* After the Supreme Court’s DOMA ruling, state Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) said she was much more inclined to vote for the gay marriage bill. No more…
But the South Side lawmaker made a clear retreat from that stance Monday, the day a new automated phone call campaign against the issue was announced. The calls into several minority-majority House districts feature the voice of the Rev. James Meeks, pastor of Salem Baptist Church and a former South Side state senator opposed to same-sex marriage.
“My statement [late last month] was that we really don’t want to deny certain people their rights to Social Security or pension benefits because some states have marriage equality and others do not. However, I, Monique Davis, have no intention of voting for the bill,” she told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“I really wish them the very best,” she said, referring to advocates for the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. “They have 70 people they can go to and drum up some more votes.”
* She’s not the only one being targeted by the new round of robocalls…
Other legislators being targeted in the new wave of phone calls are Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood), Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-Chicago), Rep. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago), Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan), Rep. Esther Golar (D-Chicago) and Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria), said Sean Howard, a spokesman for the African American Clergy Coalition.
Howard said the 60-second phone call featuring Meeks cost “multiple thousands of dollars” and was underwritten by Family PAC, a conservative Republican political-action committee led by activist Paul Caprio.
* Meanwhile, pro gay marriage forces are running ads on black-oriented radio stations featuring President and Mrs. Obama. Listen…
* Script…
VO1: You know what? It’s not fair that in some states, gay couples can get married and have all the rights that go along with it – but not in Illinois.
VO2: Not in Illinois? That’s not fair.
VO1: Nope. And that means gay couples don’t get treated equally when it comes to taxes, Social Security, or Medicare. Listen to what President Obama had to say about it:
President Barack Obama: Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. For if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
VO2: So our President’s out there for marriage equality?
VO1: And Michelle, too. Here’s what she said:
First Lady Michelle Obama: In a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn’t right. So, it’s as simple as that.
Announcer: Join President and Mrs. Obama and folks across our community who believe in fairness. Tell your legislators to pass the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.
Paid for by Illinois Unites for Marriage.
