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* 1:08 pm - Now that Rod Blagojevich is safely out of the picture, we have this development. The president will return to Springfield…

President Barack Obama, who used Abraham Lincoln’s hometown to stage key moments in his ascent to the White House, is returning to Springfield next week to honor the 16th president’s 200th birthday. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs made the announcement today during the daily press briefing in Washington, D.C.

Springfield officials have been preparing for a possible visit, as Obama was invited to the Abraham Lincoln Association’s already-sold-out birthday banquet set for Feb. 12 at the Crowne Plaza hotel.

“He will attend and speak at the banquet there” at the invitation of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Gibbs said today. Gobbs did not mention any other planned appearances in Springfield.

Let’s all hope Blagojevich’s ticket has been revoked.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:09 pm

Comments

Rich,

Without the State Plane, Blago would have a hard time finding Springfield, let alone get here.

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:22 pm
I’m glad the President is coming though. Makes Springfield get in the news, and not for a bad reason. We need all the tourist help we can get.

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:23 pm
This is a perfect opportunity for Obama to speak out against the culture of political corruption that has engulfed Springfield, and has all of Illinois’s citizens under a hammerlock.

He did this once while he was running for president. He went to the town I grew up in on the south side, which is mired in political corruption. He shook his finger at the municipal politicians and told them that if you want to get rich, you should not be in politics, go work in the private sector. He did then climbed back into his fleet of SUVs, and drove back to his million dollar home in Hyde Park.

The message was spot on. He really needs to do this again in Springfield.

Comment by Leroy Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:24 pm
Hopefully, Rahm and the Axelrod will be smart enought to keep the Cellinis out of any pictures with Obama.

Please tell me Burris won’t be speaking as well.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:30 pm
I don’t think we’ll ever see him on the Old State Capitol plaza again….unless they shut the Forum 30/Hilton down. Nice of him to wait to confirm until after impeachment–rumors were flying weeks ago he was coming back.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:30 pm
Wordslinger, you forget that without Dr. King and Roland Burris, Obama would not be president.

Comment by Sangamon Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:34 pm
Obama wants to be another Lincoln. That is a good thing. Lincoln is a great man, and it is good for a president to consider what a great man like Lincoln would do while he/she is in the Oval Office.

Now, please drop the Carter impersonation, Mr. President, and grow out that Lincoln beard!

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 1:36 pm
He likes us…he really likes us…

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:01 pm
So now that The One has gotten rid of the “dirty laundry” (i.e. former Governor Blagojevich), it is now safe for President Obama to visit the state’s capitol? And to liken himself to Abraham Lincoln nonetheless! Will U.S. Senator Roland Burris be joining him? Disheartening.

Gimme a break…when will this lovefest end? The country does not need pomp & circumstance, it needs jobs!

I choose to celebrate Black history month paying homage to tried & true African-American history-makers (like Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, W.E.B. Dubois, Marcus Garvey, etc.) who weathered personal trials/tribulations to shape and change the plight of African-Americans. Action NOT words/symbolism. Perhaps our President might re-think this trip.

Comment by Black Ivy Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:01 pm
Black Ivy, you really should try to tone it down a bit. For one thing, I doubt that it was Obama who was behind the removal of Blagojevich. Blagojevich, you will recall, was arrested by the FBI during GWB’s term.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:10 pm
@BlackIvy You come off as if President Obama is making this trip to Springfield to grand-stand and spew false hope and dreams sans substance. That’s simply not true. This event is the celebration of one of our nation’s, no, the world’s greatest historic individuals in our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. The man who, in a sense paved the way for people like King, Parks, Dubois, and yes even our President to do the things they did and become the icons they are and will be in the pages of history.

Have some common sense, man!

Comment by recover82 Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:16 pm
Okay, Rich. You’re probably right. While I will tone it down, please know that there are African-Americans living in this great state who are Democrats and do not support many of President Obama’s proposed policies and tactics.

Comment by Black Ivy Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:24 pm
I care not what your political views are. I only care when commenters go over the top here.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:29 pm
Maybe Quinn can reopen the Lincoln Log Cabin for this event?

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:34 pm
Burris will be getting some pretty good photo ops with Barack. Many times the presidents will have Senators or Congressmen fly with them when he visits their home states. If he is lucky enough to get that chance he could add that to his tombstone.

Comment by Been There Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 2:56 pm
BTW Rich - that ought to be a QOTD:

“This is African-American History Month, tell us about an African-American you admire, who changed your life, and why.”

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 3:23 pm
Gee, VMan, do you have one in mind? I bet you do! Not like that Obama guy, either, I bet!

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 3:26 pm
I have dozens. No. Obama isn’t one of them. I like people with accomplishments.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 4:27 pm
“Now that Rod Blagojevich is safely out of the picture…”

Let’s all cross our fingers for no encore/upstage surprises to ruin a pretty cool event.

Comment by Cornerfield Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 4:51 pm
==No. Obama isn’t one of them. I like people with accomplishments.==

That’s revealing.

I would say that anyone — man or woman, any race or ethnicity, rich or poor, GOP or Dem — that had achieved the presidency was accomplished and had achieved something admirable. I would say a man of humble background and mixed parentage who had done so was accomplished and had achieved something admirable.

So I would call Obama both accomplished and admirable, irregardless of race, gender, wealth or politics.

Understanding that you don’t like him, and don’t consider him among “dozens” of African-Americans that you find accomplished or admirable, what would you call him — in public?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 4:52 pm
How grand it would be for our 44th President come and cut the 16th Presidents BD cake at the ALPM. Wold be a great shot in the arm for our ailing tourism business…and give our common folk a chance to meet their new President.

Comment by Siyotanka Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 7:36 pm
Call it “grandstanding” if you want, but I for one, would rest alot easier if the President could actually afford to make such a trip. I’ll take it as a sign that things are getting back to “normal” in the State and the Country…whatever that means at this point.

Comment by Ahem...The REAL Anonymous Monday, Feb 2, 09 @ 8:09 pm