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* On Thursday afternoon, the Illinois Senate overwhelming confirmed Gov. Bruce Rauner’s choice to chair the Illinois State Board of Education, former Sen. James Meeks.
Almost immediately thereafter, gay rights group Equality Illinois denounced the governor for nominating Meeks. That condemnation was shortly followed by an equally harsh rebuke by a large coalition of Chicago-area community groups, many with no direct connection to gay rights issues.
* On Friday, Gov. Rauner met with Equality Illinois and other groups and agreed to take some action and hire another staffer…
In the first of its kind meeting with LGBT leaders, Gov. Bruce Rauner today committed his administration to strict enforcement of non-discrimination laws and suggested an openness to new initiatives to protect Illinoisans who experience unequal treatment. […]
During the discussion in the James R. Thompson Center, Gov. Rauner told the participants his office will issue a directive to all state officials and agencies to strictly enforce Illinois non-discrimination and anti-bullying laws, including as they apply to protect LGBT individuals. This directive is a first for Illinois.
The Governor’s office has also issued a second directive to the Illinois Department of Human Rights to conduct a survey on patterns of discrimination and unequal treatment faced by Illinoisans and to provide actionable recommendations to the Governor by January 31, 2016. […]
In addition, the governor will appoint a liaison to the state’s LGBT community providing an open and ongoing line of communication.
* Also, on Friday afternoon…
Four years ago, controversial Rev. James Meeks skewered mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel, saying he wasn’t out for the best interests of black voters.
“Ask any African-American leaders about that. They will tell you he had a role in keeping African-Americans out of the White House. All of the sudden, he sails into town, into African-American communities with all of this great stuff he’s going to do for us,” Meeks said during a talk show on WVON-AM 1690 at the time. “Your proof is in your track record. If he’s never done anything for African-Americans, wake up people. What would make us think he’s going to sail into town and start doing things for us now?”
But on Friday, Meeks stood side by side with Emanuel, endorsing him and saying he’s made a difference in black communities.
“You cannot turn a city like Chicago around in four years, it takes longer,” Meeks said in a resounding speech. “We appreciate the job that the mayor has been doing and we believe that he deserves four more years to continue his work.”
* So, to sum up, Meeks gets his job on Thursday, and the next day Rahm gets his Meeks endorsement and Rauner calms the anger of gay activists and makes what is apparently a patronage pledge.
Maybe this isn’t all connected, but if it is, then it was very well done. Also, if it was coordinated, then Gov. Rauner is playing a more active role in Rahm’s campaign than he has admitted.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:45 am
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…crawling under my space blanket. Leave the cell phone in the mailbox.
Comment by Excessively Rabid Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:48 am
It is also possible that an appointed liaison could be an existing state employee or someone working for an outside organization serving on a volunteer basis.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:50 am
What a way to shake up Springfield Bruce!
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:53 am
That’s not a tin foil hat. Just good eyeglasses.
Note to PR person: A governor meeting with LGBT activists and leaders in Illinois, is not “a first of its kind.” No need to hero it up. It stands on its own as a good thing.
Comment by walker Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:53 am
“Everybody who has ever worked for a corporation knows that corporations conspire all the time. Politicians conspire all the time. Pot-dealers conspire not to get caught by the narcs. The world is full of conspiracies. Conspiracy is natural primate behavior.” — Robert Anton Wilson (1932–2007).
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:53 am
**That condemnation was shortly followed by an equally harsh rebuke by a large coalition of Chicago-area community groups, many with no direct connection to gay rights issues.**
Not quite sure what you mean. The Safe Schools Alliance is an organization that explicitly is organized around LGBTQ youth issues:
“The mission of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (the Alliance) is to promote safety, support and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, in Illinois schools and communities, through advocacy, education, youth organizing and research.”
Comment by AlabamaShake Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:58 am
===The Safe Schools Alliance===
Scroll down for the complete list.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 11:59 am
Obviously Rahm is Rauner’s candidate. Heck, we know that from his near-endorsement, when he said the city needs someone with financial expertise. All of this stuff is just further evidence.
The puzzler is why Chuy hasn’t been more forceful in painting Rahm as Rauner’s guy. If he could successfully do that, I think it would turn a lot of city voters away from Rahm.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 12:23 pm
There is no shortage of Republicans in Chicago and the Mayors needs their support. Yes the D’s outnumber them but they vote,
Comment by Annon3 Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 12:41 pm
“…crawling under my space blanket. Leave the cell phone in the mailbox.”
Maybe Saul is gonna be their bagman.
Comment by AJ_yooper Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 1:43 pm
Nothin’ sez end the corrupt backroom bargains better than a closed door meeting, patronage deal and endorsement by anti-gay ex-senator.
very funny stuff.
Comment by anonin' Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 1:59 pm
Really? All those public denouncements of Rauner’s draconian budget were just staged events and not a genuine criticism of this Governor’s priorities…GASP!!!
Comment by Obamas Puppy Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 2:54 pm
Meeks is one of those pastors who’s all about the money. Hardly unique, in history.
Remember when Eden Martin set him up with Rauner? Meeks didn’t know who Rauner was, but got way interested when he found out he spread the money around.
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Mar 23, 15 @ 3:06 pm