Controversy over state GOP’s marriage plank
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Yesterday, Illinois Review reported that the state GOP was planning to dump the “one-man, one-woman marriage” plank from its platform. That piece apparently kicked up some dust because party leaders might now be edging away…
After hearing from GOP constituents on proposed changes, the 2016 Illinois Republican Party Platform and Resolutions Committee agreed on Wednesday night’s conference call to continue working on platform language that would be acceptable to more members.
This year’s hot button issue - removing the term “one-man, one-woman” from the platform’s section on families - opened the floodgates of discussion between the IL GOP’s differing sides on social issues. The division is between those Republicans that want a party platform that upholds traditional values and those that prefer the platform not focus on social values. […]
After leaks about the proposals being discussed emerged Wednesday on Illinois Review, committee members began hearing from the Republican rank and file - a sore spot with several of the committee members upset about their contact information being made public.
The Platform and Resolution committee members - who are each appointed by their state central committeeman - will present the proposed platform that a majority of the members support Friday morning at 10 am. Saturday, the state’s delegates will be asked to give a thumbs up or down to the finalized platform on the convention floor.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:26 am:
Slytherin Jim Oberweis has one more chance to “influence”
Heaven forbid the ILGOP would want to remove the stain of Jim Oberweis and the 4-62 anti-SSM vote.
Shrink the tent to Raunerites and Slytherins(?)
- Liberty - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:35 am:
Since when is this a new issue? The social conservatives have been fighting the RINOs for sometime now.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:37 am:
@Liberty
Social conservatives are the rinos!
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:38 am:
===conservatives have been fighting the RINOs===
This.
This is why the ILGOP was hijacked and is owned by Rauner.
Pathetic.
Having a litmus test versus the 80% rule will keep Rauner Ownership very happy.
- Thoughts Matter - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:50 am:
I agree with Ducky. The Republicam party got assimilated by the social conservatives. True Republicans should want the government to stay out of their personal lives, not be telling others what to do about Their personal lives.
- Not It - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:52 am:
I would not want to be a GOP party official who has to work with these zealots who just love to discriminate against a class of people who already face mountains of discrimination everywhere they go.
- Jeff Trigg - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 11:52 am:
The Texas GOP just added a plank to their state platform in support of medical cannabis. Come on, Illinois GOP, it is 2016.
- SO IL M - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:00 pm:
I would suggest the platform committee take a more libertarian stance on the plank, which is where the vast majority of people are, ” Adults have the right to do what they want with other consenting Adults. No one shall force their beliefs on anyone.” We have bigger problems to worry about.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:02 pm:
It is important to acknowledge that, since the beginning of time, history has smiled favorably upon progress. The opposite is true as well.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
I think the idea of changing the platform language was a big mistake. Better to simply delete the reference to marriage in its entirety. It’s no longer an issue.
It’s a political party platform, with the party’s position on issues. The Supreme Court took this issue off the table. That doesn’t mean people don’t still have strong feelings on the subject. It just means that not everything belongs in a party platform.
But please ignore me, GOP friends, and continue the fratricide that has made you a permanent majority party in Illinois. Carry on. You’re doing fine. Stay the course.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
===permanent majority===
Minority. Ugh.
- Ghost - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:07 pm:
so will the GOP plan in family note anything on infidelity? which isnthe number one cause of marriage destruction and domestic violence…..
- Annonin' - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
It appears certain terms not gettin’ past the minders so let’s just hope Trump will work this out
- Lomez - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
==The Republicam party got assimilated by the social conservatives==
What?
The majority of people were “social conservatives” on this until very recently. Until the Great Evolution on the issue occurred. If anything, the effort is to assimilate social conservatives into the GOP, aka kind-of-fiscally-conservative Democrats.
Many of us just said “no thanks”. You can call us a “stain” all you want.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 12:56 pm:
===Many of us just said “no thanks”. You can call us a “stain” all you want.===
Ok.
Slytherin Purity by “Social Conservative Musts” led to a 4-62 Stain on the ILGOP, with Slytherin Jim Oberweis demanding Pat Brady be removed because of SSM.
Even Oberweis realized his own stain, back peddling as a US Senate candidate.
Purity of a political party brought the ILGOP a man in Rauner who coujd swoop in and own the ILGOP.
But… stay pure, stay strong, no matter of settled law, image or stain against the legal acceptance and moral embrace… of people.
Waggle that finger at the impure… I’ll point my finger at the stain needing some serious cleaning.
- Ahoy! - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:08 pm:
Ah the whole one stop forward and two steps back routine.
- Wensicia - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:23 pm:
This you can’t walk back. Get over yourselves and move on.
- Ed Rooney - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:24 pm:
Most Republicans do not care about Big Government Regulation of the Marriage Industry. Time for Illinois to move on.
- Demoralized - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:32 pm:
Ugh. Just move on already. Nobody cares anymore.
- A guy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:43 pm:
The people who serve on the platform committees of both parties are almost always more strident to the right or to the left.
They’re discussing it and at present, a majority were in favor of removing those words. That would represent some progress to me. Thoroughly debating it shows that the party has more views and opinions being considered. That’s a step in the right direction.
I agree with those who say it’s time to move on with regard to this subject; it’s settled and few people have it anywhere near their top 10 concerns.
- The Captain - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
The only people who care what is in the party platform are the ones who are upset by whatever is in there. Just write a platform that doesn’t make people angry and then everyone will go back to not caring about it. If there’s an issue that you can’t thread the needle without upsetting someone just leave it out. This isn’t hard.
- Slugger O'Toole - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
SSM is so 2015.
It’s 2016. We are on to bathrooms.
Where does ILGOP stand on bathrooms?!?!?
