The Chicago Democratic Machine

I am angry. In fact, I'm fucking angry. Angry at Illinois State Rep. Derrick Smith; at the Illinois Democratic Party; and most of all, angry at the voters of the 10th District of Illinois.

Earlier in March, Rep. Smith was arrested and charged with taking $7,000 in bribes. According to FBI surveillance footage, Smith asked for $7,000 in cash so "there won't be no trace" to him. After helping the briber count the money, he asked the FBI undercover agent to "leave it the envelope". On March 20th, with the help of the Chicago and Democrat Machine, he easily won his primary bid by capturing 77% of the vote.

Which brings me to the next group I'm fucking angry at: the Illinois and Chicago Democratic machine. Recently, the Democrat controlled Illinois general assembly re-drew the district maps for state and congressional members, seemingly, to help the Democratic Party by forcing incumbent Republican law makers to run against each other. During the preliminary legal challenge to the new district maps, an email from members in the Democratic Party surfaced that urged lawmakers to do their best to "help in the national push to take back the U.S. House of Representatives" and retain state control. The Illinois Constitution charges law makers to make districts as contiguous and compact as possible to avoid gerry-mandering. If you have looked at the recent map of Illinois districts, then you'll see it looks like a monkey tried playing Tetris.

I'm also angry at those party officials that helped Smith win his primary: U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (Democrat) and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. After Smith lost his Chicago City Hall job for using public employees for private landscaping work, White backed him for the Legislature. After he was charged with accepting a bribe, the Illinois Democratic Party even came up with a new slogan for him: No defeat or retreat — keep the Dem seat. Danny Davis even tried defending him at a pre-election rally: "We know that our colleague is charged with criminal activity. But we also know that a charge is not a conviction."

I'll grant you that he is not convicted yet, but he's on tape ... accepting a bribe ... what more do you need? In the world of politics, who you associate with casts a reflection on you. Does that mean Danny Davis also accepts bribes? Or does Davis think accepting bribes is ok?

Lastly, I'm angry at the voters in Smith's district. Either they are unwilling or unable to use their brains. They are unwilling or unable to think for themselves. They are either stupid or idiots. If politicians are supposedly the best our society as to offer as leaders, then what does that say about our society when pieces of shit like this walk around thinking it's okay to accept bribes or kick backs? What does it say about the people in his district who vote for crooked politicians?

Most times, crooked politicians reveal themselves after they are elected. In this case, Smith unmasked himself before election and he still won his primary. I'm so fed up with the bullshit corruption in Chicago and at the state party level. On this day, I am not proud to be an Illinoisan or a Chicagoan. People like Davis, who only worry about keeping the party numbers, and Smith, who is only it in for himself seemingly, make a mockery of our right to vote. That state party leaders helped him win his primary only to ask Smith to resign so they can install another party member in the won primary slot is fucking insulting.

I'm God-damned fucking angry and I hope my fellow Illinoisans are fucking angry too. This is the kind of shit we have to put with. It's hard enough to shake the Illinois corruption image from outsiders, but what's the point if shit-bags like this are in office?