Former Illinois Governor Says Chicago Machine Destroyed Illinois: Accuses Chicago Democrats of Ties to Chicago Mob

Former Illinois Governor Dan Walker reports on the Chicago Democratic Machine:

The credo of toleration and its accompanying lack of ethical standards was hardened when the machine encountered Al Capone’s criminal organization. Sometimes close, sometimes at arms’ length, the political organization with its “look the other way” credo has ever since tolerated what has been called variously the criminal organization, crime syndicate, the Mob, the Chicago Outfit.

The blindness to crime existed in the 11th Ward organization, home for all the Daleys. The precinct captains of that ward organization worked the same streets as the Outfit’s soldiers.

Yet, Daley constantly denied that organized crime existed in Chicago. Significantly, Richard M. Daley looked the other way as state’s attorney, Cook County’s chief law enforcement officer from 1980 to 1989. Ignored during those years were the criminal activities of the Outfit disclosed recently by the Family Secrets trial.

The machine’s political power has extended over the years far beyond Chicago. The machine has also controlled the state’s Democratic Party organization and the selection of candidates for both county and state office. In the state legislature, the machine has constantly controlled a large bloc.

For more on this uncomfortable subject click on this, and this , and who could forget Blago's interesting past ? Who could forget it was over 20 years ago Mayor Daley campaigned for the Mayor's office with the help of a high ranking made member of the Chicago Mob?