During his May 29, 2020 press conference, the Governor said, twice, that the President is a racist. Perhaps he just forgot what he said on a Federal tape recording while talking to Former Gov and now Felon Blagojevich.

Pritzker apologizes for comments on race

• SARA BURNETT and SOPHIA TAREEN Associated Press

• Feb 6, 2018

CHICAGO — Democratic Illinois governor candidate J.B. Pritzker is apologizing for racially insensitive comments captured on a FBI wiretap between him and then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, including saying a popular lawmaker was the “least offensive” African American to appoint to a Senate seat.

The Chicago Tribune late Monday published the previously unreleased recording from a decade-old investigation of Blagojevich, a Democrat now imprisoned for convictions that included trying to trade an appointment to Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash.

Pritzker, a billionaire businessman who’s considered the front runner in the March 20 primary, apologized on Tuesday during a news conference at a southern-style cafeteria on Chicago’s West Side where he was joined by African-American supporters.

“I regret the conversations in many ways, the words that I used, and the things that I didn’t say on that call that I would have preferred to have said… I can do better and I have,” Pritzker said. “I clearly made a mistake that day and I clearly wasn’t my best self.”

On the recording, Pritzker suggests Blagojevich appoint Secretary of State Jesse White rather than other African- Americans, including Jesse Jackson Jr. or Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. He says doing so “covers you on the African-American thing.”

“Of all the African-Americans that I can think that are sort of like qualified … and people will say ‘Oh – that’s, you know that’s, that’s a pretty good pick,’ the one that’s least offensive and maybe gets you the most because it gets you that secretary of state appointment is Jesse White.”

Pritzker also says the secretary of state position is “the key spot … that controls jobs, etc.” and that by appointing White to the Senate, Blagojevich wouldn’t have to name an African-American to the state post.

Later in the call, Pritzker is heard laughing as Blagojevich jokes about appointing Obama’s former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose comments dogged Obama’s 2008 campaign. Among other things, Wright said the U.S. brought on the Sept. 11 attacks by committing terrorism against others and that people should sing “God Damn America” rather than “God Bless America.”

On the call, Blagojevich mimics Wright, imagining him saying “God Damn America” on the floor of the Senate.

“That’s funny,” Pritzker says.

Pritzker just called Trump a racist on Fox news today. He said he doesn’t know how much more “blunt” he can be about that. Lori Lightfoot just told Trump “F U” . These are your leaders in Illinois folks. I don’t care if you do or do not like someone. No human being should ever tell someone to “F U” especially on public television. And no one should ever call anyone a racist without any proof, and I can assure you he has no proof. And btw since they are doing name calling, let’s make it a fair fight. Let me be “blunt” if I will. Pritzker you are a crook! Pritzker you are a fraud! Pritzker you are Tyrant! To be more blunt, Pritzker you are an idiot! The obvious disdain for our president shows through with these idiots in office. No wonder no one believes them when they give us their “COVID” statistics.