Shout out to Braun and her heroes

Just when we hoped we'd heard the last of Braun, she resurfaces like Rasputin. She was a largely ineffective Senator whose main goal during her tenure appeared to be chasing the spotlight. Always the opportunist and clearly loving the attention again with her press conference, will she try to turn this experience into a TV movie or book? Carol, we're doing great without you.

In the immortal words of that great philosopher Forrest Gump, "stupid is stupid does". Walking around in Hyde Park at midnight. Just another poor decision made by Braun in a career full of poor decisions.

julie,

I feel the love.

Are you a woman of faith?

Julie that was just mean spirited and inappropriate in the context of this story. At the very least she was a woman who was attacked outside her home. Not something anyone us should wish on another.

Glad to hear Ms. Braun was safe. Sorry to hear the sarcasm of Julie and Yea Hoo. Pretty nasty things to say after someone gets mugged, guys... Shame on you...

Dearest, Darling, Angle, Carol....I'm so glad to hear that you are ok. I hope you're not beating yourself up about being out at midnight in that shady area of town. From now on, it's best to stay inside after 7pm in that area of town.

I think Julie's comment was very insensitive. No matter what you think about Carol and what she did in office, she could have been seriously injured or worse. Those kids could have been seriously injured! Perhaps she's just happy that she came out of this alive! What this country needs is more compassion!

I guess Julie, and Billie will be calling her "nappy-headed".

Jeez, we are over 200 years removed from slavery and still these people are out here.

A news article based on police reports of the event is one thing. Braun calling a press conference and mugging for the cameras is an entirely different matter. She's shamlessly grandstanding (again), and convinced her rescuers to endorse this nonsense under the guise of wanting to thank them publicly. It's all about her -- always has been and always will be (when she can get anyone to pay attention to her anymore that is).

There's a disclaimer on the web page where these comments are posted that claims that the tribune reviews posts for "...irrelevancies and unfair attacks." It's just above the submission window. So how is it that the insensititive, ignorant, and idiotic posts from Billy, julie and yeahoo got posted?

Why the personal attacks and all around unpleasantness? Billie and yea hoo, are you saying that adult women out at night, no matter where they live, deserved to be attacked? Julie, the woman was mugged and injured. Please get off your soap box and put the smug self-righteous indignation away for 5 minutes, if possible. and by the way, that is hardly a shady area of town. Do your homework!!

Darrylm -- why does the comment that Braun was a "largely ineffective senator" have to have anything to do with race? At the risk of being labeled a racist by you, what did she do for us that is worthly of mention and would refute that she was ineffective? I could argue that you are more a racist by perpetuating the Imus comment. Fact is, Braun was a one-term senator surrounded in endless controversies. Like Michael Flanagan, she was a flash in the pan. As the incumbent, she couldn't get re-elected despite playing the race card, the gender card and every other card in the deck. Voters wanted her out...perhaps because she was a "largely ineffective senator."

Just for once can we put politics on the back burner? What one thought of Ms. Mosely-Braun as our senator has no bearing on the events of the weekend; a lone woman was atacked outside her home and two students came to her aid. Be glad there are still people who will "get involved." Note to Darryim-If you think we're over 200 years removed from slavery you must have missed some U.S. history classes.

I'm very sorry such a thing would happen to Ms. Braun or anyone else. Additionally, I find a lot of the comments implying that Hyde Park is dangerous and, in the words of one writer, that she should have stayed inside after 7 p.m. to reflect real ignorance. These comments must have been written either by northsiders or suburbanites who apparently don't know how wonderful, and safe, Hyde Park is.

Regardless of whether Carol Mosely Braun was an ineffective Senator or not, the main concernt should be that she is OK, along with Big Kudos to the students who helped her.

I don't think Braun is enjoying the spotlight and to infer that is wrong. Just as I have chided Loony Lefters for gleefully relishing ill health of Tony Snow or Dick Cheney, no one from the Right should beat on Ms. Braun for this instance.

And regsardless of when she was mugged, the fact she was and was hurt. Thankfully she was not hurt worse and then two students came to her rescue and showed great human spirit!

