The Meeks beat
Thursday, Apr 13, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Sen. Meeks would like to take back that “Sears Tower” comment, according to Christianity Today:
Meeks preached to his church on March 26 telling white churches to call him and tell him to run for governor.
“If I do run and there are two people in the race who both are not standing for morality, if I don’t have every white Christian vote in the state of Illinois, I will stand on top of the Sears Tower and call every one of ya’ll racist,” he said to his congregation.
Wheaton College political scientist Helene Slessarev-Jamir said Meeks cannot expect to gain many white voters if he repeats similar comments.
“This isn’t the kind of rhetoric that is going to work in building the bridges you need to run for statewide office,” she said. “And I’m not sure they will see common interest with other parts of his political program, even though they may be in agreement with him on abortion or gay issues.”
When asked about his statement, Meeks said, “That is a quote I would take back if I could say it again. My statement was simply saying that I would be extremely disappointed if it boils down to a race issue.”
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 7:07 am:
So with other words, a different message for different audiences. Not a uniter but a divider.
Sen/Rev Meeks - we currently have a divider as governor. We don’t need the new one next year to also be a divider.
- Mississippi King - Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 7:20 am:
At least he was speaking his mind when he said that. That’s one thing that separates he and JBT from Milorad
- Marta Elena - Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 7:39 am:
A close friend is a long time member of Salem Baptist Church and when the comments were reported through the media - we both laughed!
We laughed because Reverend Meeks is a powerful and quite exhuberant preacher at the podium - and there are many times that is he is in the spirit.
Honestly, it is weird to see reports are church. Do they get into the spirit of the sermon? Do they get up and express their love in song?
Now the entire state of Illinois knows that regular members of church are urged to stay home because of the expected overflow of visitors on Easter Day - yes, I see how that should be NEWS!
NOT!
- Levois - Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 10:29 am:
Not the wisest words said. And Anon 7:07 is right he used different rhetoric with different audiences. All politicians seem to do that. I think it’s great that Meeks has said he’ll choose his words carefully. He should always speak his mind of course.
- Harold's Apparition - Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 12:00 pm:
I am either really naive or sorely misled by the Good Reverand Senator. When he came to Springfield, he was widely regarded as a deal maker/uniter. I actually thought (and this is the naive part) that he might actually be “the real deal” and rise above the fray. But ever since his bullsh*t run in with the Chicago Police last year, he has been off the rails. He is more and more like Jesse Jackson (Sr & Jr) every day where he is willing to do anything to get his name in the paper in order to resurrect the ghost of Mayor Washington’s election in 1983 by firing up the African American base. Since when does a reverand state senator’s meeting with a catholic cardinal merit FRONT PAGE coverage in a major daily newspaper?
- grand old partisan - Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 12:52 pm:
I’m glad he has the good sense to regret the remark, but I have to wonder if he is doing so genuinely, or for the right reasons. As far as I can tell from his statement, he is still missing the point.
I think it’s appalling to try and bully people into voting for you by preemptively accusing them of racism if they do not. The only aspect of Meek’s platform that conservative Republicans agree with is the part that he will have the least ability to act on. Meanwhile, the parts of his platform to which they are diametrically opposed are ones that he might actually be able to muscle through the GA. Given that, the good Reverend needs to recognize that there are many reasons why white conservatives would oppose his candidacy despite his pro-life stance. If he recognizes that and starts to reshape his platform on other issues accordingly, in order to broaden his appeal, he might actually have a shot at being a serious player in the race. And if he recognizes that after losing, and restrains himself from declaring racism as the only reason he loses, then he will actually have a shot at continuing to be a serious player in the future.
- Cal Skinner - Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 1:31 pm:
His desired to raise income taxes 67% (and sales taxes?) will be what does him in in the suburbs.