Part 1: Has Pro-Family Movement Succumbed To "Money Changers"? Has Movement Lost Its Way?

RFFM.org ^ | January 17, 2010 | Daniel T. Zanoza

[Daniel T. Zanoza]

A Bit Of Personal History

Many RFFM.org readers aren't aware of my history. I address this point not because I am important, but due to the fact of what I have seen during the 17 years I have been a political activist. Though this column pertains to Illinois, it can certainly be repeated throughout the nation.

I formed what now is called RFFM.org a little over 17 years ago. The organization was strictly meant to advocate pro-family issues and how conservative causes are represented in the establishment media. Like many, I was naive when I first launched this endeavor. However, it soon become evident politics became intertwined with social activism. I originally only cared about the issue of abortion, but RFFM.org quickly expanded into advocacy regarding other pro-family issues, including the support for Second Amendment rights, traditional marriage and less taxation. I am not a fiscal conservative, but I do believe high taxation and big government has played a significant role in the demise of American culture.

I had my first venture into politics when I worked to support both state Sen. Al Salvi who ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996 and then-state Sen. Peter Fitzgerald who went on to take the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat incumbent Carol Moseley-Braun in 1998. Both Salvi and Fitzgerald were strong, pro-family conservatives and the choice for pro-family voters was an easy one. Both men pulled off huge defeats against GOP establishment favorites. Salvi defeated Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra and Fitzgerald upset state Comptroller Loleta Didrikson. These two events sent shock waves through the Illinois GOP establishment.

It had always been said social conservatives could not win primaries, let alone general elections. Salvi came close, but Fitzgerald broke threw the ice. But there were eyes watching, oh so sinister eyes. The GOP establishment realized this was a trend that needed to be stopped. There were also those who saw an opportunity to get wealthy as political consultants. Here is something else that occurred. Candidates need money and there are individuals who have money. This often results in undue influence, sometimes tainting the purity of good men or women.

The Combine

Quickly, Republican Party hacks realized something needed to be done to halt this trend.

A coalition referred to as the "Combine" saw they could not control how these men and women would vote once elected. They would not support things like "pay to play" and other unholy types of Chicago-style politics which had dominated the state up until Fitzgerald's election.

Here's an example of the word "Combine" in action. Democrat Rod Blagojevich was first elected Governor of Illinois in 2002. His opponent received fundraising largesse from former Republican Illinois Governor James "Big Jim" Thompson--who many believe is still calling the shots in the Illinois GOP. In the same voting cycle, Thompson's then-law firm, Winston & Strawn, held a fundraiser for Blagojevich. Indeed, Thompson himself joined Blagojevich's transition team after Blagojevich's election. Hence, the word "Combine." A Daley Machine Governor, supported by a leading member of the Republican Party. The implications one can take from this is the state of Illinois is divvied up between the Daley Democratic Machine in Chicago and the GOP establishment in Springfield. No wonder Illinois is considered one of the three most corrupt states in America, along with New Jersey and Louisiana.

Action needed to be taken to stop social conservatives who could not be corrupted. I believe a divide and conquer strategy was developed by GOP hacks and greedy political consultants who whispered in the ear of every potential candidate who would listen that they could win an election.

Today, the Illinois Republican Party is in chaos as a result of good and ill-intentioned individuals. For example, in the Illinois GOP gubernatorial primary there are a total of seven candidates. Listed in the order they appear on the GOP primary ballot are: Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk W. Dillard, Robert J. "Bob" Schillerstrom, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan and Andy McKenna. Some of these candidates are not part of the Combine; some come from its deepest heart.

It would take a Newtonian mathematician to figure out what's going on here. In Part 2 of this series I will address this issue.