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So, I guess this means that Madigan lost? Or did he win?

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Illinois

* In the end, despite the goofy “Mike Madigan is to blame for everything, including my ouster” stuff, the gay marriage flap actually saved Pat Brady’s hide, at least for now…

The Illinois Republican Party’s central committee backed off an attempt to fire party chairman Pat Brady on Saturday, amid concern that ousting him because of his support for gay marriage could damage GOP efforts to appeal to more moderate voters. […]

Committeemen had scheduled a Saturday meeting in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park to consider firing him, but it was canceled late Friday, partly because it became clear there weren’t enough votes to remove Brady.

State Sen. Dave Syverson, a committeeman and party treasurer, said the vote would have been close, but members who had concerns about Brady separate from his gay marriage stance “didn’t want to be thrown in with those” concerned about it.

* Oberweis was left with his talking points…

State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) said the issue is Brady’s fitness for the post and loyalty to the party platform.

“It’s got nothing to do with gay marriage,” Oberweis said of the effort to boot Brady. “It could have been ObamaCare.

Yeah, OK. Nothing to do with gay marriage. Right.

* Some of the party’s top dogs worked the phones for the chairman…

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk — the Highland Park Republican who two months ago returned to Congress after suffering a stroke — personally placed calls to committeemen Friday, urging them to change their minds. House Republican Leader Tom Cross, of Oswego, did the same.

“There’s some people on the committee that don’t like him, but Pat Brady has a lot of friends from Springfield to Washington, D.C.,” said State Rep. Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, who was planning to represent Brady at the meeting. “We will defend him as the day is long.”

* This was a nicely planted piece…

The Illinois GOP committeemen calling for Chairman Pat Brady’s ouster say they are doing so because his support for same-sex marriage directly contradicts the party platform, its set of governing principles.

But a look at the party’s 14-page 2012 platform finds some of those committeemen might have also acted in violation of those GOP standards.

Committeemen have taken actions or positions in violation of the party platform on gambling, political contributions and more. […]

Oberweis himself, during a 2002 run for U.S. Senate, stated a position on abortion that differed from party views, though he has since refined his stance to oppose abortion.

Oddly enough, as of 12:30 this afternoon, Illinois Review has no posts on the Brady topic.

* Related…

* Former Illinois governors warn against firing GOP chair over gay marriage flap - Republicans Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar urge a ‘big tent’ approach ahead of a possible vote to oust Pat Brady.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 11:35 am

Comments

Pat Brady is his own worst enemy. Desperation is an ugly thing.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 11:56 am
Illinois Review ….(crickets)

Jim Oberweis - “Don’t read my quotes up to Friday, becasue I am telling you, this is NOT about SSM for me …honest!”

When does Oberweis ever get to be on the “Right” side of a battle, and when Oberweis IS on the “Right” side of the battle, he makes us all look bad and in the end looks foolish himself.

Further, when does Oberweis understand the idea of a “party” is to be inclusive, not exclusive, to voters.

Funny thing about all that … Purity … no one ever is a pure as they want …others … to be!

Animal Farm - “Some are more Equal than others”….is that how it goes … Senator …Oberweis?

You have to like the “Drop” on the party platform, Oberweis’ stance against specific plank(s), while trying to be “loved” by the voters. Great “informational” drop for the committeemen and others to think about.

By the way, media outlets are still making this about SSM, HuffPost included. Going to take a ton of work to turn this perception around, but heading off Oberweis this time is a good start.

Kudos to Govs. Thompson & Edgar, Comptroller Topinka, Sen. Kirk, Rep. Cross, and all the SCC with an understanding about the “big picture.”

Mr. Dorgan. Your level-headedness, and understanding that getting into a “spat” with Pat Brady, while it could be more than justified given the accusation, speaks volumes to your character, your politcal acumen, and understanding taht some things are just bigger than those making the tough decisions.

Thank you, Mr. Dorgan, and thanks to all.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:02 pm
If Pat Brady thinks someone like Jack Dorgan was coming after him, he’s very out of touch with his party. Maybe he should go.

When your party chairman can’t count votes on the central committee, how can you expect the ILGOP to win any elections? Vote counting is pretty much the point of the job, isn’t it?

