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We briefly touched on this topic yesterday, and Carol Marin made it the subject of today’s column…
Is Barack Obama out of the loop when it comes to his home state of Illinois?
That was the question posed Monday by my NBC5 colleague, political reporter Mary Ann Ahern, after trying hard to get the senator’s views on a variety of newsy topics in Chicago. Obama, who showed up at Monday’s Operation PUSH convention, stopped for a very brief Q-and-A with waiting reporters. Getting Obama to set aside time to talk to the local press back home has been nothing short of a major challenge for many months now.What about the state budget funding crisis and casinos? asked Ahern.
‘’I haven’t been following the negotiations closely enough to know what’s taking place,'’ Obama said.
How has his political mentor, Senate President Emil Jones, the recipient of major ComEd campaign cash, handled the utility rate freeze issue?
‘’I apologize, guys, but I really have not followed closely what’s been happening in Springfield, I had a little bit of other stuff to do,'’ the senator said with a smile.
As Marin points out, Sen. Durbin seems well-versed in recent Statehouse happenings, while Obama feigns cluelessness.
Question: Should Obama be expected to answer questions like this about what’s happening in the capital of his own state, or should he be excused because he’s running for president? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 9:57 am
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All politics is local. He must stay abreast of what is happening (or not happening in Spgringfield). How difficult can it be for a staffer to brief him?
Comment by Wile Coyote Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:01 am
He should be excused (good grief, look at McCain’s senate attendance of late). I do, however, think that Obama is making a huge mistake. The last couple of debates have clearly demonstrated that he is just not yet ready for “prime time”. Both he and Mitt Romney are going to fall from the top tiers of candidates, for similar reasons. Put simply, neither are prepared to be president and it shows in these forums.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:03 am
No one else knows what is going on here so why should he waste his time?
W knew nothing about what was happening in Austin and made it to the White House.
If it worked for him it must be o.k.
Comment by GettingJonesed Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:04 am
What’s with the Gotcha game?
The guy’s running for president. He’s being cautious so as not to get caught in a swirl of headlines like “Today presidential candidate Barack Obama misspoke on budgetary matters dealing with his homestate…”
Reporters do this all the time, asking one politician what they think of another politician. More often than not it seems to simply be in an effort to get a sensationalist quote so they can yelp “Didya hear what he said about the other one?!?!”
Obama’s just refusing to play along with that game. I’m not saying he should be excused, but I strongly doubt he’s doing it out of actual ignorance. He’s more likely doing it out of caution.
Comment by Rob_N Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:05 am
Yes all politics are local, but there is no up-side for any elected Democrat to get into the middle of this mess! Whatever he says, one of the players is going to be upset. Besides, there’ll be plenty of time to get up to speed when he has to come back to his day job in April ‘08.
Comment by Distant Observer Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:05 am
While Obama is a US Senator, he still represents his constituents in the State of Illinois, and should know what is going on “back home”. I support Obama’s run for president, but I am disappointed in Senator Obama for his lack of concern, especially with the mess going on in Illinois.
Comment by Megan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:07 am
Anon 10:03am,
The fact both Obama and Romney are slowly rising in polls belies your theory that Obama is performing poorly. Interesting to note though that Howard Dean was leading in polls at about this time 4 years ago… We shall see.
Comment by Rob_N Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:07 am
That is an easy question to answer correctly, isn’t it?
He is one of two Illinois senators. To deliberately claim ignorance on state and local issues is to claim that he is not doing his job. What he has no staff? Has he ever heard of modern technology? How does he communicate-carrier pidgeon?
To claim ignorance is an ignorant thing to do. We know he is not telling us the truth. What he wants listeners to do is understand that he will not answer questions like that in order to keep politically relevant in his presidential bid. What most people would call “enabling”. In this case he wants us to enable him so that he doesn’t have to do his job. Thats crazy.
He wanted to be our senator. He ran for the job. We didn’t ask him to run for president. He now wants that job. So, I’ll give it to him straight -DO THE JOB YOU HAVE SENATOR AND DO IT WELL. YOUR PERFORMANCE AS OUR SENATOR WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON HOW YOU WILL BE PERCEIVED AS A PRESIDENT.
OK?
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:09 am
no. he’s a senator. a *united states* senator. we don’t expect emil jones or michael madigan to know about nie’s or troop rotation schedules (even though they effect national guard units here). it really shows a lack of national perspective by local reporters no doubt trying to play gotcha…
Comment by bored now Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:11 am
If he keeps up the “I am too important to speak to that issue” additude, it wiil catch up to him.
He needs to address the question, give an answer that sounds insightful (but is not directive) and
ask if you need more. Bill Clinton was the master of this method. I do not believe he can get nominated with his “a black deserves this job” approach. MHO. But he currently is up in the polls.
Comment by gg Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:19 am
In the last two elections, he seemed to know enough about County and City issues to endorse candidates with the best plans to address them….
…unless those endoresements were actually based on political calculations.
Fight cynicism - Vote Obama!!
Comment by grand old partisan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:19 am
Wow VanillaMan … using your logic no one asked him to run for Senate either so how in heck did he and up there? And just who are the folks that you think asked mister unpopular himself, Pres. Bush, to run for that office back in the day?
What a twisted batch of illogic you’ve got there. As Bored Now noted, Sen. Obama is in the US Senate — not the State Senate. He has no more control over the budget goofiness than you or I (though, sure, he probably holds a bit more sway over some of the folks involved — which is likely why reporters are trying to play Gotcha with him).
And he is doing his job as a Senator, unlike a certain ex-POW Republican Senator from a southwestern state whose Senate vote totals resemble his sliding poll numbers.
Comment by Rob_N Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:20 am
vanman, you clearly have NO CLUE what it means to be a u.s. senator. i take it you never took a civics class (too bad).
unlike the general assembly, the senate is a full-time job. the responsibilities for the senate are laid out in the constitution. no where there will you find “stay informed on state machinations” part of that job description. the difference between federal prerogatives and state prerogatives is fairly well established. the ignorance is *obviously* on your part, not obama’s…
Comment by bored now Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:26 am
Yes he should know whats going on. there is no excuse, he is part of the process
Comment by Just Because Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:29 am
Of course not. Don’t you know that what happens in Illinois has nothing to do with who he represents in the Senate? Since when has Illinois been a part of the United States?
Comment by North of I-80 Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:41 am
My bet is that Obama knows exactly what’s going on, or has a pretty good idea, but is too smart to get sucked into an intra-party battle in his home state. What’s the upside for Obama in commenting? For that matter, what’s the upside for voters? Do we really think that Obama criticizing Democratic leaders would change anything?
Fer Pete’s sake, Mayor Daley’s jumping up-and-down red-faced every day, and it hasn’t changed anything.
Hillary Clinton claims Illinois as her home state, perhaps we should ask her opinion on the state budget and electric rates next time she’s in downtown Chicago for a fundraiser.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:49 am
He shouldn’t be excused becuase he’s running for President. He should be excused becaue he’s a US Senator, not an Illinois State Senator. Paying attention to federal-level issues is his job. If he starts saying he doesn’t know what’s going on in the US Senate, THEN I’ll be concerned.
Comment by Will Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:50 am
What?
You people think that being a US senator means not knowing what is happening in the state you supposedly represent?
Civics lessons? Ever heard of representative democracy?
Obama is suppose to know what is happening here. That is his job. He has been running for president longer than he has been a senator, so we have to really look at how well he has done his job to decide if he gets a promotion to the presidency. We don’t have much to go on.
But what we do know right now is that he seems to be too “busy” to know what is happening here. He didn’t have to run for president. He chose to.
When Mike Dukakis ran for president in 1988, he actually did his job as governor at the same time - hey, Senator - why don’t you give it a try some time? Dukakis not only did his job as governor running for the nomination, something Obama can’t seem to do - but he also did his job as governor as the Democratic Presidential nominee.
