Are Illinois Voters More Corrupt than You Think?

The Chicago Tribune has an editorial on what Illinois voters knew about troubled ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich:

By 2006, when Blagojevich sought re-election, his friend and fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko had been charged in a 24-count corruption indictment—including allegations that he had sought kickbacks for the governor's campaign fund and had used the governor's office to plant operatives in state positions of influence. Investigators were probing illicit state hiring, diversion of pension investments in exchange for political contributions, the awarding of state contracts, a mysterious $1,500 check made out to the governor's then 7-year-old daughter by a man whose wife had just landed a state job after failing a hiring exam . . . and on and on.

Yet the state's Democratic leaders rallied around Blagojevich. They looked askance as the scamster spent millions of dollars not just to smear his GOP opponent, Judy Baar Topinka, but to incessantly portray her as human trash.

A St. Louis Post-Dispatch pollster found that 78 percent of Illinois voters knew about Rezko's problems—and only 37 percent said they believed Blagojevich when he said he didn't know about Rezko's alleged illegal acts. Yet Blagojevich led Topinka 47 to 38 percent in that poll. How so? "They're basically calling [Blagojevich] a liar, but they're still going to vote for him," Research 2000 pollster Del Ali told the Post-Dispatch.

Do you remember all those honorable Democratic leaders denouncing Blagojevich's bold hypocrisy? Criticizing his perpetuation of business as usual in Illinois? Telling voters to think seriously about how they invest their votes?

Neither do we.

More than a few voters benefit from Illinois corruption, that's why someone as sleazy as Rod Blagojevich can get elected.Chicago voters elected a high ranking made member of The Chicago Mob to Chicago's City Council for 22 years.Currently,Chicago's Mayor warmly associates with a known domestic terrorist and Chicago voters don't mind.Stylish.