The efforts of the Christofascist elements in the Republican Party to expel anyone in the party who doesn't subscribe to the Christianists' virulently anti-gay agenda continues. The latest target? Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady (pictured above) who has urged Republicans in the Illinois legislature to support the same sex marriage bill currently working its way through the Illinois legislature. Never mind that polls show support for passage of the bill. Never mind that the GOP's opposition to gay marriage is driving away younger voters and is a form of slow motion politico suicide. There simply is no greater heresy to the Christofascists that supporting equality for LGBT citizens. Here are highlights from WBEZ:
Just weeks after the head of the Illinois Republican Party announced his support for same-sex marriage legislation, some state party bosses are moving forward with plans to oust the state GOP leader, the party chairman said Friday afternoon.
Chairman Pat Brady said he received a phone call Friday afternoon informing him that party bosses are calling a special meeting at which they’ll discuss why Brady publicly bucked the party line on same-sex marriage, as well as other issues such as fundraising, Brady said.
Brady said the March 9 special meeting will only reinforce a negative image of the GOP as a party of “old white guys,” though he said he’ll respect the process.
The special meeting comes after weeks of false starts as Brady’s critics couldn’t organize to gather the required five signatures from state central commissioners to call a special meeting. State Central Committeemen Jerry Clarke, from Urbana, has been working behind the scenes to organize the meeting, according to several party bosses.
Brady’s ouster would require the weighted vote of three-fifths of the state central committee. The votes are weighted differently based on turnout in the March primary. Committeeman Jim Oberweis, a state senator, said there are enough votes to fire Brady.
While there are a group of party leaders bent on firing Brady, some say they want to hold a special meeting to hear Brady’s explanation of why he publicly went rogue and contradicted the party’s stance on same-sex marriage, at a time when Illinois Republicans would prefer to focus on fiscal issues. Some also have concerns about Brady’s ability to raise money for the party, and the GOP’s dismal showing in November elections.
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