McHenry County Blog

Friday, I tempted you with the cover of the new McHenry County Republican Party pamphlet encouraging Republicans to

Join the McHenry County Republican Party!

The benefits offered on the cover?

· Help Support Republican Candidates
· Get Involved
· Work on Campaigns
· Meet Republican Officeholders

The friend who gave me a copy of this pamphlet used a red felt pen to point me to what was considered of interest.

It was on the inside.

Circled, as you may be able to see in the image that I have posted (click on it to make it larger) is what I have printed in bold face type below:

Republican Principles

· Recognition that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility is basic to good government.

· Equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity belong to all, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or sexual preference.

· The free enterprise system and the encouragement of individual initiative and incentive are musts for a strong economy.

· Government should get involved only in those things that the people cannot do for themselves.

· We will seize every opportunity for peace in our world, but we will always keep our guard up.

The last of 13 membership benefits listed is

Your Comments and Opinions Are Always Welcome

My friend has underlined that in red, as well.

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised at the direction the McHenry County Republican Party is taking, considering the position of this fall's gubernatorial candidate, Judy Topinka, and McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Bill LeFew's early endorsement of her.

And, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley was a cheerleader for the Gay Games’ rowing event being held on Crystal Lake. He is chairman of political action committee for State Senator Pam Althoff (R-McHenry). Althoff voted for one of the most gay rightsy state laws in our United States.

Apparently the Republican Party thinks this is the way to win more votes in McHenry County.

I know those favoring adding "sexual preference" to Illinois discrimination laws knocked on doors for my 2000 primary opponent and victor Rosemary Kurtz. She rewarded them by being the deciding vote on the bill in the House.

But somehow I doubt that there will be a rush of such folks to volunteer in the McHenry County GOP.

Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me that the bulk of the work has been done by Republican volunteers of a more conservative, traditional family nature.

In fact, I'll bet more people passed Protect Marriage petitions than volunteered to help GOP candidates in McHenry County this past year.

Finally, while I was looking at this pamphlet today, I got a phone call from another Republican precinct committeeman about another subject.

When I mentioned the recruitment brochure, without any prompting, he responded sarcastically that he had signed up 3 neighbors who are involved in bestiality.

The exact words are a lot funnier, but not appropriate for McHenry County Blog.