Michael Madigan Opponent Accuses House Speaker Of Slashing Tires

Illinois Rep. Michael Madigan's camp had an interesting response to allegations that the powerful House speaker was somehow responsible for slashing his opponent's tires: she did it herself.

In an interview with the Chicago News Cooperative, Madigan's primary challenger Michele Piszscor accused the Democratic leader of being behind the dent and slashed tires that appeared on her Honda Accord last fall. But Madigan's spokesman Steve Brown told the CNC that Piszscor's campaign efforts aren't formidable enough to have caught the representative's attention, and suggested it might have been a stunt to bring more attention to her campaign.

"Our experience over time is [that]…these things are usually self-inflicted," Brown told the CNC. "Those cases have been pretty well documented."

The vandalism charges may be hard to substantiate, but accusations that Madigan's people strategically planted candidates to manipulate voter divisions may have some teeth. Piszscor said her under-achieving opponents, Mike Rodriguez and Olivia Trejo, were hired by Madigan in an effort to split the Hispanic vote and more easily secure a primary win. (Piszscor is of Hispanic and Polish heritage.) Neither Rodriguez nor Trejo, who live a few houses away from one another, has filed the necessary paperwork to fundraise for their campaigns, or appear to have any promotional materials--not even websites, WBEZ reports.

Madigan's last Republican challenger was equally suspect. A longtime voter in Democratic primaries, Patrick John Ryan approached the race without a political committee, campaign fundraising, or support from the Illinois Republican Party, Chicago Magazine reported. Many suspected it was a ploy to make the race look more balanced without forcing Madigan to actively fight for the 22nd District seat.

Piszscor is mounting a grassroots campaign against the long-serving Speaker, and had said he is disconnected with his constituents.

"Madigan is the root of all evil here in our state," the Southwest Side native told the CNC. "He is the weed in our garden."

CLARIFICATION: The original version of this story indicated that Madigan spokesman Steve Brown spoke to NBC Chicago's Ward Room about the tire slashing allegations. Brown actually spoke to the Chicago News Cooperative, not NBC.

Comments

[halloweenjack]

02:33 PM on 02/06/2012

It's entirely possible that Madigan's campaign staff recruited bogus candidates to thin out the opposition; political candidates of every party do it all the time. (Anyone remember South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint's bogus "opponent", Alvin Greene?) But I just don't buy this. Piszscor's name appears a grand total of eight times in Google, all relating to the tire-slashing accusation.

She should look up Ashley Todd (the college-aged GOP activist who claimed that someone scratched a backwards "B" on her face during the '08 election, for Barack, presumably) and see how that worked out for her; Todd had previously claimed that someone had slashed her tires for her supporting Ron Paul.

[BDAD]

07:45 PM on 02/04/2012

I am a liberal and proud of it. Madigan though is the biggest impediment to progress in this state other than the republicans. He has too much power.

[ConservativeChampion]

11:04 AM on 02/04/2012

The King of Corruption. Mike Madigan.

Yet, the Libs keep putting him in office. Yet, the ILL-ANNOY Attorney General seems to never investigate....

Oh yeah.... AG Lisa Madigan hasn't gotten around to it yet.

[blurredmolly]

01:33 PM on 02/04/2012

blah blah blah

[corwin]

07:04 AM on 02/05/2012

I think it fundamentally a useful defense for the lefties to have a MAdigan or a Rahm to act as a visible symbol for failures,and allow them to avoid. philosophical Q's about their beliefs.

[toomanymeatheads]

11:03 AM on 03/05/2012

The uninformed put him in office. Madigan is as much a liberal or a democrat as the current U.S. Speaker of the House. All he cares about is making his friends and law firm money. I will be donating to the Michele Piszscor campaign.

[Quickslvrgrl]

10:45 AM on 02/04/2012

Get Him Out! Vote Piszscor (is that how you spell it?), whoever he is!

[Strapazzate]

09:04 AM on 02/04/2012

Its funny that one of the commentator's used the term "snake" in referring to Madigan. Isn't it the myth that St. Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. (think Catholic priests) And where did they go----Chicago, that's where. Madigan, Daley, Burke, Ryan, Cullerton, Dunne, Keane, Paddy Bauler---do you see a pattern?

For those old enough to remember Mike Royko, you may remember a column he wrote where he tried to explain the amazing success of the Irish at the voting booth. His theory was that they were the only ethnic group that were not involved in the numerous european wars and conflicts over the years and therefore no one held a grudge against them that was passed down to the younger generations. So--I propose that its time to start voting against anyone with an Irish sounding surname. At least until we get rid of the clans that have driven Chicago and this state into bankruptcy. I realize that there are many Irish people that are not corrupt--and would be hurt by this--but just think of all of the judges and other elected officials over the years who were elected just because they were Irish--its time to make amends.

[RexxySexxy]

01:01 PM on 02/05/2012

I am a Chicago Democrat with an Irish surname, and even I am disgusted by the clannishness and thuggery of my local party. For the most part, the party leaders have no vision, no agenda, beyond the conservation of their own power.

[Strapazzate]

08:41 AM on 02/04/2012

Madigan--epitomizes conflict of interest. Did you realize that the House's ethic rules are voluntary---he is the Speaker for god's sake. I will donate money to his opponent.. That's the only way to get rid of him. Stand up people.

[FRUSTRATED60]

11:58 PM on 02/03/2012

He did it, if not personally, he got others to do it for him..Madigan is a snake and in Chicago snakes win!

[unkelal]

08:54 PM on 02/03/2012

Did he slash her tires ? By all accounts I would have to say .Ugggh !!!! No ! Not a kiife
No ...No ..no ... noooo...