By Eric Stock and Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – President Trump’s recent comments spreading the blame for the recent violence in Charlottesville, Va. has shown a divide among local Republicans.
“If we start to get like that, we have the law of the jungle and not the rule of law and that is not where we need to be,” Erickson told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn.
McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers told WJBC’s Marc Strauss, the KKK and Nazi’s shouldn’t be political issues, as an elected Republican who believes in leadership by example, he chose to express his views on social media.
“I certainly take pause with the comments that were out there,” Chambers said. “I think from the responses he’s gotten from the public, I think he needs to think about what response do we want to have out there for the Republican Party.”
Several other local Republicans condemned Erickson’s remarks.
“I absolutely disagree Chuck!,” former Normal Town Council member and unsuccessful GOP candidate for Normal Township Supervisor, Cheryl Gaines, said. “The Neo-nazis/nazis is the issue in our Country right now. Couching criticism of them in criticism of others lessens the awfulness of their message! This isn’t just about the violence that occurred the other day, it is about a crisis of our Constitution, our morals, ethics and caring for all of our citizens. Walk a mile in a black person’s shoes and think about what it must feel like to them in this climate of racism and hate.”
“Now, more than ever, is the time for leaders at every level to stand united in one voice and call what happened in Virginia what it is – evil,” McLean County Board member Josh Barnett said. “That is why I am disappointed in a post and comments this evening on the McLean County Republican Party FB page. Let me be crystal clear: those comments do not represent me in any way. The yells of racists and hatemongers against African Americans, Latinos, Jews, Catholics, LGBTQ community and countless others must not stand. It is our duty as Americans and humans to raise our voices in opposition to evil wherever it is found.”
A CBS poll shows 55 percent of Americans oppose President Trump’s remarks, while 67 percent of Republicans approve.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
