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Forecast: Racey - Updated x1

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Back in July, Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon threatened “World War III” if Mayor Daley vetoed the “big box” ordinance. Daley has now responded in kind.

Armed with the votes he needs to sustain his first veto, Mayor Daley accused organized labor on Tuesday of forcing the issue on a big-box minimum wage ordinance only after giant retailers started coming to impoverished black neighborhoods.

Implied, but not stated, by Daley on the eve of Wednesday’s City Council override vote was that union leaders somehow consider African Americans expendable. […]

“Not one mayor or alderman has ever been threatened in the suburban area. … Only on the West Side. Only on the South Side,” Daley told cheering supporters at 119th and Marshfield, vacant site of a Target store placed on hold after the City Council’s 35-to-14 vote in favor of the ordinance. […]

“We thought we had more collective strength here in the city than in the outlying areas,” Gannon said.

So, he takes a swipe at Gannon and plays the race card at the same time. Politically, this was a very adept move, considering that Daley faces at least two African-American opponents. Still, accusing organized labor of racism is more than just a little over the top.

And considering that Todd Stroger just played the race card himself, it looks like the coming fall and spring campaigns are gonna be truly nasty.

UPDATE: Right on cue, this e-mail just arrived from Tony Peraica’s campaign.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Peraica to Demand Investigation, Justice in the alleged racially-charged beating of a 77-year old man at Cook Core Center

Cook County Commissioner and reform candidate for Cook County Board President Tony Peraica will hold a press conference in front of the Core Center clinic across the street from Stroger Hospital to demand the following in response to the alleged beating of 77-year old man Augustin Sotomayer by a Cook County security guard while he waited to pick up his wife Manuela Sotomayer, a Cook County employee:

# The identification of the security guard accused of this horrendous beating
# The suspension of that security guard pending a full, independent investigation
# The dismissal of all charges pending against Mr. Sotomayer pending that full, independent investigation
# The return of the cell phone of a county employee who videotaped the incident on her cell phone (and whose cell phone was subsequently confiscated by police) for review by independent investigators

According to a Fox News report, Mr. Sotomayer was allegedly approached by a Cook County security guard asked “if he was a Mexican” asked if he “was legal” and then removed from his car by the Cook County security guard in question as Mr. Sotomayer reached for his wallet and thereafter beaten by the security guard in question.

Mr. Sotomayer is hospitalized at Stroger hospital with chest pains and puncture wounds. According the Fox News report, Mr. Sotomayer began driving again recently after suffering a stroke and heart attack in February of this year.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:32 am

Comments

Gannon should challenge Daley to support a countywide ordinance.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:35 am
Wow, Rev. Creflo Daley soundled like a preacher man.

As for Toddler, Urkel was a smart guy. That is only an insult for those who accuse being smart w/”acting white”.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:40 am
Ald. Cardenas used the numbers against the Unions as well on Chicago Tonight - it may be over the top, but the whistle was blown by SEIU which loses nothing in this set-up. It is a shame that the trade unions have been blackmailed by the Stern gang. SEIU is a political movement trying to set social engineering theories (Marxist) into the political arena: Legislation that arrests behavior - you will do this/you will not do that.

Since 2005, when SEIU bailed out of the AFL-CIO it has used its numbers of members to blackmail legitimate trades unions, elected officials, and the underserved and it has co-opted the think tanks that boil newsprint and media coverage.

Dennis Gannon will be cast in the role of racist, stooge, bully, boss, and class traitor. He is a good labor leader - organized labor got sandbagged by the lefties.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:46 am
The Mayor had fire in his eyes and steel in his voice for the first time in months.

Gannon got caught in the middle.

Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:57 am
How many union leaders in the Chicago Fed. or the Illinois AFL-CIO are African-American?

I bet not many.

Using the “race” card against Gannon is not over the top. It’s on point.

Comment by Need an Answer Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 9:04 am
How many African Americans in the Leadership of SEIU? Now there’s a tickler.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 9:14 am
How many union members in general are Black? % of overall members? %of new members? The union has a history of racism equal to that of anyone else. Last hired, first fired is their motto for minorities

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 9:18 am
Toddler better come up with a sound plan to overcome this security guard incident. All eyes will be on his actions, or inactions.

Cardenas is officially a target. Don’t be surprised if he faces very very stiff competition and with HDO against the ropes, his days may be numbered. There are alot of union members that live within his ward.

Comment by Silas Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 9:42 am
Most of the people I have seen at numerous rallies,including the ones today, are African-American. Daley is way over the top with his comments on race. Massa Daley trying to play the great liberator. Where was he, as SA, when Jon Burge was torturing citizens with impunity? Harold must be spinning in his grave. I’m hoping for World War III. It is about time to oust the little guy with the big mouth.He is not funny anymore and we need a real democrat in City Hall.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 9:45 am
Harold was smart enough not to get sand-bagged by commie wannabes and T-shirt junkies.

Cardenas will be fine; Daley will be fine; Andy Stern’s Purple Gang not withstanding ( the Trib will make the gutless little coat-holder look like a labor leader and beat up on Chicago federation of Labor and THAt is a shame); the BBO will go the way of goose liver; Quigley will wear lifts once again ( metaphorical ones that is) and weld TIFs to this tiff with labor; and things will move along.

WW III is a long way off.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 9:55 am
Throughout the last century to this very day, the trade unions in Chicago have been racist. Go look at Stroger Hospital - if there’s a white guy not in a suit, you can almost be guaranteed it’s a trade union guy. The trade unions have been racially exclusionary, passionately so. They have stonewalled efforts to increase minority members, fought lawsuits fiercely and opposed all legislative efforts to open up. Daley is hitting their soft underbelly - good for him.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:01 am
There is the change of ’shift’ ALREADY -

Wal-Mart and Corporate America MUST do something!

Now - ITS THE UNIONS FAULT! Just hours ago it was ‘Unions are leading us in this fight!’ Now, the black eye on labor is being slugged up - and NoT by Daley - Not by Gannon - but by the crumbs who set things up!

Stay tuned.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:04 am
Mr Hickey:

Don’t be so sure on Cardenas. I live in the 12th Ward and a lot of residents are PO’d at Cardenas for not being around enough. Last time someone knocked on our doors was 3.5 years ago by some thuggish looking characters who flaunted their city of chicago apparel. Total strangers. A majority of residents still believe that the previous alderman is atill at the helm, thats how bad Cardenas is acknowledged in the community.

Comment by Silas Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:08 am
Dear Silas,

Legitimate beef for sure. I don’t think that SEIU’s Purple Gangs will undo his position.

As voter, and as Labor voter, I am apalled by SEIU’s agenda driven legislation as social modification cookie cutter tactics here in my City.

I detest Wal-Mart ( don’t and won’t shop there) but I detest Andy Stern’s black mail of legitimate labor and shameless race-baiting Much Much More. Mr. Stern and Ms. Burger are leftist activists and they have highjacked the old Janitors Unions; security guards, some nurses, skilled care center workers, unskilled officer workers and broke out of the legitimate labor movement. They have lefty pols and like minded media pals ready to make laws and agitate for their social agenda.

I believe that they are as malevolent as the Wal-Mart.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:18 am
Daley “used to be” over the top. Now he’s just goofy. He’s got a body at “his” feet and he’s point over at Labor? That’s like slandering the Nights of Columbus. Here’s a guy from a Blue family in a Blue parrish in a Blue Neighborhood in a Blue ward in a Blue city in a Blue state. Now he’s trashing the Unions– his ancestral allies. He talks to the city but he plays to the suburbs–the business leaders. Goofy. Degnan should splain 2 things to him. First, it appears that many patients are not taking the medication anymore–so caution is indicated. Second Pat Marcy and Uncle John aren’t accross the street anymore–they’re at Mount Carmel! So we really can’t flip the unions now too.

With the current state of the organization, the job may be well beyond an Augustinian background–with all the goofiness–it may be time to call in some Jesuit training. Can you say Mike-Ma-di-gan?

