Hard To Tell GOP From Democrats On Social Issues

(AP) CHICAGO When it comes to abortion and gay rights, it's hard to tell some Republicans from Democrats in the primary race for governor.

GOP front-runner Judy Baar Topinka and fellow Republican Ron Gidwitz support abortion rights. So do Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his primary challenger, Edwin Eisendrath.

Topinka, Gidwitz and another Republican -- Internet journalist Andy Martin -- also line up with the Democrats in their support of a state law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Those positions are setting up a Republican primary battle between social moderates and two conservative candidates -- dairy owner Jim Oberweis and state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_060135800.html

Sign of the times, maybe...?

I hope they really support these issues and aren't just saying they do to garner votes.

Democrats being bigoted. I was worried it was the other way around when I saw the headline.

where, no matter who wins, we gain some ground.

Oberweis has the proverbial snowball's chance in hell of winning the primary. I think it's going to be Judy Baar Topinka.

I'm glad to see almost all of the candidates in both parties pledging their support for abortion rights (particularly important with the recent draconian law passed in South Dakota and similar restrictive legislation on its way to becoming law in Mississippi) and support for the law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. I wish that Governor Blagojevich would be more vocal in his signing this legislation. That law has been proposed for decades. And finally, in no small part, because of Blagojevich, it became law last year. That is something to be proud of.

The difficulty in telling GOP from Dem on social issues runs both ways.