The Willises
Published yesterday on www.illinoisreview.com was this conservative viewpoint on the Ryan jury decision. . .
In all the reporting on the Ryan jury decision yesterday, the only thing I really wanted to know was what Rev. Scott and Janet Willis thought about it. CBS 2's Jon Duncanson spoke with Scott Willis yesterday (here).
I've been in the Willis' home and discussed the tragedy with the two of them a few years ago and worked with them as they lobbied the Illinois General Assembly promoting the "Choose Life" license plates.
To describe Scott and Janet as "wonderful" is embarrassingly inadequate. Several years after the tragedy, lunch included a tour of artwork beautifully framed in their South Side high rise. The invaluable collection consisted of crayon drawings, the last creations of their precious six children who perished in that infamous 1994 van fire, the day George Ryan was re-elected to his second term as Secretary of State. After lunch, we were shown a home video of the children playing piano duets, laughing, talking and exuding innocence that was heart-breaking.
Rev. Willis' immediate reaction the day his children died was they were God's to give and God's to take. He still believes that, although the longing in his eyes when he talks about those babies is so compelling, it takes your breath away.
In an awkward attempt to turn the unspeakable tragedy for something good, a few of us approached the Willises a few years ago to ask for their help in pushing our legislature to allow vehicle license plates with the "Choose Life" slogan imbedded. Funds raised through the sale of the plates would have been designated for adoption agencies, something the Willises enthusastically supported. They graciously agreed to help the cause, participated in a few press conferences and traveled to Springfield twice to speak on the plates' behalf, but to no avail.
Read more on Illinois Review, crossroads of the conservative community.
9 comments:
Fran, Fran, Fran
How can you have the chutzpah to come on this board after the Ryan conviction AND act like you were friends with the Willises.
YOU Fran supported George Ryan for Governor OVER Glenn Poshard. So did you political allies like Jack Roeser (where does he go to church? and are you familiar with the reasons for his first divorce? Family values hypocrite)
Penny Pullen. YOU Fran Eaton, Penny Pullen, and Jack Roeser (among others) were on the same campaign as Katz, Gold, Rick Garcia, Tom Tunney, Carol Ronen and Larry McKeon.
YOU Fran Eaton served on the transition team of George Ryan.
The same transition team with Rick Garcia, Tom Tunney.
YOU Fran Eaton as late as 2001 when CDL was revealed and the liberal votes were there voted to support and not condemn George Ryan. IN 2001 YOU WERE STILL SUPPORTING GEORGE RYAN EVEN WHILE CRITICIZING JIM RYAN. You would not sign on to the conservative consensus on George Ryan.
Jack Roeser was cozy with George Ryan for years. Jack Roeser even said he was honest on Chicago Tonight with Andy Martin and Jeremy Margolis. after he was elected Governor.
Did Penny Pullen get money for the campaign? or grants for any programs? Can conservatives be bought?
You had a real choice in Glenn Poshard who was more conservative officially on the record than George Ryan. What should of tipped you off was the Gay political community being on the same campaign as you. Why did you think they were against Poshard?
You again had bad discernment, were dishonest with others, and bad judgement--bad spiritual signs to have so much bad judgement and discernment on Jack Ryan--even though you knew the rumors about Jack that turned out to be true.
If you are a person of integrity you should not be in politics. YOU helped bring Illinois and conservatives George Ryan. You served on his transition team after the CDL info came out. YOU supported him and would not criticize him up until 2001.
DO YOU HAVE NO SHAME?????
You should get out of politics and do serious prayer, fasting and repetance.
Fran is a joke and has no credibility with conservatives.
She sold out to George Ryan.
THOSE WHO DON'T LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT. Carlos Santayana.
How does Fran Eaton deny her support and involvement with George Ryan? She did not listen to the Sun Times nor Glenn Poshard nor Channel 5 nor Pat Quinn on the corruption charges. She did not listen to real conservatives like Paul Caprio, Ralph Rivera, and Tom Roeser that George Ryan would be bad for conservatives.
Since we don't want to repeat history (the historical lessons of Jack Ryan weren't great either) and we have to decide as conservatives who we trust and listen too, it is important to analyze the past so we can move better into the future. What leadership did Fran Eaton demonstrate? What analysis and wisdom of the political scene did Fran Eaton demonstrate? Fran was on the wrong side of history with disastourous consequences. Fran brought us George Ryan.
Fran Eaton has NEVER apologized for her George Ryan involvemen.
Fran Eaton has NEVER explained her analysis and lack of wisdom. Fran Eaton has never given the credit and political due of the political prophets of the time like Paul Caprio.
Fran Eaton needs to apologize and admit her involvement and her part in the George Ryan governorship and recognize and apologize to Paul Caprio and others.
Fran approached this family? Hadn't they suffered enough? Good God.
Did Jack Roeser apologize to the Willis family for supporting George Ryan?
Did Fran Eaton apologize to the Willis family for supporting George Ryan?
Jack Roeser got a patronage job for divorced George Seaver with Judy Bar Topinka. Conservatives with the combine.
"In an awkward attempt to turn the unspeakable tragedy for [political gain], a few of us approached the Willises a few years ago to ask for their help in pushing our legislature to allow vehicle license plates with the "Choose Life" slogan imbedded."
No Fran, no one is giving you any credit. What's clear is the need you feel to attach yourself to events...that's what is truly sad.
Fran deserves credit for being a small part of a snow job on conservatives and the state of Illinois. Jack Roeser and Penny Pullen deserve bigger parts. They went against the wisdom and political analysis of true leaders like Paul Caprio who was supporting Glenn Poshard. Fran helped, however, small, elect George Ryan. She also was on the George Ryan transition team and Fran defended George Ryan although the way into 2001. Fran has no credibility on this issue or with the conservative community.
Whay you talkin about,Willis?
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