No Extra Inauguration Tickets For Illinos

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Nov 13, 2008 4:20PM

We talked a few days ago about the high demand for Obama inauguration tickets and the high prices being paid for them, even though they're technically free. Well, any hopes Illinois residents had of the state getting a few extras to hand out since we're Obama's "home" state have been dashed. It seems that each Congressional district in the country will get a paltry 198 tickets to hand out to those who signed up with their respective offices. Jesse Jackson, Jr. spokesman Ken Edmonds said, "We received about 1,500 requests in 48 hours on our Web site, not including the thousands of calls since last week. We're disappointed that we'll have to disappoint some of our constituents."

Some members of Illinois' Congressional team are getting proactive. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale) and Rep. John Shimkus (R-Collinsville) have written a letter asking other members of Congress for any unclaimed tickets they may have. Since when did Congress become like a Phish fan forum? Anyway, with demand so high nationwide, it's unlikely any such act of generosity will occur. We don't relish the opportunity to be Debbie Downer, but when people are paying $10,000 for a ticket that hasn't even been released and is free? That says something about the demand and somehow we assume that there are a lot of "favors" that will be rewarded by Congressmen-and-women throughout the state before Joe Six Pack gets his spot in line.