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* Jeff Kolkey at the Rockford Register Star…

A Belvidere Republican who thinks schools should leave sex ed to parents and teach students more respect for the founding fathers of the United States wants to represent the 68th District in the Illinois General Assembly.

A former Marine, retired disabled truck driver and former children’s behavioral health counselor, Keith Brodhacker, 51, describes himself as deeply conservative. Although he said he is a newcomer, Brodhacker says his politics are a mix of Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.

“They are trying to take our past away from us,” Brodhacker said of progressive politicians and educators. “They are trying to change history. They are trying to change who we are as a nation.”
[…]

Brodhacker said he would like to see taxes and spending on new programs reined in, that he supports police and favors gun rights. Although he has no children or grandchildren, Brodhacker said education reform is one of the big reasons he is running for office.

“The way the schools are leaning left wing and indoctrinating children into left wing ideology has got to stop,” Brodhacker said.

A whole lot to unpack there, but I’ll leave it up to y’all in comments. Expect to hear many of these themes often from now until the election.

* Speaking of “taking our history away,” here’s a sharp analysis of the Virginia governor’s race…

Surveys conducted before the election showed that Democrats were vulnerable to attacks over the way public schools treated race. In July, shortly after Youngkin began to raise CRT in speeches, the American Principles Project, a conservative organization, commissioned a poll to test the issue. It found that when CRT was framed in Youngkin’s terms—teaching “white children that they are oppressors” and teaching “minority children that they are victims”—a two-to-one majority of likely Virginia voters, 58 percent to 26 percent, said it shouldn’t be taught in schools. When the poll described Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe as soft on CRT, he lost support. When the poll informed respondents that Youngkin had promised to ban CRT, he gained support. These shifts—measured by how many respondents said the information made them more or less likely to vote for each candidate—were about 10 percentage points.

In August, the APP poll was backed up by another survey, this time from the left. This survey of likely voters in Virginia, conducted by Change Research for Crooked Media, found that 68 percent of independents and 52 percent of undecided voters said the teaching of CRT in schools posed a threat to the state. A narrow majority of undecided voters, when presented with Youngkin’s anti-CRT message, said it was a convincing reason to support him. The pollster’s report concluded: “Messaging about Youngkin never allowing critical race theory to be taught in Virginia schools was the most effective pro-Youngkin message among all voters and undecided voters.” […]

The exit poll didn’t ask voters about CRT, but it did ask about Confederate monuments on government property. Sixty percent of white voters said the monuments should be left in place, not removed, and 87 percent of those voters went to Youngkin. That was 25 points higher than his overall share of white voters. The election had become demonstrably polarized, not just by race but by attitudes toward the history of racism. All the evidence indicates that Youngkin’s attacks on CRT played a role in this polarization.

So, yes, there was a backlash against “critical race theory” in Virginia. And, yes, it helped Republicans win. Their strategy of hyping, distorting, and attacking CRT worked. But it didn’t work by appealing to parents. It worked by appealing to race.

* Speaking of the next election…

Cindy and I had a wonderful time at the dedication of the Nativity Scene in Springfield.

Posted by Darren Bailey for Governor on Tuesday, November 30, 2021

* From the SJ-R’s coverage…

Springfield Catholic Bishop Thomas John Paprocki Tuesday railed against a number of Illinois governors on issues like same-sex marriage and taxpayer funding of abortion and decried satanic public displays.

Paprocki’s remarks came as the featured speaker at a dedication of a Springfield nativity scene in the Illinois Statehouse rotunda in Springfield. […]

State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, thanked the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee for making sure that “Christ is honored in such a beautiful place.” […]

Bailey is running for governor, but nativity scene committee chairwoman Julie Zanoza said Bailey was speaking as “a private citizen.”

Paprocki blessed the manger with holy water and said a prayer that a Springfield priest described as “a supplication against the power of evil.”

* Speaking of emerging themes…

Event by Palatine Township Republican Organization

Public · Anyone on or off Facebook

Cook County Republican Organization Presents the “Guardians of the Vote” Election Integrity Seminar From the Illinois Conservative Union

Wednesday, December 1 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm
PTRO headquarters, 765 North Quentin Road, Palatine

Members and friends of Cook County Republican Townships are cordially invited to attend this timely and free seminar as we gear up for the 2022 primary and general election cycles.

