Rahm Emanuel Launches Attack on Adelson
Rahm Emanuel Image by getty images
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unleashed a scathing attack on casino mogul Sheldon Adelson for his open-wallet donation spree to Republican candidates — and on the Supreme Court for opening the floodgates.
The former White House chief of staff told the Guardian that the top court’s decision to allow unlimited political spending by a handful of billionaire donors like Adelson to so-called super PACs was one of the “worst decisions of any supreme court in American history.”
Emanuel singled out Adelson as the Democrats’ new poster boy for GOP excess. The Jewish tycoon, who has interests in the Chinese gambling city Macau, has already donated with his wife $35 million to groups backing Republican causes and candidates, including Newt Gingrich and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
Adelson, who portrays himself as an outspoken supporter of Israel, has vowed to increase that amount dramatically before the election is done.
“What Sheldon Adelson is doing, the Supreme Court with all their wisdom and foresight thinks is legal,” Emanuel, who is also Jewish, told the Guardian. “Money coming from China – now you tell me how the Supreme Court earns itself the word ‘high court.’”
He said the ruling had damaged the Supreme Court’s reputation for impartiality. The court’s decision in the Citizen’s United case allows unlimited giving to political groups that are supposed to be independent of political candidates. Critics call that distinction a fig leaf that means little, and allows the super-wealthy to virtually control American politics.
“I think the decision on the super Pacs will go down as probably in the top five single worst decisions of any supreme court in American history,” Emanuel said.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
