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Barack Obama |
Eric Zorn, "Letter To Voters A Letdown For Obama Idealists," Chicago Tribune's "Change Of Subject" Blog, www.chicagotribune.com, 11/2/06
Todd Stroger Is The President Of The Board Of Commissioners For Cook County In Chicago. "Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger was sworn in as the 33rd President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners on December 4, 2006." (Cook County Government Web site, www.co.cook.il.us, Accessed 9/22/08)
Todd Stroger's Father Ran Cook County Politics As A Patronage System Until His Retirement In 2006. "Everyone says that Chicago politics is dirty, but what exactly does that mean? … Imagine working in the Cook County Government. … If you have the right political connections, you have the job. You get the raise. You get the promotion. No qualifications necessary—just campaign contributions. … This is how John Stroger, the former President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, ran things until his retirement in 2006." (David Freddoso, The Case Against Barack Obama, 2008, p. 6)
A Federal Court-Ordered Compliance Administrator Detailed The Actions Of A "Soldier For Stroger" Allegedly Hired Through Illegal Patronage "On his first day in the department he told a number of his new co-workers he was a ‘Soldier for Stroger' and he was going to become their supervisor. … One witness claims after working at the department for a total of five hours, the employee had already identified co-workers he intended to impose severe discipline upon when he became supervisor." ("Second Semi-Annual Report Of The Compliance Administrator," Julia M. Nowicki, Shakman Compliance Administrator, Available At www.countyshakman.com, 11/30/06)
Upon Taking Office, Todd Stroger Promoted His Best Friend's Wife To A $116,000 Job. "Cook County Board President Todd Stroger on Monday defended his hiring and promotion of political allies and friends to top posts … Upon taking office, he promoted his best friend's wife, Carmen Triche Colvin, a member of his ward organization, from her $95,000 job as purchasing agent for the Cook County Forest Preserves to a $116,000 post as purchasing agent for the whole county -- a job his cousin, County Budget Director Donna Dunnings, told the editorial board has been vacant since June." (Abdon M. Pallasch, "Stroger Defends Hiring Pals," Chicago Sun-Times, 2/6/07)
"Who Could Possibly Feel Sanguine About This When We Learn, As We Did On Friday, That Stroger Has Hired His Childhood Friend, Gene Mullins, To Be His Public Relations Chief, At A Possible Salary Of $105,059?" (Editorial, "Fed-Up Taxpayers Don't Trust Stroger," Chicago Sun-Times, 3/2/08)
"In Stroger's Brief Tenure, The County Has Hired A Suburban Democratic Committeeman For A $61,000 Job In The Personnel Office -- A Job So Worthy Of Elimination That It Went Unfilled For Four Years. The County Has Hired The Mayor Of Maywood As A Supervisor For The Clerk Of The Circuit Court At An Undisclosed Salary. In October, Stroger Hired The Girlfriend Of One Of His Closest Allies, Commissioner William Beavers, As An Administrative Assistant." (Editorial, "Fed-Up Taxpayers Don't Trust Stroger," Chicago Sun-Times, 3/2/08)
Todd Stroger Hired A Number Of Friends And Allies For High-Salary Positions. "Stroger appointed his father's communications director, Chinta Strausberg, as a liaison to churches at $95,000 a year. He hired his cousin, Donna Dunnings, to be chief financial officer, at $142,820. He hired a personal friend, Kim David Gilmore, to be director of human resources, at $141,725. Stroger hired the wife of a best friend, Carmen Triche-Colvin, to be the county's purchasing agent, at $116,000. He hired a campaign worker, Sean Howard, to be a spokesman for Cook County Hospital, at $85,000." (Editorial, "Fed-Up Taxpayers Don't Trust Stroger," Chicago Sun-Times, 3/2/08)
