SPRINGFIELD – Politicians are peculiar creatures.
They name parks, highways, airports and just about anything else that’s paid for by us after themselves.
And if a politician rises high enough, a statue will be erected in the person’s honor.
Statues are designed to be permanent. But politicians’ reputations are much more fluid.
Six years ago, then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was pushing to erect a statue on the Illinois Capitol grounds of former U.S. Speaker of the House Denny Hastert.
Hastert said, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Unforeseen modesty on the part of a retired pol? Nope. At the point Hastert declined the honor, he knew he was under investigation by the feds for sexually abusing students when he was a high school coach and funneling hush money to one of them to keep the allegations quiet.
He eventually pleaded guilty to a financial crime and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
In fairness to Madigan, he had no idea of any problems when he recommended the honor. But if you think that political pratfall will discourage other Illinois lawmakers from recommending politicians for statues, think again.
Today, there is a proposal pending to place a Ronald Reagan statue on the grounds of the Illinois Capitol. Is he worthy? Well, more worthy than some, but less so than others.