But…

A recount of the fall 2020 DuPage County Auditor election still has Democrat Bill White with more votes than former auditor Republican Bob Grogan, according to a county clerk report released Monday, and Grogan maintains the race still isn’t over.

The report showed that White has 232,710 votes and Grogan has 232,652 following the recount — a 58-vote difference, according to unofficial recount returns. The original difference following the 2020 election was 75 votes.

Even if about a dozen disputed, uninitialed ballots all went Grogan’s way, it wouldn’t be enough to overturn the results, the report said. White was sworn in and has been serving as auditor since late 2020.

* Sen. Bailey talked about the “election integrity” topic earlier today. He also got in a dig at Pritzker over this comment last night…

The governor got a big laugh when he described being at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow and meeting people from other countries who didn’t understand what it meant to be “the governor of Illinois.” He found it was easier to describe himself as “the governor of Chicago

“I think many of you would agree that he would fit that role quite well,” Bailey said. “He doesn’t seem to get throughout and about the state and doesn’t seem to represent the entire state very often. He seems to hibernate in Chicago instead of Springfield where he should be working. Anyway, we’re gonna change that.”

The ad writes itself.

* One more GOP theme…

Rob Cruz, candidate for Congress (R-6th), blasted news from the Cook county Medical Examiner that the county has passed over 1,000 homicides so far this year. As of Tuesday stands at 1,009, more than 75% of which occurred in Chicago, according to the Medical Examiner.

“This is a 40% increase from the pre-Covid numbers, in 2019 and a direct consequence of our elected officials setting the wrong course for our communities “, stated Cruz. “Voters in Cook County must now acknowledge, it is time to elect new representatives, at all levels, particularly our States Attorney, Board President and the Mayor of Chicago”, he continued.

Nationally renowned law enforcement expert and commentator, Sheriff David Clarke will join other community leaders and be the keynote speaker at a fundraising event kicking off the campaign for Rob Cruz, Candidate for Illinois 6th Congressional district on December 3rd at Cork & Kerry, 10614 s. Western av. At 7pm.

Cruz is a successful small businessman from Oak Lawn who is Frustrated with the direction and overreach of current elected officials, Rob seeks office only to find better solutions for public safety, education, and support of small businesses.

* More…

* U.S. Rep. Sean Casten gets backing of colleagues Foster and Schneider in primary bid against Marie Newman

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 10:48 am

Comments

===“They are trying to take our past away from us,” Brodhacker said of progressive politicians and educators. “They are trying to change history. They are trying to change who we are as a nation.”===

Deciding to ignore factual history for a comfortable white take to history is the dumbing down of who we are as a country and isn’t making us any better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 10:54 am
==“The way the schools are leaning left wing and indoctrinating children into left wing ideology has got to stop,”==

Conservatives don’t seem to be a fan of teaching history. They only want to teach that the U.S. is a great country and that nothing bad has ever happened in our history. History is full of the good and the bad. You have to teach both.

Just look at the ludicrous complaint filed in Tennessee lately that sought to remove a book and lesson plan on Martin Luther King, Jr. Absolutely unbelievable. And this is the same group of people who also indicated that segregation and Jim Crow as a good thing historically.

I want my children taught all history - the good and the bad. If we want to talk about indoctrination then I think conservatives need to look in the mirror. The only one I see seeking to indoctrinate children is them.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 10:57 am
==Grogan maintains the race still isn’t over==

You got fewer votes. You lost. Get over it.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:00 am
backing of Foster & Schneider

One wonders which would have more drama? Casten vs Newman or Casten vs Lipinski?

In any event I think it’s safe to say MN is being shown the underside of the bus by many different groups.

Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:07 am
At the nativity scene, Bailey and Paproki may wish to reflect on the fact that Joseph, Mary and Jesus were immigrants who fled to Egypt to escape a threat by authorities.

They werent exactly rich either. In fact, they were quite poor.

Hardly a sign of what we would consider “conservative” in the
modern day….

