Meet the Chicago Democrat running for Congress as pro-life, pro-police

A Chicago congressional candidate is running as a pro-life and pro-law enforcement Democrat.

Chris Butler, pastor at the Chicago Embassy Church Network, is among a crowded field of candidates seeking the House seat currently held by Rep. Bobby Rush, a former Black Panther.

Butler said his pro-life stance has become an integral part of the primary election.

"It's unfortunate to me that this has become one of the major issues in this campaign, because I don't think that it should be a left/right issue. I think that it should be a right/wrong kind of discussion," he said on the "Just the News Not Noise" television program.

"Unfortunately, it has become hyper-partisan, which I think is is one of the worst things that can happen for the conversation."

Butler, who has appeared on former Arkansas GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee's TV show, said he wants to see more government officials reach out to the other side.

"People are tired of what I call the 'stucktocracy.' There is a bipartisan consensus to do nothing. Too many times folks in government are talking past each other, screaming at each other, criticizing each other, going for, you know, donations and retweets," Butler said.

"All the while our lives in the country, and the first Congressional district, and places all over the country, are getting worse and worse. And I think that people want to see government work again, to start to make life a little bit more livable and enjoyable in this country."

Butler also addressed the rising crime taking place on the Southside of Chicago. He said many of the wonderful things happening in his community are "often overshadowed" by the violence. Butler emphasized that he is a strong supporter of law enforcement.

"If we're going to make the first Congressional district a place where families can prosper and thrive, we have to make it a place where we take crime seriously, where we don't allow people to just randomly commit crime without being investigated, arrested and prosecuted," he said.

"We have to be very serious about crime. We also need to invest in intervention and prevention strategies, but too often these things are pitted against one another as if you can't do one without the other. And I think that we have to take crime prevention seriously and that means supporting our law enforcement. That's why I'm glad to have the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police," he said.

"One of the things that I'll push for is a Nice Caucus in Congress and all you have to do to be a part of this caucus is agree to be nice to people," he said.