This is one of those things where I wish I could've been there to witness:
http://politics.suntimes.com/...
Fifty years after the Civil Rights Act became law, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. on Sunday called on African-Americans to dwell less on prayer and instead focus on taking matters into their own hands in the continuing fight for equality.
“Praying will not get my relative out of jail. Praying will not get my student debt relieved. Praying will not get me a job,” Jackson said, leading the congregation at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 754 E. 77th St., in a testimonial. “We are free, but not equal.”
But while Jackson called on African-Americans to continually strive for equal treatment, he directed special ire at members of the Republican Party who he said want to do away with government-sponsored social welfare programs.
And he did so while Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner — who also spoke to the congregation Sunday — was in the church looking on.
“Did you know that in the 11 Southern states that had slaves . . . those who were Jefferson Davis Democrats are now Reagan Republicans?” Jackson said, referring both to the long-dead president of the Confederacy, as well as a shift in party affiliation that occurred across parts of the South — backlash from Northern Democrats’ support of civil rights.
“They fight to keep your wages low. They fight to cut food stamps,” Jackson said, earning several “amens” from the crowd. “Can you imagine Jesus fighting against food stamps? The guy with the fish and the bread fighting food stamps?”
Before Jackson spoke, Rauner addressed the congregation. He told churchgoers that he is not a politician. Acknowledging his immense personal wealth, Rauner said he “didn’t come from any money” but felt a strong moral obligation to give back to the community.
“We love our city, we love our state,” Rauner said. He later added that he is running for governor because he’s “frustrated that the quality of life is not improving for the families of Illinois.”
While Rauner may have been trying to make inroads with African-American voters, Jackson’s speech at the church was held in conjunction with the annual convention for his nonprofit group, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. - Chicago Sun-Times, 6/30/14
Priceless. By the way, Rauner's still been having trouble with this:
http://politics.suntimes.com/...
Marriage equality supporters protested in front of a giant Bruce Rauner banner on Halsted Street on Thursday, just days before thousands will take the streets to celebrate the Chicago Pride Parade.
The group of elected officials and LGBT supporters wore t-shirts with a red slash over Rauner’s name. And they stood in front of the large banner featuring the gubernatorial candidate’s face and the words, “Bruce Rauner on marriage equality: ‘If I were governor, I would veto it.’”
Calling the gubernatorial candidate “an enemy of equality,” Art Johnston of Equality Illinois, told reporters that Rauner poses a threat to those who just recently gained marriage equality in Illinois.
“Over and over again, he has made it clear that he opposes the freedom to marry. Again and again, this candidate has chosen to side with bigotry and intolerance,” Johnston said. “Rauner thinks your ability to protect your loved ones through the security of marriage should be put on the ballot as a referendum.”
Johnston said he hopes the parade serves as a way to educate the LGBT community about Rauner’s stance on gay marriage, as well as statements he has made about the bill. Rauner last year told voters he believed marriage equality should be subject to referendum. And after the bill was approved, he said he would veto the bill if he were governor. - Chicago Sun-Times, 6/26/14
And here's the GOP defending Rauner for not attending the LGBT pride parade:
http://politics.suntimes.com/...
Former Illinois GOP Party Chairman Pat Brady called Rauner a social moderate and a fiscal conservative, and he repeated Rauner’s mantra, which we’ve seen in TV ads with Rauner’s wife: Bruce Rauner has no social agenda.
“He has said all along he was for a referendum, meaning the people should decide the issue. But there are bigger issues. This issue has been decided,” Brady implored. “Bruce Rauner is not an enemy of this issue. He’s comfortable with it. Nothing’s going to change. A year from now marriage equality is probably going to be federal law. It’s a nonissue.”
That’s an olive branch, isn’t it?
“No. We've never heard from Rauner himself,” says Anthony Martinez, executive director of the Civil Rights Agenda. “Having Pat Brady there was pure politics. It does show that there was some work to do some outreach there. But the buck stops with the candidate, Bruce Rauner. Until we hear from his mouth that he’s supportive of the LGBT community, we cannot rest on our laurels.” - Chicago Sun-Times, 6/27/14
But this guy was proud to be at the parade:
http://www.examiner.com/...
Governor Pat Quinn, on the other hand, was a "show" for the Gay Pride Parade, and is also a "show" for gay rights and marriage equality. It is clear that Governor Quinn has been "showing" and marching with the LGBT community since this historic trek toward marriage equality began, and culminated after a long, protracted battle on Nov. 20, 2013, when Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 10 into law at a ceremony at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Forum. Representative Greg Harris and Senator Heather Steans sponsored the Senate Bill 10.
Governor Pat Quinn knows one of the basic rules of politics is "showing" up. Today, Governor Quinn showed up to the Chicago Gay Pride Parade and at the Crew Bar and Grill located at 4804 N. Broadway in Chicago, screened a new campaign video that highlights the historic march toward marriage equality. The new video shows Governor Quinn alongside advocates, legislators and members of the community fighting for the historic equal rights measure. As the Governor says in one clip, "It's always the right time to do the right thing - and it is the right thing."
The Windy City Times reported Bruce Rauner said at a November Tea Party speaking engagement in Quincy, Illinois, Rauner that he would have vetoed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, since he thought it was an issue that should have been put to voters in a referendum.
That crack by Rauner inflamed the LGBT community.
Governor Quinn said, "I didn’t need a referendum to tell me what was the right thing to do." Rauner claims that his candidacy for governor has "no" social agenda. Rauner considers himself a social moderate and a fiscal conservative who has no "social agenda." - Examiner, 6/30/14
And by the way, Quinn made this happen today:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/...
Gov. Pat Quinn today signed into law a measure allowing Illinois residents to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day this fall.
The governor has touted the relaxed registration rules for the Nov. 4 general election as making it easier for more people to be able to exercise a basic democratic right, while Republicans are concerned the move is an attempt by Democrats to increase their vote totals.
The measure limits same-day registration to selected sites within each election authority.
The legislation, which Quinn signed at Oak Park Village Hall, also expands the number of days and extends the hours for early voting. And it removes the provision that people taking part in early voting show a photo ID, such as a driver's license. The Tribune wrote about the bill on Monday.
It also allows students attending Illinois public universities to shift their residences from their hometowns to their school-based living quarters and vote on Election Day at select on-campus locations. - Chicago Tribune, 7/1/14
Quinn just made it easier for people to vote and now we have to make sure they get to the polls come election day. Click here to donate and get involved with Quinn's campaign:
https://www.quinnforillinois.com/