WASHINGTON--The Illinois Republican Party started fund-raising off of the Chick-fil-A controversy, on Friday, promising a $5 Chick-fil-A gift card to people who donate at least $10.

The premium offers comes in the wake of statements by Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A, against gay marriage--triggering some local officials suggesting the stores are not welcome in their turf and a counter move--a push by Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum for an Aug. 1 Chick-fil-A "Appreciation Day." I write about this clash over values and the role of government HERE.

The Illinois Republican party saw fund-raising potential in the flap and sent out an e-mail appeal with the headline, "Donate to the GOP, Get a Chick-fil-A gift card."

In making the appeal the state GOP said, "Obama's fellow Madigan-backed Chicago Democratic politicians have stooped to a new low in trying to silence a business owner, Chick-fil-A, by trying to block their business license simply for expressing an opinion that they disagree with.

"Whatever your opinion is on the issue itself, it's a dangerous precedent for the government to deny a business license to a company simply for taking a political stance that a politician disagrees with."

Chicago Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) is blocking approval for a Chick-fil-A store on the Northwest Side because of Cathay's anti-gay marriage stand.