Chicago Way story of the day: Crony job for Farrakhan’s son
This is how they roll in Barack and Michelle Obama’s Chicago. The 26-year-old son of Nation of Islam chieftain Louis Farrakhan gets a $63,000 government job as a “business manager” in C(r)ook County after the Nation of Islam-endorsed C(r)ook County Board president, Todd Stroger, wins his seat.
The local Fox affiliate pressed Stroger on the patronage job, to which Stroger responded: “If you’re asking me if I’m crooked? No.” A C(r)ook County spokesman defended the hire by citing Leonard Muhammad’s 10-year experience in property management. Which would mean he started managing properties at…16 years old.
On October 13 the senior Muhammad joined more than 100 ministers in endorsing Stroger’s bid for re-election, and called on three other African-American candidates to withdraw from the race. In late September Rev. Farrakhan spoke before the same group, Concerned Clergy for a Better Chicagoland, and encouraged the ministers to rally behind a single African-American candidate.
A Cook County spokesperson told Fox Chicago News Muhammad first interviewed for the county job in September. Chris Geovanis said Muhammad had worked in the property management business for several years and was well qualified for the Facilities Management post, which oversees maintenance and repairs at the county’s criminal courts and jail complex. The county would not provide Muhammad’s resume to Fox Chicago News.
Better Government Association Director Andy Shaw said the timing of Muhammad’s appointment is suspicious. “Political endorsements should not be the price you pay to get jobs for your son or grandson,” said Shaw. “He may be a fine young man, but it looks like a political payoff for an endorsement. We, the taxpayers, have to foot the bill.”
On Monday we found Muhammad in his office on the second floor of the criminal courts annex. Muhammad acknowledged his recent hiring by the county, but declined to talk about how he got the job. Calls to the Nation of Islam were not returned.
Here’s vid of the local Fox report (hat tip – Newsalert):
There was little controversy earlier this year when Sen. Barack Obama endorsed Mayor Richard Daley over two black opponents for a sixth term, lending his star power to an inevitable rout.
But Obama’s record of local endorsements — one measure of how he has used his nascent political clout — has drawn criticism from those who say it reflects his deference to Chicago’s established political order and runs counter to his public calls for clean government.
In the 2006 Democratic primary, for example, Obama endorsed first-time candidate Alexi Giannoulias for state treasurer despite reports about loans Giannoulias’ family-owned Broadway Bank made to crime figures. Records show Giannoulias and his family had given more than $10,000 to Obama’s campaign, which banked at Broadway.
Obama endorsed former Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd), calling her “a very early supporter of my campaign.” Tillman was then under fire for her stewardship of the scandal-plagued Harold Washington Cultural Center, where contracts benefited members of her family.
Obama rejected the notion that such endorsements conflict with his promotion of ethics reform in government.
“I have been very proud of my track record as a state legislator and as a U.S. senator in terms of maintaining highly ethical behavior throughout my public life,” he said in a recent interview. “Dorothy Tillman and Alexi Giannoulias were strong supporters of mine. There were no allegations that they had done anything illegal. And it was not a conflict for me to show my support for them.”
Obama supported the re-election of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration is embroiled in corruption probes.
And during the race for Cook County Board president, Obama predictably endorsed Todd Stroger over a Republican. But he was criticized for calling Stroger “a good progressive” despite allegations of job-rigging to favor members of Stroger’s 8th Ward organization.
Such moves detract from Obama’s political independence, according to observers such as James Shapiro, state chairman for the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization.
“I don’t think these are principled endorsements, but rather are of political expedience,” he said. “It may be understandable, but it’s not justifiable.”
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political campaign payback….time we stop it….
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know in CROOK county…or Washington DC.
There you go, jumping to conclusions again.
Don’t you just love tradition?
His “ten years of experience” managing properties means he has experience placing Nation of Islam armed guards around their key properties in the event the “White Devil” should come by.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9BU414G0&show_article=1&catnum=0
Somewhat off topic but related, ACORN is suing to get federal funds back.
Oops, I don’t think I did that right.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9BU414G0&show_article=1&catnum=0
Just another Chicago “Catch me Bugger me” moment.
The only question is how deep is the corruption in every corner of government in the United States. Of course Chicago and the better part of Illinois is saturated in it, but imagine where this country would be if Chicago were to become the “standard” for every community in the country. Can there be any doubt that should the DNC get all of their wishes to make their fraud and corruption the rule of the land, that the inevitable tyranny would rival the regimes in 1933-45 Germany and North Korea?
