Capitol Fax: Pritzker hit from all sides

J.B. Pritzker was caught on long ago wiretaps with former Governor Rod Blagojevich - for those of you that don't remember he had been arrested while governor and then removed from office trying to sell President Obama's old US Senate seat to the highest bidder - you may have heard some of them. These wiretaps were used in ads by our current Governor Bruce Rauner.

The 2008 wiretaps there weren't used in the ad had been released by the Tribune has caused controversy. The problem - JB Pritzker was talking about "safe" Blacks or "crass" Blacks. Unfortunately those long ago comments has engendered a strong reaction by many Black politicos in Chicago.

Pritzker is a wealthy man - his family got rich off of a hotel chain perhaps you heard of them Hyatt. He was poised to be the front runner to run against another wealthy man who just so happens to be the current governor until this current drama starting hitting the news. Here's the latest round-up that you will find on the Capitol Fax via this tweet:

Pritzker hit from all sides https://t.co/HxLuxI2hwc

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 8, 2018

All the same, it's safe to say Pritzker is on damage control said to be calling as many prominent Blacks as possible to apologize for these long ago comments. 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer was even forced to make a statement regarding these disappoint comments though it's safe to say for now that Ald. Sawyer will remain behind Pritzker.

For the record, there is an article where Ald. Sawyer was quoted by the Sun Times' Michael Sneed contained in the CapFax link in discussing the strong comments by former state senate President Emil Jones Jr.:

A mild-mannered Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), whose father was Chicago’s second black mayor — Eugene Sawyer — has some advice for the bombastic former Senate President Emil Jones, who blasted black pols Tuesday supporting Dem gubernatorial hopeful J.B. Pritzker as being “meek” and “safe” blacks.

Sawyer, one of Pritzker’s earliest black supporters, tells Sneed: “Look, my father gave me a few simple lessons during his long City Council career and his appointment in 1987 as mayor.

“He taught me to make friends; enemies come on their own.

“Being disagreeable doesn’t always bring everything to the table and get the most benefit for your community.

“And I disagree with Emil’s use of the word ‘safe’ black. It’s important to be an electable black.”

“Look, there has not been a better time than right now for the African-American community to make demands on all the Dem gubernatorial candidates,” Sawyer added. “It’s time for actions . . . not promises.”

“But my father also taught me to learn to count. If you are going to bring something to the table, make sure you have the votes to sustain them. And I try to make sure not to be disagreeable with any candidate, not go negative.”

Time will tell if this changes the dynamics of the primary race where it'll be time to vote March 20, 2018. Believe it or not that's next month!

Which makes us much closer to spring at that point as by the time this post is published is a snow day for CPS students...