Prairie State Wire

With an extensive background in government, politics and the media, Christopher Robling is familiar with the machinations of all three in Illinois.

He agrees with the Illinois Republican Party’s decision to file a federal lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker, saying the Democratic governor has violated the First Amendment by ordering some groups — such as the state GOP — to restrict its gatherings while he endorsed and participated in events he supports despite large crowds.

“I support all acts to restrain Gov. Pritzker’s unconstitutional urges in politicizing COVID and destroying livelihoods of many of those less fortunate than him,” Robling said. “Good to see the Illinois Republican Party assuming its duty.”

The state GOP filed the lawsuit on Monday, June 15, alleging Pritzker has crossed a constitutional line.

“Gov. Pritzker is ruling Illinois like an unaccountable king where only he gets to decide which violations of his executive order have his blessing,” Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said in a statement.

“The Illinois Republican Party will not sit idly by while the governor of Illinois applies one rule for himself and his political allies and another rule for everyone else. We agree that peaceful protesters have just cause to exercise their First Amendment rights, but they aren’t the only ones,” Schneider said. “The days of Gov. Pritzker picking winners and losers is coming to an end. The hypocrisy has to end. The violation of our First Amendment rights has to end.”

The Illinois Republican Party was forced to hold its quadrennial convention virtually, eliminating in-person collaboration, networking and training, the release noted.

“The 2020 general election is five months away and the only opposition to Pritzker and Illinois Democrats’ control is indefinitely barred from meeting for normal party functions,” Schneider said. “This isn’t the first time Gov. Pritzker has played by a different set of rules. When restrictions barred travel to vacation homes and the governor lectured Illinoisans daily about not crossing state borders, Pritzker’s family was traveling to and from their equestrian estates in Florida and Wisconsin.

“And now, we see Pritzker continue to restrict funerals, weddings, festivals, youth sports — and political gatherings — at the same time he marches with thousands of protesters on a crowded street.”

Robling has witnessed a lot of politicians in action.

He was the Republican member of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners from 1991-94, led successful non-partisan voter registration drives and served as a judge of elections, where he supported state-enabling legislation for the National Voter Registration Act. 

“He served in a variety of roles in congressional and prominent local political campaigns throughout the early 1980s,” according to his online biography. “He worked earlier in his career for or with the U.S. Navy, Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Commerce.”

Robling has served as a journalist and commentator, frequently appearing in the Chicago media. He has written for Institutional Investor, The Financial Times, Chicago Tribune, Des Moines Register, Chicago Sun-Times, American Spectator.com, The American Conservative Union website and others. He has also contributed to IllinoisReview.com.