by Christi Parsons
"Politics is complex," says Forrest Claypool, and he ought to know.
As the reform candidate in the 2006 Cook County Board president race, Claypool might have expected the endorsement of his friend Barack Obama in his challenge to the establishment candidate. He didn't get it, of course, and Obama critics like to remind people that the future change agent sat that race out when he could have been influential.
But now, as a member of Obama's media team, Claypool is speaking on behalf of the Democratic presidential candidate, explaining Chicago politics in a way that ought to interest outsiders and students of the game alike. (Jeff Berkowitz had Claypool on his local Public Affairs show recently, and it's a pretty interesting discussion of the presumptive nominee.)
Even though the senator didn't endorse him, Claypool says, Obama spoke favorably about Claypool as he was running against the powerful African American incumbent.
"I thought that actually spoke more volumes than anything else," Claypool says.
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Comments
Obama supported dumb-as-a-stump graft meister Todd Stroger... quite possibly the most blatantly corrupt and grossly inept Chicago politician in our lifetime.
Got change?
Posted by: MJ | July 7, 2008 8:49 AM
The Swamp, running out of Obama spokespeople to give free publicity to, is reduced to dipping down to the level of Forrest Claypool, who lost the Dem primary race for Cook County Board President.
Posted by: Bruce | July 7, 2008 10:00 AM
Claypool, what a suck up. Is he hoping to get some kind of special endorsement again? Good luck. Obama uses people and throws them away. Watch what he does to Clinton after the nomination in Denver. She will be a thing of the past. No special spot for her after it is over and he has gotten her to turn her supporters over to him. He just may keep her on till after the GE.
Posted by: RFB-IL | July 7, 2008 10:47 AM