(Sorry, the video absolutely refuses to embed for some reason. It's worth clicking, believe me.)
This was edited down to a short bit of Mayor Daley appealing "Just one question?!? Please?" in the report that went out on air. But this raw excerpt shows so much more: Mayor Daley is holding a joint press conference with Representative Mike Quigley, D-Chicago 5th, the heir to the throne previously warmed by the butts of Rahm Emanuel, Rod Blagojevich and Dan "Rosty" Rostenkowski. The duo were presenting a petition demanding that Congress "Fix Gun Checks" by requiring background checks on every single firearm purchase nationwide . . . in other words, the complete prohibition of private sales. But that's not the really interesting part, nor is it Rep. Quigley's charming talking point, "With a 30-round clip, you're hunting people and that's all there is to it!"
No, the interesting part was Mayor Daley's near-meltdown as he realized that the reporters present didn't care about his anti-gun initiative and had really only shown up to pepper him with questions about their new leader, Lord Mayor Twinkletoes. He began asking for questions "about gun violence," then asking more forcefully, and ended up nearly pleading for someone, anyone, to tee up a gun control softball like the old days. Finally one reporter offered to ask a question about guns, and Da Mare was visibly relieved.
And then the reporter asked what he thought about the momentum in favor of right-to-carry legislation in Illinois this year.
Da Mare lost it at that point and went Full Daley. The furious squeaking of serial rhetorical questions was a sight to behold. It could not be clearer that Da Mare has no idea where the public is on this issue.
In case anyone wonders, I now present my own answers to Da Mare's rhetorical questions:
"Do you think in your community somebody should carry a concealed weapon?"
Yes.
"To your synagogue?"
If we had one, sure.
"To your daughter's school?"
Yes.
"Should they go to a park?"
Everybody should go to a park. Parks are nice.
"All out there, can anybody carry a gun where you live?"
No, but it's coming, and you and yours don't have enough dirty tricks left to stop it.
"Do you think that's the right thing to do?"
Yes, it is.
"Do you think America should be proud?"
Yes, I do.
"Welcome to America, carry a gun?"
Yes, although I don't mind if you want to limit that to law-abiding residents for now.
"I mean, if this should, you should be outraged about this!"
I thank you for your opinion.
"You're a journalist, you're a reporter!"
Well, one dabbles . . . sweet of you to say, though.
"You have a right to write anything!"
That's true. For instance, mustache ice cream is shorty-sicle elephant parade!
"This ought to be a headline, i-i-i-i-i-in your newspaper, asking people to appeal for common-sense gun laws."
On the Opinion page, of course. Right? I mean . . . that's what you meant, right, sir?
"I mean, not Mayor Daley, not Mayor Daley, this is their fight behind me, this is not Mayor Daley's fight, or Representative Quigley's . . . . . ."
That's the thing, Mayor. You are shedding allies for a reason; this is increasingly your fight. The public doesn't see this issue your way anymore, and you don't have the grip you once had on government or, clearly, media to steer public opinion for you. You would have to do a lot better than these tantrums from now on . . . . if you stay in the game.
