Illinois Rep. Bob Dold is criticized
for his opposition to a gay workplace protections bill in an ad
released Wednesday by Democratic rival Brad Schneider.
Dold, who represents parts of Chicago,
in 2010 replaced incumbent Mark Kirk, who now serves the people of
Illinois in the Senate.
Unlike his predecessor, Dold is opposed
to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would bar
workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender
identity.
In the spot, Schneider is heard saying:
“Too many Americans have lost their jobs. Unsure about what to do
next and coming home to the longest walk of their lives; down the
hall to tell the ones they love. For some it's not because of the
work they've done but because of who they are. My opponent continues
to stand with an extreme minority opposing workplace protections for
millions of Americans.” (The video is embedded on this page.
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“Congressman Dold and the Tea Party
Republican Majority in Washington have stonewalled progress; and,
because of their out-of-touch policies, millions of Americans can be
fired for nothing more than being honest about themselves,” Reed
Adamson, campaign manager for Schneider for Congress, said in a
statement. “In these difficult times, we should be making sure
that people are safe in their jobs and secure in their economic well
being, not making it easier to fire them without legitimate cause.
That's why Brad is running – to overcome the extreme, right-wing
ideology in Washington and stand up for what's right.”
Schneider has the endorsement of the
Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest gay rights
advocate.