Obama RECOMMENDED Rezko for a lucrative housing deal

[hueyshort]

I can't believe that this little known fact has been overlooked by MSM.

The Chicago Tribune reported on January 23:
As a state senator in 1998, Obama wrote two letters to city and state officials to support a Rezko/Davis
senior housing project in his district that received more than $14 million in taxpayer money and netted
$885,000 in fees for the two developers.
http://mediamatters.org/items/email/200801230008

[Jersey Devil]

1. And what was the wrongdoing there?

It is now unlawful for a state legislsative member to approve the building of senior citizen housing in his district? BTW, taxpayer funding goes to virtually all senior citzen housing everywhere.

[hueyshort]

2. didn't Obama claim not to have a thing to do with Rezko except

for the little 5 hour contract work?
Or did you not watch the SC debate?

[Jersey Devil]

9. Is that exactly what he said?

or was he referring to any possibility of the land deal that they were specifically referring to?

I don't take notes on the debates, especially on issues that have been debunked, so that I can parse them later. I will leave that up to you.

[hueyshort]

24. First, Obama slammed Hillary

because she had worked for Walmart.

She responded that he had worked for a "slum landlord."

Obama "explained" that Hillary was referring to a 5 hour job that he had done
for a lawfirm contracted by Rezko. The implication being that this was
Obama's only encounter.

He must've known Rezko a little better than that to recommend him for
a lucrative deal. Had Rezko already contributed money to an Obama campaign?
I don't have time to check at this moment. But it would be worth researching.

At the time of his house purchase Obama obviously felt Rezko owed him a tip.

[democrattotheend]

61. He has said that he was friends with Rezko for many years

And this is not a new fact. He never said that the 5 hours he spent indirectly representing Rezko were his only contact...just that it was the only time he spent indirectly representing him as an attorney.

Obama supported Rezko's project in this instance (I believe this was before the controversy about the heat being turned off in one of Rezko's buildings came to light), but when Rezko wanted to build a casino, Obama was a vocal opponent in the state senate.

[Iceburg]

32. Yeah ...he tried to establish some distance from the slum landlord by saying

he had only done 5 hours of work on a Rezko project...instead of coming clean and saying that he had a very close 17 year relationship with Tony Rezko.

Is it any wonder that Obama is claiming that he has lost all his records for his state senator period?

[democrattotheend]

62. He said that 5 hours was the extent of his legal work representing Rezko

He had already said on other occasions that he and Rezko had been friends for years.

[blm]

71. Did he protect Rezko from accountability once his dealings became known?

Did Clintons protect BushInc (Stephens, Rich, Dubai and Saudi royals) from accountability on serious matters throughout the 90s?

[Hepburn]

53. The question was about his representation of Rezko.

[democrattotheend]

59. He said that was the extent of his law firm work for Rezko

Not that it was the only contact he had ever had. Clinton had characterized his time working at the law firm as "representing a slum lord", so he was rebutting that point.

[Maribelle]

13. How can you tell with Obama's forked tongue? First he says this, then he says that, then he says...

writing letters Obama wrote recommending Rezko was not doing a favor for Rezko, because Rezko did not ask him to do it.

Obama does not include this in his boneheaded-mistake category.

[blm]

57. CORRUPTION is when a lawmaker PROTECTS the thug from accountability. Clintons protect Bushes

and all the BCCI figures and it came back to hurt this nation in ways far greater than any of you will ever admit.

So you MAGNIFY what happened with Rezko just to TRY and bring it up some level of corruption.

But the REAL corruption has been the Bushes and the Clintons who protect them.

[LVjinx]

146. Outside of accepting bribe after bribe after bribe, I suppose there's nothing wrong with this.

[thunder rising]

3. January 23?? You a slow reader?

[hueyshort]

4. incriminating evidence has a time limit?

Then why are you bashing the Clintons on things that you claim happened 10 years ago?

[thunder rising]

7. If you are so meticulous, where's the beef? Or is this just regurgitation.

[hueyshort]

14. Not enought for you?

Rezko cash triple what Obama says
DONATIONS | $168,000 traced to indicted businessman, associates over the years


June 18, 2007
BY CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters/[e-mail] [e-mail]
During his 12 years in politics, Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly three times more campaign cash from indicted businessman Tony Rezko and his associates than he has publicly acknowledged, the Chicago Sun-Times has found.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.

But seven months ago, Obama told the Sun-Times his "best estimate" was that Rezko raised "between $50,000 and $60,000" during Obama's political career.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/432197,CST-NWS-obama18.article

[Vinca]

37. Glass houses and all that . . .

Eugene Lum: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; felony conviction; money laundering (Los Angeles Times, "First Fund-Raising Sentences Meted Out" September 10, 1997)

Nora Lum: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; felony conviction; money laundering (Los Angeles Times, "First Fund-Raising Sentences Meted Out" September 10, 1997)

Johnny Chung: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; many visits to Clinton White House and Oval Office with mainland Chinese associates; several illegal campaign contributions, money laundering, tax fraud, and bank fraud guilty pleas (Associated Press: "Democrat Fund-Raiser Pleads Guilty" March 17, 1998)

Roger Tamraz: Clinton/Gore campaign contributor and colleague; many visits to Clinton White House and Oval Office; fugitive from Lebanon embezzlement convictions; target of French government financial investigation; BCCI connections (The Wall Street Journal: "Integrity of the Institutions" March 20, 1997, et. al.)

(These, of course, are the oldies but goodies. There are more.)

[hueyshort]

54. I wasn't referring to the contributions

But Obama's dishonesty in not reporting the contributions.

[indimuse]

19. becuase the FED'S ARE! HA!

you maybe wanna start connecting the dots..........becuase the FED'S ARE! HA!

[blm]

105. Clinton just recently received 20 MILLION from Dubai royals he protected throughout the 90s

when he deep-sixed BCCI matters for GHWBush and Jackson Stephens,

Are you more outraged over Rezko being held accountable for his dealings and NOT being protected by Obama or that Clinton is NOW collecting MILLIONS from those BCCI figures he protected for years?

[rodeodance]

51. ha ha--Obama people post Hillary stuff from the 1970s!! Slow much??

[sniffa]

68. Scrape, scrape, scrape, recycle

Reincarnate, and scrape, scrape, scrape, recycle.

Reincarnate, and scrape, scrape, scrape, recycle.

Reincarnate, and scrape, scrape, scrape, recycle.

Reincarnate, and scrape, scrape, scrape, recycle.

Repeat as necessary.

[okoboji]

5. wouldn't that be a ......

conflict of interest? since they were friends.....


just asking

[rucky]

10. Friends are accepted.

Pretty tight circles on that level - everybody's "friends" with everybody.

Conflict of interest would be a monetary gain connected to the deal, or a quid pro quo, which is much harder to prove. I'll have to admit that ethics-wise, this is not good for obama, even if they can't prove anything legally.

[quantass]

6. Zzzzzz -- where's the beef?

[rucky]

8. Developers take their cut - no matter who wins the contract.

that's understandable - and not a gouge in this case.

But why would a state senator get involved? I'd like to think Obama was just trying to win business for someone in his district. That would be the only reason I could see for a state senator to get involved in the bidding process.

[Jersey Devil]

11. or perhaps they need senior citizen housing?

Oh goodness, it couldn't be possible that he was simply trying to help seniors in his district, could it?

[rucky]

12. That was going to happen, no matter who the developer was. n/t

[Jersey Devil]

16. It doesn't work that way

Developers make deals with landowners and then approach the governmental units they need for approval. Governments are not in the business of shopping for developers to build senior citizen housing.

[rucky]

18. I thought it was the other way around.

Like with the udderly corrupt highway construction racket.

