Oops: Obama and his Rezko avoidance affliction did not get help from Rezko's lawyer today, dang it.

[Maribelle]

The prosecution did not bring up Obama, Rezko's lawyer did more than once.

Rezko's entry into politics, Duffy said, came when he raised money for the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. Rezko went on to meet Obama while recruiting Obama to come work for his real estate development company, Duffy told jurors.


Duffy also rattled off a list of fund-raisers and philanthropic events Rezko held or helped organize in 2003-04, when the government says the majority of Rezko's alleged wrongdoing had been taking place. Those activities included co-chairing a large fund-raiser for President Bush, a fund-raiser for Obama's U.S. Senate campaign ...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/rezko/829965,CST-NWS-rezkotrial06.article

It truly looks as if this Rezko thing will not go away soon for Obama. As the many reporters, including CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Lynn Sweet who told us "Obama talks a lot, but answers little" press for answers to basic questions Obama and his campaign have not answered about Obama's relationships with the allegedly corrupt Rezko and his cronies.

[saracat]

1. Ha! ha! ha! This must be why Obama has a lawyer at the trial! Snark!

[JackORoses]

3. ahahaaha! It doesn't matter because Obama is already the de facto Nominee. Double-Snark!!

You'll figure that out in the coming weeks.

[saracat]

5. And what an embarassment this will be if it goes further.

A 17 year realtionship with pond scum is not anything to be ignored.This will matter much more should we be unfortunate enough to have BO as the nominee.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. I'll take a 17 year relationship with Rezko over the Clintons' cavalcade of slimy donors any day.

There really is no comparison there.

[Tellurian]

16. You're right on that count. It's Obama that may be indicted as a co-conspirator

in the Rezko Trial. TG, the Clintons have been thoroughly vetted and have a clear path to the Dem Nomination..

[Edgewater_Joe]

29. More Wolfsonian Lies and Slime

There has never - NEVER - been an implication that Obama has done ANYTHING illegal -- and YOU KNOW IT.

You're just praying it's true so you can get a chance to steal the nomination that you can't get any other way.

[Tellurian]

50. Grand Jurys are secret.. You never know if you're going to be indicted until you are..

This is Obama's fear...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

70. I hear you might be indicted.

Ear to the ground and all that...

[Tellurian]

83. Not possible...secrecy and all..

try again, Rummy! :hi:

[anigbrowl]

40. You're de-lusional. You can't indict someone inthe middle of a trial.

Obama has so little connection with this that he didn't even have to give a deposition. Do you understand what that means?

[Tellurian]

53. If enough connections are made to Obama from the indicted defendants..

a Grand Jury sure as hell can secretly indict him..

[anigbrowl]

66. Why don't you go and convene one...LOL

[Tellurian]

84. Why don't you learn to speak english..

in your spare time! (like now)

[SoxFan]

41. "Vetted"?

Let's see those tax returns. How many oil and gas companies in Carjackistan have paid the mortgage in Chappaqua these past eight years?

[Zachstar]

43. Complete and uttter bullshit...

#1 If Obama was going to be charged with ANYTHING it would have happened by now. BEFORE TEXAS AND OHIO.

#2 There is no clear path to the Nomination. Yet you Clinton supporters are ignoring the many things that Clinton will need to answer for in her Closet. I look forward to them being better exposed soon.

[laugle]

47. Being in the

Real Estate business, I've learned that many things can be legal and still be unethical, I suspect the stink of Obama's house deal is going to linger! He really should have bought a house he could afford! How many of us regular people could have pulled off a "sweetheart" deal like that!

Also, his wife got a raise of almost $200,000 when Obama became a U.S. Senator, that smacks of influence peddling, someone needs to look into that.......

These two reason's are why I don't see him as squeaky clean and cannot buy his message. Just the appearance of these deals looks very suspicious to me..................this is what happens when candidates are not vetted!

[Tellurian]

57. So True...

it's called farting higher than your ass!

[laugle]

79. Your funny........but I call

it plain old greed..............

[anigbrowl]

69. He can afford it - take a look at his tax returns.

He got a big check from his publisher for his book that year.

[laugle]

77. Then why did Rezko's wife

have to buy the adjoining lot and then sell it to Obama 3 years later way below the market value, I believe the number was $300,000 below.

If he could afford it at the initial buy, he would have bought it, but obviously, they found a way to make it work!

The whole transaction has an odor............

On edit, if they had bought the lot for market value, we would not be having this conversation, and I might even be voting for him, as It would show that he was a prudent buyer and waited until he could afford the adjoining lot.

[woolldog]

103. What was the sweetheart deal?

The sellers of the house recently came out and explained that Obama's offer on the house was the highest. Did you know that?

[RBInMaine]

104. You don't know shit about the criminal justice process.

Kindly pull your head out of your Hollywood-drama ass and get into reality. Rezco is on trial, NOT Obama or anyone else. The purpose of the trial is to TRY the evidence against Rezco. Trials very, very rarely produce new suspects. That is what law enforcement and Grand Jury INVESTIGATIONS are for. If Obama or anyone else was going to be charged with wrongdoing, it would have already happened.

Now, let's talk about Hillary's YEARS of slimy friends, slimy donors (Norman Hsu and more PAC and lobbyist money than even the R's), and slimy deeds which you folks just don't like to discuss. Hmmmmm.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Better a nominee who used to know pond scum...

then a nominee who is pond scum.

[saracat]

30. Nice way to talk about a former first Lady. I have never called BO "pond scum"

I have questioned whether he is honest. But BO not only has such "classy" friends as Rezko but his fans are classy too! :sarcasm:

[woolldog]

15. you're an embarassment to this forum

Do you really want to compare the Clinton skeletons-in-the-closet with Obama's?

You don't want to go there.

[saracat]

19. One can't .Clinton's are all out and no one cares.Obama's are just being revealed.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

24. Sweetie, time didn't stand still in 2000. Stuff has happened since then.

The Clinton's personal wealth has risen exponentially in just the past 3 years, mostly from favors Bill has done for people.

[Tellurian]

75. Not really.. @$150,000 an appearance..an $8m book deal.. etc..

Bill Clinton is an extraordinary income generator.

[Edgewater_Joe]

27. Clintons: Out As Guttersnipes?

And Obama's a guttersnipe, too?

How much are Wolfson and Penn paying you?

[woolldog]

48. Clinton donors

to the presidential library aren't all out. What about all of Bill's affairs since he left office? What about the meteoric rise in the Clinton's income since leaving the white house. Where are the Clinton tax returns?? What about the article in the new york times about kazakistan and the 100 million in donations in exchange for favors? It's not all out. Nor are the past scandals that are "all out" irrelevant. They go to character (think: Filegate).

Sen. Bill Bradley:

I think Hillary is flawed in many ways, and particularly if you look at her husband's unwillingness to release the names of the people who contributed to his presidential library.

And the reason that is important -- you know, are there favors attached to $500,000 or $1 million contributions? And what do I mean by favors? I mean, pardons that are granted; investigations that are squelched; contracts that are awarded; regulations that are delayed.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/jan-june08/demdiscuss_03-05.html

[Tellurian]

81. So, how does Bill Bradley know all this.. where is his source? Why doesn't he back it up w/evidence?

zzzzzzzzz!

[JackORoses]

28. He is the nominee, and he has no involvement in Rezko's trial. Done and Done.

[saracat]

36. Delusional? And he is NOT the nominee, unless you are cancelling all the rest of the primaries?

And didn't you use to complain about the Hillary people preaching inevitability? I didn't like it from them and it is equally unattractive with the BO supporters. He is involved with Rezko. It is not done. He wouldn't be dodging questions if there was nothing to hide.

[JackORoses]

54. let me explain.

It is wrong to claim you are inevitable when not even a single contest has occurred.
It is acceptable after you have mathematically locked up the nomination.

Obama has known Rezko for years.
But he is not involved in the case being prosecuted now in any way.
I guess you base guilt on association? Glad you aren't a Judge.

[saracat]

61. Ahhh yes. He has known an obvious racketeer for "years' nothing to see here.

move along!If Obama has "won" Why isn't he proclaimed the presumptive nominee? Because he isn't?

[JackORoses]

because people believe Hillary is willing to do anything to get what she wants

She could still technically take this away with Superdelegates.

In any other year they would be calling this already,
but they can't predict how far the Clintons are willing to go.

[libbygurl]

64. No, let me explain.

O has not locked up the nomination, mathematically or otherwise.

O has a 17-year-relationship with Rezko. The case is just starting to be prosecuted, so it ain't finished yet.

Clear now? If not, sorry, can't help you.

[JackORoses]

85. Your explanation is flawed.

Show me the math where Hillary ends up with more pledged delegates.
If you cannot, then Obama is a lock.

The Lead Prosecutor has said Obama is not involved in the Rezko trial in any way.
I'll take his word over yours.

I know of a dozen scumbags that the Clintons have had long-term relationships with, does that mean they will be getting called into court anytime soon? Nope. Not even for Hsu.

Now we're clear.

[libbygurl]

95. Nope.

The nomination is not a done deal yet. If so, why bother to hold more primaries?

Although O isn't named in the witness list, there's a possibility he will be called as a witness.

You got a crystal ball there beside you?

Methinks my work is done here. 'bye ~

[JackORoses]

107. you didn't do any work. you just spouted words.

The Primaries are always held. Even after the Nominee is selected.
Obama has won the Pledged Delegate race. I do not consider the MI/FL/SuperPoachedDelegate Hillarite dream scenario even remotely possible.

So Obama is accused of no wrongdoing, and was not even mentioned by the Prosecutor in his opening arguments.
What is your point here? Guilt by association is all you've got.
The possibility that he may be called as a character witness for the defense?
How does that actually relate to the case at hand? Answer: It doesn't.

Don't need a Crystal Ball to see any of that.

[robbedvoter]

58. Dunno about Rezko, but dems haven't picked a nominee yet - Pssst! Primaries - ongoing!

[xmas74]

72. He is not the nominee.

That will not be decided until the convention. Otherwise, what would be the use of having a convention?

[golddigger]

82. self delete

[MoonRiver]

8. Snorting much?

"de facto Nominee" :rofl:

[JackORoses]

31. That's what it is called when you have an insurmountable lead.

or are you a believer in the MI/FL/SuperPoachedDelegate scheme?

[Kermitt Gribble]

9. So all that matters is Obama winning the nomination?

If this Rezko thing developes into a serious issue with Obama as our nominee and it hurts or kills the Dem's chances at the white house, that's okay?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. Am I really supposed to believe you're concerned about Rezko?

And aren't just using Rezko as a way to get Clinton the nomination?

Because I don't.

[saracat]

25. And one is really supposed to believe that Obama wouldn't do anything to get the WH as well?

And all the divisive crap being spwed is alright as long as it comes from his side?

[Edgewater_Joe]

35. The Only Divisive Crap Being Spread Is By Wolfson & Penn

Which this crap is right out of.

To repeat: there has NEVER -- NOT ONCE -- been any implication that Rezko did anything illegal.

You're praying that there is because you know there's no other way Hillary can get the nomination.

Kitchen sink, tub, heater, foundation -- you people are throwing everything out there. Have you no shame?

[Maribelle]

46. Hey - that was Rezko's lawyer that brought up Obama. Blame Rezko.

:grr:

[anamandujano]

90. Sounds like he has a game plan.

[Maribelle]

105. It does. It seems to me he's trying to paint Rezko with Obama, to make him look like a good guy.

But it seems to me the prosecution could perhaps use this as an opening. There are so many questions about Obama's connections to Rezko that remain outstanding.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

52. I think that Obama has higher moral standards than Clinton, yes.

That's pretty obvious.

In fact, it has been since 2002.

[Kermitt Gribble]

33. I really don't care what you believe.

When did I say I was "concerned" about Rezko? I believe my post said "if" it developes into a serious issue - implying that it may not be an issue at all now, but no one really knows what may come of it or how the pukes could exploit it come the GE.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

55. "When did I say I was "concerned" about Rezko?"

When you chastised somebody else for caring about the nomination.

You were implying that you're really concerned about criminal justice in certain odd real-estate and influence peddling deals, instead of just wanting to tear Obama down so your candidate can win.

[Kermitt Gribble]

89. Thanks for telling me what I was implying.

Your mind-reading ability is a real gift.

I never once tore Obama down, as you say. The way you automatically attack every Hillary supporter shows a lot about your lack of character.

[JackORoses]

34. He already has won the nomination.

If you had done any research, you would know that Obama is not involved in the Rezko case. Just ask Patrick Fitzgerald.

[saracat]

39. That isn't exactly what Fitzgerald said.

[JackORoses]

59. He said Obama is accused of no wrongdoing. How else should that be interpreted?

[saracat]

109. Not "being accused " is not the same as being "cleared'.

There were many in the Libby trial that were originally"not accused".It is similar to "not at this time" In any event, it is not the point that Obama has anything to do with this particular incident .He probably doesn't , but this is not the only thing Rezko is involved in.

[saracat]

42. Fitzgerald said Obama won the nomination? Why would he say that ? Snark!

[JackORoses]

62. Maybe he looked at the Delegate count. You obviously haven't spent too much time on it.

[Kermitt Gribble]

94. I never said he was.

I honestly don't think anything will come of it, but to say "It doesn't matter because Obama is already the de facto Nominee." is ignorant.

PS. Maybe you should tell him he's already won - he must not know it because he's still campaigning against Hillary.

[LulaMay]

2. It's most unfortunate.

[Birthmark]

4. Isn't Rezko just "allegedly corrupt?"

[Maribelle]

Yes, sorry. It was Levine that pled guilty

Rezko has pled not guilty

[saracat]

7. "technically". Innocent until proven guilty but it is likely he is guilty.

He has obviously scammed millions.They have the evidence.Fitzgerald is thorough.

[Birthmark]

17. Maybe he is guilty.

It still, at this point, has been proven in a court of law. And anyone implying, even subtly, that Obama did anything wrong, directly or indirectly, is taking a real cheap shot at this point, imo.

[MoonRiver]

6. Very interesting.

Keep us informed. :)

[Tellurian]

11. Nothing to worry about here! Obama is as clean as a whistle! But afraid to talk about it...

"Sadly for Democrats they threw Hillary under the bus for this guy and he's stonewalled on this issue to gain the nomination, and the Rezko trial along with the questions that surround it will send him up as a flawed candidate, one that will happily blow their chances for the presidency as this issue unfolds throughout the spring and summer."

"This is just too good to be true for Republicans so we'll see how it all shakes out."

"Obama talks a lot, but answers little"

http://www.suntimes.com/news/blogentries/index.html?bbPostId=B95LXlrQxuwlCzDeWaLSrtJTQCz3eGmf3g0BF6AJ7Nbtmp36j&bbParentWidgetId=B8k88rWwXopuz5STgLeVwBLu

[rodeodance]

21. Its been the guestion for me all along. They had a good candidate at the beginning!!

[Shakespeare]

13. And don't forget...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/12/04/2007-12-04_clinton_fundraiser_norman_hsu_indicted_.html

Just sayin'

[Tellurian]

45. And don't forget...

Obama, at the time was a State Senator representing the mostly African-Americans who lived in the Rezko owned tenements. These residents of the Rezko owned tenements presumably contacted elected officials when they found themselves living in substandard housing and freezing in the winter. Where was Obama with consitutent services? Obama should have known and it strains credulity to think he did not know. Obama had helped Rezko obtain government subsidies for these tenements and we presume some type of due diligence was performed by Obama in which he would uncover the nature of the Rezko housing.

In that same article we quoted from the Chicago Sun-Times the following:

”Obama, who has worked as a lawyer and a legislator to improve living conditions for the poor, took campaign donations from Rezko even as Rezko’s low-income housing empire was collapsing, leaving many African-American families in buildings riddled with problems — including squalid living conditions, vacant apartments, lack of heat, squatters and drug dealers. The building in Englewood was one of 30 Rezmar rehabbed in a series of troubled deals largely financed by taxpayers. Every project ran into financial difficulty. More than half went into foreclosure, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation has found. “Their buildings were falling apart,” said a former city official. “They just didn’t pay attention to the condition of these buildings.” Eleven of Rezko’s buildings were in Obama’s state Senate district.“

Here is a bit more from that Chicago Sun-Times article:

“For more than five weeks during the brutal winter of 1997, tenants shivered without heat in a government-subsidized apartment building on Chicago’s South Side.”

