Stroger-Peraica Debate

Todd [tag]Stroger[/tag] and Tony [tag]Peraica[/tag] are running for [tag]Cook County[/tag] Board President. This isn’t your everyday county board as this county’s seat is Chicago. Todd Stroger is the son of the previous office-holder John Stroger, who suffered a stroke just before the primary election in March (which he won) and subsequently gave up the office due to health reasons. Stroger is the Democrat candidate and Peraica is the Republican candidate. Cook County government has been plagued with corruption and budget problems. The county sheriff was often openly feuding with the board president.

I don’t have a horse in this particular race because I don’t live in that county, but because it’s Chicago, it’s Illinois…

Now to the debate. The Daily Herald has the story here. (h/t The Capitol Fax Blog).

The part that caught my eye was regarding the “Gay Games” which were held here during the summer. It was all very controversial at the time.

Stroger hammered Peraica again for his stance on gay rights, pointing to Peraica’s refusal to sign on to a resolution welcoming the Gay Games to Chicago.

Peraica said he didn’t support the Games because they were divisive.

“Why was it divisive?” Kelley [the moderator] asked. “They (the Games) were bringing in money.”

“I don’t think we need to celebrate a gay and lesbian lifestyle,” said Peraica, who added he does not support discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation.

Peraica is right about them being divisive. For instance, at the upcoming [tag]LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon[/tag] October 22, 2006, orientation is not a factor. You must be 16 to run and must have a parent’s permission if you are under 18. Medals will be given to the top five male and top five female finshers in each age division. That’s it.

The gay games, on the other hand, were athletic competition open to gay athletes only. We didn’t have a hetero games that they couldn’t participate in, why should they exclude us?

Update: As Inigo Montoya says to Vizzini, I say to Mr. Kelley: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” The word I reference here is divisive. Mr. Kelley seems to think it has something to do with making money as his quote above suggests. “Why was it divisive? They were bringing in money.” Kind of like a Pauline Kael line: How could he [Nixon] have won? No one I know voted for him.”

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