Good to know. :thumbsup:

[Jersey Devil]

25. Yes, good analogy

Been there and done that as a local goverment member. Had to approve a senior development because we really needed one despite the fact that I thought the developer was rather sleazy. Worse than that, you have to deal with the "grantsmen" who apply for the government grants to build senior housing, who have apparently patented a system where only those grant applications supplied by grantsmen (who contribute heavily to both parties) ever get approved. Of course they get their cut off the top, all perfectly legal.

[not_too_L8]

15. Several news outlets have reported that there is no evidence

of any wrongdoing on Obama's part regarding the real estate deal with Rezko.

The Times offered no evidence that the letters Obama wrote supporting New Kenwood's housing project were written "in exchange for Rezko's early and consistent support," nor did the article note that Obama and Rezko have already addressed the letters and denied that they constituted a "favor" to Rezko.


Read the whole article

[indimuse]

21. somehow I remember..no evidence on ROVE...hmm..

let it unfold...see where it leads...

[not_too_L8]

22. Or White Water

[indimuse]

17. It's all about to come out!

Obama...Chicago's finest...

[Maribelle]

20. Did Obama conveniently look the other way when this slum-lord

abused the poor people in Obama's area. And why on earth didn't Obama come to the defense of these poor people?

[indimuse]

26. he's a product...he cares about Obama..

not about what he claims...I found and intersting artice I will post today...All those bills he was supposed to have championed while state senator...belong to other people...yep...high jacking bills is what they call it...they were 99% there...very interesting. Barack has a reputation in Chicago..not a good one!

[Maribelle]

42. Good. Please do post it.

I will look for it.

[blm]

50. Did Obama protect Rezko from accountability? Did Clinton protect BCCI figures from accountability?

And how did that work out for this nation?

No concern from YOU as a citizen when those BCCI matters ended up flying jets into NYC buildings, eh?

[blm]

33. Clinton looked the other way as GHWBush's terror networks thrived due to deep-sixing of BCCI matters

But that fact certainly bothers you .....NOT AT ALL.

[Maribelle]

41. And??? Let's pretend what you posted was not a lie. I would think then...

the each and everyone of you believing this lie would be even more interested in making sure all the outstanding issue relating to the un-vetted Obama were resolved.

Yet you scream out at anyone attempting to have questions about Obama answered.

This speaks loudly of the forked-tongue syndrome in the many heads of a hydra, nothing less.

[blm]

46. Rezko dealings didn't lead to 9-11. BCCI matters that Clinton deep-sixed in the 90s DID.

You won't even go there because you KNOW the same people involved in BCCI have been putting MILLIONS of dollars into the Clintons and even recently the Dubai royals who helped stake BCCI dumped TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS into Bill's bank account.

Even if Rezko did everything he's charged with doing, it didn't lead to 9-11 did it? And Obama did NOTHING to PROTECT Rezko once his dealings were discovered, did he?

You can't SEE THAT difference?

[Maribelle]

56. There you go again.

We have thousands of kids being prosecuted on drug changes that had nothing to do with 9-11.

Too bad it is you that cannot practice what you attempt to shove down the throats of others.

[blm]

63. Thousands of kids tried cheap IranContra cocaine being dumped by the TONS into

their communities throughout the 80s and YOU DON"T GIVE A SHIT that Clintons protected Poppy Bush on THAT illegal operation, either, do you?

Obama didn't PROTECT Rezko from accountability, did he?

Clinton PROTECTED Poppy Bush and ALL the BCCI figures from accountability - THAT is corruption on a scale YOU CAN'T FACE. It led to Bush2 and 9-11.

So you MAGNIFY Rezko to try and bring it up to some level of parity in a FEEBLE, FEEBLE attempt to make Obama into a lawmaker as corrupt as the Clintons.

Lame.

[Maribelle]

67. You're still missing the point.

Let's just drop all charges against all alleged law breakers simply because they had nothing to do with 9-11, shall we?

[blm]

70. Obama didn't PROTECT Rezko from accountability for the charges against him did he? Clinton DID

protect Poppy Bush, Jackson Stephens, Marc Rich, Dubai and Saudi royals from further scrutiny for their roles in BCCI matters - didn't he?

YOU are the one excusing corruption and a lawmaker in power granting protection from accountability - I am not.

Obama did not protect Rezko once his dealings became known. Clintons knew how much corruption they were protecting WHEN they were doing it - and they had to keep it up an awfully long time as the matters kept coming up throughout the 90s, as when CIA drugrunning report was revealed in 1996.

[Maribelle]

73. The truth is that we simply do not know what Obama's relationship with Rezko is.

Obama has told different stories on this.

[blm]

81. Did he PROTECT him from accountability as the Clintons did for BCCI figures

who they have been collecting money from by the tens of millions since leaving office?

No. Proof of that is that Rezko is being TRIED in a court of law - something Clinton made SURE would not happen to GHWBush, Jackson Stephens, Marc Rich, Dubai and Saudi royals and ALL their operatives.

[hueyshort]

138. No Links on Clinton?

I mean reputable stuff. Not Repug in Omaha shit.

[blm]

140. Read the BCCI report. You want to pretend these matters were dealt with?

Here is just the list of OUTSTANDING MATTERS that was handed to Bill when he took office - You are welcome to use his book to explain how he handled these OUTSTANDING MATTERS that required further action.

APPENDICES


Matters For Further Investigation


There have been a number of matters which the Subcommittee has received some information on, but has not been able to investigate adequately, due such factors as lack of resources, lack of time, documents being withheld by foreign governments, and limited evidentiary sources or witnesses. Some of the main areas which deserve further investigation include:

1. The extent of BCCI's involvement in Pakistan's nuclear program. As set forth in the chapter on BCCI in foreign countries, there is good reason to conclude that BCCI did finance Pakistan's nuclear program through the BCCI Foundation in Pakistan, as well as through BCCI-Canada in the Parvez case. However, details on BCCI's involvement remain unavailable. Further investigation is needed to understand the extent to which BCCI and Pakistan were able to evade U.S. and international nuclear non-proliferation regimes to acquire nuclear technologies.

2. BCCI's manipulation of commodities and securities markets in Europe and Canada. The Subcommittee has received information that remains not fully substantiated that BCCI defrauded investors, as well as some major U.S. and European financial firms, through manipulating commodities and securities markets, especially in Canada, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This alleged fraud requires further investigation in those countries.

3. BCCI's activities in India, including its relationship with the business empire of the Hinduja family. The Subcommittee has not had access to BCCI records regarding India. The substantial lending by BCCI to the Indian industrialist family, the Hindujas, reported in press accounts, deserves further scrutiny, as do the press reports concerning alleged kick-backs and bribes to Indian officials.

4. BCCI's relationships with convicted Iraqi arms dealer Sarkis Soghanalian, Syrian drug trafficker, terrorist, and arms trafficker Monzer Al-Kassar, and other major arms dealers. Sarkenalian was a principal seller of arms to Iraq. Monzer Al-Kassar has been implicated in terrorist bombings in connection with terrorist organizations such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Other arms dealers, including some who provided machine guns and trained Medellin cartel death squads, also used BCCI. Tracing their assets through the bank would likely lead to important information concerning international terrorist and arms trafficker networks.

5. The use of BCCI by central figures in arms sales to Iran during the 1980's. The late Cyrus Hashemi, a key figure in allegations concerning an alleged deal involving the return of U.S. hostages from Iran in 1980, banked at BCCI London. His records have been withheld from disclosure to the Subcommittee by a British judge. Their release might aid in reaching judgments concerning Hashemi's activities in 1980, with the CIA under President Carter and allegedly with William Casey.

6. BCCI's activities with the Central Bank of Syria and with the Foreign Trade Mission of the Soviet Union in London. BCCI was used by both the Syrian and Soviet governments in the period in which each was involved in supporting activities hostile to the United States. Obtaining the records of those financial transactions would be critical to understanding what the Soviet Union under Brezhnev, Chernenko, and Andropov was doing in the West; and might document the nature and extent of Syria's support for international terrorism.

7. BCCI's involvement with foreign intelligence agencies. A British source has told the Bank of England and British investigators that BCCI was used by numerous foreign intelligence agencies in the United Kingdom. The British intelligence service, the MI-5, has sealed documents from BCCI's records in the UK which could shed light on this allegation.

8. The financial dealings of BCCI directors with Charles Keating and several Keating affiliates and front-companies, including the possibility that BCCI related entities may have laundered funds for Keating to move them outside the United States. The Subcommittee found numerous connections among Keating and BCCI-related persons and entities, such as BCCI director Alfred Hartman; CenTrust chief David Paul and CenTrust itself; Capcom front-man Lawrence Romrell; BCCI shipping affiliate, the Gokal group and the Gokal family; and possibly Ghaith Pharaon. The ties between BCCI and Keating's financial empire require further investigation.

9. BCCI's financing of commodities and other business dealings of international criminal financier Marc Rich. Marc Rich remains the most important figure in the international commodities markets, and remains a fugitive from the United States following his indictment on securities fraud. BCCI lending to Rich in the 1980's amounted to tens of millions of dollars. Moreover, Rich's commodities firms were used by BCCI in connection with BCCI's involving in U.S. guarantee programs through the Department of Agriculture. The nature and extent of Rich's relationship with BCCI requires further investigation.

10. The nature, extent and meaning of the ownership of shares of other U.S. financial institutions by Middle Eastern political figures. Political figures and members of the ruling family of various Middle Eastern countries have very substantial investments in the United States, in some cases, owning substantial shares of major U.S. banks. Given BCCI's routine use of nominees from the Middle East, and the pervasive practice of using nominees within the Middle East, further investigation may be warranted of Middle Eastern ownership of domestic U.S. financial institutions.

11. The nature, extent, and meaning of real estate and financial investments in the United States by major shareholders of BCCI. BCCI's shareholders and front-men have made substantial investments in real estate throughout the United States, owning major office buildings in such key cities as New York and Washington, D.C. Given BCCI's pervasiveness criminality, and the role of these shareholders and front-men in the BCCI affair, a complete review of their holdings in the United States is warranted.

12. BCCI's collusion in Savings & Loan fraud in the U.S. The Subcommittee found ties between BCCI and two failed Savings and Loan institutions, CenTrust, which BCCI came to have a controlling interest in, and Caprock Savings and Loan in Texas, and as noted above, the involvement of BCCI figures with Charles Keating and his business empire. In each case, BCCI's involvement cost the U. S. taxpayers money. A comprehensive review of BCCI's account holders in the U.S. and globally might well reveal additional such cases. In addition, the issue of whether David Paul and CenTrust's political relationships were used by Paul on behalf of BCCI merits further investigation.

13. The sale of BCCI affiliate Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) in Geneva, to the Cukorova Group of Turkey, which owned an entity involved in the BNL Iraqi arms sales, among others. Given BNL's links to BCCI, and Cukorova Groups' involvement through its subsidiary, Entrade, with BNL in the sales to Iraq, the swift sale of BCP to Cukorova just weeks after BCCI's closure -- prior to due diligence being conducted -- raises questions as to whether a prior relationship existed between BCCI and Cukorova, and Cukorova's intentions in making the purchase. Within the past year, Cukorova also applied to purchase a New York bank. Cukorova's actions pertaining to BCP require further investigation in Switzerland by Swiss authorities, and by the Federal Reserve New York.

14. BCCI's role in China. As noted in the chapter on BCCI's activities in foreign countries, BCCI had extensive activity in China, and the Chinese government allegedly lost $500 million when BCCI closed, mostly from government accounts. While there have been allegations that bribes and pay-offs were involved, these allegations require further investigation and detail to determine what actually happened, and who was involved.

15. The relationship between Capcom and BCCI, between Capcom and the intelligence community, and between Capcom's shareholders and U.S. telecommunications industry figures. The Subcommittee was able to interview people and review documents concerning Capcom that no other investigators had to date interviewed or reviewed. Much more needs to be done to understand what Capcom was doing in the United States, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Oman, and the Middle East, including whether the firm was, as has been alleged but not proven, used by the intelligence community to move funds for intelligence operations; and whether any person involved with Capcom was seeking secretly to acquire interests in the U.S. telecommunications industry.

16. The relationship of important BCCI figures and important intelligence figures to the collapse of the Hong Kong Deposit and Guaranty Bank and Tetra Finance (HK) in 1983. The circumstances surrounding the collpase of these two Hong Kong banks; the Hong Kong banks' practices of using nominees, front-companies, and back-to-back financial transactions; the Hong Banks' directors having included several important BCCI figures, including Ghanim Al Mazrui, and a close associate of then CIA director William Casey; all raise the question of whether there was a relationship between these two institutions and BCCI-Hong Kong, and whether the two Hong Kong institutions were used for domestic or foreign intelligence operations.

17. BCCI's activities in Atlanta and its acquisition of the National Bank of Georgia through First American. Although the Justice Department indictments of Clark Clifford and Robert Altman cover portions of how BCCI acquired National Bank of Georgia, other important allegations regarding the possible involvement of political figures in Georgia in BCCI's activities there remain outside the indictment. These allegations, as well as the underlying facts regarding BCCI's activities in Georgia, require further investigation.

18. The relationship between BCCI and the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro. BCCI and the Atlanta Branch of BNL had an extensive relationship in the United States, with the Atlanta Branch of BNL having a substantial number of accounts in BCCI's Miami offices. BNL was, according to federal indictments, a significant financial conduit for weapons to Iraq. BCCI also made loans to Iraq, although of a substantially smaller nature. Given the criminality of both institutions, and their interlocking activities, further investigation of the relationship could produce further understanding of Saddam Hussein's international network for acquiring weapons, and how Iraq evaded governmental restrictions on such weapons acquisitions.

19. The alleged relationship between the late CIA director William Casey and BCCI. As set forth in the chapter on intelligence, numerous trails lead from BCCI to Casey, and from Casey to BCCI, and the investigation has been unable to follow any of them to the end to determine whether there was indeed a relationship, and if there was, its nature and extent. If any such relationship existed, it could have a significant impact on the findings and conclusions concerning the CIA and BCCI's role in U.S. foreign policy and intelligence operations during the Casey era. The investigation's work detailing the ties of BCCI to the intelligence community generally also remains far from complete, and much about these ties remains obscure and in need of further investigation.

20. Money laundering by other major international banks. Numerous BCCI officials told the Subcommittee that BCCI's money laundering was no different from activities they observed at other international banks, and provided the names of a number of prominent U.S. and European banks which they alleged engaged in money laundering. There is no question that BCCI's laundering of drug money, while pervading the institution, constituted a small component of the total money laundering taking place in international banking. Further investigation to determine which international banks are soliciting and handling drug money should be undertaken.

[JBoris]

23. Nothing new, nothing illegal....

Just because Rezko is a criminal doesn't mean that everything he was involved with was illegal.

from Chicago sun-times:

On Tuesday, Bill Burton, press secretary for Obama's presidential campaign, said the letters Obama wrote in support of the development weren't intended as a favor to Rezko or Davis.

"This wasn't done as a favor for anyone," Burton said in a written statement. "It was done in the interests of the people in the community who have benefited from the project.

"I don't know that anyone specifically asked him to write this letter nine years ago," the statement said. "There was a consensus in the community about the positive impact the project would make and Obama supported it because it was going to help people in his district. . . . They had a wellness clinic and adult day-care services, as well as a series of social services for residents. It's a successful project. It's meant a lot to the community, and he's proud to have supported it.''

The development, called the Cottage View Terrace apartments, opened five years ago at 4801 S. Cottage Grove, providing 97 apartments for low-income senior citizens.

Asked about the Obama letters, Rezko's attorney, Joseph Duffy, said Tuesday, "Mr. Rezko never spoke with, nor sought a letter from, Senator Obama in connection with that project."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/425305,CST-NWS-obama13.article">Full story

[hueyshort]

28. Nothing illegal about the house/lot purchases either

Just pure coincidence. Nothing illegal about not reporting financial gifts either.

[blm]

91. Did Obama protect Rezko from accountability after his dealings were made known as Clintons did for

all the BCCI figures they protected throughout the 90s and are collecting millions from the time they left office?

Got an answer for THAT, huey?

[stillcool]

103. You got one right!!

Obama Bought Home Without Rezko Discount, Seller Says

Timothy J. Burger Mon Feb 18, 3:04 PM ET

Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The couple who sold Barack Obama his Chicago home said the Illinois senator's $1.65 million bid ``was the best offer'' and they didn't cut their asking price because a campaign donor bought their adjacent land, according to e-mails between Obama's presidential campaign and the seller.

The Illinois senator has said he made a ``boneheaded'' move in involving contributor Antoin ``Tony'' Rezko, a Chicago businessman, in the purchase of the property on June 15, 2005.

Rezko's wife, Rita, also an Obama donor, bought the adjoining plot in Hyde Park from the couple, Fredric Wondisford and Sally Radovick, for the $625,000 asking price, the same day that Obama bought the house for $300,000 less than the asking price. Antoin Rezko was under federal investigation at the time.

Rezko was indicted on unrelated fraud charges 16 months later, in October 2006. Obama has since returned about $85,000 in campaign contributions made or raised by Rezko. Obama's Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton, has questioned Obama's ties with Rezko.

``We still don't have answers about Senator Obama and his dealings with Mr. Rezko,'' Clinton, 60, a New York senator, said in a Feb. 11 interview with the Politico newspaper.

The sellers hadn't previously made their side of the story public out of concern for their privacy, according to Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama's campaign. They approached Obama's Senate office 15 months ago and agreed to break their silence now through the campaign out of concern that the story was being distorted in the media, Burton said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Bids

The Obamas submitted three bids: $1.3 million on Jan. 15, 2005; $1.5 million on Jan. 21; and $1.65 million on Jan. 23, according to a copy of the sale contract shown to Bloomberg News. Obama received more than $1.2 million in book royalties and a book advance in 2005, the year he was sworn in to the U.S. Senate, his financial disclosure statement shows.

The e-mail between Wondisford and the campaign adviser also says that the sellers had ``stipulated that the closing dates for the two properties were to be the same.'' In January 2006, Rita Rezko sold the Obamas one-sixth of the lot, for $104,500, to expand their yard. She later sold the rest of the land to Michael Sreenan, who said by e-mail yesterday that he bought it in late December 2006 for $575,000.

To contact the reporter on this story: Timothy J. Burger in Washington at [e-mail]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080218/pl_bloomberg/ar8nlioqedc4_1

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004189001_campdig19.html?syndication=rss

Campaign Notebook
Sellers say they didn't cut price for Obama

The couple who sold Barack Obama his Chicago home said the Illinois senator's $1.65 million bid "was the best offer" and they didn't cut their asking price because a campaign donor bought their adjacent land, according to e-mails between Obama's presidential campaign and the sellers.

Obama has said he made a "boneheaded" move in involving contributor Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a Chicago businessman, in the purchase of the property June 15, 2005.

Rezko's wife, Rita, also an Obama donor, bought the adjoining plot from the couple, Fredric Wondisford and Sally Radovick, for the $625,000 asking price, the same day Obama bought the house for $300,000 less than the asking price. Antoin Rezko was under a federal investigation at the time.

Rezko was indicted on unrelated fraud charges 16 months later, in October 2006. Obama has since returned about $85,000 in campaign contributions made or raised by Rezko.

The sellers hadn't previously made their side of the story public out of concern for their privacy, according to Bill Burton, an Obama spokesman. They approached Obama's Senate office 15 months ago and agreed to break their silence now through the campaign out of concern that the story was being distorted.

Illinois Blogs Recap Rezko & Obama: Not Much There There, UPDATED

January 23, 2008 in Obama by robnesvacil

Tags: Barack Obama, President 2008, Tony Rezko

Two Illinois poliblog institutions, The Capitol Fax Blog (by political journalist Rich Miller) and ArchPundit (by political blogger Larry Handlin), are producing primers for the American people and the self-proclaimed media of record (not that the “national” media feels a need to be bothered with actual details when there’s a good soap opera to splash some ink on).

For those interested in learning just what Sen. Barack Obama’s not-very-much-of-a-relationship with Chicago developer Tony Rezko is, read up…

CapFax’s In defense of the locals reviews the Illinois political media’s coverage of Sen. Obama and attempts by the Tribune, Sun-Times, etc. to find skeletons in his closet over the years. Of note: the Chicago Tribune discovered two instances of what might be of interest to those hoping to turn Tony Rezko into Obama’s Marc Rich or Norman Hsu.

First, the Trib uncovered the property purchase in which the Obama family bought a home and Mr. Rezko’s wife bought an adjoining piece of property from the same seller on the same day. Sen. Obama has apologized for this event and acknowledged how, from the outside looking in, it appears unseemly even though everything was done legally and legitimately.

Second, the Trib also found that Sen. Obama’s staff gave an internship to a kid whose father was connected to Rezko and who had donated money to Obama’s previous campaigns. Ummm… ok.

Mr. Miller also writes that the Trib explained the research they did to investigate the connections between the law firm Sen. Obama used to work for and Rezko. Would that more media would bother to actually “work” a story as the Chicago papers have with regards to any sort of ties between Obama and Rezko (and most, if not all, of those ties seem to be perfectly legit based on that rather exhaustive research).

In his post, Mr. Miller also notes that an oppo-research consultant from one of Sen. Obama’s US Senate primary opponents, Mike Henry, was hired by the Clinton campaign and that since his hiring Clinton’s attacks have mirrored the earlier attacks from that 2004 primary opponent. Go figure.

UPDATE: Rich Miller has posted a follow-up today in “Present votes and Rezko“.

ArchPundit also currently has a series of five eight “Rezko primers” up on his blog (don’t know if he’ll add more so check his site for the latest UPDATE: Arch did add a few more and has a summary/linky post on all eight in “The Rezko Primer“). His posts’ titles are rather self-explanatory:

* Rezko Primer I: Job Offer and Friendship Begins
* Rezko Primer II: Political Donations
* Rezko Primer III. Legal work on projects Rezko was involved
* Rezko Primer IV. Letters of Support for projects Rezko was involved
* Rezko Primer V. Intern-son of Rezko ally/Obama donor
* New: VI. House Purchase
* New: VII. Land Strip Purchase from Rezko
* New: VIII. Landscaping and Property Maintenance Arrangement

Don’t get me wrong. Rezko is going to court after having been accused of some pretty serious white collar crimes. If convicted he ought to pay his debt to society.

But guilt by association witch hunts are damn weak — just ask the Clintons their thoughts on Kenneth Starr and his investigation of the, ahem, Whitewater Land Deal… — even if the national media is willing to lazily regurgitate an opponent’s spin on their front pages and TV news crawlers.

If some sort of quid pro quo had ever surfaced there’d be something to talk about but as it stands there’s really no there “there” between Rezko and Obama. No one has ever found any instance of Obama doing anything as a legislator that would have illegally (or even unethically) benefited Rezko. (That said, journalist Miller correctly notes that something about Obama may yet surface during Rezko’s trial but given the boxes of files the Illinois media has analyzed it seems unlikely.)

(c/p Daily Kos)

UPDATE 2: DKos diarist and Obama biograper John K Wilson has written “The Real Story of Rezko and Obama: 10 Myths Debunked“… (He even clarifies the debunked attacks surrounding the “house deal” noting that Obama’s bid for his home was the higher of two bids, even though his winning bid was below the seller’s asking price. Usually, that’s called a good deal.)

[Kittycat]

150. There wasn't, and that's been researched to no end.

He was the only bidder, and he paid a fair price for the property. Plain and Simple.

[blm]

27. I highly doubt Obama was aware at that point of Rezko's shady side as MOST politicians

in Chicago and Illinois already had relationships with Rezko.

Still - I wonder when Media Matters is going to ever deal with the TRUTH about Clintons and BCCI, GHWBush, Jackson Stephens, Dubai and Saudi royals, AQ KHan and all the matters the corpmedia fears discussing in any depth.

[indimuse]

30. right...

:rofl: :spray:

[blm]

36. Clinton recommended Dubai get our ports deal - same Dubai he protected on BCCI matters

and he RECENTLY BANKED TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS from them.

All it cost this nation was Bush2, 9-11 and this Iraq war.

Laugh at that.

[hueyshort]

31. but Obama had taken contributions, right?

[blm]

38. So did every Illinois Dem - Rezko wasn't a known thug. Clinton KNEW the BCCI thugs

were funding global terror networks and he protected them and recently banked twenty million dollars from one of those he protected throughout the 90s - the Dubai royals who staked the major share of BCCI.

How did the deep-sixing of BCCI matters throughout the 90s work out for this nation, huey?

[Yossariant]

40. Obama is slime:

Obama and his Rezko ties

April 23, 2007

BY TIM NOVAK Staff Reporter/[e-mail]

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.

But their company, Rezmar Corp., did come up with $1,000 to give to the political campaign fund of Barack Obama, the newly elected state senator whose district included the unheated building.

Obama has been friends with Rezko for 17 years. Rezko has been a political patron to Obama and many others, helping to raise millions of dollars for them through his own contributions and by hosting fund-raisers in his home.

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...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/353829,CST-NWS-rez23.article

Senator Obama "does not remember" having conversations with Tony Rezko about properties that he owned" — Obama’s campaign staff

More info and links at link.

[blm]

49. Clinton KNEW Stephens brought BCCI into this country and PROTECTED ALL the BCCI thugs

annd is now collecting tens of millions from the very same BCCI figures he protected throughout the 90s.

And Clinton protected them KNOWING he was protecting the very figures who were funding the global terror networks as part of GHWBush's illegal operations.

But somehow REAL OUTRAGE escapes your notice while you magnify a Rezko who Obama NEVER protected from accountability.

[Yossariant]

113. Balls. Where's your hero, Kerry, in all the BCCI bullshit? Did he get paid off?

You used to post that he had a special office set up just to go after the BCCI.

I don't hear much about it any more. :evilgrin:

I used to use some of your research when you posted at bartcop.

[blm]

115. EVERYTHING we know about BCCI is THANKS TO KERRY. All the coverups are thanks to Bill.

Clintons didn't want Kerry in office with access to the rest of the classified documents any more than Bushes did, did they?

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/

What a shame that you don't know the DIFFERENCE between those who risked their lives and careers to preserve the TRUTH about what has been done by BushInc and those who protected BushInc from all those matters and are profiting greatly from those they protected.

You want to blame Kerry for the actions Clinton took to protect Poppy Bush's illegal operations and the powerful elite AND you want that protection for BushInc to CONTINUE with Hillary into the next decade?

Don't bother FEIGNING outrage over anything BushInc has done when you support the very people who protected them from accountability while attacking those who were the ONLY ONES working to inform YOU and bart because they respected your citizenship more than Clintons who respected and protected the powerful over YOUR RIGHTS to honest and accountable government.

You CAN'T bullshit me and neither can bart.

The disconnect is BLATANT to anyone who ever bothered to read the BCCI report and KNOW DAMN WELL Clintons' role in protecting the powerful figures involved.

You people use BIZARRO WORLD logic to pretend Clintons didn't EARN those millions Dubai and Saudi royals have been giving to him. And Marc Rich who was ALSO a named figure in BCCI and IranContra. But Clinton never bothered sharing THAT connection with you and bart did he?

[Yossariant]

116. If I believed it, it'd be a bigger shame that Kerry obviously now has better things to do.

Funny that I never hear him even mention the BCCI when he has his face in front of a microphone.

:think:

[blm]

117. He did in 2004 and McAuliffe's Dem spokespeople would NOT further his remarks.

Gee - why would all the Dem spokespeople groomed by Clintons since 1993 not further Kerry's remarks on BCCI after he made them in 2004?

And further - you never even NOTICED that Bill doesn't even mention one word about BCCI or its matters in his entire book that he hawked on his 2004 book tour, did you? The 3 wk book tour where he REPEATEDLY DEFENDED Bush on his terrorism and Iraq war decisions at the same time Kerry was attacking Bush on both?

The disconnect you all NEED To continue your game of pretend about the Bushes and Clintons is pathetic.

What does it say about YOUR CHARACTER that you slime the person who risked his life and career to uncover BushInc and you SUPPORT those most responsible for protecting BushInc from accountability, and in fact, have profited greatly in recent years from the very people you protected on BCCI matters?

[Yossariant]

120. Yeah, I musta missed Clinton's AND Obama's remarks about BCCI.

:think:

[blm]

121. THAT's your answer? You have nothing to say in defense of Clintons favors for BushInc

in deep-sixing BCCI matters and so you try and pretend that Obama is responsible for those matters being brought up?

What happened to logic? What happened to accountability for those MOST responsible, Yos?

And you want to connect THESE dots, too, while you're at it.

You seem to not realize that TeamClinton wasn't working FOR Dems in 2003-4 the way you would like to pretend:

http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=13354

You think Bill was NAIVE about using his 3 wk book tour to defend Bush and not say one word about Kerry's record as top lawmaker in tracking global terror networks? Hell - Clinton doesn't even mention THAT in his book, either.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/06/19/clinton.iraq/

You think Carville was acting on his own when he sabotaged Ohio Dem voters on election night?
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/oct/07/did_carville_tip_bush_off_to_kerry_strategy_woodward

[Yossariant]

124. The thread's about Obama. You have nothing to say in his defense about BCCI which YOU brought up?

[blm]

125. I ask DID Obama protect Rezko from accountability after he learned of illegality?

And it seems to me THAT question won't be answered. And the IRONY is that those accusing Obama of knowing a corrupt character have no problem with Clintons PROTECTING the very corrupt figures of BushInc that YOU profess to LOATHE the most.

[Yossariant]

126. NOW you wanna talk about Rezko? What about Obama and his silence on BCCI?

He's covering it up by not talking about it.

[blm]

127. That's the level of argument you have as you SUPPORT THOSE WHO COVERED UP for BushInc the MOST?

Pitiful.

You have lost all sense of proportion if you want to make BCCI about Obama while you pretend that it is no matter of concern that Clintons profited greatly from their many years of protecting all the BCCI figures involved with Poppy Bush's illegal operations.

[ProSense]

29. Desperation! Here's a report

Not much about Obama at Ill. fraud trial

By MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press Writer Fri Mar 7, 7:05 PM ET

CHICAGO - Two things already are clear in the $7 million federal fraud trial of a fundraiser for some of presidential hopeful Barack Obama's earlier political campaigns.

The fraud, attempted extortion and money laundering charges against businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko have little if anything to do with Obama. But they have a lot to do with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and allegations of an influence-peddling scheme within his inner circle.

Even so, as a presidential contender, Obama was guaranteed to feel the heat when a longtime friend and supporter went on trial in a political scandal.

