Blago Finally Speaks About CDHC Controversy

By Amy Hart in News on Mar 10, 2006 4:00PM

After over a week of silence, Governor Blagojevich has finally said something about the controversy involving Claudette Marie Johnson, a Nation of Islam member who last year was appointed to serve on the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC). Johnson has refused to condemn comments made by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan bashing Jews and gays. Blago refused to remove Johnson from her post, and five members of the CDHC have resigned out of protest.

Blago didn't really address the problem head-on, but said he would talk with black, Jewish, and gay leaders about "much larger issues," although he did not say who would be involved in the talks, or what exactly they would talk about. He also told the media to shut their yaps because they are "fanning the flames" and "dividing people."

He had over a week to think about this, and that's the best he could come up with? We applaud Blago sitting down with the leaders of various groups and discussing whatever it is he plans on talking about, but doesn't it seem like this is just an attempt to avoid the real issue of whether or not Johnson should remain on the CDHC?