“It was just four years after the landlords — Antoin “Tony” Rezko and his partner Daniel Mahru — had rehabbed the 31-unit building in Englewood with a loan from Chicago taxpayers.”

“Rezko and Mahru couldn’t find money to get the heat back on.”

...and people expect Obama to take care of Americans if he's elected president? Looks like he's proven he'll take care of The Obamas and his friends who get him elected.

[Shakespeare]

56. That all you got?

HAHAHAHAHA. Obama knew a guy who did some bad thing. Obama had no connection to the bad things, but he knew the guy. Guilt by association! Oh, my. I really, really don't think you want to go there.

Hsu's just the tip of the iceberg. I can't believe Hillary supporters are seriously thinking they can use the Rezko thing against Obama without the mother of all backfires. Good lord, the mind boggles.

(I'm not an Obama, supporter, btw. I'm an Edwards supporter, remaining agnostic but growing increasingly irritated with Hillary.)

[Tellurian]

65. Take your head out of the sand...

We don't know what we've got. Why do you think Obama has his own attorney sitting in for the Trial.. For Bupkus?

You do Shakespeare no favors with that moniker. He was a brilliant man... You, not so much..

[Shakespeare]

80. My head's not in the sand.

Obama's attorney is there 1. for self-preservation, and 2. for basic information purposes, because there's a chance Obama will get questions about the trial. Nothing wrong with that, nothing nefarious or suspicious about that.

And you don't have the first clue what my intellect is, but I find it amusing that you think you do. Nice to resort to personal attacks, though. :eyes:

[Tellurian]

87. For self-preservation? Why does the Truth need protection?

If Obama's hands are clean theres no need to worry is there.. All he needs to do is tell the Truth, Right?

[Shakespeare]

88. Oh, come on. While I find your allegiance to the "Truth" (sic) noble....

....anybody--Hillary included, for the upcoming Hsu trial (and you can bet she will, too)--would be certifiably wackadoo if they didn't have their attorney follow that kind of a trial.

Surely you're not that naive, are you?

[Tellurian]

98. I don't see the parallel.. and I don't see Hillary involved in anything Hsu did!

Not so with Obama.. He's in waist deep with Rezko. After representing him over a 17 yr period and helping him get Federal funding for low-income housing. It's called influence peddling on Obama's part! QUID-PRO-QUO!

[Shakespeare]

102. Oh, boy. It's not just Hsu.

The name "Mark Rich" ring any bells? And that's just for starters. It's ALWAYS been a problem for BOTH Clintons.

And so far, all allegations against Obama (regarding Rezko) have come up e-m-p-t-y. The most they can find is the house/lot thing, which is pretty damned innocuous. You know, just because you keep saying "influence peddling" over and over, doesn't bring it any closer to reality.

I'll leave you to your hysterics now.

[Tellurian]

106. Marc Rich was 10 yrs ago.. if there was anything there it would have been out by now..

please, take a nap!

[amborin]

18. the Obamas have had a 17+ yr close relationship with Rezko

Obama needs to be much more forthcoming about this

there are many unanswered qns

and the web is so tangled

[rodeodance]

20. very interesting develpment

[NewHampster]

22. Shame on you Barack Obama

I couldn't think of anything else to say in order kick this baby to the greatest list.

:kick:

[Edgewater_Joe]

23. If You Want Rezko Dirt, Ask His Pals BILL AND HILLARY

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/photos_surfaces_of_hillary_cli.html

[amborin]

26. the judgement thingy

Obama has been aided for years by Rezko:

The Associated Press

January 22, 2008 Tuesday 6:46 PM GMT

BYLINE: By MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press Writer

Real estate developer and fast-food magnate Antoin "Tony" Rezko spent years pouring thousands of dollars in campaign contributions into Barack Obama's climb from the Illinois legislature to Capitol Hill and helped him raise tens of thousands more.......

and for many of those years, it was a KNOWN FACT that Rezko was a crook.....

so----WHY did Obama continue to MAINTAIN a relationship with him?

and enter into ANY kind of REAL ESTATE dealings with this guy?

what does that say about Obama's judgement?

[Maribelle]

37. I agree with you - - it's Obama judgment ....

and the uncooperative, difficult way Obama appears to be ducking and dodging on this.

[Exilednight]

32. How long until Hillary's name pops up?

From a letter sent to HRC:
 The company’s attorney, Myron “Mike” Cherry, also a contributor of yours(Clinton's), has been identified in published reports as “Individual H” in the Illinois criminal indictment of businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko. Cherry has acknowledged in published reports that he was the conduit for some of the IPA campaign contributions.

http://www.reversespin.com/?m=200709

[Hawkeye-X]

38. Rezko is not only Obama's contributer, but also HRC, and in MUCH more deeper than Obama...

Google Individual H.

http://capitalfax.blogspot.com/2008/01/myron-individual-h-cherry-with-bill.html

[chill_wind]

78. Got THAT right! And here's the NYT link for tasters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/nyregion/07company.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Lots of time for this Clinton story to untangle and drag out over the coming news cycles. Might take all the way until oh....a day or two before the PA primary.

If I were the Obama campaign, I'd be helping the TeeVee News media with its homework. God knows they need some serious help.

[amborin]

44. 1 more question for those who know Chicago zoning laws:

in California...you can't divide property up like that...you can't split a lot....oftentimes...

many times, lots are "lot tied," meaning they are combined legally and one cannot be sold off piecemeal.....

but Obama bought a piece of a lot from Rezko... HOW? was that above board, from a Chicago zoning rules perspective??????

"The Obamas closed on the house June 15, 2006. The price: $1,650,000.
The same day, Rezko's wife, Rita, bought a lot next door from the same sellers for $625,000. Obama later told the Sun-Times that the sellers had required that both of the lots had to be sold simultaneously.
Burton said in written answers to questions from The Associated Press: "In no way did Senator Obama view this as a favor, nor would he have asked for one. He understood the lot to be attractive as an investment and to have been purchased for that reason."
The Rezkos later sold the lot, but not before selling the Obamas a 10-foot-wide strip of land from the property for $104,500.
Obama called that a "boneheaded" mistake."

[Shakespeare]

49. Yes, you can divide property like that in California.

Every county has different zoning regulations, but it's done all the time.

[amborin]

74. yes, you can sometimes divide lots in CA cities, if the lots are not tied

and if they are sufficiently large

but other times, you can't...

so, my question remains

[Exilednight]

63. You can sell land off piecemeal under certain circumstances.....

In some places in Chicago, people were buying side by side houses on two lots. They would tear down both houses, and then split the two lots up into three and build three houses.

People subdivide land in Illinois all the time.

[amborin]

76. they subdivide in CA also....but in some CA cities, it's not that straightforward

the lots have to be at least 5000 square feet, each....no smaller

or they can't be subdivided per LA city zoning

[MojoMojoMojo]

91. This is pure fantasy ,Rezko bought the land for Obama

"In no way did Senator Obama view this as a favor, nor would he have asked for one. He understood the lot to be attractive as an investment and to have been purchased for that reason."
The Rezkos later sold the lot, but not before selling the Obamas a 10-foot-wide strip of land from the property for $104,500.
Obama called that a "boneheaded" mistake."

Rezcos wife sold 10 ft to Obama ,that leaves an unusable strip of land about 15 feet wide.That piece was sold to Rezcos lawyer!
The real problem with the house deal is that Iraqi billionaire Auchi loaned Rezco 3.5 million 3 weeks before the sale.
I'll be surprised if that money wasnt involved in the purchase of at least the land, perhaps even the house god forbid.

[amborin]

51. pretty darn incredible that Obama didn't know...

for all his community work, how could Obama not have known?????


The Sunday Telegraph (LONDON)

January 27, 2008 Sunday

Obama faces questions over ties to 'slum landlord' Democratic hopeful's claims of good judgment undermined by his relationship with a property tycoon donor who faces charges of corruption

BYLINE: PHILIP SHERWELL in Chicago

snip

"Mr Rezko was also one of the first to spot the skills of Mr Obama, offering the then Harvard law graduate a job in 1991 and becoming an early financial supporter of the new state legislator, whose inner-city constituency included 11 of his housing projects.
Although Mr Obama makes much of his roots as a community activist in Chicago's poorest districts, he has said he had "no inkling'' that there were problems with Mr Rezko's operations. But the signs should have been easy to spot, according to John Bartlett, of the Chicago-based Metropolitan Tenants' Association.
"The problems with Rezko were far from hidden. They were so bad that the city has had to take him to court. Anyone who wanted to look into Rezko's activities could have learned about them,'' he said."

