'A New Kind of Politics'

For the sin of disagreeing with the President on cap-and-trade and opposing its new financial regulations, the White House went after the United States Chamber of Commerce. Obama himself accused the small business lobby of "false advertising".

After decrying the administration's abrogation of bankruptcy law by rewarding unions, Chrysler's bondholders were "privately threatened and then publicly excoriated by the president."

After Humana mailed its customers about the proposed $500 billion cuts to Medicare under the Democrats' health reform plans, the White House used the Secretary of Health and Human Services to "investigate" the insurer in order to intimidate like-minded companies and suppress free speech.

When Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl criticized billions in wasted stimulus spending, Obama's cabinet secretaries threatened to withhold funds from the state. The Arizona Republic wrote: "Let's not mince words here: The White House is intent on shutting Kyl up... using whatever means necessary."

After questioning the Constitutionality of Obama's unelected "Czars", Senators Lamar Alexander and Robert Bennett were publicly pilloried on the White House blog.

Upon receiving significant criticism of its policies and appointees, the Obama administration targeted Fox News, launched a boycott, coordinated a series of attacks on its credibility and attempted to ban it from the White House Press Pool.

When they wouldn't endorse ObamaCare en masse, the President attacked physicians in a series of speeches, accusing them of "unnecessary" procedures like amputations and tonsillectomies.

Small businesses. Bondholders. Physicians. Insurance companies. Journalists who report unfavorable news. Politicians who oppose administration policy. Banks.

Anyone who opposes the expansion of government is targeted.

Now that's what I call 'change'. Chicago-style.


Based upon: "The Chicago Way", by Kim Strassel;