John Kass, Chicago TribuneIt took only 36 hours for President-elect Barack Obama to take the off ramp from the Change We Can Believe In Highway and slam his foot on the gas in the express lanes of the Chicago Way.
Because with his first official act, Obama selected a Chicago Daley machine guy for his chief of staff, U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Tomczak).
So much for transcending politics as we know it, eh? . . .
Among Chicago politicians, the Emanuel announcement was treated with enthusiasm. But it was enthusiasm of the political salivary gland at the prospect of federal pork and leverage. . . .
| As they say in Chicago, they can smell the meat a'cooking ... |
Loyal readers know why I put the (D-Tomczak) at the end of Emanuel's name. It refers to the corrupt Daley administration Water Department boss, Donald Tomczak, now in federal prison in Duluth, Minn. He sits there because he was convicted of bribery. Emanuel didn't have anything to do with that. But he was a political beneficiary of Tomczak and the Chicago Way.
Two years ago, at the federal trial of Mayor Daley's patronage chiefs--who were eventually convicted for building an illegal political army of city patronage workers to maintain the mayor's control on Chicago--Tomczak was a key witness.
And he testified that he was ordered to put his political regiments on the streets in 2002 to elect Emanuel and defeat a liberal Democratic grass-roots candidate. The mayor put hundreds of political hacks on the city payroll stumping for Emanuel back then. Tomczak controlled them. They were afraid not to work the precincts. It was the only way for them to get promotions.
Emanuel was elected. So if there wasn't a Tomczak, putting the army out for Emanuel, then Emanuel wouldn't have been in Congress. Emanuel really can't stand it when I mention Tomczak, and he has told me so, personally. He's entitled.
"You're right," he said in a newsroom confrontation a few years ago. "You keep mentioning him in connection with me in your column. That bothers me because I'm more than that."
I agree. He's an able political infighter, and if you were in a fight, you'd probably want Emanuel with you. He's smart and ruthless, and he knows politics. Perhaps that's why Obama chose him. But it's not reform.
The 5th District will now need a new congressman. That decision will be made by another Emanuel ally who never gets the proper credit from the Washington media: the prince of Rush Street and Aruba, state Sen. James DeLeo (D-How You Doin?).
DeLeo is the Democratic state central committeeman of Emanuel's district. He has known Obama and Emanuel for years. He's also been quite busy lately, worried about reports that the FBI is interested in his activities, from leasing luxury cars like Bentleys and Jaguars, to billboard companies, and his longtime relationship with newly indicted Republican power broker William Cellini.But I called his office anyway, to ask whom he would choose to succeed Emanuel in the U.S. House and whether he'll consult the new White House chief of staff on a replacement.
"He's not available," said his secretary.
Is Jimmy in Aruba at the casino?
"No," she said.
Is he on vacation, getting a suntan?
"No," she said. "He's in town. I'll take a message."
I'm still waiting for the call. . . .