Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:04 PM CDT
Illinois officials take spotlight at convention
by the JG/T-C
editorial@jg-tc.com
DENVER (AP) — Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, a political mentor of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, denied Monday calling a black delegate for Hillary Rodham Clinton an “Uncle Tom.”
Jones, who is black, said he called Clinton supporters “doubting Thomases” and was misunderstood. But Chicago political consultant Delmarie Cobb said Jones didn’t say anything about a misunderstanding when she confronted him.
The president of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization for Women said Jones should resign.
The dispute came on the day a long list of Illinoisans, including possible candidates for governor in 2010, were set to speak at the Democratic convention Monday night, praising Obama and also getting a bit of publicity for themselves.
The speeches don’t amount to much — just two or three minutes each for officials such as Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. But being chosen signals that the party, and Obama’s campaign, holds the officials in high regard.
Notably, incumbent Gov. Rod Blagojevich wasn’t asked to speak.
Jones, a Chicago Democrat who used his power to aid Obama’s 2004 Senate campaign, was also scheduled to speak.
The Jones dispute underlines the divisions that remain between Obama and Clinton supporters, despite efforts to unite the two sides. It also serves as a reminder of the volatility of Illinois Democrats, who have been feuding and arguing for years.
“Democrats are Democrats,” said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, chairman of the Illinois party. “There are different people among Democrats, but as we move into the general election we’re all going to be brought together.”
Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, offered one possible solution, at least when it comes to Jones.
“I think Barack Obama would be wise to keep him locked up in the basement until the election is over,” said Davis, who, like Jones, is black.
Jones, who is retiring in January, said he has done nothing wrong.
“I cannot apologize for one misinterpreting what I said,” Jones said.
It would be “a good idea” for Jones to step down now, said Bonnie Grabenhofer, a Clinton delegate and head of Illinois NOW. “I think what Emil Jones said was despicable,” she said.
Roland Burris, the former attorney general and the first black man to win a major statewide office, minimized the importance of the incident. He didn’t condone using the phrase “Uncle Tom” but said it was probably made in jest.
But Cobb, a former Burris campaign aide, said the remark was outrageous even if meant as a joke.
“You don’t call a black person an Uncle Tom,” she said. “That’s like calling someone Benedict Arnold, a traitor to their race.”
The Illinois speakers on the opening night of the convention also include labor leader Tom Balanoff, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Jerry Kellman, who hired Obama for a Chicago community organizing job.
Blagojevich said he never sought to speak at the convention and didn’t mind not being asked.
“I don’t think it’s a snub,” Blagojevich said. “In fact, I know it’s not.”
Still, the unpopular governor — whose administration is under federal investigation — makes people skittish at Obama’s big party.
Davis, for instance, listed some of Obama’s accomplishments and stopped herself rather than even mention Blagojevich.
“He also helped Governor — well, I don’t want to name him,” Davis said, before continuing, “He also helped with our revamping of the criminal code.”
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miltmart wrote on Aug 26, 2008 11:03 AM: