gravyboy77 Posted March 19, 2012 at 07:35 PM Posted March 19, 2012 at 07:35 PM http://www.suntimes.com/news/11385831-418/dems-vote-for-accused-bribe-taker.htmlDems: Vote for accused bribe-taker By ABDON M. PALLASCH, DAVE MCKINNEY and LYNN SWEET Staff Reporters March 18, 2012 10:36PM In the parks, churches, bowling alleys and VFW halls of Illinois, candidates for president, state supreme court, state representative and every office in-between made their last-minute pitches before Tuesday's primary elections. Perhaps the most audacious plea came from West Side Democratic elected officials who urged voters to support an Illinois House member charged with bribery. It looks bad, they acknowledged, but it will prevent the seat from falling into the hands of Republicans. The rally in support of appointed state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) featured U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), three aldermen and a county commissioner and even adopted a catchy moniker: "No defeat or retreat — keep the Dem seat." "There's nothing wrong with being a Republican, except that if people are going to vote for a Republican, they ought to know they're voting for a Republican," Davis said, referring to Smith's Republican-turned-Democrat rival, Tom Swiss. Smith was arrested last week by federal prosecutors after being secretly recorded while allegedly accepting a $7,000 bribe in exchange for writing a letter of support for a daycare center seeking a $50,000 state grant. Gov. Pat Quinn on Saturday tiptoed around Smith's bribery charge, calling his race against Swiss a "tough call for voters," but one "they'll be able to sort out." Swiss, the former executive director of the Cook County Republican Party — who is white but uses images of African-Americans on billboards and mailers in this predominantly black district — teed off on his critics: "I think it's inexcusable that they're reinforcing the culture of corruption by asking voters to support Derrick Smith, a man that was arrested and caught red-handed for taking a bribe," Swiss told the Chicago Sun-Times. Smith has not returned phone calls from the Sun-Times since his arrest. Ald. Scott Waugespack (32nd), who is unopposed for Democratic Ward Committeeman, said he will suggest to Jesse White — who holds the lion's share of the weighted vote in the district — that a stricter vetting process be used to pick a replacement for Smith. "I think we have to appoint someone with more independence," Waugespack said. "I want to talk to Jesse White and say I think we can't keep picking people like Anazette Collins and Derrick Smith, who are going to have ethics problems. I think we need to do a better vetting process."
Jeffrey Posted March 19, 2012 at 07:39 PM Posted March 19, 2012 at 07:39 PM Smith will win. Its the Chicago way.
SFC Stu Posted March 19, 2012 at 07:44 PM Posted March 19, 2012 at 07:44 PM Smith will win. Its the Chicago way. Democrats will try, anyway they can!
SFC Stu Posted March 20, 2012 at 01:57 AM Posted March 20, 2012 at 01:57 AM Duke! You said it best... You got that right!
bob Posted March 20, 2012 at 03:31 AM Posted March 20, 2012 at 03:31 AM I am not all that offended. How is he worse than half of the state legislature, other than they are not under indictment. Ironically a study on state corruption that was released today said Illinois was the 10th LEAST corrupt state. But another study done not long before that said it was the worst except for LA, and I think I believe that. Incidentally, that study said DC was worse than any of the 50 states.
papa Posted March 20, 2012 at 03:42 AM Posted March 20, 2012 at 03:42 AM I am not all that offended. How is he worse than half of the state legislature, other than they are not under indictment. Ironically a study on state corruption that was released today said Illinois was the 10th LEAST corrupt state. But another study done not long before that said it was the worst except for LA, and I think I believe that. Incidentally, that study said DC was worse than any of the 50 states. You should be offended! We all should be! I know I am . To many people say , " Oh well , it was only $7,000 " . To me it doesn't matter if it was $7.00 , it was still a pay off to use his position. This is exactly why Chicago ( as well as many other cities ) are in the shape they are. No one wants to stand for what is right. Just accept it and say " Oh well!"
colt-45 Posted March 20, 2012 at 03:51 AM Posted March 20, 2012 at 03:51 AM I am not all that offended. How is he worse than half of the state legislature, other than they are not under indictment. Ironically a study on state corruption that was released today said Illinois was the 10th LEAST corrupt state. But another study done not long before that said it was the worst except for LA, and I think I believe that. Incidentally, that study said DC was worse than any of the 50 states. You should be offended! We all should be! I know I am . To many people say , " Oh well , it was only $7,000 " . To me it doesn't matter if it was $7.00 , it was still a pay off to use his position. This is exactly why Chicago ( as well as many other cities ) are in the shape they are. No one wants to stand for what is right. Just accept it and say " Oh well!" i have to agree with papa, it's not how much it is it's the message it will send.IMO vote them out
bemidji Posted March 20, 2012 at 05:10 AM Posted March 20, 2012 at 05:10 AM Ald. Scott Waugespack (32nd), who is unopposed for Democratic Ward Committeeman, said he will suggest to Jesse White — who holds the lion's share of the weighted vote in the district — that a stricter vetting process be used to pick a replacement for Smith. "I think we have to appoint someone with more independence," Waugespack said. "I want to talk to Jesse White and say I think we can't keep picking people like Anazette Collins and Derrick Smith, who are going to have ethics problems." It's Chicago: No Ethics = No Problem And the Illinois Combine rolls on - over the people of IL.
