13^th District Nominating Committee will vote on May 19^th

Statement from Mike Bigger, 13^th District Chairman:

The Nominating Committee for the 13th Congressional District Republican Vacancy convened today (May 5^th) in Springfield, Illinois and heard the eight candidates present their case to be selected to fill the vacancy.

The Committee selected four finalists to be considered on May 19: Jerry Clarke, Rodney Davis, Erika Harold and Kathy Wassink.  On that date the Committee will then vote, by Republican Primary weighted vote, for the candidate of their choice.  The committee will carefully examine the candidates’ qualifications to be the Republican Nominee for Congress from the 13th District.

The Committee is confident that it will choose the best candidate to defeat David Gill and maintain the Republican majority in the Illinois delegation and in Washington, DC.

Says all seasoned pols should do the same 

By Chinta Strausberg 

U.S. Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-1^st) is proud to have endorsed and supported four young candidates who were running in open seats in the March 20^th election.

Rush thanks his constituents who returned him to office, but he is also proud to have supported four candidates for the Illinois General Assembly who ran in open seats who also won: Christian Mitchell, 26^th Representative District, Michael E. Hastings, 19^th Senatorial District,  Napoleon Harris, 15^th Senatorial District,  and Elgie Sims, 34^th Representative District.

“All of these young men are grounded in their commitment to be of service to their distinct constituencies,” said Rush who said he is proud of having meaningful relationships with these candidates.

 “I am very proud of them and proud to be of  assistance in their successful campaigns.

“The many seasoned politicians should be able to identify and work with leaders of the next generation,” Rush stated. Rush believes that is the mark of a good leader—to identify aspiring leaders and help push them over the victory line.

Chinta Strausberg, Communications Director for the Re-Election of Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st)

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady issued the following statement regarding the Illinois Republican Primary:

“In just one week, our four Republican Presidential candidates have brought more investment to Illinois than Barack Obama and Pat Quinn have in three years. Thank you to Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul for believing that Illinois is not just a rubber stamp for the Democratic Party. 

“Congratulations to Governor Mitt Romney and all of the other victorious local Republican candidates on hard-fought victories today.

“Like most Illinois Republicans, I was thrilled to see a GOP Presidential Primary where all of our candidates were engaged with Illinois voters.

“Although we are still awaiting final results, early and absentee balloting indicates that more Republican ballots were cast than Democratic ballots statewide outside the City of Chicago for the first time in many years. This shows that many independent voters are fed up with the reckless fiscal policies of national and state Democrats that have devastated Illinois taxpayers and business owners and they want real change – now.

“Now that we’ve had a spirited debate within our party, I urge all Illinois Republicans to unite behind all of our nominees for the November General Election. All of us as Republicans have much more in common with each other than we do with Illinois Democrats like Barack Obama, Pat Quinn, Mike Madigan and John Cullerton.”

 The Institute of the Black World 21^st Century (IBW), a research, policy and advocacy organization, will hold a national symposium, “It’s Nation Time”, commemorating the 40^th Anniversary of the 1972 National Black Political Convention held in Gary, Indiana.

IBW will screen “It’s Nation Time”, the official Documentary Film of the Gary Convention and Panel Discussion on the impact of the Gary Convention and its Relevance to Black Politics Today, Friday, March 23, 2012, at the Rayburn House Office Building, Capital Hill, Washington, D.C., from 12:00 Noon – 3:00 p.m.

During the event, they will also give a tribute to Congressman Donald Payne with the IBW Legacy Award to Honorable Richard G. Hatcher.

Verna Avery Brown, WPFW, Pacifica, Network, Washington, D.C., will serve as Moderator of the event.

U.S. Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee, is honorary host; Dr. Ron Daniels, President, Institute of the Black World 21^st Century, is Convener; and the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., special invited guest.

Panelists and participants are:  Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President, Bennett College for Women and Member, Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commission; Bill Lucy, President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Catalina Byrd, Hip Hop Activist, Hip Hop Caucus; George Curry, former Editor-in-Chief, National Newspaper Publishers Association and Emerge Magazine; Dr. E. Faye Williams, President, National Congress of Black Women; and Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President, Hip hop Caucus.

