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ILGOP fires both barrels at no-chance Dem prison chaplain

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Illinois

* I was content to ignore this story because Bourne’s district is so overwhelmingly Republican that the dude basically has no chance…

A Democrat from Coffeen says he plans to run for a seat in the Illinois House against Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond.

Chase Wilhelm, 35, will be making his first run for elected office. […]

Wilhelm is currently a member of the Army Reserve. Until recently, he was on active duty most recently stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa with the Special Operations Command.

Wilhelm said he has a master’s degree in religion and society from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate in ethics from Garrett-Evangelical in Evanston. He took a job as a chaplain with the Department of Corrections in October, where he makes $79,488 a year.

President Trump won the district by 37 points. The only statewide Democrat to win it has been Secretary of State Jesse White (of course).

* But then this overkill press release arrived and I figured I’d post it…

“This week, Democrat Chase Wilhelm announced his candidacy for state representative in the 95th House District, but it didn’t take him long to dodge the Madigan question and hedge his position on abortion. The people of the 95th District want a conservative leader who will stand up to Madigan and oppose the Democrats’ radical, pro-abortion agenda. They have that in Avery Bourne. That’s why clear majorities of voters have elected her twice.

“Don’t let Wilhelm fool you. He will accept campaign support from Madigan, and, if elected, will vote for Madigan and stand idly by while he pushes his radical agenda. If Wilhelm won’t stand up to Madigan or the Democrats on abortion, what else will he let them get away with?” - Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Joe Hackler

Chase Wilhelm, a Democrat from Montgomery County, announced his intention to run for state representative in the 95th House District, which is currently held by Republican State Rep. and Pro-Life leader Avery Bourne.

Almost immediately, Wilhelm hedged his views on abortion, saying, “While I recognize where I am at, I also definitely recognize a woman’s right to defend and protect her body.”

Would Wilhelm have opposed taxpayer-funded abortion in House Bill 40 or late-term abortions in the Reproductive Health Act? Based on Wilhelm’s vague platitudes, we don’t know.

And then, Wilhelm refused to answer whether or not he would support Mike Madigan for another term as Speaker of the Illinois House: “Wilhelm did not commit to either supporting or rejecting Michael Madigan as House speaker.

“‘The bottom line is going to be what’s best for my district,” [Wilhelm] said. “Like a lot of things, the conversation is bigger than a yes or a no.’”

Don’t let him fool you - Wilhelm will accept campaign support from Madigan, and, if elected, will vote for Madigan and stand idly by while the Democrats push their radical agenda on the people of Illinois.

What else will Wilhelm let the Democrats get away with?

To be clear, Rep. Bourne could jet to Paris for the next year, post her expensive purchases and scrumptious dinners on Facebook and still win. Seems odd the ILGOP would get this fired up, but, whatevs. It’s still a free country.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 1:45 pm

Comments

Will Ms. Bourne take support from Trump supporters?

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 1:57 pm
Well. When you consider who she is married to. This is the only type of flexing he can do to impress his lady.

Comment by Zig Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 1:57 pm
It’s a chance to get Ms. Bourne a press pop. That’s how i see this, nothing more. Throwing so much at this candidate and heaping praise at the incumbent might be a template we’ll see more of as others begin their announcements, against real Tier 1 targets.

Also good to know how dividing and non-inclusive Ms. Bourne is willing to be seen to pander to a district as Rich says…

===… could jet to Paris for the next year, post her expensive purchases and scrumptious dinners on Facebook and still win.===

Good to know how Ms. Bourne is so willing, in a cake walk district, to be as pandering to extremes… like this.

I appreciate knowing, frankly.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 1:58 pm
===Seems odd the ILGOP would get this fired up===

They have so little to do these days. They’ve probably had a Mad Libs version of this release ready to go for a while now, and they finally got to fill in the blanks and hit send. And all before lunch.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 1:59 pm
===… take support from Trump supporters?===

Maybe with such a “both barrel” release, maybe the real question is if Ms. Bourne supports POTUS.

Tough to see how she couldn’t… given the verbiage and pandering to party.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:00 pm
— Will Ms. Bourne take support from Trump supporters? —

Why wouldn’t she, most of us outside of the Chicago area Aren’t afflicted with TDS.

Comment by Chili Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:04 pm
Ah, must be nice to have your husband as the sad sap in charge of the Illinois GOP.

Comment by West Side Repub Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:05 pm
=== most of us outside of the Chicago===

And there it is… the Regional angst…

Love it.

Lemme guess, 51st state supporter too? lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:06 pm
===Would Wilhelm have opposed taxpayer-funded abortion in House Bill 40===

Signed into law by Republican Rauner

===or late-term abortions in the Reproductive Health Act?===

It’s a safe bet that Rauner would have signed that too.

Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:08 pm
==When you consider who she is married to. This is the only type of flexing he can do to impress his lady.==

Ding ding ding.

Comment by Token Conservative Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:13 pm
“Why wouldn’t she, most of us outside of the Chicago area Aren’t afflicted with TDS”

Nice to see a victim weighing in.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:15 pm
Willy

The simple fact is she is outside of Chicago and Trump plays well in her district. Call it regionalism or what not, embracing Trump is no different than embracing guns, abortion or some local issue. As you clearly know politicians want to get elected and they will use what works as an issue.

Comment by Nagidam Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:16 pm
I think this has more to do with money than anything else. I have no idea if Mr. Whilhelm is the candidate of choice for Speaker Madigan, however with limited financial resources available on the Republican side why put this seat at risk and potentially waste $$$$ defending it. Remember no one gave ASM a chance, including her own party, yet she won in these crazier of times. Different district, cycle, yada yada yada - I do not think that any Republican candidate should be taking past performance as a reliable future outcome this cycle.

Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:22 pm
I mean, just ask former Congressman Hultgren or former State Rep. Olsen how taking an election for granted worked out for them.

Granted, she probably didn’t need to go Defcon 1 this early, but it’s not all that far fetched to think that the GOP is going to have a rough election cycle in 2020.

Comment by ChrisB Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:23 pm
I had no idea that Degroot is that easily scared…. jeez come on man.

Comment by Gohawks123 Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:26 pm
Honestly, good on this guy for running. Even if it’s a hopeless cause, the 30-something percent of people in the district deserve to have a choice.

Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:26 pm
- Nagidam -

With respect,

So Ms. Bourne is a lowly seat filler, a “mushroom” if you will, not really standing for anything but what polls well, even if it’s divisive, and overtly pandering to “like minded” unhelpfuls?

That’s on me. I thought she had wasted talent, a Rauner appointee, and after winning, an unabashed Raunerite, but still could be thoughtful and maybe after Bruce, she could be a young leader that recognized the bad, including the 99th GA and her own role.

I’m wrong if I read this release. Worse, she’s a mushroom willing to have a release that hits all those polling peaks.

I expected so much more, I shouldn’t have set myself up for such disappointment.

With respect, - Nagidam -, no snark, it’s on me.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:31 pm
Nope…they totally know Chaps is a threat.
That’s why I am saying ILGOP called the proportionality correct and tried to hit him below the water line. ( Sorry chaplain brother, I don’t know what the Army equivalent would be )
But here’s why ILGOP should absolutely be threatened.
1)Princeton and Garrett? Are you fricking kidding me? Chaplain is a HEAVY hitter. He’s got major chops intellectually and spiritually. Bonafide
2)He’s an actually military member and not some wannabe. Instant respect and leadership qualities.
Bonafide
3 Total it all up. Someone who can speak, write, think and lead.

My good Chaplain brother is going to
Destroy
Obliterate Bourne

Because perfidy only lasts so long
Before people realize they want
actual substance

This guy is as solid as they come.

I just wanted to point this out because people may not realize what this guy can obviously do.

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:35 pm
=Why wouldn’t she, most of us outside of the Chicago area Aren’t afflicted with TDS.=

“Most of us”? Speak for yourself.

Funny how the right goes after Chicago for being majority Democrat and fails to see the hypocrisy in statements like the ones above.

For the record, I live in central Illinois and cannot support a man that pays porn stars for sex and/or silence. I find that morally repugnant as a Christian.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:45 pm
Smart Bet = Take the Points

Even is she wins , it won’t be by 37 points.

Comment by Red Ketcher Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:45 pm
== 2)He’s an actually military member and not some wannabe. Instant respect and leadership qualities.
Bonafide==

Lol, you haven’t been watching the news lately honeybear. GOP conservatives only respect members of our military if they also display appropriate levels of support for trump. Just ask Devin Nunes or Laura Ingraham or John Yoo or Sean Duffy or Mark Meadows or Mike Pompeo or etc. etc.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:46 pm
“This guy is as solid as they come”

Didn’t this guy just get appointed as Chief Chaplain for DOC? Good to see politics still drive the promotional process.

Comment by Southern Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:50 pm
“Didn’t this guy just get appointed as Chief Chaplain for DOC? Good to see politics still drive the promotional process.”

has a master’s degree in religion and society from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate in ethics from Garrett-Evangelical in Evanston.

Good to see you ignore his education Perhaps you would now like to pass judgement on if he meets your guidelines to be called a Christian.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 2:59 pm
“has a master’s degree in religion and society from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate in ethics from Garrett-Evangelical in Evanston”

Impressive resume, but wasn’t good enough until he got on a Democrat ticket.

Comment by Southern Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 3:04 pm
Willy,

There certainly were some wasted years during the Rauner years. I cut Rep. Bourne some slack for those years as she was new, and quite young. (I giggle at some of the things I was doing at her age when she became a member of the GA.) Many gave praise to Durkin for holding his caucus together until he didn’t. I think it is hard to fault people for sticking with their leader to a point. Just as I think it is a little ridiculous to ask democratic candidates if they will vote for Madigan for Speaker. What are they going to do vote for Durkin?

Comment by Nagidam Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 3:10 pm
“Impressive resume, but wasn’t good enough until he got on a Democrat ticket.”

You mean like 26 years under GOP governors? See how this works, maybe you are too young to remember how the Sangamon County GOP was built.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 3:11 pm
- Nagidam -

It’s all good. Sincerely.

That’s why I approach Ms. Bourne’s whole tenure, weighing everything, as wasted talent.

This release only reinforces that thought.

Calogero learned from Lorenzo, nothing is worse than wasted talent.

Be well.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 3:17 pm
ok kid… just do not pretend to be a volunteer firefighter.

Comment by mcdouble Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 3:18 pm
You mean like 26 years under GOP governors? See how this works, maybe you are too young to remember how the Sangamon County GOP was built.

Remember it well. The point was nothing has changed, despite all the years of all the reform talk.

Comment by Southern Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 3:29 pm
Fighting ever more viciously over their dwindling turf…

Comment by Ray del Camino Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 3:46 pm
= Ah, must be nice to have your husband as the sad sap in charge of the Illinois GOP. =

Narrator: He does not work for the state Party.

Rep. Bourne is smarter than to issue a statement like this. I would be surprised if the Party even sought her input before they sent out this statement.

Comment by Bertrum Cates Thursday, Nov 21, 19 @ 4:30 pm