In President Barack Obama's (D) hometown of Chicago, recently designated as the nation's most corrupt, and whose Chicago based convicted ex Democratic governor just went to prison, proclaiming his innocence til the end, for trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat when he jumped ship to the presidency, which is worse

a) voting for a Republican or

b) voting for an accused bribe taker?

For Chicago voters that was an easy choice.

A Democratic state lawmaker from Chicago charged last week with accepting a bribe overwhelmingly won his party's primary on Tuesday, reinforcing the reputation of the nation's third-largest city for turning a blind eye to corruption. (snip) (Derrick Smith) was leading with 76 percent of the vote with more than 80 percent of the ballots counted, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.

Long term Democrat congressman Rep Danny Davis justified his constituents' voting decisions.

Davis said he asked voters in overwhelmingly Democratic Chicago to elect Smith despite his legal troubles because Smith's Democratic opponent, Tom Swiss, was a past chairman of the Cook County Republican party. Chicago is a part of Cook County.

"(Swiss) was kind of making use of a bit of subterfuge which would give you no reason to think he would be a Democrat," Davis said, explaining why he backed Smith.

Argh! "Subterfuge!" Chicago, Cook County (also known for rampant corruption) and Illinois (third most corrupt state in the nation but moving up fast according to the above mentioned corruption study) can't have subterfuge--corruption is so blatant, so out in the open, so endemic to the culture of day to day governing that in Davis' eyes the real sin, the real crime is alleged subterfuge which might indicate not voting Democratic. Sure, Davis acknowledged Smith will resign before the Illinois legislature meets again to be replaced by a Democrat officially sanctioned substitute who may or may not be corrupt but is an authentic Democrat who doesn't practice subterfuge or Republican.

And so proof that Chicago does have standards and there is honor among thieves is validated once again.