Who Said Patriotism is the Last Refuge of a Scoundrel?

Your LakeCountyEye would've liked to have been a fly on the wall last week at the Northern Illinois Patriot monthly meeting at Austin's Saloon. Not having any legs with sticky suction pads, however, your LakeCountyEye had to settle for the Daily Herald story:

A planned q-and-a session Tuesday night with the two Republican candidates for Lake County treasurer changed locations and formats. GOP hopefuls Jeri Atleson and David Stolman were supposed to speak with potential voters at the local party office in Libertyville. Shortly before the event was set to begin, however, the location shifted to the Fuel Room at Austin's Saloon & Steakhouse, a restaurant just down the street. There, a Republican candidate forum organized by a conservative group called the Northern Illinois Patriots already was underway.
Lake County candidate forum changes venue, format

David Stolman is an attorney and a Lake County Commissioner. Jeri Atleson is an accountant and sits on the Fremont Township board. Both want to be the next Lake County Treasurer.

This may explain why both agreed to rub elbows with the Northern Illinois Patriots -- but it does not answer the question: Who are the Northern Illinois Patriots?

The Patriots have their own website, which looks like this ...

Northern Illinois Patriots

The Patriots's website has information like links to the Family Research Council and the 9/12 Project. Their website has a blog; here is a sample of their work:

While the First Amendment disallows the establishment of a government religion, government has become the new religion and our President the new God. The President has said we are not a Christian nation.
Establishment of Religion

His is figuratively burning down our institutions and our values, remaking them in accordance with his grand vision of a new nation. He is attacking and blaming Christianity proclaiming we are not a Christian nation. Through forcible mandates in health care reform he is forcing Christians to act contrary their beliefs. Like Nero, in his insatiable thirst for power and control, President Obama will one day have the people turn and him and render him powerless.
Quo Vadis

During the meet-and-greet at Austin's, the Northern Illinois Patriots were asking some comically inapt questions. The Daily Herald observed that ...

neither Atleson nor Stolman was asked questions specific to the treasurers' race. Instead, they and the other candidates spoke about their motivations for running, and then the audience asked questions about the long-proposed extension of Route 53 into Lake County, the state's new concealed carry law, term limits and other issues. As the treasurer's office is responsible for sending out tax bills and investing county revenue, Stolman and Atleson had little to say about most of the topics broached.
Lake County candidate forum changes venue, format

It's a truism in politics, that you do what you have to do to get elected, and worry about the consequences later. Even if that means submitting to a Q & A session with the Northern Illinois Patriots. It is unknown to your LakeCountyEye if the Patriots invited Stolman and Atleson to proclaim that the United States is a Christian nation.

Note to ops: Sometimes tough questions need to be asked.