Kelly Receives Endorsement of Family PAC Federal? It's An Embarrassment!

by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director

 

I recently learned Family PAC Federal endorsed Republican candidate for Illinois state Comptroller William J. Kelly http://www.family-pac.com/?page=sc.  I find this amazing!  Does Paul Caprio, the Director of Family PAC, properly vet the people his organization endorses?  I guess not.

 

Here's a little refresher for those of you who are not familiar with Mr. Kelly.  I first learned of him when he came down to visit the Springfield, Illinois state Capitol Rotunda Building where a Nativity scene stood among other religious displays and signs of dissent.  Kelly's mission was meant to be a publicity stunt.  He came to Springfield a few days before Christmas to remove a display from the ACLU which Kelly thought contained hate speech..  Mr. Kelly was confused because the ACLU signage actually supported the rights of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee to sponsor a crèche in the state Capitol building.

 

When Mr. Kelly arrived on his white horse--like 12th Century King Richard leading the Crusades to liberate the Holy Land--he learned his mission was flawed.  The sign he really wanted to take down was from a Wisconsin-based group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF).  Kelly ended up being escorted out of the Rotunda by 15 state Capitol Police officers, after he attempted to tamper with the FFRF sign.  The police were waiting for Mr. Kelly because he put out a press release the day before announcing his intentions.

 

Obviously, Kelly was operating in some kind of intellectual fog.  Kelly believed the state was funding these displays.  But Kelly's trip was meant to magnify his own self-importance, in an attempt to gain publicity and favor with pro-family voters in Illinois.

 

Didn't Kelly know all the signage, including the Nativity scene, were privately-funded under federal law.  Nope!  And Kelly's stunt cost the state money.

 

Now I must admit, Kelly did call me.  As Chairman of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee, he thought I would be happy with his actions.  In fact, this is quite to the contrary.   As I wrote in a previous column, the juxtaposition between the hateful speech on the FFRF sign and the message of hope and forgiveness conveyed by the Nativity scene serves the purpose of Christianity well.

 

But Kelly did not call me before his mission.  By the way, the FFRF is a group which really advocates paganism, not atheism, as their sign implies.

 

I asked Kelly for an apology and he gave me one which I accepted.  I thought the issue was over, until I learned this genius was going around to pro-family groups touting his Crusader-like mission to Springfield.

 

Here's the problem.  The Springfield Nativity scene does not need the controversy created by Mr. Kelly's self-serving foray.  A Nativity scene which stood in the capitol of Washington state was thrown out of that governmental building, along with other displays because of the controversy which took place in Olympia.  I don't want that to happen in Illinois and neither do the following members of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee which include: Thomas Brejcha, Esq., Chicago-based Thomas More Society; Jean Cohoon, Eureka; Eunice Conn, Polo; Karl Fritz, Chicago; Pastor Dustin Fulton, Jefferson St. Christian Church, Lincoln; Daniel Gura, Lake Zurich; State Sen. Chris Lauzen, Aurora "acting as a private citizen"; Bernie Lutchman, Springfield; Beth Rogers, Springfield; Arlene Sawicki, South Barrington; Dave Smith, Illinois Family Institute and Julie Zanoza, Lincoln.

 

Here is another important point that should be considered by everyone who will cast a vote in the February 2nd Republican primary, including Mr. Caprio.  If Kelly did not know the facts about the only remaining Nativity scene to stand in any state capitol in America, including how it is funded, why should Illinois residents trust Kelly with our money during the greatest financial crisis in our state and nation's history.

 

But there's more about Mr. Kelly.  He is trying to appeal to pro-family voters, but what he makes public about his lifestyle presents a very different image of the man.  Kelly says Hugh Hefner, the king of pornography, which has destroyed the lives of millions, is his hero.

 

A column by Bernie Schoenburg of the Springfield State Journal-Register http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1136811925/Bernard-Schoenburg-Hoffman-Giannoulias-duel-over-Bright-Start-accord provides a glimpse into Kelly's private life made public by himself on YouTube.

 

Here are some of the titles of Mr. Kelly's "pro-family" video catalogue:

 

The featured video:  Bill Teams up with Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen http://www.youtube.com/user/upscaletv 

Words from Kelly's website: Nielsen to Bill: You're drunk...but in a good way. Kelly smiles and shrugs: Is there any other way?! Another wild William J. Kelly moment...CAUGHT ON TAPE!

 

Bill Channels John Dillinger:  http://www.youtube.com/user/upscaletv#p/a/u/2/x80i90LlteY 

 

Bill's Playboy Party with Kendra  http://www.youtube.com/user/upscaletv#p/a/CF55A42D637D05C3/0/zhuVwm7Id-U 

Words from Kelly's website:  It's Bill's first ever Playboy Party and he meets up with Hef's girlfriend...the gorgeous Kendra Wilkenson from E!'s Girls Next Door...and what a wild Upscale night it is. The question is...how long will it take Bill to get smashed this time? If the past is any indicator...it won't be long!

 

Not exactly pro-family images.  Is this the kind of candidate Paul Caprio is endorsing these days?  Frankly, I don't believe Caprio is aware of Mr. Kelly's high jinks.  At least I hope not, but he should be. However, if Bernie Schoenberg of the Springfield State Journal-Register is aware of Kelly's lifestyle, shouldn't the leader of one of the most important pro-family political action committees be? 

 

It certainly seems like Mr. Kelly has some personal issues to deal with.  Perhaps Kelly needs the prayers of the pro-family movement and not their vote.

 

RELATED ARTICLES:

 

Illinois State Comptroller Candidate William J. Kelly Uses Springfield Nativity Scene For Publicity Stunt:  http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2009/12/illinois-state-comptroller-candidate-william-j-kelly-uses-springfield-nativity-scene-for-publicity-s.html

 

If William Kelly Does Not Understand Simple Facts About Displays In Illinois State Capitol Building, How Can He Be Comptroller For Entire State? http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2009/12/if-william-kelly-does-not-understand-simple-facts-about-displays-in-illinois-state-capitol-building-.html

 

State Journal-Register article by Bernie Schoenburg: Surely he jests:  http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1136811925/Bernard-Schoenburg-Hoffman-Giannoulias-duel-over-Bright-Start-accord

 

 

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State Journal-Register article by Bernie Schoenburg: Surely he jests:  http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x1136811925/Bernard-Schoenburg-Hoffman-Giannoulias-duel-over-Bright-Start-accord

Comments

[R. Jean Cohoon]

It embarrasses me just to watch this guy's video. Man, he really loves himself.