Comment by low level Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:13 am
-They are trying to change history.-

It’s not changing history. History happened. It’s who gets to tell the story. Is he afraid of the story being more complete, and not being told by just one set of voices? Guess we can put all the historians out of business because their work doesn’t matter to guys like this. Just keep reprinting those 1950’s textbooks.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:16 am
=Brodhacker says his politics are a mix of Abraham Lincoln=

Good to know Brodhacker is against the expansion of slavery into the territories.

Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:16 am
==They are trying to take our past away from us,” Brodhacker said of progressive politicians and educators. “They are trying to change history. They are trying to change who we are as a nation.”==

==“The way the schools are leaning left wing and indoctrinating children into left wing ideology has got to stop,”==

So, wait, is he saying that black history, lgbtq, sex ed, gun violence, etc.. aren’t history? 🧐🤔

Comment by SandyC Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:17 am
-One wonders which would have more drama? Casten vs Newman or Casten vs Lipinski?-

Can I vote Casten vs Newman vs Lipinski?

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:17 am
===They only want to teach that the U.S. is a great country and that nothing bad has ever happened in our history===

This is it exactly.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:27 am
As part of an organization that provides evidence-based content for sex education in schools, I would suggest Mr. Broadhacker read the existing section of the School Code, to wit:

“(a-5) No pupil shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive sex education if his parent or guardian submits written objection thereto, and refusal to take or participate in such course or program shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of such pupil.”

Parents already have a right of refusal. Secondly, most kids don’t want to hear their parents talking about sexting, consent, body safety, or other evidence-based content. The schools (and the kids) do just fine. But it makes for a great campaign talking point.

Comment by Saluki with a Job Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:27 am
===A whole lot to unpack there,…===

No kidding. And voters don’t do nuance, so I expect some of these knuckleheads will get plenty of political mileage out of this nonsense.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:30 am
Their strategy of hyping, distorting, and attacking CRT worked. But it didn’t work by appealing to parents. It worked by appealing to race.

CRT which is an evolution of Critical Legal Studies - is an approach to changing society/power structures/educational models… by focusing on systemic racism. Not sure how parents/voters that may have concerns about CRT can avoid race.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:30 am
“The way the schools are leaning left wing and indoctrinating children into left wing ideology has got to stop”

The right wing gaslighting has got to stop. It’s Republicans who are canceling the teaching of racism in schools, using three letters the GOP base doesn’t know anything about but dreads: CRT. Republicans are literally trying to whitewash history (no pun intended).

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:31 am
I hope Former Sheriff Clarke has multiple forms of ID and YouTube clips of himself at the ready, otherwise he may have a tough time of it getting into Cork & Kerry for that event.

Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:39 am
I am all for removing the whitewashing of our history. I just don’t know how feasible it is at this time given that our country is unable to agree on what is factual today and happening before our very own eyes. So what makes people think we would be able to agree on what the facts were 200 years ago?

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:44 am
– thinks schools should leave sex ed to parents –

Yeah, the thought of mom unrolling a condom on a banana to teach ex ed is what society needs.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:46 am
Do these people understand their Christmas is an ancient pagan celebration of the solstice? Not only that, but it was the Catholic Church that borrowed all of it from its predecessors.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:47 am
The Pope makes it clear that Democrats are welcome as Catholics. Paprocki not so much.

Comment by Medvale School for the Gifted. Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:51 am
=== politics are a mix of Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump ===

When you put Trump in this series you are definitely ignorant of history. Today’s GOP is the antithesis of Lincoln’s party.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:53 am
Paproki keeps getting more and more political, like he’s daring the Cardinal to do something about him. I remember Paproki telling us early in his tenure here that anybody voting for Obama would go straight to hell. He’s also a detractor of Pope Francis, especially regarding anything to do with social justice, which we find highly ironic. His hypocrisy in preaching from Matthew, while acting like he’s never read it, was a big factor in my kids turning away from the Church.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 11:58 am
Indoctrination-the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.

I know this mope has no clue as to what he is saying and is only repeating party/facebook pablum. But what he is advocating is the very definition of indoctrination.

AND, Brodhacker seems to be a bit of a socialist like his pal Bailey (who no wants govt control of religion apparently.)

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:00 pm
Pretty funny to hear about Abraham Lincoln from the party that thinks he was on the wrong side of the Civil War.

