On Illinois Review's Facebook Page over the weekend, Evanston Township GOP Chairman Blair Garber expressed his support for Illinois National Committeeman Rich Porter's views as circulated in a letter to IL GOP State Central Committee members and published in Illinois Review last week.
Garber, who is also a member of the IL GOP State Central Committee, picked up Committeeman Porter's theme of sticking behind Governor Rauner, saying, "So long as Bruce has the best chance of winning we are fools not to back him and I say that even after these last two bills which I’m outraged he signed…"
Chairman Garber wrote:
The Illinois GOP will never be a majority party until and unless we can accept people with ideas different than our own for the sake of shared common goals.
Good government, fiscal conservatism, constitutionally limited government, economic freedom, social and religious liberty. These are our common goals, and The American Dream.
Let’s never lose sight of that, always remembering the fact that someone we agreed with 80% is an ally and not an enemy.
As we grow the party these differences will increase not decrease.
Concentration on common ground issues that unite us all are the only way to beat the organized corruption of the Machine Politics which now rule our State.
If Madigan can this easily distract and disunity us from supporting re-electing the only governor that has stood up to him, not capitulated to him, not been bullied or bought, we are the losers not him.
In this Richard Porter is exactly correct.
So long as Bruce has the best chance of winning we are fools not to back him and I say that even after these last two bills which I’m outraged he signed.
Let’s not forget Bruce has already spent and committed millions to funding legislative candidates far more conservative than he is for the greater good of reform.
Mr. Garber, what you and Mr. Porter fail to understand is there are those of us who have principles and convictions and these are more important than "the win". Unfortunately, Rauner was able to fool some during his first run; it won't happen again. You know what they say – the fire is always hotter in hell for those who purposely lead others there with him."Let’s not forget Bruce has already spent and committed millions to funding legislative candidates far more conservative than he is for the greater good of reform." Wait, we are supposed to give Rauner a pass for signing bills that go completely against both the Illinois AND National Republican Platforms because he has bought and paid for the ILGOP?! What good does it do to help get those conservative legislators elected when their own governor signs bills that NO REPUBLICANS voted for??
Terri Koyne it helps by getting Republicans closer to the legislative majority so bill like those will not be written.
Richard and I understand only too well that your commitment to your principles and convictions in the social sphere are more important than winning.
Unfortunately in politics you have to win in order to actually act on your principles and convictions.So is the point to hold those convictions or to win and legislate with those convictions?
The “leadership” of both parties is equally power hungry. There are three primary components within both major parties.
There’s the people (the “voters”, the “masses”); the platform; and the upper echelon of those wanting control – I can’t bring myself to call them “leaders”. It’s become a politburo system on both sides.Good public policy and what we stand for, components one and two, respectively, end up meaning nothing to the third component: that upper tier group of people who turn citizen against citizen and either ignore or distort the guiding principles of the parties and the founding documents of our nation.There’s only one way to fix it – to take it back – and that’s a revolution at the ballot box where the people stop responding to the dog whistles of both parties.
