GOV CHALLENGER IVES:‘ WHAT’S SO OFFENSIVE ABOUT THE AD?’
Rauner’s GOP rival calls TV spot ‘ accurate representation’ of transgender policy
Her TV commercial has been denounced on both sides of the aisle, but Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives on Monday said she didn’t understand “why people are so offended” by a statewide ad that takes on women who get abortions, illegal immigration and the transgender community.
“I guess I’m a little bit surprised at some of the hysteria quite frankly because this was an issue- based policy ad. It was not an attack on any one individual,” Ives said. “It was simply a representation of, quite frankly, what I had been saying on the stump and what I have put out in my literature.”
The comments came during a City Club of Chicago luncheon in which the state representative from Wheaton focused mainly on her economic policies — saying she wants to protect pensions, enact a property tax cap and a cap on state spending tied to inflation and population growth.
But she also touched upon the controversial ad that was on the minds of many in attendance.
“Well, do I have everybody’s attention now?” Ives said to laughter in beginning her speech. “Good.”
Ives — a social and fiscal conservative challenging Gov. Bruce Rauner in the March 20 primary — unveiled two ads on Friday. One features Ives and her family and touts her as the “conservative reform candidate.” It ran during very pricey Super Bowl airtime on Sunday.
An infusion of $ 2 million to her campaign from Lake Forest business magnate Richard Uihlein may keep those spots, and new ones, airing on repeat.
The more controversial spot, which has both 30- second and 60- second versions in a media buy worth nearly $ 1 million, features actors playing a Chicago Teachers Union member, a Women’s March participant, a manrailing against illegal immigrants and an apparent transgender person.
Ives’ campaign said the ad is intended to represent “GovernorRauner’s chosen constituents based on the policy choices he made.” It highlighted Rauner’s signing of a bill that expands taxpayer funding of abortions; a measure that allows transgender citizens to change their gender designation without going through gender reassignment or gender confirmation surgery; a measure that limits local cooperation with federal immigration authorities; an energy measure that included an Exelon bailout and an education bill that helped to pay Chicago teacher pensions.
“Thank you for legislation that lets me use the girls’ bathroom,” says an actor in a red dress. Ives’ campaign did not immediately answer questions about whether the actor is a transgender person when the adwas unveiled. But onMonday, Ives called it “accurate depiction.”
“That’s exactly what the typical transgender man looks like,” Ives said during a question- and- answer portion of the luncheon.
That prompted Dave Lundy, a Democratic adviser and friend to J. B. Pritzker, to yell out, “No, it’s not.”
Ives defended the depiction, however.
“With all due respect, look, I’ve had them show up at my door,” Ives said. “That is an accurate representation of what the policies look like on the ground.”
Iveswas later asked by reporters about that comment. The lawmaker said she received a death threat after the Illinois House debated same- sex marriage in 2013.
“I had a death threat, andwewent and had that prosecuted, and he ended up being convicted after three years anda lengthy discovery phase,” Ives said. “And during that phase, he had hired a transgender lawyer who came to my door, knocked on my door andmy daughter answered the door. No problem. I have no problem with it. Whatever.”
The Rauner- backed Illinois Republican Party and Republican attorney general candidate Erika Harold have denounced the ad.
Rauner on Monday told the Daily Herald editorial board: “It’s shameful. Ugly, hateful, mean- spirited.” But Ives has a different take. “I think it’s edgy. Absolutely. Iwant to know why people are so offended by it. What’s so offensive about the ad?” Ives asked. “The ad is a policy ad. That’s what it is. It’s an accurate depiction of the policies that Rauner put in place.”