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* Recent Tribune editorial…
A more immediate question: Why is Ira Silverstein still in the General Assembly?
Yes, voters can fire him, and we think they will, if they have to. At least two potential opponents have stepped forward for next year’s Democratic primary, and the party isn’t likely to back Silverstein. He’s toast.
But legislative leaders could nudge Silverstein to make an early exit. They’ve certainly done it when other members engaged in conduct that was inappropriate, unethical, unprofessional and embarrassing.
They’ve already stripped Silverstein of his leadership position and the $20,649 stipend that went with it.
It’s like he’s been kicked to the couch, but not the curb.
As a practical matter, Democrats needed Silverstein’s votes this week in several close override attempts. But they’ll be on the spot once the veto session ends. Rotheimer, a victims’ rights activist who is running for a House seat, says Silverstein made unwanted overtures for 18 months while sponsoring a bill she wanted to pass. She backed up her complaint with a trove of unseemly Facebook correspondence.
OK, first of all, the Tribune editorial board has used millions of barrels of ink to rail against the concentrated powers of legislative leaders, then tells those same leaders they should use their powers to accomplish something it demands. Plus, I think you’d have to go all the way back to 1991 to see a Senator resign under public pressure, and he’d already been convicted of a federal crime.
Secondly, if you click here you’ll see that none of the successful veto override motions last week passed the Senate with fewer than 37 votes - one more than required for passage. The Senate Democrats, in other words, didn’t need Silverstein’s vote.
Finally, a Democratic primary opponent, Ram Villivalam, announced his bid for the Senate the other day. Interestingly enough, his announcement e-mail didn’t mention Silverstein or the sexual harassment issue once.
* The Question: Should Sen. Silverstein resign? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:22 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Let voters kick him out.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:25 pm
I won’t bore you all with repeating my previous comments in favor of letting the process work (investigation or election). There are not grounds for resignation yet.
Comment by Molly Maguire Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:27 pm
Institutions matter we should not usurp the power of the voters.
Comment by Come on Man! Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:30 pm
Should he resign? Yes.
Will he? Up to him; if he doesn’t, his constituency should find a suitable alternative.
Pressuring him to resign is fine, but I’m not a fan of the legislative leaders deciding who should and shouldn’t serve, particularly after they’ve been elected by their districts.
Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:31 pm
I think the voters will do the job. I guess my answer would be “not yet.” Let the IG do her job, though I would be a yes if the Senator challenges her jurisdiction or tries to prevail on a technicality.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:32 pm
Silverstein should resign right after Roy Moore steps down as the GOP Senate nominee in Alabama.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:33 pm
He should resign, but it should be up to him. Whether what he did is unethical is debatable, but he did nothing criminal. I would suggest he step aside because he has become a distraction.
Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:33 pm
That 1991 Illinois Issues publication was a pretty eventful article: D’Arco replaced, Cosentino indicted, Howlett dies and Wojcicki named publisher.
Comment by The Captain Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:34 pm
Sivlerstein AND madigan should resign. Madigan covered it up.
Comment by John Rawlssss Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:38 pm
Voters in his district will take care of this problem.
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:38 pm
and right after Bill Clinton is shunned from his party for credible allegations of rape and paying a $700,000 fine for a sexual harassment lawsuit that resulted in his disbarment.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:40 pm
People. Stay on topic. Last warning.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:42 pm
He should stay and represent the values of the Democratic leadership; of which he was a big part before his creepiness came out.
Comment by Texas Red Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:43 pm
This is tougher than one thinks. Former Sen. John D’Arco was convicted before he resigned. In this case, we have an allegation and that’s about it. Much of the so-called smoking gun texts weren’t much more than banter - some of it could be viewed as inappropriate, but I saw nothing that led me to the conclusion that the victim took any steps to protest until after her bill died and she decided to run for office herself.
