* Back in 1996 when Dick Durbin, Pat Quinn and Clint Krislov were all running for the US Senate, Durbin challenged Krislov’s nominating petitions. Krislov eventually dropped out of the race. Durbin stomped Quinn in the primary and went on to win the seat of retiring US Sen. Paul Simon.
At the time that Durbin challenged Krislov’s petitions, Pat Quinn was quoted in the Sun-Times saying this…
“Never in a million years would Paul Simon in his 40 years in politics have tried to keep an opponent off the ballot. I think Dick Durbin should be ashamed of himself.”
Fast-forward to this week…
Gov. Pat Quinn acknowledged Wednesday that his supporters may be behind a challenge to knock a Democratic rival off the primary ballot, a day after saying he didn’t know whether his campaign was involved.
The effort to remove William “Dock” Walls, the only African-American candidate in the Feb. 2 gubernatorial primary, could be contentious. Quinn has worked to reach out to black voters, even creating a new post of diversity officer.
At the same time an attempt by his supporters to remove the lone African-American candidate could alienate a major Democratic voting bloc.
Look, I don’t see anything inherently wrong with challenging petitions. The law is the law, and too many candidates don’t bother following it. But this latest flip-flop shows that Gov. Pat Quinn has either “matured” as a politician or has sold his soul.
Actually, that might make a good question.
* The Question: Has Gov. Quinn matured as a politician or has he sold his soul to get himself elected? Explain.
…Adding… I should’ve been more clear that this is a snarky question. Snarky responses are heavily encouraged.