A man of the people and a man of God switched states last month
United States Congressman Byron Donalds was the headliner at the Illinois State Republican Party fundraiser.
He is Donald Trump’s choice to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis in Tallahassee.
On Sunday, that same weekend, Chicago’s Pastor Corey Brooks–the man known for living on the roof as a tool to raise money to construct facilities to improve the lot of one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, came to Southeastern Florida to speak at a fundraiser one of three announced Republican candidates for replace Donalds in Congress–Jim Oberweis.
Brooks’ prepared speech was not just an endorsement; it was a testimony to the generosity Oberweis has provided the pastor’s ministry.
Oberweis explained that he met Brooks while running against Dick Durbin for U.S. Senator in 2014, coming closer to beating him than any other opponent.
In 2000, Brooks moved from Indiana to the South Side of Chicago.
He found a bank willing to loan him the money to buy a Woodlawn building for his church, but he had to come up with the down payment.
He maxed out his credit cards, sold the house he had purchased and, with the deadline looming, even sold his and his wife’s wedding rings to come up with the needed money.
Across the street from the church he started was a motel where prostitution and drug sales occurred.
He decided to buy the motel.
To raise money, he camped out on the roof.
Brooks raised the money to buy the motel.
When Brooks started his campaign to rise $25 million for a community center on the site, Oberweis contributed $200,000, but explained that raising that much would be really difficult.
“You’ve got to be really lucky to raise that amount,” Oberweis told him.
Brooks expanded his vision to include job training, increasing the cost to $35 million.
About 2020, Oberweis learned how Brooks had sold his and his wife’s wedding rings.
Brooks told the fundraiser audience that Oberweis had tears in his eyes when he learned of the sale.
He then offered to buy wedding rings for the couple.
Before they went to a jewelry store, Brooks told Oberweis he didn’t know of his wife’s expensive tastes.
Brooks did not reveal his Republican leanings until Bruce Rauner and Oberweis were running, but said that he made his party decision at age 19.
In his presentation, Oberweis told of positions taken in past campaigns which were ahead of their time,
The most striking was his stand against illegal aliens.
The commercial of Oberweis flying over Soldier Field pointing out that illegal immigration was so large that it could fill Soldier Field every week was denounced by immigrant rights groups.
Oberweis said that the 10,000 a day figure was based on an academic study.
The national debt was another issue that hasn’t lost the need to address, he added.
Focusing on the need to keep fresh water flowing through the Everglades was a Florida issue discussed.
One question from the audience struck me as strange.
Oberweis is running for a Federal office, yet the question was about rising home insurance premiums, which are a state issue.
Asked about tariffs, Oberweis said that he was a free, but fair trade supporter, based on his knowledge of economics (he started successful mutual funds), but thought Trump was using the threat of tariffs to gain leverage against unfair restrictions on American exports.
Based on his background in the dairy business, he pointed out that Canada does not allow the export of milk from Wisconsin and Minnesota, which he considers unfair.
Those who have announced to be running for the Republican Party nomination for Congress in the district besides Oberweis are John Fratto, Mike Pederson and Jim Schwartzel. All reported less than $500 in the bank.
Oberweis’ fundraiser was $250 apiece and Brooks said he’s give $3,500, challenging the wealthy people in the room to match him.
