ISRA-PVF Calls Upon Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Ryan to Retract Endorsement Claims

[mikew]

ISRA-PVF Calls Upon Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Ryan to Retract Endorsement Claims

 

CHICAGO, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the ISRA Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF):

 

The ISRA-PVF is today calling upon Illinois gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan to retract claims that he received the group's endorsement during his failed 2002 run for governor against Rod Blagojevich. Such misleading claims have surfaced on Ryan's social networking internet sites in recent days. Additionally, individuals have made reports to the ISRA-PVF that Ryan campaign staffers have made similar endorsement claims when questioned about Ryan's stands on issues important to law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

 

The fact of the matter is, the ISRA-PVF declined to make an endorsement in the 2002 race for Illinois governor as neither the Republican candidate, Jim Ryan, nor his Democratic opponent, Rod Blagojevich, were deemed suitable for endorsement.

 

On September 13, 2002, the ISRA-PVF issued a press release explaining why Ryan had not been endorsed. The reason was very simple, Ryan could not commit to 4 basic issues important to Illinois hunters and sportsmen. Those issues were as follows: a commitment to build 6 recreational shooting ranges; a commitment to ensure that federal wildlife grants were used for their intended purposes; a commitment to expand hunting and fishing opportunities on state-owned lands; and a commitment to end the practice of playing the state's sportsmen as scapegoats for urban crime and violence.

 

When presented with this modest list of commitments, Ryan staffers summarily dismissed the request as "unrealistic," yet expressed their hope that Ryan would be endorsed by the ISRA-PVF nonetheless. When these same staffers later learned that Ryan would not be endorsed, they went public with wild allegations that the ISRA-PVF was trying to rope Ryan into supporting an extremist agenda.

 

"Some things never change," commented ISRA-PVF spokesman Richard Pearson. "The Ryan campaign's habit of bending the truth is one of them. In 2002 we heard them lie about why Ryan wasn't endorsed by us, now we hear them lie about receiving our endorsement. The truth is that firearm owners had no reason to vote for Ryan in 2002, and they certainly do not have any reason to vote for him in 2010."

 

The ISRA-PVF is a political action committee affiliated with the Illinois State Rifle Association. A copy of our report is on file with the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.

 

WEB SITE: http://www.isra-pvf.com

 

SOURCE Illinois State Rifle Association

[Bill Matio]

This was posted on his Facebook page

 

Jim Ryan for Illinois Governor Our campaign staffers in 2002 recalled working closely with ISRA on several issues and remembered being endorsed. If we erred in our recollection, we apologize. We have deep respect for gun owners in Illinois and for the ISRA. We look forward to working with them in the governor's office, with or without an endorsement.

8 hours ago

 

Deep respect?

 

Then there's this reply from one of his supporters about how many "fans" are signed up on his Facebook page

 

Dave Owens Okay, duly noted Blake. We'll subtract you and the other 10 folks who joined in the past three days with the sole purpose of spamming in favor of concealed carry from the supporters list. I guess that only leaves the Ryan campaign with, like, 4,049 supporters.

Yesterday at 5:49pm

 

Spamming?

[Pecker]

Keep the heat up.

 

If Mr. Ryan wants to use his facebook page as a marketing tool, he'll have to play by the rules of facebook. That means we get to comment. If he starts deleting our posts and threads, then the page will lose credibility.

 

We need more folks posting his board with facts.

[SirMatthew]

On September 13, 2002, the ISRA-PVF issued a press release explaining why Ryan had not been endorsed. The reason was very simple, Ryan could not commit to 4 basic issues important to Illinois hunters and sportsmen. Those issues were as follows: a commitment to build 6 recreational shooting ranges; a commitment to ensure that federal wildlife grants were used for their intended purposes; a commitment to expand hunting and fishing opportunities on state-owned lands; and a commitment to end the practice of playing the state's sportsmen as scapegoats for urban crime and violence.

 

When presented with this modest list of commitments, Ryan staffers summarily dismissed the request as "unrealistic," yet expressed their hope that Ryan would be endorsed by the ISRA-PVF nonetheless. When these same staffers later learned that Ryan would not be endorsed, they went public with wild allegations that the ISRA-PVF was trying to rope Ryan into supporting an extremist agenda.

 

I fail to see how any of those four issues could be considered remotely associated with an extremist agenda.

