* Careful what you pray for…
“I don’t have enough words to say thank you. All I can say is I’ll give you my whole heart and soul,” State Sen. Toi Hutchison said Wednesday as a group of African-American ministers prayed that the other black candidates- Robin Kelly, Alderman Anthony Beale and State Senator Napoleon Harris would remove themselves from the ballot. They believe by having one black candidate, it would be easier for an African-American to win on February 26.
Not long after that prayer, Napoleon Harris dropped out - and endorsed Robin Kelly.
Oops.
Also, after whacking Kelly for accepting Harris’ endorsement, who is pro-life and against gay marriage, you gotta wonder if any of those ministers endorsing Hutchinson feel the same way.
* Related…
* Gun violence a big issue at 2nd District candidates debate
* Gun violence takes center stage in Congressional race
* VIDEO: 2nd CD candidates’ debate
LIVE session coverage...
- WazUp - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:05 am:
A ship was sinking in the middle of a storm, and the captain called out to the crew and said, “Does anyone here know how to pray?”
One man stepped forward and said, “Yes sir, I know how to pray.”
The captain said, “Wonderful, you pray while the rest of us put on life jackets–we’re one short.”
- Coach - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:08 am:
Are the ministers taking requests? It sure would be nice if they’d pray for creditors to forgive my credit card debt.
- walkinfool - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:15 am:
If she had the chance and foresight — Toi should have asked that any prayer be for the health and well-being of all in the race, and that the needs of the community be met.
Whatever.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:17 am:
In 1988, when Pat Robertson was running for president, opponents were pedaling tape from The 700 Club where he claimed his prayers kept Hurricane Gloria from striking the Virginia coast in 1985.
Trouble was, Gloria turned north and whacked Long Island and Connecticut, killing eight and causing about $900 million in damage.
So yes, be careful with those prayers.
- Ahoy! - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:20 am:
Is Hutchison also going to have a press release with god’s endorsement as well? Having a prayer vigil to have others drop out of a race seems like a self-serving prayer, like asking god for a winning lottery ticket.
- Wowza - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:24 am:
Maybe Toi can ask ministers to pray for forgiveness, after telling ministers that she was not running and that Robin Kelly was the best candidate! Then going back on her word and running, Toi campaign slogan should be “a women of her word..not!”
- MrJM - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:26 am:
…in mysterious ways.
– MrJM
- Jaded - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:33 am:
Clearly Robertson wasn’t trying to protect Connecticut and Long Island. Probably didn’t have many votes there anyway.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:45 am:
As an atheist, I have to say praying for opponents to drop out of a race seems a bit skeevy.
- Jasper - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:00 pm:
At what point will we learn that basing a vote on race is a bad thing? And that trying to manipulate the field in hopes that voters will vote based on race is also a pretty bad thing?
Maybe alleged Christian ministers should give that some thought. Maybe they should look into a candidate based on the content of their character rather than on the color of their skin.
- just sayin' - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:01 pm:
God has better things to do then get involved in a Congressional primary contest.
- siriusly - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:07 pm:
Does Toi have the picture of all the ministers laying their hands on her like they did for Emil Jones when he ran for congress? I loved that picture, please someone have it . . .
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:13 pm:
Can they help Toi with the pension problem? That would be big.
- Langhorne - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:15 pm:
Acc to a recent poll, a quarter of Americans believe god has an effect on the outcome of sporting events. So why not candidates and elections. (Tho this may explain the OJ verdict. God was too busy calling balls and strikes and missed the verdict)
- ChicagoDem - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
How many times do we see ministers praying on tv asking God to stop the violence in Englewood. I guess God is not listening because the killings continue. Perhaps God doesn’t like ministers trivializing prayer by praying in front of tv cameras.
- Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:48 pm:
Praying for people to drop out of the race has a couple problems that come to mind.
Sometimes candidates quit races because something awful happens in their lives. If a candidate were to have a family member struck ill or the candidate gets gravely injured, do you want to be asked, “Did God answer your prayers?”
Also, there’s something disrespectful to the voters. If someone prays that candidates drop out, s/he’s kinda saying that voters are commodities to be shifted around by bosses.
It would be better to pray for success getting the candidates message out so voters can make an informed decision. This kinda prayer carries the implication that the candidate has the best message and it implies the people praying will help the candidate get the message out.
My two cents.
- BleugrassBoy - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:52 pm:
Matthew 6:5-8 Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
- b - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 1:29 pm:
the involvement of african american pastors in politics is a legacy of the struggle of african americans in this country. it is a part of this country’s culture. that being said, now-a-days their role seems cheapened at times based on some of the “causes” some fight for- or get paid to fight for. tough world. hard to judge. just my two cents
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 1:40 pm:
Toi continues playing around.
While Sen. Hutchinson is busy bullying opponents and disrespecting colleagues, Kelly is busy building coalitions and pulling in endorsements.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 1:47 pm:
Dear ABC:
It is spelled Hutchi N son.
Not Hutchison.
I realize this may somehow be confusing, and that I am only running for Congress after serving as a State Senator for 4 years, but I would appreciate it if you got my name right.
It’s the little things that count.
Thanks ever so much,
Sen. Toi HutchiNson
- Wumpus - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:08 pm:
My favorite line was Debbie Halverson complaining of racial politics. Welcome to Chicago, IL, USA.
Are the focus groups telling them that guns ar ethe biggest issue? If so, the voters deserve this race.
- bored now - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:21 pm:
maybe god is with a different set of ministers praying for something in this race…
- bored now - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:23 pm:
Formerly Known As: you forgot building a broad coalition of the various, diverse elements of the 2nd CD. hey, toi’s got the democratic machine’s support. someone has to rally the reformers and the rest of the electorate…
- OneMan - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:33 pm:
Glad to see that Schock’s social media opinion folks have clients from both parties
- Bill - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 3:10 pm:
==toi’s got the democratic machine’s support. someone has to rally the reformers and the rest of the electorate… ==
C’mon bored. Give it a rest. There’s only one machine out there and it ain’t supporting Toi and who are the reformers? You? Robin?
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 3:25 pm:
@OneMan Nothing better than a little free speech.
Terrible thing when it hits a nerve, however.
- bored now - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 4:25 pm:
bill: have you seen the host committee list for toi’s funder in springfield? if madigan ain’t the machine, i don’t know who is!
- bored now - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 4:27 pm:
heh. or her indiana funder!
- Church Lady - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 6:14 pm:
Well, if Madigan is supporting her, I’m afraid she just lost my vote.
- Soccertease - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 8:57 pm:
Most reasonable people would pick up the phone or set up meetings with the other candidates to strategize and determine the best black candidate to win. The prayer thing is just stupid.