* Good work Sun-Times. Now, more like this, please…

Barack Obama needs to phone home. Illinois voters could use Obama’s considerable influence in swaying his so-called political godfather, Senate President Emil Jones, to call a vote on a sorely needed state political ethics bill.

The Democratic presidential nominee is no casual observer. As state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-24th) reminds us, Obama has his fingerprints all over ethics reform in Illinois, having been a leader in pushing for reform when he was a state senator.

Frankly, we can’t see a downside for Obama here. With one phone call — “Hey, Emil, let’s talk . . .” — he would remind voters nationwide of his reform credentials, and that call just might help — Jones might get off the dime. […]

Call home, Senator. You’ve got Jones’ number.

* Meanwhile, Phil Kadner takes a somewhat contrarian viewpoint in a column entitled “Stop me before I take another bribe”…

I’m not a believer in ethics legislation. No matter how many laws you pass, crooks are always going to be crooks.

An honest person doesn’t need to look at a law to do the right thing.

So I’ve found it difficult to work up much enthusiasm for a proposed state law that would prohibit companies that do at least $50,000 in business with the state from making campaign contributions to elected officials. ]…]

You can’t make [Senate President Emil Jones] do the right thing by saying it’s wrong for politicians to take money from contractors doing business with the state.

That’s why Jones was elected Senate president by his fellow Democrats.

They knew what he stood for when they made him their leader.
Maybe they should think hard on that when picking his replacement.

You can’t make people act ethically by passing a law.

But you can try to elect people who are ethical.

Thoughts?

* Related…

* Marin: Is dysfunctional Springfield a cuckoo clique?