Rahm Emanuel
Template:TOCnestleft Rahm Israel Emanuel is the current White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama. Previously, he served as Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 5th congressional district from 2003 until his resignation in 2009. He resigned to take up his current position in the Obama Administration.
Chicago Mayoral Candidacy
On September 30, 2010, it was announced that Emanuel would be leaving his post as White House Chief of Staff to run for Mayor of Chicago following the retirement of Richard Daley. He was replaced as White House Chief of Staff by Pete Rouse on October 2, 2010.
Obama for America, National Co-Chair
February 22, 2012, Obama for America, announced the selection of the campaign’s National Co-Chairs, a diverse group of leaders from around the country committed to re-electing President Obama. The co-chairs will serve as ambassadors for the President, advise the campaign on key issues, and help engage and mobilize voters in all 50 states.
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, was on the list.[1]
Planned Parenthood
Emanuel received $1000 in lobbying funds from Planned Parenthood in 2008.
Controversies
The Monica Lewinsky Investigation
Emanuel earned his reputation as a ruthless political combatant by fiercely defending President Bill Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky investigation.[2]
Alleged Violation of the Hatch Act
In 2010 Emanuel teamed with his then-Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina to allegedly interfere with Senate elections in Pennsylvania and Colorado by offering federal appointments to Rep. Joe Sestak and Andrew Romanoff. Sestak and Romanoff were not Obama’s favored candidates, so Emanuel and Messina apparently attempted to unlawfully persuade them to abandon their campaigns.[2]
A June 15, 2010 Judicial Watch complaint to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel stated,[3]
- "White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, on behalf of the Obama Administration, have both used their position and influence as highly placed federal employees to affect the outcome of federal elections in direct violation of the Hatch Act, which states that an employee may not ‘use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.’"
The Rod Blagojevich Scandal
According to sworn testimony during the "Blago" trial, Emanuel served as Obama’s chief negotiator with the Rod Blagojevich team as the former Illinois Governor attempted to illegally sell Obama’s former Senate seat to the highest bidder. Unfortunately, the federal prosecutor cut short the case against Blagojevich and Emanuel and other Obama insiders were never called to testify. Emanuel subsequently left his position at the White House.[2]
Laquan McDonald Scandal
Emanuel is accused of covering up video of a Chicago police officer shooting a black seventeen-year-old named Laquan McDonald sixteen times. Amidst repeated calls for Emanuel's resignation, thousands of released emails released to the public as a result of open records requests "clearly indicate that advisers to Mayor Rahm Emanuel knew within months that the case could be politically explosive."[4] During the scandal, Emanuel went on holiday to Cuba.[5]
DACA meeting
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights assisted DREAMers in the application process. On hand to talk about Deferred Action were Senator Dick Durbin, Representative Luis Gutierrez and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. August 15th 2012:Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom, Chicago, IL. Contact Monica Trevino.[6]
Tribute to the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 18, 2013, City of Chicago Pays Tribute to the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
27th Annual Interfaith Breakfast Honors Chicagoan Timuel D. Black and Congressman John Lewis for their Lifetime of Service to Civil Rights
This morning, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was joined by Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin at the 27th Annual Interfaith Breakfast to honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“There is much to celebrate on this Martin Luther King Day, but we cannot be satisfied with past successes, but must remember our own obligation to carry Dr. King’s mission forward,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Whether we are fighting for strong schools or safer streets, we must begin, as Dr. King began, with the belief ‘that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.’”
Dr. King’s life work represented a steadfast commitment to ensuring and advancing equality for all and the City of Chicago is honoring these ideals by recognizing Timuel D. Black, Jr. as the inaugural recipient of the City of Chicago Champion of Freedom Award for his work as an educator, activist and community leader in the Civil Rights movement.
Civil Rights hero and Congressman John Lewis of Georgia served as keynote speaker, reflecting upon his time as young man marching alongside Dr. King and the need to continue to champion the struggle of human rights in the United States, whether in Congress or in our communities.[7]
Endorsed CAIR. 2016
External links
References
- ↑ Judy Chu for Congress, February 22, 2012, OBAMA FOR AMERICA ANNOUNCES REP. JUDY CHU AS. NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 Judicial Watch: Judicial Watch Announces List of Washington's “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians” for 2010, Dec. 2010 (accessed on Dec. 22, 2010)
- ↑ Judicial Watch: Complaint Alleging Violation of the Hatch Act by Federal Employees Jim Messina and Rahm Emanuel, June 15, 2010
- ↑ Emails Reveal Coordination Between Rahm Emanuel’s Office, Investigators After Laquan McDonald Killing, accessed 01/01/2016
- ↑ Rahm Emanuel’s Cuban Vacation, accessed 01/01/2016
- ↑ Deferred Action for Dreamers
- ↑ [https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2013/january_2013/city_of_chicago_paystributetothelifeofdrmartinlutherkingjr.html Office of the Mayor, January 18, 2013 City of Chicago Pays Tribute to the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr]