Political Quotes

“I rise today to pay tribute to my friend Michael Bauer, who died in late August after a battle with cancer. You couldn't miss Michael--he was the outspoken, critical ally of scores of boards and organizations in the LGBTQ community of Chicago; the first call they made when they needed an effective advocate. When the conversation turned to political friends and foes, issues of the moment and candidates in the hunt, he never had a private thought or waited his turn to share it. And when the music started, Michael was the first on the dance floor. I met Michael more than 20 years ago as a downstate Congressman running for the U.S. Senate. After an introductory dinner with Michael, his partner, Roger, and my wife Loretta, Michael gave me a passing grade, but I always knew he liked Loretta more. His name was first on the list of must-calls for political candidates. But if you only knew the public side of Michael, you might not have known the fire inside that drove his life. Over time we became friends, and that friendship led to trust between us. Michael shared with me the private stories, the journey of his life. At the center were his parents, survivors of the Holocaust who spent their whole lives facing the memories of friends and family who perished. Michael knew that they were victims of forces they did not have the power to control. He was determined to know more about the cruelty and hate they faced.…”