Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) gives me hope for the future

Posted: 4/2/13 at 1:16pm

He recently returned to work following a stroke last year; that "near death" experience made him become only the second Republican senator to break ranks:

Sen. Mark Kirk on Tuesday announced that he supports gay marriage, joining a growing list of U.S. senators who offer such support.

In a statement, he wrote: "When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others.

"Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage. Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back -- government has no place in the middle."

Too bad the Illinois Republicans will rip him to shreads

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 1:29pm

It's one thing for a Republican to read the writing on the wall, and wanting to be on the right side of history. Maybe that's what this is, but he seems rather eloquent. I'll take him at his word that his thoughts are sincere.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 1:36pm

Our time on this earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back -- government has no place in the middle.

Wow.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 1:44pm

Of course, he'll get spanked by the bitter for waiting for a near-death experience to change his mind. I'm just glad that he now understands.

Posted: 4/2/13 at 1:49pm

To be fair, he has always been a somewhat moderate Republican. I took his amazingly eloquent statement to mean his stroke made him realize it's important to speak out, not that it changed his mind.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 1:54pm

Ever so slowly, the GOP is moving toward the middle on this issue. Probably acceptance of the inevitable. I can't see him getting 'primaried' in a state like Illinois over this.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 2:11pm

Bravo for him.

It's long past time the US put on its big boy pants just got over this issue.

Posted: 4/2/13 at 2:26pm

Illinois' republicans are in the midst of a civil war over this issue: The party Chairman recently said that gay Marriage was inevitable and they might as well get on the winning side. Kirk was among the more moderate voices who stood up for him when the more right-ish pols demanded he be fired.

Kirk's statements basically guarantee some of the more conservative forces (Joe Walsh and Ice Cream Magnate Jim Oberweis to name but two) will mount a primary challenge.
Pat Brady's job safe FOR NOW

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 3:28pm

Good for Sen. Kirk. Now, is there a way we can induce strokes in other members of the GOP?

Posted: 4/2/13 at 4:04pm

Judging from the caterwauling in my quite-red part of Illinois, this may give quite a few of them strokes, actually.

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 8:17pm

Kirk had a weak (and scandal plagued) Democratic opponent in 2010 (the first choice of the state party was Attorney General Lisa Madigan who chose not to run).

Illinois is a solid blue state and the Dems will undoubtedly run a strong candidate in 2016 for that seat (they will probably try to get Madigan again). Kirk ran as hardliner but is softening his views on some issues in an attempt to attract moderate voters.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 11:02am

There was talk of Michelle Obama "pulling a Hillary" and running for senate in 2016.

Posted: 4/4/13 at 11:30am

Personally I'd love to see another Senator Obama but can't imagine Michelle winning a statewide race here.