“The 1972 National Black Political Convention was one of the most significant gatherings of African Americans in the history of this country. Some 10,000 Black people from all walks of life converged on Gary, Indiana to adopt a National Black Political Agenda and establish a process to hold candidates accountability to Black interests at the local, state and national level.  A new generation of activists, organizers and elected officials need to study the Gary Convention to assess its relevance and meaning for Black politics and the interests and aspirations of Black people today. This is the subject of the March 23rd National Symposium.” – Dr. Ron Daniels, President, Institute of the Black World 21st Century 

For Further Information, Email: info@ibw21.org or Call: 888.774.2921

To Register/Access Web Cast/Live Stream: visit www.ibw21.org

Urges them to come out in huge numbers on Tuesday

By Chinta Strausberg

U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1^st) spent the weekend rallying Democrats including his constituents to come out in record numbers on Tuesday not just to send him back to Washington but also to show Illinois they are an historic and political force to be reckoned with and a powerhouse other Democrats must ultimately meet along the road to victory.

The long anticipated Election Day is less than 24-hours away. Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20, 2012, a day when temperatures are expected to be an unprecedented 82 degrees and a time when voters will once again flex their political muscle.

Last month, Chicago Board of Elections Chairman Langdon Neal announced that 1.28 million people were registered to vote in Chicago, which he says is the lowest number of registered voters since 1944. Turnout is key to victory.

With a history of service, a commitment to progress, and a track record of legislative success, Rep. Rush met with Eighth Ward Democratic leaders Ald. Michelle Harris (8^th), Rep. Marlow Colvin (D-33^rd) at the 8th Ward Regular Democratic Organization’s office, 8539 South Cottage Grove, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by scores of energetic precinct captains.  He also spoke at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Hall at 600 W. Washington, where he urged everyone to exercise their right to vote come Tuesday.

At the 8th ward headquarters in introducing Rush, Ald. Harris said, he takes care of his constituents.  “He’s involved in the process. He’s involved with the community. He’s involved in the Eighth Ward in bringing dollars back…..  I can tell you that Congressman Bobby Rush has brought the dollars home. This is the name that we are pushing….”

After an extended applause, Rush looked out over the early morning standing-room only crowd said, “This is a phenomenon that you don’t see in the black community much anymore. Good ward organizations, precinct captains the weekend before the election is almost something that none of us have in the African American community anymore and it’s part of our problem in terms of why we are not realizing our potential in the body politics of the city, state and the nation,” he said.

Calling Harris, who is also the ward committeeman, a “wonderful, outstanding, overwhelming, and most excellent alderman in the city of Chicago,” Rush praised the 8th Ward Organization calling it “an historic organization.”

While he grew up in the Second Ward where he was once the alderman and the ward committeeman, Rush said, “I was always proud of the legacy in the 8th Ward Democratic organization.”

Rush spoke of the late Congressman Ralph Metcalfe, once the ward committeeman of the 3rd Ward and a product of the late Congressman William Dawson’s organization and how a precinct captain came to the 3rd Ward named John Stroger “and he learned at Metcalfe’s and Dawson’s knees and what he learned as a precinct captain in the 3rd Ward, when it became his turn to become a committeeman in the 8th Ward, he carried that knowledge and understanding into the 8th Ward.

“He built this organization and made it the best ward organization within the city of Chicago,” Rush said ”If you look at the record, the 8th Ward was always up there either number one or two in turns of turnout, in terms of vote, in terms of who they elected.

“The 8th Ward set the pace out here for many years, and it’s still setting the pace,” said Rush who gave them a history lesson in Chicago politics. “You ought to know where you’re at. You ought to know how God has prepared you and blessed you where you’re at. If you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t know where you’re arriving….

