How Chicago Shaped Obama

New Yorker:

One day in 1995, Barack Obama went to see his alderman, an influential politician named Toni Preckwinkle, on Chicago's South Side, where politics had been upended by scandal. Mel Reynolds, a local congressman, was facing charges of sexual assault of a sixteen-year-old campaign volunteer. (He eventually resigned his seat.) The looming vacancy set off a fury of ambition and hustle; several politicians, including a state senator named Alice Palmer, an education expert of modest political skills, prepared to enter the congressional race. Palmer represented Hyde Park--Obama's neighborhood, a racially integrated, liberal sanctuary--and, if she ran for Congress, she would need a replacement in Springfield, the state capital. Obama at the time was a thirty-three-year-old lawyer, university lecturer, and aspiring office-seeker, and the Palmer seat was what he had in mind when he visited Alderman Preckwinkle.

"Barack came to me and said, 'If Alice decides she wants to run, I want to run for her State Senate seat,' " Preckwinkle told me. We were in her district office, above a bank on a street of check-cashing shops and vacant lots north of Hyde Park. Preckwinkle soon became an Obama loyalist, and she stuck with him in a State Senate campaign that strained or ruptured many friendships but was ultimately successful. Four years later, in 2000, she backed Obama in a doomed congressional campaign against a local icon, the former Black Panther Bobby Rush. And in 2004 Preckwinkle supported Obama during his improbable, successful run for the United States Senate. So it was startling to learn that Toni Preckwinkle had become disenchanted with Barack Obama.

Read the whole story: New Yorker

Comments

[farseer]

I find it intriguing that O chose to land in Chicago. I too struck out from my east coast home and moved to chicago to live and find employment, when I was 23 yo. back in the mid-1970s. I chose chicago to move to because it was (a) far enough away from home to cut apron strings and (b) a big town with presumably lots of opportunities and (c) culturally diverse and (d) had a reputation (probably at least somewhat overblown) as a "rough-tough" town, a place where I figured, "if I can make it here, i can make it anywere". Also (e) I was not a conformist, and all my buddies were moving to Calif.

I wonder if O had any similar thoughts when he moved to Chicagoland.

[kay]

Chicago is responsible for the "brain drain" in the rest of the midwest. It's my single complaint about that city.

Our kids grow up and they all move to Chicago :)

Leaving their parents in less exciting places.

Give them back!

[chitown8]

As a young Chicagoian I take offense to that. Chicago is a excellent city where diversity, smarts and toughness meets. A "Brain Drain" why because we care about every thing. The main focuses here usually are politics, CUBS, BEARS, and sometimes Bulls. Also I can't leave out the White Sox. Our politics are in everything. If it rains there better not be a flood in a neighborhood that alderman would be out on the street. If your a Cubs fan you better not go to the cross town classic wearing a Sox hat. Same is worst reversed. When September starts you better know the Bears ranking in the NFL. We combine this to make for a better conversation and a better ways Chicago works. So unless you have been here you really don't know Chicago. Just like farseer said if you can make it here you can make it anywhere.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

I left Chicago 2 1/2 years ago. I lived my whole life there. I lived in the burbs and went to school in the city.

Let's just say it Chicago toughens you up, because Chicago is a harsh, unforgiving, cruel, cold (literally and figuratively) city. The people are nice on the surface, but underneath they're unimaginative, cruel, and hostile, especially if you like to do your own thing.

It's underrated as a cultural center, but that only gets you so far.

I live in NYC now where people are much nicer (seriously) and don't treat me like some sort of freak.

I don't like Chicago very much, but I won't hold that against Obama (or Hillary, who is from Park Ridge, IL, if she's his running mate).

[jspivey]

This is a bad article for Obama. It paints him as cynical, opportunistic and scary.

[ThunderclapNewman]

It does no such thing.

Except to idjits like you who wouldn't vote for him under any circumstances.

You really have nothing---and it shows.

[jspivey]

"It does no such thing"

It's a very damning article. It very politely and subtly shows Obama to be all hat and no cattle. If this story is to be believed, Obama is a true, latter-day Uriah Heep.

