Theory of relative-ity wrong for public office
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Chicago Sun-Times Editorial
May 11, 2006
As Lisa Madigan has shown with her strong, principled performance
as Illinois attorney general, having your father's name and
help from his political muscle to get elected doesn't mean you're
not up to the challenges of the job. But whatever advantages
she had as the daughter of House Speaker Mike Madigan, she had
to get more votes than her opponent. She didn't lay claim to
office through a political stunt or inherit it or otherwise
skirt established procedures.
That's more than can be said for Dan Lipinski, who got handed
his congressman's job in the 3rd District by his retiring father,
William Lipinski. On more rarified ground, what should have
been an above-board move, the naming of a replacement for retiring
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, was shrouded
in secrecy with the appointment of Appellate Court Justice Anne
Burke, McMorrow's friend and the wife of the powerful Democratic
judicial kingmaker Ed Burke. Now comes Ald. Todd Stroger, son
of Cook County Board President John Stroger, looking to replace
his ailing father on the Democratic ticket should the elder
Stroger step down, as seems likely following the serious stroke
he suffered just before the March primary election. It looks
like our political aristocracy is about to anoint another relative
to high office after the usually decisive Democratic primary.
Ald. Stroger (8th), who has contributed a great deal to his
South Side ward and the city, may have what it takes to run
the county. When voters know more about what he would do for
it, they may indeed want to elect him come November, if they
can swallow how he got to be the Democrats' candidate.
The recent history of officeholders ignoring the need for openness
and transparency in electing or appointing officials is being
cited by Todd Stroger's backers as a reason why he should be
handed the nomination. "If President Stroger says that
Todd is his choice, then the people should stand behind him,"
said Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th). "Not to stand behind
him would be a double standard." Meaning that if Dan Lipinski,
who is white, can slink into office thanks to the slick machinations
of his dad, we must support the right of a black candidate to
do that, too.
We can all understand a parent wanting to give a boost to a
child in his or her career. And there's certainly a long history
in this country of families delving in politics over decades
-- ranging from the Adams clan to the Daley, Kennedy and Bush
families, to name a few. What's at issue here is how that family
success in the public arena is achieved. In this society, things
are decided democratically, not aristocratically. If Todd Stroger
does inherit the nomination from his father, voters will have
a chance to weigh in on that issue in November. Who knows? If
the voters are unhappy enough about these hand-me-down politics,
the GOP just might "steal" that election from under
the noses of the ruling Cook County Democrats.