So, no excuses. You people coming up with excuses why it is OK to have a deliberatly ignorant US senator sound like empty headed partisans to me.
If he wants to run for president, but not do his job as senator, then he owes us a replacement, or our money back.
Again - if he wants to convince us that he can be a president, then he needs to first prove to us he can be a senator. So far, he is failing.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:51 am
Sen. Durbin seems well-versed in recent Statehouse happenings, while Obama feigns cluelessness.
Well stated.
Stop giving this supposed “genius” excuses.
DO YOUR JOB SENATOR!
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:54 am
If that’s his real attitude, Obama shouldn’t have endorsed Todd Stroger.
Comment by phocion Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:02 am
It’s not too difficult for him to be briefed on at least the latest news reports from Springfield. I understand he wants to keep the focus on the campaign, but that was a bad answer. Not as big a deal as the angry partisans on here want to make of it, but not a good answer. So many angry people post here. They obviously weren’t at Boones last night.
Rich, I can see your Dad jamming this http://www.amigosdeobama.com/downloadaccess/OBAMAREGGAETON.mp3 in his Obama mobile.
Comment by DC Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:03 am
I think Rob-N accurately hits the issue on the head.
This type of “gotcha game” by reporters is why I don’t like the media. There is no way for Obama to win. If he comments, he will end up alienating supporters (Jones) or other people. If he takes the tack he did and truthfully say he doesn’t have enough details to comment, he is blasted as being out of touch.
Think about his job being the same as a lawyer or doctor. Do you want them interjecting themselves in a case that they aren’t actively working on? Sen. Obama is a US Senator, not a state senator. As state issues migrate to the federal level, i.e. the need for health care reform, I expect him to understand the issue. But to expect him to master every issue that comes up in the statehouse is unrealistic.
Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:18 am
When a guy who just lands a job wants to leap frog to the top, he should prove he can do the job he has. When he is asked about his current job he should be able to give any answer that would clearly show his competence.
Obama isn’t doing that. Instead he is playing games with us. The issues we are facing in Illinois are real, and they are not as big as the issues Obama wants us to believe he can address at a national level. If he can’t do it on a state level, how can we believe he can do it on a national level?
As for the presidency, it is not too much to ask that we demand the best. If your guy doesn’t measure up to the job he currently has, he shouldn’t be asking us to support him in his quest.
When you let a candidate off the hook, you are enabling them to continue expecting us to let them off bigger hooks in the future. Stop the practice now. Either Obama knows what is happening in his backyard, or he doesn’t. If he doesn’t then he isn’t doing his job. If he does but wants us to play games, then he isn’t doing his job that way either.
Time to come clean, Mr. Obama.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:20 am
You people who think that being a US senator somehow means you don’t have to know what is happening in the state you represent is downright goofy.
It is a federal system. Obama needs to know what is happening on all levels of government.
Dick Durbin does. Paul Simon did. What makes Obama different from these other Democrats?
You people are talking nonsense.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:22 am
it’s not that they expect him to be up on all the
details, it’s that his mentor, Sen. Exelon, is
up to his eyeballs in the rate mess and Obama
has to answer for stuff at home if he keeps taking
credit for how he solved things when he was here.
reporters may dig into Obama’s fiscal dealings
in the legislature and ask if they contributed
in any way to the current mess.
of course, pretty soon Obama may want to answer
for things here cause the “quiet riot” comments
are so off the wall that he may be running away
from reporters at the national level.
Comment by amy Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:24 am
I think that if Senator Clinton made similar comments about, say, the construction of the new Yankee stadium, “feeding frenzy” would not even begin to describe the result.
Whether this is fair or not, I cannot say. However other Senators in the race do not seem to be as uninformed on local affairs.
Comment by Viator Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:30 am
“Amy,” that AP story on “quiet riots” looks like it was a piece of garbage. From what I can tell, that’s not what he said at all.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:30 am
why should anyone bother with this mess.
Comment by Nickname Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:36 am
–except for people who are getting paid to be here.
Comment by Nickname Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:37 am
We all understand Obama’s logic in not responding to this question but the press is doing it’s job and he needs to be ready to answer the hard question. To say he’s too busy or not plugged in was a mis-step.
Durbin was on City Desk Sunday morning and spoke intelligently on a number of state issues. The Illinois Congressional delegation has weighed in on Cook County and Todd Stoger.
If Obama can endorse local and statewide candidates, he should be able to comment on their actions, or lack there of.
Federal matching funds are at stake here and if pressure from a US Senator or Congressman can move this process along, all the better.
I like Hillary, Obama and Edwards. I think the field is beginning to clear, for me at least.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:41 am
- Rob_N - reporters DID NOT asking barack what he thought of other politicians. maybe you didn’t read the piece. barack was asked about some CRITICAL policy matters pending in springfield - like utility rate relief. he drew a blank. no response. wasn’t prepped by staff. durbin was aware of these issues. and addressed them very eloquently. we are paying barack to be OUR u.s. senator. that’s his job right now. we’re not paying him to raise money in new hampshire. his job is to study these STATE issues and see if there are any FEDERAL solutions or assistance. besides, i’m sure his office gets tons of calls on a number of “state” issues. be honest. he dropped the ball on this one.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:41 am
this is the problem with Obama. He’s so caught up with this “rock star” image that he has, that he’s clueless about what’s going on at home. He’s gonna have to get his act together if he doesn’t want to look stupid.
Comment by pickles!! Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:45 am
He can simply say “The state reps are working toward a reasonable solution in a difficult time with many different opinions on what should be done. There are no easy answers and I believe Illinois has some very smart people who will develop some good alternatives to consider. There are some tough choices to make. Let them do their job and I will help if they want my involvement.” Anything else makes him a target of getting even if he slights some ego somewhere.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 11:53 am
First, Senator Obama was elected by the voters of Illinois to represent the state in D.C. while also maintaining offices and a presence in this state. His staff and, to a certain degree, the Senator himself need to be involved in day-to-day matters that impact our large and populous state. This includes matters such as funding priorities, casework, advocacy and outreach that intertwines with state and local interests.
Second, Obama and his staff must keep up-to-date with state politics because he took an active role during last year’s election cycle. He endorsed our new state treasurer and the new Cook County board president and he must live with the consequences of any bad/negative actions associated with his endorsees. And to me, bad endorsements should haunt a candidate. If you disagree, look at what Bush has gone through with Alberto Gonzalez, Paul Wolfowitz and John Bolton. If Obama is making controversial endorsements now, what’s to stop him from nominating bad apples if he is president?
I agree with Vanilla Man. It’s a basic civic lession that a U.S. Senator and Congressman should be involved in matters of the home state and/or district. After all, Obama has a large staff and he needs to utilize them to keep him and his advisors up to speed.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:11 pm
I agree completely wtih Yellow Dog Democrat that Obama knows what’s going own, but is too shrewd to get involved in teh inernecine feud between the local power brokers.Why should Obama get in the middle of the current State political brouhaha between Blago, the Speaker, and the Senate Presidnent?
I wouldn’t expect him to say anything negative about Senator Jones, his proud political mentor - or Blago, Madigan, Daley, or Stroger for that matter.
Can’t remember the source, but I read an objective article after the Democratic debate suggesting that Obama demonstrated great improvement in his debate performance Sunday. He’s a smart guy who will learn from experience and mistakes - unlike some of past and present national and State leaders.
Win or lose Barak Obama is an attractive, articulate, credible candidate for the most important elective office in the world. I do not understand why so many in this blog are consantly denigrating our “favorite son” candidate. I understand genuine philosophical differnces. I don’ think any of the national Presidential candidates, Republican or Democrats are politial saints.
He’s the first Illinois politician since Adlai Stevenson to have a real shot at the Presidency. I think it’s entirely appropriate for him to avoid the stnech and muck of local polticas and focus on national issues and his campaign message.
Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:30 pm
What’s President Bush’s opinion regarding the fight over open records legislation in his home state?
Just because he’s President doesn’t excuse him from weighing in. After all, it’s not like he has more to worry about as a federal official, like his war in Iraq, global warming, or access to health care.
Get the point?
If Dick Durbin wants to weigh in on electric rates, the state budget, or whether the state should invest more money in Western Illinois University, that’s his prerogative. I would generally advise against it, because once you open the door to weighing in on one state issue — that has nothing whatsoever to do with your job as U.S. Senator — you open the door to questions about every state issue. Should gambling be expanded? Should the state fund the CTA? What do you think of the criminal investigations into Rod Blagojevich’s campaign? Etc., etc., etc.
Barack Obama is doing the job we elected him to do as U.S. Senator. I don’t want him distracted from that or his efforts to change the direction of this country as a candidate for U.S. President by engaging in a fruitless effort to referee state elected officials. Jones, Blagojevich and Madigan will pass a budget and resolve the electric rate crisis when they’re ready, and one quote from Barack Obama isn’t going to make a bloody bit of difference.
If you think his comments could make a difference, consider that it’s quite likely he’s not up on the minute-by-minute negotiations going on in Springfield, and one wrong word could do as much damage to those negotiations as his statement could do good.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:32 pm
Obama should have knowledge of and represent this state before acting on his presidential desires.
Comment by i d Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:33 pm
The issue isn’t whether Obama is a state or U.S. Senator, the issue lies in the fact that the place where he was groomed as an elected official is a mess. I would like to know what he thinks of the activity in Springfield, and if he won’t tell me because it could bruise his rock star image, I question his credibility and stature as a President.
Why does he act like he is above all the tricks and deals from which he came … a man who is trying to forge a new way in Washington seems to support and be supported by the old way in Illinois/ Chicago?
Comment by cg Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:47 pm
Absolutely. He’s still the junior senator from Illinois. Just because he’s running for president doesn’t excuse him from knowing what’s going on in DC or Illinois. Doesn’t he read news clips from IL papers everyday?
If not, and the Senate job is too demanding for him, he should give it up to run for president full-time.
Comment by Dieter Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:56 pm
I caught the “quiet riot” statements in video on
cable and I don’t know what the ap story is. my
opinion is that the term is problematic. we can
all understand about poverty and the effect but
a riot? that’s kinda inflamatory. maybe Obama
should care about how electric rates are affecting
people who have financial difficulties. so maybe
he should care about what is going on, or not
going on, in Springfield.
Comment by amy Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:58 pm
…and i bet if this was an election year for his senate seat he’d know whats going on in the state that elected him, for sure
Comment by pickles!! Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 12:58 pm
The media should be asking and Obama should be answering this question: “Senator, your first bill in congress created a searchable website for the federal budget — you called it ‘Google for Government.’
“A nearly identical bill unanimously passed the Illinois House this year (HB 3) but has been blocked by your mentor Emil Jones. Have you talked to Senator Jones about this legislation and if not, why not? Shouldn’t the public have the same right to examine the state budget that you gave them to examine the federal budget?”
Comment by Old Elephant Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 1:15 pm
I love all the comments from the Republicans here.
Apparently, they want the Federal Government telling our State of Illinois how to run its affairs.
That’s a change. I guess it beats the old “states right” line they used to push.
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 1:22 pm
I’m having trouble getting beyond Zatoichi’s “. . . I believe Illinois has some very smart people who will develop some good alternatives to consider.” I don’t think Obama is the one out of touch with what’s going on in the state! He (Obama) is clearly between a rock and a hard place. Commenting on what’s going on politically in Illinois is only going to alienate the politicians or the people he’d like to vote for him. Claiming ignorance is the smart move.
Comment by gotta be anonymous Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 1:43 pm
Skeeter, that makes no sense. I would appreciate my U.S. Senator acting as such.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 1:55 pm
Pardon me, TS?
You want the “Federal Government in Washington” telling the State of Illinois how to conduct its affairs? You want them snooping around in our Illinois business and giving their expertise as to how things should be run in Illinois?
Please tell me you are some wacked out liberal. I would never expect that kind of Big Government blather coming from a Republican.
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 2:03 pm
hey skeeter, for the record, i’m a gay, over-educated, bleeding heart liberal who will vote for any democrat nominated. i’m just really tired of Obama making himself out to be above politics … the man came from Chicago and is running for President! skirting questions important to a lot potential voters (me and everyone else in Illinois) by saying he’s too busy running for President seems disingenuous and belittles important issues to his home state.
Comment by cg Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 2:06 pm
CG,
I have no problem with bleeding heart liberals claiming that a U.S. Senator should tell us what we should be doing. That’s what I expect from bleeding heart liberals. I believe that is on page one of the bleeding heart liberal platform: “Get the federal government into state business.”
But Republicans or conservatives? They were supposed to despise Washington and everything it stands for.
Except for Illinois Republicans, apparently.
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 2:15 pm
… i’m not telling Obama what to do, i’m saying that it is appalling for him to feign ignorance on issues that he should understand and be able to discuss. it’s a matter of his ability to discuss issues close to him, not an issue of federalism. stop your pitter-patter about dems/ reps and tell us how you think Obama should respond. why should/ shouldn’t he know about politics in the state and party that put him in his current position?
Comment by cg Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 2:23 pm
But Republicans or conservatives? They were supposed to despise Washington and everything it stands for.
Only in your mind Skeeter. Durbin, Emanuel, and Schawkosky sat Stroger down and told him to get his act together about Cook County Hosp. When Illinois and the Counties stop taking federal funds maybe I’ll be this Fed elected officials should keep their mouths shut about Illinois stuff and vice versa.
Right now Obama owes National Voters a real explaination as to whether the mess we see in Illinois with a Liberal Democratic landslide is symbolic of the paralysis that would take over the country with him as President and status quo in the Congress.
If Dems have become a party simply of gaining power and without a clue of an agenda once they get it. They look more and more a party spent of ideas and no where is the void more vivid than Illinois.
Comment by Bill Baar Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 2:25 pm
I want to add another reason why I think Sen. Obama doesn’t need to interject himself in these local issues. Our federal legislature is divided in two branches, the house and senate. Congressman are elected for two year terms in order to be close to public opinion. US senator are elected to terms of 6 years in order to have a long term, big picture viewpoint. When it comes to issues like electrical rates, a US senator shouldn’t be interjecting themselves into the status of a specific bill in the statehouse. They should be looking at our overall national energy polices to provide longterm permanent national solutions.
Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 2:59 pm
I think people are being unrealistic and unfair in their expectations of Sen. Obama. To expect anyone to be an expert on every issue at the state and national level is unrealistic. To expect them to know the details of the legislative process for a legislative body they no longer serve in is beyond belief.
Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 3:12 pm
If Obama did half the work of Durbin, he’d be honest enough to weigh in on issues he is responsible for in Illinois - just like Durbin does. Oh, and every other senator from Illinois in the past.
Those who want to give any US senator excuses why they feign ignorance on state issues don’t fully understand what the job of a US senator is.
Maybe if he spent as much time as a senator he has running for president, he might know a thing or two.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 3:23 pm
Clearly Sen. Obama is playing the game of selective involvement and recall. He is a man of too much depth and character to have endorsed the Toddler or the Hat without checking the situation out. It suited him to be involved in down home issues at that point. now things are not all jim dandy on the home front and he is trying to remember how to spell Illinois. reporters must play the game too and press him rather than fawning over him and trying to figure out who gets the keepsake empty peanut package from the campaign plane. In fairness I did notice that while unable to connect with the state he represents in the recently cited situation, he was able to give a full page interview to The DePaul University Student paper last week. so don’t say he is completely ducking the hard hitting journalist.
Comment by lincolnlandbubba Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 3:25 pm
Obama’s gotta have some idea what’s going on with Illinois budget negotiations or he wouldn’t have signed this letter to the gov and legis leaders:
Dear Governor Blagojevich, Speaker Madigan, President Jones, and Leaders Cross and Watson:
In the 109th Congress, we worked together in a bipartisan manner to provide Illinois with a 33.4 percent per year increase in federal funding for transportation infrastructure – the largest in the state’s history. SAFETEA (P.L. 109-59) provided the state with the resources necessary to make significant investments in highway and transit infrastructure throughout Illinois. We’re proud of this accomplishment and want all of the federal funding set aside for Illinois to be invested in our state’s transportation system.
We understand that the State of Illinois needs to provide as much as $1.2 billion to complete all of the projects in our state that are eligible for federal matching funds under P.L. 109-59.
We encourage you to enact state legislation to provide the needed state match for the federal transportation funds we secured in 2005. If the State of Illinois does not enact a capital bill and provide the non-federal match this year, as much as $6.1 billion in federal funding could be at risk.
Our state responded after Congress passed comprehensive transportation infrastructure legislation in the late 1990s by enacting Illinois FIRST. That capital bill ensured that all federal funding secured by the Illinois Congressional Delegation could be spent on highway and transit projects. In short, thanks to the state match, no federal funds were left behind.
We hope we can count on you to enact appropriate legislation that will provide the required state match to the federal funds available to our state.
We share the mutual goal of helping Illinois secure the highest return for its tax dollars, and we stand ready to work with you to that end.
Comment by Just Saying Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 3:53 pm
VM,
Let me get this right:
As a conservative Republican, you want the United States Senate deciding if Illinois should spend Illinois tax dollars on education, health care, or transportation, and you want the United States Senate to decide if the people of Illinois should raise Illinois taxes?
Is that really your opinion?
Or do you really not care what the Senator’s position is — you just want to play cheap politics and get him on the record or to rip him for not getting involved?
Do you want him involved or not?
Which is it?
Do you favor a massive federal government, or are you just playing the role of the cheap hack?
If Illinois Republicans had any self-respect, they would be claiming that they are glad that the United States Senator is keeping out of this matter.
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 3:54 pm
The fact is that Obama is INTIMATELY involved in local and state politics.
Do you think that the moving of the primary date for his benefit happened without his knowledge and effort?
He’s DEEPLY involved with the Dem political network in Illinois right now. His main base for early primary success and fundraising is right here.
The most revealing thing here is that the POTUS needs to be very skilled at forming coalitions to get things done. This meltdown would be an excellent opportunity fro Obama to come in and move forward his agenda in Illinois, and bring together combatants with far more in common than most adversaries.
If he can’t even get Madigan, Jones and Blago, all supporters of his in his own party, to sit down and compromise for the common good, what makes ANYONE think he can do that with Putin, the Chinese, the “A-man” from Iran, Kim Jong Il, Hugo Chavez, and the warm, “cooperative” folks from the EU?
His impotence here is a clear indication of how much POTUS is beyond his skill and abilities.
Comment by PalosParkBob Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 4:15 pm
Skeeter, controlling a matter and being aware of a matter are two vastly different things. As I read the above comments, I do not see anyone saying Obama should be controlling the state budget fiasco. We already have one Huey Long wannabe in Springfield trying to do that. What is being said is that he ought to know what is going on in the state he supposedly represents in the U.S. Senate. Can you understand that distinction?
YDD: G.W.B. is the President of the United States, not the President of Texas. Obama is the freakin’ United States Senator representing the State of ILLINOIS in the United States Senate. Get the point?
Comment by HoosierDaddy Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 4:20 pm
Skeeter, your postings on this issue wouldn’t impress a seventh grade debate team.
What kind of tactic are you trying to employ here?
You label me as something or other. Then you concoct a goofy choice based on a stereotype you have about people you label as such. Did you ever sit on a high school debating team? They would have you drummed out on your ear with silly statements like that!
Do I want Obama involved in Illinois issues? What kind of question is that? He is our freaking senator. He was elected to represent us in the US Senate. He has a huge staff, lots of offices, and a full time team of press people. Yet he pretends to be ignorant about what we are going through?
That is his job! He is supposed to KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN ILLINOIS! Then use that “knowledge” to represent our interests in the US Senate. His massive staff of hungry, hungry politicos are suppose to keep him informed, if he isn’t personally aware of something or other.
What part of this do you not understand? IT IS HIS JOB TO KNOW.
Dick Durbin does this. Sheesh! Every US senator does this for a living, why not Obama? Enough already. You are not making sense.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 4:28 pm
VM:
Make up your mind: Do you want a United States Senator to make decisions for Illinois taxes and Illinois spending or not?
Palos Park:
So, according to you, avoiding quagmires is a BAD THING?
No wonder you voted for Mr. Bush. You people like quagmires and a massive federal government.
Hoosier:
Let me get this right: If Sen. Obama had said “I am fully aware of the developments, but I choose not to get involved” then you would be singing his praise?
Come on. You Republicans are supposed to be the party of morality. Show some here. Stop lying. You all don’t want Sen. Obama involved and if you do want him involved, you sure don’t favor limited government, which makes you pretty bad Republicans.
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 4:35 pm
Skeeter, to quote Dr. Cox from “Scrubs”:
“Wrong wrong wrong, wrong wrong wrong!”
It doesn’t matter what party you are from or where you live or who you voted for. Our elected officials need to be involved where they are needed. And, in my experience, an elected official is typically pulled at from every corner of a district and state. That means that the elected official and his or her staff has an obligation to serve the people both in D.C. and in the district or state. That is not a Democrat or Republican issue; it’s an issue of our elected officials doing the best job possible and hiring the best staff possible. Period. And you made a very poor argument.
In a republic form of government, the people elect the officials, and the officials make the laws. But the officials are beholden to the people, and the people have a right to demand action and appearances from the officials.
It does pain me to see Obama already aspiring to bigger and better things after two years. And that’s not me being selfish; that’s me worrying about him damaging his national reputation.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 4:35 pm
TS,
Now I am competely confused.
To my suggestion that you, TS, want the United States Senate to decide on Illinois spending priorities and Illinois taxes, you respond “Wrong Wrong Wrong.”
But then you go on to say that Sen. Obama should make decisions as to Illinois taxes and spending priorities?
Does that make the slighest sense to you?
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 4:39 pm
Obama was close with Emil Jones, right?
If I was Obama, I’d avoid getting dragged into defending Jones too.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 6:13 pm
Skeet, aside from the fact that you cannot possibly know what I or anyone else is thinking, you are actually fairly close to what I am saying. If the guy had said something that would have shown that he understands the process and the situtation but then indicated that it was a matter that governor and the legislature need to work together to solve, it would have sounded a whole lot more intelligent than what he did say. The way he came across is “I’m too busy running for President to know anything about the people I represent.” Nice.
Now cut with the Dem/Repub crap. It’s not a liberal/conservative issue. It’s much more an experience/judgment issue.
Comment by HoosierDaddy Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 6:49 pm
Skeeter, you are not making sense. & by the way you are doing the junior senator from ILINOIS no favors by suggesting that if he were to involve himself in state wide matters ie the budget he would be some kind of proponent of uber big brother government. He is not simply a United States Senator, he is the Junior United States senator from ILLINOIS. When he “only” needed single digit millions and we were the only ones that knew him, he was very informed about our state.
Comment by lincolnlandbubba Wednesday, Jun 6, 07 @ 10:22 pm
I do think it’s rather bad form for Barack to freely admit to the press that he doesn’t know what’s happening with the budget in his home state. The outcome of this mess has the potential to affect many of his constituents’ quality of life.
His response of a wink and a “I’ve had a little bit of other stuff to do” seems arrogant to me.
I understand the idea of not wanting to get involved in all of the infighting, which is smart. But he could have approached the questions differently and more diplomatically. I also don’t believe for a second that he doesn’t know what is going on.
Comment by Bridget Dooley Thursday, Jun 7, 07 @ 12:47 am