I was literally taken aback when I learned earlier this week of the attempt of Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois to disgrace the former Senate seat of Barack Obama by offering it to the highest bidder, rather than taking seriously his responsibility to replace the President Elect with a distinguished person who could dignify that office and serve his Illinois constituents. It is also tragic that the Republican opposition and the conservative talk show hosts are attempting to make this an issue to interfere with the important work that Barack Obama is engaged in as he plans for the inauguration on January 20, 2009.
It is clear that Governor Blagojevich needs to do the right thing and resign, or face impeachment or judicial removal which would prolong the agony and further disgrace the state of Illinois, at a time when Illinois, the sixth largest state in population, needs full representation in the US Senate. The Lieutenant Governor, Pat Quinn has an excellent reputation and should become governor and select who is best, in his opinion, for that Senate seat, and then the voters will decide in 2010 if that person should retain the seat or someone else should take over the seat in the Senate.
Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. being "Candidate No.5" who supposedly had offered to pay a bribe to get the appointment does great harm to Jackson’s chances of gaining that Senate appointment. Jackson has been a hard working Congressman and has a great reputation among his colleagues and has made clear that he had done no such thing, but under the present circumstances, it would seem to me that the best choice, at least to 2010, when everyone who is interested can compete in the primary and election process, is Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Chicago, who also has a solid reputation for hard work and principle. I hope this whole controversy will be resolved rapidly for the benefit of the voters of Illinois.
I don’t see how the Republican’s concern is "tragic" or "interfering with the work" of Obama. Sure, it might be a bit of a bother, but not even the President-elect can expect to be devoid of any scrutiny or attack. Rahm Emanuel had several phone conversations with the disgraced governor of Illinois, can the Republicans, or anyone for that matter, be blamed for connecting the dots and wondering if the President-elect had any knowledge of the scandal? I think nobody can be blamed for wondering.