Todd Stroger: More Chicago Democratic sleaze

In his best-selling book, The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media's Favorite Candidate, David Freddoso devotes several pages to the ineffective body (except for raising taxes) known as Cook County government, led by Todd "The Toddler" Stroger.

Here's an excerpt:

After inheriting his office, the younger Stroger kept the family tradition alive by loading the payroll with family members and cronies according to what is known as the Chicago "friends and family" plan. He gave his own cousin--at this point the county's chief financial officer--at sudden 12 percent payroll hike, to $160,000. He hired his best friend's wife for a $126,000 job. He hired his childhood friend as his spokesman. He hired an unqualified friend for a top health job apparently created just for him.

Stroger, like Blagojevich, is a Chicago Democrat. And like Blago, he needs to go. Stroger faces the voters in 2010.

As I've mentioned numeous times on this blog, President-elect Barack Obama endorsed Stroger after ward and committeeman bosses placed him on the ballot in 2006 after his father suffered a debilitating stroke. In a letter, Obama called him "a good progressive Democrat."

Today the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Civic Federation, a watchdog group, calls the county's budget--remember Stroger's cousin is the CFO--"an extraordinarily bad deal for the citizens of Cook County at an extraordinarily difficult time."

In 2010, Republicans, independents, and reformed minded Democrats can make their voice heard by choosing a new governor, a new senator (hopefully we'll have a special election next year), and for people living in Cook County, a new county board president.

No more hacks in goverment.

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