Here’s an update on the shocking story of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who is not above selling Senate seats for cash, even though he could have relied upon payday loans.
President-elect Barack Obama has called for his resignation
President Obama & First Lady Michele Obama
Blagojevich reported to work today, then discovered just hours after that Obama has called for him to resign. The governor was arrested Tuesday, but is currently out on bond. Blagojevich continues to deny he has committed any wrongdoing.
Obama spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said the President-elect agrees with other prominent politicians in Illinois and elsewhere that “under the current circumstances, it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois.”
Blagojevich has been accused of trying to sell Obama’s open Senate seat for a cash reward or a lucrative job for himself. Moreover, he was accused of trying to intimidate the Chicago Tribune into firing editorial writers who had called for his impeachment.
Blagojevich has been charged with two counts: conspiracy to commit fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and solicitation to commit bribery, which is punishable by up 10 years.
“A sad day for Illinois”
Obama believes the Illinois legislature should hold a special election to fill the seat. The governor has authority to appoint the replacement.
The President-elect, who hasn’t been implicated in the matter, called it “a sad day for Illinois.”
“I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not — I was not aware of what was happening,” Obama said.
No More Payday Loans
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
“No appointment by this governor, under these circumstances, could produce a credible replacement,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Tuesday after Blagojevich was arrested.
Clearly, Mr. Blagojevich will not be long for his office. Without a sufficient income stream, he will also not be eligible to take out payday loans. On that count, the embattled governor could not be reached for comment.
To compare this guy with Nixon would be an insult to Nixon. Obama is right: he should resign. Not only should he resign, he should make a public apology and go straight to prison. If the leadership of this country is concerned with the relative level of cynicism that the American public has towards its political leaders, people like Blagojevich are the reason why.