Even though he’s got the endorsement of Chicago’s powerful Teamsters Joint Council 25 in his back pocket, Rahm Emanuel must feel that he’s got to push a few more buttons in order to get over the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff election. As a result, his latest TV ad appears to be trying to tap into voter anger over public-sector workers and the debt facing Chicago right now [via The Chicago Tribune]:

Emanuel’s evisceration of public-sector workers is not sitting well with AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer, who responded with:

City workers are public servants, not punching bags. It’s very disappointing that, in the wake of a devastating storm through which so many public employees worked tirelessly to aid their fellow Chicagoans, mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel’s new campaign ad impugns their integrity and dedication. Fire fighters, police officers, plow drivers, 311 operators, CTA drivers, emergency responders and countless others stood tall in a crisis and kept our city running. They deserve thanks, not a crass commercial that seeks to discredit them. Emanuel should withdraw this ad now and apologize. Chicago voters deserve a campaign focused on the issues that matter to working families–good jobs, good schools, and safe streets among them–not attack politics that try to turn our city against itself.

You may not like him, but you’ve got to admit, Rahm Emanuel has got chutzpah.
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“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.”  Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

X-posted.