Chicago Sun Times Editorial - A sad case of quid pro Stroger
Chicago Sun Times Editorial - A sad case of quid pro Stroger
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
July 18, 2006
Perhaps recognizing that she doesn't have the votes, Cook County Commissioner Bobbie Steele on Monday pulled out of the race to replace ailing President John Stroger on the November ballot. That leaves Rep. Danny Davis as the only alternative to Stroger's son Todd, a Chicago alderman. Unfortunately, the Cook County Democratic committeemen appear to have already decided that the younger Stroger will get the nod at their meeting today -- not because he is a better candidate, but because they are in debt to his dad.
There is, of course, something wrong with a system that places a higher value on political payback than on an honest evaluation of a candidate's qualifications. Todd Stroger has done little to distinguish himself as a state lawmaker and alderman and has said little to convince anyone that he's prepared to govern. Davis is a better choice -- and Steele would have been better, too -- if only because he doesn't represent a status quo that has made a mockery of democracy and government in Cook County. The committeemen apparently have already made up their minds, and certainly everyone expects they'll go through the motions today. But sometimes the unexpected does happen in politics. Maybe the committeemen will wake up to their responsibility to the voters. We can always hope.
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
July 18, 2006
Perhaps recognizing that she doesn't have the votes, Cook County Commissioner Bobbie Steele on Monday pulled out of the race to replace ailing President John Stroger on the November ballot. That leaves Rep. Danny Davis as the only alternative to Stroger's son Todd, a Chicago alderman. Unfortunately, the Cook County Democratic committeemen appear to have already decided that the younger Stroger will get the nod at their meeting today -- not because he is a better candidate, but because they are in debt to his dad.
There is, of course, something wrong with a system that places a higher value on political payback than on an honest evaluation of a candidate's qualifications. Todd Stroger has done little to distinguish himself as a state lawmaker and alderman and has said little to convince anyone that he's prepared to govern. Davis is a better choice -- and Steele would have been better, too -- if only because he doesn't represent a status quo that has made a mockery of democracy and government in Cook County. The committeemen apparently have already made up their minds, and certainly everyone expects they'll go through the motions today. But sometimes the unexpected does happen in politics. Maybe the committeemen will wake up to their responsibility to the voters. We can always hope.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 6:46 AM
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