Chicago's Own Obama offers hope...

I'm so glad Obama is from Chicago! Aren't you?
He's put us on the map in more ways than one.
It was a pleasure while riding the 151 Bus down Michigan Ave. last night as I watched a Caucasion Man read with such enthusiasm, Crains Chicago.
I couldn't help but share this with you.
Enjoy!

By: Paul Merrion
Source: ChicagoBusiness.com

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's historic rise as the first black — and first Chicagoan — to be nominated for president
by a major party promises to recast the city's international image, one of many implications his potential presidency
holds for his hometown.

An Obama presidency would have an effect on everything from Chicago's relationship with the federal government
to its chances of winning the 2016 Olympics. Fundamentally, the city's rat-a-tat-tat reputation would be eclipsed
by a new face and a new image as home of the leader of the free world.

"The second Barack Obama becomes president, the Al Capone era and the extent to which that still defines Chicago
for a lot of people around the world is over," says David Wilhelm, former Democratic National Committee chairman.
"It's done."

But in the short run, Chicago's image will take a media drubbing as campaign ads for the presumptive Republican nominee
John McCain tie Mr. Obama to Chicago machine politics and the corruption that has come to epitomize the city in the
public mind. The real payoff won't come unless and until Mr. Obama wins the race, giving the city a direct connection
to the White House.

"I think my phone calls will be answered, which is good, and I can sit down and work with Barack on priorities for our
state," says U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. "I want to invest in existing programs — existing RTA, CTA, Metra
programs that definitely need a capital infusion. Barack understands that."