Jackson: May the Best Man Get Obama’s Seat
Roll Call Staff
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said Monday that he doesn’t think “it’s that important at all” that President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat be filled by an African-American.
Jackson, whose name has been floated as a possible Obama successor, said on MSNBC that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) should pick someone for the seat “objectively,” and who best represents the interests of the state.
Obama was the only African-American Senator in the 110th Congress and is the fifth in U.S. history. He officially resigned his Senate seat on Sunday.
Another contender for Obama’s seat, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), said Saturday that he thinks race shouldn’t be the main consideration in naming Obama’s replacement.
“The quicker we get away from ... simply referring to elected officials by the color of their skin and their national origin, the better [for] this country,” Gutierrez told reporters at a Chicago immigration event.
Taylor: Preventing Another Underwear Bomber
March 19, 4:09 p.m.
The intelligence community faces challenges daily. No example is more emblematic of the problems faced than the so-called underwear bomber of 2009. As threats emerge, the hunt for “persons of interest” must occur in a more reliable and efficient manner because the consequences of inaction can be catastrophic. Read Full Article
Roll Call Video Channels
