GOP chair out of step with party

Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady earlier this year spoke out in support of gay marriage. Chairman Brady should have been aware prior to stating his emotional opinion that his comments were in direct conflict with the Republican Party’s stated platform.

Brady’s foray into the public square without any prior discussion with his Republican colleagues must be seen by all as poor judgment at best. His retort to this criticism is that he was speaking out as a private citizen. That would be like President Obama volunteering that he now supports gay marriage but please don’t anyone think that’s my public policy position as president. Would anyone make the distinction? Again poor judgment coming from the Republican leader in Illinois.

If the Republican Party ever needed a strong, unifying leader it is now — not someone who is speaking off the cuff. If anyone thinks this gay marriage issue is not on the minds of millions of citizens just ask your local representatives how many phone calls, emails, texts, tweets and letters they are getting on this issue or count the letters coming into the Daily Herald’s Fence Post section.

The voters are concerned, and here is just one statistical fact to support that interest. Of the 47 Republican legislators nationwide who voted “yes” for gay marriage in 2009 only 21 are in office today.

Finally, a former presidential candidate said “traditional marriage is not a bargaining chip or a political issue, it is a moral issue.” He said, “I’m not involved in politics just to lower taxes and cut spending; I want to stay true to the basic premise of our civilization.”

Issues matter, character matters, standing up for the principals of our civilization matters. Maybe its time for new leadership within the Illinois Republican Party. Larry O’Neill

Palatine