Commentary by Daniel. T. Zanoza, Executive Director
I first became a social activist nearly 20 years ago. At that time, I did not realize that activism and politics are inexorably linked. Perhaps I was naive to believe this was not the case.
I had hoped with all my heart that pro-family conservatives held to a higher standard than those on the left which practice the dark arts of innuendo, ad hominen and character assassination as a means to gain political power. Again, I was naive. I am learning battles between factions of the Republican Party can be just as ruthless as our Democratic opponents.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Wallace addressed a TAPROOT (Traditions And Principles Republicans Often Overlook Today) meeting on Saturday, October 17th. During that function, political operative Rich Johns questioned whether the fact Wallace is on his third marriage should cause him to step aside as a candidate in the GOP Senatorial primary. "Johns, who is on the Board of Directors of TAPROOT, was not speaking for the organization," said TAPROOT Chairman Dave Diersen in a telephone interview.
Wallace is an ordained minister, entrepreneur and author. But the important question regarding Johns' comments is whether those seeking office as pro-family conservatives have to pass some type of moral test. If this is the case, many of us, myself included, would be disqualified from running for any political office. The only individual I know who lived a perfect life was Jesus Christ. However, Johns, apparently has passed judgment on Wallace. But turn about is fair play. Wallace has written a book where he addresses his personal life. Yet what do we know about Johns? What gives him the moral authority to ask Wallace or anyone else to step aside as a candidate for any office?
In fact, Johns is a bit of a mystery. He tells some he is from Ohio, he tells others he hails from Iowa. He popped up on the political scene in the midst of the Illinois conservative movement, to my knowledge in 2003 or thereabouts. Johns currently is associated with groups called Chicago Townhall Meeting and Illinois Fair Tax (Tax Nation).
The one thing certain about Johns is he's a rabid collector of information, but he shares little about himself. Perhaps Johns needs to reveal his qualifications as a moral arbiter. My point is I feel Johns' questioning of Wallace's personal history is morally repugnant. Of course, we have the right and duty to question candidates. However, what does Johns know, if anything, about what led to Wallace's previous divorces?
A better question yet is who does Johns work for? Is he connected with a political candidate who is challenging Wallace for the U.S. Senate? These are reasonable queries which Johns needs to answer because his own questions of Wallace lead us there.
There is one thing I am certain of. Although I do not know all the details about Eric Wallace's personal life, pro-family conservatives should hold ourselves to a higher standard of conduct and I'm not talking about Wallace here, I'm speaking of Johns. Scripture tells us "Judge not, lest ye be judged."
What kind of house do you live in, Mr. Johns? Is it made of glass? But I won't go there because I do believe pro-family social conservatives should represent something better.
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Hmmmmmmmmmm, Seems Illinois is getting famous for these politicians that appear out of nowhere. Like........OBAMA
Posted by: R. Jean Cohoon | October 19, 2009 at 11:01 PM