 

Commit to building six new ranges. These would be in addition to the ones we've got already in the state.

Commit to federal wildlife grants being used as intended. Is this an unreasonable expectation?

Expand hunting and fishing opportunities on state-owned lands. Expand, as in make it bigger than it already is now.

Stop blaming the law-abiding for the actions committed by criminals. Sounds fair enough.

 

Ryan couldn't go along with these four simple requests?! Now that's an extremist!!

[Yas]

This was posted on his Facebook page

 

Jim Ryan for Illinois Governor Our campaign staffers in 2002 recalled working closely with ISRA on several issues and remembered being endorsed. If we erred in our recollection, we apologize. We have deep respect for gun owners in Illinois and for the ISRA. We look forward to working with them in the governor's office, with or without an endorsement.

8 hours ago

 

Deep respect?

 

Then there's this reply from one of his supporters about how many "fans" are signed up on his Facebook page

 

Dave Owens Okay, duly noted Blake. We'll subtract you and the other 10 folks who joined in the past three days with the sole purpose of spamming in favor of concealed carry from the supporters list. I guess that only leaves the Ryan campaign with, like, 4,049 supporters.

Yesterday at 5:49pm

 

Spamming?

 

So people communicating and expressing their opinions is considered spamming by his staff? Thats not what I would consider a desirable trait in an elected official that would be representing me.

[pyre400]

Adam would be happy to take Ryan's votes. Adam is next in the polls, and you can help get him the name recognition he deserves. Word of mouth is much stronger than any commercial or chair endorsement:

 

http://adamforillinois.com/Volunteer/

 

Adam gives you all the "ammo" and all the provisions you need (including lists). We just need to deploy and use those tools to keep Ryan off the ballot.

 

I'm not trying to condemn anyone who does not feel as strongly as I do about Adam, but I'd rather put all I can into getting Adam's message out there. Its a much better and more constructive approach than to simply lay on my back with a vote for Ryan or Quinn.

 

There will be more polls, and more news on the topic - the primary is still 60 days away. After all, the primary is for getting "your guy" on the ballot. If you like Ryan - who's no different now than when he lost before, then go ahead and vote Ryan.

However, if you truly want change than get out there and make it happen. Dont let this good candidate (Adam) go to waste - not many good honest people are willing to sacrifice their lives for public service.

 

What's a few hours of your time to show your support for the guy? If come election day you're still not convinced, I'm sure you will still have Ryan, Quinn, or any number of other "lesser evil" candidates to choose from - they're a dime a dozen these days.

[Thirdpower]

Adam would be happy to take Ryan's votes. Adam is next in the polls, and you can help get him the name recognition he deserves. Word of mouth is much stronger than any commercial or chair endorsement:

 

http://adamforillinois.com/Volunteer/

 

Adam gives you all the "ammo" and all the provisions you need (including lists). We just need to deploy and use those tools to keep Ryan off the ballot.

 

I'm not trying to condemn anyone who does not feel as strongly as I do about Adam, but I'd rather put all I can into getting Adam's message out there. Its a much better and more constructive approach than to simply lay on my back with a vote for Ryan or Quinn.

 

I met one of Adam's reps at the Monticello gun show a while back. All the dealers directed her to me since I'm considered the resident activist/journalist. I emailed her asking for some more information and telling her I'ld present his position on DOOT but never heard back.

[pyre400]

I met one of Adam's reps at the Monticello gun show a while back. All the dealers directed her to me since I'm considered the resident activist/journalist. I emailed her asking for some more information and telling her I'ld present his position on DOOT but never heard back.

 

I'm sorry to hear that Third... Not that it helps your situation, but I can say for certain that I have received very timely responses from the campaign staff. If you'd like to PM me the email of the person you met in Monticello, I'll be happy to get you a response from someone as to why you were not contacted and, if you are still willing/interested, how you can help out going forward.

 

Again, sorry that you did not get a response - that seems pretty uncharacteristic from what I have experienced to date.

[Howard Roark]

Our mission is restoration of the 2nd Amendment for all Americans. It is best that we support only those candidates that that agree. Ryan is against the 2nd Amendment clause of "bear arms". The "keep" part he is willing to permit. Ryan is a pick-and-choose fellow. We might win big in McDonald. Now is not the time for compromise.