29 Comments - ChicagoR - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:07 am: I’m really surprised that such a young politician with an eye on his future just doesn’t see where history is going on this issue. He needs to evolve as the country has, and if he were smart, he’d get out in front of it. - circularfiringsquad - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:16 am: Surprised no noticed stumbles on farm bill or the highway bill…..stuff that means something - WazUp - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:18 am: ChicagoRa- The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history. - Endangered Moderate Species - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:25 am: The more media attention Schock receives, the more he stumbles. He no longer seems to be a viable gubernatorial candidate. His eventual answer was fine, but his lack of preparedness is a concern. - Adam Smith - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:28 am: Huh??? A major issue across the spectrum and he reacts like he was asked about life on Mars. He should be better prepared to handle questions like this. Hone your skills for a few years serving in Congress and get some much needed life experience. Great talent and a bright future. Just not quite yet. - B2Chicago - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:31 am: His lack of preparedness? He’s had more than 10 years in the public eye to form a coherent response. The one that appears in that video is completely disingenuous. Did you see at the end where he tried to trail off with “I haven’t given it…” much thought, presumably? Then he’s cut off. It would have been nice to see him dishonestly answer it, yet again. His response is an embarrassment to his generation of voters and those that have worked for him closely who have pushed for him both in Peoria, into the Statehouse, and into Congress. I spent hours as a teenager pushing his write-in campaign onto the school board when he was just 19 years of age. I’m embarrassed for him based on that answer for a host of reasons. - David Ormsby - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:33 am: –His eventual answer was fine, but his lack of preparedness is a concern.– Schock will likely refine his delivery. Undoubtedly, he’ll get the same sex marriage question again. As will all the GOP candidates. - WazUp - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:38 am: Jason Plummer? I knew Jason Plummer he was a friend of mine and believe me your no.. - BucktownDem - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:57 am: So the guy wants to be Gov. but didn’t have a ready opinion on one of the most high profile bills in the statehouse? He remembers that he’s running in a Democratic state with public opinion behind the marriage push (and only to get stronger in the next two years), right? What a paper tiger. - MrJM - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 10:57 am: Somewhere, Sarah Palin is shouting, “Great job, Aaron!” – MrJM - wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:02 am: Congress is a lot easier than running for governor. You can pick your fights in Congress and duck anything you don’t want to deal with. - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:29 am: I suspect that if he were elected Gov, he would sign a gay marriage bill into law, and he knows it. My parsing: #1 His “faith values” presumably put him at odds with gay marriage. However… #2 “We are a reflection of who we represent” indicates he opposes it now, but would change if he represented the whole state as governor #3 Laws are changing “because peoples views and society have changed” indicates that he thinks this will happen because society is moving in that direction. He does not give an actual position on the bill because he needs conservative primary voters to get him through to the general. Once he is the nominee, he is likely to come out in support of gay marriage with the explanation that as the governor of the whole state and the views of the emerging young voter base need to be respected. - Ruby - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:59 am: To understand Aaron Schock’s views on gay marriage, you need to understand his religious background and his constituency in downstate Peoria. Aaron Schock is a conservative Baptist who was raised in the Apostolic Christian Church. The people in these churches traditionally oppose gay marriage (also adultery and gambling) and do not change their religious principles to match the majority view. Many of Aaron Schock’s constituents in the Peoria area are likely to agree with him on gay marriage. Just as we can’t all have the same views on religion, there are some issues about which most of us will just agree to disagree. Gay marriage may be one of those issues. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:59 am: Gay marriage? That Titanic has done sailed, Schock and others who opposed it need to just wave from the dock and wish it all the best. - Victor Kingston - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:03 pm: Oof. That was painful. - wordslinger - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:14 pm: Lakefront Lib, is your handle ironic? Why join the Jack Roeser’s of the world? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:24 pm: - Lakefront Lib - , lol, “Lib” and a veiled post. Really? - B2Chicago - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 12:30 pm: @Ruby: Quote: To understand Aaron Schock’s views on gay marriage, you need to understand his religious background and his constituency in downstate Peoria. Aaron Schock is a conservative Baptist who was raised in the Apostolic Christian Church. The people in these churches traditionally oppose gay marriage (also adultery and gambling) and do not change their religious principles to match the majority view. I think before a constituent goes through the mental gymnastics required to understand Aaron’s views on the topic, I think Aaron needs to understand Aaron’s views on the topic. - ChicagoR - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 1:15 pm: “Just as we can’t all have the same views on religion, there are some issues about which most of us will just agree to disagree. Gay marriage may be one of those issues.” You don’t have to “agree” with gay marriage to understand that the government shouldn’t be in the business of discriminating. Don’t get “gay married” if you don’t want to, but don’t impose your religion with the force of law on the rest of us. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 1:19 pm: Schock is going to need more topless photos to get beyond this issue. - the Patriot - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 1:44 pm: I hope this is a bad joke and he is not going to run for Governor. The republican party looks like a horse with a broken leg limping around the track. Someone please put us out of our misery. Does anyone know how to decertify a party? - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 1:51 pm: Seriously Schocking. It did not seem possible, but Aaron’s hot start continues. At this rate, he may drop out of the race before he even declares. - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:00 pm: @FakeAaronSchock: “But how was I supposed to know they would ask me about gay marriage?” @FakeAaronSchock: “I am telling you, Rauner planted that question. That dude is one wascally wabbit.” @FakeAasonSchock: “Sheeeeeaaaarer! Fire up the Facebook!” Did not see that one coming, Congressman? - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:07 pm: Decertification occurs when a party’s governor is jailed - uh, no. When they have indicted felons serving in the Assembly - uh, no. When they end up with two family members serving in high political offices concurrently - uh, no… Nope. Can’t be done. - Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:09 pm: === Schock: GOP serious about possible government shutdown === Yeah, because that is who senior citizens and retirees will vote for to protect their pension or benefits; The 31 year old who just voted to shut down the federal government. - carbaby - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:27 pm: We were all raised with certain values and beliefs. That does not make those particular values and beliefs good ones. That response does not demonstrate much growth and critical thinking as one evolves over the course of their life. - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 2:40 pm: So, you are saying that if I don’t agree with you I was raised with poor values and beliefs, and haven’t demonstrated any growth or critical thinking as long as I have lived. But if I do agree with you on this issue, I’m freaking awesome, right? Gee, now how could anyone be insulted by that? Please include a list of current issues along with the good values and beliefs, or evolutionary growth necessary to agree with you so I can be a genius too, OK? - Amalia - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 4:51 pm: my upbringing, my district, views are changing. ok, you still have not told us what you think. so what do YOU think? - VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 31, 13 @ 11:43 pm: Bon Voyage! Have a nice trip! (See how that was done, Congressman Schock?) Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.