Col. 6, Feb. 2009: Chicago machine cranks and us with it

Party On

by Christina Hazelwood
When asked during a press conference to comment on the recent activities of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, had just one thing to say, “Cuckoo.”

In spite of the fact that on Dec. 9, 2008, U.S. States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced he was pressing corruption charges against Gov. Blagojevich for soliciting payment for President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat, and the Illinois House of representatives announced intentions to impeach him, Gov. Blagojevich calmly went about his business, signing bills, appointing senators and going on jogs.

After being arrested, bonded and called to impeachment hearings, Gov. Blagojevich gleefully went on a media campaign visting with the ladies from The View and Larry King. Throughout his media appearances the governor claimed innocence, was charming, calm, and poised, grinning like a Cheshire cat. On Jan. 9, 2009, Gov. Blagojevich was officially voted out of office in a 59-to-0 vote.

Mayor Daley apparently found Gov. Blagojevich’s activities peculiar, but why should he? Everyone knows the rules are different for the rich, the famous, and politicians. Many a sports figure and celebrity has had a fall from grace, for which they apologize, sometimes even write a book about, and are immediately forgiven and provided with even greater fame and fortune. O.J. Simpson who was all of the above, a sports figure, an actor, rich and famous; literally got away with murder and promptly wrote a book about it. If America finds murder acceptable, scamming a few bucks to feed your family, as Gov. Blagojevich is being charged with, can hardly seem worth noting. It’s the American way!

Who can forget that great moment in presidential history when William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton, looked straight into the camera and straight into our eyes and said, “I did not have sex with that woman,” referring to Monica Lewisky who he diddled right in the middle of the people’s office (the oval office). Then when called into court, remember how he and Hillary had a sudden case of forgetfulness and could not “recall” anything. What about that wonderful debate between President Clinton and the grand jury over the definition of the word is? After all of that, Bill has a presidential library, a foundation and goes on well-paid speaking tours, and Hillary is the Secretary of State. When on her show, Oprah Winfrey asked Bill why he did it, he said, ‘Because he could.’ So why shouldn’t Rod be smiling from ear-to-ear? This may be the best move of our 40th governor’s career!

Everyone knows Illinois loves corrupt politicians. We must, because in spite of having fine, moral, upstanding candidates on the political slate, Illinois voters repeatedly choose the most corrupt, machine politician available for the job, who usually comes out smelling like a rose. If I were Rod, I’d be looking like a Cheshire cat too!

Our former Illinois Governor George Ryan is currently serving jail time after being convicted on federal corruption charges. This, after a 35-year political history serving the state of Illinois. Remember machine politician Dan Rostenkowski who rose through the ranks becoming a U.S. Representative for Illinois and chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee? He was convicted of corruption charges in 1994, after having served 36 years in congress. Rostenkowski currently receives around $100,000 a year in congressional pensions and earns money as a speaker and political commentator. His comments on the smiling Rod Blagojevich might actually be worth paying for.

Illinois’s longest serving Governor Jim Thompson held office for 14 years, starting in 1976. He won the governorship after making a name for himself attempting to convict other Illinois politicians like former Governor Otto Kerner, Jr., who Thompson convicted of improper use of influence on behalf of the racetrack industry. Kerner, who served as governor from 1961 to 1968, earned the governorship, the same way Thompson did, by gaining attention as a U.S. States Attorney. This is another unspoken political rule. If you want a political position, go after the fellow who already has it and make a name for yourself doing it. Then after you get rid of that guy, slide in and take his seat. Take note of States Attorney Fitzgerald, who bugged Gov. Blagojevich’s office in order to convict him. Fitzgerald clearly has his eyes set on the governor’s mansion.

Although former Gov. Thompson was billed as a stand-up guy, his political practices were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional. Wouldn’t you think a fellow who made his living and won the governorship investigating others’ legalities could figure out that what he, himself, is doing is unconstitutional? While in office, Thompson had potential employees investigated by a special Human Resources department he established, that essentially determined low-level employees’ political affiliations and based hiring decisions upon the results.

Now, I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble here, but you may want to take note that President Barack Obama was and is an Illinois machine politician. He worked his way through the democratic machine, just like all the others. What separates Obama from the rest is that he was on a fast-track program. So hopefully he’s less corrupt than the others who have been working their way through the system for many a decade. Obama’s quick ascent through the democratic machine, surprised even seasoned party veterans.

Given all these facts, how Mayor Daley, or anyone for that matter, can possibly think that Gov. Blagojevich does not understand what’s going on, themselves does not have a clue. It seems to me that Gov. Blagojevich is the smartest cat on the block. He knows his political history. He knows machine politics. And he knows how America works. Gov. Blagojevich knows all the fan fare is just a big game played before the American people that he will ultimately win.

He also knows that the real reason he is being impeached, is not because of illegal activity. Gov. Blagojevich was just doing business as usual. The impeachment is rather because 1) he got caught and 2) he revealed the machinations of the system to Illinois voters and to the people at large. Just like the man and machine behind the curtain, in the movie “The Wizard of Oz,” Blagojevich made the mistake of revealing how the system works. In Illinois this is a sin greater than the one committed by O.J. The last thing Illinois politicians want is Illinois voters getting a clue about how it all works, because then the party, pun intended, is over!

Associated Links

Daley's "Cuckoo" Charge

IL Governor's Impeachment
History of Corruption in Illinois
"The Wizard of Oz"