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My Sun-Times column this week is about a “secret weapon” that the governor will use to pass his tax hikes and health insurance plans: churches, particularly black churches.
‘’Part of the plan that we’ve been working on for the past months is this: We are going to mobilize the African-American churches across our state,'’ the governor said during an interview this week.
The black churches will play an integral role, or even serve as the core, of what the governor called an ‘’interfaith movement behind the moral imperative of providing health care to everybody, to all of God’s children.'’
The governor explained that part of the idea is to organize a Springfield rally this May of ‘’thousands of people'’ from churches all over the state to demand that the General Assembly approve his health care package. As far as I can tell, nothing like that has ever been done on the liberal side of the equation. The rally could make a powerful statement in Springfield.
Beyond that, though, activating churches will likely scare the living daylights out of some state legislators who might not be willing to support the governor’s multibillion-dollar corporate tax plan to pay for his health insurance program.
There’s a lot more in the column, so please read the whole thing before you comment. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:21 am
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smart plan. if blagojevich can organize the black churches behind his agenda (or be seen as leading their’s), then he will effectively create an alternative powerbase from which to resist lisa’s inevitable run for guv. very long-term thinking here.
Comment by bored now Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:28 am
Will the plan backfire on the Governor if the churches he tries to use in turn demand the Governor change his position on abortion? I can’t imagine that the churches would let the Governor use them in this way and not want something in return. Am I too cynical?
Comment by leigh Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:32 am
Will Illinois have to agree with these Church’s on same-sex Marriage?
Comment by Bill Baar Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:37 am
Church’s doctrine I meant… this cuts a number of ways…. best keep the clergy at arms length.
Bush, Cheney, Clinton all United Methodists content to ignore their Churches Bishops.
Any regular Church goer knows one ignores their Preacher when he/she strays off their spiritual turf.
Comment by Bill Baar Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:40 am
I think this is sad. What ever happen to the division of church and state? Plus why only
black churches? This could back fire and cause something all of us dont want to see happen
Comment by Just Because Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:46 am
It’s an interesting move on his part, but I question whether it will be as effective as you suggest, Rich.
I’m not so sure that the expanding suburban Democratic caucus and downstate D’s have much reason to fear African American churches: they can’t contribute money and they don’t have influence over a significant number of voters in their districts (and since the statewide offices are all spoken for already, it’s not like that will factor into anyone’s equation). In order to pass a budget without Republican votes (which will almost surely have to be done again this year), the Madigan and Jones – even if they are influences by this tactic – will still have a hard time bringing legislators from those regions in line.
Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:50 am
Please read the whole column. It’s more than just black churches.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:52 am
I expect many mainline liberal Churches to climb onto this bandwagen. There is a coalition that’s been working the issue for sometime. My minister is part of it.
Comment by Bill Baar Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:55 am
Pastors from white, mainline churches do not sway their parishioners like black pastors do. Influence maybe, but not into bloc voting.
Comment by oechmd Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:59 am
‘’interfaith movement behind the moral imperative of providing health care to everybody, to all of God’s children.’’
Cannot one make this moral argument without impuning the morals or ethics of those accused of shirking their responsibilities of supporting an expansion of state supported health care?
The politics of division based partly on his manipulation of his fundamentalist, evangelical base did not work for Bush. Why would it work for Blagojevich?
Comment by vole Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 9:03 am
Interesting, because in Illinois, I believe African Americans are the ethnic group least likely to be uninsured. As a group, they would benefit far less from the portion of a GRT going to Illinois Covered than, say, illegals (who aren’t supposed to be able to vote, but….) and young low income white and Hispanic families especially downstate. In Cook County, where many African Americans and Hispanics reside, there is also access to completely free medical care and free medication in the Cook County Health System, even the current one, which is supposedly on a diet.
If the GRT is riddled with loopholes for various special interests, it will collect less money. It will be interesting to see whether health care or
schools taking the biggest hit from the loopholes.
The guv will be pushing for the health care allotment but African Americans (and others) will be pushing for the school allotment.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 9:13 am
Rich: I did read the whole column (in which you wrote that the Governor himself specifically says that the plan is to “mobilize the African-American churches across our stateâ€), as well as this post (in which you yourself specify that the plan “particularly†targets black churches).
Perhaps what I should have said in my comment was that, even if it is part of the plan, I don’t see any attempt to rally non-black churches (which have little to no recent history of rallying their congregations around non-“social†issues) being successful. As a result, this won’t be “more than just black churches,†and thus not particularly effective outside of Cook County.
Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 9:26 am
Note to those pastors being wooed by Gov. Sleazy to help lobby the legislature: The IRS may be watching to see if you cross the line into direct political advocacy.
Comment by fedup dem Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 9:31 am
Good point Fedup Dem. I already tire of preachers puching political agendas in my church. A phone call to the IRS is not far behind. Mehlmen tried to do it, but I really don’t see how this could result in an increase as Blacks already support D’s in an overwhelming fashion. With the fact that black churches have been in the pocket’s of demoocrats for years (as Evangies have been with the R’s), what is so secret?
Historically, the Black Pastor is one of the most influental people in the Black community. I really don’t see much room for growth when your members vote for you/r party at a 85-90% clip.
