PrintSeptember 29, 2008
Should Obama's Chicago roots matter?
In his continuing courage to expose the truth, the most widely-read columnist at the Chicago Tribune, John Kass, dared to write in his column on Wednesday, Sept. 24, "McCain ad sends Daley into a gear-grinding frenzy," about Mayor Daley's hissy fit over a McCain campaign ad targeting his brother Bill as a lobbyist -- despite Bill Daley's extensive lobbying background -- after which Kass eviscerated Daley's foolish denial that there is no Chicago Democratic Machine.
Kass' column negated a Tribune editorial, "Guilt by association," which appeared the day before and which concluded that Chicago deserves the rap, but Obama does not. McCain's ad further linked Obama to convicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Obama's political mentor Emil Jones, and the ethically-challenged Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich.
Kass' column negated a Tribune editorial, "Guilt by association," which appeared the day before and which concluded that Chicago deserves the rap, but Obama does not. McCain's ad further linked Obama to convicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Obama's political mentor Emil Jones, and the ethically-challenged Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich.
Why is it important for the American public to be concerned about Obama's Chicago political roots? Might there be some far reaching implications should Obama become president given his Chicago connections? Voters must be able to make intelligent judgment calls. It is troubling that those in the media have become willing partners in an obvious Obama coverup.
One important link missing from McCain's campaign ad was Obama's Chicago ties to the unrepentant former Weather Undergound terrorist, William Ayers. Although Obama has routinely played down this relationship, Ayers and Obama were partners in the Chicago Annenberg Challenge in early 1995. Daley archives show that they worked as a team to advance the CAC educational philosophy which called for infusing students and their parents with a radical political commitment which downplayed achievement tests in favor of activism. Then there is Obama's two-decade membership in a Black Power church and his work for organizations modeled after the seditious philosophy of Saul Alinsky.
What about Mayor Daley's denial of a Chicago Democratic Machine? The "Chicago-way" of doing politics has resulted in a city that is dead last in allowing personal choices. Chicago has become a combat zone with out-of-control gang violence and a high rate of murders; the state pension fund is $44 billion dollars in debt, worst in the country; Cook County sales tax of 10.25% is highest in the country; the Chicago school system controlled by the NEA is one of the worst in this nation; and political corruption has resulted in an endless line of politicians and their cronies having been sent to federal prison.
It was in Chicago that Obama was groomed and presented to the public as presidential material. Obama is Mayor Daley's political champion; Emil Jones was Obama's political mentor. It is not unthinkable that the political culture that birthed Obama, and which echoes Obama's far left-leaning ideology, would go national to Chicagoize the U.S.A. on the coattails of an Obama victory.
Americans must be wary of Obama's rhetoric that speaks of change, for the changes he has in mind are compatible with socialism. Even more unbelievable is Obama's claim that he can fix Washington politics when he has never compromised with Republicans and is rated as the most liberal senator in the U.S. Senate.
John McCain is far from perfect, but his political philosophy would better protect individual freedoms, foster wealth through free market capitalism, keep us safe from Islamic facists, let us keep more of my own money, and allow for the drilling of oil. It would be unwise for voters to dismiss who rules Chicago and Obama's connections through his questionable friendships and as a product of Chicago Democratic machine politics.
Nancy J. Thorner
Lake Bluff, IL
Lake Bluff, IL
