Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday responded to reports that her re-election campaign made an “inappropriately coercive” request to get public school teachers to offer extra credit to students in exchange for helping her “win.”
On MSNBC’s “The Sunday Show,” the Democratic politician admitted to the wrongdoing, which is now under investigation, saying it “was simply a mistake.”
“Look… in our zeal to make sure that young people had an opportunity to participate — and they are flocking to our campaign — one of our staffers reached out through publicly-available information to [Chicago Public Schools] teachers and our city colleges,” Lightgoot told host Jonathan Capehart. “That was just simply a mistake.”
“I’m the mayor of the city. I’m not somebody aspiring to be the mayor. And the wall between the campaign and the official side has to be impenetrable, and it will be, and that was a mistake,” the mayor added.
On Wednesday, a Lightfoot campaign staffer emailed Chicago Public School teachers asking them to give students “credit” for volunteering for the campaign’s “externship program,” reported WTTW News. The Illinois American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called on the Chicago mayor to “renounce” the “inappropriately coercive” email, reported Fox News.
“We’re simply looking for enthusiastic, curious and hard-working young people eager to help Mayor Lightfoot win this spring,” the email said.
A Chicago Public Schools spokesperson alerted WTTW News that “as a rule, the district does not coordinate with any political candidates or campaigns. It has not done so to date and will not be doing so.”
In a full statement, the state’s ACLU branch said, “The Lightfoot campaign’s email to Chicago Public School teachers urging them to offer extra credit to students as an incentive to volunteer on the Mayor’s re-election campaign is inappropriately coercive and raises First Amendment concerns.”
“The Supreme Court has made clear that government officials cannot use their office or power to coerce participation or to punish for lack of participation in political campaigns.” According to the nonprofit, the campaign’s actions “harken back to the worst days of the Chicago political machine.”
“To be clear, this is now Mayor Lightfoot’s responsibility. It cannot be swept away by statements from subordinates in her campaign,” the ACLU continued. “The Mayor should personally and publicly renounce this infraction in strong, explicit language, making clear that no one in Chicago should feel compelled to participate in her re-election campaign. That is what is necessary in this moment.”
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates said Lightfoot’s campaign acted in a manner that was “unethical,” and that she was worried that teachers might face retaliation for refusing to enlist students for the campaign.
The office of Chicago Public Schools’ Inspector General confirmed to NBC News on Thursday that it had “opened an investigation into this matter and we are currently gathering information to determine which, if any, policies have been violated.”
Already, the Chicago mayoral race is heating up, with a recent poll showing Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia in the lead over incumbent Lightfoot.
This article was originally published at The Post Millennial, a part of the Human Events Media Group.
© Copyright 2023 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.
The corrupt, treasonous Democrat elite and the Democrat Party never take responsibility or are held accountable for their own treasonous, unlawful, destructive, dishonorable, immoral actions and agendas. Democrats always blame someone or something else for their own actions and policies. Even if the Democrats are caught “red handed”.
“Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday responded to reports that her re-election campaign made an “inappropriately coercive” request to get public school teachers to offer extra credit to students in exchange for helping her “win.”
On MSNBC’s “The Sunday Show,” the Democratic politician admitted to the wrongdoing, which is now under investigation, saying it “was simply a mistake.””
But now this Lightfoot Blames Staff For Asking Chicago Teachers To Give Extra Credit To Students Who Campaign For Her.
This treasonous, dishonest, destructive, immoral, demonic, socialist Democrat Party and their Democrat RINOs revolves around and its philosophy is based on Total Control, Hate, Lies, Cons, Deceptions, Immorality and the lack of Integrity, Ethics or Honor.
Very good sir not much more to say – Dad played the bone in the Navy kid playing now with a 3.7 God Bless
Honest judge. I didn’t do it.. IT was the one armed bandit!
Of course the kids are all for her they can’t even walk around outside anymore.
Here’s a thought…
If there’s a conservative challenger to Mayor Lightfoot, I’d suggest they launch a new ad campaign in which Mayor Lightfoot is morphed into the leader of the Hitler Youth, Baldur von Schirach. After all, it appears Mayor Lightfoot was attempting to brainwash the kids of Chicago into campaigning for her to help her win.
If the black, hispanic, asian and other minority kids in Chicago knew and understood just how little she really cares for them…
Yep—always the fault of the peons.
SHE’s a libtard. ITS NEVER EVER her fault.
COMMENT Hillary Clinton did same during her last run. She got away with it, lighfoot wont. Not sure it will matter.
She will either get re-elected or someone just as poor will. Chicago never solves its problems, it takes the feds and the DOJ is pretty much on her side.
True. Ill-o-noise is SO CHOKA BLOCK filled with rot, there is LITTLE Hope anyone BUT a libtard ever get’s elected there.
OOPS – caught again! And here comes the denial, again and again. It was just a common mistake – yeah right!
It was a mistake only because it got caught
Honest, Judge,it was a mistake. I thought the bank was giving the money to anyone who asked for it with a gun.
Underhanded busiess as usual; sorry I got caught ops meant to say sorry I was blindsided by one of my staff so I made sure they do not make thatr “mistake” (getting caught) again.