Champion News

Wow, Doug Ibendahl has me stumped: When it comes to deciding which GOP gubernatorial debate I'd like to watch this week, am I a champ or a chump?

The Republican Young Professionals group, of which Ibendahl is a co-founder, sent out an e-mail yesterday highlighting an article he wrote for the Web site Champion News. Ibendahl was comparing the gubernatorial debates among Republican candidates being held tonight (Wednesday) by the Homer/Lockport Tea Party and Joliet Tea Party organizations and one being held tomorrow (Thursday) by the Illinois Republican Party Finance Committee.

"There are two debates this week featuring the Republican candidates for governor," Ibendahl writes. "At the risk of playing favorites, I'll just say the first event on Wednesday night is for patriotic, God-fearing, real Americans. The second one on Thursday night is for poor souls who want to throw their hard earned money away to a faction that continues to divide and destroy our once proud Republican Party."

You see what I mean? Ibendahl doesn't mince words here. He puts the GOP faithful on notice and demands they pick sides.

But who, exactly, qualifies as a patriotic, God-fearing, real American? Let's break this down by adjective.

"Love of country" can be hard to define. One man's patriotism is another man's treason. Who gets to decide?

And what about flag-waving, national anthem-singing Americans who can't bring themselves to acknowledge the existence of a deity? George Will, a conservative icon, told Stephen Colbert last year that he was an agnostic. Does this mean Will is a chump?

And how can we tell "real" Americans from un-"real" Americans? What's the criteria? It used to be that Americans were people who held citizenship in the United States, regardless of their social/religious/political/economic views. It appears that's changed.

So the champs vs. chumps battle in the GOP is on. Considering how badly Republicans fared in statewide elections last year (they didn't win a single office), you'd think they wouldn't be looking to exploit inner divisions.

But what do I know?

P.S.

I strongly suggest that members of the Republican Young Professionals take thoroughly scrutinize their Web site. One link along the left-hand side shows a picture of John McCain and Sarah Palin with the words, "The ticket for America" (pssst, they lost last year). And below that is a link called the W Connection, which offers talking points about President Bush's agenda (I don't know how to break this news to you, but Dubya is no longer president).

Maybe this is just wishful thinking on the group's part. Hey, we all have to hold tight to our dreams. But really, the Bush presidency and 2008 campaign are over. Let's all move on, OK?