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Tony Peraica, Cook County commissioner and state’s attorney candidate, is having the worst week ever. As if being a homophobe right-winger in Cook County wasn’t bad enough, now the rest of the local GOP combine has turned against him. Joe Birkett, Judy Baar Topinka’s running mate for lieutenant governor, is backing Mary McMahon, an assistant state’s attorney in Democrat Dick Devine’s office, as the GOP candidate for State’s Attorney. This after he spoke at a rally for Bob Milan, a Democratic candidate. Furthermore, her father, Frank McMahon is Birkett’s cousin and a major Democratic contributor.
McMahon is 28 and passed the bar just two years ago. She says she’s in the race for real, though. "People might talk about my age, but I'm going to focus on my experience," McMahon told the Sun Times. Liz Gorman, Cook County GOP chairman and enemy of Peraica claims that she didn't recruit McMahon to run. High level politicians getting a nobody to run against someone they hate is a time honored tradition in politics, and this case is no exception. If Gorman can stop Peraica from reaching the state’s attorney’s office, then she needn’t worry about a real Republican taking away her empire.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Peraica posted a video on his blog asking supporters for contributions in denominations of 28.
This is the problem with the Illinois GOP: there is nobody in charge to make sure that when the knives come out, they come out for the right person. Rather than take the opportunity to destroy a Democrat (Stroger) who clearly has only his self-interest at heart, they spend their time fighting each other. Peraica’s good at getting media attention, but why hasn’t he called out the other RINOs? Have they forgotten Reagan’s 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican"? Democrats in Illinois are good at destroying each other for their own party’s good. Until Republicans learn this lesson, they will be destined to play second fiddle to the likes of Todd Stroger and Bill Beavers.
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I'm about to write a check right now. Actually I think I will send cash, 28 cents.
Good God!
Kevin wrote something that was actually insightful instead of just his usual didactic crap.
When you describe Peraica as a right wing homophobe it best to back up those claims with specific facts. I've liked your column but to slam people with accusations without showing your facts is not the best way to be a journalist. It seems to me these are the same unfounded claims that Stroger used to win his election. If I see any columns that you write about the taxes proposed by Stroger (by the way that's the real story now!!).
The reason Peraica lost to Stroger was a number of things:
including Democrats screaming out that a Replubican will outlaw abortion in Cook county hospitals and enact anti gay laws.
If there are any democrats out there who decided to vote for the status quo with Stroger and are complaining about these upcoming higher taxes, they have only themselves to blame.
It would have been nice to see Peraica in office and see what real changes would have been made.
Instead due to Stroger and the rest of the system.
Chicago will have the following:
1. Highest gas prices in the nation
2. One of the highest Sales Taxes in the nation
3. One of the highest Cigarette Taxes in the nation.
I just wish there were more democrats in this city who could have had the courage to cross over and voted for Peraica to try and change this ridiculous Cook County Gvt we have currently instead of being worried about the false allegations of "homophobic right-wing" crap the democratics spewed. Congrats the prince (todd stroger) is now the king.
I voted for Peraica and I do think he's somewhat of a right-wing nut. In this case I thought that put him about an inch above the joke that is Todd Stroger. Once again Chicagoans had to choose between two idiots!
More a comment on the comments than on the piece, but...
I knew a Todd Stroger administration would be hopelessly racked by cronyism, but I didn't vote for Peraica because I felt a Peraica administration would've been equally racked by cronyism, simply substituting white, suburban Cook County cronies. Admittedly, the Toddler's exceeded all expectations I had for his ineptitude- I honestly don't know how he thinks he has a chance of re-election.
I wrote in my vote, for acting chairman Bobbie Steele, who I felt had been doing some small bit of housecleaning in her time. Of course, then she proceeded to announce her retirement while she was chairman so she could collect the much bigger pension while appointing her son as her replacement. Some reformer.
As for the stalking horse, how about a picture? Is she at least hot?
Sure, Peraica might be anti-gay rights. He is also anti-choice. That makes him a villain, apparently to many Chicagoist commenters.
However, Peraica is never going to do significant damage in those arenas. That's why we should have allowed him to be President of the Cook County Board. He wasn't running for Supreme Court Justice, for Chrissake. He wasn't going to reverse Roe v. Wade or allow violence against gays. He was going try to straighten out our county government and hold the line on taxes.
Chicago Democrats should have held their noses and voted for Peraica. He would have cut fat, cut patronage, cut cronyism, cut nepotism, and helped persuade businesses, jobs, and families to stay in Cook County.
As for this 28 year old, her quote is a classic.
"People might talk about my age, but I'm going to focus on my experience." She passed the bar only two years ago!