* As you may recall, Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) said this last week during debate on a bill sponsored by Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside)…
I don’t care whether you are offended or not by the fact that we are against this bill. The fact remains that you’re not gonna get anything in this country in the way of being treated equally if you’re gonna take offense at every damned thing that comes up.
* Rep. Reick rose today to offer this apology…
Ladies and gentleman, last Friday, to not put too fine a point on it, I made a total ass out of myself on this floor.
I’m rising today to make several apologies. The first one is to Rep. Welch because the bill that we were arguing should have been the focus of what our conversation was. I allowed it to become secondary to the kind of nonsense that I was a participant in. And to him, who deserved a better conversation on this bill, which frankly I did not support, he didn’t get it. And it was my fault. And I apologize for that. To the members of the rest of the House here and anyone who heard it, I also offer an apology.
As I said earlier on our first day of session this past year, we’re a diverse state. We’re a huge state. We all want to end up in the same place, but we have many ways of getting there. And the challenge we have is making sure that we don’t let the differences that separate us… keep us from doing that.
We’re gonna be in for a hard next two months, folks. And I, for one, regret that I allowed this body to become rancorous and saying the things that I said. They were not meant personally. My wife calls this ‘the invocation of my inner Reynolds.’ And if any of you know know what that means, you know it’s a dark place.
I hope that in the next two months I can keep that inner Reynolds at bay while appealing to the higher angels of my nature and ask that we all do the same.
Therefore, I stand and offer my sincere apology. I’m not going to say I’m apologizing to those who were offended because if you weren’t offended, you’ve got a problem. I was offensive to everybody, including myself, and I’m sorry. Thank you.
I have no idea what an “inner Reynolds” is, but, otherwise, that was one outstanding apology.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:07 pm:
Thats better.
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
I don’t care for him or his positions, but that took guts and swallowing a lot pride.
- A guy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
Perhaps Rep. Kifowit will understand that this is what a full, unabashed apology looks like.
More of this and less of what causes the need for it.
- Almost the weekend - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:11 pm:
Excellent apology
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
Very well stated apology.
A model for others, if the need rises.
- my thoughts - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:15 pm:
I recently asked Chris Welch on his State Representative Facebook account why his recent corporate board bill did not make a distinction for Hispanics in Illinois and I was blocked. Perhaps Welch cannot handle any criticism.
- King Louis XVI - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:16 pm:
Well done, Rep.Reick. Well done.
- G'Kar - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:19 pm:
Maybe Illinois is a counter-rotating State?
“The critical inner Reynolds number Re ic as a function of Re z in the counter-rotating state while ε = 0.5. (a) τ 0 = 50. (b) τ 0 = 300.”
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
===Re ic===
Pretty close to Reick.
- Han's Solo Cup - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
I’m pretty sure Reynolds is a reference to Ryan Reynolds in “Deadpool”. His character has zero tact and says tasteless and offensive things constantly.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:27 pm:
=I’m not going to say I’m apologizing to those who were offended because if you weren’t offended, you’ve got a problem.=
Now that’s what I call an apology (banned punctuation). Good for him.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:28 pm:
–“The critical inner Reynolds number Re ic as a function of Re z in the counter-rotating state while ε = 0.5. (a) τ 0 = 50. (b) τ 0 = 300.”–
Now I get it. His flux capacitor was meshuggah.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:29 pm:
Best I can come up with is a reference to a guy who developed some property in Brooklyn.
It could also be a reference to Phantom Thread, a movie that I did not see.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:29 pm:
I second your emotion, JoanP.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:35 pm:
Impressive and genuine it seems.
I’m surprisingly bolstered by this.
If this can happen then perhaps there is a pathway out of the mess we’re in.