milq Posted March 20, 2012 at 06:12 AM Posted March 20, 2012 at 06:12 AM Ironically a study on state corruption that was released today said Illinois was the 10th LEAST corrupt state. Clearly that was a study performed by someone connected to the Machine.
bob Posted March 20, 2012 at 10:15 AM Posted March 20, 2012 at 10:15 AM Ironically a study on state corruption that was released today said Illinois was the 10th LEAST corrupt state. Clearly that was a study performed by someone connected to the Machine. I suspect it proves only that whatever "study" you do can select the criteria by which one scores such things to come up with just about any end result you want.
mstrat Posted March 21, 2012 at 07:07 PM Posted March 21, 2012 at 07:07 PM And despite the fact that he is without a doubt guilty of taking a bribe (it's not a matter of *if*, but *when* he gets convicted).... The people of Chicago voted for him anyway. He got almost 80% of the vote.
Patriots & Tyrants Posted March 21, 2012 at 07:16 PM Posted March 21, 2012 at 07:16 PM And despite the fact that he is without a doubt guilty of taking a bribe (it's not a matter of *if*, but *when* he gets convicted).... The people of Chicago voted for him anyway. He got almost 80% of the vote. I think we just need to break down and elect Marion Barry to the Illinois legislature.
Jeffrey Posted March 21, 2012 at 07:32 PM Posted March 21, 2012 at 07:32 PM Smith will win. Its the Chicago way.I should have been a card reader for the circus.
Lou Posted March 21, 2012 at 09:12 PM Posted March 21, 2012 at 09:12 PM Smith himself was appointed to the House and is now running for reelection. The idea is to keep him on the ballot and when he wins, he will drop out and his replacement will be appointed by Madigan. This how they want to rule in Madiganistan - bypass the voters.
scough Posted March 22, 2012 at 02:59 PM Posted March 22, 2012 at 02:59 PM I hate to say it, but when you see the Chicago citizens allowing this kind of crap to happen, and continue to support the corrupt machine, it makes me feel that we should just push to pass CCW without Chicago. Every other county will pass it, and then perhps this will be the big wake up call these apathic voters need to finally see the light. If they won't stand up for themselves against outright, in your face corruption, and in fact actively support it, I've just got no time to be enabling this mind set, to the rest of the states citizens considerable advantage. They are perpetuating their own repression, and continue to demand the rest of the state fall in line to support this disaster. I say if that's what they want, fine. Let them create their own prison yard society. Disgusting. On edit, just venting and certainly don't mean any distress towards our Chicago members doing their best. Must be unbelievably difficult living with a bunch of brain dead zombie neighbors who are more afraid of the politians than the violent gang members killing their children every day. I just can't imagine how this situation of accepted open corruption continues to be supported. Blows my mind.
snubjob Posted March 22, 2012 at 10:54 PM Posted March 22, 2012 at 10:54 PM I hate to say it, but when you see the Chicago citizens allowing this kind of crap to happen, and continue to support the corrupt machine, it makes me feel that we should just push to pass CCW without Chicago. Every other county will pass it, and then perhps this will be the big wake up call these apathic voters need to finally see the light. If they won't stand up for themselves against outright, in your face corruption, and in fact actively support it, I've just got no time to be enabling this mind set, to the rest of the states citizens considerable advantage. They are perpetuating their own repression, and continue to demand the rest of the state fall in line to support this disaster. I say if that's what they want, fine. Let them create their own prison yard society. Disgusting. On edit, just venting and certainly don't mean any distress towards our Chicago members doing their best. Must be unbelievably difficult living with a bunch of brain dead zombie neighbors who are more afraid of the politians than the violent gang members killing their children every day. I just can't imagine how this situation of accepted open corruption continues to be supported. Blows my mind.I'll add sickening to your digusting. The struggle to bring concealed carry to the state is opening a lot of eyes as far as bringing the absolute train wreck that is chicago[illinois] politics to light. The machine has absolute control of everything that goes on in this state, from top to bottom.
spec4 Posted March 23, 2012 at 12:40 PM Posted March 23, 2012 at 12:40 PM I hate to say it, but when you see the Chicago citizens allowing this kind of crap to happen, and continue to support the corrupt machine, it makes me feel that we should just push to pass CCW without Chicago. Every other county will pass it, and then perhps this will be the big wake up call these apathic voters need to finally see the light. If they won't stand up for themselves against outright, in your face corruption, and in fact actively support it, I've just got no time to be enabling this mind set, to the rest of the states citizens considerable advantage. They are perpetuating their own repression, and continue to demand the rest of the state fall in line to support this disaster. I say if that's what they want, fine. Let them create their own prison yard society. Disgusting. On edit, just venting and certainly don't mean any distress towards our Chicago members doing their best. Must be unbelievably difficult living with a bunch of brain dead zombie neighbors who are more afraid of the politians than the violent gang members killing their children every day. I just can't imagine how this situation of accepted open corruption continues to be supported. Blows my mind. This is the best case for having Crook county opt out of CCW I've ever seen on this forum. Very true. Especially after seeing the results of the recent election.
Jason4567 Posted March 23, 2012 at 08:41 PM Posted March 23, 2012 at 08:41 PM Don't forget Jesse Jackson Jr. is under investigation, and he won too. Yeah, the people around this city are idiots to keep voting for these people...
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