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* Sunday…
We had an incredible showing from our LGBTQ community supporters at our event in North Halsted. With attacks against the community at a record high, I will make sure Chicago is always a safe haven for our LGBTQ friends and neighbors. pic.twitter.com/mo5ljAx1JU
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) March 26, 2023
* Last week…
Thank you so much to Rikki Jones and the Cook County Democratic Women for supporting our campaign today. As Mayor I will prioritize women’s health and safety like never before, and you can read how here: https://t.co/ceRHO8dzqR pic.twitter.com/xTGU3iYkxI
— Paul Vallas (@PaulVallas) March 23, 2023
The Cook County Democratic Women’s Organization also endorsed Vallas’ mayoral bid in 2019, so he’s obviously familiar with the group.
* Sherman, please set the Wayback Machine to 2013…
Rikki Jones, president of a group called the Cook County Democratic Women, is disseminating “an open letter to Lisa Madigan” calling it “very disrespectful to say the least” to equate marriage equality with civil rights.
“As a Christian who believes in the Bible, I feel what you are doing is taking my rights as a Christian and sacrificing them for the gay and lesbian community. How could you?” the letter said. It continues with references to Biblical condemnations of homosexuality.
The letter goes on to say allowing marriage equality violates the Constitution because “you have no business insinuating yourself in the church’s business.
“You have gotten out of your lane and got in God’s lane! Have you lost your mind? Yours arms are too short to box with God!”
* From Equality Illinois CEO Brian C. Johnson…
Paul Vallas has shown a consistent pattern of building a coalition with some of the most strident anti-LGBTQ+ voices in his effort to become mayor of Chicago. When he thinks it will serve his political aims, he is fine associating with people who deny us our dignity. This leaves us wondering: if Paul Vallas were elected mayor, would he appoint officials to the Department of Public Health who have a track record of opposing gender-affirming care? Would he appoint people to the Board of Education with a track record of supporting “don’t say gay and trans” efforts? Would he appoint a police superintendent with a track record of anti-LGBTQ+ views? Paul Vallas is wrong for LGBTQ+ people and wrong for Chicago.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 10:34 am
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This is nuts. I’ve tried to rationalize PV’s flirting with crazy right wingers by ascribing it to political opportunism. But there is so much of it going on that I’m starting to think he may be a “true believer.”
As Rich said, I don’t envy Chicago voters.
Comment by WestBurbs Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 10:39 am
Here’s the sitch.
The past year(s) before all this race transpired, including recent things like the hanging out with Proft, and the odd relationship dynamic with the FOP Prez, Vallas is a person trying to build a coalition where a prong is some unsavory folks in terms of the politics practiced, and those awful constituencies attached.
Those real oddities make all the other things seem like calculated manipulation as opposed to organic cooperation in a coalition.
There is no “real” Paul Vallas” anymore.
The product that is Paul Vallas is designed, produced, and carries out this campaign is designed to keep these three groups happy…
* “Daley” folks harkening to the 1990s
* The “LaSalle Street” folks, banking on 1990’s
* AND the racist thinkers, conspiracy theorists & insurrection apologists
… without being too controversial to exclude any of them from supporting him (Vallas)
Embracing the worst elements is a feature, not a “happenstance bug”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 10:48 am
Brian Johnson is short sighted. He doesn’t represent me. We have a city to save and Lakeview isn’t exactly safe. All Brian Johnson can think about is outré things like “affirming gender care”.
Those are not central to gay dignity or interests.
Comment by Bad Gay Avitch Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 10:50 am
What OW said. Vallas appears to have no principles (except privatizing schools).
Comment by Keyrock Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 10:52 am
I’m pretty sure both candidates are saying anything and everything, true or not, in order to get elected. Johnson is no better than Vallas.
Comment by Chicago Voter Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:00 am
=== Johnson is no better than Vallas.===
Chicago has awful choices. Anyone who isn’t in that camp isn’t looking at these candidates as how they are hidden.
I merely find it disingenuous and dishonest that some Democrats in the camp that loudly and purposely were opposed to Bailey, Proft, Ives… can easily gloss over Vallas’ bona fides with all of them and their beliefs Vallas echoed.
Here I had to hear about the GOP needing to eradicate Bailey types… now…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:04 am
== Chicago has awful choices. Anyone who isn’t in that camp isn’t looking at these candidates as how they are hidden. ==
Hear hear. I’ve gone back and forth on both of them, and probably won’t decide who I am voting for until election day. I just can’t get with anyone who is a true believer that either of these candidates will be transformative or particularly effective mayors.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:16 am
Going to assume the Cook County Democratic Women are a bigoted group unless they remove that homophobe from their leadership. Keep your antiquated hate out of our government, please.
