You have to understand that Chicago is the original Bread and Circuses town. Here’s a great book on the founder of the Cook County Democratic Party:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Gambler-King-Clark-Street/dp/0809328933
He’s a pimp, gambler and gangster. His replacements all follow the same pattern. The people eat it up because they really want to believe in magic: something for nothing.
Here in Illinois we balance the budget by borrowing, damn our own state constitution. The media squawk, but then head out to dinner with our local pols. I live in the North Korea of America, but we eat alright.
How does that explain all the Obama voting outside of Cook County?