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* Remember yesterday when the Illinois Family Institute was criticized for comparing Democrats to Nazis? Well, the group doubled down and reposted the article with a different headline…
Here’s the critical question: What will the rest of us do? Will we follow in the footsteps of the average German citizen during WWII? Most of them shut their eyes, closed their ears, and sang a little louder in church when the cattle cars full of Jews on their way to the concentration camps rolled by. Will we do the same? Will we simply allow this to blow over in a few weeks, or will we learn something from history and resist?
The Democrats have crossed a terrible line. They should hear us roar. Will they?
* And then they posted this on their Facebook page…
Quote ‘o’ the Day from lesbian and feticidal maniac State Rep. Kelly Cassidy in response to an IFA article suggesting some points of correspondence between the Democrat-endorsed holocaust and the Nazi Holocaust:
“[IFI]is a group promoting violence and hate speech and they have people on the payroll wearing badges bypassing security [at the Capitol] walking in and out of this building every day. And I think that should be examined.”
A maniac is “a person who has an excessive enthusiasm or desire for something.” Cassidy has a clearly demonstrated and arguably excessive enthusiasm and desire to promote the legal right of women to exterminate their unborn children (i.e., feticide) without restriction.
I checked with the Secretary of State’s office and was told they have no legal authority to force a registered lobbyist to pass through Statehouse metal detectors. And the statute doesn’t appear to address this sort of thing.
…Adding… Actually, they do have the authority to search anyone they want. From the Illinois Register…
All persons and vehicles entering into the Capitol Complex and its buildings may be subject to search, including, but not limited to, inspection of vehicles, trunks, parcels and packages, metal detector screening, X-Ray scans and inspection of bulky personal items brought into the Capitol Complex. […]
Public access to any building or area of the grounds may be restricted, if it is determined by the Director of the Department of Police that a situation has arisen that threatens the security of persons and buildings within the Capitol Complex.
* Press release…
Members of the Illinois Legislature’s Jewish caucus are demanding action in response to a pattern of hate speech and imagery posted by Illinois Family Action and its parent organization, Illinois Family Institute, on its website and social media pages.
On March 20th, Illinois Family Action posted an article comparing Democrats to Nazis. Under pressure to remove the post from its website, a second post appeared the next day, with even more hateful language comparing reproductive rights to the Holocaust. A third social media post unleashed a vicious attack on state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a member of the Jewish caucus, and an openly gay state representative who is a strong supporter of a women’s right to choose.
“We consider an attempt to use Nazi imagery and a genocidal equation on matters regarding a legal right to health care service, clear cut hate speech,” said state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz. “This pattern of hateful actions are exactly what ignites a call to action for violence.”
“We call on the Illinois State Police to do a full investigation of these incidents,” said state Rep. Jonathan Carroll. “These two organizations maintain full credentials as lobbyists to freely move throughout the Capitol complex.”
“We can’t ignore the horrors of recent synagogue and mosque shootings. They are fresh in our minds,” said state Sen. Laura Fine. “Words matter. Words such as these incite hate speech and lead to violence.”
“Dr. Barnett Slepian was murdered in cold blood in his home by sniper fire while celebrating the Sabbath with his children and wife,” said state Rep. Yehiel Kalish. “He was gunned down because he provided a full range of reproductive health care to his patients.”
The Jewish caucus will be filing a joint resolution to make clear the Illinois General Assembly objection to this hate speech and encourage an investigation.
The members of the Jewish caucus in the House are Jonathan Carroll, Kelly Cassidy, Daniel Didech, Sara Feigenholtz, Robyn Gabel, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Will Guzzardi, Yehiel Kalish, and Bob Morgan. The caucus also includes state Senator Laura Fine.
…Adding… Sun-Times…
The group’s executive director David Smith called Cassidy’s reaction “predictable,” while accusing progressive of using “unethical efforts to enjoin the force of government – to silence the expression of political views and moral assumptions with which they agree.”