Hyde Park - and the University of Chicago campus in particular - is hardly a "shady" part of town. Perhaps a visit to the neighborhood would help dispel the stereotype that you are perpetuating, Billy. Awful attacks such as this one happen all over this city.

Guess the anonymity of the internet can make the biggest meatheads into brave purveyors of reasoned commentary. Must be students of the Ann Coulter scholl of journalism.

I'm concerned too.

That wig Miss Carol is wearing is SCARY.

Since when is Hyde Park a "shady area of town"? And since when is it wrong to be outside of your own home at midnight? Perhaps all the armchair pundits who slam Mosely-Braun for everything she does should experience a mugging outside their own front door in their own "shady" areas of town.

There are criminals in this world. Sometimes people get mugged. Hyde Park might be slightly more dangerous than your neighborhood. But on the flip side there are all sorts of different people exchanging different ideas. I'd rather get mugged once a week in Hyde Park than mingle with the families of Highland Park and Lake Forest.

Wow! If her area of Hyde Park is a bad area then living on the West Side of Chicago I better not ever leave my house at all! Ignorance is bliss when kept to yourself only. No matter what you think of her she didn't deserve this and deserves people support not condemnation. I hope no one ever gets in trouble with any of these mean posting people around as you will most certainly have to fend for yourself. All for one and one your yourselves right?

Why is there all this news coverage on this ineffective senator that used to be in power. The media needs to stop this, who cares about her, she never cared about the voters no matter what color they were. Last I remembered she ripped off the gov and took money from them. Stop talking about this has been, I would rather hear about Sanjaya.

Julie. Yea hoo. Pull your heads outta your uglies, lose your tails, and grow basic human hearts and consciences, will ya please?

Sheesh. Not much gets my own uglies flyin' outta my mouth these days, not even flaming self-righteous indignation for just causes; it flat-out isn't effective, isn't kind, and only serves to set off more hairtrigger-reactive defenses than succeed at making any salient point. But MAN...just haven't been able to abide certain things I've heard lately; things that make me seriously wonder at the true evolutionary level of my species...

Chris,
If you, I or anybody calls a press conference the test will be, if anyone shows up. It's the way it is and is perfectly acceptable

Chris,
If you, I or anybody calls a press conference the test will be, if anyone shows up. It's the way it is and is perfectly acceptable

Joseph -- Posts that disagree with your opinion of CMB aren't necessarily "unfair" and shouldn't be censored anymore than your post. After all, she called the press conference and went after the publicity. She clearly wants to maintain her status as a public figure and is therefore open to criticism on this site like any other public figure. The opinions of those who question her motives are as valid as your opinion that she did a good thing by calling attention to herself at her own press conference. Your thinking to censor those that disagree with you is, frankly, very frightening.

Let's ban knives in Chicago,that should cut back on "largely ineffective senators" from being attacked and also the rampant misuse of goose livers.

Can't anyone stay out of partisan politics for a few seconds? There are some really embarrassing posts here.

Why would she call a press conference to discuss what can only be described (unfortunately) as a very routine crime in Chicago? Why does she want attention and sympathy? She's a former senator, well-connected and living in a great Hyde Park neighborhood. I care a lot more about the Chicagoans without clout being attacked everyday than listening to Moseley's attempt to grab headlines.

Why is the story about CMB? While she was involved, the main story here is about the two heros that took action to help someone they didn't know despite possible harm to themselves.

This truely was a heroic action that deserves to be on the front page of every newpaper! In this day and age when a rouge cop proceeds to beat up a woman half his size and no one witnessing the attack does a thing to stop him, I think we need to call out heroic acts such as this.

The courageous act of these two students should not be sidelined for political opinions. Anyone of us can be mugged... but who has the courage to stop a mugging?

DD

Why is the story about CMB? While she was involved, the main story here is about the two heros that took action to help someone they didn't know despite possible harm to themselves.

This truely was a heroic action that deserves to be on the front page of every newpaper! In this day and age when a rouge cop proceeds to beat up a woman half his size and no one witnessing the attack does a thing to stop him, I think we need to call out heroic acts such as this.

