CHICAGO (WBBM) - Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) says he's starting a petition drive which he hopes will spark appointment of another African-American to fill the remaining two years of Barack Obama's U.S. Senate term.
Rush said it would be a national disgrace not to have Obama's seat filled by one of the many capable African-American Illinois politicians.
Rush said he's not interested in the job but says there are several qualified African-Americans who would fill the bill.
Rush was joined by African-American officials in state, county and local offices as well as African-American religious and community leaders.
Rush said failure to replace Obama with an African-American would leave the U.S. Senate without one single African-American voice.
Asked if that were fair to Tammy Duckworth who's a senate possibility of Japanese descent, Rush said she's a good and capable woman but stressed again there have been Asian and Pacific Islanders in the Senate, and he's now focusing on the African-American community which needs a voice in the Senate.
Rush said Gov. Rod Blagojevich--who will make the Senate appointment--is being lobbied strongly on behalf of several candidates. Rush said he fears the black community hasn't pressed its interests strongly enough.
Rush says petitions demanding Obama's successor be an African American are now being circulated through churches, small businesses, barber shops and on street corners.
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