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Chicago-style politics (meme)

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Revision as of 20:07, 4 September 2015 by HughD (talk | contribs) (→top: significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject WP:GNG)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) This article is about the meme used during the 2008 US Presidential campaign. Not to be confused with Political history of Chicago.
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Chicago-style politics was a political meme used in the rhetoric of conservative United States Republican politicians and commentators during the presidential campaigns and presidency of Barack Obama to associate Obama with aspects of political corruption, including bribery, patronage, nepotism, and authoritarianism, in the political history of Chicago, Obama's home town.

Earlier usage

The phrase "Chicago-style politics" originated before May 2008. In 1986, Pulitzer Prize winning Chicago Tribune editor and columnist Clarence Page lead his review of Dempsey Travis' An Autobiography of Black Politics with "It should surprise no one to find that black politics in Chicago have a history that is no less intriguing, raucous, wheeling, dealing, back-biting or cajoling than any other Chicago-style politics." In 2003, David Brewster, the founder and former editor of Seattle Weekly said "Chicago-style politics is coming to Seattle," which he described as "this whole muscling-the-opposition, reward-your-friends and punish-your-enemies, tough-guy politics," in reference to political campaign contributions from the owners of a strip club seeking a zoning change to expand their parking lot.

Wider usage as a political meme

The term was employed by conservative Republican politicians and pundits. In 2008, the political campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Democratic candidate Barack Obama practiced Chicago-style politics. Wider usage as a political meme began in October, 2009 when Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) said during a weekly press briefing "Chicago-style politics is shutting the American people out and demonizing their opponents" in reference to the Obama administration's health care reform effort. 2012 Republic presidential primary candidate Mitt Romney introduced the phrase into the rhetoric of the 2012 presidential campaign. Former Republican National Committee chair Ed Gillespie said the 2012 Obama campaign engaged in "classic Chicago-style politics." In March, 2012, in the Republican primary in Illinois, candidate for the US House of Representative Don Manzullo criticised his opponent Adam Kinzinger for his "Chicago-style politics."

Reaction

"'Chicago-style politics' is mainly just a way for him to call Obama corrupt without coming out and saying so", according to Jacob Weisberg of Slate, referring to Romney. "'Chicago-style politics'...seems to have become a generic insult for just about any politics one disagrees with", wrote Chicago-based political consultant and columnist Don Rose in Politico. The Chicago Tribune characterized the refrain as an attempt to discredit Obama through "guilt by geography," saying "...Chicago has seen a goodly share of high- and low-profile officials and operatives shipped off to prison over the decades, and Republicans would like to prod voters into thinking that some of that dirt surely must have rubbed off on Obama."

See also

References

  1. Pierce, Charles P. (May 11, 2013). "The Political De-Branding of America". Esquire. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  2. Page, Clarence (December 28, 1986). "Black Politics: Dempsey Travis Expands His Autobiography". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  3. Kershaw, Sarah (August 27, 2003). "A Tale of Sex, Money and Politics, in 'Mayberry'". New York Times. p. A11. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  4. MacAskill, Ewen (4 June 2010). "Republicans accuse White House of 'Chicago-style politics'". The Guardian.
  5. Leibovich, Mark (September 27, 2008). "A Form of Political Flattery?". New York times. p. A14. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  6. Silva, Mark (23 October 2009). "Obama's Chicago-style politics:' Boehner". Chicago Tribune.
  7. "Boehner Statement on the White House & Democrats "Chicago-Style Politics"". Speaker Boehner's Press Office. October 21, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  8. Sweet, Lynn (January 20, 2010). "Those from City of Big Shoulders shrug at 'Chicago-style' insult - Slams of Windy City politics 'hype,' 'not fair'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  9. ^ Secter, Bob; Pearson, Rick (July 20, 2012). "GOP uses association with Chicago against Obama; 'Chicago-style politics' enters lexicon of presidential campaign". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  10. Sweet, Lynn (July 17, 2012). "Romney's 'Chicago-style' attack". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  11. Warren, James (January 6, 2012). "'Chicago-Style Politics at Its Worst'? Fact-Checking Romney's Jab at Obama". Atlantic Monthly. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
  12. Joseph, Cameron (March 21, 2012). "Rep. Kinzinger defeats Manzullo; victory a relief for GOP leaders". The Hill. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  13. Weisberg, Jacob (23 July 2012). "Chicago Style". Slate.
  14. Rose, Don (July 30, 2012). "In praise of 'Chicago politics'". Politico. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
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