Smith called calls for the Illinois State Police to investigate “nothing short of intimidation and harassment.” Smith said the group’s freedom of speech is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:19 pm
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Not for nothing, but the Capitol Police had what I assume were bomb-sniffing dogs at the Capitol and in Stratton on Wednesday. I don’t know if there were any threats, but there was a noticeably heavy police presence.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:22 pm
Is the link in the story to their Facebook page not directing to their Facebook page to avoid sending any traffic to their page?
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:25 pm
The Illinois Family Institute holds itself out as a Christian organization. It is anything but that. As I said before, the Illinois Family Institute is a hate group. Period. They should be labeled and treated as such. If I had my way their lobbying credentials would be revoked. Groups like theirs have no place having any sort of official recognition to lobby anyone.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:26 pm
To be fair to the Family Institute they are only promoting the fear that might incite violence from someone who has “mental health” issues and an arsenal of weapons.
Comment by Lil Squeezy Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:27 pm
“The Illinois Family Institute holds itself out as a Christian organization. It is anything but that.”
I’m sorry, but if you got rid of all the organizations that call themselves christian, but aren’t - there would be nothing left.
This hand-waving of bad behavior has got to stop. Their members are in christian churches every single week.
Address it.
Now.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:29 pm
===To be fair to the Family Institute they are only promoting the fear that might incite violence from someone who has “mental health” issues and an arsenal of weapons.===
aka “stochastic terrorism”
Conveniently the IFI also supports cutting mental health care in Illinois and expanding gun rights, so they’ve got a whole stochastic synergy going on.
Comment by Suburban Mom Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:34 pm
–Here’s the critical question: What will the rest of us do? Will we follow in the footsteps of the average German citizen during WWII? –
And what should the average German citizen have done about the Nazis?
What are you proposing be done with Democrats?
That is the critical question. C’mon, spit it out.
Because your statements can certainly be inferred as a call to violent action.
Unless you think the Nazis just needed a good ol’ talking to to change their genocidal ways.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:37 pm
“Quote ‘o’ the Day from lesbian and feticidal maniac State Rep. Kelly Cassidy”
Would everyone who finds it relevant that Rep. Cassidy is a lesbian please identify themselves so we can know who to ignore moving forward.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:39 pm
People on both sides of the abortion issue use exaggerated, emotional rhetoric, though that doesn’t excuse the IL Family Institute.
Comment by anon2 Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:39 pm
The Illinois Family Institute seems crazy, but I really doubt you can criminalize their crazy political speech without violating the First Amendment.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:41 pm
@Three Dimensional Checkers
There should be a lobbyist code of conduct here. Nobody is talking about them not being able to exist. They just should not have direct access to our government anymore than any other hate group.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:46 pm
== There should be a lobbyist code of conduct here. ==
I think you are going to run into the same problems here too.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:48 pm
===There should be a lobbyist code of conduct===
That’s probably a good idea. But I’d caution on going too far overboard.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:49 pm
How so?
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:49 pm
The First Amendment includes a right to lobby legislators.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:52 pm
I really think anti abortion people set themselves up for these types of attacks. The Bible never once mentions abortion. It’s not a religious debate. Either you think it’s murder or you don’t. If you understand that, how could any statement be too extreme in argument against?
Comment by Robert the 1st Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 1:57 pm
==I checked with the Secretary of State’s office and was told they have no legal authority to force a registered lobbyist to pass through Statehouse metal detectors.==
No, but SOS police can and have in the past banned entry to persons or groups who may constitute a threat - registered lobbyist or not. This language clearly constitutes a threat, and it’s well past time Secretary White and SOS police DD Geier stopped overlooking this stuff. If “Christian” groups like IFI are going to behave like ISIS on social media, they should be treated as such at the Capitol before someone gets killed
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:05 pm
I don’t know what can be done
but I think some authority
needs to move fast to
protect our valued legislator
and frankly
our Governor
also got his with the Nazi stuff.
They should be fined or barred from the Capitol.
Comment by Honeybear Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:14 pm
Doesn’t the Bible talk abouit God having known one before one was born?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:14 pm
==The Bible never once mentions abortion.==
That’s true, but in ancient Jewish culture, children were considered a gift from God. In most ancient Middle Eastern societies, a large family meant more workers and somebody to take care of parents in their old age.
I’d like to know if the Illinois Family Institute provides ongoing financial assistance for babies who were not aborted.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:16 pm
The presence of an ID badge is currently enough to get you thru without going thru the metal detectors… but I guess I don’t understand why it has to be. The general public is searched. I thought the waiver for people with badges was just for convenience and efficiency. If they were to start making every one go thru them, maybe it would be a good thing. And who is really going to complain about it in this day and age when there are workplace tragedies in the news?
Comment by thoughts matter Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:17 pm
but for selfish edification, please point to the exact words articulating a ‘threat’ ?
Comment by apoligetical Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:18 pm
== how could any statement be too extreme==
You’re kidding, right? You think the way the Illinois Family Institute acts and what they say isn’t extreme?
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:20 pm
they did it to me
Comment by Todd Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:20 pm
== It’s not a religious debate. Either you think it’s murder or you don’t. ==
The Pope would likely say that if you are upset about the sanctity of life being violated by abortions, you have to be upset about the many other ways that the sanctity of life is violated, like the death penalty, pollution, or poverty.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:24 pm
–but for selfish edification, please point to the exact words articulating a ‘threat’ ?–
What do you believe is being proposed by the analogy of taking actions in resistance to Nazi genocide?
Letters to the editor? Would that have been effective resistance to Nazis?
Please, explain what actions are being proposed?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:25 pm
== please point to the exact words articulating a ‘threat==
You asked. Here’s the answer:
“or will we learn something from history and resist”
Based on the context they are speaking in that resistance isn’t talking.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:33 pm
Although men play a critically important and fundamentally necessary role in each and every pregnancy, they pay no physical price and face no consequences that come from unwanted pregnancies.
And yet men like Bishop Paprocki and Eric Sheidler dare call women “murderers.”
The rules of this blog prevent me from typing what I’d like to say to these hypocrites. So instead, I’ll just conclude with this:
Matthew 7:1-3
And also, “go (deleted) yourself.”
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:35 pm
I would say “Trumpian”, but feticidal is a big word for Donald so maybe just very “unchristian”.
Comment by Flynn's Mom Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:35 pm
I think it’s important to remind people that it was not very long ago that these folks were blowing up buildings and murdering doctors.
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:36 pm
Can we please stop comparing anyone we disagree with as a Nazi? Its lazy. It provides a drive by attempt to link someone you politically disagree with to some of the worst monsters in history. Enough already.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:38 pm
47th Ward, well said.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:39 pm
IFI had only one staff lobbyist registered in 2018 and none in 2019; they have contracts with three others. IFA had none, according to SoS records.
IFI’s rhetoric is atrocious regardless of whether it is legally a threat.
Comment by C Ball Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:39 pm
On another thread is an active discussion on the issue of Life. I am whole-heartedly a Pro-life person (including being against the death penalty).
That said, these references to Nazism are ridiculous and have no place in any civilized discussion. Ms. Cassidy, and in this context, Rep. Cassidy shouldn’t have to endure this awful speech, nor should anyone else in government or not who disagree with my position or anyone else’s. It’s a terrible and inappropriate argument…and it hurts the cause it’s supposed to support.
As to her preference? It’s hers and none of your business. It has no bearing or context in this argument. There are plenty who disagree with her who have a different preference, and plenty who disagree with her that have the same. The purpose of bringing it up at all was done with malice.
You’re not an ally when you act this way.
Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:42 pm
“Can we please stop comparing anyone we disagree with as a Nazi? Its lazy.” And so is saying that pro-choice means “actively promotes abortion.”
