New Cook County Democratic Scandal : Obama's Mentor Emil Jones and Jesse Jackson Get the Video Treatment from State and Federal Tax Dollars

Chi Town Daily News reports:

Under orders from then-Chancellor Wayne Watson, the PBS television station at City Colleges of Chicago used its budget to produce free videos of powerful politicians and friends of the chancellor, an internal college e-mail shows.

The political programs, dating between 2002 and 2006, spawned a state ethics investigation and figure into a new federal lawsuit that alleges the publicly funded WYCC television station violated the terms of its government grant funding and broke federal tax rules for charities.

When the station's former manager complained about the political projects, she was fired, according to the lawsuit.

The political programs showcased golf events, a fundraiser and a "State Senate California Trip" in connection with then-State Senate President Emil Jones. Then-Ald. Todd Stroger and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, among others, also were featured in programs.

Though the PBS station's money was used to produce the videos, they were never aired, the e-mail says.

Via Capitol Fax. In Cook County, tax dollars are a way to stay in power. No word yet from Barack Obama on this one.