Comment by Caligula's Horse Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:19 am
HDO has a strong track record in getting their candidates elected. I’m not so sure they’re on the ropes but we’ll find out in February.

Daley should be careful with the race card, especially after Duff’s fraudulent minority contracts and the city’s poor minority contracting record in general.

Comment by Tom Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:39 am
CH,
Excellent post! Daley more resembles the CEOs that live in his new neighborhood and has really forgotten where he came from, who put him in office, who kept him in office.He is even more incoherent than usual. Even little Richie doesn’t have enough money to buy off the AA community anymore. Dorothy Brown, Jr.,Little Louie, Meeks, or any of the Madigans, Hynes,etc.have a chance to knock him off.
I hope that he doesn’t get off the hook this time.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:43 am
Tom,

I agree with your statement about HDO. Times have changed now and word on the street is that many HDO members are jumping ship fast. This has dwindled their troops. An informant that has attended their meetings stated that the crowd size has dramatically decreased compared to their prime years. We’ll see how it pans out.

Comment by Silas Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:49 am
At this point what can the HDO offer their people. Its not like they all “volunteered” out of a sense of civic duty.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 10:54 am
Since when did comparing someone to Urkel become “racist?” If this is any indication of how Stroger is going to deal with criticism or fun poked at him, race relations will never stand a chance in Cook County.

Then again, that would be just fine for the likes of Stroger and the company he keeps. Do nothing to help huge numbers of African Americans out of misery, then cry racism when you’re called to account for generational poverty and violence plaguing the AA community.

Sickening.

Comment by Urkel is Funny Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 11:22 am
The past, present and future master of Lets You and Him Fight has won again! Labor must abandon this silly city council ruckus. It’s the wrong fight, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Take the fight out of the City and into the suburbs, where all our members live anyway, where they all shop at big box stores.

Comment by Samuel Chompers Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 11:44 am
Thank you Sam,

Labor fights battles about jobs that already exist: Not imagined jobs, where imaginary workers ‘might’ be cheated by Big Corporations.

Labor has plenty to do with real screwing of American workers and the real attempts to erode the eight hour day.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 12:05 pm
Hey–you guys are really on to something hee. It’s like Harold Washington used to say: “It’s all a bunch of Hocus Pocus Dominocus”.

See, the “constituencies” went and moved on these guys. So, Tod should run for Mayor and Richie should go for Cook County Pres. See? Excvept that he would wan’t an ordinace to let him live in Oakbrook so he could hang-out with his buddy “O’Hare Bob” “The working man’s friend” Schillerstrom–at the CC for some real funzy-wunzy.

Comment by Caligula's Horse Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 12:08 pm
Bill,

Let’s get ‘em all up! Death to the Class Traitors!

Now Everyone! Ah One, Ah Two, Ah . . .

Arise ye starvelings [or workers] from your slumbers
Arise ye criminals of want
For reason in revolt now thunders
and at last ends the age of cant.
Now away with all your superstitions
Servile masses arise, arise!
We’ll change forthwith [or henceforth] the old conditions
And spurn the dust to win the prize.

CHORUS

Then come comrades rally
And the last fight let us face
The Internationale
Unites the human race. (repeat).

We peasants, artisans and others,
Enrolled amongst the sons of toil
Let’s claim the earth henceforth for brothers
Drive the indolent from the soil.
On our flesh for too long has fed the raven
We’ve too long been the vultures prey.
But now farewell to spirit craven
The dawn brings in a brighter day.

CHORUS

No saviour from on high delivers
No trust we have in prince or peer
Our own right hand the chains must shiver
Chains of hatred, greed and fear.
Ere the thieves will out with their booty
And to all give a happier lot.
Each at his forge must do his duty
And strike the iron while its hot.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 12:29 pm
Pat,
Ok whatever.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 12:46 pm
…Ok?…Oh and one more thing. Let’s get a hook’n'ladder over at Pat Hickey’s…he’s threatnin to leap again…and if he hasn’t leapt yet, lets get a guy with a bug crescent wrench to really bolt’m down this time..no, scratch that get somebody up there from the Marine Unit with a torch kit and weld ‘em in this time!

Comment by Caligula's Horse Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 12:59 pm
CH,

‘Bless Your Kindness, Sir.

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 1:05 pm
I think Daley’s ploy of implying that the big-box ordinaance is racist and elitist is ridiculous. Daley clearly is elitist and a corporate apologist. He’s about as Republican as a Democrat can be.

It’s a geunine dilemma - economic development vs living wages. I’s supporting one alderman who supported the big box ordinace and another who voted against it. I prefer the UFCW and SEIU position on big box/living wages, particlarly with respect to their intense opposition to Wal-Mart.

Personally, I’d like to see some type of statewide big-box initiative. I wouldn’t necessarily do it the same way. Probably, I’d create tax penalties for large companies (not small or medium size businesses)like Wal-Mart - that intentionally shift the costs of employee medical care to the public sector - because the employees are paid so poorly that they cannot afford to pay for the company health plan.

I don’t think the comparison of Stroger to Urkel is racist, but it is juvenile and insulting.

Peraica’s correct that the Sotomeyer case should be fully investigated. But I don’t see it as a legitimate campaign issue that has any bearing on a voter’s decision on whether to vote for either Peraica or Stroger.Peraica is grandstanding.

I don’t believe that any of my opinions on big- box, the county-board president race, or the mayor’s race have any racial implications or connotations. Carol Marin correctly noted that there is big chasm between reform-minded liberals like myself, the Cook County Democratic Party, and the African American community about the younger Stroger nomination.

Whoever is elected to be the next Cook County Board President will be a one termer. I plan to vote for Stroger this time, and support someone else in 2010.

Looking forward to a spirited mayoral campaign. Daley deserves a stiff challenge from credible candidates like Brown, Jackson Jr., and Guiterrez(SP)because of the systemic corruption that he and his associates have created/tolerated. I believe Daley will be re-elected one more time.

The real harbinger of change to come will be the Chicago alderamanic elections.

I think the SEIU initiative is really important and even exciting. I also like Jackson Jr’s plans to run with a slate of aldermanic candidates. I really look at 2007 Chicago elections as a dress- reharsal for the 2011 election when Daley will not run.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 2:30 pm
Labor’s pyrhhic victory is now Business’ pyrhhic victory. Will there be a dennybrook? Will we see the roper-a-dope? Standing in the center of the ring is the master of ceremonies,microphone in hand: “In the Blue corner, wearing an off-the-rack Paul Steuart pinstripe is…and in the Red Corner, wearing Brooks Brothers is…” Can’t we all just get along? By the way, where are all the UFCW yokels who started this alley fight? Did they scamper back to Springpatch?

Comment by Samuel Chompers Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 4:18 pm
Here is the truth about the Website

The Website was put on the web by a Tony Periaca endorser Dave Stachura, Schiller Park Library Trustee

If you check out toddstroger.com which goes to the votestroger website it is registered to his wife Catherine

So for Periaca to say that he has no idea who did and it is not a good thing rings truly false, like most eveyrthing else he says

Also I think that Commissioner Periaca should repudiate his endorser Dave Stachura for putting such tripe on the web

here is the Whois for this page

Registrant:
Catherine Stachura
10130 Berteau
Schiller Park, Illinois 61076
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: TODDSTROGER.COM
Created on: 10-May-06
Expires on: 10-May-07
Last Updated on: 10-May-06

Administrative Contact:
Stachura, Catherine dcstachura@aol.com
10130 Berteau
Schiller Park, Illinois 61076
United States

Technical Contact:
Stachura, Catherine dcstachura@aol.com
10130 Berteau
Schiller Park, Illinois 61076
United States

Comment by Hmmmmm Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 6:14 pm
Posting from a foreign computer today. Forgot I was posting anonymouslly,

Anonymous 9/13/06 at 2:30PM

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 6:28 pm
The machine don’t play bean-bag.

Comment by Ignatius J. Reily Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 7:27 pm
Neither does the Comintern:

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/9748/1/337

Comment by Pat Hickey Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 8:08 am