[chitown8]

Honestly that is the Chicago wa. Take Perwinkle she states her dislike yet she welcomed the opportunity to make his home a historical site for more revenus in Hyde Park. (Local news here) The Democratic Gov is hated by his own party. This is just how it works in Chicago Cut throat politics. This means we wanted it more that anything.

[kay]

Your hero threw his friend of 30 years under the bus this morning.

Phil Gramm is persona non grata.

Give us another lecture on honor.

[jspivey]

If you're talking to me, Obama is not my hero.

[BWonka]

Only to fools afraid of blacks - like you.

[heal57]

I think Senator Obama is the best we have and we are going with him. If he disappoints, then I fear there's not much left for our country, but I do have the audacity of hope. I know he's a politician and it's hard to be true to yourself every minute. He's the best chance we have!

Independent for Obama '08

[Deaninphilly]

Way to go! That 's it put him up on a pedal stood and wait for the fall. You and the rest of your ilk have some serious issues. Get some help, he's a politician. Nothing more, nothing less.

[SanFran1]

Just another white candidate moving to the middle. Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
You demtwits are pathetic.

[ChiGuy]

Wow. Plenty of rhetoric and really cool Baby-Boomer references for having absolutely nothing of substance to say on the matter.

[kay]

Missed the entire point of the article, which is...."it'­s more complicated than that".

[jspivey]

I think the point the New Yorker is trying to make is that there is absolutely nothing of substance about the candidate -- aside from his huge -- and troubling -- personal ambition.

[HumeSkeptic]

To those who think that he defeated the most formidable political force in modern Democratic party politics without being a master politician: you need a few more brain cells.
.

[kay]

I read it. He used the machine to get elected the first time, then went with the reform faction and lost, then formed a different coalition, comprising elements of both groups and won.

He's ambitious and clever, strategically. I just think you can say that about anyone who reaches this level in any profession.

The big irony is how closely he apparently followed the successes and defeats of Bill Clinton's Presidency.

[pacats]

Good point. good article.

[Sarahjan]

Thank you Huffpost for reposting this important reprot on the early days of Obama. I saw many of what this article says about Obama in his early days in Chicao to his quick flip Flop on FISA, Faith based funding, is view of late term abortion, calling black men "boys" to secure white working class votes, cutting all ties with his black church of more than 20 years.

[brighterside]

So what is his view of late term abortion?

[ldsrapha]

ROTLMAO!! Wow you followed all these closely and you are still completely wrong? You obviously need to go back and study some more. Why don't you start with his last book written over two years ago, "Audacity of Hope" You will see that most of what you are claiming flipped were always his viewpoints. Just because the GOP calls something a flip doesn't make it true (Common Sense 101)

[somekid1234]

Why is almost every picture of Barack in Chicago in black and white. Were the early 90s that long ago?

[eshalom]

This is a thoughtful, well-researched, and well-written article that deserves to be read in its entirety; it's 13 pages long and took me about two hours to carefully read through it. Too bad Lizza didn't write this before the DNC gave the nomination to Obama - it might have opened the eyes of his worshipful supporters.

It will be interesting to see what Obama posters on this message board have to say about it.

[HumeSkeptic]

Clearly, he's a master politician.

Whould I be supporting him if I thought that he wasn't - ABSOLUTELY not.

.

[cnick]

Isn't McCain a master politician? Is that a negative for him also??? You have to win the election to get anything accomplished.

[leekinny]

What are your issues of importance?

For me, despite mine and my families health and financial needs, it is; no Iran war, return to constitutional order(kill fascism), an end to the occupation in Iraq, end torture and mistreatment of prisoners, no more extra ordinary renditions­(disappear­ances), to renew our commitments to Afghanistan, bring 9-11 perpetrators to a proper justice and to reclaim our respect and dignity in the world. Energy, economics, health, education and environmental concerns follow closely.

I know it's quite a list which most Progressives share, maybe in a little different order of importance, but simular. These are all things which have been decimated during the Bush regime and will only continue to worsen if McCain were allowed to become president. We can't let that happen!

