Personal About Politics: Chicago –Wedded to the Headlines, For Better or For Worse
For better or worse, Chicago has become wedded to the headlines. First it was the nomination and subsequent election of Chicago's favorite son, Barack Obama, as president. The celebration at Grant Park blew out all the stops on election night and helped the city finally get past the '68 riots that erupted in that same park during the Democratic National Convention.
Photos of the new First Family splashed across newspapers charming the entire world. The big topics being, “what kind of dog will the Obama girls pick?” and “where will they go to school?”
Happy, happy times for Chicago, but alas, the euphoria was short-lived.
Chicago has a history of running hot and cold –literally in their brutally cold, windy winters, and hot, humid summers – and in good news and bad news.
The first sign that the party was over came last week when workers refused to leave the Republic Windows and Doors plant after being told on Tuesday the plant would close on Friday. The company told the workers they had been denied a line of credit from Bank of America and couldn't pay the workers' severance and vacation pay.
However, on Friday the workers decided to take a stand and refused to leave. Most only make about $30,000 a year, but as one man said, “We need only what is promised to us, nothing more, nothing less.”
Their plight and their spirit caught the attention of the country. The little guy fighting back against the behemoth Bank of America. Bank of America, the country's second largest bank just received a $25 billion bail-out and wouldn't renew and extend credit to a small company so that 240 employees could keep their jobs.
Finally, after five days of protest, B of A buckled under the bad publicity and said they would extend further credit to Republic Windows and Doors.
Not because they felt any empathy for the workers or the plant, but because they didn't want the negative attention. It's all about them you know….and keeping their $25 billion.
The story put Chicago and the common laborer in the spotlight. I'm guessing this may be the first of many such protests across the country and these Chicago folks will serve as the catalyst.
But the best – or worst – was yet to come. At dawn on Tuesday morning, FBI agents arrested Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris on a wide range of corruption charges.
In Chicago, it appears there are really, really good politicians and really, really bad politicians. Obama, coming into his inauguration with the highest approval rating of any recent president is one of the really, really good ones.
Blagojevich on the other hand, after basically putting Obama's vacant Senate seat up for sale is one of the really, really bad ones.
Chicago is no stranger to political scandals, and it crosses political lines. In fact, Blagojevich, a Democrat, replaced Republican Gov. George Ryan after his conviction for corruption in 2003. Ryan is now serving a six and a half year prison term. Of the 10 Illinois governors who have served over the last 50 years, Blagojevich is the fifth to be charged with criminal conduct. (L.A. Times)
I wonder if there is a special area in the Illinois penitentiary just for ex-governors?
As a tribute to its corruptness, Chicago has more FBI units to investigate corruption than any other city in the nation. Not exactly something you'd want to brag about or put on the “Welcome to Chicago” sign; “Welcome to Chicago, Corrupt Capital of the Country!”
Given that, Blagojevich may be tapped as the most corrupt. As U.S attorney, Patrick J. Fitzgerald (one of the really, really good guys) said, “Blagojevich put a ‘for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism.”
Yup, the Gov tried to get some of the editorial staff of the Chicago Tribune fired because they were critical of him. Several of the papers are actually questioning his sanity. Which may not be much of a stretch given that he has been under investigation for over three years and still blatantly bartered for high bid on the Senate seat, stating if he didn't get a high enough price he would appoint himself.
But, Blagojevich's illusions – or delusions – of grandeur didn't stop there, he had his eye on a presidential run in 2016. Apparently he is a legend in his own shower.
Robert Grant, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago office, said
this about Blagojevich's arrest, “If this isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor. Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked.” (L.A. Times)
The looming question now is not so much if Blagojevich resigns or is forced out of office, but how and by whom will the new Senator be chosen?
In any event, with strikes, arrests and indictments of high profile politicians, a still empty Senate seat and Obama's inauguration coming up, Chicago looks to be in the headlines for a long time to come, for better or for worse.
Cheri Cabot, Politics Correspondent
Cheri's column, “Personal About Politics,” published every week, will reflect on how the life of a 59 year-old, middle class woman is affected by politics, policy and the current state of the nation - a look at the personal aspects of politics. Her column is part of Gather Essentials.
Cheri is a freelance writer, living in Southern California. She has two grown children, one in Iowa and one at Columbia University, and is the proud grandmother of two. Cheri is also a purveyor of fine coffee, warm chatter and dry wit.
You can find all of Cheri's columns on Personal About Politics at www.personalpolitcs.gather.com, or www.ccabot.gather.com.
Tags: Chicago Corruption Politics Politicians FBI
