Have RINO, will campaign: Wire Breen, Lombard

 

     

Back in January, West Suburban Patriot (DuPage County Tea Party group) member and future GOP candidate for Illinois District 48 state representative Peter Breen told Wheaton Tea Partiers his reason for running: "I've decided to do a little RINO hunting" (laughter and cheering).  Those of you not members or fellow travelers of the doctrinaire, ultra conservative Tea Party may be inquiring what big game is Mr. Breen is referring to since there was no mention of RINO's in school civics. That's because RINO stands for Republican In Name Only and is a snide, derisive term Tea Partiers give any Republican not locked into their bizarre, anti government mindset. Democrats may be the enemy but RINO's are considered traitors. And the RINO Breen set his sights on was District 48 state rep Sandy Pihos who made a career of being anything but a rigid, anti-government zealot. Republican Pihos earned respect throughout her district from moderate Republicans, independents and even many Democrats for her hard working, open style. From personal experience I know she would meet with any serious constituent to discuss issues even when her own views would be strenuously challenged. But Pihos failed to join, the not LOW tax, but NO tax crowd who don't want government doing the Peoples' business of growing jobs, rebuilding crumbling infrastructure, educating the next generation, extending full civil rights to the LGBT community, improving health care, including reproductive freedom, protecting the environment, and mending holes in the social safety net.  West Suburban Patriots are nothing if not true believers, turning out on Primary day to send Pihos packing so they could send their RINO hunter to Springfield. But Breen's brand of political extremism may not play well with the great majority of the district tired of doctrinaire cults who won't listen to their concerns. And it's still a long way to November 4.