Reverend James Meeks[/caption] Posted on 04/10/2014 6:36:55 AM PDT by dignitasnews
The winds of political change sent a chill up the backs of national Democrat leaders Tuesday when two long-time Chicago Democrat powerhouses announced their support for Republican businessman Bruce Rauner, in his attempt to unseat incumbent Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Reverend James T. Meeks of the 15,000 member strong Salem Baptist Church and Manny Sanchez, founder and managing partner of Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP, the second largest minority-owned law firm in the United States, both made their intentions public today in statements and interviews given to Fox News. Both men are respected throughout Chicago, particularly among the black and Hispanic communities and their defection in this Democrat strongholds marks a watershed moment in American politics.
Reverend Meeks, a former Democrat State Senator, pulled no punches as he voiced his displeasure with a Democrat Party that has received unprecedented loyalty from African-American voters, with little to show for it. “Our neighborhoods are deplorable! The Democratic party just assume always that 97 percent of the African-American vote will go to the Democratic party. If that assumption is true, they never have to work for our vote,” Meeks said.
In citing the gun violence that plagues Chicago’s West and South Sides, the poverty and the appearance that there is no end in sight. “Our schools are still broken and getting worse. We’re last in employment or business. ,” says Meeks. “And we still get the same promises from the Democratic party, but we don’t get any deliverable.” This sentiment apparently resonated with much of his audience, “The congregation is one hundred percent with Reverend Meeks,” said parishioner Eugene Harris outside the mega-church on Chicago’s fiercely Democratic South Side.
[caption id="attachment_466" align="alignleft" width="150"] Reverend James Meeks[/caption]
While some Republicans within the black community have felt the scorn of the Democrat political machine and been subjected to accusations of "selling out" and labeled an "Uncle Tom," Chicago political analyst Thom Serafin warns that Democrats run the risk of inflaming an already embarrassing situation by attacking Meeks, a products of the South Side, with both street cred and respect among Chicago influence makers. “If you are going to challenge Reverend Meeks, you better have both feet planted on the ground. There aren’t too many people that are able to do that here in this city,” says Serafin.
While the conversions were unrelated and not coordinated, powerful Chicago attorney Manny Sanchez appeared on Fox today, announcing his endorsement for Rauner on Greta Van Susteren's "On the Record." In citing his frustration with the performance of Governor Quinn and the Democrats, "We are dealing with a very serious fiscal challenge in the state of Illinois which he have to address and for the most part, its been ignored. Many centrists see Bruce Rauner as an individual who will bring some reasonableness back." He went on to highlight the looming dangers facing many predominately Democrat states, high unemployment and a pension time bomb which threatens the economic stability of Illinois to appease a powerful bureaucratic culture, "We need someone who is not beholden to a certain ideology and instead responsible to the people."
These two high-profile defections, in a solidly-Democrat city which President Obama calls home and began his political career should serve as notice to Democrats that they can no longer take certain constituencies for granted, and that their attempts at to bring a racial aspect to nearly every political debate is back-firing. This should also serve as notice to the GOP that their increased outreach efforts are beginning to bear fruit.
No lie can perpetuate itself indefinitely. The biggest lie in American politics today is that the Democrat Party is doing right by its most loyal constituencies. The Democrat Party has, today, firm political control over nearly every predominantly black and Hispanic precinct and district in the country. Their elected officials, aides, bureaucratic and union allies control every day to day decision made in minority neighborhoods, but rather than address issues of concern of these residents, they exert their energies on rhetorical class (and racial) warfare, bemoaning the very income equality they are largely responsible for.
For his part, the Reverend Meeks promises to keep the heat on Democrats, while encouraging white conservatives to become more aware of the issues facing minority residents subjected decades of liberal-progressive social engineering, "I wouldn't call us victims, nobody is a victim. But the Lord knows these Democrats have victimized us." Meeks acknowledged, however, that it will take the voices of strong, black conservative voices to open some ears of black Chicago voters that would otherwise be deaf to a wealthy Republican. “It does make me think twice. Maybe he knows a little more than I do, ” said parishioner Natasha Harris.
A parishioner leaving the service indicated that Meek's message may be striking some chords and he turned quickly and quipped, "People say black folks vote Democrat because of the position we're in. Maybe black folks are where we at because we vote Democrat."
OMG that's gonna send a chill down Demcrap leaderships!!!!
Some of their supporters are wakign up to what's been done to them since LBJ!
IIRC, Rev. Meeks was strongly opposed to the redefinition of marriage bill that Madigan and Quinn foisted upon the state of Illinois.
Before that era, most blacks were still in the south, working as sharecroppers or casual laborers. They were attracted to the cities and industries by better wages. Their exit inspired all sorts of Jim Crow laws (the kind libtards won't tell you about) which made it illegal to recruit blacks to move to the cities.
Word got around anyway and it didn't work. The fundamental difference needs to be making entry level jobs pay better than collecting a government check. For that to happen, it isn't so much that the minimum wage needs to be raised as the benefits of collecting a government check needs to be lowered and, with it, some enforcement against the tide of illegal immigration which drives down entry level wages.
Its also clear that the republicans are the only ones doing any real good in Detroit.
If it weren’t for the GOP, Detroit wouldn’t have a police chief telling the people that they have a right and responsibility to arm themselves and fight back.
I know I’m cynical but what’s in their hearts? Will they take the GOP even further left? The way I see it, you can’t parcel-out values. It’s a package deal. You can’t espouse traditional marriage but seek to expand welfare. You can’t embrace equality while touting affirmative action. That’s how we got into this mess.
Republicans have always tried to help them...
The Republican Party was formed to stop the spread of slavery in 1854.
On May 22, 1856: For denouncing Democrats pro-slavery policy, Republican U.S. Senator Charles Sumner (R-MA) is beaten nearly to death on floor of Senate by U.S. Rep. Preston Brooks (D-SC), takes three years to recover.
January 31, 1865: 13th Amendment banning slavery passed by U.S. House with unanimous Republican support, intense Democrat opposition
Republican Party Support: 100%
Democratic Party Support: 23%
Yeah giving them freebies is exactly what I said. /s
When it comes right down to it the best way to help blacks is the best way to help America. Slash taxes and regulations to ease job creation.
The more people working, the more people get irritated about the welfare state.
Win win for the Democrat Party.
“For that to happen, it isn’t so much that the minimum wage needs to be raised as the benefits of collecting a government check needs to be lowered...”
One problem is the sheer number of benefits that people can collect simultaneously. Welfare alone does pay less than a job, but if you add in food stamps, housing subsidies, aid for dependent children, child care subsidies, utility subsidies, etc, then it puts you ahead. Especially if you have multiple moochers under one roof, combining their benefits while splitting expenses.
There needs to be a hard cap on total government benefits from all programs that any household can receive (excluding the disabled and elderly). So, once you reach that cap, applying for another subsidy won’t do you any good.
The Germans have a national policy to train and relocate workers to areas that are creating jobs. They don’t move until the job is guaranteed. It’s a hand up—not a hand out. RAT policy puts people on a shelf in a warehouse and sticks an IV in their arm to sedate them. Giving people real opportunity is the best medicine. Unfortunately, trying to take jobs to the people ignores how the economy actually works. So instead of 7 or 8 guys stuffed into a Model T heading to Detroit, why not facilitate the process? A win for labor. A win for business. A win for government.
Not only hugh but perhaps verge on being very hugh..............time will tell.
Yes and no. Bringing in huge numbers of unskilled and uneducated legal immigrants annually--1.1 million--to take jobs and depress wages is not helpful. Bush 41 doubled the number of legal immigrants. And Reps are supporting the doubling of guest worker programs.
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