Kapos: Cards Against Humanity PACS a punch at Trump

SHARE Kapos: Cards Against Humanity PACS a punch at Trump
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The Nuisance Committee, a PAC formed by Cards Against Humanity co-creator Max Temkin, takes its name from his grandfather, who was imprisoned in Germany after being shot down during World War II. He and fellow prisoners of war started their “Nuisance Committee” to infuriate their captors. | Provided photo

The creators of Cards Against Humanity are taking on Donald Trump.

They’re selling packs of cards featuring Democrat Hillary Clinton and the GOP presidential candidate that can be played with the popular parlor game. Proceeds from sales of the $4 packs — whether Trump or Clinton — will all be donated to Clinton’s presidential campaign. That’s the joke, says co-creator Max Temkin. “No matter which card you buy, Hillary’s the winner.”

The cards are just the start of the Chicago-based game company’s election antics. Cards Against Humanity has created a political action committee to help elect Clinton. It plans a media blitz poking Trump every week leading up to Election Day.

The most recent is a billboard near O’Hare International Airport. It reads: “If Trump is so rich how come he didn’t buy this billboard? Trumpdoesntpaytaxes.com. Paid for by the Nuisance Committee and not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.”

Cards Against Humanity co-creator and political activist Max Temkin is using the streaming site Twitch to help raise money for congressional candidate Sean Casten. | File photo courtesy of Cards Against Humanity

Max Temkin helped create Cards Against Humanity, and is using the popular and irreverent card game to raise money for a political action committee supporting. Hillary Clinton. | Photo courtesy of Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity file photo

The Nuisance Committee, as the PAC is called, is a nod to Temkin’s late grandfather, Ira Weinstein, a navigator on a B-24 bomber who was imprisoned in Germany after his plane was shot down during World War II. He and his fellow prisoners of war started their “Nuisance Committee” to infuriate their Nazi captors.

Temkin’s PAC plans more billboards, advertising — maybe even on a blimp — and programming at universities around the country.

Cards Against Humanity is a hit with the millennial crowd. It’s similar to Apples to Apples but funnier, irreverent and sarcastic. It doesn’t shy away from making fun of notable names (even Oprah Winfrey, the gall!). So Trump is a natural victim for the game’s creators.

“At the heart of every joke, there’s something honest,” says Temkin, 29, a Highland Park native who volunteered for President Barack Obama’s 2004 U.S. Senate race and worked for his 2008 presidential campaign. “We feel a responsibility to do whatever we can to make people aware of the darkness that Donald Trump represents and to support Hillary Clinton, who we really like.”

And what about Trump’s penchant for seeking legal action? Temkin says bring it. “Suing us could bring about a national conversation about whether he pays his taxes.”

Elton John headlines Sam Zell’s birthday bash

Elton John crooned “Tiny Dancer” to Chicago billionaire Sam Zell on Saturday at his 75th birthday party.

Zell flew in the British pop star for the bash that drew some 800 guests to Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, home of the TV show “Chicago Fire.”

Sam Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments. | Associated Press

Sam Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments. | Associated Press

The chairman of Equity Group Investments goes all out every other year to celebrate his Sept. 28 birthday. Guests come from around the country and are kept in the dark as to the venue location until the last minute. They’re bused to the party venue.

Entertainment is always the buzz. Fleetwood Mac played two years ago. And in years’ past, the Eagles, Bette Midler, James Brown and Aretha Franklin have performed, the Sun-Times has previously reported.

Zell, who last year announced he’d donate $1 million a year for life — plus $25 million — to the Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, which is named after his dad, spares no expense for booze and food at the party. He likely paid as much as $750,000 to bring in Elton John, according to the Elton Daily web site (the home of everything Elton John).

This is the second time Zell has picked Cinespace for his big party. And he’s not the only billionaire who likes the big movie lot on the West Side. Last year, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin invited 1,500 guests to celebrate his birthday and his company’s 25th anniversary. Katy Perry performed.

It’s a ball game — 3 galas all in a night

They’re still counting funds raised from three big galas Saturday night. Museum of Science and Industry, Lyric Opera and Gateway Green drew big crowds and raised major cash for their nonprofit organizations. Here’s the break-down so far:

Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended the Lyric Opera Ball on Saturday night. |  Sun-Times file photo

Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended the Lyric Opera Ball on Saturday night. | Sun-Times file photo

MSI Columbian Ball: 700 guests raised more than $2 million. Co-chairs: Christina and Christopher Begy (CEO of BMO Financial) and Kimberly and Greg Wasson (former CEO of Walgreens).

Opera Ball: 3,500-plus guests hit the opening-night performance and 500 attended the actual ball (it’s a long night!). No fundraising number (yet), but last year exceeded $1 million. Expect at least that. The ball was chaired by Mimi Mitchell, president of the Lyric’s Women’s Board, and co-chairs Regan Rohde Friedmann and Eileen Murphy. Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended.

Green Tie Ball: 1,000-plus guests raised $400,000-plus. Co-chairs: Neal Zucker, CEO of Corporate Cleaning Services window washers, and Lara Shiffman, co-director of JKLS public relations. Leading up to the ball, they got people out of bed with phone calls asking for support.

The philanthropist who rode elephants

Sue Carey is underwriting a new ballet — “The Osiris Legend,” a myth about a king who marries his sister. The Oct. 6 premier at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts features Ron De Jesus Dance Company.

“It’s a fun way to give back,” says Carey, the Renaissance woman married to Tom Carey. He’s part of the Hawthorne Race Course family.

Sue Carey’s life is woven in the arts. She studied opera growing up in England and performed on West End theater stages and the BBC.

Sue and Tom Carey. | Provided

Sue and Tom Carey. | Provided

At 19, she left London to join Clyde Beatty Cole Brothers Circus under the big top in Commack, N.Y. and around the country. She was an aerialist and equestrian — even riding elephants.

“You could say I ran away and joined the circus,” she says. “It’s when circuses were important to small towns.”

After a stop in New Orleans, Carey stayed back and took a job as a radio personality. That led to another gig in Chicago with Weigel Broadcasting.

She met her husband while starting up a flea market. Carey needed space, and the race track had plenty. She and Tom Carey became fast friends and married in 1981. She’s been by his side as he lives with Alzheimer’s.

The Careys for years served as child guardians — eight in total. She even wrote a musical about the experience — “Africa and Plumbridge” played in Chicago and New York.

The ballet she’s backing is pure myth — but no less interesting.

“A story ballet is so rare these days,” says Carey, a woman as rare as they come.

Lucas, Hobson donate $1.5 million to museum

Filmmaker George Lucas and his wife, Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson, have awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., where the artist lived for the last years of his life. Lucas, as we know, is a major collector.

Read more Taking Names at shiakapos.com

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