Quite often on Chicago’s Morning Answer, we talk about how the DC and Chicago press corps readily do the bidding of Democrat politicians inside the beltway and here in Illinois. That story hit home today when a local politician looking to unseat Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran convinced a reporter from the Chicago Tribune to cover a non-existent controversy involving Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson.
According to the the headline in the Lake County News-Sun (a local subsidiary of the Tribune), Curran is, “under fire” for comments he made to Amy Jacobson during an interview conducted on the show in January. Reporter Frank Adberholden wrote:
Democratic candidate John Idleburg said he was “appalled” by “inappropriate” comments the incumbent Republican made on the Jan. 25 episode of “Chicago’s Morning Answer” show on AM 560 The Answer, hosted by Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson. The show was recorded at the Lake County jail and posted on the radio station’s website.
The interview in question was from January 25, 2018, when Dan and Amy were broadcasting live from the Lake County Jail, at the invitation of Sheriff Curran. The “controversial” comments that have generated so much faux outrage came when Dan and Amy introduced Sheriff Curran.
On the broadcast, after Curran is introduced, he says, “Awesome to have y’all here. Um, Amy, um, I, um, not really met. She’s six feet tall; got awesome skin. She’s really nice looking lady. That’s not bad waking up to, Dan?”
“Now you have to compliment me,” says Proft.
“Yeah what are some of his…,” Jacobson says, before Curran breaks in, “Dan is one of the brightest individuals in this industry, if not right at the very tops.”
How salacious! How inappropriate! Let the pearl-clutching and hand-wringing commence. The predictable reaction from Curran’s Democratic challenger John Idleburg:
“When I heard about it, I was appalled at his comment. They were very inappropriate, but it’s consistent with what people who work with him have told me,” he said.
Appalling! What say you, Lauren Beth Gash, a former Democratic state representative who has served as a commissioner on the Illinois Human Rights Commission?
“Considering what’s occurring around the country about issues of sexual harassment, he should know better,” she said. “These comments were made in public and, quite frankly, they are shocking for an elected official.
“It’s disrespectful and alarming,” she continued. “It’s interesting to note that when he was asked to say something nice to the male radio host, he went immediately to his resume and qualifications rather than his looks.”
Disrespectful! Alarming! How about Democrat Erin Cartwright Weinstein, clerk of the Circuit Court in Lake County — how do you respond to this shocking display?
“There he was talking about the reporter, and it was just offensive,” she said. “I thought he was really offensive, when he should have been a role model to look up to.”
Clearly, with all of this shock and outrage, as the victim, Amy Jacobson must be deeply appreciative of the support she’s receiving from a wide range handful of people Democrats in Lake County, right? Well, Amy reacted on-air this morning, as well as on Twitter today.
This is not a #metoo moment. I am 6 feet tall and I have great skin. He was just being observant. This kind of foolishness makes it harder for the real victims out there. A compliment is not a synonym for sexism. It was a lighthearted, fun radio segment. https://t.co/gJyzjWAukl
— Immutable – $IMX (@IMX_Immutable) July 26, 2018
So not really that big of a deal after all, huh?
Dan Proft summed it up well on Twitter:
How dumb is the Chicago political press corps? This dumb. How sniveling and pathetic are Chicago Dem toadies in the suburbs? This sniveling and pathetic. https://t.co/glz8ZlxXg3
— Dan Proft (@DanProft) July 26, 2018
You can hear and watch Dan and Amy discuss this fake controversy during this morning’s broadcast below: