Obviously.
Via Chicago Sun-Times:
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is reaching out to black politicians and community leaders to try and control the political damage caused by his father’s involvement in a conservative super PAC that considered attacking President Barack Obama by using the fiery sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Ricketts’ explanation to the City Council’s 19 black aldermen and to the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is similar to what the Cubs chairman told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Neither he nor any member of the Ricketts family would condone “racially-insensitive” attack ads against Obama. And the proposed ad campaign — since disavowed by family patriarch Joe Ricketts — should not stand in the way of an elusive, $300 million plan to renovate Wrigley Field. […]
“I understand the father is separate from the Cubs. But, it’s hard to explain that to the general public at a time when you’re asking for public support” to renovate 98-year-old Wrigley, Burns said.
“I’m very supportive of the president. The campaign was pretty offensive and similar to stuff the right wing has tried to do against President Obama by portraying him as some sort of Manchurian candidate. It’ll take a while for them to dig out from underneath it.”
Jackson said he met privately with the Cubs chairman after a New York Times story about the anti-Obama campaign prompted Mayor Rahm Emanuel to ignore an apologetic phone call from Tom Ricketts.
“He is on a very different page from his father. His father is an avowed right-winger. He has a different disposition,” Jackson Sr. said.
“I believe his father was very much involved in it and did condone it. The New York Times did a pre-emptive strike. But, I’m not holding it against his son. Tom has been fair and open. Ever since he’s owned the Cubs, he’s been reaching out.”