Posted on 12/06/2008 3:11:16 PM PST by Baladas
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones has become the front runner to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the United States Senate, a source told FOX News.
Jones, 73, served in the House of the Illinois General Assembly for 10 years until 1983 before joining the state Senate, where he's been ever since. He has four children with his late wife, Patricia.
Jones reportedly told a radio station that he is interested in Obama's seat.
"Yes, I am interested, but I'm not out there promoting it," he said. "I'm letting my record stand for itself as it relates to education, health care ... issues I've worked on."
Jones, who is black, would fulfill the desire of politicians who want to see an African American replace Obama, the only black member of the Senate.
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill, called on Gov. Rod Blagojevich to name a black man or woman to the seat. Rush said it would be a "national disgrace" if Obama's seat were not filled by an African American.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What's a "national disgrace" is that it's up in the wind that there's an American as "president-elect".
LOLOL Emil Jones? LOLOL .. the machine lives
"He said, 'Cliff, I'm gonna make me a U.S. Senator.'"
"Oh, you are? Who might that be?"
"Barack Obama."
Jones appointed Obama sponsor of virtually every high-profile piece of legislation, angering many rank-and-file state legislators who had more seniority than Obama and had spent years championing the bills.
Don is a conservative host of the popular "Don Wade and Roma" morning show on WLS-AM.
Fox doesn’t show his picture. I wonder why.
Apparently only Chicago machine types are permitted to run for Illinois public office now ...
I figured that Emil Jones would get it. He was Obama’s mentor in the state legislature. Whether Jones will end his long career as a U.S. Senator in 2010 or whether he’ll seek a full term is unclear.
Obama and Jones
That's change that can't be sustained for very long.
-PJ
He could be aiming for the Byrd-Strom route, in which case he could be in the Senate for the next 30 years.
If Emil Jones wants to run in 2010, he will have the full support of the Chicago Machine behind him. His campaign message will be, “I am Obama’s political father”.
What about the desire of the people of the State of Illinois? Why don't they just take a poll? After all, aren't polls more accurate than elections... /sarc
Wait a moment: I thought McLame was “too old”? Why is it that the Demonrats always replace U.S. Senate seats with old guys, like Lautenberg in New Jersey?
The governor could pick the runner-up in the 2004 election, who is also black.
This is an anti-JesseJunior move. The dems are afraid Jessethekid would lose in 2010 to the Republican. Jones will be a figurehead who won’t run in the primary, and the Dem nominee will then be the winner of a free-fall-all among half a dozen or more candidates. Smart move on dems part, and the old guy gets to have a last hurrah in the Senate.
It might be a good idea to teach him how to read before he assumes the Senate seat.
Man, by the time this is over you folks across the other '56' states will get to see why Illinois residents downstate wish Chicago would just go away and leave us alone.
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