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I’m glad to see that the media is finally starting to realize that Meeks is not just bluffing here. There’s more going on than the political cynics have believed.
State Sen. James Meeks recently met with Cardinal Francis George about Meeks’ possible third-party run for governor — the strongest indication yet the Baptist minister is serious about the idea and intends to use his conservative beliefs to attract voters.Meeks, pastor of Chicago’s largest African-American church, stopped short of seeking a political endorsement from George during the one-hour-plus breakfast meeting at the cardinal’s home on April 1, knowledgeable sources said.
Rather, he explained the rationale behind his interest in running for governor and sought advice from George about whether key issues he would spotlight, including his stances against abortion and gay marriage, would resonate with Roman Catholics and Evangelical Christians.
Both of Meeks’ potential opponents — Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and GOP state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka — support abortion rights.
Meeks, who requested the meeting, also told George that providing more money for public schools would be a key part of his potential candidacy. The subject of public funding for Catholic schools did not come up, the sources said.
Take it from someone who has spent a lot of time with Meeks in the past few weeks, the guy is serious. Will he run? I don’t know. But he is a lot further along in his plans than most people realize.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 7:49 am
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“The subject of public funding for Catholic schools did not come up, the sources said.”
That’s too bad. Maybe Cardinal George and Meeks can get together on this issue. Illinois Republicans don’t seem to have the stomach for it and Illinois Democrats avoid it like the plague (gotta keep the Chicago Teachers Union happy, I suppose).
However, look for the reauthorization of the federal NCLB (No Child Left Behind) law in 2007 to expand successful voucher/scholoarship programs that are off and running in Florida, Milwaukee, Washington D.C. and elsewhare.
Meanwhile, watch Chicago Public Schools continue to be annually perplexed by increasingly severe budget crises ($500 million annual teachers pension contribution within a few short years) and watch the Chicago Archdiocese’s once massive school system continue to degenerate due to unaffordable tuition.
If Meeks wants to electrify Illinois constituents, particularly working families with kids in public schools, he should consider turning down the volume on the anti-gay and anti-choice theme, and look toward allowing poor, mostly minority students to attend Catholic and other private schools.
Comment by Cosi Fan Tutti Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 8:03 am
Agree with Cosi. (I do think pundits quoted in the press should not mischaracterize the Catholic church as anti-gay.)
http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/
2006/04/more-on-meeks.html
Comment by Backyard Conservative Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 8:19 am
Rev. Meeks is seeking approval from Cardinal George?
Why would he stoop to that level?
Cardinal George will probably provide a Vatican-approved lecture about how Rev. Meeks does not follow a true religion.
It seems so long ago when we Chicago Catholics could be proud of our Cardinal.
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 9:45 am
meeks is NOT going to run. he is just getting press in the hopes of getting additional hand outs from the democratic party. takes a page from the master of manipulation jesse jackson. although jesse usually holds a gun to the head o corporations. meeks can’t really do the jesse jackson until he demonstrates he has real power, which this manuever, if successful, will show people. this about meeks.
Comment by ron Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 9:59 am
Rev. Meeks does not lie and he does not bluff. He says what he means and means what he says.
Comment by The original Bill Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 11:08 am
He ain’t running.Blago will grease his pocket and he will be first in line to vote for Blago on election day.He hasn’t even started putting his ticket of canidates together.
Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 1:39 pm
Could he be fishing for Stroger’s job?
Does he want to avenge SB750?
I have heard both those questions asked.
What I can say for certain is that I listen to his radio broadcast every Sunday and he SURE sounds like he means to run.
Comment by Scott Cisek Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:08 pm
The parents of those children who are in bad schools need vouchers and school choice, NOT more tax revenue.
Comment by Levois Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:38 pm
[…] Sorry, Rich: I still think Sen. Meeks’ nascent third-party candidacy for Governor is a Blagojevich ruse. […]
Pingback by IlliniPundit.com » Blog Archive » Roundup (4/12/06) Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 2:41 pm
Anyone who knows Meeks knows he is seriously looking at getting in the race. I realize it’s hard for any political observer to believe. He doesn’t care about traditional political wisdom and he’s not that skilled at standard politics. He let Rick Winkel play him in the negotiations over his school funding bill last year in the hope Winkel could deliver some votes. (Which Winkel never had.) At that time Meeks agreed to allow a provision to the bill that would have increased the tuition tax credit for private/parochial schools. I think it’s a safe bet to say he’d throw some money at the privates to get the support of the Cardinal.
I won’t start the voucher debate here, but Catholic schools are not the magic bullet answer to educations problems as a recent U of I study showed. http://www.suntimes.com/output/martire/cst-edt-mart04.html
Comment by Meekly Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 4:28 pm
Perhaps Reverend Senator Meeks seeks the Cardinal’s advice and support less on becoming His Excellency the Governor and more on becoming a peer, His Eminence, Corporation Sole.
Comment by Guido Sarducci Wednesday, Apr 12, 06 @ 5:03 pm
I miss the time of excommunications and interdicts and the power of the Church militant to play a role in politics. They did take down communism. They were a bulwark against Islamic extremism from Analalusia to Vienna.
The aethestic Serb heretic (although he was raised in the schismatic Orthodox out of communion with Rome heritage) needs to be taken out by the righteous Black Baptist Minister of William Jennings Bryants Heritage in an alliance with Holy Mother Church.
Comment by Richileu Thursday, Apr 13, 06 @ 6:55 pm