That is why for all of us who call ourselves liberals, progressives, democrats, independents, or fed-up Republicans the single most important issue, on the top of everyones agenda must be getting Barack Obama elected president, with a Democratic Congress.

There will be plenty of time for fighting on the issues after the inauguration, especially with the conservati­ve-distric­t Blue Dogs compromising with the far right, so often. We're passionate Democrats who do love nuance and are willing to go through the struggles to have all these issues work best for the American people.

[TimmySlagle]

Actually, after growing up with a white family in Hawaii, and attending Columbia, Chicago was probably the first chance he had, to meet Black people.

[HumeSkeptic]

Actually, you're in idjit.

[kay]

"He's not black enough".

Read a couple of posts down, Hume.

"he's not white enough".

[closetodemfection]

Wow. Give it a full read. Unfortunately, this article only confirms my suspicions about O's origins, motives and how he'll conduct himself should he become POTUS. Yikes.

[kay]

Apparently, you didn't read it.

Anything "confirms your suspicions". You made up your mind a long time ago.

[closetodemfection]

Sorry everyone took my post as so sinister. What has been confirmed was his treatment of Alison Palmer and that the man is arrogant and egotistical. Happy?

[HumeSkeptic]

May I recommend harakiri for you after his inauguration as President?

[AdamND]

After looking over your post history I can tell your a PUMA troll.

[closetodemfection]

Not a member of PUMA, technically, although i have been following them closely.

Why wouldn't I? It gives me hope that we might pull out of this mess before it's too late.

[ChiGuy]

It's clear by your obvious tone that you "demfected" a long time ago, IF you ever were a Dem to begin with.
Your shock/dism­ay/whateve­r, is transparently phony.

[closetodemfection]

True, I've been demfecting since April/May. I attempted to convince myself that I could support O, but after the last 3 weeks, I don't see how I can.

I'm hardly "shocked". Articles like this only confirm my suspicions as I said. I had heard about his Chicago past but hadn't really researched it.

[mimsnpips]

Oh puhleeaze spare me! Look at the cutthroats in office now. He's nothing like them.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Not a very flattering portrayal of Obama, huh. A lot of us picked up on it a long time ago. There is still time to "do the right thing" Superdelegates.

[rwe]

his mentors,,, Ayers,Wrig­ht,Farraka­han, Rezkow, Daley, ... Highest taxes, Gas prices and 2500 homocides since 2003...

[judyc]

Gee, I don't see how those things are Obama's fault. I don't blame Arlen Specter for thie ridiculously high murder rate here in Philly. Or the highest city wage tax in the country. I'm pretty sure that's the mayor's problem and not up to a State Sen to directly affect those issues.

[HumeSkeptic]

You're a scared little puppy, aren't you?

[rwe]

I have lived in the Chicago area for decades...­.. ask a chicagoan if they are scared or pissed

[ChiGuy]

Thanks, blissful one.

[Totto]

Now back to Lucianne.com.

[chitown8]

Ayers is a Professor please if you or Hannity have new evidence please present them to the US DA for him to be tried again. Rezko was not his mentor. Rezko was a major figure in the Democratic party who also help elect Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996. Rev. Wright and Rev. Farrakhan have done more you poor black men and children than you have probale done in you lifetime except thouse Klan meeting you attend huh? The taxes are high because we have new construction, newer schools, fixing our infastructor and failing public tranist. gas is high because we pay a double tax city/county/state and federa. See my comment above about Daley. Homocides you blame the criminals not Obama. The jails are over crowded and the Cook County Atty office cut plea baragains. So stay in your bunnker and keep wearing you sheets we don't need your kind in this party.

O'08

[FilthyPerson]

The story in brief.
O is a Chicago politician in Denzel clothing.

[judyc]

Yeah, and Cindy Mccain's fatehr bought John McCain's way int politics.

What's the difference--please explain.

[kay]

Another non-reader weighs in.

[SCG2]

No, they just have trouble reading large figures, such as $109,000,0­00.00 Which I'm told, is just from the kindness of rapt speech listeners.

[Totto]

How much is the RNC paying you guys?

[dagnew]

So? O in '08.

[Peteyman]

Your life in a nutshell.

You were an accident