Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz - Lou Lang 1

State Rep. Lou Lang on U. S. Senator Barack Obama and Pastor Wright, Obama's judgment and leadership capabilities, Obama's diversity and the Presidential race, Knee-Jerk liberals, the State's capital and operating budgets.

Jeff Berkowitz, host and producer of "Public Affairs," debates and discusses state legislative issues and Barack Obama's Presidential judgment and leadership traits with State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie). Lang's 22-year tenure in the Illinois Statehouse includes the eight years (1997-2004) that Obama served in the Illinois State Senate and how Senator Obama and Rep. Lang had occasion to interact a fair amount. Rep. Lang supports Obama for President.

Rep. Lang answers a line of questioning regarding the credibility of Senator Obama's statements regarding his Pastor of almost two decades, Jeremiah Wright. Wright married Barack and Michelle Obama and he baptized the Obama's two daughters. Lang was happy that "Obama stepped forward and condemned [Jeremiah Wright unfortunate] comments."

Berkowitz questions Lang as to whether Obama long ago should have walked out of a Pastor Wright sermon or made some other public statement of disapproval of the Wright comments. Lang suggested perhaps we are better off with Obama staying within his church and continuing to work with Pastor Wright to tone down his rhetoric and make other improvements in Wright's understanding of the Black-White divide. Berkowitz questioned the judgment of Obama to stay quiet, at least publicly, on these issues until the media brought them up.

Berkowitz and Lang discussed the importance of Obama's bi-racial background and his diversity to the Presidential race and whether it is good for America to have someone with that background as its President.




Lang reflected on what he knew about Obama from their time together in Springfield—as it relates to Obama's qualifications to be President. Lang said from day one Obama wanted to engage all people in moving an agenda forward for people. Berkowitz noted that Obama last year, based on the National Law Journal's assessment, had the most liberal voting record in the U.S. Senate. Yet, Lang contended Obama was not a "knee-jerk liberal," in the Illinois Senate.

Lang stated that the thing that is holding [a capital budget] up is nobody trusts Rod Blagojevich. Lang, chairman of the House Gaming Committee, predicts a gaming bill at the end of the day that adds one or two licenses for casinos (including one for Chicago), in addition to replacing the 10th license.




Lang argued that Gov. Blagojevich's proposed operating budget for 2008-09 has tons of holes in it. Berkowitz and Lang discussed the Governor's plan to lease the state of Illinois Lottery and to raise the tax on casino revenue to 70%.

RT/29:30

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