Rahm Emanuel Responds To Carol Moseley Braun's Attack

Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun Blames Rahm Emanuel For Democratic Losses

Rahm Emanuel is firing back at Carol Moseley Braun after the former U.S. Senator and fellow mayoral hopeful criticized his Hollywood fundraiser and blamed him for Democratic losses in Tuesday's midterm elections.

On Thursday, Emanuel headed to Hollywood where his agent brother, Ari, helped organize a fundraiser with the West Coast elite, including David Geffen, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, producer Peter Chernin and Univision co-owner Haim Saban.

In a press release sent to Chicago-area media outlets, Braun slammed Emanuel's trip.

"On this day when President Obama and Illinois Democrats are still recovering from the painful political debacle that he was the architect of, Rahm Emanuel is off in Hollywood hanging out with bankers and billionaires," Braun said in a statement. ". . . Rahm Emanuel cut and ran after pushing policies that lead to the biggest Democratic Party political loss in 27 years. He left the President holding the bag. If Rahm abandoned the President of the United States, what makes anybody think heʼll stick by regular Chicagoans?"

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Emanuel's spokesman, Ben LaBolt, issued a statement in response to Braun's criticism:

"Rahm disagrees with Sen. Moseley Braun's statement -- he doesn't think that the president ushered in a 'debacle,' he thinks that preventing another Depression and passing health care and financial reform will help countless Americans," LaBolt said.

"While Rahm has spent the last several weeks talking with Chicagoans about plans for the city's future -- safe streets, strong schools and stable finances -- Sen. Moseley Braun's statement says nothing about her own plans for the city at this critical juncture for Chicago."

Braun was not the only mayoral candidate taking advantage of Emanuel's Hollywood trip.

Gery Chico, the City Colleges chief who is also running for mayor, also blasted the move.

"I'm sure Hollywood is very exciting; I'd rather be in our neighborhoods," Chico told Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot