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Question of the day

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Illinois
Blagojevich Trial

* There were a lot of lowlights from yesterday’s arraignment of Rep. Derrick Smith. Here’s a quote from Smith…

“God gives us all a cross to bear and this lawsuit is mine.”

Um, excuse me, Representative, but this is no mere lawsuit you’re facing. You’ve been indicted on federal bribery charges. Perhaps you need to look up the difference between civil and criminal matters.

* Mark Brown talked to some Chicago politicians who backed Smith in the Democratic primary against a white Republican who appeared to be campaigning as a black Democrat…

“I’m a bit disappointed quite frankly,” Congressman Danny K. Davis told me Monday after learning of Smith’s comments. “I would have hoped that Rep. Smith would have resigned his position as a member of the General Assembly.” To be clear, Davis would like him to resign his spot on the ballot as well.

Davis, who headlined the group that urged a vote for Smith after his arrest, said he did so because he “thought it was for the greater good of the district.”

At this time, “the greatest good would be served if Rep. Smith would put people out of their agony [by resigning]. Only he can do that,” Davis added.

Davis said he appreciates that Smith is in a difficult position and he’s entitled to the presumption of innocence, but added: “Sometimes you have to put the good of the group before your individual self.”

Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), chairman of the West Side Black Elected Officials who convened the pre-election press conference backing Smith, also said he should resign.

“The sooner the better,” Mitts told me. “He’s got enough to deal with without holding the district hostage.”

Mitts said Democratic committeemen whose wards encompass Smith’s 10th legislative district are preparing to run an independent candidate against him if he doesn’t step aside. That effort is being organized by Secretary of State Jesse White, Smith’s political mentor, who engineered his appointment.

* And WBEZ had a doozy of a quote from Smith’s attorney…

Henderson said the case reminds him of a poem.

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist,” Henderson said, reading a printout from the website of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I am not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak to, for me.”

That poem is about Germans who ignored Nazi actions.

Asked if he was really comparing Derrick Smith’s case to the Holocaust, Henderson replied that when the government does something wrong, everyone has “an obligation to stand up.”

“Today it’s Derrick Smith,” he said. “Who is it tomorrow? That’s the point of [my reading] the poem.”

Oy.

* The Question: Derrick Smith is to _____ as Rod Blagojevich is to _____?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:11 pm

Comments

Derrick Smith is to “Mini Me” as Rod Blagojevich is to Dr. Evil.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:16 pm
Derrick Smith is to Rod Blagojevich as Rod Blagojevich is to Derrick Smith.

But I like Oswego Willie’s better.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:17 pm
Derrick Smith is to Steve Martin’s Inspector Clouseau as Rod Blagojevich is to Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:21 pm
Derrick Smith is to Carlo Rizzi as Rod Blagojevich is to Fredo.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:24 pm
Derrick Smith is to Reno as Rod Blagojevich is to LasVegas

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:26 pm
Derrick Smith is to Gollum as Rod Blagojevich is to Sauron.

Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:27 pm
Derrick Smith is to off the rack jump suit as Rod Bagojevich is to tailor made jump suit.

Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:28 pm
Derrick Smith is to coherence as Rod Bagojevich is to integrity.

Comment by South of Sherman Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:44 pm
Derrick Smith is to the Hindenburg as Rod Blagojevich is to the Titanic.

Comment by gathersno Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:47 pm
Derrick Smith is to pot as Rod Blagojevich is to kettle

Comment by J Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:52 pm
Derrick Smith is to Curtis Enis as Rod Blagojevich is to Walter Payton.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:54 pm
Derrick Smith is to Sideshow Bob as Rod Blagojevich is to Krusty the Klown

Comment by Knome Sane Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:58 pm
The Question: Derrick Smith is to Cell #36A as Rod Blagojevich is to Cell #36B.

Comment by Mouthy Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 12:58 pm
Derrick Smith is to lead as Rod Blagojevich is to fool’s gold.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 1:45 pm
Derrick Smith is to Judas Iscariot as Rod Blagojevich is to Jesus Christ.

Comment by Fiefdom Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 1:51 pm
Derrick Smith is to screwed as Rod Blagojevich is to megascrewed.

Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 2:10 pm
Derrick Smith is to George Dunne, as Rod Blagojevich is to Richard Mell.

Comment by A modest proposal Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 2:11 pm
==Derrick Smith is to pot as Rod Blagojevich is to kettle ==

Hey! I resemble that remark!

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 2:41 pm
Derrick Smith is to a petty thief as Rod Blagojevich is to a mob boss.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 2:44 pm
Derrick Smith is to bottom bunk as Rod Blagojevich is to top bunk.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 2:54 pm
Derrick Smith is to Jesse White as Rod Blagojevich is to Dick Mell. “What monster did I help create?” wonder both White and Mell.

Comment by Robert Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 3:03 pm
Derrick Smith is to a toupee as Rod Blagojevich is to hair.

Comment by Name Withheld Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 3:49 pm
I don’t get this one:

–Derrick Smith is to Curtis Enis as Rod Blagojevich is to Walter Payton.–

And I really don’t get this one:

–Derrick Smith is to Judas Iscariot as Rod Blagojevich is to Jesus Christ.–

Derrick Smith is to “going, going” as Rod Blagojevich is to “gone.”

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 5:00 pm
I don’t get this one either:

–Derrick Smith is to Curtis Enis as Rod Blagojevich is to Walter Payton.–

Makes no sense to compare Blago to Payton. If anything it’s:

Derrick Smith is to Curtis Enis as Rod Blagojevich is to Rashaan Salaam.

Comment by ToddAF Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 5:29 pm
Derrick Smith is to six as Rod Blagojevich is to half a dozen

Comment by Crafty Girl Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 8:31 pm
[actually, Smith reminds me more of Rearenda Troutman…just a small time’ho’.]

Derrick Smith is to field mouse as Rod B is to a big ol’ rat.

Comment by park Tuesday, May 1, 12 @ 8:36 pm
Smith is to 14 months as Blagojevich is to 14 years.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, May 2, 12 @ 10:17 pm