Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks on stage before speaking during campaign rally at the Georgia World Congress Center on Feb. 21, 2016.
(Branden Camp / Getty Images)
Rick PearsonChicago Tribune
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump took to Twitter on Monday to denounce a super political action committee opposing his campaign that's primarily funded by Marlene Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs.
“I hear the Rickets (sic) family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $'s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!” wrote Trump, the businessman and reality TV show star who is no stranger to making pronouncements, name-calling denunciations and predictions via social media.
May 2012: Ricketts family moves to control fallout on Obama attack ad
Trump's message apparently was in response to a USA Today story noting that Ricketts, the family matriarch who lives in Nebraska, had put $3 million into the Our Principles PAC in January. The PAC has spent about $3.5 million in ads, mailings and other efforts to oppose Trump, federal records show.
Ricketts had been an early backer of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's failed presidential campaign, giving an allied super PAC $5 million, which made her one of his top supporters. But she also sprinkled the infield, giving $10,000 to PACs backing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Rubio is the only candidate on that list still in the Republican presidential contest.
Ricketts is married to Joe Ricketts, the billionaire T.D. Ameritrade founder. In October 2009, the couple formed a trust on behalf of their family that acquired a 95 percent controlling interest in the Cubs and Wrigley Field. Both Marlene and Joe Ricketts are conservatives, and son Pete is governor of Nebraska.
A spokeswoman for the super PAC told USA Today that it will continue to oppose Trump and his “liberal statements and inconsistencies” and is looking to the March 1 Super Tuesday states for places “in which to launch aggressive efforts.”
A Chicago-based Ricketts family spokesman said the team is not commenting on Trump's missive.
The political activity of Joe Ricketts has created past problems. In May 2012, the Ricketts family disavowed a plan presented to Joe Ricketts that would have used $10 million in super PAC ads to link a re-election-seeking President Barack Obama to the controversial statements of his one-time pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
The proposal infuriated Mayor Rahm Emanuel at a time the Cubs were seeking tax money to help reconstruct Wrigley Field. Emanuel, Obama's first White House chief of staff, called the super PAC plan “insulting to the president (and) it's insulting to the country.”
The Ricketts family is no stranger to political fundraising at the state level.
Of the couple's children, Laura Ricketts is a major Democratic donor, having given out more than $404,000 since 2007 to state and local candidates, including Emanuel, former Gov. Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. Alvarez is seeking re-election, and Preckwinkle is backing her former chief of staff, Kim Foxx, for the post. Laura Ricketts has given Alvarez $21,750, including $2,000 this campaign cycle.
Todd Ricketts has given nearly $133,000 to state and local candidates, including $2,500 each to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Emanuel. In 2014, he gave $50,000 to the Liberty Principles PAC, led by conservative talk show host and Rauner ally Dan Proft, and another $10,000 to the state Republican Party.
Pete Ricketts, the Nebraska governor, has given $12,500 in Illinois donations including $10,000 to the state GOP and $2,500 to Rauner in 2014.
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts has given more than $61,000, including $50,000 to the failed 2014 effort for a constitutional amendment aimed at removing much of the politics from redrawing legislative boundaries. In Illinois, Joe and Marlene Ricketts have given $17,500 in state candidate donations, including $10,000 to the Illinois GOP and $2,500 to Rauner in 2010.
Above is from: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-donald-trump-calls-out-cubs-owners-20160222-story.html
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