Progress Illinois

Looking for reactions on President Obama's health care address last night, WFLD's Good Day Chicago dialed up a pair of Illinois Congressman, Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Peter Roskam. Their responses are interesting in so much as they illustrate fairly well the current politics at play in Washington.

Jackson, who hasn't made many media appearances since his name was brought up in the Blagojevich indictment, praised the president for selling the American people on the importance of "more stability and security, on quality and affordable choices for all Americans, and reigning in the cost of health care for our families, our businesses, and our government." When asked whether intra-party disputes about legislative details could thwart reform, he said lawmakers on the center-left need to join together and pass universal coverage now or risking losing their seats next year. Watch it (the relevant section begins at 1:30):

JACKSON: I certainly think that [the Democrats] do [have enough votes] and I certainly hope that they do or the 2010 election cycle is going to be very difficult. It's an off-presidential election year. Central to the Democratic Party’s platform for the last 40 or 50 years has been the idea of universal coverage for all Americans. And the idea that the President of the United States or this Congress under Democratic control would back away from covering all Americans would certainly be a form of suicide for the Democratic Party.

Roskam wasn't quite so excited by what he heard.

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Progressives have made it clear that they will fight to include a public option in whatever health care reform package emerges on Capitol Hill. Now they're putting their money where their mouths are. In a show of support for those members of Congress who have pledged to reject any bill that lacks a public plan, activists have raised nearly $400,000 from over 6,500 supporters through ActBlue during the past week. Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher -- who is steering the fundraising campaign along with various other bloggers (under the umbrella organization Blue America) -- describes the financial support as "rewarding good behavior."  The money also applies some pressure to the Progressive Caucus to stand by their pledge if push comes to shove. Blue America explains:

They stood with the American people and ordinary working families when push came to shove and both political parties decided propping up a disastrous health care system and a corrupt Insurance Industry was more important than keeping the promise made over and over to working families [...]

That takes courage, and we need to show them how much we appreciate them for doing so.

Also of note: The list of benificiaries includes three members of Illinois' congressional delegation -- Reps. Luis Gutierrez,  Jesse Jackson Jr., and Phil Hare -- who've pulled in nearly $13,000 combined.

When the summer recess is over and Congress returns to Capitol Hill, will immigration reform remain a top priority for Democrats? While members of Congress have been sending mixed messages about exactly how hard they'll push for reform, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) has pledged to introduce legislation before Labor Day.  And just this morning, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said that she sees drafting such legislation as the most pressing issue on her department's agenda. Still, the White House itself has been somewhat slow to commit.

Today, seven Democratic members of Illinois' congressional delegation -- Reps. Mike Quigley, Danny Davis, Luis Gutierrez, Jan Schakowsky, Phil Hare, Jesse Jackson Jr., and Bobby Rush -- sent an open letter to President Obama urging him to add his political muscle to the immigration fight. "Letters like this push the agenda," Rep. Quigley said at a press conference today. "Our role as a congressmen is to help set the priorities." Watch:

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The folks at MSNBC probably didn't realize it, but by soliciting Rep. Bobby Rush to respond to the controversy surrounding Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., they set a dramatic stage. 

As Illinois political junkies know, the two members of Congress have a good deal of history.  In his remarks to the Illinois delegation at this year's Democratic National Convention, that tension bubbled to the surface when Rush took a few veiled shots at Jackson (listen to Ben Calhoun's masterful WBEZ report for the full scene).  Jackson later took the podium and directly addressed Rush's remarks, saying, "Bobby if there's anything I've ever done, or we've ever done to offend you, I'm leaving it at this convention. You're my friend, and I appreciate you."  The two men went on to embrace, triggering the infamous Democratic hug-fest (watch our full video here).

Talking to MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell today, Rush strongly suggested that the hatchet is truly buried.  "I don't believe that Jesse Jackson Jr. was in any way culpable or that he participated in any act that would be unlawful," he said.  "And I believe Jesse Jackson Jr. and stand behind his statements."  When asked whether Jackson has any chance to become the next Illinois senator, Rush responded: "He has really all the capacity, the talent, and skills.  He's got to reach out and he's got to tell his story.  He's got to tell the people of Illinois in very emphatic terms how he would be a U.S. senator in line with the great U.S. senators that Illinois has produced in the past." Watch:

Like so many other Illinois pols, President-elect Barack Obama joined the resignation chorus this morning. The Washington Post has the Obama team's statement:

"The President-elect agrees with Lt. Gov. Quinn and many others," said Robert Gibbs, the incoming White House press secretary, "that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois."

In measured remarks yesterday, Obama had stopped short of demanding that the governor step down. Blagojevich, meanwhile, seems to have no intention of doing so.

Also of note, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. said today that he was contacted by federal prosecutors.  He said they asked him yesterday "to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process."

The SouthtownStar is reporting that both Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Congresswoman-elect Debbie Halvorson have come out in opposition to the idea of granting clemency to imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan:

"I sympathize with Mrs. Ryan and regret the hardship this has caused the Ryan family," Jackson said in a statement. "However, I also recognize and respect the jury's verdict and the tragic loss it has caused the Willis family." [...]

"I have the utmost respect for Senator Durbin, and he is certainly free to express his opinion on this matter," Halvorson said in a statement. "However, I believe that just as George Ryan was treated as anyone else would be during sentencing, his situation should be addressed no differently than anyone else regarding early release, and I do not believe he should have his sentence commuted."

WBEZ has a round-up of statements from other public figures around Illinois.  And you can check out our readers' thoughts on the subject here.

I don't expect D.C. media establishmentarians like Chris Matthews to have an expert handle on the ins and outs of Illinois politics.  But it's still fun to watch them attempt to cover the local scene.

For instance, yesterday on Hardball, Matthews seemed to suggest that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. "made news" earlier that day when he told the hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe that he would be "honored and humbled" to fill Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat.  Of course, anyone who's been paying attention back here in Illinois knows that Jackson Jr.'s statement was hardly "news."

During the subsequent discussion with Charlie Cook and Chuck Todd, Matthews immediately brought up the issue of who Mayor Daley wants appointed to the seat.  Todd quickly set him straight, pointing out that the only thing that matters is what Blagojevich wants.  Watch it:

For what it's worth, Jackson Jr. clearly impressed Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzenzski.  As he begins to lay out his and Obama's shared "vision," you can hear her say under her breath, "Oh, listen to him."

Time is ticking for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to name Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate successor. The state’s chief executive -- who may have showed his hand on Thanksgiving Day by calling Rep. Danny Davis “Senator” on two different occasions -- insists he will go public with his choice around Christmas. That leaves just over three more weeks for the political pundits to guess who the unpredictable lawmaker might appoint.

Of course, who Blagojevich should choose and who he will choose are two very different questions. Today, the Sun-Times weighs in on the former, joining the SouthtownStar in endorsing Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. From their editorial:

We believe Jackson, 43, has the drive, the passion and the experience. In his 13 years in Congress, he has distinguished himself as a thoughtful, committed legislator who fights for what he thinks is right. [...]

Above all, we believe, Jackson shares the values and goals of the president-elect, a consideration of no small importance to us in making this endorsement. The voters of Illinois chose Obama twice—first for the Senate and then for president—and they deserve a replacement who fully shares the president-elect’s agenda.

The paper also singles out Attorney General Lisa Madigan as “one other superbly qualified candidate for the job,” but notes that it’s unlikely the governor would offer any favors to the Madigan clan.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who has been the most aggressive of in pursuing Barack Obama's open U.S. Senate seat, appeared on MSNBC this morning to discuss the appointment. Echoing Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Jackson said, "I don't think it's that important at all that the governor makes a decision based on race."  He added that Blagojevich should make "a decision based upon the values that represent the interests of our state and the 44th President of the United States."  Watch it:

Also, what's with Andrea Mitchell's claim at the top that "we have an all-white United States Senate"?  Daniel Akaka, Ken Salazar, Mel Martinez, Daniel Inouye, and Bob Menendez would probably beg to differ.

CBS 2's Mike Flannery sorted through the speculation about Obama's U.S. Senate replacement last night and offered up some interesting -- and unsourced -- developments.  According to Flannery, the top three names on Gov. Blagojevich's shortlist are Tammy Duckworth, Emil Jones, and Rep. Luis Gutierrez.  He further reported that former 10th District congressional candidate Dan Seals is perhaps being considered and that sources "all but rule out Jesse Jackson Jr." as a potential pick.  Finally, Attorney General Lisa Madigan distanced herself from the process.  Watch it:

Meanwhile, Sen. Dick Durbin indicated yesterday that he's hoping to meet with Blagojevich to discuss the matter today:

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