Can someone define "ward-healer" for me?
K. Lauderdale
what exactly does this person do?
Donna Richoux
> I know it has something to do with politics, but
> what exactly does this person do?
You're misspelling it. Try "ward-heeler" at onelook.com.
--
Best --- Donna Richoux
Mark Brader
> I know it has something to do with politics, but
> what exactly does this person do?
It's "ward-heeler" or "ward heeler". <http://www.m-w.com> defines
it as "a worker for a political boss in a ward or other local area".
Note the reference to a political *boss* -- we're probably talking
about politics with some measure of corruption here. For instance,
in <http://wwics.si.edu/OUTREACH/WQ/WQSELECT/SKERRY.HTM> it says:
| ... in American political history, the "spoils system" refers to a
| quid pro quo between victorious politicians and their loyal supporters.
| This is the Tammany Hall tradition, the system that fueled machine
| politics from Boston to San Antonio, where fealty to the local ward
| heeler might lead to a reduced property tax assessment or maybe even
| a personal loan to get through a rough patch.
Another definition is at <http://www.fast-times.com/dictT2Z.html>:
) ward heeler - a low-level political functionary in a ward. A ward is a
) district of a city or town for administrative or voting purposes.
) Heeler is an allusion to a dog that obeys its master when called to
) heel. A ward heeler might solicit votes for his party or perform small
) tasks for his political bosses. The term is used contemptuously,
) implying that the ward heeler is a subservient hanger-on of politicans
) more important than himself.
--
Mark Brader "After all, it is necessary to get behind
Toronto someone before you can stab them in the back."
m...@vex.net -- Lynn & Jay, "Yes, Prime Minister"
My text in this article is in the public domain.
N.Mitchum
----
> I know it has something to do with politics, but
> what exactly does this person do?
A "ward" is a political or administrative division of a city. A
"ward heeler" is a hanger-on whose job is to get out the vote,
gain favors for voters, and exchange such favors as will
strengthen his party within the political network. It's a rather
old-fashioned term, I believe.
If you've read any of Robert Campbell's mysteries about Chicago's
Jimmy Flaherty, you know what a ward heeler is.
(I was surprised to find the spelling "ward heeler" -- I'd always
assumed it was "healer.")
----NM
Pat Durkin
"N.Mitchum" <aj...@lafn.org> wrote in message news:3BFC0B...@lafn.org...
I think the term "heeler"comes from your part of the definition "get out the
vote" within a local election district(s), or wards. The ward-heeler had to
chivvy (hustle, harass, bribe) the party members to get them to the polls,
much as a herding dog (Corgi, for example) is known as a "heeler" because he
nips at the hocks or heels of the cattle.
Tony Cooper
>
> Another definition is at <http://www.fast-times.com/dictT2Z.html>:
> ) ward heeler - a low-level political functionary in a ward. A ward is a
> ) district of a city or town for administrative or voting purposes.
> ) Heeler is an allusion to a dog that obeys its master when called to
> ) heel.
> A ward heeler might solicit votes for his party or perform small
> ) tasks for his political bosses.
In Chicago, the small tasks performed by a Ward Heeler
included driving dead people to the voting booths.
The term is used contemptuously,
> ) implying that the ward heeler is a subservient hanger-on of politicans
> ) more important than himself.
They were also hangers-onto brown bags of cash for delivery
to the Ward boss.
--
Tony Cooper aka: tony_co...@yahoo.com
Provider of Jots and Tittles