Deb Leticia Gordils Running for Lt. Governor as a Republican
September 26, 2009 in State Wide Elections
This last spring, Deb Leticia Gordils was one of five candidates seeking the Illinois Green Party nomination to run in the special election for Rahm Emanuel’s seat. She was beat out by Matt Reichel, who is now running again for that seat next fall.
As for Deb Gordils, she is now seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for Lt. Governor of Illinois:
I talked to Greens and others about my choice before I decided this was a good choice for me at this time. I still support a third party choice available to the Citizens of Illinois and this great country and hope there are Greens winning races in 2010. I think people realize I’m loyal only to the people of Illinois and making the best decisions towards this goal. I am pro- life and support the 2nd amendment right to bear arms and pro the U.S Constitution. I feel I am where I belong. I think my respect for all the people of Illinois and as a humanitarian I can be a voice for the voiceless if elected. It is also my belief that the Republican party will overwhelmingly sweep the 2010 elections.
I took a liking to Gordils and wish her luck. I think this is probably a better fit for her. Click here to read an interview with Deb Leticia Gordils last spring here on Green Party Watch.
Third Party Revolution said on September 27, 2009
Well she’s still running as a Republican, so we’re not going to endorse her.
Richard Kuszmar said on September 27, 2009
She should be barred from any future candidacy on the Green Party Ticket as well holding any official position within the Green Party.
Kimberly Wilder said on September 27, 2009
I was disappointed in this coverage and the tone of the article.
First of all, anyone who is willing to run as a Republican has a enough support already. She has the label of a well-known party; she is able to take corporate contributions; and she probably has or will have folks in that major party who will support her. So, she doesn’t need any of the Green Party’s meager crumbs to add to the bounty of resources she can now collect.
But, also, I was disappointed that a Green Party Watch author would take a pleasant, gentlemanly attitude about a candidate who announces themselves as a Republican and “pro-life.”
As a woman, I am directly oppressed by the pro-life position.
And, while I try my best to understand and tolerate fellow greens who hold that position–there is no time to waste trying to empathize with people in other parties who hold that position which oppresses me, and goes against our party platform.
If someone had to mention Deb Gordils current campaign, it might have been more respectful to women greens to be neutral, or to actually critique her based on her previous posturing, and overly sudden switch to the Republicans. It is difficult for me to believe–with the timing and the great turnabout–that all of her recent maneuvers were done with sincerity.
The Green Party got used. Perhaps people were even trying to sabotage the party in its primary. The Green Party and pro-Green web-sites should probably ignore Deb Gordils, or expose the way she used us.
Ronald Hardy said on September 27, 2009
Coverage: Anytime a former Green Party candidate runs for office on another parties ticket I think it is worth covering.
Tone: I try to be nice to people, in general.
Offense: I take offense by your characterization of my statement “I took a liking to Gordils and wish her luck” as “a pleasant, gentlemanly attitude”. If Gordils was a man, and I wrote “I took a liking to ‘Don Gordils’ and wish him luck” would you have used this same phrase? “Gentlemanly”? Really? Maybe its a cultural difference between the way people talk on the East Coast and the way we talk in the Midwest. Don’t read so much into it.
Although 98% of my friends are pro-choice, I DO have a few friends who are pro-life, And I DO have a few friends who are Republicans. And I am nice to them.
Deb Gordils was a horrible fit for the Green Party, and her campaign website is proof enough of that. That is why I linked to it.
Dave Schwab said on September 28, 2009
Here’s what’s puzzling me: if she supports the US Constitution, why on earth would she join the Republicans?
Deb Leticia Gordils said on September 28, 2009
A horrible fit…now that’s a bit harsh but I support all Freedoms especially Speech. Now about blasting my website …the only thing my website is proof of is that I have not taken any corporate donations..actually I have no plans to ask anyone for money of any kind who has it now a days anyway? I ask only their help and support which includes their vote. What good is securing money for a better looking website if you have to sell your beliefs for it.
The idea that the Green Party was in anyway not the better for having me run on their party ticket in a primary race is unbelievable. Look at the numbers… my votes were almost all crossover votes, newcomers to the Green Party and that was a good thing.
Ronald Hardy said on September 28, 2009
Funny! Maybe because the Green Party’s line is already filled? http://ilgp.org/
Don W. Crawford Lieutenant Governor
Based on some of the candidates the Illinois Republicans are running these days their party is a mess.
Ronald Hardy said on September 28, 2009
Deb – I was referring primarily to your pro-life positions prominent on your website, not the design. (Lord knows I’m not one to judge on web design!)
The Green Party does have some pro-life folks in it but reproductive rights, including the legal right of a woman to decide whether to have an abortion or not, is a MAJOR part of the Green Party Platform.
The morality of abortion is one thing, and morality is personal, but the Green Party is firm in its opposition to government prohibition of the ability to get an abortion. Anyone who campaigns on a position to make abortion A CRIME is, in my opinion, a “horrible fit” for the Green Party.
I do give you props for your very strong positions towards women’s issues such as pay equity and access to child care, I’m with you there.
Third Party Revolution said on September 28, 2009
Ron, one person already running for Lt. Governor doesn’t have to be that way. It could be a contested primary.
Kimberly Wilder said on September 28, 2009
Ron, I knew when I posted my thoughts about your posting of this it would be personal. I am trying not to take it that way. Because, I am trying to respond to you as if, “What if a journalist or blogger I did not know wrote this?”
But, truly, it matters a lot to me if this energy and public discourse of “is pro-life an okay position?” that can be overlooked. This issue matters a lot to me and my womb.
And, I don’t mean to prolong it. But, you don’t get my meaning. And, you are totally not seeing the sexism inherent in chiming in (or dismissing) the abortion issue so cavalierly.
You said,
<>
I don’t know if you will be able to hear me, because it is difficult to discuss sexism…but here goes…
My critique was a combination of two things: 1. That you are a man, and you are mentioning the abortion issue and a candidate, but not taking a stand on an abortion issue, not taking a stand against a candidate’s position that goes against the party platform, and is oppressive to a certain group: women.
But, also, 2. That your attitude is patriarchal, and status quo, by acting “mannerly, genteel, and distant” to an issue, that to other people, will cause them great harm and oppression.
It irks me that part of politics is people “playing nice and having manners” out of social habits, and the fact that that is the way to rise ahead, to ingratiate oneself into the political class.
And, I see someone withholding any judgment on someone with a yucky political view, and actually giving that candidate a tip of the hat as part of that social strategy…manners over moral judgment.
(I will say, that as I write it, I think we all must do it to some extent. For instance, I am colleagues with a lot of conservative folk.)
But, where someone like Gordils has posed as a green, absorbed the goodwill of a lot of greens, and then turned around to start yelling a very, very anti-green sentiment, a sentiment that oppresses my human rights as a woman, I don’t think that woman deserves a tip of the hat from someone who is supposed to be “in the party”, and “on my side of the fence”.
If Green Party Watch or the people that post here mention the abortion issue, I think that it should be a thoughtful post, which at least states the Green Party position. And, I think that Green Party Watch should be careful not to make casual allusions or compliments to NON-GREENS who hold a pro-life position.
I guess, another way to reflect on this would be:
What if a candidate was a green, then the next season, turned out to be for the Iraq War. Would green bloggers just smile and make mention, without asserting the green point of view?
What if that candidate talked about being for the death penalty?
Or, expressed racial intolerance, or proposed segregation?
I just think that to be fair to women greens, you should keep pro-life in perspective. It is against the human rights of women. And, it is a uniquely real and personal issue for women.
Actually, to me, one of the enigmas of the abortion debate is: women have to discuss abortion in public and politics to protect their rights to their own choices, but women probably should have a right to not have to discuss such a painful and personal issue in public at all.
