5:19 p.m. | Updated Joe Ricketts, the billionaire behind the proposal to run ads highlighting President Obama’s relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, has released a statement disavowing the politics it represents. The statement, released through Brian Baker, president of his “Super PAC,” the Ending Spending Action Fund, asserts that the proposal was merely that.
Joe Ricketts is a registered independent, a fiscal conservative and an outspoken critic of the Obama administration, but he is neither the author nor the funder of the so-called Ricketts Plan to defeat Mr. Obama that The New York Times wrote about this morning. Not only was this plan merely a proposal — one of several submitted to the Ending Spending Action Fund by third-party vendors — but it reflects an approach to politics that Mr. Ricketts rejects and it was never a plan to be accepted but only a suggestion for a direction to take. Mr. Ricketts intends to work hard to help elect a president this fall who shares his commitment to economic responsibility, but his efforts are and will continue to be focused entirely on questions of fiscal policy, not attacks that seek to divide us socially or culturally.
But in an interview on Wednesday evening, Mr. Baker did not reject the contents of the advertising proposal. The statement from Mr. Baker was released on Thursday as the Ricketts family sought to respond to the fallout from the story.
The proposal, however, indicates that Mr. Ricketts was more than a passing participant.
It opens with a quote from Mr. Ricketts saying if an advertisement about Rev. Wright that Mr. McCain’s team had produced four years ago – which Mr. McCain rejected – had aired, “They’d never have elected Barack Obama.”
And, a note about staffing for the effort reads, “With your preliminary approval at the New York meeting, we have discussed this plan in highly confidential terms with the following proposed team members. All are ready to jump into action upon plan approval.”
Two members of the Ricketts family on Thursday distanced themselves from the political discussion, but not the family.
A furor erupted in Chicago – Mr. Obama’s hometown – over the disclosure of the advertising plan. The Ricketts family, which owns the Chicago Cubs, suddenly became entangled in city politics because the Cubs are pursuing city and state assistance for a $300 million renovation of Wrigley Field.
Tom Ricketts, the chairman of the Chicago Cubs, issued a statement, saying: “I repudiate any return to racially divisive issues in this year’s presidential campaign or in any setting—like my father has.
“My focus is on one of the great American pastimes, baseball. And our team and every other Major League Baseball team are great examples of people of diverse backgrounds working together towards a common goal. I shall have no further comment on this or any other election year political issue. My full-time focus is on making the Chicago Cubs a World Series champion preserving Wrigley Field and making the Chicago Cubs a great corporate citizen.”
Laura Ricketts, a Chicago lawyer who is a member of the National Finance Committee for the President Obama’s re-election campaign, did not distance herself from her family in a statement.
“All of my family members and I love this country and are passionate about doing what is right for the country. That love of country was instilled in us by my father. We have different political views on how to achieve what is best for the future of America, but we agree that each of us is entitled to our own views and our right to voice those views.
“Though we may have diverse political views, above all we love and respect each other.
“My own personal view is that President Obama has been a great leader in very difficult times. He has been leading us to an economic recovery; served with great honor as commander-in-chief during a time of war; been a strong proponent on issues important to women and just last week he exhibited great courage in endorsing the freedom to marry for Gay and Lesbian Americans.
“I am doing all that I can to help President Obama get re-elected because it is what I believe is best for America.”
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