Leading liberal journo Michael Tomasky argues in the Guardian that Illinois pols should tap Obama mentor, ex-congressman and former federal judge Abner Mikva to fill the president-elect’s Senate seat. Tomasky writes that Mikva “was known in his day as a foe of corruption and the old Chicago Democratic machine. Of stature and above reproach? He’s certainly both.”

Tomasky gives the following reasons for why the 82-year-old would be a perfect pick:

1. Mikva will automatically remove any cloud that might hang over the Senate seat; being neither corrupt nor ambitious, he would be doing this solely for public-service reasons.

   

   Forwarding the News

   Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

   Terms(Required)

   I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

   Email(Required)

2. Mikva is close to Obama and has more or less Obama’s politics, which makes it fair that he fill out Obama’s term. The people of Illinois voted for a non-machine progressive Democrat in 2004 when they elected Obama, and there is precedent in such situations for the idea that a person of a similar profile fill out the term.

3. He would promise to retire after two years, so the people now ogling the seat will be even with one another at the starting line two years’ hence. The one who can succeed in the political marketplace between now and then will be the one who wins, as it should be. And he or she will win it under (presumably) clean circumstances.

And in conclusion, Tomasky writes: “Mikva, you might say, would be a mitzvah.”

There you have it folks, a commandment and a ritual bath all rolled up in one!

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount