Three candidates hoping to fill Rahm Emanuel's vacated House seat in the 5th Congressional district greeted voters March 24 at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. At the reception, Republican Rosanna Pulido, Democrat Mike Quigley and Green Party candidate Matt Reichel gave brief speeches and chatted informally with a crowd numbering about 20.
Pulido's presentation began with an apology. Without referencing it directly, Pulido asked the crowd's forgiveness for "something" that she had written several years ago on the popular conservative blog Free Republic. Saying that she was "ashamed about it," Pulido said that she nevertheless showed up at the Sidetrack event because "I care about you." ( Pulido got one question out of 16 correct in Windy City Times' Congressional questionnaire. )
"Courage is the word of the day," said Pulido—noting that it took considerable courage to speak to a crowd of gay voters after the revelation.
( On March 5, NBC News confirmed that Pulido was a commenter on Free Republic under the handle "chicagolady." As "chicagolady," Pulido said—among other comments that could be considered impolitic—"it's better to be in a meat packing town than a fudge packing town." In another comment, she referred to "drug addicted, alcohol abusing, FUDGE PACKERS!" ) .
Quigley, who spoke next, highlighted his history with Chicago's gay community, saying that he had marched in the Pride Parade for 27 years and sponsored domestic partner registration before the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He affirmed his support for gay marriage and the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.
Though in his remarks Quigley aligned himself with the agenda of reform promoted by President Barack Obama, Green Party candidate Matt Reichel said that the broad acquiescence of Obama's supporters "would be the envy of Joseph Stalin." Reichel spoke in favor of universal single-payer health care and restructuring the global economic system. He also criticized the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that since the election of Obama, the public conception of American military entanglements has evolved from "the bad war to the good war."
See WCT online at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com . and next week in print for results of the April 7 general election.