Chicago Daily Observer

Barack Obama made one shrewd move this week, along with one risky one.

In talking with reporters after the Supreme Court ruled that criminals who rape children may not be executed, Mr. Obama moved smartly to the political center. “I think that the rape of a small child, six or eight years old, is a heinous crime and if a state makes a decision that under narrow, limited, well-defined circumstances, the death penalty is at least potentially applicable, that does not violate our Constitution,” he said, siding with conservative dissenters in the case.

Mr. Obama was on shakier ground when he insisted that none of the burgeoning scandals in Illinois politics have anything to do with him.

Again, is John Kass saying the Daleys played a significant role in getting Barack Obama to where he is today? If not, what’s the big deal of Kass arguing that Democrat Daley supported Democrat Obama here and there? If yes, where is the evidence to support that?

For at least a year, the Chicago Tribune’s John Kass has been arguing that Senator Obama is “backed,” by the Daley machine. [See here]. Well, if Kass is arguing that Mayor Daley has supported Obama for President and that Daley supported Obama in his general election campaign for the U. S. Senate- he’s right on that, but so what? Was Mayor Daley instrumental in Obama beating Alan Keyes or in his winning the Democratic nomination for President? Of course not. So what is Kass’ point?

A few weeks ago, friends of the late Mike Royko gathered at Wrigley Field to observe the ten year anniversary of his death. Royko was a lifelong fan of the Cubs, a team that he often lampooned and ridiculed. After seeing the Cubs manage to make a final World Series appearance during his adolescence, Royko watched the team as it bottomed out completely. Royko bemoaned the clumsy players that masqueraded as professional athletes on the Chicago roster, frequently venting his anger and disgust in print. He took solace by playing sixteen inch softball and was inducted into the Chicago Softball Hall of Fame. It was altogether fitting and proper that his family and friends assembled at the Friendly Confines to toast his memory.

Thinking of Royko, put me in mind of his final years writing columns for the Tribune. It was not an entirely happy employer/employee relationship. Royko had taken ... Read More...