In 2010, just days after Gov. Pat Quinn clinched reelection, there was someone thanking him and other Democratic leaders, including Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, for their “extraordinary teamwork, dedication, and leadership” in the city and state’s most important “industry for our future economic growth and job creation.”
The person doing the thanking? Bruce Rauner, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who has railed against Democrats for things like failing economic growth and job creation.
The video took place on Nov. 15, 2010, when Rauner was the head of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Board and the news conference happened after the National Restaurant Association Show had committed to stay in Chicago through 2016.
Fast-forward four years to the present, the video looks like a spoof. You have to see it to believe it.
Video text:
Bruce Rauner: “Thank you. Thank you, Jim. Good morning, everyone. Again, my name is Bruce Rauner, chairman of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. I’d like to just do two very simple things. One is to just say thank you. One is to make a commitment. First, on behalf of the members, the corporate members, of the Convention and Tourism Bureau, on behalf of the entire business community in Chicago, I would like to say thank you to our leaders. Thank you to Mayor Daley, thank you to Governor Quinn, thank you to our legislative leaders in Springfield, Speaker Madigan, President Cullerton and also, thank you Trustee Riley for your leadership. On behalf of the business community, I want to say that you have shown extraordinary teamwork, dedication, and leadership on behalf of our convention and visitor industry.”
00:00:48
Bruce Rauner: “The reality is, here in Chicago and in Illinois, there is no more important industry for our future economic growth and job creation than our visitor industry. Our leaders recognize that and we in the business community thank them and applaud their hard work and dedication. It took tremendous effort and teamwork to get the major changes done in Springfield last spring and we’re deeply appreciative.”