“This organization is one of strongest organizations in the city of Chicago. Rush said no candidate seeking election could win if they don’t carry this ward overwhelmingly. “That’s the key,” he told the precinct captains.” “You have long legacy, a long history, and you’ve been fortunate to have some outstanding, consistent political leadership down the line and this ward is one of the best wards in the country, one of the highest voting wards in the country, one of the best producing wards in the country.”

Rush, who said Ald. Harris’ friendship means a great deal to him, reminded them of how he brought back a million dollars to help build a new addition to the Jackson Park Hospital, and earmarked $200,000 for the 8th Ward-based South Central Community Services organization, along with the millions that have come to the ward via the 2009 federal stimulus package. Rush also spoke of his plans for restoring the Metra Station at 95th and Cottage Grove Avenue.

He told the precinct captains that the people of the ward need them especially their leadership. “The question is whether you can deliver,” Rush said referring to the low voter turnout predicted by the Chicago Board of Election. “They are going to judge you not in November but in March as to how tough you are and how many voters you can deliver. Take this weekend and make it work for you and for your community. We are all counting on you.”

Referring to President Barack Obama, Rush urged them to tell voters to vote for the President. “Not withstanding what they are saying,  he is the best president that we got,” he told a cheering crowd. “If he gets four more years, he will be the best president that we’ve ever had….. As soon as they go into the poll, look for Obama’s name, then mosey on down and punch 11” to return Rush to congress. “Don’t stop with Obama now…,” he said. “Make sure they vote for Bobby Rush.

“There are two things I’ve always said I didn’t want to do in office, one is that never wanted to embarrass my constituents, and I wanted to deliver to my constituents.” Rush said he has kept both commitments and want to continue.

Harris said, “In our community, everybody loves Congressman Rush; so he’s an easy sell…. He’s working hard for the community.” Harris told her precinct captains “we need to deliver big numbers.” 

She added “the people have a lot of confidence in this organization and that we are going to do the right thing.”

Before Rush left, he recognized Gwen Duncan-Alexander who was the assistant to the late John Stroger. He also recognized Rep. Colvin and thanked him for his leadership in Springfield.  “He’s mature. He’s articulate. He is one of the best-elected officials. I know he is qualified and capable and he has demonstrated a record of accomplishments….”

Colvin said the good weather “gives us no excuses for touching as many voters between now and election day as possible.” He said what Obama needs is a big vote. “He needs your momentum to send a strong signal that he is going to be in a very difficult race and the votes we give him today will probably change the way they strategize against him.”

Colvin said if voters come out and vote for Obama, they will vote for others the 8th Ward is pushing. Colvin too called for a huge voter turnout. He praised Rush for surviving 19-years as a member of Congress which greatly “speaks to his character.”

“One thing that John Stroger always talked about was how character always counts. You can’t ignore it. We’re under constant scrutiny and the only thing you have to do is to keep your nose clean….”

Colvin said of the 8th Ward, “We’ve had some difficult times here. We’ve had some great times here but through it all we’ve had you and that is why we’re still here…. This is a small and dinky place, but the power that emanates from here is enormous.” He praised Harris for becoming the President Pro Tem of the City Council. “That speaks of who we are….”

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.

(From 46th Ward Democrats)

Today’s election is critical to the future of the 46th Ward.  We must elected strong candidates to represent our party at all levels of government.  From the White House to the Court House, we need to support qualified leaders who share our values. 

Please take the time to vote – and visit www.ChicagoElections.com to find your polling place and other election details.  You can also call the Chicago Board of Elections at 312-269-7900.

46th Ward Democrats – Recommended Candidates in the March 20, 2012 Democratic Primary Election

President of the United States
Barack Obama

Representative in Congress
Jan Schakowsky (9th Congressional District)
Mike Quigley (5th Congressional District)

State Senator
Heather Steans (7th District)
John Cullerton (6th District)

State Representative
Greg Harris (13th District)
Sara Feigenholtz (12th District)

Cook County State’s Attorney
Anita Alvarez

Cook County Recorder of Deeds
Karen Yarbrough

Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (vote for three)
Debra Shore
Kari Steele
Stella Black

