"Let me ask you this: if the Pennsylvania Republican Party wanted to nominate O.J. Simpson would you have a problem with that? "
we ought not be in the habit of nominating men who kill women... we leave that to the Democrats (Teddy K and Mary Jo etc.)
"It is so pathetic, it can't find one Republican in one of the most populous states in the Union to run as a senatorial candidate. "
Take it up with the Ill. GOP, but quit pretending there is some 'Founders principle" in this. AFAIK, neither Stephen Douglas nor Abe Lincoln were born in Illinois, etc.
Since you bring up Lincoln, it was he who said that just because a majority of the people of a state subscribe to a principle or law does not make it right, referring, of course, to Douglas. Just because the Ill. GOP wants to do something neither makes it right nor wise. And you still can't give me a reason this is the RIGHT thing to do, only the CONVENIENT thing to do.