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Just in time for the campaign, The Jesse White Story. Doesn’t look too bad.
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 6:02 am
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Jesse White doesn’t need anything else (including a book about him) to retain his elected position as Secretary of State. He is well liked by both Democrats and Republicans. Let’s face it, after following George Ryan as Illinois Secretary of State, Jessie didn’t have too tough an act to follow. Most of my GOP friends have even said that they will probably vote for Jessie. He is a likeable guy. Better yet, it appears that he is not a crook. We better not let that guy go.
Comment by Beowulf Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 7:17 am
Hey Beowulf, you have apparently got Jesse White, the PR version mixed up with Jesse White, political boss. Unfortunately, too many people in this state have the same problem.
For the record, White is a protege of former Cook County Board President (and Democratic Committeeman of Chicago’s 42nd Ward) George Dunne. Dunne, who had two separate stints as Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party (AKA the Machine) and was County Board President for 22 years, made White a State Representative to give the Cabrini-Green section of his ward (which provided the biggest bloc of solid, reliable votes for Machine candidates) something for their efforts. In the 1990s the Cabrini-Green section of the 42nd Ward was shifted to the West Side’s 27th Ward (to keep the latter ward predominatly African-American). This enabled White, who by this time had succeeded Carol Moseley-Braun as Cook County Recorder of Deeds, to be elected Democratic Committeeman of the 27th Ward, and become a ward boss in his own right.
White’s other problem is that he has chosen to be a hands-off stayle of manager of the Secretary of State’s office, to allow him the time to continue his work with the Jesse White Tumblers and to be the leading ward boss for the West Side wards. The problem with that is that his chief of staff, Tom Benigno, is hopelessly over his head in that post, and knows it. Benigno has filled that office with an assortment of political hacks (many of whom are top politicos themselves or relatives of leading politicians) who are no threat to upstage Benigno, but are no better in getting things done.
So I’ll pass on the book. If I want a true comic book, I’ll get the latest issue of Archie or Jughead!
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Chicago
Comment by Randall Sherman Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 9:56 am
I have to disagree with Mr. Sherman. I look forward to the book as Mr. White has lived a fascinating life. From professional baseball to winning DuPage County as an African-American Democrat, is quite a story. I do not recall reading a story that his office has been under investigation by the US Atty like almost every other politician in this state. It would also be hard to argue that Tumblers have not been a worthwhile project in helping so many kids that otherwise would never have had that chance. I am not sure exactly what Mr. Sherman’s problem are with Mr. White and I am not arguing that Mr. White is perfect, but to compare his story to a comic book or imply impropiety without backup seems to be reckless.
Thanks Rich for pointing this book out as I doubt I would have learned of its existence elsewhere.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 11:49 am
Randall,
Dude, you need to chill out.
Take Jesse’s life story — subtract everything related to politics — and its still worthy of biography.
Certainly, he’s accomplished more (again, not even talking about the politics) then most of us could ever hope to do.
The fact that he took over a corrupt office, is running it effectively, and is the most popular politician in the state of Illinois ain’t no small feat either.
Comment by Publius Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 1:19 pm
Hey Publius, it doesn’t take much for an incumbent Illinois Secretary of State to be among the most popular politicians around. It’s been more than a half-century since an elected Secretary of State was defeated for re-election.
I wasn’t saying White isn’t a popular guy… just that he’s a ward boss in the tradition of his mentor, George Dunne, and he runs a sloppy ship at SOS. But since the news media just LOVES the Tumblers, you’ll likely die of old age before you will hear them criticize White, even if he deserves it.
For now, we may have to take an indirect swipe at White via his allies and the like. ortunately, that can be accomplished by supporting Aurie Pucinski in her bid for a countywide Circuit Court Judgeship (I’ll let you figure that riddle out for yourselves).
Comment by Randall Sherman Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 3:59 pm
Publis, “he took over a corrupt office, is running it effectively”…
Sorry if this ruins your illusion but the office is still corrupt and I don’t know a soul, outside of the political hacks, who considers it as being run effectively.
Randall Sherman has got it right. Jesse is concerned about the tumblers and not much else.
Comment by Diseffected employee Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 5:41 pm
Hey Randall, you have apparently got the topic, “New Book”, confused with a personal opinion poll on politics. While you are certainly entitled to express your opinions, I think they would be more beneficial on a different blog or poll. The focus here is on the new book and your comments would have been of greater value had you actually read the book and informed us that you found the book’s content to be false or poorly written.
Comic book? I think NOT!
Promoting your own ideas and opinions is one thing, but to belittle and degrade the work that went into the book, without ever reading it, is totally distasteful.
Having read a great portion of the book, I will be purchasing additional copies to distribute as gifts. Kudos to Jesse White for his various accomplishments. And, thanks to Rick Davis for taking time out of his own life to provide such an excellent, well-written, well-researched, and inspirational biography.
Comment by Excellent Bio Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 5:57 pm
Randall, do you have a positive opinion about anything or anyone? When the day comes that you can go through double knee replacement AND still keep tumbling with the “kids”, that’s perhaps the day I will give you some respect. Until then, Jesse has ALL of my respect. If you are so concerned about honest government, perhaps there is an elected office for which you could run. We can all find something wrong with any politician; however, Jesse inherited a real mess and sure has had no cooperation from a Democrat governor, who keeps raising our motor vehicle taxes and calls them fee increases. Jesse White is not our problem so please focus on the fish with the biggest stink - Bloggo.
Comment by LittleEgypt Wednesday, Jan 25, 06 @ 6:27 pm
who’s gonna buy the movie rights and play him is a better question
Comment by WWDMD Thursday, Jan 26, 06 @ 11:05 pm