Kass's Trib Column today
A few quotes from it.
Someone please tell me why the GOP couldn't have pulled this off. It's a no brainer. It shouldn't be a surprise. African-Americans and pro-growth Republicans should be a natural coalition.
Who else but Daley, facing his toughest re-election fight from a credible black challenger, could play both the race card and the free-market card and get away with it?This isn't playing a race card. It's a natural alliance for people in neigborhoods starved for economic growth blocked by a Liberalism consumed with symbolic issues.
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And his veto of the big-box living wage ordinance, pushed by the political left and the unions, unfairly targeting Wal-Mart and other large retail operations, was brilliant politics. So I felt bound to tell him.
Naturally, I didn't mention the Mayor Soul Man part or the Mayor Big Business part. He'd think that was sarcastic. It is.
But while the two personae seem an odd mix, they fit his re-election politics perfectly.
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And poor Jackson is on the other side, supporting labor--not those historically kept out of unions, namely African-Americans.
Daley also has given big business, meaning Chicago's CEOs who support him, reason to continue that support, though he has been weakened by an onslaught of federal grand juries investigating corruption.
"He played us like a fish," said another pro-labor white alderman who refused to flip on the veto vote. "First it was foie gras. Then this. He had it all planned. We look ridiculous."
The aldermen cared about geese and banned foie gras. But their attempts to jack up the minimum wage threatened jobs in minority communities. Ald. Foie Gras himself, Joe Moore (49th), was the same fellow who pushed the big-box ordinance that was vetoed.
Aldermen allowed themselves to be cast as worried more about the feelings of silly geese than about the feelings of poor blacks and Latinos who need jobs and a decent place to shop. Daley hungrily capitalized on their mistake.
Maybe it's just a GOP failure to hungrily capitalize on mistakes. That's all I can figure.
6 comments:
A multi-million dollar campaign will buy a lot of things, and in this case it bought the illusion that there was some controversy in the black community over the ordinance.
Daley had three black organizations on his side- Hal Baskins' Gangster Disciples/political group, The Woodlawn Organization, and Emma Mitt's ward organization. The pro-living wage community group ACORN has more black members in Chicago than those three groups combined.
But the media ate up the race angle and gave Daley cover he needed for the veto. Meanwhile support on the ground in the black community for the ordinance was off the charts.
Of course the only thing that will prove the level of support for sure is an election. Luckily, there's one just around the corner.
Kass could hide behind a corkscrew; but the man can write.
As for Hal Baskin, where ever did Mr progressive above get his info.?
Elder Hal is the Warlord/Elder for the Englewood Political Task Force, which concentrates on unhingeing gangboxes and robbing job sites.
The GOP couldn't pull this off for another generation (if that), simply based upon their use of "the southern strategy," and the media brainwashing of the GOP's history prior to that strategy.
With the blatanly racist history of the Democratic Party (prior to the Kennedys) out of the public's mind (and history books), all we know of is recent history (late 60s and beyond).
"Pro-growth republicans?"
In Illinois? You're kidding, right?
Name one.
Sadly, Daley appears to be the most "pro-growth" politician in the state.
Strom Thurmond was a rock-ribbed Democrat 'til things went 'south' on him.
Yep, my Party was noted for its racial sensitivity and above-board square deal for every one.
Time was only the Republicans had more nuts than a Stuckey's; ain't historuy great. Trade you one Anne Coulter for Barbra Streisand and two Sheens.
Daley needs to get his own house in order before playing the race card. His friend James Duff cleaned up, pun intended, on fraudulent minority contracts. The Daley administration's record on minority contracting is awful. Kass is right. Daley is an extremely savvy politician who knows how to play the media and the aldermen.
I support his veto of the big box ordinance. Chicago couldn't have taken the risk that Wal-Mart wasn't bluffing, and continue to lose sales taxes to nearby suburbs.
Hey Pat Hickey you said
"Elder Hal is the Warlord/Elder for the Englewood Political Task Force, which concentrates on unhingeing gangboxes and robbing job sites."
I know Hal and he is trying to make a difference in the African American community but this rethoric is what I would expect from the racist 19th Ward, you show your true colors Pat.
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