WASHINGTON--If Illinois Republican Party Chair Pat Brady is ousted on Saturday--with his support for gay marriage one of the counts against him--national conservative pundits based here are warning the move will be a big hit against the party--at a time the GOP is looking to expand its appeal with voters who back gay rights.

Brady faces a showdown vote with the state central committeemen--and it may be close.

Stephen Hayes from the Weekly Standard tweets, "Some IL GOPers may purge of chairman who supports gay marriage, even as they hope to win gay-marriage supporters to the party."

Fox News commentator Dana Perino, a former White House press secretary for former President George W. Bush tweets, "Dear Illinois GOP, please don't shoot yourself in both feet. Keep Pat Brady as your chairman - you're fortunate to have him."

Liz Mair, a former RNC Digital Director wrote in her blog, "As previously noted, my personal opinion is that Brady should remain in office, particularly given the importance of electing a Republican governor in 2014 and the significant challenge that installing a new Chairman now would present in achieving that. This is of course setting aside that Brady's stance on same-sex marriage is in line with Illinois opinion on this issue, which is politically helpful."

CNN contributor Ana Navarro, a campaign co-chair for the McCain and Huntsman campaigns said in a tweet, "Could IL GOP be so petty as to oust Chair for gay marriage support? We are the Party of personal freedom, remember?"

David Weigel in Slate has an overview HERE.

Sun-Times coverage is HERE and HERE
and and HERE

Some IL GOPers may purge of chairman who supports gay marriage, even as they hope to win gay-marriage supporters to the party. #unlikely

— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) March 8, 2013

Dear Illinois GOP, please don't shoot yourself in both feet. Keep Pat Brady as your chairman - you're fortunate to have him.

— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) March 8, 2013