The courageous act of these two students should not be sidelined for political opinions. Anyone of us can be mugged... but who has the courage to stop a mugging?

DD

So you don't like Carol and you don't like the work she has done and you think the neighborhood is bad. Do you people live in a box. In case you weren't aware, this was not about politics this was about a crime that had an attacker and a victim. Thank g-d she was alright, thank g-d there are still people out there who care about other people and hey wake up call have anyone of you seen what has been going on in Hyde park The area is up and coming. Hello get educated and get smart and thank g-d it wasn't you on the receiving end!!!!

To Give me a break -- The whole premise of this edition of The Swamp is that we should care she got mugged because of what she did on the political front. Despite what you think, it is political and she is political -- that's why she's able to hold her own press conference. On the flipside, those who did not like Braun's politics could easily argue that aside from the human perspective, we should not care at all that she was mugged because she was ineffective. DD raises an important point. It's unfortunate that Braun is the one grabbing the headlines as the victim, instead of the students who stepped in and took action.

I think everyone is missing a little of the point. This a notable news story only because of former Senator Braun. The angle that should be played up, and has been quite well, is the aid from the U of C students. If more news stories reported the good deeds that are done, this wouldn't be necessary.

Secondly, I sensed, at the very least, a bias against urban neighborhoods or, at the worst, racist overtones to Ms. Brauns location of residence. Hyde Park is home to the U of C, one of the most historic and highly regarded universities in the world. Also, it is one of the most diverse and highly educated nighborhoods in the city that is widely known to be one of the most segregated in the country. Being the victim of a crime is not the sole province of the city. Tell that to all of the victims of murder and assault in the suburbs that leads the news every night.

Please do not disparage Hyde Park. It is a wonderful place to live, not the least bit "shady". Crime can happen anywhere, not just on the South Side. It is unfortunate that Braun was attacked but indicative of the quality of the people of this neighborhood that someone came to help. I would encourage Billy and anyone else who has a mistaken view of my wonderful neighborhood to come for a visit, at midnight or any time.

Let's think about it this way - if it was "just another Chicagoan" who had been mugged, would we even know that there were students who came to the victims aid? Maybe. We certainly would not know who they were. CMB may be trying to get the limelight just a bit, but bringing attention to her heroes and the fact that muggings occur routinely in even the nicest neighborhoods in Chicago is NOT a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all.

Additionally, I find a lot of the comments implying that Hyde Park is dangerous and, in the words of one writer, that she should have stayed inside after 7 p.m. to reflect real ignorance.
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 30, 2007 2:18:28 PM

Kevin: If Hyde Park is such a nice place to live in, why does the University give pamphlets on safety , show videos on safety, put telephones wired into security on every street corner, offer free shuttles on demand, issue crime hot spot maps weekly, and advise students where they think they shouldn't walk, tell them to never take the CTA ? They have a police force that would be the envy of a lot of small cities . Now do your really think they are doing all this because it's a safe neighborhood. Sounds to me your an out of towner Kevin.

I have to agree with some here. A good deed by the students, indeed, but to see CMB holding a press conference again -- regardless of the circumstances -- conjures up some bad juju of days better left forgotten. This is a woman who had an opportunity to serve and make a difference, but from her six years in the senate, she is instead is best known for a speech against the confederate flag. Now that's serving your Illinois constituency well. And what was with that presidential run in 2003? Please.

Don, I respectfully wish to disagree with you on your assessment of safety in Hyde Park. Most university campuses have emergency phones, plans, and advisories. Most universities also have police forces. That the University of Chicago takes prudent measures to educate its student body and acts proactively to ensure safety does not suggest that Hyde Park is especially dangerous. Recent crime statistics published by the Chicago Police Department would instead suggest that crime in Hyde Park is down. Hyde Park, in my direct experience as a resident, is a great place to live and to go to school.

Don B-
A lot of what you said just isn't true. The University educating people on safety does not mean that Hyde Park is an unsafe place. Many UChicago students are coming to the campus from smaller towns and cities and its important to make sure they know the ins and outs of living in a city. Hyde Park is part of the city and everything the University does is just prudent. Does DePaul care about safety? Does that mean that people shouldn't walk around Lincoln Park after 7PM? UChicago does not tell students never to take the CTA, nor is there a security telephone on every street corner (there are many, but you're exaggerating). But if you were being attacked wouldn't you prefer access to a security phone? The area used to be much less safe than it is. At this point it's as safe as anyplace in Chicago.

What with all this talk you would think that someone would post a description of the mugger. I think the rescuers must have given it to police. Why not publicize the description so law-abiding folks could call in information if he is spotted?

What with all this talk you would think that someone would post a description of the mugger. I think the rescuers must have given it to police. Why not publicize the description so law-abiding folks could call in information if he is spotted?

Don, the University of Chicago absolutely does not tell its students to avoid the CTA. That's ridiculous. And as for the rest of the implements, most urban campuses have phones, cameras, and a University police force. Get a grip.

This press conference was about the two young college students who saved Carol Moseley Braun's life. It is wonderful to think that in this day and age young people will step up to the plate, not like the persons in a bar watching a waitress get beaten and not coming to her defense. These young people had no clue they were helping a former U.S. Senator. They were helping and risking their lives for another human being. I think that deserves recognition.

Another thing, Moseley-Braun was not an ineffective senator. One of the first things she initiated was the Educational Infrastructure Act in order for school districts to build or renovate their schools. Many districts in Illinois and the rest of the United States benefited from this act. However, as soon as the republicans came into power, the funding for this bill, which is still on the books, was promptly taken away. Perhaps that funding saw its way to pay Haliburton for their no-bid contracts.

She was also trying to get banks to not charge multiple times for people using their ATM cards.

This is just a few of the things she did.

I don't know about the rest of you, but as an adult over 50 I do stay out until after midnight myself on occasion. It is so sad when people feel the need to tell others how to live their lives.

Marge-
My post was intended to call attention to a disclaimer on the website that seems (in my opinion) at odds with what is being posted here. That's not the same thing as saying that anyone's posts should be censored (which is not what I said). And where in my post do I say anything about my opinions re: CMB? I don't particularly care about CMB as the subject in all of this. Maybe my negative reaction toward earlier posts I deemed offensive was directed at something else that I felt was ignorant.

Mary & Kathy,,,, Your right, it sounds like a great place to live only 77 robberies a month. I grew up in South Shore, I was the bldg. engineer in the 1155 Bldg. for 10 years. I personally worked with Rudy Nimocks on security. Ladies, save that boogey
woogey for somebody from Kansas, i ain't buying it.

For District 21, where much of Hyde Park is located, CPD statistics have specifically cited robbery and burglary as the most significantly increased types of crimes in the neighborhood
“There has been a sharp increase in reported burglaries throughout Hyde Park-–South Kenwood since the beginning of November,” said Duel Richardson, director of neighborhood relations in the Office of the Vice President of the University, in a February 14 e-mail letter to the University’s Safety Awareness listhost.

According to CPD statistics, in 2005 District 21 saw a 10.3 percent increase over 2004 in burglaries, higher than the city average of 3.1 percent. CPD reports indicate a monthly average of about 42 robberies in Hyde Park between January and July 2005. From August to December 2005, that average jumped to 77 robberies per month, prompting increased attention from University administrators like Richardson. Overall, 683 robberies were reported in Hyde Park last year, ranking sixth in the city for the largest increase in burglary.

Here’s hoping they find him.

Here's guessing they don't. But I wouldn't rule out some other shmuck getting rolled up to take the fall.

If we have learned nothing from all the disasterous law enforcement capers (from the CIA down to the street beat), it's never as clean and simple as we see on tv. Names are given up by unreliable, often times frightened sources. Evidence is withheld or destroyed.

At the end of the day, law enforcement is at best a 20-80 proposition.

guess Julie, and Billie will be calling her "nappy-headed".

Jeez, we are over 200 years removed from slavery and still these people are out here.

