Chicago Style

When people visit from out of town they always want some of that Chicago Style Pizza. It is like no other, they say.

Yesterday we got a sample of Chicago Style Politics. It is also unique.

I got this e-mail from the office of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr just yesterday. (This is REAL. I am NOT making this up.)

"As a responsible citizen and elected official, Congressman Jackson has in the past provided information to federal authorities regarding his personal knowledge of perceived corruption and governmental misconduct.This was completely unrelated to the current federal investigation regarding the U.S. Senate appointment. And it is absolutely inaccurate to describe the Congressman as an informant."
~Kenneth Edmonds, spokesman for Congressman Jackson.

One would think that being thought of as an informant in this Blago mess would be a plus. After all, being a suspect would be much worse. You would think.

But not here. Not by Chicago rules. No sir.

And why is it such a sin to be thought of as an informant? Well, in case you get any high-minded ideas about "honor among thieves" and their abhorrence of snitches, you can forget that notion.

The reason it is so disastrous being thought of as an informant is that the phone never rings. No one wants to talk to you. You can't get any deals done. It's like you have the plague.

Even Jesse's dad is afraid to talk to him, and we all know how that mouth loves a microphone.

It wouldn't be so bad except time is short. Jesse Jr really wants that senate seat and if no one will even talk to him he can't schmooze.

Hence the very public announcement that he is NOT an informant in this case.

And that is Chicago Style Politics.