Illinoisans broadly back governor's impeachment

EAST ST. LOUIS - Talking over the sound of "The Price is Right" blaring from a senior citizen's center's big-screen television, retired letter carrier Ken Cooper echoed what the Illinois House decided Friday: Corruption and abuse-of-power claims dogging Gov. Rod Blagojevich should cost him his job.

"He needs to go," the gray-haired, bearded Cooper said of Blagojevich, who defiantly has clung to his job since being arrested last month on federal charges that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat. "This is all about greed. When a man lets greed take over, it can't do anything but bring a negative response."

Across Illinois, many agreed with Cooper's sentiment after the state House overwhelmingly voted to impeach the governor and let the Senate decide whether the second-term Democrat gets the boot.

The impatience with Blagojevich appeared particularly pronounced Friday in Chicago, where about 100 protesters — some beating drums — gathered outside the Thompson Center, home of Blagojevich's Chicago office, and chanted in unison: "Rod must go."

"We're sending our own sign that we want him to resign," said Laura Zapata, a 37-year-old office worker who protested with others from the Latino group United Neighborhood Organization.

Marching in a circle, they hoisted handmade signs that read "The governor must step down," and "Honk if you want Blago gone."

The neighborhood group's chief executive, Juan Rangel, said he applauded the House's move Friday and hopes the Senate acts swiftly.

"But why put the state through this whole circus for the next few weeks? (Blagojevich) should do the honorable thing and resign," said Rangel, 43 and a Chicago resident. "Everyone in the state of Illinois is being affected by this. Real people — including Latinos."

Scott Cohen, the 55-year-old president of Chicago-based Green Cleaning Supplies, said he created the citizens' group Rod Must Resign this week and has spent $5,000 so far to organize protests against Blagojevich, including Friday's outside the Thompson Center.

Cohen's mission: Show Blagojevich that people beyond Springfield want him out.

"It's not about politicians," Cohen said. "It's about every single citizen of this state."

Working the lunch shift at a barbecue joint in the southern Illinois town of Harrisburg, cook Henry Avery cast Blagojevich as "dishonest," wondering aloud, "How does he get to keep his job?"