Quinnochio vs. Mr. Moneybags?

The nonsense of the campaign cycle this time around for governor has reached a new level of triviality.


It was several months ago that Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner gave us the image of Quinnocchio -- a Pinocchio-inspired character with a huge nose on account of all the "lies" he tells.


RAUNER HAS CARRIED this image out to the point where there have often been sightings at political rallies of "Quinnocchio" carrying large signs meant to make us think our incumbent governor is a compulsive liar.


On a serious note, I have always thought the tactic was stupid because the allegations Rauner claims Pat Quinn to have lied about are usually a matter of political spin. Rauner wants to view the world in a certain way, and is upset that Quinn and his backers don't agree with his viewpoint.


In short, it is too easy to dismiss Rauner's claims of "lies" as less than honest.


But anybody who thinks that Quinn is somehow playing politics at a higher moral level is naïve. The governor showed he is just as capable of diving into the realms of triviality and nonsense just as much as Rauner has done.


HOW ELSE SHOULD we interpret the creation of "Mr. Moneybags" and the game of "Rauneropoly," all inspired by the Monopoly game that is meant to make Rauner's business dealings (he claims they make him more qualified to be governor) to be somewhat short of legitimate and bordering on criminal.


For those of you wishing to see this nonsense, check out the rauneropoly.com web site, which is paid for by "Taxpayers for Quinn."


I found it interesting that the first thing I was directed to tells me that Rauneropoly is a game about "get(ting) the cash and run." The "In Jail" space tells us of Rauner business associates like Stu Levine, John Messinger and and Gary Monroe who have served time in incarceration.


As though we should think it is just a matter of time before Rauner himself winds up the focus of some law enforcement investigation. Then again, Rauner has repeatedly been trying to create the implication that Quinn himself will someday face indictment, conviction and incarceration for various actions during his five-plus years in office, such as the use of state funds for the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, a program that causes Rauner to use the phrase "slush fund" all too often.


WE'RE ALSO TOLD in Rauneropoly on :"FBI Boulevard" about "$13 million in fraud" alleged to have been committed by Rauner, and how one can spend $100,000 on a parking space for oneself.


It's the hostile trivia and nonsense that gets spewed in every single campaign, only this time elevated to the level of comic book-type tactics. Perhaps that makes it seem less hostile. Although I see it as more trivial.


Just one question I'd have of the Quinn campaign. The imagery offered up in Rauneropoly is so much like Monopoly that I'm wondering if someone is going to try to knock it down as a copyright infringement of the board game.


Just like Quinn had to take down an early Internet-only campaign ad that claimed Rauner was just like C. Montgomery Burns of "The Simpsons."


ALTHOUGH I'D SEE such a tactic as refusing to acknowledge the allegations made by preferring to knock the so-called messenger.


Although I think all of this type of stuff trivializes things to the point where it makes both candidates look stupid. I think it shows a disrespect for the voters and the electoral process.


It makes me wonder that if one wants to turn this into a game, perhaps it could be chess.


Put both Quinnocchio and Mr. Moneybags on a chess board with the more traditional pieces. Then, whenever the knights leap over them, their horses could inadvertently take a dump on both images. Because that's what too much of campaign accusations feel like for the rest of us.


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EXTRA: “Quinnochio” against “Mr. Burns?” The electorate is the loser

It’s usually around July or August in a general election campaign cycle when the truly trivial stuff comes out.

Do you feel enlightened?

Yet in an example of just how nasty the Illinois gubernatorial campaign is going to dive, it’s late March and we’re already sinking to the silly stunts – particularly those of mascots whose purpose is to mock the opposition.

FOR THE RECORD, it was the gubernatorial campaign of Bruce Rauner that sank first – giving us Quinnochio, a goofy-looking clod who is supposed to make us think of Gov. Pat Quinn as someone incapable of telling us the truth.

Quinnochio made his first appearance Thursday outside a Quinn government (not campaign) appearance at Carl von Linne Elementary School in Chicago to talk about how he wants to reform public education funding.

Personally, I think the idea of a mascot like this trivializes Rauner more than it harms Quinn – just as much as Quinn made himself look silly with that Internet-only ad that appeared recently comparing Rauner to “The Simpsons” Mr. Burns character. “Burns” against “Quinnochio” come Nov. 4? We’re going to get a heck of a headache in coming months!

 

It does make me wonder about the copyright laws, and whether the "Pinocchio" character is old enough to clear the time period in which the Disney company can claim a violation of their intellectual property in the same way that Fox made a claim against Quinn being able to use "Mr. Burns."


Chickens should be fried, not out campaigning

SUCH MASCOTS MAY have been around longer, but the first campaign mascot I recall was that ridiculous chicken that used to follow President George Bush (the elder) around and contend that he was afraid to debate Democratic challenger Bill Clinton. Did that really do a thing to inform the electorate?

I wish we’d have the kind of campaign in Illinois where Rauner wouldn’t wish to sink down to Quinn’s level of triviality. Then again, this is Illinois, so I should know better!

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