The Illinois GOP isn't giving wanna-be U.S. Senate contender Alexi Giannoulias any quarter with respect to Alexi's new pledge to forgo donations from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists in his senate quest.
The Illinois GOP released the following this afternoon:
Giannoulias attempts to hide questionable record
In an attempt to hide his record of questionable loans to crime figures and willingness to look the other way on Rod Blagojevich’s flagrant corruption, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias announced today that his Senate campaign will refuse donations from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists.
“No amount of phony reform and renewal pledges from Alexi Giannoulias can hide his shameful history of bankrolling mobsters and convicted felons like Tony Rezko,” said ILGOP Spokesman Lance Trover.
The Giannoulias family bank, Broadway bank, made millions of dollars in loans to Tony Rezko as well as Michael Giorango and Boris Stratievsky, convicted felons and reputed mob figures. These loans were made while Alexi Giannoulias was the chief loan officer.
“If Mr. Giannoulias wants to kick off his campaign by talking about reform then he should begin by fully explaining why, throughout the last six years, he loaned millions of dollars to mob figures and endorsed Rod Blagojevich for re-election in 2006,” added Trover.
In addition, Mr. Giannoulias apparently has no problem with unions attempting to “buy a seat at the table”, as he neglected to ban the labor contributions that bankrolled his Illinois Treasurer campaign to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars.
-To read more about Alexi Giannoulias' questionable record, go to his profile on www.friendsofblago.com
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You can check out the release directly at the IL GOP website here.
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17 comments:
This is really unbelievable. Alexi uses these crazy modifiers: "corporate" PACs and "FEDERAL" lobbyists....as if big union, trial lawyer and state lobbyists or state/federal contractors will be OK?
Oh and nevermind, that he has a personal fortune from a mob bank -- so he could turn down all contributions if he wanted to and still run a full campaign.
Check this out though...even his own DailyKos community sniffs the smell of corruption BO just below Alexi's new reform cologne:
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2009/3/30/1122/76660/13#c13
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2009/3/30/1122/76660/14#c14
Wasn't Alexi's brother appointed to a state board by Rod Blagojevich?
Um, pay to play much?
Alexi's brother is nothing -- he's got much bigger problems with all the money he loaned Tony Rezko.
I like Farberware's cologne anology. Alexi Giannoulias stinks so bad from corruption, you'd need something to cover it up. "Reform" by Giannoulias -- what are you wearing?
From The Hill: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/ill.-treasurer-giannoulias-lays-marker-on-burris-seat-2009-03-02.html
Even if Giannoulias turns out to be the Democrats’ Golden Boy, he will be susceptible to the mushrooming problems his state party has experienced in recent months, not to mention opposition research on his family’s bank.
The bank made several loans to Tony Rezko, who figured prominently in Blagojevich’s troubles and was an issue for Obama during the 2008 campaign. The Broadway Bank financed a construction project run by Rezko’s company, and later Rezko allegedly urged Blagojevich to appoint Giannoulias’s brother to the Illinois Finance Authority Board.
This is a complete flip flop.
Alexi has already taken nearly $500,000 in PAC money from big labor unions, corporate PACS and other special interest groups during his campaigns for State Treasurer.
Not to mention all the money he raised directly from businesses.
Here’s the language from Obama’s pledge: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/obama-camp-sets-new-money-guidelines/
Obama pledged no “special-interest” PAC money — a general ban on PAC contributions. Alexi said he’d only refuse “corporate” PAC contributions. Is someone going to press Alexi whether he will refuse all PAC $ like Obama did? Or is he making exceptions?
Blew out,
Great find. New campaign slogan: Alexi, close your Big Labor funding loophole!
Alexi should have thought twice. He is going to need that PAC money!
The guy has only raised $6.8 for all of his elections combined - with $2.2 coming from him and his Broadway Bank-Bust family.
That means he only brought in $4.6 million on his own!
Kirk raised $5 million for a congressional race under federal limitations.
Will Alexi return his contributions from state lobbyists? We can start with $3,000 from:
Stone, Christopher
1121 S Walnut St
Springfield, IL 62704
Occupation: Government Relations
Employer: IGCG
http://www.ilsos.gov/lobbyistsearch/registrationpdf?procID=EXC&transType=ANNUAL&year=2009&lobbyistID=2763&webDataXmlId=21965
Isn't Broadway Bank about to go bust?
Maybe they need the $40K back that they donated to Alexi's campaign in the form of random in-kind contributions.
Corporate PAC money. Give me a break. Let’s talk about straight up CORPORATE money! Alexi has taken more than $600,000 from contributors with “inc.” in their name. I’d assume if you add up LLCs and Cos. you may get above a million!
http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure/ContribListSearches.aspx
Alexi won'
t take "corporate" PAC money.
But "Big Union boss" PAC money is fine.
Does this guy think we are stupid?
Does he think we don't know he is a mob banker?
anon 6:15, we (the idiots in Illinois) elected him and the rest of the crooks, so I'd say he's right... we are stupid.
Frankly it is people like RIch Miller and the scum times that keep this thugs reputation credible in illinois. The amount of pandering to him that goes on is beyond ridiculous.
FOKLAES
Alexi says he doesn't take money from people who do business with his office. I would like to see him prove that.
His donor list reads like a directory of state contractors.
Forget Pay-to-Play.
Didn't Alexi's bank loan money to a major prostitution ring?
Isn't that "pay for play" instead of pay to play?
Which Republican should run for state treasurer? I emailed State Sen. Matt Murphy, and I asked him to run. He's a member of the appropriations, revenue, and commerce & economic development committees. He proved that he supports conservative budgets, about a year ago, when he tried to help some towns secede from Cook Co., to avoid the increased Cook Co. sales tax rate. In 2008, he won a four-year term, so he can run for a higher office, without leaving his legislative seat. If he wins, he would have more political experience than Giannoulias did, when he became treasurer.
Phil Collins
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