Emil Jones Not Messing Around Updated X1

February 5th, 2008 at 03:09pm Aaron Chambers

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., D-Chicago, stopped by the grand ballroom at 2:15 p.m. — way early — to get situated.

Another gentleman took Jones through the ballroom and adjacent press room, then gave him a series of directions concerning the door through which he will be arriving later and where he will be standing.

Jones is a political mentor of Obama’s. Jones views Obama as a political son.

I asked Jones what an Obama presidency might mean for Illinois.

“Obama knows the needs of Illinois,” Jones said. “He’s a U.S. senator. He served in Springfield. And so, I’m quite certain having someone in the White House who’s from Illinois will give the state an advantage. I’m sure he will listen to the needs of the (Chicago) mayor, the governor, even his fellow Sen. (Dick) Durbin. So it will be a tremendous asset to the state of Illinois.”

UPDATE 1

Jones also repeated a joke I’ve heard him make previously.

“I plan to be the ambassador to Ireland” during an Obama presidency, he said.

Apparently, this is a snub at all the Irish who have historically dominated Chicago — and, by extension, Illinois — politics. They include Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (former and current) and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.

Jones is African American.

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