Daley on gay marriage: 'no problem' (Chicago Mayor)

[chiburb]

Mayor Daley said Wednesday he would have "no problem" with County Clerk David Orr issuing marriage licenses to gay couples -- and Orr said he's open to a San Francisco-style protest if a consensus can be built.

"They're your doctors, your lawyers, your journalists, your politicians," the mayor said. "They're someone's son or daughter. They're someone's mother or father. . . . I've seen people of the same sex adopt children, have families. great parents.

"Some people have a difference of opinion -- that only a man and a woman can get married. But in the long run, we have to understand what they're saying. They love each other just as much as anyone else.''

"Marriage has been undermined by divorce, so don't tell me about marriage. You're not going to lecture me about marriage. People should look at their own life and look in their own mirror. Marriage has been undermined for a number of years if you look at the facts and figures on it. Don't blame the gay and lesbian, transgender and transsexual community. Please don't blame them for it," he said.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-gay19.html

[Bronco69]

1. Maybe some of the politicians

are finally starting to wake up. :-)

[GinaMaria]

21. Daley woke up a long time ago

This is not a surprising position for him. He marches in the gay pride parade in Chicago every year.

[DarkPhenyx]

2. Way ta go Daley.

"Bout time someone with a political voice finally said this.

[soleft]

3. Okay, Bloomberg, you supposed progressive Repub

San Fran, Chicago - New York has to get in there.

[ronnykmarshall]

25. West Hollywood is working on it too

I think they are waiting to see if SF gets stopped and then go for it here.

[Snow]

31. I thought WeHo was part of LA?

[Skittles]

4. OUTSTANDING

He explains his reasoning very eloquently.

[chiburb]

9. LOL!

That is the FIRST time Daley has been called "eloquent"!

(Not laughing at your post, just the thought of Daley speaking English that folks can "unnerstan".)

[Skittles]

16. perhaps it was scripted for him?

whatever, his reasoning would be hard to dispute without sounding like a bigot. :D

[Blue-Jay]

5. Wow. I didn't think Daley had it in him.

Way to go, Mayor!

[callous taoboy]

6. I've been e-mailing

these mayors and telling them thanks.

[tekriter]

7. Amazing how such a blast of common sense...

sticks out like a sore thumb these days.

I agree with Daley 100%. The quality of my marriage is dependent on two people - my wife and me. Nobody else.

:toast: for Mayor Daley.

p.s. I don't think his daddy would have agreed.

[diamond14]

35. yes ! this whole election will be about 'common sense'.....

we're looking for a 'common sense' President....

must give Daley the award for "Political Play of the Week"

[bushisanidiot]

8. OH MY GAWD! Does This Mean I Can Finally Marry My Partner

in my home state???!!!!

[Rich Hunt]

10. WTF??

Now that Daley is in so much hot water, did he just say 'screw it' and decide to take liberal stances?

Honestly, that guy cracks me up, but GOOD FOR HIM.

Just when I can't stand him anymore, he says something endearing.

[chiburb]

11. The sad thing is...

"Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), Chicago's first openly gay alderman, said his top legislative priority is to pass Senate Bill 101 prohibiting statewide discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing and employment.

"We're putting the cart before the horse. We have to get to that step first and then we move incrementally," Tunney said.

(on edit)

Of course what he doesn't say is that a Chicago Alderman has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Illinois Senate, that he DOES have some influence in Chicago, and that there's no reason that both steps can't be taken simultaneously!

[Walt Starr]

12. I used to despise Daley when I lived in the city

After this, though, I have a newfound respect for the man.

[Rich Hunt]

13. he even mentions the transgendered community!

good for him.

[veganwitch]

24. thats true!

[Beaker]

14. Daley should be behind bars.

He's still a corrupt POS of a mayor. He and his criminal cronies and their robbing of the taxpayers are one of the main reasons we're moving from the city.

[chiburb]

15. Agreed, but let him do this 1st.... n/t

.

[Beaker]

19. do what?

say that he sees nothing wrong with gay marriage?
he's already done it- lock him up.

[chiburb]

36. Sorry I'm late in replying, just got home...

Ya know Beaker, I've been thinking....

What if Daley KNOWS he's going down (Hello, this is Patrick Fitzgerald. I'm busy with Valerie Plame right now, but if this is Richie just hang in there.)and has decided to do a "Ryan"? You know, all roads point to prison, but let me leave my mark (besides the XXX in Meigs Field)?

I know it's a long shot, but just maybe he's for real on this...

[Cocoa]

20. I'm not impressed either

there's no risk for him to say this. He's always taken very good care of the North Side, so it's no surprise either.

[Rich Hunt]

22. that's true n/t

.

[xchrom]

17. bless his pea - pickin

little heart -- damn, he said that good.

[bearfan454]

18. Chicago always has been a cool place.

I love that city for vacations only. Austin Tx rules for me !

[jeffrey_X]

28. Except for all the hidden segregation and racism*

nm

[newyawker99]

37. Hi jeffrey_X!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[veganwitch]

23. i need to move back to chicago!!!!

i love dick!!!

[ronnykmarshall]

26. I do too!

:evilgrin:

[kayell]

27. WooHoo! Go for it Orr!

Can you imagine the amazing sight of civil rights protests breaking out across the land? Cities and towns of all sizes suddenly deciding to fight against repression. The RW may have over stepped by thinking that the gay marriage issue would destroy the dems. As more and more people see joyous couples and families like these every day on the news, how are the crazed wingers going to keep up the image of evil deranged gays waiting to convert your kids?

[chiburb]

29. Orr has been one of the good guys...

Throughout his career. But to translate his "Chicagoese" for you, he's saying here:
"Great, but I need political cover. No way am I doing this on my own".
Can't say that I blame him, though I wish he would.
Btw, I agree it would be a Bee-u-teeful thing to see what you described in your post. Wow...

[bearfan454]

39. nice pic

.

[chiburb]

30. Kick. n/t

.

[Snow]

32. So, are they going to start issuing licenses?

Wouldn't that be something? In the words of the Weavers, isn't this a time?

[saltpoint]

33. Good for Mayor Daley.

I've never associated him with the liberal wing of the party exactly, but by god this is refreshing.

Hurray for da mayor.

[diamond14]

34. "They love each other just as much as anyone else.''

Whew....BIG mayor Dick Daley smokes out "bush* the bigot", with a few simple words of human kindness....what a guy.....


bye bye shrub....your BIG campaign issue is all gone....

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[metisnation]

38. Chicago Dem!

Complain about this man's demeanor, but no one can argue that this man is not a pitbull for your rights.

:dem: