Some time ago I was carping here about something or other, and I referenced a magazine story I was working on. That piece, for the October issue of Chicago Magazine, is now available online, for free.
I'm proud of the piece, but very much interested in any and all feedback from the people with whom I share my less objective, journalistic moments.
See article here.
You'll have to scroll down a bit to a piece, on the right-hand column, called "Bolingbrook, C'est Moi," with my byline.
Comments (12)
Excellent piece, and excellent quotes. You captured his real side beautifully, as well as people's opinions and stories of him. What a jerk (him, not you).
Posted by Eileen | September 24, 2007 7:49 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 19:49
Nice article... I'm not a local, but I found it compelling. I think I got to see the man, warts and all.
I love the image of him throwing the copy of the magazine on the floor and ending the interview. I would have loved to see your face when it happened!
Again, great writing.
Posted by Vincent | September 24, 2007 8:37 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 20:37
Wasn't this the one where afterwards they didn't want you to actually use the quotes he gave you, or something? Now I can see why.
He is, however, real and I still say that's such a rare thing in the current rampant environment of political correctness, that even when someone's honesty shows them to be a jerk, I think I'd rather that than the plastic stepford version of humanity many public figures today aspire to.
Great article David!
Posted by Kristen | September 25, 2007 7:27 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 07:27
Thanks, all. I will say this about Claar:
He did not try to hide who he is. He likes who he is. He doesn't like critics, but his method of dealing with them is NOT to eliminate them by trying to appease them.
Politicians I talked to did appreciate that: Knowing where they stood with Claar, knowing where he stood on the issues.
And as a writer ... yeah, I appreciated it too.
Posted by David Murray | September 25, 2007 7:44 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 07:44
You are a word-god, David Murray.
Posted by Jane Greer | September 25, 2007 10:09 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 10:09
What I like best about the article is you let the man speak for himself, which means no one (except the subject himself) could accuse you of a hatchet job. It's more a portrait of this crazy sonovabitch than a politically motivated expose. Great work, David!
Posted by Ron Shewchuk | September 25, 2007 11:24 AM
Posted on September 25, 2007 11:24
Ron: I wouldn't care about being accused of a hatchet job if someone deserved a hatchet. But as I said: Claar spoke for himself. I could have spoken to almost no one else--just used his version of events--and come away with a pretty complex tale.
Jane: You buckle my word-god's knees.
Posted by David Murray | September 25, 2007 1:48 PM
Posted on September 25, 2007 13:48
>>>>You are a word-god, David Murray.<<<<
Jane Greer, you have NO idea how hard you just made life for everyone in David Murray's inner circle.
I'll bet dollars to donuts he already has your words embroidered on all the pillows in his house.
Steve C.
Posted by Steve C. | September 25, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on September 25, 2007 16:41
What an amazingly real portrait of a complicated human being living in the insane world of politics. By the end, I ended up wanted to cry for this guy myself. Instead, I just recommitted to never run for office.
Susan G.
Posted by susan Guthrie | September 25, 2007 8:02 PM
Posted on September 25, 2007 20:02
Crap. My bad. I meant word-DOG. Still a good thing, n'est-ce pas?
Posted by Jane Greer | September 25, 2007 8:11 PM
Posted on September 25, 2007 20:11
Very balanced, and yet I came away disliking him intensely. The "I" centeredness of his little world shines through without any subtle commentary.
Posted by Diane | September 26, 2007 4:32 PM
Posted on September 26, 2007 16:32
Yes, not a guy you'd like to go camping with.
Posted by Ron Shewchuk | September 27, 2007 1:28 AM
Posted on September 27, 2007 01:28