Return the Contributions Governor

I don’t get very upset that the Governor raised money under the current rules, but proposed stricter rules–that’s the history of campaign finance reform and unilateral disarmament never won anything in Illinois–just ask Glen Poshard. Russ Feingold and Jim Leach (R-IA 02are the only two I know of who have abided by such unilateral rules and even Leach’s last tough race included outside expenditures.

That said, the legitimate issue to criticizes the Blagojevich Administration for is that they’ve held onto donations from those shown to be corrupt. Tony Rezko’s Crucial, Inc. was just decertified as a minority owned business and declared a front company for Rezko.

And yesterday we find that another major donor to the Blagojevich administration has identified as running a front company and the City has decertified his business.

An executive working for a politically connected restaurant owner has been accused of operating as a front for a Latino food concession at O’Hare International Airport to secure a lucrative minority business contract for her boss, city officials said Saturday.

Jennifer Tremblay, an assistant vice president for restaurant management at O’Brien’s Restaurant, participated in name only in Camino Latino, which is owned by a company controlled by the O’Brien family, said Breelyn Pete, spokeswoman for the city’s Procurement Services Department.

The company–MADO Management–may have to shut down Camino Latino and its principals could lose their right to operate in O’Hare, Pete said.

Peter O’Brien, vice president of the restaurant chain and a frequent campaign contributor to Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other Democrats, did not return phone calls Saturday for comment. He is the brother of Daniel O’Brien Jr., a prominent Chicago politician during the 1970s and ’80s before he was killed in a 1989 car accident. Daniel O’Brien Sr., who died in 1990, also was a heavy Democratic campaign contributor for decades.

Under MADO Management, the firm has given Blagojevich $20,000 since 2003 with owner Peter O’Brien giving another $2000. Dan Hynes has also received several contributions from MADO and should return those as well.

The key issue here is that a core Democratic value is ensuring equality of opportunity for all citizens. Minority contracting is a key tool to ensure that small business holders with disadvantaged backgrounds have opportunity for contracts that public entities issue. It is a core value of the party and those that attempt to subvert that process do not share the Democratic Party’s values. To accept money from them is wrong because the individuals in question aren’t donating to promote the Party, but themselves.

Return the money.

Extra Credit for Cynicism: How does Jackson Jr. attack Daley for it while defending Blagojevich?