If you haven’t heard yet, Don Tracy the active chairmen of the IL-GOP has decided to step down amidst turmoil as the party leaders continue to be at odds with its grassroots base. Other members of the IL-GOP have resigned as well, starting with Vince Kolber the finance chair and vice chair Mark Shaw. The party leadership had a vote to remove Shaw from his position after a controversial convention over memorial day weekend. I was not there to witness the convention but news spread quickly on outlets and social media of the incident. My first reaction was “we lack identity”
I know it’s easier said than done to change culture in a team environment, all the great coaches and organizers I have learned from over the years or read about preaching culture. “Who are you”, “What are you” and “how you do things” define you, was a common phrase I have heard over the course of my life. When I saw these stories coming out I asked myself these questions not only about myself but about the status of the IL-GOP. Why do we struggle with our identity?
Most people I speak to who are pure voters have all said a phrase that seems to represent the majority… “I’m socially moderate/liberal but fiscally conservative”. This is usually followed by the term “Conservative Democrat”. When I asked for further clarification, social issues seem to be secondary to fiscal ones. Things like abortion or LGTBQ seem to be secondary factors while job growth, better spending and reducing costs are important to people in the southwest side of Cook county. Having less government in their lives or not telling people who they can love seem to be strong deterrents from say southern republican positions found on national news stories.
Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Truth is I don’t see much difference between what most people tell me and what most IL-Republicans believe in with the exception of some social issues.
My advice to whomever takes the chair for the IL-GOP… Present a united front encompassing socially moderate and fiscally conservative values. Cook county is filled with people of this mindset, progressive democrats are socially radical and believe in radical spending plans (as long as they are in charge of it). There is a market for the “Classic Republican” again in IL but do we have the stones to do it???
