I don’t know if I can put it more charitably than
this: In the five weeks since the 2012 presidential election, I’ve become pretty
fed up with politics. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I fully intend to blog and tweet
about politics in the future. It’s just that even a politically obsessed
lawyer/blogger like me needs to take a break every so often.
Indeed, I would have thought that after our guy got
reelected, we would have been entitled to a little break, if for no other
reason than to enjoy the moment. But no. As soon as the results were in in the
early hours of November 7, the political animals on Twitter and Facebook
launched full-throttle into the “fiscal cliff” debate – Obama must raise
taxes on the rich! Don’t let Obama cave on Medicare! Tell Obama not to
compromise on Social Security! No retreat! No surrender! …
And so the hyperventilating became, if possible, even
more intense than in the weeks
leading up to the election.
But at least the fiscal-cliff-related
hyperventilation involves actual pressing issues. I find it hard to maintain
that level of intensity/outrage right now, but I get it. It’s important. On the
other hand, the breathless speculation about who will run for the Democratic
nomination in 2016 – cough, Hillary Clinton, cough, cough – is really nuts. In fact, I had folks inviting me
to join Hillary 2016 groups and sign petitions and the like at least a month
before the election.
Hey, how about we let Pres. Obama enjoy his second
inauguration before we crown Hillary Clinton the Forty-Fifth President and
Great Savior Of All Things Liberal, okay?
So, yeah, I’m a little tired of politics at the
moment. But you know what I’m not tired of? Progress. History being made.
America becoming a little more America-ish. That sort of thing is always welcome.
“What sort of thing?” You ask. Why this sort of thing:
[Illinois’] Democratic Gov. Pat
Quinn today said he hopes state lawmakers send him a gay marriage bill when
they meet again in January, but even the measure’s sponsor is unsure the issue
will rise to the top of a busy agenda.
“I hope that bill goes
forward,” Quinn said when asked about the possibility of the measure being
passed before new lawmakers are sworn in Jan. 9. “It’s the House that probably
the key arena at this time, and I think we’ll see how the members look at that
issue. They should study it carefully and vote their conscience.”
…
Rep. Greg Harris, the chief sponsor
of the gay marriage bill, said he was encouraged by Quinn’s comments but
acknowledged the issue may take a back seat during the lame duck session.
“At this point, we will call it when
we have the votes there,” said Harris, D-Chicago. “We can see the trend of
public opinion having shifted dramatically… but it takes time for legislators
to figure that out. And there are a number of other key votes, pensions is
obviously number one among them.”
Harris helped shepherd through a
measure allowing civil unions for same sex couples during the lame duck session
two years ago, and argues it’s no longer a matter of if same sex marriage will
be legalized in Illinois, but when.
“People all around the
political spectrum have thought about this issue and said there is really no
good reason that we shouldn’t treat one family in Illinois differently or with
less respect than we treat another,” Harris said.
Okay, so, yes, it’s a mixed bag, so to speak. The
Governor wants marriage equality in Illinois; the Democratic leadership wants
it; but there are so many pressing financial issues facing Illinois right now,
a marriage equality bill may not pass next month. But Gov. Quinn and Rep.
Harris are right: The public is ready for it, and the General Assembly will
catch up. Sooner, we hope, than later.
Either way, there’s little doubt that Illinois will
join Iowa, New York, Washington
State, Washington D.C., Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut,
and Massachusetts, by adopting full equal marriage rights for our gay and
lesbian citizens. There’s little doubt that Illinois will move forward on
marriage equality, because that’s where the future lies. Forward.
As Joe Strummer said in an altogether different
context: It’s just the beat of time, the beat that must go on …
And it’s getting louder.
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