In 2006, Obama Failed To Endorse A "Reform-Minded Democrat" Who Challenged John Stroger. "When Veteran Cook County Boss John Stroger faced a strong and credible challenge in the 2006 primary election from a reform-minded Democrat, Obama said nothing. Local politicians on the left and right, sick of the corruption, lined up against Stroger. Senator Obama stayed silent, and the reformer narrowly lost." (David Freddoso, The Case Against Barack Obama, 2008, p. 8-9)
Obama Endorsed Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's "Hapless Stooge Todd Stroger." "He has endorsed Daley, endorsed Daley's hapless stooge Todd Stroger for president of the Cook County Board. These are not the acts of a reformer, but of a guy who, as we say in Chicago, won't make no waves and won't back no losers." (John Kass, Op-Ed, "Obama Magically Unstained By Grime Of Chicago Way," Chicago Tribune, 5/11/08)
Obama Was Criticized For Endorsing Todd Stroger "And Substituting Party For Principle." "[O]bama has come too far as an inspiring new breed of politician on the national scene to muck around in local politics, endorsing machine hack candidates and substituting party for principle. Or so you'd imagine. … Instead came this letter--a body blow to … the idealists whose fantasy about Obama is that he will transcend the grubby machinations and tawdry favor-swapping of party politics--followed by word from Obama's office that he will appear on stage at a pro-Stroger rally Monday night." (Eric Zorn, "Letter To Voters A Letdown For Obama Idealists," Chicago Tribune's "Change Of Subject" Blog, www.chicagotribune.com, 11/2/06)
- Obama Was Criticized For Endorsing "Stroger's Back Room Installation As The Nominee" And Stroger's "Near-Total Lack Of Credentials Or Ideas For The Office." "One would expect Barack Obama, flush with political capital, to campaign heavily, as he did in recent weeks, for fellow Democrats. That doesn't mean, though, that he had to spread his support around indiscriminately, which is pretty much what he did by helping rally the troops Monday for Cook County Board president candidate Todd Stroger. Apparently, neither Stroger's back room installation as the nominee nor his near-total lack of credentials or ideas for the office were enough to deter Obama from lending his name and presence. So we'll see, is the senator a different kind of politician ... or isn't he?" (Editorial, "Audacity Just Might Be The Word," Chicago Daily-Herald, 11/11/06)
"[Todd] Stroger May Have Been A Symbol Of Corruption, But He Was A Democrat, And His Opponent Was A Republican. Obama Endorsed Him, Employing What Even Liberals Called Misleading Scare Tactics." (David Freddoso, The Case Against Barack Obama, 2008, p. 18)
In 2006, Obama Appeared At A Campaign Rally For Todd Stroger. "Sen. Barack Obama brought his national appeal home to boost fellow Democrats in a series of rallies for congressional candidates and Todd Stroger, candidate for Cook County Board president." (Rick Pearson, "Acid-Test Campaigns Come To Bitter End," Chicago Tribune, 11/7/06)
- "Durbin And Obama Later Gathered With Other Illinois Democrats At A Chicago Rally For Todd Stroger, The Party's Candidate For Cook County Board President. Speaking To Hundreds Of Sign-Carrying Union Workers, The Democrats Urged The Crowd To Get Out The Vote." (Tara Burghart, "Illinois Candidates Try To Grab Voters' Attention In Final Push," The Associated Press State & Local Wire, 11/7/06)
In 2004, John Stroger Contributed $1,000 To Obama's Senate Campaign. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 9/22/08)
Obama Called Todd Stroger A "Friend" In A Letter With Democrat Senator Dick Durbin (IL) Urging Cook County Voters To Support Stroger. "Today we write to urge your attention to one race in particular. Our friend, Todd Stroger, former state representative and alderman is candidate for president of the Cook County Board. Please consider voting for Todd. … Todd is a good progressive Democrat, who will bring those values and sensibilities to the job." (Sens. Barack Obama and Dick Durbin, Letter To Cook County Voters, Reprinted At: Chicago Tribune's "Change Of Subject" Blog, www.chicagotribune.com, Accessed 9/22/08)