Neither Obama nor Blagojevich are accused of wrongdoing in the trial, which began with opening statements Thursday and took a break Friday. But Obama's Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton has raised questions about his long ties to Rezko, and if the Illinois senator wins the nomination Republicans are likely to do the same.

"I think the national and international press have repeatedly done a calculation that says Rezko gave to Obama, Rezko was indicted, hence Obama is implicated, and that's a false calculation," says Cindi Canary, head of the nonpartisan, foundation-funded Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

"This trial is about allegations of improper influence in the Blagojevich administration," she says.

link

Rezko has nothing to do with Obama, and his trial can't help her campaign.

[indimuse]

34. Eric Whitaker, executive vice president of the University of Chicago Medical Center

Here's a little tidbit I missed about one of Barack Obama's travelling companions.
Description: Eric Whitaker.
Published: March 10, 2008

The London Times wrote in part last week, "At Mr Obama's Westerville (Ohio) rally, Eric Whitaker, a member of his coterie of friends travelling with him..."

And yesterday the Chicago Sun-Times wrote in part, "Two other friends are sometimes on the Obama plane: Eric Whitaker, executive vice president of the University of Chicago Medical Center..."

Well, Eric was hired by that very profitable not-for-profit hospital just last September 17, 2007.

Which means, he's already built up a lot of vacation time, is taking a lot of unpaid days off, or the hospital is providing an illegal corporate contribution to a federal election campaign by paying him to accompany the husband (Barack Obama) of one of their highly paid vice-presidents (Michelle Obama).

Before joining the not-for-profit University of Chicago Medical Center (profits FY07=$143,150,000, profits first six months of FY08=$118,724,000), Eric was part of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's administration, which many impartial observers have tagged as the most unethical if not the most corrupt administration in the history of Illinois.

Eric served the Governor as Director of Public Health.

This is an administration that in the area of healthcare has become a laughingstock.

http://www.wherethemoneygoes.com/newTopics.php?id_top=22

[ProSense]

35. Rezko is on trial. Obama has nothing to do with it. Hillary will still lose. n/t

[indimuse]

39. your'e funny..

I admire your loyalty.

[blm]

87. You admire treason? You admire Dems who protect BushInc and profit from it by the millions.

That tells a lot about your loyalty.

I don't admire anyone who protects the Bushes and the powerful cronies who have put this nation in such danger over the years.

[indimuse]

95. oh, please....

chill...you know Nada about m! shall I start making accusations about YOU..about You?

[blm]

98. You support Clintons who protected BushInc more than any Dem has. Protecting BushInc on

BCCI is treason.

A lawmaker accepting MILLIONS of dollars from those BCCI figures you protected is corruption.

TYour loyalty is to the Clintons who protect the Bushes.

That speaks to who you are.

You admire those who protect BushInc.

[rodeodance]

108. OUTRAGED I AM---NOT. Sillyness---what is with the treason CRAP!!

[blm]

109. BushInc never commited acts of treason in IranContra, BCCI and CIA Drugrunning?

Are you sure?

[rodeodance]

112. has to be proven first---no matter who the president is.

[blm]

114. Yes - accountability matters. Deep-sixing matters so there would BE NO accountability

assures that a president and his powerful cronies are let off the hook and PROTECTED from accountability even from all the testimony included in the reports that PROVES involvement.

CIA documents proved in court in 98 that CIA drugrunning as part of IranContra operations occurred. Yet Poppy continued to be protected, didn't he?

You think Dubai royals were innocent in BCCI? Jackson Stephens was innocent in BCCI? Marc Rich?



You are HAPPY Clintons bank millions off those same people who were never held accountable for their roles in BCCI?

[Maribelle]

43. Rezko's attorney brought up Obama's name twice in his opening statements.

Did you miss that part?

[JBoris]

44. The prosecutors didn't mention Obama at all.

Did you miss that part?

[Maribelle]

45. No. But let's not pretend Rezko did not make Obama part of this.

Because that's EXACTLY what happened, in case you missed that part.

[JBoris]

48. As long as you stop pretending that guilt is transitive. n/t

[Maribelle]

52. It would help determine the relationship Obama has with Rezko if Obama told the truth.

Because, what Obama has said to date is not a moving target.

[JBoris]

69. Now you're just fishing for dirt, and assuming Obama is guilty of something

and you claim, "what Obama has said to date is not a moving target." I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, but I'll assume you think he is lying, or has lied about Rezko. I have seen no evidence of that.

[Maribelle]

74. I'm fishing for dirt? Actually the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune

have asked more questions in the past week than I could dream up in a life time.

But blame me, by all means. lol

The Chicago media have many questions that have gone unanwered for a long long time.

I'll post some below.

[Maribelle]

75. Rezko cash triple what Obama says

DONATIONS | $168,000 traced to indicted businessman, associates over the years

June 18, 2007
BY CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters/[e-mail] [e-mail]
During his 12 years in politics, Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly three times more campaign cash from indicted businessman Tony Rezko and his associates than he has publicly acknowledged, the Chicago Sun-Times has found.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/432197,CST-NWS-obama18.article

[JBoris]

78. pedantic.

[Maribelle]

84. What on earth makes you think even more insults will prove your false argument?

:rofl:

[JBoris]

89. I called the article pedantic. Are you trying to distract from the argument by claiming insult?

[Maribelle]

93. You didn't say you were calling the article pedantic, did you?

After your first insult that I was 'fishing for dirt' which you directed straight at me, it was a reasonable assumption that you were again directing it straight at me.

lol Why do you think throwing up a smoke screen now will get you off the hook.

[JBoris]

97. Smoke screen? lol! YOU are still distracting from the argument. Obama has not been accused...

of breaking any laws. It is a pseudo-scandal. Get over it.

[Maribelle]

101. Accused? I said Rezko's lawyer brought Obama's name into the trail.

Then you devolved with subsequent posts into your hissy fit accusing me of digging for dirt.

Try to keep up.

[JBoris]

111. And now you're claiming that you only are trying to associate Obama with Rezko for kicks

... you assume that he is guilty of something, you assume there is a scandal. He isn't. There isn't.
"try to keep up" is another attempt at condescension. If I posted that you would have thrown a true hissy fit. Like the one you had over claims of being insulted.

You ARE digging, fishing, and hoping for dirt. The fact that you deny it makes me question whether you are seriously trying to argue a point, or if you are just attempting to use tactics to try to make a point.

Have a nice life.

[Maribelle]

76. Sen. Obama, time to call us about Rezko: [phone]

For months, Sun-Times investigative reporters have had a standing request to meet with Obama, face to face, to get answers to questions such as these:

• How many fund-raisers did Rezko throw for Obama?

• Obama is donating $150,000 to charity that Rezko brought into the campaign. But how much in all did Rezko raise?

• Did Rezko find jobs for Obama backers in the Blagojevich administration or elsewhere?

• Why did Obama only recently admit -- after Bloomberg News broke the story -- that Rezko had toured his South Side mansion with him in 2004 before he bought it?

http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/823666,CST-EDT-edit04b.article

[not_too_L8]

134. Hillary's worse

[JBoris]

77. So now he's guilty because a couple of newspapers asked a bunch of questions?

Is Obama supposed to respond to every article and answer every smear-seeking question about Rezko? Is Clinton supposed to answer every question about her tax-returns? No, politicians can't be expected to take actions that would keep negative press alive.

[Maribelle]

82. lol No - - you're guilty of insulting me under a false pretense.

Get it yet?

[JBoris]

85. insulting you? are you really saying you are NOT fishing for dirt?

and that my statement that you are fishing is an insult?

[Maribelle]

90. You said I was fishing for dirt because I asked a valid question.

Get it yet?

If you're going to accuse me of fishing for dirt, I guess I have to educate you, to teach you what fishing for dirt really means.

Now do you get it?