I’m not try to candy-coat what happened, but if simply making an allegation is enough to warrant resignation from office, then we have discovered the ultimate political weapon to use against anyone and everyone…and that’s pretty damn scary.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:43 pm
Oh, and by the way, I voted NO. Voters will ultimately decide unless he does resign beforehand.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:45 pm
LP
It’s 2017 and this is Illinois. You’d bore Newt Gingrich with that old stuff.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:47 pm
Stay put. The comments they exchanged hardly looked that bad compared to what Alabama GOP gets away with.
Comment by RabidDog Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:47 pm
=I’m not try to candy-coat what happened, but if simply making an allegation is enough to warrant resignation from office, then we have discovered the ultimate political weapon to use against anyone and everyone…and that’s pretty damn scary.=
Yes to this, no the poll question.
Comment by m Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:50 pm
Yes, Sen. Silverstein should resign of his own volition because he has finally accepted that he is an embarrassment and an ethical distraction and an ongoing symbol of what’s wrong and toxic in politics. Everybody now knows he had at least some process enablers in his party ranks and that will crop up to bite those people during the next election. Party leaders and his family members can and should nudge him to quit. But he should not be “forced out” by some legislative maneuver or technicality.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:54 pm
He should absolutely resign, but I don’t like the idea of legislative leaders leaning on him. They can endorse his opponent or something, but treating him or his bills differently is probably past where I would draw the line.
Comment by Perrid Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:56 pm
I voted no. Why, because we haven’t seen all of the evidence and based on what has been released, I’m not sure he used his position to kill the kill. Also, based on the messages, I’m not sure his comments were unwanted. If the IG subpoenas Facebook for all the messages, an evidence backs up the allegation, then I will switch my vote.
Comment by Olivia Pope Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:56 pm
He’s a distraction and should resign.
Plus it’s in his best interest. He could just lose the next election instead. Or he could work to get his wife appointed to his seat, allowing Rahm to handpick an alderman, go to rehab for awhile, and reset his career.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:57 pm
Yes. It would send a message to women in Springfield that they are not just being ignored in the interest of preserving political power - and to potential harassers that this can and will ruin your career. For that reason, I think on his way out the door, Silverstein should be certain to let everyone know he’s being unfairly branded as the exemplar for a culture that runs deep, populated still by powerful people who have done far worse and are being allowed to skate.
Come to think of it, in this case, knowledge *is* power - especially knowledge certain someones may not want shared with the public.
Comment by JB13 Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:57 pm
He should only resign if the IG completes their investigation and finds there was harassment. Otherwise, let the voters decide whether he remains in office. This knee-jerk call for resignation is an over-correction.
Comment by Tinker Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:57 pm
Even if the allegations aren’t strong enough to warrant punitive action (if they’re true, they still need a strong basis in evidence), they weaken him enough to minimize his ability to effectively represent his district.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:59 pm
If there is not more egregious conduct than reflected in the pages of messages released so far, the lack of pressure from other legislators might be an indicator that some don’t want the resignation bar set that low
Comment by titan Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 3:59 pm
Voted yes because he’s a schmuck who can’t behave himself around women who aren’t his wife. Then again, maybe RabidDog is right - Alabama republicans are about to elect a child molester to the senate, so maybe it’s not that big of a deal.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:02 pm
Yes. he acted inappropriately and it would take his part off the table of discussion of the issue. Dems don’t need that out there.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:04 pm
=If there is not more egregious conduct than reflected in the pages of messages released so far, the lack of pressure from other legislators might be an indicator that some don’t want the resignation bar set that low =
Would seem that this would be pretty obvious. But at the same time, everyone wants someone to be made an example of. There are better examples out there.
The fact that many are making more serious allegations against unnamed individuals (Hitchinson’s comes to mind) but refusing to name names, shows that nothing is really changing. If the victims are still too scared to come forward, then the culture hasn’t moved forward.
Comment by m Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:05 pm
I was a firm yes on this issue until I saw some of the Facebook posts that were published. I just did not even follow them very well. I understand there are 444 pages. Some statements taken as individual statements would have caused me to vote yes but I now think it would be necessary to see the context. The investigation should proceed quickly. I will be happy to be guided by whoever has the unpleasant task of reading all of that.
Comment by Bigtwich Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:11 pm
Vanilla
Yes its 2017. Can you believe we have to provide training,tutorials and task forces to our elected officials to teach them right from wrong? Incredible.
Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:18 pm
He’s already been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. He should resign to save himself and his family the embarrassment of a nasty campaign.
Comment by Wylie Coyote Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:18 pm
No - this needs to play out in an institutionally-acceptable way, either through the findings of the LIG or at the ballot-box in 2018.
There appears to be a lot of this thing going around, and the process for dealing with it needs to be established and then implemented in a regular and predictable manner.
Comment by dbk Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:18 pm
He’s entitled to due process. If a mere accusation, unchallenged, is sufficient to destroy a career, we are inviting disaster. Kudos to the accuser for having the courage to speak out but the accused is entitled to be heard too. Let’s allow this to play out and decide based on evidence.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:36 pm
Let’s be honest here - most men and women have had crushes / infatuations. Here, the senator never laid a hand on her - but was a pest. The voters may disagree, but I think he has suffered enough embarrassment and the end of any possible rise in his career in the Senate.
Comment by Capitol View Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:39 pm
I voted no. News organizations play no part in the judicial process as much as they would like to think they do.
Comment by anon Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:48 pm
Voted no for being forced to resign. If those were my Facebook comments I would have slinked out of Springfield under the cover of darkness, but if he can look at himself in the mirror and not see an immature laughingstock (at best), then let the voters decide.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:49 pm
The decision to resign should be his and his alone at this point. I agree with Commonsense.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:50 pm
Yes. Regardless whether this constitutes harassment it was highly unprofessional and inappropriate. Resign and let someone professional replace you.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:54 pm
I believe in due process. Let the voters, the process, or Ira decide, not the Troncs.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 5:10 pm
Voted yes. He should voluntarily resign. Can any investigation into the context of those emails show them to be an appropriate way to pursue the passage of the bill in question? Would the Senator wish for his sister or daughter to have be subjected to those late night intrusions? His own values should push him to resign. We should not need the law or some system to act properly and I don’t expect the voters to remember this kerphuffal on election day.
Comment by Matt Vernau Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 5:37 pm
Voted “No” because their ought to be a complete investigation. Rotheimer has made allegations, but has nothing has been proven yet.
Comment by W Flag Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 6:45 pm
==Can you believe we have to provide training,tutorials and task forces to our elected officials to teach them right from wrong?==
Of course. I’m conservative. We don’t believe that power doesn’t corrupt.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 6:59 pm
We let democracy rule.
Not political leaders.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 7:00 pm
No.
News stories are not convictions.
Everyone deserves a fair trial in a court of law, not a court of public opinion.
The Tribune Editorial Board should resign.
Comment by Chicago 20 Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 9:51 pm
While I condemn Senator Silverstein’s behavior, I think the fact that these incidents are so widespread means that it would be difficult to tackle. I’m glad the people took a stance when they did, and I would say that if the Senator were to continue his behavior sometime down the road (and we all found out), then he should resign. I voted “No”, though, for this particular incidence.
Comment by Ross Brown Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 11:32 pm
I voted no. It smells like a witch hunt.
Comment by OldIllini Tuesday, Nov 14, 17 @ 6:55 am
He should resign but the bigger matter is Cullerton referring the allegation to a vacant office knowing it would sit there and die. Sexual harassment is a big deal and he basically swept it under the rug. Is that what supposed leaders are suppose to do? Pass laws for others to follow while you let your own organization do as they please. I have seen others loss their jobs for less inflammatory statements than Silverstein’s in the private sector.
Comment by Arock Tuesday, Nov 14, 17 @ 8:14 am