- allknowingmasterofraccoodom - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
Wow, that is a real apology. I have clipped it and saved it in case I am lost for words the next time I need to apologize. And I don’t even like the guy.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
He showed class today. Admitting when we are wrong isn’t easy, but it is something all of us partisans should do on occasion.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:37 pm:
I want to echo folks praise for his apology. He owned what he did and did not add a bunch of qualifications and caveats. I don’t know why it is so hard for people to do that. Good on him.
- Paddyrollingstone - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:39 pm:
A fantastic apology. Apologizing is not a sign of weakness but is rather a sign of strength, as is its twin mercy.
The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes;
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
- Hamilton - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:40 pm:
Going to the vulnerability of his wife and an unknown reference makes this apology more authentic to me. I’m not sure what he is talking about specifically, but I feel it more.
I too find it hopeful.
- Shamrockery - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:53 pm:
It takes a big person to make a real apology. I love the way he ended it.
- thunderspirit - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:58 pm:
That’s a checklist example on how to give an apology.
I hope that I can have a fraction of that grace when I need to own up to my own mistakes.
- FormerParatrooper - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 1:59 pm:
That took a lot of self awareness and intestinal fortitude. Now if we could all stop to think before we allow our mouths to go full bore, we could probably get a few things done.
- Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 2:07 pm:
Spectacularly good apology.
- illini - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 2:47 pm:
Can anyone in the special group on this page of concerned citizens even come close to remembering an more sincere statement from a member of the GA acknowledging that he lacked tack in responding?
Political alliances and issues aside - well done.
I respect that in any elected official.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 2:49 pm:
An apology when one pooches, and trying not to replay the mistake, is all we can and should ask for.
Well done Rep. Steve Reick.
Other need to learn this lesson.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 2:58 pm:
I was first to comment on Rich’s post yesterday regarding Rep. Reick’s Version of the “You People” speech, so let me say first that I believe his apology is sincere and I accept it.
I would not go so far as to say it was spectacular, excellent, etc. We have seen so many failed apologies in politics that an okay apology seems brilliant.
Bad apologies are vague, good apologies are specific. Saying his remarks strayed from the bill seems to miss the point. Saying his remarks were offensive is just another way of saying he owes an apology. Nowhere in his remarks does he own up to ^why^ his remarks are offensive.
The fact Reick didn’t support the bill “frankly” is an irrelevant excuse. The fact he did not mean his remarks personally is another irrelevant excuse. In the end, he offers no amends, other than to not do it again. Then he spreads the blame a bit by calling on the rest of the General Assembly to “appeal to the higher angels”.
I hope that Rep. Reick made a personal apology to Rep. Welch and Rep. Davis that acknowledged the racist nature of his comments, and that he will commit himself personally to trying to find common ground with the Black Caucus members on some issues.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:02 pm:
@ Illini-
Yes. See Speaker Madigan’s apology for sexual harrassment on his watch.
Again, good words are a good start, I give the representative credit for his sincerity. Let’s see some follow through.
- crazybleedingheart - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 3:24 pm:
==Nowhere in his remarks does he own up to ^why^ his remarks are offensive.==
Exactly. And if the “Reynolds” bit is a Deapool reference it’s not a good sign that he has a clue.
- Actual Red - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:00 pm:
I don’t know, maybe I’m too cynical, but I’m not that impressed. I agree with Thomas Paine - pretty short on specifics, and makes no mention of the underlying implications of his comments in the first place. Certainly better than the many politicians who never even attempt to apologize, but somehow us heaping praise on someone for doing what should be standard just feels a little depressing.
- Uncle Ernie - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:04 pm:
A good and honest apology, that is enough said. Appreciate it and move on. That is the way that apologies should work.
- Left Leaner - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 4:10 pm:
Agree or disagree with him, an apology like that takes character. Lots of our politicians could use more of that. Hat tip, Representative Reick.
- Minnie Pearl Jam - Tuesday, Apr 2, 19 @ 6:39 pm:
Agreed - classy and classic apology.
And let’s keep his words close by as we move into the later days of this spring session and tempers heat up again .