One thing in this post is not like the other. Above, Illinois State Sen. Rickey Hendon, on the chamber’s open floor, slamming his fellow lawmakers for refusing to support the state’s civil unions bill, which passed today. “It’s the right thing to do,” says Hendon, who fingers his colleagues guilty of “hypocrisy” that’s “dripping in this chamber right now” by adulterers and closeted gays. Below, State Sen. Rev. James Meeks, who’s running for Chicago mayor, admitting he’s among those deserving of such criticism. Asked whether he thinks his “no” vote on the bill will “hurt your run for mayor among gay and lesbian voters,” Meeks responded, “I don’t know.” Uh, I DO.
the awesome
IL Sen. Rickey Hendon’s Awesome Bullshit Call On Every Anti-Gay Lawmaker Who Voted Against Civil Unions
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drums
I don’t know much about American politicians, but Mr. Hendon displayed amazing graciousness and decency in that speech. I don’t know what else he’s done, but that speech alone made my eyes a little wet and reassured me that there are still good bureaucrats left in this crazy world.
Americans=Rightwingers (John From England)
True dat.
Chi
He’s my senator. I’m so proud! My views actually ARE being represented in government! Give ’em hell Rickey!!
Meeks, this vote isn’t why you’re going to lose. You’re going to lose because you were always going to lose. It’s your density, McFly.
jak
wow, this clown can’t even support second-class citizenship for the gays, and he wants to be the mayor? Don’t think so.
John (CA)
Finally, an old-school, straight talking liberal with a spine. Thank you very much Senator Hendon. That was absolutely magnificent. And if we have seen this sort of passion from our representatives in Washington this year, November might have gone quite differently.
Watching this reminds me of the debate to decriminalize homosexuality in California. Straight Assemblyman Willie Brown threatened to out closeted anti-gay lawmakers who wanted to keep an unjust law that they themselves should be prosecuted under. The bill passed by a single vote. And Mr. Brown would go on to become the state’s longest serving Assembly Speaker, as well as a two term mayor in San Francisco.
I miss that Democratic Party.
When did the Democrats become the party of ineffectual, soft-spoken hippies who worship at the altar of bipartisanship and want nothing more than to sing Kumbyah with the opposition?
Lucas
I think the bigger point we’re missing is Senator Hendon specifically called out a “downlow brother” who voted against the bill.
Meeks was the only black man to get up, voice opposition, then vote against the bill.
Outed.
FreddyMertz
Now if we can have someone to do this in DC…that would be totally awesome!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Think we may have elected the wrong Black guy from Illinois?…………
Cam
It’s about damn time that some politician broke the glass closet that these legislaters live in.
Good for him, I wish he’d run for Obama’s old seat.
Lucas
I wish he’d run for Obama’s new seat.