Edgar shocked at corruption
Stephen Di Benedetto/News Editor
Issue date: 12/11/08 Section: News
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Edgar, a Charleston native and a 1968 Eastern graduate, said he was not surprised, however, that Blagojevich was arrested.
"I've never seen anything like it," Edgar said about the degree of Blagojevich's alleged unethical activity.
On Tuesday, the FBI arrested Blagojevich and John Harris, Blagojevich's chief of staff, for charges related to political corruption. The federal prosecutors allege Blagojevich partook in numerous corrupt activities, including auctioning President-elect Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat for campaign contributions.
"He's beyond anything I've seen," Edgar said.
Edgar, who served as governor from 1991 to 1999, said former Gov. George Ryan, who was convicted in 2006 because of political corruption, did wrong, but his actions pale in comparison to Blagojevich's actions.
He said he does not know if there is any logical rationale for why Blagojevich would allegedly participate in so much political corruption. Edgar said he was also baffled that Blagojevich would continue these actions, knowing he was under investigation.
"It was off the charts," Edgar said about Blagojevich's actions.
He said whoever is the next governor, whether it is Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn or someone who is elected in 2010, he or she will be challenged more than Obama will be on the federal level.
Edgar said the next governor will have to be extra careful with ethical issues, but will also have a host of policy issues to deal with, such as trying to fix Illinois' economy.
He said the next governor has to take care of all parts of Illinois and not favor Chicago or downstate Illinois. The next governor has to show he or she cares about people, Edgar said.
He said every state has its share of corruption, and added most people in government are more honest than 30 years ago.
"That's changed," Edgar said about corrupt politics.
He said there is nothing specific about Illinois' political climate that harbors corruption, and concluded it only takes one individual to give the appearance that the entire system is tainted.
As for Blagojevich, many state legislators have demanded his resignation. On Wednesday, Blagojevich's birthday, the governor returned to work and met with his staff at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. Blagojevich has made no indication of wanting to resign.
Edgar said Blagojevich should resign, but concluded he probably will not quit as governor.
"I'll be surprised if he voluntarily stepped down," he said.
He said the voter population should have been more critical when Blagojevich was re-elected in 2006. The media did an adequate job of bringing out and discussing the ethical issues Blagojevich had prior to 2006, Edgar said. He was surprised when Blagojevich was re-elected, he added.
Edgar said if the governor does not resign, the General Assembly should impeach Blagojevich.
"He doesn't have the ability to be governor anymore," he said.
Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.
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Eiu Employee
posted 12/11/08 @ 7:59 AM CST
Does that mean that his mandatory "ethics test" will be recognized for its uselessness and it will be "recalled" as well?
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