The following from breitbart.com:
Where does the Constitution state that an organization that has not been structured by the lawfully elected legislature of the United States is entitled to anything? This lawsuit is as ridiculous as ACORN’s insistence that it is “nonpartisan.”
Idiocy and insanity are running amok in this country, and how many would like to make wagers that this suit will actually succeed?
Here you go on the federal level: Obama Administration Intends to Purge Republicans From the Civil Service
You’re accusing someone in politics in Chicago of a payoff scheme?
Why how dare you!!
Hahaha! I think the bigger story is when something is done in Chicago Politics that ISN’T corrupt.. How sad it that?
Yup, I heard that a little while ago on Rush’s program. And, of course the “news” media will either simply dutifully report it the way their Democrat masters tell them to do it, or it won’t be reported at all.
Why in the world would the son of Calypso Louie-the the Exalted and Most Excellent Minister of the Nation of Islam-Chicago want to work with the Blue Eyed Devils? $63K is chump change to the Son of the Exalted and Most Excellent Minister of the Nation of Islam-Chicago. Perhaps his wives can take in laundry to supplement his income. That is what harems are for aren’t they?
Oh Chicago: the land integrity forgot.
Can you give us an example of something that is not corrupt in the chum bucket city? Their damn judges have to report to probation officers.
On November 12th, 2009 at 1:24 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:
I think the bigger story is when something is done in Chicago Politics that ISN’T corrupt.. How sad it that?
Can you give us an example of something that is not corrupt in the chum bucket city? Their damn judges have to report to probation officers.
Yes, in fact I can.. That sweet old lady in window number 3 that hands out the license plates at the Chicago RMV… I don’t think she’s corrupt.. She’s just trying to pay off her dentures..
There ya go being a RAAAACIST again Michelle! Don’t cha know Leonard Muhammad has doctorate degrees in business from Harvard, Yale, Princton, MIT, AAAAAAND Oxford!?!? Their stored in the same desk draw as Duh Ones birth certificate!!
Do I need to add the “sarc” suffix?
The same judges that let the probation officers out on probation, now need to report to those same probation officers.
I suppose the probation officers just report to each other.
From redstate.com:
The naked intentions of the Democrats to replace our founding principles of freedom and liberty with oligarchical and feudal ideals can only be so evident to anyone who is willing to open their eyes and ears, and, can there be any debate about who is on the side of evil?
Their mask is off. The only thing that is keeping public support for this administration from completely collapsing is propaganda from the lap-dogs in the media.
If ‘everyone’ knows how corrupt Chicago politics and politicians are, and how badly run Crook County government is, why do the people of Crook County continue to elect these people?
Could it be the old “what’s in it for me” or maybe “get along by going along”, perhaps “because we’ve always done it this way”?
Or maybe, just maybe, nobody there cares enough to get out and actually WORK to make changes?
Chumps.
FIFY
So, it allows us to type that name in now. I’ll try another strategy:
Satan
Uh, spacey, did I miss something?
They vote for them because there’s a D after their name.
What are they supposed to do? vote Republican????
Our state GOP is a mess and complacent. GOP Folks only run in Chicago for state offices as a lark. They think they have no way to win, so they don’t campaign or make any sound effort to have a good campaign.
(They also get NO DONATIONS from the local Republicans.)
It’s an endless losing cycle.
I am not sure what you said tre but it does sound like Chicago
I doubt he has any certifications in HVAC, Electric or Boiler. The Property Management industry also offers certifications which I doubt he has. For residential they offer >
The National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM) administers the Certified Manager of Community Associations® (CMCA®) certification program. Does he have the CMCA ? I doubt it..
Low level stuff —- It could have been a $163k job!
Maybe when he gets his annual raise
It’s not “corruption” when leftists do it.
Spacey might have been referring to the fact that there are several names of prominent left-wing whackos and shakedown artists that the filters sometimes appear to block.
Give it a rip. Sometimes you cannot submit a post with the names of certain, well known “reverends” mentioned in the post. It is quite amusing….
Why won’t decent Republicans or *GASP* an actual Conservative or two, actually run for office? Support them, encourage them, work for them. For Pete’s sake, at least go down swinging! Man up D@mmit!
Stop sitting on the sidelines saying “Woe is me! They always win so why even try!” Boo hoo hoo. Poor little us.”
Or, stop complaining about the representation you get. Go check to be sure the seams on your stockings are straight and iron your skirt.