Comment by Too cute by half Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:18 am
Following up to say that the institution of marriage predates Christianity by several millennia. We have records of marriage dating back to 2350 BC.
So you can’t pretend to have a monopoly on it, and you certainly shouldn’t be using government to enforce one religion’s views on the general populace. Your religion can tell YOU what to do, but it cannot tell US what to do.
Comment by Too cute by half Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:21 am
=== Going to assume===
You’re adorable
You ask and think wrongly to any and all of this with assumptions like that.
The question is…
… with folks like the FOP Prez, Proft, Ives, the AWAKE folks… all these folks that Vallas won’t denounce that *y’all* denounced last November… what exactly are you supporting in Vallas that all those folks see too?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:21 am
Bad Gay Avitch
Who is Brian Johnson?
Comment by very old soil Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:22 am
==All Brian Johnson can think about is outré things like “affirming gender care”.==
He literally mentions two other things, but go off, I guess.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:23 am
=== unless they remove that homophobe from their leadership. Keep your antiquated hate out of our government, please.===
Here’s why responded, as I will follow up.
The question on the table isn’t the open bigotry or hate even openly seen or read.
The question remains… with folks like the FOP Prez, Proft, Ives, the AWAKE folks… all these folks that Vallas won’t denounce that *y’all* denounced last November… what exactly are you supporting in Vallas that all those folks see too?
What is the undercurrent, and “why now”
With respect. Good on you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:25 am
=what exactly are you supporting in Vallas=
In my case, the lesser of two evils and that’s it. I hope, and would be willing to bet, the next mayor of Chicago will be a one-term mayor. But, a lot of damage can be done in four years.
Comment by Chicago Voter Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:33 am
Johnson wasn’t my first choice in 2023, but Vallas was always my last choice. Paul can say whatever he wants during campaign season, but for the entire rest of his non-campaigning time everything he says or does is a perfect circle venn diagram with right wingers.
I can’t in good conscience vote for a right winger in the 21st century. Brandon Johnson may end up being a complete failure of a mayor, but he isn’t hosting Dan Proft’s show for him, or hanging around with Awake IL, or getting endorsed by Charlie Kirk.
Comment by Homebody Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:35 am
“Who is Brian Johnson?”
AC/DC lead singer. Not only short sighted, but nearly deaf too…
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:36 am
-Your religion can tell YOU what to do, but it cannot tell US what to do.-
Should muslims be allowed to practice polygamy in the United States?
Comment by Steve Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:39 am
==AC/DC lead singer==
I mean, Money Talks indeed!
Comment by The Truth Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:40 am
=== be allowed to===
Get a bill, pass it thru Congress, get it signed.
As of this typing, the legal aspect that your dorm room ask has… it’s been “asked and answered” by the courts, as the courts and legislative action has been enacted in other marital actions, including biracial marriage.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:41 am
This reeks of desperation, so in 2014 when he ran with Quinn and was endorsed by Equality it was OK, but now it’s not. The far right and far left have moved them goal posts so many times Jesus nor Bernie Sanders would even qualify for their past statements.
I’d love for Brandon Johnson and his supporters where they stand on the Vallas MAGA 2024 yard signs that are popping up in the southwest side without any information on who paid for them.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:51 am
===so in 2014===
You didn’t notice anything he’s done since then?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:52 am
=== 2014===
Love of Pete, 9 years…
Dan Proft was merely a two-bit grifter then… Amy Jacobson… in 2014, was that her Mancow, Roe Conn or John Howell days?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 11:56 am
Bad Guy- how exactly are you defining outre? Unusual or startling? You can speak for your own gay dignity and interests, as you clearly aren’t interested in trans and non-binary people or their care. Last I checked Equality Illinois is an LGBTQ organization - supporting gender affirming care, opposing ‘don’t say gay’ efforts, et al, are relevant - so Brian is doing his job, nothing unusual or startling about it.
Comment by Loyal Virus Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:08 pm
===Democrats in the camp that loudly and purposely were opposed to Bailey, Proft, Ives… can easily gloss over Vallas’ bona fides with all of them and their beliefs Vallas echoed===
It’s the dog whistles.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:15 pm
(ignore my last comment, I see now that he reposted it)
Comment by Patrick Gilsenan Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:17 pm
The choice is: an honest candidate I don’t always agree with- who sometimes makes my eyes roll, and a consistent, proven liar supported by the far right. Does that remind anyone else of 2016? For me- it is not a hard call.
