Posted on 04/16/2002 8:35:41 AM PDT by KMC1
Ever find yourself in a pickle? You know, one of those situations that is bad for everyone involved. We in Illinois find ourselves in political pickle. At least those of us that care about the moral climate & the cultural battle that is being waged for the future of our state.
Republicans here had something they haven't seen in thirty years. (an actual contested primary race for governor) Those that were closest to all the action are still reeling from the smarts they received in the process. The republican party for the first time in a long time now has to look at its divided factions and try to figure out what the next best move is to make. What the republican party needs in Illinois right now is some nice strong leadership.
The quandary republicans find themselves in however is that for the last thirty years the party has survived not by leadership but by patronage - both fiscal and political. Now the leadership is throwing fits because not everyone will automatically jump on board and ride the Ryan express back to power.
Now I took some pretty heated criticisms about issues that I talk about all the time and how they related to the primary race. After all - isn't the primary all about defining the best candidate and the issues that said candidate needs to address? It would appear to make sense to me. Some in republican establishment didn't like to have "their boy" challenged. Maybe they found him too fragile to stand up to a rigorous campaign. "There was so much bickering" they said. And then last night on political talk radio I heard almost venomous attacks from party faithful to those who are truly concerned about the substance of issues condemning them for "taking their ball and going home."
The obvious is true, if morally backboned people do get out and vote for the republican nominee for governor - he wins. He certainly can't win without them. Yet from what I heard with my own ears - the establishment was rebuking the core of the party. Instead of the nominee coming out and saying - yes I will take on the causes of the pro-family voter, instead we will demonize you for not automatically jumping back on a bandwagon that has on multiple occasions dumped you with reticence.
It is a disconnect of magnanimous proportions. How many times do you beat a dog and expect him to still follow you home?
What fundamentally is lacking here from those in key positions within the republican party is - wisdom! Wisdom would look at the scenario and say - "yes we do want those pro-family voters to come out in mass and vote for our guy - because we believe that he will not abandon you - as has been done by others so many times in the past."
I suggested when approached directly from the republican camp as to the best way to bring the two sides together. My advice? See to it that the republican nominee for Governor works hard while he is still Attorney General to help pass the Born Alive Infant Protection Acts in the state legislature now. This is legislation that is so basic to the dignity of humans that it simply says that a baby who is born is entitled to protections of any other U.S. citizens.
What will happen, only the days ahead will show. But for now - good and needed legislation to protect the lives of babies who are ALREADY born, wastes away in the Health Care Committee in the state capitol.
I say it all the time. One of the biggest voids in our society today is to see the essence of true leadership. Sometimes we think that a party alone will solve all of our needs. Parties, however, are really only built on ideology. What is the moral climate of our society - are fighting for a better tomorrow - where the individual dignity of each person is something that is valued?
I have heard too many times in my life about how "complicated" the world of politics is. I believe that it is complicated but I also believe the best way to uncomplicate it is to traffic in ideals of the highest nature: honesty, integrity, dignity of life, care and concern for my family and those around me. If we begin to apply a little more of these basic virtue to the political system - it might uncomplicate itself.
Leaders lead - and if they do, the rest will follow, the question is - will they?
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kmc@wyll.com
Kevin McCullough & Deborah Rowe are enjoyed weekdays 3-5p (CST) on AM 1160 WYLL, and online at www.wyll.com. WYLL is a 50,000 watt station based in Chicago, Illinois
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