IL-14: Catalina Lauf Opportunities Including a Make or Break One

Catalina Lauf

Previously, we have seen Catalina Lauf’s strengths and have started her opportunities.

Today, we will conclude Catalina Lauf analysis of her opportunities as a candidate to the 14th congressional district Republican primary.

Help Voters Overcome Their Fears

Two individuals in particular have been making very public statements against Lauf here on McHenry County Blog. As I’ve said in previous articles, these are fears that are unjustified. And in one case, in my opinion, fears have bred hatred.

I must credit commenter “Correcting” who guided me to look at recent comments from Nevins and separate the valid concerns from the hateful accusations leveled at both Cal Skinner and me.

When the Mark Konkol article was published through Patch, and the analysis by McHenry County Blog stated it went a long way to alleviate fears, we believe it did. There were some who disagreed.

As pointed out in the October 24 article, Konkol did a report with follow up of Lauf and her campaign over a period of at least a month. It was the first thorough vetting of Lauf by any mainstream media outlet through the Pulitzer prize winning reporter.

Ms. Nevins, who was a Trump delegate in 2016 from the 14th district said the following in a comment in response to the article:

Jennifer Nevins

“How in the h@ll did that article ‘go a long way towards quelling fears?’

“In the article, Lauf ADMITS she would like to get a show on Fox News.

“In the article, Lauf’s mother’s sympathetic views and actions towards illegals are highlighted.

“Lauf mentions how she has been guided in life by her parents so the assumption could easily be that Lauf agrees [with] her mother in such issues.

“In the article, Lauf’s dearth of policy information from both her website and her interviews is described.

“In the article, Lauf’s status as essentially coming out of nowhere to run for high office is detailed.

“And from all of this, you deduce that we have nothing to fear?”

Jennifer Nevins comment 10/24/19 ” IL-14: Key Takeaways from Mark Konkol’s Extended Interview with Catalina Lauf “
.

These bullets would best take respond to Nevins’ comments:

  • Fox News job: the context I took from the potential Fox News gig was jovial and Lauf made it clear she is focused running for Congress
  • Lauf’s mother’s views: Lauf is her own person, and while it was interesting to see what her mother said 2 years ago, Lauf has made her overall position on immigration clear.
  • Dearth of policy information: Agreed, and that’s been pointed out about all of the Republican candidates including Lauf, but I must point out:
    • Within a week after announcing her candidacy, in an interview by The Federalist, Lauf spoke out against H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, and chastised the expansion of the “boyfriend clause” restrictions on guns as an attack on the 2nd amendment and chastised the 33 Republican members who voted to support weakening the 2nd amendment
    • On September 28, Lauf spoke out against the passage of H.R. 3525 the Underwood legislation that put illegal immigrants and asylum seekers ahead of veterans for medical care; Lauf specifically called out the rejection of the Motion to Recommit
  • Coming out of nowhere to run for office: Isn’t that an example of living out the American dream, and Lauf’s candidacy is a product of it?

I must admit, I have followed the 14th congressional district campaign for months, and both candidates and campaigns know much of the activities is second nature to me and I can rattle off bill numbers and know what they are.

The average voter doesn’t.

So I would suggest the Lauf campaign should collect all of the summaries from all of the articles written about Lauf and place these articles in an easy to access repository on the campaign web site.

Searching McHenry County Blog is cludgy at best. Having this information encapsulated will help voters overcome their fears.

What Evangelical Christians Want to Know

Finally, I’m addressing what in my opinion is a make-or-break issue the Lauf campaign and Catalina Lauf herself must address:

  • What is Catalina Lauf’s relationship with God?
  • Does she have a relationship with God?
  • Is she a Christian?

Lauf’s campaign is over two months old, yet I cannot answer those questions about her. I think I see Christian influence, but where is the candidate herself on this topic?

Her core message, her unapologetic love of our country, is solid.

But where is her love of God? We usually use the phrase “for God and country” with God properly in the first position.

The greatest commandment in Scripture is clear: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

I am an evangelical Christian, and I am one of many who dominate Republican primaries and the general electorate.

President Trump’s most core supporters are people like me, and while I make no claim to represent anyone, I know what I am looking for in a candidate who wants to represent me in Washington.

God chooses the men and women He wants, in spite of their flaws including:

  • President Trump to lead our nation
  • Moses, a murderer, to lead His people out of Egypt
  • Rahab, a prostitute, to help the spies and save her and her family when the walls of Jericho fell
  • Jacob, a trickster, to be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel
  • Mancow Muller, to remove a senior pastor from a Chicagoland megachurch who had lost his way and strayed from God

Most Christian candidates mention something about their faith in their campaign literature or website, like where the candidate attends church.

Neither Lauf’s campaign website or literature (at least the version I’ve seen) mention anything like this.

And nearly all of her competitors have already made themselves clear on this. Lauf has not.

Maybe, because Lauf has moved around and lived in different places in the past two years (Chicago, Woodstock, Washington, Woodstock), she does not have a home church, but attends church each week at different churches.

Then say so to be honest.

