A Political Culture approach to Obama v Clinton

[Little Star]

The Next Hurrah
A Political Culture approach to Obama v Clinton
by Sara

The decision by some in the Kennedy Clan to endorse Obama after the SC Primary last week may have surprised many, but it shouldn't. For in a very interesting way it represents the unification of two wings of the 1960 power center that elected John Kennedy. What should surprise is that so many of our pundits have missed the call.

Barack Obama is, without question, the candidate of the Daley Family wing of the Democratic Party. Democrats from Illinois simply do not move into a position to be elected Senator without the blessing of what remains of the Chicago Machine -- and much remains and is led by the current Richard M. Daley. But if you dig back into your Daley Family Political History -- all the way back into the 1950's you find the relationship with the Kennedy Family. Old Joe owned a significant part of what counted in Chicago, beginning with the Merchandise Mart managed by his son-in-law, Sarge Shriver, and if you dig into the other high gross commerce, you find the liquor trade, supermarkets, and much else in obscure Kennedy Family holdings. In the days before reporting of campaign funding -- the Kennedy Family was able to generate much of what Jack needed out of Chicago, and one of the principle players in this was Mayor Daley, then and now perhaps know as Hizzhonor. On election day in 1960, Daley was able to hold the vote in the River Wards out of the report long enough to make certain it covered the excess Republicans from downstate. When Daley controlled his city and its institutions, he made certain that Chicago never had enough old lever voting machines to cover all the precincts. When the number the city owned reached about 66%, he would surplus some. Voting machines went into Republican Wards. Paper Ballots went to the River Wards. And on election night, 1960, his services in making certain those wards covered the excess Downstate Republican vote, may have played a role.

The last call Robert Kennedy took at the Ambassador Hotel before he went to the Victory Party downstairs, back in May of 1968, was from Mayor Daley, who called to tell Kennedy that he would be holding a press conference the next day to pledge the whole Illinois Delegation to Bobby's campaign for President. As we know, that didn't happen, but those were the days when a Machine Boss could make such promises.

Most people think the days of the old machines are dead and gone -- I beg to differ. I simply think some have been smart enough to adapt to a new environment, and learn how to survive. Thus the attraction as a candidate to the Illinois State Senate of a Harvard Honors Grad Lawyer -- not part of the Black Establishment in Chicago, but at the same time a skilled organizer able to work with all sides, the Business Community, the Daley Machine, and yes, if Larry Johnson's material holds water, even some elements of "the Outfit" which is what the mob is called in Chicago. So when Obama had proved his skills in Iowa and South Carolina, why would anyone be surprised if the Daley Family did not call in a few chit's from the Kennedy Family?
MORE AT LINK:
http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2008/02/a-political-cul.html

[Radical Activist]

1. Nope. Hynes was the Chicago machine candidate in Obama's Senate win.

The writer of this is clueless.
I'm sure Daley would be happy to have a Chicagoan as President but that doesn't make him part of Daley's machine.

[papau]

2. For 1stState Senate office O ran unopposed(using law suites to get others off ballot)-04Hynes wasn't

Daley machine choice.

Indeed Obama has always been OK with the Daley machine -If Daley had a problem with Obama there would have at least been some opposition in his first state senate run.

In 2004 Hynes depended on his Dad's machine (former Cook County assessor and state Senate president Tom Hynes - who is a friend of Bill Clinton and helped him in 1992 - Hynes was not helped by the Daley machine). State Speaker Michael Madigan's support of Hynes was also a Hynes problem as the Daley machine was fighting with Madigan (Madigan's endorsement of Jane Byrne in 1983 will never be forgiven). Gery Chico and Pappas' entry further cut down the effect of the non-Daley machine vote in the primary.

So to defeat Hynes/Madigan, Daley threw in with Obama, which combined with the standard Obama strategy of telling Blacks the obvious - that he was the only viable black candidate in the race and then playing the race card - was enough for Obama to win the 2004 primary.


So rather than being "clueless", I'd say the writer was spot on.

[Radical Activist]

3. Any evidence

that Daley did anything to help Obama get elected to the Senate?

I agree that I've never seen Daley make any overt efforts to defeat Obama. But the writer here is suggesting a little more than that. Making peace with Daley and being his puppet aren't the same thing.

[papau]

4. There are a lot of Daley efforts in Obama's behalf by Daley re Federal money flowing to Obama's

State Senate District.

Doesn't mean he was a "puppet" - but interesting.

And yes - the Daley machine helped Obama in 04 - again perhaps just to stop Hynes and friends - and not because Obama was his "puppet" - but then perhaps because he expected some love from Obama.

[Little Star]

5. I agree