Today on TAP Online, Ben Joravsky explains how Rod Blagojevich's father-in-law helped him rise to power and how their falling out spurred Blagojevich to new heights of corruption:
He was a nobody lawyer for the state's attorney, prosecuting traffic ticket offenders, when he hooked up with Patti Mell, the daughter of Richard Mell, one Chicago's most powerful aldermen, who oversees an army of patronage workers. Papa Mell fell head over heels in love with Blago, considered him the son he never had, and pushed the little lad to the front of the line to run for state representative, plowing over anyone who got in the way. After a few forgettable years in the General Assembly, Papa Mell brought out the troops to make sure Blago got elected to Congress, after Dan Rostenkowski -- another august political character from our city's illustrious political past -- went to jail on his own corruption charges.
In 2002 when Blago ran for governor, Mell again brought out the cavalry. Blago quickly showed his lack of gratitude by almost immediately stabbing his papa-in-law in the back. On election night, he conspicuously failed to thank Mell in his acceptance speech. In fact, it's long been my own personal opinion that Blago got in trouble precisely because he wanted to cut off dependency on Mell, and build his own political machine. Apparently that is why he has been shaking down campaign contributions from just about anyone looking to do business with the state.
--The Editors
