Reply #29: Obama Doners begin trial any moment...Al Chaib and Ali Ata ...who are they???

[indimuse]

http://www.hanania.com/profiles/Rezko06-08-05.htm


Arabs in Chicago discover political clout and controversy

June 8, 2005, Arab American Media Services

By Ray Hanania

For many years, Arab Americans in Chicago were relegated to behind-the-scenes fundraising, helping others to gain higher office while sitting on the sidelines waiting their turn.

Several ran for public office as "Arab American candidates" beginning in 1992, including this author, but all of the candidates lost. In one case, Miriam Zayed, a Democratic precinct captain and worker, ran for a prominent southwest suburban school district that included three high schools with the largest concentration of Arab students in the region.

Each year as she re-campaigned for office, her vote totals declined as her Arab heritage more and more became an issue.

This experience in Chicago contrasted from downstate Peoria, Illinois where mainly Lebanese Arabs have been able to win public office from municipal trustees to mayors, legislators and congressman. One of those, Congressman Ray LaHood, aid to former House Speaker Bob Michel, is now considered a strong possibility to challenge Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich next year.



Quietly, though, a group of wealthy Arab American businessmen based in Chicago forged alliances with key officials in state government in the mid-1990s. They locked in contracts and secured some low level jobs as state government changed from Republican to Democratic control.

In recent months, what was a quiet, deliberate assent to the top of Chicago and Illinois clout has exploded in front page newspaper controversies involving favoritism, poor job performance and allegations of wrongdoing.

The names and faces of these Arab American businessmen who have made it to the top include several nationally known players, such as Antoin Rezko and many more local players including the former head of the Chicago Chapter of the ADC, Ali Ata. Part of the challenge is the media bias against Arab Americans. Part of it is the lack of support Arab Americans get from their community. In the end, Arab American businessmen make easy targets for criticism and attacks.

Here's a look at the recent news reports:


rw...attack soon coming.