Wall Street Journal analysis on Chicago-style politics evokes Alinsky
Friday, October 23, 2009 at 9:49AM Commentary by Kay B. Day
A perfect example of why I pay to read The Wall Street Journal can be found in a Thursday editorial by Kimberley A. Strassel. Strassel’s essay, ‘The Chicago Way,’ is a tightly written piece of prose. She draws analogies between the current Democrat approach to governing and traditional Chicago politics by using select lines from the classic film ‘The Untouchables.’ As I read the essay, another writer’s words came to mind, only this writer is a beacon for the left and a target misunderstood by the right. That writer would be Saul Alinsky whose book ‘Rules for Radicals’ is often cited as a holy tome for neoliberal strategizing.
Strassel addresses Democrats’ vilification of the Chamber of Commerce, writing, “In recent weeks the Windy City gang added a new name to their list of societal offenders: the Chamber of Commerce. For the cheek of disagreeing with Democrats on climate and financial regulation, it was reported the Oval Office will neuter the business lobby. Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett slammed the outfit as "old school," and warned CEOs they'd be wise to seek better protection.” [Story continues after photo.]
Postcard for the American Protective Tariff League shows a bowl labeled "Cleveland Soup, 1893". The words "free trade" and "lest we forget" appear to the left and right of the bowl, a spoon "democracy" rests inside the bowl. The image references the horror of the Depression of 1893 and Democrat president Grover Cleveland's inaction at reforming the tariff laws. Also, demonstrates the League's distaste of Unions and their strikes. [Image by Leon Barritt, 1851-1938. Published by American Protective Tariff League. No known restrictions on publication. Image from U.S. Library of Congress.]
