Governor Patrick Quinn (D-IL) Wednesday expressed concern over his running-mate’s history of domestic violence, telling reporters that the Democrats’ nominee for lieutenant governor “should step aside,” barring a compelling explanation for his actions.
Scott Lee Cohen, who allegedly threatened his prostitute girlfriend by brandishing a knife and throwing her against a wall, Tuesday won the Democratic Party’s nomination for lieutenant governor, edging out five other contenders in an upset victory.
Quinn met with state Democratic Chair Mike Madigan to discuss the news of Cohen’s 2005 arrest, but refused to say publicly if he or Madigan had resolved on a contingency plan in the event Cohen voluntarily steps aside, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Democrats are said to have launched a campaign within the state party apparatus to compel Cohen not to seek office, if only to ensure the governorship remains in Democratic hands.
Asked if he would run as a third-party candidate in the event Cohen ignores the counsel of Illinois Democratic operatives, Quinn said only that “the situation will resolve itself,” hinting that Cohen will forgo the campaign.
The office Cohen aims to fill has remained vacant since January 2009, when then-Lieutenant Governor Quinn succeeded disgraced and now-impeached Rod Blagojevich.
UPDATE: While Governor Quinn and influential state Democrats are nudging–forcefully pushing, on some counts–Cohen to drop out of the race, the newly-minted Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor said no dice in a strongly-worded statement issued today.
“I have no intention of stepping down or stepping aside,” Quinn said. “When the facts come to light, after my ex-wife and ex-girlfriend speak, the people of Illinois can decide, and I will listen to them directly.”
But whatever the people of Illinois decide, it’s clear the people of the Illinois Democratic Party have reached resounding consensus: Cohen is a unnecessary burden to Democrats in what most election handicappers project will be a hostile election cycle.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Schadenfreude among IL Republicans...
Laura (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 3:06PM EST (link)Cohen reportedly disclosed his arrest history the day he declared his candidacy. It seems as though Quinn (and Dem leadership) just didn’t catch this early enough to do something pre-emptively, and now it will only get more and more awkward.
It won’t be long before the skeletons come out of some of our candidates’ closets, I’m sure, but for today, it’s interesting to watch the infighting on the other side.
Why *do* Democrats bother with primaries, anyway?
Moe Lane (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 3:39PM EST (link)It’s not like they’ve been producing satisfactory candidates with them, lately.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Eh, It's a Time Killer For Them Until Fall... ;) (nt)
IJB Thursday, February 4th at 3:41PM EST (link)It's a "moist run" for the general election ...
acat (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 7:47PM EST (link)Each candidate gets to put his or her message out there, and to make sure his or her Get Out The Vote group is working properly. They also do some opposition research and see if they can keep this kind of distraction from hitting during the general.
I’m amazed at the incompetence of the vetting process in Chicago. It’s not like Obama took all the good vetters with him …
Mew
——
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost”. –Tolkein
So Who's Their Lautenberg For This One?
Repair_Man_Jack (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 3:44PM EST (link)They clearly have yet another Torricelli problem.
” I side impenitently with the human race against the modern reformer.” – C.S. Lewis
Boy, these guys are the gift
Warrior (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 3:50PM EST (link)that keeps on giving. Blagoavich, Edwards, Cohen!
Next I guess they’ll nominate a Nazi war criminal or something…
“Racial criteria are irrational, irrelevant, [and] odious to our way of life.” — Thurgood Marshall for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in the 1950 Supreme Court case of McLaurin v. Oklahoma
Ok...I mean...I know Illinois Dem politics is about as
eburke (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 3:51PM EST (link)as slimy as snot on a Louisiana swamp, but really……
Where do they *find* these guys?
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
As Jim Geraghty wrote...
Repair_Man_Jack (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 3:55PM EST (link)“Domestic battery was not his proposal for an energy policy..”
” I side impenitently with the human race against the modern reformer.” – C.S. Lewis
Cohen refuses to step down...
Laura (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 4:48PM EST (link)…according to a WIND (560 AM Chicago) radio spot. Seems the worm will continue to turn on this one.
"...the people of Illinois can decide..."
DamnCat Thursday, February 4th at 5:12PM EST (link)Oh, but we already decided. At least those who requested a Democrat ballot on Tuesday decided. They picked you, Mr. Cohen – above five others! Don’t back down. Stand up for yourself – stand up for the people’s choice!
bwahahaha
Who do Madigan and Quinn think they are
mriggio (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 5:44PM EST (link)trying to force the duly elected candidate of the people to step aside? As Rush says, this type of thing is considered a career enhancement on a Democrat’s resume. I wonder about that bump on the back of her head, did he tell her to put some ice on that…?
mriggio
SMSgt, USAF (Ret)
Precinct Committeeman (R)
Tazewell County, Illinois
Save the
CheerleaderParty, save the World! (Heroes, ed.)The story that keeps on giving
Illinicon (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 6:01PM EST (link)not only is he women beater but a roidraged wife beater:
http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2010/02/04/cohens-troubles-get-worse-divorce-papers-surface/#comments
For those of you who like watching train wrecks and local this guy is suppose to be on the local PBS newsprogram tonight at 7 CT
My Potus shortlist
declared candidates:
1. Tim Pawlenty
2. Herman Cain
3. Gary Johnson
4. Rick Santorum
among declared and rumored candidates:
1. Rick Perry
2. Tim Pawlenty
3. Rudy Giuilani
4. Herman Cain
Am I the only one
Shoebox (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 6:47PM EST (link)who thinks that having a prostitute as a girlfriend should have disqualified him long before the knife incident?
The Barney Frank excuse applies .. "I didn't know (s)he was a pro" ... (n/t)
acat (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 7:43PM EST (link)not much text, anyway – I recall hearing that Rep. Frank had some form of relationship to a gay prostitute .. but don’t have time to google it just now.
Mew
——
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost”. –Tolkein
I am confused
Wes_W Thursday, February 4th at 6:53PM EST (link)Why would the Illinois Democrat party ask him to step down? I thought that prostitution, domestic violence, adultery, tax evasion, and bribery were a resume builder for democrats.
Wes, I think they're letting him step down to accept a Czar position. He has the resume! nt
nessa (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 6:56PM EST (link)“If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Contributor to Unified Patriots
teh twitter
Well to be a Czar is like the Cherry on top for a Democrat. -nt-
Richard Mullins (Diary) Thursday, February 4th at 6:58PM EST (link)Richard Phillip Mullins BlogThe Squash Satire SiteNews on Happy Jet Airlines
Rmullins Pics
Rpmullins Twitter
Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.
Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.
Wow.
joebgardener Thursday, February 4th at 10:19PM EST (link)Dumbocrats indeed…..the gift that keeps on giving.
I’m a retread who keeps coming back after getting banned for trolling.