Madigan Attended Fundraisers for John Boehner

By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 24, 2011 2:30PM

Politics, as the adage goes, makes for strange bedfellows. How else to describe the news state House Speaker and de facto jefe of the Illinois Democratic Party Michael Madigan attending two fundraisers for House Speaker and Republican John Boehner a couple of weeks back?

The Sun-Times reports Madigan was in attendance for a Boehner fundraiser in suburban Hinsdale to fund the Illinois GOP's looming court battle over the redistricted legislative maps. the next night Madigan was in attendance at a fundraiser for Boehner's leadership fund at the Lemont home of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Chairman Terry Duffy.

Naturally, this has politicians in both parties saying, "WTF?" State GOP Chairman Pat brady had fun with the news while other Republicans wondered if Madigan, a master political chess master, had ulterior motives.

Democratic strategist and consultant Kitty Kurth said of the news.

“Going to a fund-raiser for the speaker of the House, who has done nothing to cooperate with the president of the United States, really is unfortunate. I think that the speaker could strengthen the Democratic Party in Illinois if he showed the same kind of respect and cooperation with other Democrats, including Gov. Quinn.

“I would hope that the chairman of our Democratic Party in Illinois can find some time to attend events with Democrats across the state and support their campaigns,” she continued. “If you want Democrats to show up for you, you need to show up for them.”

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said his boss was there in the spirit of cooperation. Only the public hopes politicians cooperate with each other to get shit done, not raise money.

Madigan's visits to Boeher fundraisers also happened the same day he no-showed three of President Obama's fundraisers in Central Illinois and the president's birthday party at the Aragon Ballroom.