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 10:08 am
You really think church leaders do not know when they are being used as a chip for taxes for health insurance? Why come around now when you want something? Where were you 5 years ago? At the same time these same churches will be part of the groups helping people pay higher utility bills and the increased prices from pyramiding GRTs. Quite the conflict.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 10:27 am
When politicians stand behind pulpits and claim to be doing God’s work, there is something going terribly wrong with him.
How much bigger can this guy’s head get?
Every guy behaves differently in the governor’s office. Is it possible that Blagojevich is becoming some kind of megalomaniac?
When he gets into those churches, I hope someone points out to him that he is not the Savior and convinces him to stop claiming to be the Savior.
He is going nuts.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 10:48 am
VM, that was a bit much. He’s not “claiming to be the Savior.”
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 10:53 am
I don’t predict much buy-in from churches and other religious institutions. Yes the Governor will line up the hard core religious left. But they aren’t that significant. Most churches etc. won’t touch this because it opens a pandora’s box. First, they avoid most politics because they are religious institutions not political institutions. Second, as mentioned earlier, if you endorse this initiative members of your congregation will want to get involved in other(more divisive)issues. Most religious institutions are struggling with bridging the gap between conservative and liberal membership, they are not going to want to stir up trouble.
I agree with the concept that everyone should have basic health care. This belief comes from my Christian value system. However, that doesn’t mean I agree with Gov. Blagojevich’s plan or believe he can implement it effectively.
The religious left was effective in the civil rights movement. But that was different because it was about the basic concept of all men being created equal. Once you start getting into setting up specific programs, you lose people.
It also doesn’t help that Gov. Blagojevich appears to many as a political opportunist not a sincere person.
Comment by Objective Dem Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 10:58 am
This is an interesting strategy. The question is will it work. There are plenty of ministers who will sign onto this because they may be of the same mind as the Governor. Plenty of black churches will sign on and the members will probably agree with this. As to whether this will actually be effective is another question. We’ll have to wait and see.
Comment by Levois Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 11:37 am
It will not change a thing with Black churches. If a pastor is silly enough to give money to a campaign or direct members to give to a candidate, they need to be roomate’s w/ Scott Fawell.
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 11:47 am
I think we are all off base reading the political tact here. When a politician is about to make a major news-worthy announcement, they choose a venue that is guaranteed to draw a large crowd that’s friendly to your cause. (a-la Obama last month). When you don’t think that you can draw a huge friendly crowd you go to where the friendly crowd is at already. (insert Mohammad and the mountain joke here!)
Comment by Utility Infielder Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 12:34 pm
It might be a neat way to bridge the gap between the religious left, (like my Episcopalian parish) which tend to be mainline Protestant and will need no real shove from the gov to support this initiative; and the black Evangelical churches. This kind of initiative is something that both groups can get behind. I hope, however, that Blago is also going to try to mobilize the unchurched many of whom would also support this kind of legislation.
Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 12:52 pm
My church is very careful about becoming involved in any political situation. A previous post about the IRS is a very valid concern to non-profits and especially churches. Blago needs to understand there are black churches all across this state, not just Chicago and Cook County. As far as I know, he has never been in one of the fine Springfield/Central Illinois area churches of any denomination or race, except for his child’s baptism in front of a very few selected guests. If he wants to lobby for this insurance plan, he needs to get out all across the state and not expect busloads of people to come to Springfield to rally for his program, unless he pays for the buses.
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 1:25 pm
Little Egypt
Correction - The taxpayers will pay for the buses, not Rod, not his administration.
Churches, New/Increased taxes, this can’t be a good combination.
Comment by Good Grief Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 1:46 pm
I don’t think we need to worry about the conflict with anti-abortion and other conservative ideology. Conservation churches will not venture into politics and aren’t in general in favor of universal anything. They opposed Hillary Clinton quite vigorously, mostly because they don’t think women should be in leadership positions.
As for the liberal churches, cermak_rd is right, health insurance for all will be an issue that both liberal mainline churches like Episcopals and Lutherans and other churches concerned with social justice can agree on. No, not all social activist churches are African American. I can think of two downtown congregations that are racially diverse, evangelical, and concerned about social justice.
What I am upset about is that the Governor totally ignores other fundamental Christian principles such as ethics and integrity and now wants the Church (big C and small c) to help him.
Comment by Bebe Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 2:10 pm
Bebe - LOVED your last paragraph!
Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 2:21 pm
Bebe is right. Choosing to go with one tenet of the gospel and ignoring another is somehwat hypocritical. I wrote the other day about Tom DeLay’s use of his faith and church-going “attitude” to try and balance out his slash-and-burn style and ethical lapses. It sets a bad precedent and really should be looked at with a good deal of skepticism.
Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 3:01 pm
talk about mau-mauing the flak catchers……
Comment by Amy Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 3:14 pm
If those churches are getting involved in politics - then they can start paying their fair share of taxes.
Comment by Sahims2 Friday, Mar 9, 07 @ 8:14 pm
I think the ” largest tax increase in Ilinois history” will rally many voters. Perhaps not the way the Democratic party would like. All that needs to be said over and over. Thanks Rod
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 12, 07 @ 6:01 am