I rewatched her campaign’s “Heartland” introductory video for the first time in 2 months, and this is the only hint I see with God:

Source: Catalina for Congress “Heartland” video

The off-to-the-side table cross I circled during this one scene of the video that’s blurred because it’s not the main focus of the scene is the only reference to God in the entire video.

Does that blurry out-of-focus cross represent where God, through the lordship of Christ, is in Lauf’s life?

Maybe Lauf is a believer but has bought into worldly lies like “it’s a personal and private matter” or “I don’t want to impose my will on anyone.”

Lies like that are not consistent with Scripture, but if she’s believed them, she needs to get right with God, and remember His Word including “perfect love casts out fear.”

All I know, and most evangelical Christians know, there are many ungodly laws that are being proposed or passed in Congress, including:

  • LGBTQ+ Equality Act
  • Abortion rights
  • EACH Act
  • Socialism

And we have enough people in Congress like Lauren Underwood, AOC and until recently Katie Hill, who sew unholy divisions in our country and support ungodly legislation.

During her campaign, Lauf has had the opportunities to advance God’s kingdom. Take the Mancow Muller interview and the Mark Konkol article.

Muller asked Lauf point-blank what she is looking for in a man.

She gave a worldly response.

What would have happened if she made this response:

I’m looking for a man who will love me as Christ loved the church.

Who, under the lordship of Christ, will lead our home.

And through God’s guidance I will be the Proverbs 31 wife to my future husband.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

That is an example of honoring God and that would have had positive impacts for His kingdom to hear Lauf say something like that, provided that is what she really believes.

And as pointed out earlier, the man doing the interview was used by God to root out the founding senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel who had strayed and brought about his termination by the church’s elders earlier this year.

And on that same show with Lauf in the studio, Muller was clear that he tithed. If Mancow Muller can bring up his faith and his loving obedience to God with tithing, Lauf can discuss her faith when appropriate during her campaign.

We evangelical Christians will be watching.


Comments

IL-14: Catalina Lauf Opportunities Including a Make or Break One — 22 Comments

  1. Besides the fact that your writing is substantively a lot of gibberish and your fawning over this young, unqualified girl is embarrassing, do you ever proof-read your articles? Your grammatical skills would challenge any third grader.

  2. And why are you so concerned about what kind of man Catalina Fluff wants? What kind of man do you want Johnny Boy? Trust me, Fluff would have nothing to do with a lacky like you and your god talk.

  3. You can’t please everybody John, so just be satisfied with the people you don’t.

  4. She didn’t answer the, “What kind of man does she want?” question properly. Holy cow. This coming after Lopez 100% backs a POTUS who is on is 3rd marriage and f*cuks porn stars then lies about it then pays hush money to cover it up? Maybe her answer should have been who cares and that’s my business and this is my plan for improving our country. Did Trump have to check that box for you, Lopez, you hypocrite? Nope. Got to love the double standard women must play by. No wonder the GOP has such a tough time getting women elected. It’s double standard BS like Trump supporting Lopez spews.

    Do you think God is using me to expose your hypocritical sexist views?

  5. John, you said navigating this blog is not easy. What about using tags or labels in your articles?

    A lot of blogs have that feature — for sure blogger and wordpress. Then at the bottom/end of the article they would appear, viewers could click on them, and every article with that phrase tagged “catalina lauf” or “lauren underwood” would appear. Obviously it would be a lot of work to go back through all the articles written and tag them, but it’s something you may want to consider for future articles.

    I think using tags also helps with visibility on search engines.

  6. Oh answering sexual predator Katie Hill’s call, for ousting sexual predator Trump, from the White House.

  7. She’s not a asexual predator but you can’t have a sexual relationship with staff. By every account it was consensual although what is really consensual now? It is really consensual if you’re the boss? Whatever the case may be, I’m glad she resigned and she should have resigned. I’m glad she did the right thing.

    Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter hasn’t done the right thing and still serves in Congress despite having done the same thing as Katie Hill. Again, double standard for men vs women. Also there’s a different set of rules for Dems and Republicans.

    One party doesn’t really care a flying f*ck about whether their elected officials are “sexual predators” or f*ck porn stars or get divorced multiple times. As long as they vote to discriminate against gays and abortion then hypocritical evangelicals will shrug their shoulders and go on being smug self-righteous a-holes about their religion.

  8. How many flags does she fly or pledge to is another question inquiring minds want to know?

  9. It is shocking to me that a candidate like Lauf, a failed low level Bruce Rauner staffer just last year who got demoted/reassigned at least twice, is being considered for Congress. Her life experience and accomplishments are razor thin. She is the Republican version of Lauren Underwood.

    And I do agree with John about the lack of Christian testimony or service from her. Jesus told us to judge the tree by the fruit it produces. She demonstrates exaggerations, puffery, lack of substance, sexual appeals/flirting with the camera. Her ability to win a national Targeted campaign is completely nil.

  10. She is just like Underwood, a fraud, liar, young girl with no job experience, except Uber driver, paid campaign worker, never worked for Trump, or lived in Washington, never voted and doesn’t live in the 14th and neither do her parents etc…. she’s a Democrat just like Underwood.

