The mayoral election in Chicago on April 7 is a contest between big money and grassroots organizing.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has raised nearly $20 million for his re-election campaign, while his challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia has raised some $3 million.
The latest big gift to Mayor Rahm comes from a hedge fund billionaire who has given him nearly $1 million. According to Huffington Post, Ken Griffin has supported Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and other prominent conservative Republicans.
Ken Griffin, CEO of the hedge fund Citadel, has donated nearly $1 million to pro-Emanuel groups in the last year, including $750,000 since March 2, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Griffin has also contributed to Walker, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.). Schock, under fire for lavish spending, said on Tuesday that he would resign from Congress. Since last year, Griffin has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars American Crossroads, America Rising, the Republican National Committee and other conservative groups.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
cross posted at http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Billionaire-Who-Backs-Rahm-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Billionaires_Contest_Money_Rahm-Emanuel-150401-456.html#comment539503
with this comment: Thanks to the supreme court, money is the determining factor in elections in this nation, and as Rachel Maddow points out in this video,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiAq9sIvTJE#t=119 they use it in a genuinely intelligent strategy, which will ensure that the GOP owns this nation’s legislatures, too. Submitted on Wednesday, Apr 1, 2015 at 11:18:24 AM
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At least Rahm isn’t going cheap. But to call himself a Dem and progressive…well he can just ….
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Got to stop the wholesale purchase of public offices and public institutions. Tools for the masses are few but can be powerful–systematic challenges by better qualified canidates who have the courage to try for office–against the odds– votes to put them in office and making sure they are not bought out. Add some big-time organized protests against injustices, and disclosures of the corruption, especially in public office. Unfortunately, many are just trying to make ends meet.
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We stop them with our votes. From an other blog I read the title: A Well-Informed Electorate Is a Prerequisite for Democracy, says it all! We need to look behind the bluster and gloss of a large scale campaign. I say vote for almost anyone you don’t see on TV every night during the election season. Look for the name you have never seen before on the ballot. If you haven’t seen them blasted at you night after night on the TV then they are probably not paid for by Big Money. They are probably, actually, running to change things.
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Agree!
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Another example, victory?, for Citizens United.
Best government money can buy.
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As part of the financial sector, Ken Griffin takes from America. He and his cohorts drag down U.S. productivity. And, then,they buy politicians to avoid accountability.
If Rahm believed in America, he would spend a campaign amount equal to Garcia. The public would then select the man they want to lead Chicago, from two candidates on an equal playing field.
Rahm distracts by claiming a progressive agenda and outspends by a factor of 7. It’s proof that he is a user, an exploiter and unworthy to be mayor.
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So…this hedge fund miscreant—who essentially makes his “living” by a form of “high stakes gambling” and produces ZERO for our economy—gives multiple millions to extreme rightwing groups, ultra-conservative Republicans…and the “Democrat” mayor of Chicago.
Isn’t it obvious by this point whose side Rahm Emanuel is on? The same side that Andrew Cuomo, Cory Booker and other ersatz, phony “Democrats” are on; the side of Big Money and Legal Bribery. They’re just hoping and assuming that most people are “too dumb” and will vote for a “D” even if, in reality, they vote more like an “R”.
What do we do? Fight back even harder going forward. The bad guys, like Rahm, might “win” the “battle” in Chicago next week, but the War they’ve declared on working people and average income families is another question altogether…
And I have no intention of backing down, running away or playing dumb. They may have started it. We’ll finish it.
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“produce zero”, actually less than zero. The financial sector drags down GDP.
The Campaign for America’s Future and Diane Ravitch are fighting for productive Americans and I think they’ll win.
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