Paul McKinley: The Chicago Tribune ‘has become a flunky of The Machine’

In a press release sent to Examiner Thursday, Illinois 2nd District Republican candidate for Congress Paul McKinley “is calling the Chicago Tribune’s refusal to host a debate between himself and Democrat Robin Kelly evidence of the paper’s complicity in aiding and abetting the Machine.”

As Examiner reported Tuesday, along with McKinley’s “challenge” to Kelly via Twitter Monday for a one-on-one debate, McKinley issued a press release calling upon The Chicago Tribune to sponsor a debate with Kelly “to provide the public with an open and honest discussion of the issues facing the district.”

“We sent you a DM (Direct Message),” The Chicago Tribune responded Monday with a public tweet “Please respond to us ASAP. Thank you.”

“I’ve asked the Tribune, repeatedly, to sponsor a debate between myself and Robin Kelly, where I will answer any and all questions put to me by the editorial board,” McKinley asserted further in the press release, adding that The Tribune responded by saying, “a debate is not likely.”

McKinley told Examiner Tuesday that, rather than offering to sponsor a “public debate,” The Chicago Tribune proposed that Tribune reporters would hold a “closed door meeting” with McKinley and would hold “a separate meeting” with Kelley.

“They wanted to get me in there and ask me some questions,” McKinley told Examiner. “Then get her in there” and ask her questions.

According to McKinley, “The Machine” is trying to shield Kelly from having to make public statements regarding her positions on key issues.

So far, McKinley said that – other than telling her supporters in private that she is “all about banning guns” -- Kelly refuses to come out with public statements to "let voters know where she stands on the issues.”

“She’s part of the Democratic Machine witness protection program,” McKinley mocked, unimpressed by The Chicago Tribune's effort to help Kelly avoid a public debate.

“Given timing,” McKinley replied to The Chicaco Tribune's private offer of a “closed door-out of the public eye” session, “a public debate is more [important] than private meeting. I request the Tribune hold a public debate [with] Kelly and me.”

I will be happy to debate Kelly. Just give me the time and place.

“I further call on the Chicago Tribune to fully investigate and make public the findings of Robin Kelly’s alleged ethics violations,” McKinley added boldly.

“Robin Kelly is in the Machine Witness Protection Program,” McKinley reiterated in Thursday’s press release, “but there’s only one reason she’s able to stay there—the complicity of the media.”

Robin Kelly has not responded to the McKinley campaign’s request for debate before the April 9 election, and will not be attending next week’s WVON roundtable.

“The Tribune has become a flunky of The Machine,” McKinley charged. “It has cowered down to the Machine, and become the slave press under King Bloomberg of New York.”