Maybe Brodhacker is talking about Lincoln’s vote against the Mexican-American War or the land grant college system? He’s definitely not talking about Lincoln winning the Civil War or reconstructing the South. He’s definitely not talking about the 10% plan. He’s definitely not talking about the Freedman’s Bureau or Special Field Order 15.

If conservatives want to teach a triumphalist version of American history, why not start with the mighty Union crushing a vicious rebellion by evil men intent on owning human beings as property?

Comment by vern Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:01 pm
Abraham Lincoln is not today’s GOP when today’s GOP favors Confederate ideals and still idolizes Confederate leaders.

Lincoln was not a traitor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:09 pm
==They are trying to change who we are as a nation==

You mean a nation of immigrants who displaced the indigenous people and subjugated every group that came after them?

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:28 pm
“Christ is honored in such a beautiful place.”

Yeah, I know. Jesus always said he wanted a bunch of grandeur from politicians. /s

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:30 pm
Hey Jeff -

Since you are a history buff, I thought you might want to know that slave owner Thatcher Blake brought his slave Lewis Lemon with him to settle what is now Rockford, which now recognizes Lewis Lemon as one of its founders:

https://www.rockfordha.org/2019/02/lewis-lemon-once-a-slave-forever-a-founder/

From that beginning, Rockford was largely settled by immigrants from upstate New York, who brought with them their Abolitionist leanings, split the Whig Party by creating the Free Soil Party, and eventually led to the formation of a Republican Party bent on ending the damnation of slavery.

Now, you step forth as a member of The New Republican Party, bent on uplifting the Confederate traitors and defending the legacy ofcslavery.

Best of luck!

Comment by Thomas Paine Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:54 pm
==They are trying to take our past away from us==

This is your brain on Fox.

Comment by justaguy02 Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:57 pm
State Rep Toni McCombie is leading the disinformation charge on this, organizing Facebook groups to attend the State Board of Education meeting in December. Her entire posts are packed with misinformation. How did she get elected? How does she stay in office while abusing the office so arrogantly?

If the purpose of elected officials is to tell the truth, how is she not violating her oath of office?

The public, interested in truth, needs a candidate to run against her in 2022.

Comment by here we go Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 12:57 pm
= decried satanic public displays. =

Now there’s a statement which shouldn’t be ignored.

If you get to kill a tree and put it inside of a public building as part of your celebration, then everyone else gets the same privilege independent of what their belief actually is.

If you don’t like that, then stop putting your displays in public buildings. Once you do, you allow others to as well.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 1:14 pm
== was a big factor in my kids turning away from the Church.==

Check out the Jesuits (which the Pope is) and the Paulists. Forget Paprocki and the others.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 1:16 pm
==If you don’t like that, then stop putting your displays in public buildings.==

This. I find Christians like to utilize the 1st Amendment until those rights expand beyond them.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 2:35 pm
“Christ is honored in such a beautiful place.”

Says the dude who loathes his neighbor Chicago (while pandering for its votes). Very ironic (not) that Christ’s message and purpose was to call out religious phonies.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 2:36 pm
Wealthy White persons are entitled to their own soothing History…just ask them…but so gently.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 3:01 pm
=Give us Barrabas=

Paprocki has done much harm in this diocese, and turned many away from the church. Really wish he would be demoted but Springfield is a low priority and he will languish here for years unfortunately. He and Bailey are two peas in a pod.

Comment by Me2 Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 3:45 pm
It is not unreasonable to expect everyone living in the 21st century to be able to acknowledge that anyone who enslaved other human beings should be described with an expletive befitting that voluntary suffering they inflicted on others.

The narrative some people learned in school about our Founding Fathers is somewhat fictitious. Jefferson held hundreds of people in bondage and specifically assigned children to the nail factory and had them beaten when productivity was not to his liking. Some records of his brutality were purposefully removed from publication of primary source material in order to avoid this legacy.

No one is inventing new history. We’re just doing a better job of studying it and discussing it and it should be no surprise to anyone that it turns out folks who would enslave other human beings were real [insert chose expletives].

The effort to bring this discussion into politics is not a legitimate concern about historiography in K-12 education, it’s to appeal to modern racists.

Only certain kinds of folks can’t condemn people who enslaved others.

Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Dec 1, 21 @ 4:17 pm