Comment by West Sider Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:18 pm
Johnson wasn’t my first choice in 2023, but Vallas was always my last choice.===
This. He has disqualified himself. Has Johnson? Not to the same extent. Therefore…the lesser of two evils.
Comment by Jibba Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:18 pm
For me the election breakdowns to Johnson’s collaborate approach to find common sense solutions to move Chicago forward vs. Vallas’ my way or the highway approach to maintain the failed status quo.
Comment by Lakeview Lou Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:20 pm
I have much more faith in Vallas to be his own man in office than Johnson. Johnson helped organize the walkouts and threatened strikes by CTU to keep schools closed well into 2021 and even 2022, after local Catholic schools and public schools around the country had re-opened, just to try to hurt the mayor. He hurt kids for his own political clout. I don’t buy his “for everyone” pitch for a minute.
Comment by Forever906 Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:24 pm
I have two people in my life in which I have said “As a rule, support and vote for the opposite person they are pushing.”
One is vehemently pro-Vallas, the other is vehemently pro-Johnson.
I suspect many are in my position.
Comment by JP Altgeld Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:30 pm
===an honest candidate===
I’m not so sure about that one. Defunding the police was never his goal?
Comment by Rogo Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:35 pm
===the lesser of two evils and that’s it===
I hope you didn’t support Pritzker over Bailey with that same rationale…
Pritzker is less evil than Bailey who is less evil than Johnson?
The Chicago choices are awful, that much is true.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:49 pm
===to keep schools closed well into 2021 and even 2022, after local Catholic schools and public schools around the country had re-opened, just to try to hurt the mayor. He hurt kids for his own political clout.===
Unions fighting for their health, safety, and welfare during a pandemic is exactly why unions were created… to protect members. Otherwise why even organize to collectively bargain for rights?
If your take is on or about Covid related items, odds are Bailey’s take during the pandemic is where you sat.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:53 pm
== Unions fighting for their health, safety, and welfare during a pandemic is exactly why unions were created… to protect members… ==
I agree, and I have no problem with unions fighting for their members. I also don’t think Johnson is his own man. I think he is running to help CTU, not the city. If he wants to do that, he should stay on the CTU payroll.
Comment by Forever906 Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 12:56 pm
@ very old soil -
He’s the Equality Illinois CEO. It says so in the post.
Comment by ??? Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 1:16 pm
===I agree, and I have no problem with unions fighting for their members.===
Yes you do. I showed you where, lol
Your anti-union thought then you support a union’s right to protect members?
Take a nap, regroup, actually reconcile your thoughts.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 1:17 pm
I guess Jeff Tweedy finally figured out Rahm would not have given him one minute of his time or even the time of day had Jeff & Wilco’s fame not been of use to him at the moment.
Comment by Midwesterner Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 1:40 pm
We are still facing the effects of the worst pandemic of our lifetimes. We desperately need to keep the vax rate up to prevent slipping backwards or a more virulent strain developing.
Paul Vallas amplified covid and vaccination disinformation in the worst of times. He continues to embrace and praise vax deniers. I don’t want him making the decisions that could sicken or kill my family.
There are many other issues with which I disagree with him, or am appalled by him, but those are cultural or political issues of the day.
Public health is not one of those issues.Public health is not something to pander or be cute about. Public health is a fact based matter of life and death.
I cannot vote for Vallas.
Comment by northsider (the original) Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 2:03 pm
Paul Vallas’ campaign is illustrative of the fact that there are a lot of voters, office holders, and public officials that are just generally okay with racism and bigotry as long as it is polite or unspoken. The kind of people that don’t mind systemic inequity so long as no one reminds them of how that condition is perpetuated.
The Darren Baileys of the world do us all a service by being direct about it. Paul Vallas does us a disservice by simply associating himself with other outspoken racists and or bigots and refusing to acknowledge or condemn the views and statements of those he’s associated with.
He’s hoping for support from those camps by being in the room or being an invited speaker to their event where he flatters the organizers and avoiding anything direct and unseemly so that public officials and leaders do not have to denounce him for something he did specifically.
He has flirted with the extreme right wing in a fashion that gives him deniability and gives the people throwing their might behind them deniability too.
No one was required to endorse Vallas, but it does show where their actual long term interests are. If the Dick Durbins of the world spent any time dwelling on this decision I hope that they didn’t make it past the “that other guy said defund the police” because a substantive consideration would have resulted in a decision to endorse no one.
