Chicago Sun-Times - At Durbin Debate, Oberweis Flips, Says He Now Backs Gay Marriage

By Lynn Sweet

GOP Senate nominee Jim Oberweis said he would support a federal marriage-equality measure at Wednesday's debate with rival Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., after voting against a gay-marriage bill as a state senator and maintaining his opposition throughout his Senate bid.

"I think there is no arguing it any longer. At this point, I would say yes," Oberweis said as he reversed his long-held objection to gay marriage at the debate, televised by ABC7 in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

The debate, the first of two between the rivals, was contentious. Durbin and Oberweis clashed on Obamacare and immigration and other issues as they punched through the hour over policy and politics.

Oberweis, running behind Durbin, was under the most pressure to try to use the debate to turn things around.

Correctly anticipating Durbin's honed speaking and debate skills, Oberweis tried to level that playing field -- and lower expectations -- by noting that Durbin was a "very smooth" talker while he assailed him for being a 32-year "career politician."

Durbin called out Oberweis for his connections to the tea party movement and his wife becoming a Florida resident to save on taxes. Oberweis said Durbin should be spending less time campaigning and doing more to solve the Ebola crisis.

In the wide-ranging exchange:

◆ Oberweis' remarks on gay marriage came in the context of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent move to clear the way for gay marriage in several states, which raised the question of whether there should be a federal law. Illinois was the 16th state to legalize gay marriage, and Oberweis last year backed ousting now former Republican Party of Illinois chairman Pat Brady because of his support for gay marriage in Illinois.

Durbin backs gay marriage and supports a federal law. It is "not unreasonable," he said.

◆ Durbin said that Oberweis gave up his Illinois tax residency when Oberweis' wife became a Florida resident. Oberweis last year told the Sun-Times she made the switch, which includes voting in Florida, to save on taxes.

"He may be the first Illinois state senator on record who claims a residency in Illinois to run for the state Senate, but claims a residency in Florida for tax purposes. I think he may have set a new standard here," Durbin said.

In reply, Oberweis noted he has lived in the same home for 37 years -- though that was not at issue. He said for Durbin to say "I am not an Illinois resident is absolutely ludicrous."

◆ On Obamacare, Oberweis said he would repeal and replace President Barack Obama's health care bill while preserving popular features such as covering pre-existing conditions and allowing children under 26 stay on their parents' policies.

Durbin, a champion of the health care law, noted that even if the Senate turned Republican, Oberweis' position was unrealistic since President Barack Obama would veto a repeal.

◆ On supporting an assault weapons ban -- and asked for a yes-or-no answer -- Durbin said yes while Oberweis said there was no evidence a ban would curb violence, so it seems he would be a no.

◆ On immigration, where Durbin was one of the key players in the Senate passing a bipartisan immigration bill -- which has stalled in the House -- Oberweis said it was "not fair" to move people in the U.S. illegally to the head of the line.

The Senate measure sends illegal immigrants to the back of the line. "He hasn't read the bill," Durbin said.

Oberweis and Durbin meet for their second and final debate on Oct. 29.

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