[JBoris]

94. LOL

You're claiming to be insulted and you are condescending at the same time. Neat trick. Do you work for the Hillary campaign?

[Maribelle]

102. More insults?

lol

[JBoris]

107. insults?....

Are you also saying that you weren't being condescending? In addition to claiming that you asked a question (hinting that he is hiding something is not a question, valid or not) and were in fact not fishing? And that you were actually insulted when I called your fishing what it was?

Not that I was offended. But you were attempting to be condescending with that "educate you" snipe.

and you still cannot face the simple fact that Obama has not been accused of anything illegal, and there is no evidence that he did anything illegal, despite the fact that repubs and the Clintons have been looking hard.

[Maribelle]

80. Rezko gavel-to-gavel: Week 1

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rezko-court-week1-story,0,4187820.story

[JBoris]

86. That link doesn't even mention Obama. Guilt is not transitive.

[Maribelle]

99. lol Oh - where's the freakin rule that I can only post links that contain the word Obama?

Besides that - - - his name is mentioned more than once - - you simple did not read the whole thing.


On page 3 there is the important link made by Rezko's lawyer:

Defense lawyer Joe Duffy is portraying Antoin "Tony" Rezko as a victim of Stuart Levine, not a schemer who tried to rob state boards blind as the government has alleged. Duffy mentions Levine's close political ties to the late Mayor Harold Washington, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill), former Gov. Jim Edgar and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Chicago) as examples of how connected Levine was.


Stay tuned lol

[JBoris]

104. So now a lawyer's claims, in defense of a known criminal..

are supposed to prove that Obama is a criminal? Because of claimed ties to another (2nd) criminal? How are you not fishing?

Is there some way I can interpret "Stay tuned lol", as anything but you hoping (and assuming)that he is guilty of something, and that you are happy and laughing at the prospect?

It's a pseudo-scandal. Get over it. Hillary has a bunch pseudo-scandals. I wouldn't throw those at you, or any HRC supporter.

[blm]

96. Did Obama protect Rezko from accountability as Clinton did for those putting MILLIONS into his bank

accounts now?

Why can't you answer that? Why do you PRETEND to be offended by corruption that Obama did NOT PROTECT from accountability while you support those who not only PROTECTED the corruption of BushInc and their cronies but is now PROFITTING from those corrupt figures who are dumping MILLIONS into Clintons accounts and his foundations?

Money that Hillary has put into her campaign.

[Maribelle]

88. An Obama-Rezko Primer: Q: What is his relationship to Obama?

A: He's been friendly with Obama for years, even offering him a job after Obama finished law school. Obama turned down the offer, but a political friendship developed. Rezko and his family donated at least $21,457 to Obama -- and helped raise tens of thousands more -- for his campaigns in Illinois, though not for his presidential bid. He also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next to the new Obama home at the same time.

...

Q: Did Rezko help Obama buy his Chicago home?

A: Yes and no. Obama says he sought Rezko's advice as a real estate developer and even toured the property with him but got no financial assistance from Rezko. Instead, Obama paid $1.65 million for the house in June 2005 by using money from a book contract and taking out a mortgage.

But Rezko's wife did buy the vacant lot next door, which made it easier for Obama to buy the house. Both pieces of property were owned by the same couple and they insisted on selling them at the same time, but Obama couldn't afford both. Rezko's purchase of the empty lot allowed the home sale to go through, although Obama says Rezko wasn't the only person interested in the lot.

Q: Did Obama and Rezko coordinate their purchases?

A: Obama says they didn't. He says Rezko became interested in the lot while advising him on the house and then bought the land on his own, for $625,000.

Q: Where did Rezko get the money to buy the lot?

A: That's not clear. Some court documents related to his criminal case show that at the time of the land purchase, creditors were pursuing Rezko for more than $10 million. Rezko argues in the case documents that he is essentially broke now. This raises the question of how he was able to come up with $125,000 and a $500,000 mortgage to buy the property. He later resold the lot at a profit.

...
Q: Has Obama refused to answer "basic inquiries"?

A: No, but he hasn't been completely open either. For instance, he did not disclose until last month that Rezko actually toured the home with him before the purchase. He also has released the e-mail from the home's seller to only one news organization.

Obama hasn't provided details of the fundraisers Rezko held for him, nor has he released documents related to the property, such as the appraisal of the strip of land he bought from Rezko.



more ...

By CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Associated Press Writer
3:02 AM CDT, March 10, 2008
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-obama-rezko-qa,0,1960644.story

[stillcool]

106. It would help if people knew how to read............

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/29/171056/015/838/445627
* JohnKWilson's diary :: ::

Myth #1: Obama did legal work for Rezko

Claim: Hillary Clinton during a debate denounced Obama for "representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago."

The truth: According to Factcheck.org, "Obama was associated with a law firm that represented the community groups working with Rezko on several deals. There's no evidence that Obama spent much time on them, and he never represented Rezko directly. So it was wrong for Clinton to say he was ‘representing ... Rezko.’ That's untrue."

Myth #2: Obama knew Rezko was a slumlord

Claim: The Chicago Sun-Times reported that in 1997, Rezko’s company failed to turn the heat back on in one of his buildings, while giving $1,000 to Obama’s campaign fund.

The truth: There’s no evidence that Obama knew about problems with Rezko’s buildings. A state senator doesn’t deal with tenant complaints, and the Chicago newspapers never reported on Rezko’s problems as a landlord until after he was indicted. According to the Chicago Tribune, "in the years before 2005, Rezko enjoyed a reputation in Illinois as an up-and-coming, even enlightened entrepreneur with a strong interest in the risky low-income and affordable housing markets." http://www.chicagotribune.com/...

Myth #3: Obama underpaid for his house in a deal with Rezko

Claim: Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass wrote: "Rezko paid more than the asking price for the side lot, and Obama paid less than the asking price for the big house. It’s the Chicago way." Kass claimed that Rezko was "Obama's Real Estate Fairy" and this is "the story of the dream house the Obamas wanted and couldn't quite afford and how the Rezkos helped."

The truth: None of this is true. The seller decided to divide the lot in offering it for sale, not Obama or Rezko. Rezko had paid the list price for his lot, not an excessive amount (as the resale value later proved). The owner reportedly had already been offered $625,000 for the side lot, so Rezko didn’t offer any more money and there was no way Obama could have gotten a special deal this way. The only special arrangement Rezko provided was selling the two lots on the same day, which simplified matters for the seller. Obama paid $1.65 million for a house originally priced at $1.95 million. His was the higher of two bids for the main property. It’s not unusual at all in the Chicago real estate business to see a 15 percent price cut on an expensive house that’s been on the market for four months. Nor is it unusual that a vacant lot next door would sell to a condo developer without such a discount. In the Hyde Park market, there are a lot of upper-middle-class residents making six figures, but not very many millionaires (it’s not Lincoln Park or the Gold Coast). Therefore, a pricey mansion is very difficult to sell, while a $300,000 townhouse is very common.

Myth #4: Rezko’s lot was a front (yard) deal

Claim: One blogger declared it was "a $925,000 favor to a sitting US Senator" because "the Rezko property was never intended to be a separate piece of land."

The truth: It’s insane to think that Obama arranged for Rezko to buy the lot as his front yard, and never intended for anyone to develop it. If Obama had arranged such a deal, it would be crazy for him to spend $104,500 to buy part of the land from Rezko. There is not even the slightest evidence to support this notion.

Myth #5: Obama underpaid (or overpaid) for the slice of Rezko’s lot

Claim: John Kass declared: "Obama’s appraiser told him the fair market value of that slice was $40,500. Since that’s one-sixth of the Rezko side, it means Rezko paid $625,000 for property that was actually worth $243,000. That would make Rezko a complete fool. But he’s no fool." Fox News Channel incorrectly reported that Rezko "sold half that lot to Obama for 1/3 its original value."