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner
Michael Cabonargi

Supreme Court
Mary Jane Theis

Appellate Court
Maureen Connors
Terrence Lavin
Jesse Reyes
Nathaniel Howse
P. Scott Neville
Matt Delort

Circuit Court (Countywide)
Stanley Hill
Jean Prendergast Rooney
Diann Marsalek
Erica Reddick
Russell Hartigan
Alfred Swanson
Cynthia Ramirez
Pamela Leeming
Michael Forti
Lorna Propes
Michael Mullen

Circuit Court (Subcircuit)
Laura Liu
Deborah Gubin
James Kaplan

46th Ward Democratic Committeeman
James Cappleman

Thank you for reading our recommendations and please remember to vote!
Sincerely,
The 46th Ward Democrats Team

Urge early voting for victory

By Chinta Strausberg

Scores of elected officials gathered earlier this week at Apostolic Church of God headed by Rev. Dr. Byron T. Brazier to urge support for President Barack Obama’s upcoming election and to solidify their own support for the March 20, 2012 election.

The “Get-Out-And-Vote” rally was hosted by the Interfaith Illinois chaired by Bishop Dr. Claude Porter.

Some officials urged voters to take advantage of the Early Voting program, which ends on Thursday, March 15, 2012.  Here is the link for the 51 sites for Chicago voters and click here http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections/earlyvoting/Pages/EarlyVotingLocations.aspx for the County Early Voting sites.

However, according to Cook County Clerk David Orr, the Republican voters in suburban Cook County are coming out in record numbers for the Early program and are already up by 77 percent over the 2008 primary.

Orr reported that during the first 10-days of Early Voting, 6,270 Republican voters cast their vote in this program, or a 77 percent hike over the 2008 primary when only 3,545 Republican ballots were cast.

Bishop Dr. Jo Anne Long, pastor of the New Life Believers Church, said, “Say ‘yes’ to President Obama because I see him in the proverbial question that Jesus asked in the gospel according to St. Luke, Chapter 10, when he said which one of these.

“It characterized the story of a certain man that fell among thieves, and the American people have fallen among thieves in this 21^st Century, thieves who have stripped us of our education, thieves that have stripped us of our careers and our jobs and our well-being, thieves who have stripped us of our houses through repossession, ” Long said.

“As a result of this thievery, we have been left on the side of the road wounded,” she stated. “President Obama is not a priest. President Obama is not a Levite, but he was that Good Samaritan that came forth for such a time as this saw the American people…saw us in need and he came along and did not pass us by. He came along and lifted us up through the auto industry turnaround. It’s about change” she said cannot be done overnight.

“You can’t turn an 18-wheeler like you can an SUV,” said Long. “You cannot turn a cruise ship like you can a sail boat. In order to turn that cruise ship and back it up to dock, it takes awhile and sometimes you can’t even tell it’s turning, but it’s turning and it’s being backed up to dock. Let’s give him (Obama) another chance, another four-years to complete the turnaround,” Long said. “Say yes, is our anthem just as the church’s anthem is ‘say yes, yes, Lord,’ it’s yes Obama. Let’s vote for him.”

There were a number of speakers including Chief Apostle William McCoy, Bishop James Springfield, Bishop Joseph Jones, Rev. Dr. Clay Evans, Rev. Dr. Leonard Deville, Louvenia Hood, executive director, Mothers Opposed to Violence Everywhere, Reginald Akim-Berry, president, Save Our Sons, and many others.

Some of those posing for pictures were: States Attorney Anita Alvarez, Illinois Appellate Court Justice Joy Cunningham, who is running for the Supreme Court who earlier attended CPS/CEO Jean-Claude Brizard’s “State of Education Address,” Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis who was appointed to this Court in 2010 and is endorsed by the Democratic Party, Illinois Appellate Court Justice P. Scott Neville, who is running for re-election, Judge Patrick J. Sherlock who is running for the Appellate Court, Cynthia Ramirez, who is running for a vacancy for the Cook County Circuit Court, Judge Stanley Hill, Sr. who is running for re-election and many others.

