Thread: Pritzker apologizes for remarks on African-American politicians, says he wasn't 'my b

Pritzker apologizes for remarks on African-American politicians, says he wasn't 'my best self' on Blagojevich wiretaps



In late 2008, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and J.B. Pritzker had phone conversations that were recorded by FBI agents investigating the governor for public corruption.




Rick Pearson, John Byrne and Monique GarciaContact ReportersChicago Tribune

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Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritkzer apologized Tuesday for remarks he made in 2008 about African-American politicians with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevichduring a discussion about filling Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat.
The apology came less than a day after the conversation, which had never before been publicly revealed, was published by the Chicago Tribune. The chat between Pritzker and Blagojevich came from from secret government wiretaps that were part of the federal corruption investigation of the now-imprisoned former governor.



During the conversation, Pritzker floats the idea of picking Secretary of State Jesse White for the Senate vacancy created by Obama’s election as president. Pritzker tells Blagojevich it will “cover you on the African-American thing” and that White is the “least offensive” among the potential candidates being discussed.
At an afternoon news conference Tuesday, Pritzker stood with White and said he was “not my best self” in the conversation with Blagojevich. Pritzker said he regretted portions of his remarks and offered an apology.

Pritzker’s apology came after his rivals for the Democratic governor nomination condemned his remarks in the recorded conversation.



J.B. Pritzker apologizes Feb. 6, 2018, about comments he made on a taped phone conversation with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. (John Byrne / Chicago Tribune)




Businessman Chris Kennedy, a member of the iconic Massachusetts political family, called Pritzker’s comments “disqualifying.”
“Our true character shows when we think no one is watching. J.B.'s conversations with Blagojevich are disqualifying and they're a reflection of his integrity,” Kennedy said in a statement.
“To use the term 'least offensive' to describe anyone, particularly one of our state's longest-serving African-American leaders, is dismissive and disrespectful. J.B. Pritzker should apologize instead of blaming others,” Kennedy said.

State Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston said the conversation between Pritzker and Blagojevich represents “everything that’s wrong with the connection between money and power.”
“For too long our broken system has allowed the wealthy to have unfettered access to the decision-makers in our government. That’s what breeds corruption. And when that access involves two influential white men making political calculations based on skin color, that’s what perpetuates a racist system,” he said in a statement. Biss also called on Pritzker to apologize.


Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritkzer apologized on Feb. 6, 2018, for remarks he made in 2008 about African-American politicians with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich during a discussion about filling Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat.
(Jose M. Osorio, Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)



All of the major Democratic candidates for governor are white and have chosen African-American running mates, including Pritzker, who is teaming up with state Rep. Juliana Stratton of Chicago.
Kennedy’s running mate, activist Ra Joy, condemned Pritkzer’s remarks.
“To hear J.B. Pritzker say the words ‘least offensive’ to describe black men in America, black elected officials from Illinois, is beyond offensive,” he said in a statement. “We are more than a 'thing.' We are leaders, we are voters, we are parents, we are sons and daughters, we are neighbors, and we are trying to overcome generations of racism.”
Biss’ running mate, state Rep. Litesa Wallace of Rockford, said “people shouldn’t be reduced to their race.”
“We must stop treating people like commodities and build a world where we have co-governance and a true representative democracy,” Wallace said.
The political director for Jesse White’s re-election campaign, Rocco Claps, said White was standing by his earlier endorsement of Pritzker for governor.
“I think that Jesse has been in politics long enough to know that there is a context for everything, and sometimes that may be bigger than what is obvious,” Claps said.
Pritzker previously has noted during recent debates that he’s “not been accused of any wrongdoing” when his opponents have criticized him on the issue.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...206-story.html

This shows what Democrats in Illinois and Chicago really think of black people. And if it wasn't for the black vote, Democrats would lose Illinois, and Chicago. Democrats in Illinois and Chicago are always calling black people the "N" word, but somehow the Democrats still are able to brainwash blacks into voting for them.

There's a neighborhood on Chicago's south side called Mount Greenwood. Although most of the south side of Chicago is African American, this neighborhood on the outer corner of Chicago's south side is almost entirely white. This is where most of Chicago's police of fire fighters live. To be a police officer or fire fighter in Chicago, you have to reside in Chicago. The police and fire fighter jobs pay roughly around $100,000 a year. These are very highly paid jobs.

If Chicago democrats really care about Chicago's black community, why aren't they allowing black people to have these high paying jobs in their own communities? I know, good question. On top of that, Chicago cops and firemen are extremely racist against black people. Why black people keep voting for the democratic party despite democrats, and their voters, cops and fire fighters, being extremely racist against black people is beyond me.

I hope more black Americans can figure out how it is and has been all along, the Republicans, who advanced everything for them. It was never Democrats. Republicans fought Democrats for 100 years to pass the 1964 US Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act. It was Republicans, 2 million Republicans who volunteered to join the Union Army to end slavery. It was Republicans who passed the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the US Constitution to ensure the legal end of slavery and establish equal rights for black Americans. It was Republicans, Dwight Eisenhower, who sided with Brown in Brown versus the Board of Education to end school segregation. It was Republicans, Richard Nixon, who 20 years after the Brown US Supreme Court Ruling, who decided to enforce the ruling which was being ignored by the South. Every advancement black Americans have made was because of the efforts, ideology and sacrifice of Republicans who never asked for credit, who never used it as a campaign issue, who never even said "that was us, we did that". Republicans are the pure selfless civil libertarians and workers rights advocates of our country and have always been. It's why our party was formed and the fundamental reason we still exist. It's why Donald Trump was chosen as our candidate for President and why he was elected.

Republicans have always known that freedom without money is no freedom at all. It's why we are protectionists instead of free traders, it's why we demand immigration controls instead of open borders, it's why we support business and employers who invest and produce in the United States, it's why we support lower taxes to make it easier for our employers to remain competitive in the US, it's why we know that jobs at good wages with nice benefits are the foundation of our liberty as Americans.

Judy, I believe Democrats are very focused on bringing in as many illegals as possible, who are going to be future Democrat voters, before black people start realizing that they've been had by the Democrats. If they can get as many illegals as possible to replace the black vote, then it won't matter much what blacks think. The Democrats are very manipulative people, like the devil.

And you're right what you say about freedom without money is no freedom at all. The Democrats keep blacks dependent on welfare so they can have them in balls and chains and enslaved to the Democratic party. But Republicans want to actually give black people a bright future by being self-sufficient with good jobs and good neighborhoods, so they can live a decent life with dignity.

Like Jesus said...."Give a man a fish and you'll feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish and you have him fed for a lifetime". The Democrats only want to give blacks a fish (welfare) so they can have them on a tight leash so they'll be dependent on having to keep voting for them.

Exactly, 6 Million Dollar Man. That is exactly what the Democrats have done to black Americans since the first slaves arrived. And they are still doing it to this day.