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

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

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.

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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.

Bravo for him.

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

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

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.

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