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:03 pm
=* Former Illinois governors warn against firing GOP chair over gay marriage flap - Republicans Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar urge a ‘big tent’ approach ahead of a possible vote to oust Pat Brady.=

Seriously? Jim Thompson–who hugged his way across Illlinois how many times?–believes that Brady and the latest crew who are leading the GOP are big tent people? OK.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:08 pm
OK, since my last comment was deleted, I’ll try this one: Jim needs to get out more to see what’s really going on.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:14 pm
And that’s Big Jim. Edgar knows.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:14 pm
The Republican party will soon see Oberweis will be their biggest problem

Comment by State worker Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:18 pm
I don’t know why Brady felt the need to say anything, given the way Oberweis was running the show.

The rule is, if your enemies are destroying themselves, let them.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:21 pm
That’s right, word. Everyone’s an “enemy” and this is all just one big “war,” right?

No wonder people are being destroyed just for trying to participate in the process.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:31 pm
Invisible Man, go chase your tail if you’re bored. I’m not rising to the bait of your silly arguments.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:39 pm
Cooler heads prevailed.

Part of me thinks Brady strategically timed his Support of Gays comment to save his Chairman’s position and more importantly to allow the ILGOP to do some soul searching on this issue. But I am not sure if he is that savvy.

The ILGOP has basically diffused the issue for now. But more importantly, they did it without grabbing a lot of unnecessary headlines.

Comment by Endangered Moderate Species Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:41 pm
Is this where OW’s supposed to jump in and tell me again how silly I sound when I try to defend myself? That statement said alot about OW.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:47 pm
Rich,
I think your clock is off. You need to “spring” forward and check your smoke detectors.

Comment by Casual Observer Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:47 pm
Nah, - Anonymous -,

I am just enjoying you rant.

It’s cute.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:52 pm
47th…”can’t count votes on the Central Committee”…what are you talking about? Brady clearly knew who to reach and how to insure his survival (for evidence see the comments about phone calls and carefully placed press releases). The ones who can’t count are the hypocritical ideologues trying to have him removed.

With the exception of a stupid comment to The Sun-Times…Brady and his people have played this very well.

Comment by Eastsider Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 12:55 pm
OK Eastsider, if Dorgan was in on the joke, I see your point. On the other hand, if Brady had a better sense of his own state central committee members, he probably wouldn’t be in this spot in the first place.

First prize is a full term as Party Chairman. Second prize is two terms.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 1:02 pm
47th Ward is correct.

Unless you believe those last minute calls from Kirk and Cross and friends were for their own good health or to shoot the breeze.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 1:05 pm
Does Brady have enough electoral success to merit his retention and support? Screw the issues, Brady isn’t a winner.

The entire gay marriage kerfuffle was a ruse to keep a job he can’t do.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 1:09 pm
lol What a wicked web.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 1:14 pm
First of all, it had everything to do with gay marriage insofar as the party platform police demanding ideological purity. As for Oberweis’s comment about Obamacare I guess he should get on the horn and demand all of those Republican Governor’s who are implementing it resign or be thrown out of the party. Perhaps someday somebody can explain to me this madness that some in the Republican party engage in with respect to ideology. It seems some are of the opinion that if you don’t believe as they believe you have no business in the party. That attitude blows my mind.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 1:15 pm
It’s an easy question, - Anonymous - …

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 1:17 pm
Any time the ILGOP can make itself look this bad, Michael Madigan wins.

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 1:56 pm
Madigan’s getting rent-free space in their brains, without even asking.

Comment by walkinfool Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 2:16 pm
Cheryl44 -

Any time the ILGOP can make itself look this bad, Michael Madigan wins.
—-

Not a hard thing to do for the ILGOP. Masquerade a power grab in an issue toxic to moderate voter alignment. Madigan couldn’t devise a plan more effective!

Comment by Statesman Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 2:20 pm
It would be fun to watch if the GOP SCC were to start enforcing its party platform. Not just regarding Brady, but all elected Republicans. The Jack Roeser - Oberweis wing would like to do it.

Comment by reformer Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 3:06 pm
I have a few Republican friends who think Brady is incompetent as party chairman. Yet, they don’t agree this move by Oberweis is correct, as supported by Kirk et al. This infighting does not help the party attract voters.

Supporting extreme social views is so last century. Time to move on if they ever hope to have a strong Republican alternative to Democratic rule.

