Madigan defends decision on election

Posted: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:39 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Norah O'Donnell

From MSNBC's Adam Verdugo
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan responded today to criticism that he's dragging his feet when it comes to bringing up legislation calling for a special election to replace Obama saying that Democrats have not ruled it out.

"All we did yesterday was to defer the question of a special election," he said in an interview with MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell.

The Republican Party in the state points to a poll it commissioned (conducted by McLaughlin & Associates), which indicates that just 14% believe Illinois' is on the right track; 79% say the state is on the wrong track. And that two-thirds support a special election.

Republicans, who obviously want a special election to have a shot at winning the seat, claim that if Democrats in the state house don't take action soon, voters will hold them accountable.

"Speaker Madigan, who was Rod Blagojevich's campaign co-chair, is one of the most powerful elected officials in Illinois,” Illinois GOP spokesman Lance Trover said. “If he wanted this special election to pass, it would have been called for a vote.”

Blagojevich and Madigan, however, have anything but a close relationship.

Today, when asked about the process to select his replacement, President-elect Obama declined to weigh in.

"I'm going to let the state legislature make a determination of how they want to proceed," he said.

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Comments

Blah, Blah, BLAGO!

Blago this, Blago that.....STOP it MSNBC!

Blago is doint what Blago does.

Too bad/sad you didn't keep such close tabs on the corrupt Bush/Cheney White House!

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:49 PM)

Chuck Todd, Mark Whitaker, David Shuster give it up; I am sorry that Obama didn’t answer the question the way you may have liked; a press conference on the new Education Secretary Duncan. You must be really bored to be this fixated on this non-story; what, are you taking up the slack for Morning Joe which he got no where this morning and looked like a complete fool whining about no investigation on Obama, I guess he didn’t get Newt’s Memo to pipe it down.

Find another story like folks.

justwaitandsee (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:51 PM)

In Illinois, the Madigan Klan is just as dirty as the Daley Klan, as the Blagojevich Klan, and the Jesse Jackson Klan. It's just that the feds haven't gotten around to arresting the Madigans yet.

J Harris, Rockford IL (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:53 PM)

Repubs - stop trying to steal a Dem seat. A special election is bad in many ways: costs too much and will take too much time as well. I predict that the Blago will be given until the end of this year to step down (negotiating time). And if that isn't his intention, he will be impeached ASAP next year (if the Illinois supreme court doesn't do us all a favor and temporarilt suspend his power). Or why doesn't Blago just assign the decision to the Lt. Govenor. That would get the immediacy of his needing to put out to pasture (before given due process) and would give the power to whom would sooner or later get the power to do so.

Kelly (from Pittsburgh) (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:53 PM)

Today, when asked about the process to select his replacement, President-elect Obama declined to weigh in.

Of course. Those things are done it private. Usually after the room is scanned for bugging devices.

Codey Words (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:54 PM)

As a voter from Illinois, I am personally going to hold them ALL accountable. Whoever is currently in right now will NOT get my vote in the next election. Blagojevich has been running this scam for some time now and NOBODY stepped up and tried to do anything about it. The games that have been played in Springfield are an embarassment. The people of Illinois deserve better than this.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:55 PM)

"if Democrats in the state house don't take action soon, voters will hold them accountable."

So, how many state legislators will seriously be in any jeopardy of losing their seat because they didn't vote for a special election? Seriously, this has to be the most hallow, empty political threat I've seen recently.

Michael (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:56 PM)

We see it in NY and in Illinois. It's all about power for the Democrats. They don't want to chance having an election because the stupid voters might just get it wrong and elect a Republican.

Jesse Toyy, Chicago Illinois (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 1:57 PM)

This is off topic, but please get rid of Contessa Brewer and Michelle Francis. Is this is the best you have to talk about the economy They sound like two fish wives on the dock, talking over each other, and not too bright.

Congrats to Shuster - so much better at 6:00pm, so thanks.

stephanie, ft. pierce, fl. (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:05 PM)

Keep on dragging your feet. Punishment is a dirty word to most Dem politicians. There's no real such thing as a major crime. They're all venial in stature.

Rory Storm (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:12 PM)

"Speaker Madigan, who was Rod Blagojevich's campaign co-chair, is one of the most powerful elected officials in Illinois,”

Thieves trying Thieves!!

Pirate Law (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:12 PM)

Is there no concern over the fact that Democrats elected someone who was a state senator and a U.S. Senator from a state that has as bad or worse ratings than the Bush administration? Especially a really, really blue state?

I really, really hope he is underneath it all a maverick.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:12 PM)

Mike Madigan?! Lisa Madigan?! Related somehow?

Madi Madigan (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:13 PM)

Why is Illinois run by gangsters?

A. Capone (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:14 PM)

There go the republicans again...looking to change the rules for their own political gain! Illinois already has a procedure for replacing resigning elected officials - US Senator is picked by Governor, and if Governor resigns, Lt. Gov. replaces him and the replacement picks the US Senator. There is no provision for a special election...republicans are changing the rules once again because they know they can't win by playing with the rules!

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:14 PM)

I think the word is that Illinois does not have the money to hold a special election. Why not have the Leut. Gov. step in until the regular election? If the one with the most votes cannot carry out the duties of the office, shouldn't the person with the second most votes step-in?

Connie in Tennessee (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:20 PM)

It's nice that the Democratic Party and all Dems want to protect their president-elect Obama. So allow me to protect the current one.

The game is simple. You berate mine and yours gets berated. Hey, it's gonna happen anyway. The media love affair will eventually cease and it looks like Obama already is going backwards in his "boost the economy" thinking.

Mean Mr. Mustard (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:28 PM)

Given that it costs money to have an election (any election) as well as letting people know when it is and who is running, it isn't a surprise that it hasn't been done yet. Isn't Illinois also in a major amount of debt like most other states? That would be one cost that could be controlled. There is nothing to rule it out and to stop it from happening.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:29 PM)

Vote for Palin as Senator! I just love her.

Michael Furling, LI, NY (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:44 PM)

Chuckle. Illinois legislators have had time to consider what might come out about their own dealings. Rod has been their go to man and they don't want any part of this. They all knew what he was doing and they will all be called to testify.

It's not clear what the Governor actually did except illustrate to the American people how their government actually works. Legislators are sweating bullets all over the land.

http://ewebsmith.com/gov/JFKWarning.html

Web Smith, Los Gatos, CA (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:08 PM)

Our whole country is on the wrong track, it doesnt seem to make a difference democratic or republican
state government. S.C. sucks, All we have are our rich and pro rich representatives. Il. is no different
they forget all about the people who vote them in office and go on to become very wealthy and influentiial ( spelling, I know ). I have heard that if you vote and are intrested and are willing to work, things will get better, Iam 62 and Ive never seen it get one bit better.
marty

marty,columbia,s.c. (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:22 PM)

Golly gee when did the Republicans start caring about anyone other than bible pounders and the scum on wall street who have wiped out so many Americans?

Rick, NC (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:35 PM)

Tell the Republicans to cough up some money for the special election then. I think they estimated it would cost around $50 million. They should pay at least half if they want to push it so hard and paint the Dems as refusing it like they are.

No one is refusing it. They are just saying that with the budget shortfall, and with the economy, maybe this isn't the best time to be pushing for one. So...cough up there Repubs....pay your share.

Annette, Odessa, MO (Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2008 3:36 PM)

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