Bruce Rauner's Latest Campaign Ad Uses Made-Up Headlines

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 25, 2014 4:40PM

The latest campaign ad from Illinois Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner is making waves for its use of made-up and doctored headlines intended to be more critical of Gov. Pat Quinn, rather than attack Quinn solely on his record, which should be enough. Honestly, we’re surprised Rauner waited this long to play fast and loose with the facts.

Rauner’s ad, ironically titled “Headlines,” takes Quinn to task for his record on unemployment, education funding, his signing into law a hike in the state income tax in 2011, and a growing scandal involving grants awarded from a troubled anti-violence program. A review of the ad by the Tribune, however, revealed shortened and unsourced headlines in the ad. One headline, attributed to an April 11 AP story that appeared on the Washington Times website, reads, “Quinn education cuts lead to teacher layoffs and larger class sizes.” The actual headline was, “Quinn, Rauner spar on education in 1st 2014 event.”

Another headline in the Rauner ad reads, “Pat Quinn. Pay to Play” the actual headline from a June 20 AP story read, “Event honoring Quinn raises ‘pay to play’ issues.”

Rauner campaign spokesman Mike Schrimpf defended the practice to the Tribune, saying “due to time and space constraints, the phrases had to be condensed.” Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller called the ad “taking a page from the Jim Oberweis playbook” after the state Senator and dairy magnate’s similar practice in the 2006 GOP gubernatorial primary.

Here is the ad in question.