The Best Chicago Accents In Politics

Ald. Nick Sposato attended Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day last Wednesday at Water Tower. Sposato, who disagrees with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on almost everything, also disagrees that the company’s anti-gay marriage stance puts it out of step with “Chicago values.”

An interview with Sposato was posted on the Tribune’s website. It’s been attracting attention not just for Sposato’s views on marriage, but for his classic Chicago accent, which is heard less and less often around City Hall. Here’s a transliteration of Sposato’s remarks.

“I’m just here to support Chick-fil-Ayyyy. I believe in what da founders of the da company believe in. Dey believe in marriage between a mayn and a woman, and dat’s certainly what I believe.”

As a former fireman who represents a Northwest Side ward, Sposato is fluent in Chicagoese. Here a few other Chicago politicians, active and retired, who specialize in the language.

Ald. James Balcer. Balcer represents the 11th Ward, which includes Bridgeport, birthplace of the Daley dynasty. Here he is wishing a Happy Birthday to the USO.



    

Another Bridgeporter, Cook County Board Member John Daley carries on the family’s linguistic legacy, with a resolution haaanoring a retiring county employee.

  
   
    

Rep. Dan Lipinski’s high-pitched voice makes his Midwestern accent sound even more nasal. Here he is speaking against public funding for abortions.
 

State Rep. Mike Zalewski represents the same Southwest Side neighborhoods his father represents on the City Council -- and has the same accent.

And finally, a Chicago classic: former Ald. Berny Stone appears in an ad for his unsuccessful campaign for Cook County Recorder of Deeds, which he lost to Carol Moseley Braun.

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