hit piece in Slate earlier this week:

The LA Times reported today that Obama is refusing to shovel out his contributors' money to Philadelphia party bosses.

From MSNBC: "Flush with payments from well-funded campaigns, the ward leaders and Democratic Party bosses typically spread out the cash in the days before the election, handing $10, $20 and $50 bills to the foot soldiers and loyalists who make up the party's workforce. It is all legal -- but Obama's people are telling the local bosses he won't pay. That sets up a culture clash, pitting a candidate who promises to transform American politics against the realities of a local political system important to his presidential hopes..."  

Yeah, some ward-heeling thug, huh? Doesn't sound like a "second-rate shakedown artist" to me. Um, I've contributed to him seven times and I'm not done. And I'm darn glad Obama doesn't spend my money greasing Philadelphia palms.

So Hitchy Boy, got any proof of your assertions about Obama as a Chicago ward-heeler? If you don't I disrespectfully request you retract your statement.

Yeah. I like this guy. He represents me. Hitchens? He represents backbiting negativity and nothing more.