* A spokesperson for the Republican trying to unseat GOP Rep. Ed Sullivan claims his candidate has strong backing from the Lake County GOP. From an e-mail blast…

November 17, 2013

Hi George,

A few months ago the Republican State Representative from Mundelein decided to violate our platform – the very platform he ran on – and announce his support for homosexual marriage in Illinois.

At the next meeting of the Lake County Republican Central Committee, our chairman – Bob Cook – announced that enough was enough and that we, as a Party, would seek to remove anyone from office who violates our platform or code of ethics.

After that announcement, the issue appeared to fade in the background and most thought Cook’s threat was just so much noise.

Not so!!!!

Cook and others worked behind the scenes in an effort to convince Sullivan he should vote against redefining marriage, or at least abstain from the vote. Sullivan ignored the request, ignored his constituents, and ignored thousands of years of history in order to appease what the Gallup Organization describes as roughly 4% of the population.

But there is a positive side – Sullivan’s lesbian mother-in-law must be soooooo proud that Mr. Ed stood tall and voted to destroy family values under the manufactured pseudonym of “Marriage Equality.” Unfortunately for Mr. Ed, Bob Cook’s statement at that Central Committee meeting wasn’t a mere threat, it was a promise!

I am proud to announce that Bob Bednar – the past treasurer of the Lake County Republican Party - has stepped up to the plate and accepted the challenge to replace Ed Sullivan. This is a daunting task and although Sullivan has access to a ton of cash, many believe it’s very “do-able.” People don’t like to be deceived – just witness the current mess President Pinocchio has gotten himself into with his lies and deceptions.

But Bednar needs our help in getting enough signatures to get on the ballot, and once that’s accomplished he will need a lot of help in his campaign.

George, as Bob Cook has said, “Enough is enough!” This is our chance – your chance – to give our elected politicians a wakeup call. And that call is simply this: we will hold you accountable and responsible for your actions. We will no longer sit back and let a rogue politician run roughshod over our platform or their constituents.

George, can you volunteer a few hours each month to get rid of the arrogant Ed Sullivan and let the public know that a scent of fresh air has landed in Illinois? And why you’re at it George, you might want to send Bob Cook a note of thanks and encouragement for what can only be described as a courageous step. His email address is bobcook353@hotmail.com .

Best,

Jack Koenig, Volunteer
Bednar For State Representative

Nothing but class there.

* Look, county party chairmen have the right to enforce partisan discipline in their ranks. No question. But chairmen should also try and keep the peace, not start all-out holy wars, particularly when the state party is trying hard to calm the waters.

Not to mention that aligning oneself with a guy who would ridicule somebody’s mother-in-law is probably a bad idea as well.

*** UPDATE *** Lake County’s Republican circuit court clerk has responded…

Chairman,

I’m troubled by this email, though not because Jack is a passionate supporter of a particular candidate. This email bothers me because it’s coming from the “Communications Chairman” of the Lake County Republican Central Committee (not because it’s Jack, but because of his title), and because the email details that you – working behind the scenes with others – actively were involved with putting one of our incumbent Republican Representatives in a primary race. For this we would send you, Mr. Chairman, “a note of thanks and encouragement for what can only be described as a courageous step”?

As an elected Republican official I find this incredibly repugnant. The notion that my own party Central Committee Chairman would work to find a candidate for a primary against a sitting Republican Representative is stunningly unbelievable. The Republican Chairman, as last I was aware, is not to endorse or take a position to affect a Republican primary, but is rather to only fully endorse and support the victorious Republican primary candidates against a Democrat rival. And the Central Committee as a whole is to take a similar tact. This was a major plank in your election as Chairman – neutrality and impartiality towards all Republicans – and one for which you were roundly commended.

This does not preclude the Chairman, or any other Republican, from participation in the electoral process – both as a supporter and as a voter. But in their capacity as a citizen only, not as the Republican Party Chairman. And that also means that the Chairman and party officials have no place in recruiting candidates to run against incumbent Republican officials. It doesn’t matter if that official votes “the party line,” or even votes with Republicans on anything else – the decision is up to the voters of the district, and not to the Central Committee or the Chairman. This also doesn’t preclude you, as Chairman, from pointing out that a particular official has strayed from the party platform, but you would do so without involvement in the race as Chairman. If you want to pre-cast races, pit candidates against each other, or decide who is the perfect party supporter, I suggest that you put a “D” next to your name and call Terry Link. The Democrats are rather infamous for pulling those stunts every election cycle, and ironically it’s one of the many reasons that so many people dislike the Democrat Central Committee and Senator Link.

Sadly, if you will not disavow these series of events tagged with your name as Chairman, I would ask you to resign your official position until such time as a replacement may named. I think you are a passionate man, and a great supporter. This email is very painful for me because your heart is in the right place – more so than so many others. But your official title limits you, and if your personal actions and your position are at odds then I would ask you to resign your post.

Respectfully,

Keith Brin [Emphasis added.]