  11. Make or break issue!?! Come on she’s running to be in congress not to be pope. How much do the other candidates talk about God?

    I’ve said before Lauf has now chance at winning the primary but she doesn’t have to answer these types of questions to gain support and it’s a little ridiculous to claim she has to.

  12. A Candidate that can’t cite a single previous accomplishment or anything she wants to accomplish?

    At last, the perfect Candidate!

  13. – Catalina was never an Uber driver, she worked for the Corporate office, a company harder to get a job at than Google.
    – Catalina was appointed by President Trump to the Department of Commerce, again, it’s not easy to work for the President’s Administration so let’s just assume she had the qualifications for it and also, let’s not forget those WH positions require a certain amount of security clearance and extensive vetting by the FBI in which she obviously completed considering she was there for a time
    – The fact that there are 4 people in this comment thread that are so rabid in their responses again, shows you how big of a threat she is and actually has a great chance of winning a primary (FLamont). You really think the 14 Republicans are dumb enough to elect another back-benching Republican? How are Sue, Jim and Ted any different than Randy Hultgren … and remember he lost this seat. The voters are looking for new blood, someone who can actually take on Lauren and it’s pretty clear Catalina is the best one to do that.

  14. Apparently pointing out a minority candidate’s flaws is ” fear” .
    MY biggest fear is that the Right is adopting the Leftist way of arguing and shutting down dissent with cries of ” you racist!”
    It’s been a huge battle concerning Peggy Hubbard as well.

    Lauf needs to move out of parents basement and get life experience. She is another Underwood.

    And your attack on Jennifer Nevins is ridiculous and repetitive and slander. Hope she presses harrassment on you. She is allowed her opinion.

  15. Sorry Catalina. I can’t vote for ye. Maybe in 20 years after you’ve done a bit more than swan around as a Rauner Latina.

    I’m sure you’d be better than Underwitch, but that’s not saying very much. Maybe you’d be better than golfer Hultgren. But again, that’s not saying much.

  16. Evangelical Christians, please kneel and pray hard. Let us be like our fake-journalist-wannabe. After all, who better than this poor lonely soul to declare laws as “ungodly”? Stay tuned…tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, meeeeeeoooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww…

  17. FLamont I’d like to understand why you do not think Lauf could win a primary?

    Say she DID raise to compete with Jim/Ted/ Sue what makes you so certain she couldn’t win?

    I …like most Republicans in this district are so ready for someone like her and see a greater need for her than just the same old crew of folks.

    Sue/Ted/Jim are all establishment run of the mill.

    Marter would be great but doesn’t have a chance and should just endorse Lauf already in my opinion

  18. “What would have happened if she made this response:

    I’m looking for a man who will love me as Christ loved the church.

    Who, under the lordship of Christ, will lead our home.

    And through God’s guidance I will be the Proverbs 31 wife to my future husband.

    “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)”

    Sunshine blogger, you hit the ball out of the park by finding a complete psycho, investigative-reporter-wannabe who clearly needs his head examined to post the most ridiculous, nonsensical garbage disguised as political analysis/commentary. The entire sunshine readership legion is forever grateful to you; and the entertainment lives on…tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, tic, tock, meeeeeeeeoooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww…

  19. Wow.

    After reading this blathering blabbering gibberish it is blatantly obvious to see our partying is dying.

    I was legitimately shocked reading this article.

    What a joke the GOP is becoming.

    The last decade has truly been awful for our once proud party.

    Sad!

  20. Jen – The reason I don’t think Lauf can win is Money Money Money.

    100k her first quarter was very impressive, i’ve said that but I don’t think she will be able to sustain it.

    She’s young and her last two job’s salaries are public so we know she wasn’t making a lot of money, which is fine but the other candidates, Oberweis, Rezin and Gradel are independently wealthy and have already contributed big bucks to their campaigns.

    I think the GOP needs to be younger, more diverse and welcoming to women so I think it would be great to nominate Lauf because I think she could beat Underwood, I just don’t see her getting past those 3 rich candidates.

    It is also disheartening that it does appear that she has inflated her resume somewhat.

  21. I will say, if you watch any of her many interviews on YouTube, she consistently comes out Pro-Life, Anti-Socialism (don’t get her started on that if you talk to her, lol), anti-Identity Politics, and Pro 2nd Amendment.

    Also, I have posted 2 articles on Twitter recently of GOP RINOs and Democrats who are outspoken believers in God and talk the talk, but reverse themselves when it comes to action when they are Elected to Office.

    President Trump wasn’t big on talking faith, but has done more for Conservative Values than any GOP President in recent memory–father or son Bush.

    Finally, just because Catalina is a beautiful woman, talk about boyfriends and stuff harkens to juvenile gossip, and isn’t worth dignifying a response.

    She’s not in Hollywood, she’s running for Congress.

    That is my opinion.

    I will mention to the staff about a Clear Issues page on the Website, but I find, unlike most here who research, a lot of people care about action more than words.

    Thanks for your thoughts, though!

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