[Maribelle]

68. And that 'slum landlord' attachment is what I find most detestable about Rezko.

The abuse of poor families, that have no other place to live, should be intolerable. That it is an active abuse in Chicago, is a shame on Illinois.

The alleged crimes that Rezko is now being tried for seem to be your typical Chicago stuff, notorious for perhaps generations.

[anigbrowl]

60. Keep wishing and hoping...and listening to Obama

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6003815

Yeah, he looks real worried. Not.

[chill_wind]

67. Guess they haven't gotten around yet to the story's Clinton Donor stink- indicted "Indivudal H"

Clinton donor named in Rezko trial/criminal indictment


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4907332

New York Times link in the thread:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/nyregion/07company.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Oh my.

Those enjoying the Rezko "Obama" dirt-- you might want to be careful what you wish for.

Just sayin.

[DemBones DemBones]

71. . . .

:popcorn:

[JorgeTheGood]

73. I suspect this is good for HRC

let's say BO snags the nomination. And let's say that McCain and the MSM smack BO over the head with REZKO and I'm not saying he is guilty of anything. Rather, that the MSM will convince enough people that he is guilty (perception) to the point he has to step down from the nomination. Here comes Hillary picking up the pieces and saving the democratic party.

I say Will Smith plays BO in the movie. LOL.

[Rock_Garden]

86. Thanks so much, Maribelle.

[Maribelle]

92. You're welcome Rock_Garden.

:hi:

[washingdem]

93. Wishing for a scandal on a fellow Dem? That's pretty disgusting

[MojoMojoMojo]

96. Im wishing that IF there is a scandal ,it comes out before the nomination

Not right before the GE

[Maribelle]

100. A point that might be 34,000 feet over the heads of Obama supporters.

It doesn't appear they are thinking too clearly these days.

It is the media in Chicago that have reported on this issue, and have strongly indicated there are unanswered questions Obama is refusing to address. They will be the ones who will keep up the pressure for him to be more forthcoming.

Unless he is mentioned even more by Rezko's lawyer, and those answers come from the courthouse. Then Obama will be in big trouble.

[saracat]

110. Thats why Obama has a lawyer at the trial, but his fans don't get that.

And that is why Rezko's lawyer is mentioning Obama.He will throw Obama under the bus to clear his client, or at very least tar him with the same brush.

[Maribelle]

97. Wishing? Not.

This Rezko trial is in the news tonight. Please do try to keep up.

[chill_wind]

101. Tell that to the HRC Campaign. Sliming Obama Worked out pretty well for them in Ohio.

Unfortunately, a lot was left out of the narrative.

Oh but NOW she wants him to commit to a nice "clean campaign."

How timely and interesting, that one.

"From a letter sent to HRC:
 The company’s attorney, Myron “Mike” Cherry, also a contributor of yours(Clinton's), has been identified in published reports as “Individual H” in the Illinois criminal indictment of businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko. Cherry has acknowledged in published reports that he was the conduit for some of the IPA campaign contributions.
(The whole letter follows.)

Hillary Clinton for President
4420 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA. 22203

Dear Senator Clinton:
We, the undersigned small business owners from across the country are deeply offended that you continue to accept campaign contributions from top officials of a business consulting company, International Profit Associates (IPA), Buffalo Grove, IL., that defrauded us. As we struggle in federal court via a civil racketeering lawsuit to recover the thousands of dollars this company took from us illegally, you continue to use political donations that might have come directly from our pockets.

We also are appalled because you accepted the money amid dark clouds of fraud allegations, a criminal past by the company’s founder, and one of the largest sexual harassment lawsuits ever filed by the federal government.

(....)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4907332#4908770
much more:

[rodeodance]

108. you have missed most of obama fans wishing for a scandal of a fellow Dem(HRC)!!!?

[JorgeTheGood]

99. Not only does BO have to worry about his

Rezko connections, but if his name comes up anywhere near the name of Nadhmi Auchi during this trial, BO might as well start polishing his golf clubs cause he will no longer be running president.