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:51 pm
IFI has gone from legitimate policy analysis and commentary, to just spewing vitriol and nonsense. I’d be ashamed to be associated with them now.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:51 pm
Yes, IFI are zealots and agree that playing the Nazi card and most everything they say is repugnant. But as someone who works in this business, I have grave concerns when a legislator talking about taking away a lobbyist’s access to the Capitol for anything other than a bonafide threat.
Comment by Nova Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 2:54 pm
Nova, read the updates. They don’t have any registered lobbyists right now. Nothing for them to gripe about there at this time.
Comment by Fixer Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:01 pm
well, if this doesn’t make any reasonable legislator turn and run from them….
Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:04 pm
I keep catching the filter, or have annoyed Rich. Not sure why/how. Anyway, last time trying to say that saying people you disagree with are Nazis, while stupid, isn’t hate speech, and siccing the cops on them for it seems like an extreme reaction.
Comment by Perrid Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:05 pm
I’d really like to know where Durkin and Brady are at. This is the second time this week their side has edged into inciting violence against dems with holocaust analogies, they don’t have any comment? I’d bet cash money that if some BLM group was out there comparing Grant Wehrli and Sue Rezin to Hitler, MJM and Cullerton would be rightfully hounded for answers. I don’t see why the ILGOP should get a free pass here
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:10 pm
===saying people you disagree with are Nazis, while stupid, isn’t hate speech===
True.
However, urging action along the lines of what the German people should’ve taken against Hitler is more than just calling somebody a Nazi. It’s incitement.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:13 pm
“Either you think it’s murder or you don’t.”
Murder is a legal standard. Abortion, clearly, demonstrably, objectively, is not murder. Either you think it’s homicide or not, which really bores down to either you think it’s homicide or you think for more than 3 seconds.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:15 pm
“nothing short of intimidation and harassment.”
Aren’t these IPI tactics, as seen above?
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:19 pm
Well said, @Amalia.
Though it’s hard to see through all the usual super-polarized rhetoric and tweets, there are more than a few General Assembly members who are kinda moderate on the issue (subscribers know more.) They actually might be persuade by reasonable lobbyist making rational based arguements, something David Smith is incapable of doing.
Comment by Roman Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:29 pm
== It’s incitement.==
It is still difficult legally to do anything about it. If they were on the capitol lawn telling their supporters “let’s go get the feticidal maniacs,” yeah that’s dangerous. But from behind the keyboard, I think it is protected speech even if deplorable.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:33 pm
Well, I’ve tried twice now to make a comment. No dice. No idea why.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:33 pm
The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the Illinois Family Institute as a hate group for its anti-LGBT stances as wejj.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designated_by_the_Southern_Poverty_Law_Center_as_hate_groups#Anti-LGBT
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 3:33 pm
–I’d like to know if the Illinois Family Institute provides ongoing financial assistance for babies who were not aborted.–
I think we all know the answer to that one.
I for one would like to have IFI’s response to Rich’s previous post, “DCFS Contract Worker,” etc. Because it’s always been my sense that IFI and similar organizations are more concerned about impeding abortion than they are about enhancing life - or even, ensuring life, after birth.
Comment by dbk Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 4:42 pm
Inflammatory language like this is why the pro-life movement is despised by everyone not in its bubble.
Comment by Nick Name Friday, Mar 22, 19 @ 4:47 pm
IFI is not promoting violence and hate speech. Let’s see who is promoting and advancing the legalized murder of innocent children at full term?? The Answer: The far left liberal politicians. Also the IFI supporters were very civil and peaceful at last Wednesday’s rally at the Capitol. Some media outlets reported “hundreds” of pro-life supporters when in actuality there were thousands, that is why they were turned away because the Rotunda was saturated with PEACEFUL pro-family and pro-life supporters.
Comment by Persevering Baby Boomer Tuesday, Mar 26, 19 @ 8:12 pm