United States Senator Dick Durbin gains no benefit from guessing or throwing his endorsement behind a candidate for mayor — and as the sunsets on his career it is an odd choice for him to settle for where ever Paul Vallas stopped bending towards justice on the moral arc of the universe.
OW’s analysis here is spot on.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 2:13 pm
Another 3 mailers arrived today. Two from Brandon Johnson with pictures of Vallas and no Brandon Johnson.
One from Vallas with a picture and the smiling face of Tom Tunney.
At least the vote by mail ballot finally arrived.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 2:20 pm
===Should muslims be allowed to practice polygamy in the United States?===
It’s odd to see this statement submitted as if this is somehow a view that isn’t worth revisiting from time to time. The statutes that make polygamy illegal and bar cohabitation were drafted a time when polyamory was not as openly discussed or practiced. It also was discussed at a time when bisexuality and all of those other preferences were not discussed or acknowledge publicly.
Plural marriage between consenting adults entered into without coercion doesn’t actually seem like that horrific of a public policy position once you take away the religious trappings. Besides, with the way housing costs are increasing, plural marriage is the only way a lot of Americans families would be able to own a house.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 2:21 pm
==Unions fighting for their health, safety, and welfare during a pandemic is exactly why unions were created==
I think many CPS parents began to suspect that the unions agenda was no longer about teachers or students but rather a larger political agenda and they were collateral damage.
Comment by Bad Choices Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 2:25 pm
There is a lot at stake in who becomes the next Mayor of Chicago. It is the economic engine of the state. It has a very diverse population with many competing interests. It will take leadership in bringing them altogether. Then we will face the issue of managing the budget, alderpersons, and taxes. I hope whoever gets in there can manage it. If it turns into a business exit and crime spike. It will impact everyone. It is not, let me learn on the job how to manage people. We don’t have $ years to lose.
Comment by tinman Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 2:39 pm
=== It is not, let me learn on the job how to manage people.===
I must have missed where Paul Vallas has been the mayor of a major metropolitan before. Or, are you suggesting that a series of brief tenures in different educational systems as an administrator is somehow a superb qualification to be the mayor of a city?
The dude privatized and left. The dude reallocated pension funds and left. It’s real easy to implement a reform, call it a success, and leave. Are Chicago Public Schools better right now for what he did while he was the CEO?
Has not funding that pension had any long term negative consequences?
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 2:56 pm
When the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage they should have also added that everyone gets “Domestic Partnership/Civil Union” license.
Then if you choose to live a “xtian” lifestyle and want your marriage blessed by a deity your free to go to your lifestyle choice center (church?) and have that done there without any gubbamint interference.
Comment by Jerry Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 3:10 pm
If you paint a picture with all the regular types who are endorsing Vallas you will see the past. They all know how to navigate a City Hall with Vallas in it because it is all the Daley/Rahm types. They know where their piece will be and what they can get out of the administration. they don’t see that with Brandon because of the unknown…which is ironic since his platform is pretty detailed. and because they only see the CTU people and not the progressives endorsing him. my sense is that the old regulars are getting very nervous because all the polls show a tightening in the race. Someone called Durbin and said help. My sense also is that people lie to pollsters, they don’t want to be seen as racist when in fact they are. Jumping in makes Durbin feel like a hero. It’s very sad.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 3:13 pm
I’ll be voting for the Democratic candidate for Mayor, not the Closeted Republican Candidate.
Comment by Jerry Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 3:21 pm
===Jumping in makes Durbin feel like a hero===
He could also be paving the way for his ally Robin Kelly to endorse.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 3:22 pm
Vallas’ association with hard line right wing conservative Republicans suggests to me he’s no Democrat. You elect Vallas, you will be electing a Republican mayor of Chicago, absolutely.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Mar 27, 23 @ 5:35 pm
I worked with Johnson for a couple of years. Very nice guy. Did a couple of good things in his career.
But he has no executive/administrative experience. He has very few substantive accomplishments to show.
That’s my problem. I think he’s better in terms of his politics, but I think he is out of his league running a major City (and to be honest, a minor one). I don’t know why there hasn’t been any coverage about his total lack of experience.
Vallas’ politics are awful (or at least his record is awful), but he at least has run major institutions.
With the mess of Lori Lightfoot, I don’t want to have an ineffective leader running the City. We can’t afford to have someone who has no experience, given the state of the City (CTA, Police, schools, etc.)
So I’m swallowing REALLY hard and leaning towards Vallas.
Comment by Used to Work with Johnson Tuesday, Mar 28, 23 @ 10:26 am