CHICAGO - Last Friday, Equality Illinois showed its gratitude to two House Republicans who broke ranks and declared their support for legalization of gay marriage in Illinois. The organization's appreciation was in the form of $5,000 checks to State Reps. Ron Sandack (HERE) and Ed Sullivan (HERE).
For Sandack, the 2013 contribution from the gay activist organization is antithetical to his support in last year's election, which included investments from conservative groups such as Paul Caprio's Family PAC (HERE), Jack Roeser (HERE), and Adam Andrzejewski's For The Good of Illinois PAC (HERE).
Those three entities alone contributed to $7,540.55 to Sandack, with an additional $20,000 from Roeser to the State Senate Common Sense PAC on Sandack's behalf (HERE).
"Sandack broke all of his written pledges against same sex marriage," Family PAC's Paul Caprio told Illinois Review. "He is one of the most dishonest politicians in Illinois, and will be opposed next year."
Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network and State Rep. Ron Sandack
The sentiment seems to be shared among conservatives, many of whom are threatening to help primary Illinois Republicans who are for gay marriage.
For example, the National Organization of Marriage has pledged $250,000 to defeat Republican legislators who support same-sex marriage. "Any Republican in Illinois who betrays the cause of marriage will be casting a career-ending vote and will be held accountable to their constituents," said Brian Brown, president of NOM.
All of which may explain why Sandack is courting money from the Left this time around.
More on this topic at: "Wealthy Gay Marriage Advocates Begin Funding Illinois Republicans"
