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* This didn’t get much coverage today. From Progress Illinois…
Illinois Lt. Gov. and Democratic candidate for state comptroller Sheila Simon performed a same-sex marriage ceremony Thursday afternoon in Springfield. […]
“The party that fought tooth and nail against same-sex marriage is at the state fair celebrating their intolerance,” said Simon’s campaign manager Dave Mellet in a press release. “Meanwhile, Sheila Simon is on the capitol steps, helping two men celebrate a wedding that Republicans forced them to wait on for two decades.”
Simon’s campaign is calling out Republican incumbent Judy Baar Topinka for appearing at LGBT rallies, but failing to support her LGBT employees while serving as state Treasurer, when she “chose to be the only constitutional officer in Illinois to prohibit same-sex domestic partners from receiving health care coverage,” according to Simon’s campaign.
“It’s hypocritical for Judy Baar Topinka to stand up at GLBT rallies, and then raise money and rally with a man who has pledged to veto same-sex marriage,” Mellet added.
Tying her to Rauner is a good move. The treasurer’s office stuff is accurate, but a whole lot of people, including President Obama, have “evolved” on this topic since 2008. So, I’m not sure if it can get any traction, particularly since JBT worked so aggressively to pass gay marriage.
Your thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:26 am
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The Lt. Gov. has authority to officiate a wedding??
Comment by Just Observing Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:28 am
It is 2014, Ms. Simon.
What will you do for an encore?
Take a selfie?
You stay edgy!
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:29 am
She officiated a gay wedding and played the banjo on the same day!
Comment by Wally Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:30 am
What does being the state comptroller have to do with officiating a wedding - - same-sex wedding or straight wedding? This seems like a political stunt being done on the state taxpayer’s dime.
Comment by East Central Illinois Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:36 am
Fine. Fair hit. But should have been done in front of the Thompson center (or Center on Halsted, or elsewhere in Chicago media market)instead of the Capitol for maximum effect.
She needs way more earned media in Chicago/suburbs.
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:38 am
What? Did I miss something where this has been in the pipeline since 1994 and it had enough Democratic votes (since they controlled both houses during virtually that entire time if not all of it)?
Didn’t it end up needed Republican votes to pass?
Yeah the tie to Rauner stuff is not a bad idea, but I think this smacks of desperation. Then again performing weddings every Thursday at the Capitol could become a new Lt. Governor thing.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:43 am
Down 31 points in southern IL and Sheila’s political instincts tell her to officiate a gay wedding.
Comment by simon says Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:45 am
good hit, but bad execution.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:50 am
Well it’s good to see Sheila had a Plan B of minister come January, in case her Plan A (Returning to SIU) doesn’t pan out.
Comment by Anonymoiis Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:51 am
Desperate….. Like clinging to a liferaft with a hole in it in the middle of Lake Michigan in the Winter.
Comment by The Southern Chicagoan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:54 am
Hey the home made dress, the banjo perhaps her plan is to be the hipster candidate….
Comment by OneMan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:56 am
I read somewhere that she was certified online…was this one of those Caribbean voodoo minister certifications you can print off? Black magic against Judy may just be her only shot to win
Comment by Anonymoiis Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:00 pm
“Dear Sheila,
That it?
Signed,
Anyone left paying attention to you.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:02 pm
Paul must be spinning in his grave
Comment by OLK 73 Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:05 pm
Ya gotta try something. This is at least showing some effort.
Comment by horse w/ no name Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:05 pm
Of course it can get traction. The whole point of this is that Rauner can ally himself with JBT, the Iowa Supreme Court, Evan Wolfson, Larry Kramer, even the spirit of Harvey Milk, but it won’t alter what he’s said in fairly recent times on this issue. And how does this actually hurt him? It resonates because Rauner is unconvincing on almost any issue in terms of what he’d actually do as governor.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:07 pm
Kinda doubt the gay community is going to bolt from Judy. They love, LOVE her.
Comment by phocion Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:09 pm
No nice way to put it, Simon is a loser.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:28 pm
Angry Chicagoan
Nah, I think there is still a lot of collective guilt that we re-elected Rod instead of making her Governor.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:32 pm
To be blunt, Simon is done. This to me smacks of a desperate attempt to gain traction anywhere on any issue against an overwhelming popular canidate.
The best thing I can say about simon is that she is at best vanilla. She lacks outward charisma or charm; and there is nothing that disntinguishes her or makes her stand out.
I loved her father, but his name wont carry her. Unlike Lisa madigan, Simon has, in my oppinion, utterly failed to disntinguish herself as an individual leader.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:32 pm
==It resonates because Rauner is unconvincing on almost any issue in terms of what he’d actually do as governor.==
Which hardly makes him stand out from every other candidate for governor in the upcoming election. Anyway, it’s too bad Sheila isn’t running against him.
Comment by Anon. Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 12:33 pm
For the record, this event made local teevee here in Springfield. So there’s that. Don’t know if she made a new frock for the occasion.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 1:15 pm
Rauner is the one who lacks backbone on the issue, not JBT.
Twenty years ago, Dems lined up to pass DOMA. It took Smilin’ Joe Biden riffin’ stream of conscious to force Obama to clear his throat on the issue. I myself was indifferent for the longest time, to my shame.
No, I don’t think she stings the flower girl with this.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 1:16 pm
Sheila who?
JBT is far more competent than Sheila it’s not even close.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 1:30 pm
What else can you do when you have nothing else to run on?
Taking the minimum wage challenge, dressing staffers up in costumes, officiating a gay marriage and then using it to attack one of the most vocal ssm supporters among Illinois Republicans. Par for the course, whether we are talking about Quinn, Rauner or Simon.
@wordslinger sums it up best.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 2:11 pm
Nothing says romance quite like having your wedding day turned into a campaign stunt for Sheila Simon.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 2:16 pm
It will be such a relief to know that we could have a Comptroller next year who has actually performed a gay marriage at a state fair! That is such a vital part of her job as Comptroller!
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 2:19 pm
Attacking JBT who has long been on her own on this issue is laughable. How does here come the grooms (in this case)/bride song played on a banjo sound?
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 2:35 pm
This is a political stunt that is poorly timed, and poorly executed. Go home Sheila.
Comment by John A Logan Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 2:53 pm
==- simon says - Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 11:45 am:==
Southern Illinois does not decide statewide general elections, but whatever.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 2:55 pm
Just embarrassing. Should be in serious job search mode and avoiding further diminution of remaining credibility.
Comment by bored to zzzzz Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 3:07 pm
Pathetic and sad. I am genuinely starting to wonder about Sheila’s grasp on reality.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 3:19 pm
Sadly she will return to SIU and attempt to teach.Nowhere else to go.
Comment by ed Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 3:41 pm
Formerly Known - I agree that it was gimmicky, but from what I understand, it was a wedding cermemony for two good friends of hers who are also her political supporters. So I’m guessing they were probably just fine with it.
Comment by ??? Friday, Aug 15, 14 @ 4:23 pm