quite a bit to Rahm Emmanuel.)

Go look at Rauners political contributions. He's bought into both parties. IMO he's as crooked and corrupt as the rest of them.

Why do I say that? Ask yourself this question: What's a guy who earned $53 million dollars last year doing spending upwards of $12 million on the Illinois Governor's race, for a "job" that pays less than $200k/year.

I sure don't think he's doing it out of the goodness of his heart or because he "loves Illinois" ..... Rauner's expecting a payoff for his businesses. Whether that's increased business through the state of Illinois, "tax favors" or getting relatives hired to cushy state jobs.

That's what always happens in Illinois. That's why four of our past seven Governors have gone to Federal Prison, and that's why I'm highly skeptical of Rauner. (I personally know Rauner's media campaign strategist --- another slimeball.)

[James R. McClure Jr.]

Peace, Organic Panic,

Democrats never want to bring people up. Just tear down everyone in to their miserable cesspools. With themselves exempted of course.

I'll disagree as at least one Democrat, Me, is working to build America up. I don't exist in a miserable cesspool nor do I push for exceptions to rules. I'm all for a return to a constitutionally limited federal government and true equality in the eyes of such government, i.e.: no special exemptions.

James R. McClure Jr.
Jeffersonian Anti-Federalist Democrat candiate for IN09

[Organic Panic]

"I'll disagree as at least one Democrat, Me, is working to build America up. I don't exist in a miserable cesspool nor do I push for exceptions to rules. I'm all for a return to a constitutionally limited federal government and true equality in the eyes of such government, i.e.: no special exemptions. James R. McClure Jr. Jeffersonian Anti-Federalist Democrat candiate for IN09" While I find your goals admirable I must disagree with your choice of associating with the democrat party. The vast majority of the party leadership sees us citizens as helpless waifs, and those that aren't are evyil rich white people holding people back. When Harry Reid is on the senate floor lying about private citizens how can you support that? How can you support a party that celebrates the watering down of American society by supporting racist policies such as affirmative action, supporting La Raza type racial supremacy groups, and holds abortion as the most important sacrament to progressive democrat beliefs? There is nothing inspiring or uplifting in a party lead by Obama, Reid, and Pelosi. They have broken America, the great melting pot, in to little victim groups hating another group. The heroes of the democrat party are impeached womanizers, a drunk driver who killed a woman, communists, and a KKK grand wizard. The nation has a democrat president who can't even give an address to 6th graders without a teleprompter. The nation is hurting and the only solution democrats offer is welfare and a message that you are helpless and can't make it without federal overseers. When confronted with any disagreement they scream racist. I am sick and tired of being an accused racist. I can not, and will not ever, support a party with such core contempt for America as founded nor can I ever support a candidate that would attach themselves to the democrat platform.

[James R. McClure Jr.]

Peace, Organic Panic,

The vast majority of the party leadership sees us citizens as helpless waifs, and those that aren't are evyil rich white people holding people back.

You won't get significant disagreement from Me that progressives do hold those views. The leadership of the Republican party (Boehner, Ryan, Cantor, McConnell) isn't much better, in My experience.

When Harry Reid is on the senate floor lying about private citizens how can you support that?

When Boehner is working to allow twelve million illegal alien invaders amnesty, how can you support that?

large rant omitted

Being a member of a party does not mean that you support all the policies or practices of that party nor does it mean you agree with or admire the leading figures within that party.

The nation is hurting and the only solution democrats offer is welfare and a message that you are helpless and can't make it without federal overseers.

Yes, the United States is in danger, which is why I'm running for office. No, this Democrat is offering a constitutional solution to our problems.

When confronted with any disagreement they scream racist. I am sick and tired of being an accused racist.

I don't make ad-hominem attacks and I have been called My fair share of names, so I understand your frustration.

I can not, and will not ever, support a party with such core contempt for America as founded nor can I ever support a candidate that would attach themselves to the democrat platform.

I don't attach Myself to the progressive agenda. I stand for the Constitution, limited government, personal responsibility, and State sovereignty. If you oppose someone who stands with and for the Constitution just because they have a (D) after their name, I suggest you examine you priorites very closely. That is no better than those who blindly support someone because they have a (D) after their name.

James R. McClure Jr.
Jeffersonian Anti-Federalist Democrat candidate for IN09

[jersey117]

Good. Let them go for it. Maybe more businesses and tax paying residents will leave and take their money with them.