Dick Durbin: Mike Madigan Partially To Blame For Cohen Situation (VIDEO)

Here is something you don't hear every day: an Illinois Democrat criticizing state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan.

After announcing his chairmanship of Alexi Giannoulias' Senate campaign, Sen. Dick Durbin talked to reporters over the weekend about the Scott Lee Cohen debacle--and placed some of the blame on Madigan, who is considered one of the most powerful state democrats:

"I think that Chairman Madigan needs to have a much better process in place so that we know the backgrounds of all candidates as they put themselves up to be Democrats," Durbin said, adding that Illinois Democrats in general should have done more to prevent Cohen from going as far as he did with his background.

Durbin called the situation "an embarrassment to our party and an embarrassment to our state," and also blamed the media for failing to ask the "tough questions" earlier in the election season.

Durbin was also asked if he thought the Madigan, who has controlled the state Democratic Party since 1998, should step down when his term is over. He said he would not get involved with that, but reiterated that a Cohen situation should never happen again:

"I would say to [Madigan] and to every member of this party at every level: We have a special responsibility to make sure it never happens again."

Watch The Capitol Fax Blog's video of Durbin speaking about Madigan and Cohen here:

Comments

[jl32175]

11:15 AM on 02/09/2010

I don't see how Cohen was any worse then any of the other corrupt Illinois pols. I was planning on voting for the Democrats on the state level as I normally do, but I am disgusted by the way they treated Cohen, so now I am going to be voting all Republican (except for the US Senate because Kirk irks me). I can't stand the Madigans at all. They make me want to puke whenever I see them on TV!

[Bude]

10:52 AM on 02/09/2010

I forgot about Durbin. This is the first I have heard from him in over a year. Is he still in the Senate?

[digitalmuaddib]

10:10 AM on 02/09/2010

Hooray for Illinois! We did it again! The gangsters never left; they just got sloppy!

[OneConservative]

07:24 AM on 02/09/2010

Mr. Madigan, when are you going to jail?

Isn't being the Speaker and having a real estate tax appeals law firm a conflict of interest? Even Government Media is starting to pick up on your shenanigans.

[OneConservative]

12:07 AM on 02/09/2010

Turbin is a complete fraud. Perhaps the least talented and least intellectual member of any member of Congress.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

02:45 AM on 02/09/2010

Opinions are like a_wholes. Everyone has one.

[Trance2010]

11:45 PM on 02/08/2010

If anything, shouldn't Turdbin blame Cohen for his own actions?

[crookedcountyillinois]

06:28 PM on 02/08/2010

My property taxes went up 45% last year without any change in the assessed value, or any warnings or notifications. And despite my many letters to Durbin's office, I keep getting the same answer: your issue is a local issue, not a federal one.

Could someone please explain to me how any of this business with Cohen is a federal issue...? 'Cause it seems to me like politicians band together for their parties, but never for their constituents.

[Trance2010]

11:46 PM on 02/08/2010

This is ridiculous... assessed valuations went down, but property taxes went up.

[naschkatze]

11:53 AM on 02/09/2010

This is not unique to Cook county but is happening all over the US. I live in the Pacific Northwest and that happened to me and everyone else in our county.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

02:44 AM on 02/09/2010

Good golly you're cl()eless. Property taxes ARE a local issue. And Senator Durbin (D-IL) was talking about a Democratic Party issue re: Cohen. No wonder we elect idjets half the time.

[BCALM]

05:45 PM on 02/08/2010

yeah right Dick,,, you have no problem with BANGSTER GIANNULIAS THOUGH