Well look at what we have here: An Illinois politician charged with a federal crime. This is sadly (perhaps horrifyingly) not a shock.

But what is shocking is that Derrick Smith was re-elected. And not just re-elected, but re-elected by a huge margin.

Our question to the 5th District’s voters: What the hell is wrong with you?

Even if Jesse White and the rest of Chicago’s Democratic Committeemen end up putting someone else up for the seat — someone who might even possibly deserve it, and not be a crook — there is no excuse for this.

Tom Swiss didn’t run the cleanest campaign. A white man putting up billboards on the West Side that only have a black construction worker’s face on them is dishonest, and his party switch may have cast a doubt on his true intent.

But regardless of that, he had a lot of experience helping people in the community. Working in soup kitchens. Generally acting like he cared.

Yes, we endorsed Smith originally. We didn’t know he would (allegedly) accept a bribe mere days later. But you, as voters, should have known. It was top news on every outlet in town, from newspapers and radio to TV.

So, we’re left here in this awful situation, simply hoping that Smith steps down so we can get a state rep who’s not under a cloud. Once again, our Democratic party overlords will pick the candidate they think deserves the seat, not the voters of the city of Chicago.

It’ll be a horse race, and none of you will have any say. Unless, of course, someone reading this is a committeeman — in which case we plead with you: Don’t pick a dirtbag.

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By Matt from Dearborn Park
Posted: 03/28/2012 5:09 PM

Dennis--1000% correct. I think he used the word "dishonest" - not "deceitful", but same difference. As you said, what should the voters of the district have done differently? And why in the world would an editor, whose paper covers the area in question, write the 3rd paragraph (e.g. "What the h..."). This piece was poorly written, illogical, and in bad taste frankly.

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By Dennis McClendon from South Loop
Posted: 03/24/2012 9:43 AM

You don't explain what Fifth District voters should have done instead. Select a "deceitful" (in your own words) Republican as the Democratic candidate?

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By Matt from Dearborn Park
Posted: 03/23/2012 12:27 PM

This is the most inane editorial ever written in the 10+ years the Chicago Journal has been around. The voters picked Smith because they want a Democrat to represent them in the IL House. What they did NOT want was a known Republican as their representative in Springfield, especially one who tried to play the voters for fools by pretending to be something that he isn't. Its very simple. Swiss lost because his candidacy was full of holes. So I must ask: what the hell is wrong with you??