This 'Obama had help from a crooked real estate developer to buy his house' thing smells like shit

[Stinky The Clown]

to me.

He was a lawyer.

His wife was VERY well employed, thankyewverymuch.

He signed a $1.9 million book deal *after* having a bestseller whose audio book version won a grammy.

He sold a Hyde Park condo to buy the house.

The RW media is calling it a 'real estate deal'. But in truth, buying a $1.6 million house in the Chicago area is no big deal. A high end house, sure. Unusual .... 'real estate deal' territory? Gimme a break.

And who the fuck is that skinny John Bolton wannabe on Tucker/Shrieker who is pushing this crap??? (Identified as a writer for the Weekly Standard, that paragon of journalistic integrity.)

[elehhhhna]

1. hate to say this but having read up on it and knowing Chicago

(where this sort of transgression is common and forgiven) Obama does NOT come out squeaky clean on this deal.

[pnwmom]

7. I've read up on it and I've seen NO evidence that he did anything wrong.

You shouldn't make claims like that without backing them up.

Obama and Rezko were both the high bidders on their adjoining pieces of property. Then Obama bought a 10 foot strip of property from Rezko, paying him not what the appraiser said the property was worth, but a higher amount -- the value of the property as a fraction of Rezko's whole property. And Obama paid for the fence between the properties. I fail to see how that is anything but "squeaky clean."

[rinsd]

2. The Sun Times has been rough on Obama (nt)

[ronnykmarshall]

3. Hyde Park?

Isn't that the young and hip area of Chicago?

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Yeah ... which means he probably made a few bucks on the condo sale

[frazzled]

12. Hyde Park real estate is among the least expensive in the city ...

It has some fabulous old houses (it used to be where the very wealthy lived a long time ago), but they would go for less than half of what similar stock would go for in tonier neighborhoods. Unless you are connected with the University, there is little reason to want to live in Hyde Park, except for the cheaper rents and housing prices.

[durrrty libby]

6. ......

:rofl:

[frazzled]

10. Um, no

Hyde Park is on the south side of Chicago, and consists predominantly of the University of Chicago (not considered by most hip, though it definitely has its nerdy cool aspects) and a largely African-American population. So it's students, professors, and black folk. You've got the fabulous Seminary Co-op bookstore and the equally fabulous Ribs 'n Bibs barbecue place. If you hang out at Valois Cafeteria (pronounce that Va-loyz) on Sunday mid-day, you'll get a nice mixture of after-church black families in their Sunday best and intellectual U of C kids who have just rolled out of bed. In this sense, it's a hip neighborhood. But not your usual definition: i.e.: no bars, no cool restaurants. It's Hyde Park.

[ronnykmarshall]

22. Ohhhhhh that's very different.

Never mind.

[pnwmom]

4. It is total garbage and the Chicago papers debunked the story last year.

There were other bidders both on Obama's property and the property next door. The seller took the two high bidders, Obama and Rezko. Then Obama bought a strip of land from Rezko. But instead of paying what the appraiser said the strip of property was worth -- Obama paid MORE -- he paid Rezko the value of that property as a fraction of the overall property.

[sandnsea]

8. The 'paid more' part

I never got that part of the story, that I recall. I started an Obama debunk thread in the debunk forum. I forget why. But if you know where that story is, maybe you could post it there and here. I have a ton of work today and don't have time to go digging.

[pnwmom]

15. Here's a link, sandnsea. Post it wherever you like.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/124171,CST-NWS-obama05.article

SNIP

Last January, aiming to increase the size of his sideyard, Obama paid Rezko $104,500 for a strip of his land.

SNIP

"With respect to the purchase of my home, I am confident that everything was handled ethically and above board. But I regret that while I tried to pay close attention to the specific requirements of ethical conduct, I misgauged the appearance presented by my purchase of the additional land from Mr. Rezko," Obama said.

"It was simply not good enough that I paid above the appraised value for the strip of land that he sold me. It was a mistake to have been engaged with him at all in this or any other personal business dealing that would allow him, or anyone else, to believe that he had done me a favor," the senator said.

SNIP

A: I proposed to pay on the basis of proportionality. Since the strip composed one-sixth of the entire lot, I would pay one-sixth of the purchase price of the lot. I offered this to Mr. Rezko and he accepted it.

[sandnsea]

30. In the Debunking Forum now!!

Thank you!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=284x296

[roguevalley]

9. could you post the link where they debunked this? I would like to

read it. For me, I don't care what party you are if you cheat. If there is evidence, it will help the discussion. thanks.

[ieoeja]

14. Debunk what?

Obama bought a house. But the owner only sold it on the condition that he was able to sell the empty lot next door within 60 days. Rezko, a real estate developer under federal investigation at the time, learned about this and bought the empty lot.

I am still waiting for someone, somewhere to tell me what was wrong with this. Cause I bought a house 15 years ago from a couple who had themselves purchased a home almost 60 days earlier on the condition that their own home would sell in 60 days time. They couldn't afford two homes simultaneously, but found the home they wanted before selling the home they had. There is nothing in the least bit uncommon or under handed about this.

Worse yet, the couple from whom I bought the house wanted to move because she had been raped in the house by a home invader. As a result of their desperation to get out, I got the house for below market value. Were I running for president, I am sure Tim Novak would be writing articles wanting me to explain what I knew about the rape.

[pnwmom]

17. Here is one of many. The Chicago papers were all over this last year.

The New York Times article is a rehash, and an incomplete one at that.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/124171,CST-NWS-obama05.article

[roguevalley]

21. thanks.

[Ethelk2044]

11. You are trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

I keeping seeing Hillarities try to make something out of nothing. They know Hillary comes with a lot of baggage. Obama has little to none. They are so afraid they will lose they will try anything to make him look bad. Hello this is old news. You see he was smart to bring everything out in the open before he decided to run for election. Keep trying I admire your endurance. It is kind of funny. Maybe people will take lessons after his campaign. I notice her campaign has been trying to take some of his steps with his grassroots efforts. Just one thing though


Hillary is not sincere about her feelings. He is. That is the difference.

[Capn Sunshine]

13. I think you're wrong about Hillary's feelings

I know she sincerely feels she should be the president.

[Stinky The Clown]

27. May I offer you a great deal on the purchase of a clue?

You accuse me of being a "Hillarite". That's pretty rich, because the Hillary supporters often accuse me of being a mud slinger against their candidate.

Please, before you accuse anyone of anything, do a little research.



If you can find even **one** post that shows me to be a "Hillarite" I'll buy your next DU star.

As but one example, have a peek at this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3312798

Now ..... what were you saying about me making a mountain out of a molehill by simply posting something I heard said by a right winger on teevee?

[Bitwit1234]

16. Didn't think it would take long before the cons

started a swift boat campaign against Obama. What with their constant barrage against Hillary, and John Edwards, they have now started on Obama. What would happen if the MSM would ever publish any of the crap the republicans did and still are doing, that the democrats dug up...heck fire they would jump all over the democrats for publishing it, and side with the republicans.

[ShortnFiery]

18. I concur, the political tactics are dirty. I wish we could stick with the issues instead of ...

participating in the mud slinging contest against our opponent.

Such underhanded tactics make us all look like kool aid drinking Right Wingers.

It's just sad to see, especially here at DU. :(

[endarkenment]

19. Well at least it isn't a 400 dollar gay haircut!

Edwards is gay.
Hillary is a bitch.
Obama is crooked.

The Bullshit Media System is well oiled and running smooth.

[BlueIris]

25. And at least he didn't "yell" funny or windsurf.

Or smile at an intern the wrong way.

The MSM is just. getting. started. If this is what they're lobbing at Obama now, wait until Hillary is out of the running, and they have just Obama and Edwards to focus their wrath on.

[Ethelk2044]

20. This post is full of SH - -

[The Magistrate]

23. You Are Right, Sir

The house element of the Rezko matter is trifling, inconsequential, and involved nothing remotely wrong.

Even in the rest of it, there is nothing of real signifigance.

Rezko is a bad 'un; Sen. Obama is not.

[Ethelk2044]

26. That you for for telling the truth

I am tired of them trying to make something out of nothing.

[dogman]

24. Lie down with dogs, sometimes you get fleas.

Rezko was a political player with ties to many Illinois pols. Obama may or may not have known Rezko was dirty, but it seems unlikely he did. He has a problem in separating himself from Rezko as can be seen here.

http://www.suntimes.com/search/stng_article.search?query=Obama+%2B+Rezko&head=&byline=§ion=all&pub=cst&page=1&page_size=20

This doesn't mean he can't be deloused. It may not play large nationally. Most politicians come in to contact with creeps, so you must decide if it is serious enough to convince you of any wrong doing. When you run for President they will be sifting through your underwear. How it is played in the press will depend on which party you belong to and how serious a threat to the establishment you are perceived to be. This is all out there, so you might as well get used to it.

[Capn Sunshine]

28. Especially if you don't read anything except a biased source.

Further upthread, a realistic debunking of this is printed.
But this tag team thing for Hillary fans is really most amusing.

Isn't it, Sir?

[dogman]

32. You should read what I wrote.

I really don't think you read it very carefully, or I'm misunderstanding you. The link I gave contains a number of sources, not all biased, and further questions beyond the property transaction. I don't see any of them carrying any real significance at this stage, but that could change if there are further developments. My point is that Rezko is a pariah who pays to play with politicians. This is one of the drawbacks of leading a political life. These type of people seek you out early in your career. I myself haven't decided who I will support as of yet. Obama is likely to get my vote at this point. I have more serious questions of him than this supposed scandal. That is why I am undecided.

[pnwmom]

29. All this guilt-by-association reminds me of the Kevin Bacon game.

The more people you know -- and it is a politician's job to know as many people as possible -- the more likely it is that you are separated from indicted or suspected or convicted criminals by only a couple of connections -- a friend of a friend.

The Sun-Times seems out to get Obama. I can't evaluate much of the information in the article, but it is patently unfair for this newspaper to repeat again and again the point that Obama paid less than the asking price for his property, while Rezko paid more than full price on the same day -- as if there were something nefarious going on. The fact is, Obama's property included a house, Rezko's did not. Obama's property had been on the market for several months, and there was only one other bidder -- Obama's was the high bid. On the other hand, there was a full price bidder on the empty lot Rezko wanted, so he had to top that offer.

Seeing how the Sun-Times repeatedly throws that misleading info out there makes me distrust anything else they write.

[dogman]

33. This is a link to 10 different articles, not all about the property transaction.

I didn't really see any misleading information. They raise some questions that arise from association and that is what my post states. I point out that I don't think they are serious, yet. There has been so much pay to play in Illinois politics on both sides of the aisle that these questions arise naturally. As I note, this seems tame right now. These articles are by different authors so I view them with different levels of skepticism.

[baldguy]

31. Who put up the financing for the pig farm in Crawford?

Once they answer that question, then they can go after Obama.

[mckeown1128]

34. media matters has agreat article debunking this thing!!!

http://mediamatters.org/items/200706140007?f=h_top

[a kennedy]

35. Oh yeah, tucker was all over this yesterday.....

tucker is a dickhead..... :puke: