Posted on 09/16/2008 4:27:35 PM PDT by Shermy
For those of you who still cling to the fantasy that Barack Obama is "about change," you should note how he, or his minions, want nothing to do with reforming politics in Illinois, perhaps the most corrupt state in the Union.
"Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has fought for open and honest government," proclaims his campaign Web site. Apparently, no longer. When the Democratic presidential candidate—now his party's industrial-strength voice for our deliverance from political corruption everywhere—was asked by a reformer if he would help get his political mentor back home to get off the dime and move the most minimal of state ethics legislation toward passage, the Obama campaign sent word back that amounted to a "no."
State Sen. Emil Jones (D-Chicago) is the Chicago machine politician who might have been most instrumental in jump-starting Obama's political career. Now, as Illinois Senate president, Jones is the one sitting on the reform legislation, refusing to call it for an expected favorable vote before it officially dies of neglect....
....If all that's confusing, welcome to Illinois politics, where intricacy is the best camouflage for chicanery. Suffice to say, neither Blagojevich nor Jones is working for reform....
....When things got too hot, Obama severed his ties from his racially inflammatory pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. That's not too hard; you can always find another pastor.
But betraying your political godfather(s) in Chicago and Illinois is an entirely different matter. Especially if you lose the presidential election and return to being just another senator from Illinois. Cutting his ties with the corrupt Chicago machine is one bridge you will not see Obama burn. Not now, not ever.
Agent of change, my foot.
Dennis Byrne is a Chicago-area writer and consultant. His blog is at http://dennisbyrne.blogspot.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Ping.
“Illinois, perhaps the most corrupt state in the Union.”
######
Due in no small part to the efforts of the Chicago Tribune.
More about Emil Jones and Obama, from The Times (UK), March 2008:
“Barack Obama: toxic mentors start to corrode pristine campaign”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3602710.ece
http://www.pollster.com/polls/il/08-il-pres-ge-mvo.php
The above poll has not been updated since the wave of Gov Palin came on strong. Barry may well be below 50% in Illinois, but no one is noticing.
If the Indies and disenchanted DEMS are switching sides and since both King Richard of Chicago and Gov Blow-Dry-o-Vich have been relatively kind to Gov Palin, I think Illinois could surprise people.
In Illinois, Springfield is known as "The Combine" - a mix of Ds and Rs protecting their power at all cost. Noting will change until The Combine is dismantled. We need a Palin-like Republican reformer to kick ass and take names - on both sides of the aisle. Except, the Illinois Republicans would see it as too much of a threat to The Combine. This would, however, be a better strategy at reform than a sure-thing losing cause in a third-party run. BREAK THE COMBINE!
When you say Illinois is the most corrupt state in the US are you deliberately leaving New Jersey in a class all its own?
bump
Obama smells even in his own state.
Don’t forget Louisiana, d@mnit!
BUMP!!!
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