The Sins of the Father

           William Daley, the youngest son of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley has been appointed Chief of Staff to President Obama.  Daley, an executive with JP Morgan Chase was formerly Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton Administration and Chairman of the Gore presidential campaign in 2000.

           Introducing Mr. Daley to the press President Obama said, “…Bill also has a smidgen of awareness of how our system of government and politics works. You might say it is a genetic trait" , and Daley said, “Fifty years ago this month, I visited the White House with my parents and my brothers and sisters to visit a young president …”.

           I believe that there should be a statute of limitations for grudges. See “I’m Going to Germany” http://contrariat.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html.

           I might have let is pass except that the President chose to refer to a genetic trait of awareness of “how our system of government and politics works”.  My mind travelled to August, 1968.   I was on a ship, enroute from La Spezia to Norfolk when it happened, but we got the general idea from cables off wire services, and I have seen the film many times.   I have seen Senator Ribicoff at the podium at the Democratic Convention in Chicago condemning the police riot outside and Mayor Daley on the floor mouthing words usually transcribed as “"Fuck you, you Jew son of a bitch, you lousy motherfucker, go home."

           Again I quote the President: “Bill also has a smidgen of awareness of how our system of government and politics works. You might say it is a genetic trait”.

           I hope not.