What a trap. An oppressor (either a man or a woman patriarch) opens up their mouth to dare to take my privacy and rights, and in order to protect my privacy I must shout and yell and beg in public. It has been a perfect trap for women for many years…
Deb Leticia Gordils said on September 28, 2009
I never said Abortion is a crime. Abortion is a complicated issue, best to stay out of the governments hands and back into the hands of the two the men and women who find themselves in that situation, it takes two to create the problem , let two handle it privately or otherwise.
If the pregnancy involves a boy and a girl allow their families to help them in the decision not some abstract outside agency like planned parenthood. I believe in the rights of men as well as the rights of families. No crime element to this issue.
30 years ago there was little or no contraception options or choices of behavior or public information for girls, women boys , men. Well times have definitely changed in that perspective and now that we have claimed our bodies it’s time to claim the equality that is rightfully ours.
Equal pay for equal work, equal insurance coverage, Fair labor laws, reformed education like free access to public pre-schools, protection against domestic violence, protection for their children on issues of health, schooling and violence. We lack equal representation in all areas especially management and government. These are REAL MODERN DAY Womens issues that ALL WOMEN face every day of their adult lives to work in addition to the burdens that females of all ages encounter .
A family topic like abortion that is for a medical option for a slim % of the American population that should include males as well as females has become the anchor to advancement for women and will cloud the new discussions and battles we as women need to address and confront in the days ahead.
The word CHOICE is OLD and MUTE!
Kimberly Wilder said on September 28, 2009
So, Ms. Gordils,
You are saying that you believe that the government should stay out of decisions about abortion?
Richard Kuszmar said on September 28, 2009
Lets move on. I trust the republicans will like Gordils as much as the British liked Benedict Arnold. Our best revenge is to work for her defeat in whatever party she sells herself to.
Walter said on September 28, 2009
As someone actually from Illinois I heard it was an amicable split from the IL Greens. She identified as a Green and agreed with the 10KV and now decides that the Republicans would be a better fit. I don’t see anything with that as long as it was a sincere change of heart without ulterior motives.
I think we should be careful of reductionism and acknowledge these things aren’t so clear cut, lest we be rolled into the “You socialist!” yelling crowd.
It was an amicable split. Leave it at that, we’ll see Ms. Gordils on the election battlefield.
Richard Kuszmar said on September 28, 2009
An amicable split is leaving the Greens for another third party or running as an independent. Running as a Republicrat is being a collaborator with Corporate rule.
Ross Levin said on September 28, 2009
There’s no reason to sling mud. Nothing good will come out of it.
Kimberly Wilder said on September 29, 2009
Let’s all play nice and have good manners when it is only about the oppression of women.
Dave Schwab said on September 29, 2009
You don’t have to take Ross’ advice, but it’s hard to convince anyone of anything if you put them on the defensive with gratuitous attacks.
Richard Kuszmar said on September 29, 2009
I recall the French shaved the heads of women who collaborated with the Germans during World War II. Male collaborators were dealt with more harshly. The policies of the Republicrats are causing deaths of countless people and helping to destroy the environment. We need to move past singing Kumbaya after a couple of joints.
Dave Schwab said on September 29, 2009
I could invoke Godwin’s law here, but I won’t. I agree with you that the Republicrats are causing a lot of damage with their anti-human policies. But demonizing those we disagree with doesn’t jive with Green values, imho. It’s the old way of doing politics, when what we’re trying to do is change politics in the style of Gandhi or Dr. King. And from a practical perspective, it puts people off who would otherwise be attracted to the Green Party.
Kimberly Wilder said on September 29, 2009
Really, Dave Schwab.
Thank you for the lovely advice.
;)
I will always remember not to be gratuitous.
Richard Kuszmar said on September 29, 2009
If Gordils represents your new way of doing politics ( Don’t win the GP nomination jump to the Duopoly], we are all in real trouble.
Richard Kuszmar said on September 29, 2009
As for me I just sent my contribution to Matt Reichel’s money bomb.
Gregg Jocoy said on September 30, 2009
Me too Richard. :-)