Conservatives Break Down Racial Barriers

by George Kocan, Editor

Conservative influence continues to grow in the African-American community. Conservative politics continues to break down racial barriers. Likewise, TAPROOT influence continues to grow among suburban black voters. Evidence of this trend showed up at TAPROOT’s annual picnic in the form of a conservative, Republican candidate for the Illinois Senate, Cedra Crenshaw, who gave a brief talk.

Elected officials and conservative activists from as far away as Peoria celebrated at Echo Point Park, in Woodridge, on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, August 22. They broke bread, swapped stories and plotted strategies in anticipation of the portentous election they expect next November 2.

Among the many African-Americans who have chosen to associate themselves with TAPROOT is Lee Walker, a former member of the board. His latest contribution to conservativism is his book, “Rediscovering Black Conservativism.” He argues persuasively that the black community is inherently conservative, with family values and a solid work ethic. He offers Booker T. Washington as the proper model for black political behavior and stresses education as the only program which will reliably bring disadvantaged blacks into the American mainstream.

Some years ago, Frank Penn dropped in to visit with conservatives at the TAPROOT picnic. A former police officer and decorated Vietnam veteran, he showed a sophisticated command of the basic political problems challenging Americans, among them feminism and Marxism.

Chuck Wheeler, a former member, spoke to TAPROOT in 2001 regarding his race for Village President of Glendale Heights (He lost.). He took an interest in local politics because Bloomingdale’s Park District wanted to annex his home. He did not live in Bloomingdale and did not want to live in that district. So, he organized his neighbors, circulated petitions and succeeded in defeating the proposal. Subsequently he ran for village trustee and won with 75% of the vote.

In the last election cycle, TAPROOT members had the pleasure of hearing two outstanding black candidates for the U.S. Senate. Eric Wallace, a publisher of a conservative journal, a theologian and ordained minister, stated that he had a problem with the lack of knowledge in the African-American community about the GOP’s role in opposing slavery and pushing for civil-rights. His campaign was an effort to “do something about it.”

The other candidate for Senate was John Arrington. He boasted of three credentials that should have made him a U.S. Senator, if not the President of the United States. He has a Harvard degree, he has experience as a community organizer, and he is African American. His father was a Pentecostal minister and an entrepreneur who started his own bus company. One of 11 siblings, Arrington told how his father imbued his children with a conservative, entrepreneurial spirit. When some of the kids complained that they could not find a summer job, Dad retorted, “Make one!”

And finally, Anthony Anderson came to TAPROOT’s Saturday breakfast meeting to make his pitch for a spot on the Republican National Committee. “We need to expand into other communities,” he said. Continuing, he explained, “I care about the Constitution and the rule of law…That’s why I’m running for Committeeman.” He made such an impressive presentation that Jack Roeser, a tireless critic of Republican corruption and stupidity, offered to fund Anderson’s tenure on the National Committee, if he were so appointed.

And then, TAPROOT met Cedra Crenshaw, the first black, woman candidate to address the group. Her message is the same song conservatives have been singing for decades: eliminate wasteful spending, create jobs by cutting taxes, and making government accountable. Refreshingly different from other candidates, she is an accountant, a person familiar with budgets, taxes and spending. She  wants an audit of Illinois government, a line by line review of all spending. She wants term limits, a balanced budget and an end to ‘pay to play'.

Crenshaw’s campaign has inspired other moms, like herself, to involve themselves in politics. One “grocery mom” told her that she was the last hope. Grocery Mom viewed politics as a waste of time. But, Crenshaw made her re-think her position. “November 2 is just the beginning,” she said. Her campaign needs money and more volunteers. Her district (43rd) covers the area in the south suburbs including Bolingbrook, Lockport and Joliet. Contact: www.CedraCrenshaw.com; 815-588.0000.

