The Chicago Tribune reports that Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, said Gov. Bruce Rauner, R-Ill., is an Islamic State recruit.
“Rauner is the new ISIS recruit,” she said. “Yes, I said it, and I’ll say it again. Bruce Rauner is a liar. And, you know, I’ve been reading in the news lately all about these ISIS recruits popping up all over the place — has Homeland Security checked this man out yet? Because the things he’s doing look like acts of terror on poor and working-class people.”
Lewis was speaking to a lunch Wednesday at the City Club of Chicago.
Rauner’s office quickly responded: “This kind of rhetoric has no place in American public discourse and sets a terrible example for our kids.”
The American Federation of Teachers did not immediately respond to a Washington Examiner inquiry over whether they would defend or condemn Lewis’ “ISIS recruit” comment. The AFT is the national affiliate of the Chicago Teachers Union.
This isn’t the first time, even this week, that Lewis has resorted to exaggeration. Monday, she said, “[Chicago Public Schools leaders want] to stand on us, put their boots on our necks and then tell us we have to like it.” In the past, she has called Rauner a “sociopath” and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel the “murder mayor.”
The state legislature is in budget negotiations, with some Democrats calling for a tax on millionaires with revenue going toward education. Such a tax would require a constitutional amendment, however. A House vote failed, with some Democrats opposed, that would have allowed a ballot referendum to decide on the constitutional amendment.
The union is threatening to go on strike as soon as May 16. They are currently negotiating a new contract with CPS that expired in June 2015.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