/s
- Lomez - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
==Purity of a political party brought the ILGOP a man in Rauner who coujd swoop in and own the ILGOP.==
I know, it’s tough when the GOP doesn’t have that diversity that is so vital. Pro union. Pro SSM. Pro choice. Pro unconditional revenue. Pro Dem.
==But… stay pure, stay strong, no matter of settled law, image or stain against the legal acceptance and moral embrace… of people.==
Only yesterday I said it was a necessary move to change or eliminate it. I have no issue voting for pro SSM Rs given the alternative in a general. You can keep shouting words of no meaning.
Also good to know things aren’t just Settled Law when the Left favors it. Can feel at ease about Citizens United now.
Same with Moral Embrace. Your Moral Embrace only warrants respect if you are on the Right Side of History. Funny how that works.
==Waggle that finger at the impure… I’ll point my finger at the stain needing some serious cleaning.==
I only wag my finger at Republicans who keep trying to tell me we need to be more like Democrats in order to get votes from young people who are Democrats.
I’m good, thanks.
- Lomez - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 1:57 pm:
==Where does ILGOP stand on bathrooms?!?!?==
I’m not sure, but if we do not join the Great Evolvers within an acceptable time period as determined by them, it will be a new “stain”.
- Anonymous - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:01 pm:
OMG. Next thing the Repubs will get serious about attracting more Cook County voters. And serious contenders to upset the Dem sinecures. I’m obviously delusional.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:04 pm:
===Where does ILGOP stand on bathrooms===
About half stand, the rest sit.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:06 pm:
(Sigh)
===I know, it’s tough when the GOP doesn’t have that diversity that is so vital. Pro union. Pro SSM. Pro choice. Pro unconditional revenue.===
The Trades and teachers have backed and supported Illinois Republicans for years and years. You don’t want teachers or conservative Trade union members to vote Republican, support Republicans.
If you can’t do math, that’s on you. Revenue is required well before Rauner added billions more to make up. Is that Republican too?
===Pro Dem.===
You’re a victim of you and your Slytherin musts, not Dems. You need to learn that.
===You can keep shouting words of no meaning.===
A stain of 4-62 against SSM can be cleaned up or it can be doubled down. Staying still, people are already walking away from the GOP. If you’re ok with that, you are utterly clueless how growing a party works (sigh)
===Same with Moral Embrace. Your Moral Embrace only warrants respect if you are on the Right Side of History. Funny how that works.===
I can’t help that Jim Oberweis was on the wrong side of history. He and 63 others. The point is to learn from history, not celebrate where we are ignorant of it.
===I only wag my finger at Republicans who keep trying to tell me we need to be more like Democrats in order to get votes from young people who are Democrats.===
The Reagan Rule is lost on you. I get it. Hang on tight to your Moral Comscious and waggle your finger to those that agree with you 80% of the time, that’s fun. Not a way to win elections, but fun none the less.
===I’m good, thanks.===
You may be… You’re destroying the party with purity, but already knew that.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:08 pm:
Ugh “61″… Number typos on phones are the worst!
Apologies
- DGD - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:22 pm:
OW - A party means nothing if there is no discernible difference between parties.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
- DGD -
… which is why the Reagan Rule of 80% is how you build, not rigid planks of “must, only, always, and never”.
Slytherins want rigidity.
Political parties have planks to be inclusive, not to rule out people. Otherwise, parties meet in phone booths.
- illini97 - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
Keep on keepin’ on, Republicans. Arguing against issues that aren’t going to change while the party is snapped up by the likes of Rauners and Trumps.
Maybe the next “repeal Obamacare” or “traditional marriage” or “Fire Madigan 3.0″ will gain traction with the electorate. I have my doubts.
- Federalist - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
Republicans are wasting their time and energy on this issue. Focus on other topics such as taxes, illegal immigration and yes even ObamaCare. But drop this one!
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 4:21 pm:
There is no Repblican party anymore. Just a bunch of Dixiecrats that hijack he party of Lincoln, T R, Eisenhower , Dirkson, Percy Actually ironic
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 5:05 pm:
===Where does ILGOP stand on bathrooms===
About half stand, the rest sit.–
If I recall, Sen. Craig of Idaho was an advocate of the “wide stance” in public facilities.
- A guy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 5:09 pm:
===If I recall, Sen. Craig of Idaho was an advocate of the “wide stance” in public facilities.===
You’re leaving out the “toe tap”. It does require more finesse than a standard stance.
- Rabid - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 7:01 pm:
The GOP just wants to put this to bed
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 19, 16 @ 10:43 pm:
I made a mistake, and I’m sorry…
===The Trades and teachers have backed and supported Illinois Republicans for years and years. You don’t want teachers or conservative Trade union members to vote Republican, support Republicans.===
I need to add, humbly, and I apologize.
FOP, PBPA, Trooper’s Lodge, Firefighters, and any and ALL public safety unions I have now forgotten to include.
These organizations, unions support(ed) Republicans consistently and proudly. But, now unions are “bad”
Makes me nauseous. Between the trades, teachers, police, fire… you use to have a pretty great GOP “Union Base”… and now… Ugh.
My sincere apologies for the omission. - OW
- Odin - Thursday, May 26, 16 @ 6:16 pm:
Maybe the budget and economic responsibility by government should have been on the Republican State Convention Platform instead of pushing constitutional amendments and laws that would be stripping military/veteran/emergency service families with same sex couples of their state benefits and security of their marriages. Our platform now insists that “traditional” families be defined, and demands legislation stating such, as one man one woman as parents…period. So to all the same sex or LGBT service members and veterans that have pledged to give their life in defense of the constitution and the ideals that all citizens are equal and free from discrimination, we proudly say” Thank you for your service and defending our right to ha