Despite a number of Illinois House and Senate Democrats who oppose the redefinition of marriage in Illinois, gay activists remain confident they can pass same-sex marriage legislation. And while the media and pundits focus on Republican opposition - calling it hateful, myopic, and political suicide - no such labels seem to be applied to the Democrat legislators who have voted against, and stand opposed to, gay marriage in Illinois.
Senate Democrats such as Gary Forby, Bill Haine, and John Sullivan voted against passage of the bill. And House Democrats Brandon Phelps, Louis Arroyo, John Bradley, Jerry Costello, Mary Flowers, and Eddie Lee Jackson have made it clear they will not vote for it should it reach the floor of the House, and other Democrats are leaning against it as well.
The Democrats have a 71-seat super-majority in the House. Yet Speaker Madigan either cannot or will not get the 60 votes needed for passage, which means either Madigan himself is not for it, or he's concerned about the electoral backlash - especially from African Americans - should it pass.
No matter what the politics, it's hypocritical that the activists refuse to slur Democrat opposition as they have Republican; and it is shameful that the mainstream media has failed to report the other side of the story.
