In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (D-13th) Tuesday announced he's running for U.S. Senate and accused the Republican incumbent of "buying" his seat four years ago and vowed to "take it back."
At a press conference held at the Allegro Hotel, Obama said: "Despite being in the minority for the last six years, I've been able to make a difference. I've led the fight for tax relief for the working poor. I, fought for and won funding to combat juvenile crime and to establish after school programs for our children," he told reporters.
"I worked to extend healthcare coverage to the uninsured and moved people from welfare to work and I led the fight for campaign finance reform to break the special interest hammer lock over government. Special interests have enough power. I've stood up in the Illinois Senate and I'll stand up in Washington for the people who most need a voice," he vowed.
"That was Dr. King's mission. That was his mandate. Today, in these challenging times, it falls to us to pick up that challenge and carry his flame and that is what this campaign is going to be about.
"We need politics of hope in this country," he said. "We don't need politics of division. We don't need small politics in this country.
"We need big politics, of hope, and that is what this campaign will be run on," he said, predicting he'll win the primary and the election in 2004.
Sen. Obama was joined by such political heavyweights as Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Illinois Senator Denny Jacobs (D-East Moline), Illinois Senator Terry Link and chairman of the Democratic Party, (D-Lake County), U.S. Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-2nd), Senator James Meeks (D-15th), Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-7th), Alds. Arenda Troutman (20th), Toni Preckwinkle (4th), Cook County Comm. Jerry Butler and many others, Black and white, from around the state.
Meeks, who pastors more than 16,000 people, backed up his verbal support by pledging to put "people in the street" to help Obama defeat Fitzpatrick, who has even raised the ire of some of his own Republican peers.
Obama, who two years ago ran against Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st), admitted Rush "gave him a spanking" but there are no bad feelings among them and that he'll be reaching out for his support also.
Obama teaches Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School. He will be running in a crowded field that may include: Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Blair Hull, a wealthy businessman, former Chicago School Board President Gery Chico and Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes.
However, Obama won't be getting a vote from Eddie Read, chairman of the Black Political Council. "Obama has no relationship with the Black community and is a product of the white Lakefront community. He is a white liberal in blackface," Read said.
A perplexed Obama responded: "The last time I spoke to Eddie and indicated my candidacy, he responded he would support me. I have no idea what he is talking about, but, I'll be sure to reach out to him and find out what's on his mind."
Photograph (State Senator Barack Obama, (D- Chicago), announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate on Tuesday)
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