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Neil Steinberg apologizes for his last column.
When I wrote Wednesday about Cook County Board President John Stroger, it was a mistake to focus purely on the political, and ignore the personal, the reality of a sick man going to the hospital. I’m sorry for that.It can be too easy, as we turn our faces to the public, to ignore the people within. I was bragging the other day that one of the benefits of being called awful names a dozen times a day is that it has made me less sensitive to hurt. I thought that was a good thing, but it’s not.
And the Sun-Times editorial board weighs in today as well:
The day after Stroger was hospitalized, a Sun-Times opinion column by Neil Steinberg cast aspersions on the ailing County Board president. We regret the unseemliness of that column and we apologize to Stroger, his family and legion of friends and supporters.
The paper had been threatened with a boycott and the column in question had created a huge uproar in the county.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 11:06 am
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Wow, FTN gets absolutely blasted in another thread, and now Steinberg apologizes, while the Sun-Times throws Oh So Witty Neil under a bus.
I guess we will have to rename it as St. Patrick’s Jackass Come-Uppance Day.
Comment by Bubs Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 11:48 am
I just read the entire article. Not condoning his work - but he did state in the beginning that he was going to be cynical.
I’m pretty sure the majority of cook county residents wish Stroger well. I don’t want to meet the small minority who wish otherwise. I hope he recovers from his latest health issues.
That being said, his health issues will affect his public duties. Do cook county residents keep him in power because of nearly 40 years experience in government - or do they retire Stroger and let a new generation of leadership get elected. Stroger has lead a long career in politics. Perhaps its time for a new chapter in his life.
All I’m saying is that the political implications to his health status are significant.
Comment by Marta Elena Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 1:20 pm
The Defender’s own Readers respond.
Comment by EchoChamber Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 1:50 pm
IT TAKE A HUMBLE MAN TO ISSUE A GENUINE APOLOGY. NEIL STEINBERG MUST BE ONE OF THEM.
However, to some extent, I agree with Neil Steinberg. Cook County Government is corrupt! It is time for CHANGE all across the board.
While JS’s illness may not be a ploy, it may be DIVINE INTERVENTION.
At some point in life who can continue working with an illness as serious as a stoke. JS is in his 70’s. It may be time for him to sit the rest of his life in peace, but not as the President of the County Board.
However, enters politics. His illness looks like a ploy in some instances because of the flack that the African American’s bring to the table and the timing of his illness.
As long as it benefits AA’s their is nothing to be said, even if it’s dead wrong. We have a tendacy of pulling out the race card all the time. What the AA’s leaders threatening the boycott should have declared, “maybe John is too old to continue to hold this position” or “John should rest and not worry about the election, his health is more important”.
However, the real flack was that Neil Steinbergs comments might have woke up some of the voters into realizing that JS might not be able to carry on his duties as CBP after his stroke. The flack is also about loosing the power of a AA CBP and the clout that the position holds. If it taken away from the AA community, it may go to another race and the AA clout of that office is gone.
While JS is still in the hospital, Daley, “vote for John Stroger”, Durbin, “vote for John Stroger”. These are new campaign adds all intended to get the voters to vote JS in anyway despite his health and continue to hold the power of the seat.
POLITICS!!!!!!!!!!!!
What about humanity?
John Stroger has had a stroke and it a person who has a stroke as his cannot possible return back to work as soon as necessary to fulfill the duties of the CCBP.
John Stroger should sit back relax, get well and forget about the CCBP race, only his health.
Comment by ONE M.C.M.A.D Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 3:24 pm
Neil Steinberg is one of my favorite writers in Chicago journalism. I disagree with him on John Stroger as a man and a public figure. The Uriah Heep of Chicago politics, Mike ‘Kid Revolution’ Quigley is pretty free-handed with his inside dope on the people he wants politically assasinated and tends to feed the media with his spin treacle of gooy-good government. Once that beauty gets his hooks in the taxpayers - hold the phone, Prunella!
Comment by Pat Hickey Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 3:31 pm
Clearly Steinberg is awful and this issue only reinforces that they should have fired him after his last “issue.”
That being said, I am a Claypool supporter and think that Stroger’s health is a relevant issue - its just that Steinberg is like a bull in a china shop, or should I say bully.
Comment by Goodbye Napoleon Friday, Mar 17, 06 @ 10:43 pm