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* From WBEZ…
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has hired former state Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady to lobby for a same-sex marriage bill in Springfield, months after his own support of gay marriage sparked a controversy that led to his resignation.
The ACLU confirmed Tuesday that it has hired Next Generation Public Affairs, the lobbying and public relations firm Brady co-founded after he left his party job in May.
“I think the very core of the conservative movement, which I consider myself a part of, is application of equality under the law for all,” Brady said Tuesday in an interview with WBEZ.
Brady will focus on lobbying House Republicans in hopes of getting the same-sex marriage bill passed during this fall’s veto session, he said. He’ll also tap the political donors he cultivated during his four years as party chairman to raise money for groups that support gay marriage, and for Republican lawmakers who may be hesitant to cast a yes vote, fearing a challenge in next year’s primary.
Brady’s hiring comes after the ACLU launched a $10 million national push in June, aimed at winning support for same-sex marriage from Republican lawmakers and voters in a handful of states, including Illinois.
Steve Schmidt, a GOP strategist who was formerly a top advisor to Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, is heading up the national effort.
It’s probably not a bad hire at all, particularly if he follows through on the fundraising aspect. That alone could make him more effective than he was as chairman, when he couldn’t convince more than one Senate Republican and two House Republicans to vote for gay marriage. Brady also wasn’t the only Republican operative pushing gay marriage in Illinois last spring. Aside from Sen. Mark Kirk, some highly experienced and capable GOP lobbyists were also on board. They didn’t have much success.
I have no evidence yet, but I figure Tom Cross might decide to be a “Yes” vote now that he’s stepping aside as House GOP Leader. But that won’t have anything to do with lobbying. It’ll be about the fall campaign.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:12 pm
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If he’s been hired, he hasn’t registered with the Secretary of State. I suggest he do that quickly.
Comment by Rahm'sMiddleFinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:17 pm
I would guess Cross will only vote “yes” if he doesn’t have a primary — or after it is over if he does gets an opponent. Might be a few other Repubs in the same boat, which is why I don’t see SSM being called for a vote in the House until after March.
Comment by Frank Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:28 pm
In fairness, I think Tom Cross wanted to support gay marriage b/c that’s what he believes. He declined to support gay marriage before b/c of the obligations of leading a party that uses bigotry as its main organizing principle in elections.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:34 pm
If Cross is stepping down to run for Treasurer, a vote by him for gay marriage might be precisely the boost Bob Grogan needs to get himself over the top in the Republican primary.
Comment by Conservative Republican Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:35 pm
I am positive that everything cross has already done( or not done) will be enough to get Grogan over the top in the republican primary!;)
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 12:42 pm
Carl Nyberg
“He declined to support gay marriage before b/c of the obligations of leading a party that uses bigotry as its main organizing principle in elections.”
It’s not bigotry it’s called christian beliefs.
Comment by Wild West Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:14 pm
I wish Brady the best. He gets a lot of points for standing up to the GOP auto-da-fe.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:18 pm
==It’s not bigotry it’s called christian beliefs.==
You can try and hide behind that all you want but it’s a lame excuse to justify bigotry. Be honest and own the bigotry.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:25 pm
This is a terrible hire, and shows how tone deaf the lefties are when even contemplating working with the GOP. I like Pat, but many, many do not. He and his “my way or the highway” approach, do it without input ways as State GOP Chair alienated TONS of Republican leadership — even those who ideologically allies with him. A careful, deliberate, and strategized approach to bringing out GOP yes votes would have made all the difference. Instead, Pat, without talking to anybody, just blurted it out. He’s as subtle as a tornado sometimes.
And yes, William j Kelly, your long, successful electoral track record (3rd again!) certainly qualifies your expertise in the matter.
Comment by LincolnLounger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 1:43 pm
Sounds like Pat Brady. Cashing in on his betrayal of his own party’s platform while GOP Chair.
It’s fine to be pro-gay marriage. The issue was always this guy’s dishonesty and his sell-out of the Republican constituents he was supposed to be representing.
Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:00 pm
@Demoralized:
It is not hiding - - it is historical fact. Three major world religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) explicitly condemn homosexuality. You may not agree with these teachings, but you have no right to reorder society to marginalize persons who subscribe to religious beliefs as permitted by the First Amendment.
Comment by None of the Above Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:03 pm
–but you have no right to reorder society to marginalize persons who subscribe to religious beliefs as permitted by the First Amendment. –
And you, my friend, are not entitled to have your own harsh interpretation of religious teachings as the force of law, now and forever.
If you can’t handle that, I hear Teheran is nice.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:10 pm
“Three major world religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) explicitly [condone slavery].”
Sometimes society needs a good “reordering”.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 2:11 pm
Nobody listened to Brady when he was chairman…why would they start now?
Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:41 pm
I am really torn by this turn of events.
Surprised? Not in the least …
I applaud Pat Brady, this is America, and if Brady’s support of SSM leads to a lobbying gig, I wish him well.
Also, anything to bring My Party and the HGOP out of 45-2 against SSM, to seem less intolerant, and to be welcoming to the ideal of the Reagan Rule of 80% is always seen by me as a Plus.
Where I am torn, is, I had wished Pat Brady took up this cause as “the right thing to do” as a Private Citizen, not chained to the ILGOP, and not a “hired gun”, cashing in on his first opportunity with the fulcrum that nearly allowed the Slytherin House Republicans to oust him, and make Pat Brady a casualty to the intolerance of the ILGOP.
By having this be the first, it has a bit of a taint. It doesn’t have a “stain”, but a taint, and the likes of Oberweis will probably exploit the “Payday” Pat Brady got, and the first contract as a “selling out completely” by Brady, using the first opportunity to make money, and making that money against the GOP Platform.
Note: that is not ME saying that, that will be the Slytherin House Republicans slurping up that intolerance rhetoric because Pat Brady’s first checks, are exaclty why those Slytherin House Republicans wanted Brady out.
It’s a taint. It’s not a “stain”… it is what it is, and I hope more in the HGOP, including “Two-Putt” Cross decide its better to be welcoming than intolerant, and if they are educated by Pat Brady, then that is ok too.
It is … what it is.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 3:41 pm
I give Pat Brady a lot of credit for continuing to stand up for what’s right. The ACLU made a fine choice; change has to come from within the Republican Party.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:13 pm
Will anyone actually listen to him?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:43 pm
Not all Christians think the way you do WildWest. Thank whatever deity you want for the diversity of opinion.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 4:49 pm
I’m glad Brady is out and lobbying. I’m glad he’s working for the correct side on marriage legislation.
I also agree he was unreliable in the role of party chair, for many reasons. He’ll be better in his new role.
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 5:25 pm
Could Anon 4:49 be responding to the question he raised as Anon 4:43? Inquiring minds want to know and posit that perhaps those kind of retorts (to Wild West) do not help, assuming that that Anon actually wants to help.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 27, 13 @ 8:55 pm