The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

Rush Calls For Obama Replacement To Be African-American

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Dec 3, 2008 4:25PM

2008_12_03_rush.jpgCongressman Bobby Rush has called on Governor Blagojevich to name a black politician to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-Elect Barack Obama, announcing a state-wide petition drive on the issue. Rush, who has no interest in the seat, spoke at a press conference yesterday, saying, "In the past, Governor Blagojevich has demonstrated in some respects that he's a friend. We just want him to continue to be friendly." With Obama's seat vacated, the U.S. Senate has no black senators. Two of the leading candidates to take over the seat are black: Congressmen Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Danny Davis. Outgoing State Senate President Emil Jones has also been mentioned as a possible replacement, but is considered more of a long-shot.

Rush added:

We are not about personalities. We really are about the principal that there should be an African-American. There are a number of people who have put their names forward who are imminently qualified to be in the U.S. Senate. But you know if we start picking personalities then we're going to add to the division.
Blagojevich has promised to appoint the replacement before the end of the year and is feeling more pressure to do it sooner rather than later since Vice President-Elect Joe Biden has already named his replacement for Delaware and New York Governor David Paterson will name Hillary Clinton's replacement soon.

Image via ABC 7 video