Ramirez, an administrative law judge with the state of Illinois and who has been practicing law for 22-years, said, “President Obama will always have a special place in my heart because he did something that no other president did. He placed a Latina woman on the Supreme Court. He recognized the importance of diversity on the bench, and he placed a wise Latino on the bench, and I hope to be a wide Latina in Cook County. I am blessed and honored to be on the same ticket with President Obama,” she said.

But it was Rev. Greg Livingston, pastor of Mission of Faith Baptist Church, who gave the Democrats their 2012 charge asking the audience to repeat after him… “Democracy, pigmentocracy and genderocracy.

Referring to countries around the world where people are rising up and fighting for democracy, Livingston said, “America is the great experiment that for over 200-years we are showing democracy, the free way, is the best way for our people but democracy has to fight. We have to fight because of pigmentocracy, colortocracy. We have to fight racism. Democracy has to fight racism for Barack Obama to become president.

“The purpose of democracy is to empower a people. The result of democracy is Barack Obama,” Livingston said. However, he said the winds of social justice have shifted. “There is this effort to turn back democracy. When you have a small-minded, petty radio personality like a Rush Limbaugh in the middle of Women’s Month calling women out of their names. That’s wrong and then they try to turn back women’s rights and to make women second-class citizens. That’s genderocracy. “

Livingston added, “The greatest representation of democracy on this planet is a half-Kenyan African black boy from Chicago, Illinois who was an organizer on the South Side who became the president of the U.S. Democracy continues of the slave house to the White House. Everybody say yes to Obama in 2012,” he said.

Bishop Porter, chairman of Interfaith Illinois, said, “It’s time to get President Obama re-elected.”

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.

 ”Defeat at Waterloo: Fighting on the Front Lines” by Amanda V. Wilkerson shares a compelling portrait of a modern political organization in action

Kissimmee, FL (BlackNews.com) — Defeat at Waterloo: Fighting on the Front Lines (ISBN 1468141163) by community activist, political organizer and FAMU Alumni Amanda V. Wilkerson shares a firsthand account of Hillary Clinton’s historic 2008 presidential run as seen through the prism of her defeat at the Iowa Caucuses.

As a young, African American female political activist, Wilkerson represents a key group of organizers and influencers that shaped the 2008 presidential cycle. Seeking to speak to others like her who spent time campaigning or are considering future political engagement, she offers a candid and moving account of the tense weeks leading up the Iowa Caucuses, a turning point that foreshadowed Barack Obama’s eventual nomination. Passionate, humorous and well informed, the book reveals the highs and lows on the front lines of political activism.

“I wanted to offer insight on the inner workings of Hillary’s run for president from the perspective of a young African American activist,” says Wilkerson, “It’s for countless counterparts who, like me, tossed caution into the wind to run buck wild after their dreams, even the unpredictable political ones that despite the outcome of their work they keep faith in the process and the politics.”

An electoral event where voters meet in precinct caucuses in all of Iowa’s 1,784 precincts and elect delegates to the corresponding county conventions, the Iowa Caucuses represents the first major hurdle of a presidential nomination and hold significant national consequences. Clinton’s defeat in Iowa raised strategic and circumstantial obstacles to her run that eventually led to Obama’s nomination.

Defeat at Waterloo: Fighting on the Front Lines is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author:

Amanda V. Wilkerson is an educator, community activist and political organizer dedicated to defining and exploring the pathology of African American civic engagement. Her work includes serving as the vice president and secretary of a local chapter of College Democrats, an inaugural board member of Campus Progress, director of Student Lobbying, Iowa field organizer for the Hillary Clinton Presidential Committee, African American outreach organizer for the Hillary Clinton Presidential Committee, advance team member for the Hillary Clinton Presidential Committee, field organizer for Florida for Obama, creator of Potluck and Politics and executive director of Activist in Action. Wilkerson teaches U.S. history at a local middle school in Kissimmee, Fla. This is her first book.

For more details, visit www.amandawilkerson.org.

Photo Caption: Bookcover