State Rep. Mike Fortner, from the West Chicago-Warrenville area, explained how the Democrats in Springfield ignore the Illinois Constitution on the budget. They refuse to present a balanced budget. Fortner cut his own office and staff budget by 10%. “It wasn’t that hard,” he said. Illinois could easily cut 10% and save billions of dollars.

State Sen. Randy Ramey, from the Wayne Township area, discussed his bill in the Illinois Senate which follows the legislation Arizona passed to control illegal immigration. His bill required that any person stopped for some violation would have to show proof of his immigration status. Remarkable, the GOP leadership opposed it. The leadership claimed that it did not have a high priority among voters, even though surveys showed otherwise. In Ramey’s own district, 80% of the people supported the bill. Republican leaders of the Senate Tom Cross would not allow Ramey to introduce it.

Political consultant and old friend of TAPROOT Jon Zahm came by to tout his “Vote No Kilbride” campaign. Thomas L. Kilbride is a Democrat who sits on the Illinois Supreme Court. Zahm gave the opinion that Kilbride is vulnerable in this district (3rd) which embraces northwestern Illinois, since it escapes much of the influence of corrupt Chicago Democrat machine politics. Kilbride voted against tort reform when the case went before the Supreme Court. Republicans can beat him since he needs a 60% vote to keep his office. Contact: www.vote-no-kilbride.com; jz@vote-no-kilbride.com; (O) 815-483-4710; (H) 309-522-5008.

Rick Bieseda, Chairman of the Minuteman Project, complained that the laws regarding immigration are not being enforced. Twenty to 50 million illegal aliens reside in the U.S., while the economy plummets. Illegal aliens receive preferential treatment from government agencies.

The GOP candidate for governor, Bill Brady has disappointed conservatives on this issue by supporting entitlements for illegal aliens. Brady has also said that he wants to increase legal immigration. This prompted Rosanna Pulido, the next speaker and tireless opponent of border anarchy, to ask this question at another picnic, held a week earlier in the northern suburbs of Chicago: ‘What will increasing legal immigration do for the unemployment problem?’ The answer failed to come forth, because the person in charge shut off her microphone.

Pulido also complained that the GOP candidate for Secretary of State, Robert Enriquez, wants illegal aliens to be able to obtain drivers’ certificates. This creates a problem because Illinois is already one of the most illegal friendly states in the nation. They come here with no history, so when the police stop a suspect for a traffic violation, they have no idea whether or not he is wanted for a crime. The same is not true for a legal citizen. This makes Illinois a magnet for criminals.

A first time visitor to a TAPROOT event was Sharon DeBoth, from Elmhurst. She told the story of how she came to be selling political window stickers at the picnic and other events. She worked as a loan officer but had to find a new job when new federal regulations compelled her to fill out so many complicated forms that she could not earn a living in that field. She and two other friends formed “USA Stand Up Be Heard.” The company sells political window sticker. These are not like bumber stickers, DeBoth emphasized, because they are easy to apply and remove from either an automobile or home window. They are plastic sheets with printing on them that stick electrostatically to the surface. They bear such slogans as, “Your freedom is at stake, Vote Republican” and “There are 11 trillion reasons to vote Republican.” Contact: www.politicalwindowstickers.com; USA Stand Up Be Heard, P.O. Box 201, Elmhurst, IL 60126; (630) 674-1188.

The other vendor came from Peoria, Nancy Iwankovitch. She came to introduce conservatives to a new magazine, “The Conservative Magazine of Illinois.” The August issue features articles about local politics as well as columns by conservative favorites such as Michelle Malkin and Thomas Sowell. The cover story delves into the contribution of black patriots to the conservative movement in Illinois. Contact: Pathway Multimedia, Inc., P.O. Box 195, Deer Creek, IL 61733; www.raisetherepublic.com; info@raisetherepublic.com; 1-800-767-0545.

TAPROOT invites all conservatives to the next breakfast meeting at the Old Country Buffet in Lombard, September 18, 8 to 10 am.