A Lesson For Candidates: Don't Tell #TallTales

Good things rarely come to political candidates who tell voters about credentials they have for office that just aren't true.  Mike Frerichs isn't letting the truth (about him NOT being a CPA) stand in his way it seems.

What Happens When A Candidate Stretches The Truth About His Credentials

We're about to find out.  And...that's because Mike Frerichs, candidate for Illinois State Treasurer was out this morning spreading the news that he's a Certified Public Accountant.  Unfortunately for Mike and his team there's an unfortunate fact in the way:  he's NOT a CPA.  Never has been. Never was.

In fact, he was a Germanic Studies major.  Yes...Germanic Studies.  A fine major.  But..not really anything close to a CPA.

The Truth Team was just out on the street this am down in Champaign asking voters what they thought of Mike Frerichs latest brag about him being a CPA.  Their thoughts:

Voters React to Latest Boast From Mike Frerichs About Him Being A CPA

The reaction is coming in fast and strong from voters all across Illinois after they have heard the #TallTale that Mike Frerichs spun this morning where he boasted about being a Certified Public Accountant.

Unfortunately...he's NOT a CPA.  And...voters aren't surprised:

Mike Frerichs Now Touting That He's A CPA (He's NOT!)

Well...this certainly is interesting.

Mike Frerichs - who is running for Illinois Treasurer - is now out touting the fact that he's the "only certified public accountant in the race" for Treasurer.

His official 'MikeforIllinois' Twitter handle re-tweeted this message to voters all across Illinois.

The interesting part?

Mike Frerichs is NOT a certified public accountant.

Is that what he wants voters to believe?  A CPA wouldn't have botched the Champaign County ERI program and cost taxpayers millions of dollars would he?

3rd Times The Charm For Mike Frerichs On Facebook?

Over on Facebook (Mike Frerichs' favorite place!), his team can't get out of their way.

It took them three times to just get one silly post right on their wall:

Took an hour and 3 tries just to get their Facebook mentions right?  Sounds about right to us.

That's the Gaffeman!

2nd Time Mike Frerichs Gets Caught Proposing Things Already In Place In Treasurer's Office

Those of you who have followed the adventures of The Gaffeman - Mike Frerichs - and his campaign for Illinois Treasurer have likely already seen the first instance of a time when Mike - and his big, big, big Yale brain - proposed something to implement in the Treasurer's office that *already* exists.

It was back in September when Mike Frerichs and his crack team of policy analysts rolled out his 'Eco-Ag" proposal.  You remember that one right?  It was the one filled with typos, grammar mistakes and the biggest piece of it, unfortunately.....already was implemented by current Treasurer Dan Rutherford?

Oh...you don't remember that?  Check out our post on the subject here.

You're back?  Ok...let's review the key piece:  Mike Frerichs signature proposal was ALREADY in place!

Mike Frerichs’ lack of knowledge of the office he seeks to occupy is nothing short of staggering. Time and again the Democratic State Senator has exhibited a disturbing level of unawareness that should deeply concern Illinois voters,” said Kevin Artl, Cross for Treasurer Campaign Manager. 

“His last miscue? Frerichs announced a new program for farmers, that already exists. This comes on the heels of Frerichs calling for a divestiture of Illinois’ investment in Israel, which followed a litany of other gaffes. A clear indication of how someone will perform in office is reflected in how they conducted themselves previously, and thus far, Frerichs has demonstrated a penchant for loving every tax increase that crossed his desk and tripping all over himself on the campaign trail.”

That happening once is pretty bad.  But...when you get called out during your campaign a second time for something else you are proposing?  Awful.

But...that's exactly what the Quincy Herald-Whig did this weekend when they pooh-pooh'd Mike Frerichs and his big, important idea of an audit of the office of the Treasurer.

Ummm...the Quincy Herald-Whig says, that too....is already in place.  Strike 2, Mike:

Frerichs has been a member of the state Senate for eight years and was previously the Champaign County auditor. He wants to conduct an audit of the treasurer's office and put an end to "cronyism and corruption" among those he supervises. 

While those may be worthy goals, audits of all state offices are conducted periodically, and as a constitutional officer, Frerichs or anyone else would have the power to safeguard against wrong-doing by those under his supervision.

Emphasis, ours.

When you don't have any ideas, you just talk about stuff that already is in place?  We guess.

Just another day in the life of The Gaffeman - Mike Frerichs.

Another Mike Frerichs Blunder: Proposes A Plan That Already Exists In Illinois

As we alluded to earlier today, the typos, mistakes, and errors that are sprinkled throughout the "Eco-Ag" infographic that the Mike Frerichs for State Treasurer campaign put out are just a VERY small part of the overall issue with what Mike Frerichs is proposing.

And...this bigger problem really speaks to his lack of knowledge of what the Illinois Treasurer actually does.  We have to ask, "Does Mike Frerichs really know what it take to be Treasurer?"

The details:  Turns out, the signature "Eco-Ag" proposal that the Frerichs campaign spent the summer designing is in fact rendered moot.  As in...it already exists.  There's no reason to spend a minute discussing the efficacy of the program.  Zero.

For some color, let's turn to this weekend's edition of the Springfield State Journal-Register where we find out - via a confirmation from the current State Treasurer's office - that EVERYTHING...yes EVERYTHING that Mike Frerichs has proposed is ALREADY in place.

“Mike Frerichs’ lack of knowledge of the office he seeks to occupy is nothing short of staggering. Time and again the Democratic State Senator has exhibited a disturbing level of unawareness that should deeply concern Illinois voters,” said Kevin Artl, Cross for Treasurer Campaign Manager. “His last miscue? Frerichs announced a new program for farmers, that already exists. This comes on the heels of Frerichs calling for a divestiture of Illinois’ investment in Israel, which followed a litany of other gaffes. A clear indication of how someone will perform in office is reflected in how they conducted themselves previously, and thus far, Frerichs has demonstrated a penchant for loving every tax increase that crossed his desk and tripping all over himself on the campaign trail.”

So...let us get this straight:  The same guy who didn't know that the only foreign investment that the State of Illinois makes is in Israel is the candidate who proposes a program that already exists?

Thanks for wasting everyone's time here, Mike.

Also...*this* is why people are cynical about politics:  everyone thinks that candidates just make stuff up.  Turns out, in Mike Frerichs' case: it is true.