Lynn Sweet: Rep. Bobby Rush to meet with Sen. Kirk over Kirk Gangster Disciple arrest plan

This article is an update to news regarding US Congressman Bobby Rush's comments about what our US Sen. Mark Kirk wants the eventual US Attorney for Northern Illinois to do about the issues of crime in our area. Rush was quoted as using the "race card" in discussing Sen. Kirk's expectations. Very harsh language was used however that's not to say that Kirk's expectations weren't realistic.

At the same time now that these comments have come to light Congressman Rush now has offered a different tone.

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) will meet Tuesday here in the wake of Rush's stinging criticism of Kirk's call for mass arrests of 18,000 Gangster Disciples, a Rush spokesman said Monday.

Kirk last week said he will seek $30 million from Congress to bankroll the project. Rush wants to discuss channeling more money to youth unemployment. Rush will also tell Kirk that "he is willing to show him around his district," spokesman Debra Johnson told the Sun-Times. Johnson said Rush sought the meeting with Kirk.

Later on Tuesday, in a separate meeting, Rush will discuss gun violence with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Rush also requested the Durbin meeting, Johnson said.

 It was also reported that Sen. Kirk didn't seek to meet with the other Black US Reps such as Danny Davis or the newly elected Robin Kelly to discuss this issue with them. I'm glad that Rep. Rush made the offer to both Kirk and Durbin and hopefully they will take advantage of the offer.

Although perhaps Congressman Rush should've made this offer before going into a "race-card" tainted attack against the Senator's plan. Of course that's not to say Kirk's plan was realistic in the first place.