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."
Who subjected them to the decades of it???? Themselves. Willingly.
Well said!
This thread needs a dose of TRUTH !
No Kjam22, Hell isn’t freezing over. Rauner is a liberal RINO whom a lot of democrats are supporting against the incompetent democrat Governor. The corrupt party bosses who run this state selected Rauner to win this election.
James Meek and friends are not becoming conservatives or Republicans, they are backing 1 RINO.
WE conservatives voted for Bill Brady who probably won in 2010, but thanks to voter fraud and morons who voted third party Quinn won.
Dillard RINO, Rauner Democrat buddy of Rahm and is now running a commercial where his wife proudly states she is a Democrat!!!
Bruce Rauner bought everyone off, and he bought off these ministers. Chicagolady linked a list of some of Rauner's sponsors, one of them is involved with the Mexican Drug Cartel.
So those are the people who are supporting Rauner, no thank you.
Ok that takes care of Bush 41. Is that all?
Did you read the article I linked to in my post?
“People say black folks vote Democrat because of the position we’re in. Maybe black folks are where we at because we vote Democrat.”
That is one of the best lines said, something a white person couldn’t say. We need to get these leaders elected to local office.
Except that the guy saying it has no credibility, nor does the fake Republican he is endorsing.
Rather I should say, the “Reverend” who inspired said parishioner to make the comment...
Ok I see what you’re saying.
Sorry, I think I was on a ‘slavery’ issue.
These aholes are RINOs and they need to go.
This is a major shift. If Rauner wins he’ll be up against Democrats with solid majorities. That’s actually a good thing for him. It’ll give him a bully pulpit to hammer intransigent, “do nothing” Democrats.
Madigan is very concerned and working overtime to put his puppet Quinn back into office. Rauner isn’t the perfect FReeper candidate, but you work with what you’ve got.
There are numerous lines of commonality that conservatives share with Urban voters. Giuliani won based on those. We can win based on those too. The key is making urban life work and that will come via deregulation and tax reduction.
It’s a sea change that could spell dividends long term, if the GOP/conservatives take advantage of it. Sadly, the Cook County GOP is run by a wife abusing moron. Go figure.
They are attracted to cities for the very same reasons everybody is: improved lifestyle. If the GOP becomes the party of urban success, it’s over for the Democrats.
Rauner is a RINO, but he’s what we’ve got. There really wasn’t a solid conservative running who could beat Quinn. Rauner is rich, connected and doing a great job with outreach. I suspect he’s cut a deal with Rahm to bailout Chicago. It won’t happen as it is too toxic a subject, but a Rauner victory will be good. Rauner just staying out of prison will be a victory in itself. It would be nice to see Quinn do a perp walk.
Go Quinn!
That’s not an accurate history of why blacks left the GOP.
That’s not an accurate history of why blacks left the GOP.
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