Joe Birkett on Blago: Hold the enablers accountable

Plenty of politicians from both parties are calling for indicted Governor Rod Blagojevich to resign. Many of them are Illinois Democrats. But many of these same Dems, as the clouds of scandal began to gather around Blago in 2006, heartily endorsed him for reelection.

By the way, did you know that Obama pal and Blagojevich über-fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko was indicted in October, 2006?

Two-time statewide candidate Joe Birkett, who is the DuPage County State's Attorney, remembers:

Many of us have known for several years that Illinois Governor Rod
Blagojevich was running a corrupt administration and said so. Today,
that obvious suspicion turned into federal criminal charges that again
defile the reputation of our great state.

The real lesson today is that politicians in Illinois and elsewhere
must do more than give lip service to opposing corruption—they must
act. They must not enable illegal activity by their silence,
endorsement, or political support.

In Illinois, members of one political party paid a heavy price by not
speaking out and acting on growing evidence of former Illinois
Governor George Ryan’s corruption. In the last several years, it was
apparent that members of another political party were aware of growing
corruption under Rod Blagojevich. The news media needs to hold those
individuals responsible for their silence, political support and
endorsement. Without that support, Blagojevich could not have gained
re-election in 2006 and our state would not have been subjected to two
more years of his bankrupt and corrupt stewardship.

I applaud those individuals who refused to enable Blagojevich's
blatant corruption and note that public corruption costs all citizens
in wasted taxpayer dollars and diversion of precious law enforcement
resources from fighting other crimes.

Technorati tags: Illinois Blagojevich Democrats politics Chicago corruption Illinois Politics Barack ObamaTony Rezko