Posted by: Darrylm | Apr 30, 2007 1:49:29 PM

What in the world is wrong with you Darrylym with this kind of post? Julie and Billie said nothing to this effect. YOU DID! In case you hadn't noticed the attackee is black and the two people who came to her rescue are white! And yes, you are over 200 years removed from slavery....so what does this have to do with anything? You are the one who is 9 cents short of a dime.

My parents live a few doors down from Braun. The police were knocking on doors interviewing neighbors. Most muggings in Hyde Park are investigated with a pat on the back and "better luck next time." It would be nice if every crime was pursued, not just those perpetrated on the famous, or infamous.

The house Braun lives in doesn't have alley access. Instead they have a gangway and you pull your garbage up on Tuesday. Its a great place for a creep to hide.

Pass concealed carry NOW.

Carl Langley, the reason they hadn't mentioned the attacker is because he's black. That's the main political bent to this that they want to hush up. Braun, who constantly was whining and sticking up for her 'people', gets jumped by one of her own. And whites had to come save her! That's kismet! This story will go away fast because of it.

I want to know why CMB has not given the students a reward. She's wealthy enough, and if she recognizes that these kids risked their lives to help her and, according to her, saved her life, the least she can do is part with a little cash. She should show some class and appreciation with action rather than talk.

It's a pity that three unarmed people had to deal with a knife-wielding criminal. Oh well, only a few broken bones. The bad guy, of course, escaped unscathed.

Is there something we can ban here, for the children's sake? Maybe people out walking around at midnight?

Most of Chicago is shady...and these mamby pamby lib posters are the cause of it....

The real issue/story is being missed in most of the comments. The students who came to the aid of a person who was being assaulted should be applauded and praised. That is what Ms. Braun did by calling a press conference. It was her attempt to recognize the individuals who possibly saved her life without a second thought to who she was and possibly the harm that could have come to them. It is sad that she was mugged and injured, and it happens everywhere all of the time. I would hope that if I were being assaulted that someone would come to my aid. The real tragedy is the loss of life by the hands of violence, no matter if you were an ineffective Senator or not. Remember, violence does not have a name, and one day it could be you facing the same situation.

The real issue/story is being missed in most of the comments. The students who came to the aid of a person who was being assaulted should be applauded and praised. That is what Ms. Braun did by calling a press conference. It was her attempt to recognize the individuals who possibly saved her life without a second thought to who she was and possibly the harm that could have come to them. It is sad that she was mugged and injured, and it happens everywhere all of the time. I would hope that if I were being assaulted that someone would come to my aid. The real tragedy is the loss of life by the hands of violence, no matter if you were an ineffective Senator or not. Remember, violence does not have a name, and one day it could be you facing the same situation.

"That's the main political bent to this that they want to hush up."
Posted by: Mr. Kimbark | May 1, 2007 9:31:02 AM

And they also won't publicize the 2005 Chicago PD homicide report (http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_EDITORIAL/Murder2005.pdf), documenting offenders responsible for 448 murders:

- Vast majority of offenses in south Chicago
- 75% commited with handguns (illegal in Chicago)
- 80% by 17-35 year old males
- 77% by "African American"
- 17% by "Hispanic"
- 5% by "White"
- 88% with previous arrest records

Paula, how do you know she hasn't rewarded them? By your very own words, she may well be doing just that.

The talk part is to draw attention to the good deed. She has a voice in the media, and she leveraged it to let showcase her rescuers. The action? Well, I happen to know part of it is to take them out to a nice dinner. I wouldn't be surprised if there is more to come from that. But a prudent person would not announce it to the press, and that is probably why you assume that she's not doing anything for them.

Chris Fama,
Are you trying to give right wing nutcases ideas?

The level of ignorance, callousness, and outright hostility of these posts saddens me. And we wonder why society is so screwed up. Those of you on here who are spewing undiluted venom will receive their just desserts. What goes around comes around..

As a resident, I must admit that Hyde Park *is* shady. Driving to work this morning, I couldn't help but admire the canopy of budding leaves hovering above me as I drove through the tree-lined streets of my neighborhood.

Hyde Park is *very* shady from Spring to Fall. And I love it!

Republicans are the last thing CMB has to worry about.