Obama announces resignation from Senate seat
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/13/art.bowave1113.ap.jpg caption="Sen. Obama is giving up his seat in the Senate."]
(CNN) - President-elect Barack Obama has announced that he will officially resign his Senate seat as of this Sunday.
“It has been one of the highest honors and privileges of my life to have served the people of Illinois in the United States Senate,” he said in a statement released by his campaign Thursday.
“In a state that represents the crossroads of a nation, I have met so many men and women who’ve taken different journeys, but hold common hopes for their children’s future. It is these Illinois families and their stories that will stay with me as I leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President.”
Obama’s Senate office will close sometime within the next two months. His Senate staff will spend that time coordinating with his replacement, advising constituents with open requests, and archiving documents for Obama’s presidential library.
Several Illinois Democrats - including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth, a former congressional candidate who now serves in Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration – have been mentioned as possible Senate replacements for Obama.
Blagojevich, who will appoint Obama’s successor, announced last week that he was assembling a panel to vet likely candidates. Obama’s replacement would be up for re-election in 2010.
Vice president-elect Joe Biden – who was also re-elected to his Delaware Senate seat on November 4 - told an interviewer several weeks ago that he would resign when he's sworn in as vice president in January.
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Let me say Congradulations on your win to the Presidency and with strong determination you will fulfill all the hopes and audacities to uplift and strengthen this country the people in it and those around the world, while keeping a vigilant eye on those who would harm us or our allies.
MR. PRESIDENT:
WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE, HE IS SO WORTHY TO BE PRAISED.
I PRAY FOR YOU, MICHELLE AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS ALL THE TIME.
SO JUST KEEP GOD FIRST AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.
LENA
Dave, "Thank you for the gift that Illinois gave the United States." Wow, get off your hero worship. This is the USA not the USSR, at least not yet.
VERY VERY SMART AND HUMBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!! AMERICANS WE ARE LUCKY. EDUCATION IS KEY. WE NEED TO WORK HARD. WHAT AN INSPIRATION. I PLEDGE TO WORK HARD NO MATTER WHAT RACE. GOD BLESS OBAMA.
May I just ask all of the anti-Obamites...why so angry? Get over it, the rest of us have had to deal with President Bush. So enjoy the rewards of an intelligent president and stop pouting. This is a good thing for ALL of us.
Hey "Conservative" and " Tom" dont' HATE on Obama cause your party is led by a functioning MORON that has driven our nation into a ditch! Oh yeah, McCain LOST! Your time on blogs would be better served trying to figure out how to get your party back on track!
Palin "2012" ? What a joke!
It is national history to archive all items for the presidential libray. Stop sucking those sour grapes.
Jesse Jackson Jr. should secede him.
"It is these Illinois families and their stories that will stay with me as I leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President.”
What else a great President-to-be can say? He is our hope ... to dream again every night about the American dream.
I know this is way off in left field, but how about Michelle Obama to take his seat. I mean she is very smart and intellegant and from the south side of Chicago. For those of us wondering about their kids Michelle Obama's mother is going to move to the White House so she could help out with the kids. When Obama is finished in 2016, his wife Michelle would have enough experience to run. Just a thought..........
Now if only Palin would resign...and disappear into the Alaskan Wilderness...
MR. OBAMA: EVEN IF I DID NOT FOR YOU; I ALWAYS WILL BE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY, NEVER AGAINST YOU, IF YOU NEED MY OPINION I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HOPE YOU WILL BE ONE OF THE VERY BEST PRESIDENTS AND YOU WILL NOT FORGET YOUR RESPOSABILITIES TO FULL FILL THE NEEDS OF YOUR COUNTRY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOOD LUCK.
TONY G.
Mr. Barack Obama is moving on up.....to the highest position in the United States. Your mother and grandmother are so proud of you and looking down from heaven!
It’s the collective energy that we have to add to our president and you are very important to the process of positive thinking
Thanks
Rudi Merom
@ Robert The Man
Really...do you need a Kleenex? Don't hide your sorrow behind anger. Cry and let it all out so the healing can begin.
PRESENT.
I am very happy with you, Obama. I pray that as you move on to the more challenging job of serving this country as its commander-in-chief, that GOD continue to guide you in making the right decisions for the country, and to keep you and your family safe.
Serving the people of Illinois? HOW? He spent the majority of his senate term campaigning for THIS job!
UP FOR GRABS: One Senate seat, very low mileage, barely used.
It is time for everyone who is writing these childish messages to grow up. Senator Obama, now President Elect Obama, will serve this country to the best of his ability.
To Tom: Bitter much? His staff was probably told to because they save documents for ALL presidents, yes, I know it hurts, but even the Republicans. The Smithsonian is already asking for campaign paraphanelia. Get over it, he is the FIRST black president. This is history and believe it or not, when we're dead people will want to know about him.
As if he EVER served Illinois as senator. He was running for president from the moment he got the job.
Illinois, he'll call you a cab – you been USED!
Wow, I can't believe how much of a sore loser some of you are. Give the guy a chance before you tar and feather him. I know its tough to lose an election but if we don't start getting behind a real leader we are going to lose this country.
As a senator from the great state of Illinois, you have served with distinction as many who came before you. Now that you have been called to an even greater service, we can only wish you God's speed and wisdom. You Mr. President, have been chosen for such a time as these. No doubt you will do our nation proud. God's peace always.
Job well done Mr. President..
I am from Illinois and we are used to not having someone represent us in the Senate. He hasn't been there for the last two years while running for President. The only thing scarier is that our crook Governor Blagojevich gets to pick his replacement. I hope he picks himself so we can get him out of Illinois as well.