Rauner The Outsider

By Sam Pierce -

Given that conservatives I respect seem to be considering supporting Bruce Rauner, I am perplexed. After checking the political donations by him and his wife, I am more perplexed. While the majority of his political donations since have been to Republican organizations and candidates, it is hard to imagine why Republicans and "conservatives" are supporting a man whose 2002 contributions were as follows (http://www.campaignmoney.com/finance.asp?type=in&cycle=02&criteria=rauner&fname=bruce):

Name/Location	Employer/Occupation	$ Amount Contributed	Contributed To	Primary/ General	Date
Rauner, Bruce WINNETKA, IL 60093	GTCR Golder Rauner LLC/Chairman	$1,000	FRIENDS OF RAHM EMANUEL - DEMOCRAT	P	08/30/2001
Rauner, Bruce WINNETKA, IL 60093	GTCR/venture capitalist	$5,000	JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS	P	08/09/2001
RAUNER, BRUCE WINNETKA, IL 60093	GTRC GOLDER RAUNER	$500	FRIENDS OF DICK DURBIN COMMITTEE - DEMOCRAT	P	05/15/2001
RAUNER, BRUCE VINCENT WINNETKA, IL 60093	GTCR GOLD RAUNER	$1,000	FRIENDS OF MAX BAUCUS - DEMOCRAT	P	04/26/2001

Perhaps it was the influence of his wife, Dr. Diana Mendley Rauner, who inspired an evolution from liberal Democrat donor to Republican establishment and moderate donor (with a dash to liberal Democrats here and there). Well, her contributions in 2000 don't support this notion: (http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/diana-rauner.asp?cycle=00)

Diana Rauner Contribution List in 2000

Name & Location	Employer/Occupation	Dollar Amount	Date	Primary/ General	Contibuted To
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY WINNETKA, IL 60093	CAHPIN HALL CENTER FOR CHILDREN	$250	10/19/2000	G	STABENOW FOR US SENATE - Democrat
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO	$1,000	09/09/1999	P	EMILY'S LIST
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	CHAPIN HALL CENTER FOR CHILD	$500	06/11/1999	P	EMILY'S LIST
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	CHAPIN HALL CENTER FOR CHILD	$500	03/29/1999	P	EMILY'S LIST

Maybe it was 2004 when Dr. Rauner turned the page from her liberal youth? (http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/diana-rauner.asp?cycle=04)

Diana Rauner Contribution List in 2004

Name & Location	Employer/Occupation	Dollar Amount	Date	Primary/ General	Contibuted To
Rauner, Diana M WINNETKA, IL 60093	Self-Employed/Writer	$5,000	05/28/2004	G	OUR COMMON VALUES PAC
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO	$2,000	04/14/2004	G	OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC - Democrat
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO	$250	03/03/2004	P	OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC - Democrat
RAUNER, DIANA M WINETKA, IL 60093	UNIV OF CHICAGO	$1,000	11/25/2003	P	DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - Democrat
Rauner, Diana Ms. WINNETKA, IL 60093	University of Chicago/Researcher	$2,500	11/14/2003	P	EMILY'S LIST
Rauner, Diana Mendley WINNETKA, IL 60093	University of Chicago/Researcher	$2,000	05/19/2003	P	JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC - Democrat

Actually, 2008 seems to be when Dr. Rauner decided that moderate Republicans deserved some of her contributions. I wonder if she was so distraught over being torn between two parties that she could not remember her occupation from donation to donation? (http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/diana-rauner.asp?cycle=08)

Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce Of Prevention/Non-Profit Exec	$2,300	10/23/2008	G	KIRK FOR CONGRESS - Republican
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive	$2,300	09/25/2008	G	ROSKAM FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican
Rauner, Diana Mrs. WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive	$2,300	09/25/2008	G	SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS - Unknown
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Director	$2,300	09/03/2008	G	BILL FOSTER FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Democrat
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093	GTCR Golder Rauner/Principal	$1,150	03/20/2008	G	MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE - Democrat
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093	GTCR Golder Rauner/Principal	$1,150	03/20/2008	P	MARKEY COMMITTEE, THE - Democrat
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093	None/Homemaker	$10,000	03/12/2008	P	ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY WINNETKA, IL 60093		$-700	02/29/2008	G	ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY MRS. WINNETKA, IL 60093		$-700	01/10/2008	P	ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY MRS. WINNETKA, IL 60093		$700	01/10/2008	G	ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA MENDLEY MRS. WINNETKA, IL 60093		$3,000	11/30/2007	P	ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT INC. - Republican
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093	homemaker/homemaker	$2,300	09/23/2007	G	DAN SEALS FOR CONGRESS - Democrat
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093	homemaker/homemaker	$2,300	06/25/2007	P	DAN SEALS FOR CONGRESS - Democrat
Rauner, Diana Ms. WINNETKA, IL 60093	Dunce of Prevention Fund/Non-Profit	$2,300	03/13/2007	P	OBAMA FOR AMERICA - Democrat

At least in 2010 the donations were all Republican... and the staunch conservative Democrat Jan Schakowsky ... oh, and Sara (http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/diana-rauner.asp?cycle=10):

Diana Rauner Contribution List in 2010

Name & Location	Employer/Occupation	Dollar Amount	Date	Primary/ General	Contibuted To
RAUNER, DIANA CHICAGO, IL 60654		$-2,400	06/22/2010	G	CHACHAS FOR NEVADA - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	OUNCE OF PREVENTION/EXECUTIVE DIREC	$2,400	06/02/2010	G	PORTMAN FOR SENATE COMMITTEE - Republican
Rauner, Diana Medley WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention/Executive Direc	$1,400	01/20/2010	G	SCHAKOWSKY FOR CONGRESS - Democrat
RAUNER, DIANA CHICAGO, IL 60654	HOMEMAKER/HOMEMAKER	$2,400	12/31/2009	P	CHACHAS FOR NEVADA - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA CHICAGO, IL 60654	HOMEMAKER/HOMEMAKER	$2,400	12/31/2009	G	CHACHAS FOR NEVADA - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	OUNCE OF PREVENTION/NON-PROFIT EXEC	$2,400	12/17/2009	P	KIRK FOR SENATE - Republican
RAUNER, DIANA WINNETKA, IL 60093	OUNCE OF PREVENTION/NON-PROFIT EXEC	$2,400	12/17/2009	G	KIRK FOR SENATE - Republican
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093	None/Homemaker	$10,000	07/09/2009	P	ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY - Republican
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive	$2,400	03/18/2009	G	ROSKAM FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican
Rauner, Diana M. WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive	$2,400	03/18/2009	P	ROSKAM FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE - Republican
Rauner, Diana Mrs. WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive	$2,400	03/17/2009	G	SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS - Republican
Rauner, Diana Mrs. WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive	$2,400	03/17/2009	P	SCHOCK FOR CONGRESS - Republican
Rauner, Diana WINNETKA, IL 60093	Ounce of Prevention Fund/Executive	$500	02/26/2009	P	FRIENDS OF SARA - Democrat

Perhaps I am missing the point. Apparently Bruce Rauner gives a hell of a speech and he is not a current politician. So conservative activists like what he has to say, so much so, what he has done doesn't matter? Words do speak louder than actions, after all. Anyway, the bulk of his recent contributions have been to moderate/establishment Republicans and organizations. I don't suppose he needed that level of donation history for an eventual run? Nah, not a political outsider, he would never consider what he would need to do for a run.

Also, who do I think I am bringing his wife's politics into this? He is running, not his wife. If the thinking is that the candidate's wife and her political actions have no bearing on the candidate, I assume the thinker had nothing ever to say about Michelle Obama or pre-2000 Hillary Clinton.