Comment by Wensicia Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 3:18 pm
Well, when you have many current and former Pillars of a “Big Tent,” including especially former Governors Thompson, Edgar, U.S. Senator Kirk, Illinois House Minority Leader Cross, and a host of others apparently ready to battle for him,(or at least suggest he be upheld) “as the day is long,” no wonder they decided to defer. Nice to have friends in high places, I guess, as they say. Nonetheless, the ice remains thin, about as thin as it could be, so that he’d best be wise to just stay mum on the whole and learn better how not to cavalierly tout contoversial positions on highly-charged issues (and know when to cool it on excessively pushing a campaign with intensely vile reactions/reverberations to be expected as in the mishap with “Fire MM”)–all hardly taking place when you represent the Party in Power, but rather, during quite vulnerable times for the GOP here in Illinois….

Comment by Just The Way It Is One Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 3:28 pm
The same sex marriage issue is the least of Brady’s problems. He is totally ineffectual in terms of electing Republicans. His grandstand publicity stunts have routinely backfired and he wound up looking foolish. Brady even intervened in a Chicago Ward Committeeman’s race and lost as the incumbent, who Brady opposed, was re-elected.

As Steve Brown noted, Mike Madigan could not ask for a Republican State Party Chair who would better advance the Democratic Party’s fortunes than Brady.

Comment by Esquire Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 3:32 pm
GOP leadership instructions:

1) Load gun.
2) Release safety
3) Point at foot
4) SHOOT!

Everyone in the Party knows that Brady isn’t the one to lead the party to relevance, and he’s a disaster at recruiting candidates and bringing the party together. His incredible failures should have led to his ouster (preferably by resignation) after the November embarassment for his leadership.

Could he POSSIBLY have pulled out this gay marriage idiocy, vocally and publically refuting his party’s platform, as a red herring to keep from being given his walking papers?

On leadership failures alone he should be gone, but by making this a “gay issue”, is he smart enough to use this as a wedge to claim his reghteous firing was due to his stance?

Comment by Palos Park Bob Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 3:41 pm
GOPie Platform Enforcement Police (PEP)gotta love GOPie PEP squad going door-to-door to ensure heir SC members and families members are armed to the teeth, have the shrunken skull over the doorway to ward off HoMosexuals in search of spouses, etc.
Now that would have great appeal
Fire,Aim, Ready

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 3:46 pm
Sen. Oberweis obviously never read Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

Comment by Ghost of John Brown Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 4:02 pm
My advice to the ILGOP is to let the voters/taxpayers see what one party Democrat rule is REALLY about.

Just hold on, hold back and let the IL Democrats blow themselves up. You know tax increases are on the way; you know even more oppressive regulations are on the way; you know even MORE people will leave the state; you know even MORE job creators will leave the state.

When Illinois is California—make your move.

Comment by qcexaminer Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 4:26 pm
So Madigan’s “Fire Brady” campaign is just as effective as Brady’s “Fire Madigan” campaign?

Or has Brady converted the “Fire Madigan” campaign to the “Blame Madigan” campaign?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 4:37 pm
given the history, the failure of this latest coup attempt within the state party is hardly surprising.

Given the weakened state of the Illinois GOP, it will not be the last attempt. Oberweis is just setting himself up for another statewide run, only this time the campaign ad will feature a soccer stadium filled with gay Americans.

Comment by Juvenal Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 4:58 pm
qc
Did you know that not a single Democrat who voted for the temporary income tax hike was defeated last fall? Even though not a single Republican voted for the tax hike, Democrats gained seats in both houses.

Comment by reformer Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 6:29 pm
The day has passed …

Nothing …from the Illinois Review …like this whole fiasco is not happening. Weren’t they the ones posting on the 11th Ward Republican Organization’s Resolution to Dump Brady …and then the LaSalle County not wanting it to be about SSM …

And yet … at 8 pm, days after the meeting cancellation …nothing?

A bit odd, indeed, IR.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 7:10 pm
this is what happens when you dont have a meeting first and vote after the meeting it can bite you these supposed leaders who did this are no leaders mentally challenged perhaps

Comment by county chairman Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 8:07 pm
Ironic, when Chris Lauzen wanted his wife to be appt’d to fill the vacancy through the lame duck session JO was all over that and wanted everyone except himself to call the newspapers and tell them. Now Jimbo is leading the charge to oust Brady? He’s a hypocrite. Thank God his one campaign promise was that he’d only serve one term in the Ill. Senate.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 11, 13 @ 8:09 pm
Every day Pat Brady remains at top of IL GOP, it’s of course a huge win for Madigan and the Dems. Sheesh.

Comment by just sayin' Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 5:10 am
@ QC
It seems like as long as Cook County remains part of Illinois there is a very good chance that the D’s stay in power at all levels (Executive, Legislative etc.)

Comment by Cardinal fan Tuesday, Mar 12, 13 @ 7:14 am