Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz - Christine Radogno

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• published: 01 Apr 2008
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Senator Radogno, who may run for Governor in 2010, assesses Obama's Presidential judgment, if the GOP can make a comeback and what to do about the Illinois Combine. Jeff Berkowitz, host and producer of "Public Affairs," debates and discusses state legislative issues and Barack Obama's Presidential judgment and leadership traits with State Senator Christine Radogno (R-Lemont). Senator Radogno, Deputy Republican Leader in the Senate, outperformed all the other Republican State-wide candidates in her losing 2006 race for Treasurer against Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. Radogno's twelve-year tenure in the Illinois Statehouse includes the eight years (1997-2004) that Obama served in the Illinois State Senate. Senator Radogno, while noting that Senator Brady has said he is "definitely out there," in terms of the 2010 Gubernatorial race and that Berkowitz mentioned Cross as a potential Guv candidate, would "not rule anything out." regarding a run for Governor in 2010 by her. Senator Radogno, who served on some senate committees with Senator Obama, answered a line of questioning about the judgment of Senator Obama, especially with regard to Obama's chosen pastor and spiritual advisor, Jeremiah Wright, but also in regard to Obama's friend and former financial supporter, Tony Rezko (quarter of a million dollars contributed to Obama or raised by Rezko for Obama over eight years); Obama's endorsement, in 2006, of Todd Stroger, Democratic Cook County Board Presidential candidate (Todd Stroger's main claim to fame at that time was that he was the son of John Stroger, who pretty much was a straight, Chicago political patronage kind of guy for 12 years as the Cook County Board President) and Obama's association with William Ayer's, a radical in the weathermen underground movement in the 60s. Radogno argued, taken together, these actions and associations raise judgment issues as to Obama. Radogno also argued that Obama accepting or asking for "help with his house purchase," from Rezko [or his wife] also reflected bad judgment." Senator Radogno noted that Obama has responded to the "Pastor issue.' in a [Philadelpia] speech and that Obama is "at his best when giving a speech." Radogno argued, however, that Obama was still defending Pastor Wright's comments and that the comments were so hateful, bitter and angry that she could not imagine any context in which Wright's comments were appropriate. Radogno also noted that the church publication had a pattern of ...anti-European, anti-Semitic... Berkowitz brought up some of the contra arguments to Radogno's arguments, above, including Obama's statement that "only in America could somebody with Obama's story become a Presidential candidate' Berkowitz also noted that Obama could not diassociate himself from Wright because he is "almost family.' Berkowitz raised the issue of whether the State GOP can make a comeback in '08 if Obama is leading the ballot for the Democrats in the Fall. Senator Radogno was enthusiastic about the State GOP's chances, notwithstanding Obama's likely presence as the Democratic leader at the top of the ballot. Radogno said she could buy into some of the Governor's proposals, such as the lease of the lottery, if you had a Governor who was controlling spending and was going to take the "pension money," and "fix the pensions," which would include a two tiered system. Radogno said, "We don't need to cut spending -- what we need to do is not expand beyond the [new] revenue that comes in." Radogno would focus on cutting programs such as Medicaid, which is growing in Illinois at about 8% per year and appears to include many who do not meet the eligibility standards. Berkowitz and Radogno also debated additional gaming and casinos as a way of financing an "09 capital budget. Berkowitz and Radogno discussed how to improve the State GOP, including getting rid of the Illinois Combine. RT: 28:49