The truth: The appraiser was clearly wrong (probably basing the low value on the fact that 1/6th of the lot was too small for any house, which would dramatically reduce its value standing alone). That’s why Obama decided to buy 1/6th of Rezko’s lot for 1/6th of what Rezko paid for it ($104,500). A year after the 10-foot-wide strip of land was sold to Obama, a Rezko business associate bought the rest of the lot for $575,000, resulting in a profit for the Rezkos of $54,000 from the two land sales. This sale proved that Obama paid fair market value for his portion of the land.

Myth #6: Obama hasn’t returned all the money linked to Rezko’s donations

Claim: The Chicago Sun-Times accused Obama of downplaying the $50,000–$60,000 in donations he received from Rezko (Rezko, before his legal troubles started, had cohosted a fundraiser for Obama). The newspaper claimed the actual amount was $168,000.

The truth: The Sun Times came up with that figure by counting every donation to Obama from anyone ever associated with Rezko, even if there was no evidence Rezko prompted the donation. Obama donated additional money to charity, but he’s under no obligation (legal or even moral) to return every dollar ever linked to Rezko. If you play a game of "six degrees of separation" with Rezko, he’s linked to almost every politician in Chicago.

Myth #7: Rezko had a special relationship with Obama

Claim: The Clinton campaign denounces "Sen. Obama's 17-year relationship with the indicted influence peddler."

The truth: Rezko attached himself to lots of politicians. Rezko donated money to every major Democratic politician in Illinois, then helped organize a $3.5 million fundraiser for President George W. Bush in 2003. After giving large campaign donations to Democratic Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, Rezko arranged to have his buddies appointed by Blagojevich to state boards such as the Teachers’ Retirement System Board and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. With his friend Stuart Levine, Rezko threatened to hold up a $220 million deal to invest teachers’ pension fund money unless $2 million was paid to Levine or $1.5 million was donated to Blagojevich’s campaign. Rezko and Levine also demanded a $1 million cut from a developer to build a hospital. Rezko was indicted for pretending to sell his Papa John’s pizza restaurants while secretly maintaining control of them, and fraudulently using the transaction to get $10 million in loans. It is Blagojevich, not Obama, who did favors for Rezko. Rezko’s eye for scouting political talent was amazing, but he did not capitalize on Obama’s influence. Obama said he had known Rezko for twenty years and "he had never asked me for anything. I’ve never done any favors for him."

Myth #8: Obama did favors for Rezko

Claim: Chicago Sun-Times revealed that in 1998, Obama wrote a letter endorsing a low-income housing development for which Rezko was a codeveloper. As the Sun-Times put it, "NOT A FAVOR? As a state senator, he went to bat for now-indicted developer’s deal." Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass wrote, "No favors? When you transcend politics and walk on water, I guess it all depends on what your definition of favor is."

The truth: The common definition of a favor in this context is a political action done in exchange for donations. Rezko’s lawyer reported that Rezko had not asked Obama to write the letter. Instead, Obama (along with a local state representative and an alderman) endorsed the project because it had widespread community support. It’s difficult to imagine any politician on the south side of Chicago who wouldn’t have a routine letter written to endorse government funding for affordable housing and social services for low-income senior citizens in that area. When it came to political influence, Obama didn’t do any favors for Rezko. The Chicago Tribune reported, "when Rezko pushed for passage in Springfield of a major gambling measure, Obama vocally opposed it."

Myth #9: Obama should have known about Rezko’s sleazy background

Claim: The Chicago Tribune, although endorsing Obama, wrote: "His assertion in network TV interviews last week that nobody had indications Rezko was engaging in wrongdoing strains credulity: Tribune stories linked Rezko to questionable fundraising for Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2004."

The truth: At the time Obama bought his house, there was no public indication of Rezko’s problems. When Obama bought a small strip of Rezko’s land in 2006, rumors were swirling around Chicago that the federal government was investigating Rezko, but he wasn’t indicted until October 2006. The Tribune stories before 2006 reveal that Rezko was a tightly connected political player, but the evidence of criminal misconduct wasn’t proven.

Myth #10: Obama hasn’t been forthcoming about his mistakes with Rezko

Claim: The Chicago Tribune editorialized, "Obama has been too self-exculpatory."

The truth: Obama has been honest about the mistake he made, and the fact that Rezko was trying to buy future influence with him. Obama declared, "I am the first one to acknowledge that it was a boneheaded move for me to purchase this 10-foot strip from Rezko, given that he was already under a cloud of concern. I will also acknowledge that from his perspective, he no doubt believed that by buying the piece of property next to me that he would, if not be doing me a favor, it would help strengthen our relationship." Obama’s mistake was in allowing the appearance of impropriety. He never actually did anything wrong. And that’s the key issue here.

Despite all of these rumors about Obama and Rezko, none of the evidence indicates any actual wrongdoing. Conservative Republican Tom Bevan called the evidence against Obama "pretty darn weak." Conor Clarke of the New Republic reported that Obama’s real estate deal with Rezko was a "nonscandal." According to Clarke, "journalists have followed the smoke and haven’t found the fire. At that point, accusing someone of something that looks wrong stops making sense."

[hueyshort]

47. There is still dishonesty and denial from Obama

During his 12 years in politics, Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly three times more campaign cash from indicted businessman Tony Rezko and his associates than he has publicly acknowledged, the Chicago Sun-Times has found.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/432197,CST-NWS-obama18.article

And the house/adjacent lot deal. How do you explain that? Harmless coincidence?

[ProSense]

65. You're repeating the debunked stories over and over. Since the trial info isn't good enough, details

here, here, here and here.

You'll also find the details of numerous shady details about the Clintons, and there is more.

When will Hillary release her tax return?

[not_too_L8]

131. Hillary's worse

[zulchzulu]

55. OMG! A senior housing project! No! No! No!

Can you imagine seniors wanting a roof over their heads? What the hell do they think they are!

:sarcasm:

[hueyshort]

58. OMG! A Million Dollar Mansion! No! No! No!

[zulchzulu]

129. Success from writing an award-winning book! No! No! No!

God forbid people make money on books. Ya know?

:crazy:

[hueyshort]

136. Over $200,000 in Campaign Contributions! No! No! No!

Plus a little help on getting that million+ dollar mansion

[Maribelle]

60. Rezko made over $800,000.00 on the deal.

The question here is, did Rezko and Obama abuse the senior housing issue? I'll bet a lot of seniors would love to hear the answer to that one.

[zulchzulu]

130. Holy shit! A developer made money on a development! Capitalism! Bad!

So if a developer builds a building, they shouldn't make money? Should the construction workers do the work for free? What about the land? Is it free?

What kind of fantasy world do you live in? It must be pretty cool. Everything is free!!!! Weeee!!!!

[hueyshort]

137. and gave his little buddy a little TIP

well over $200,000 in campaign contributions. Plus a little help on getting that house.

[GeorgeGist]

147. What about the profits?

Aren't they FREE in your fantasy?

[not_too_L8]

132. Hillary's worse

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

64. thanks, rove. we'll all keep that in mind.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

66. Ummm...

Did you actually read the article? I was curious because Media Matters tends to debunk right-wing smears, and it would be odd that they were perpetuating one. As it turns out, they weren't.

Reading the article, the authors point out that this is old news that Obama acknowledged quite some time ago.

From the article:

"The Times offered no evidence that the letters Obama wrote supporting New Kenwood's housing project were written "in exchange for Rezko's early and consistent support," nor did the article note that Obama and Rezko have already addressed the letters and denied that they constituted a "favor" to Rezko."

Nice try...

[ProSense]

72. That doesn't count! n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

79. Fuzzy math?

I never realized that so many things "don't count" around here!

[ProSense]

83. I know!

That's Hillary's world only the stuff that helps her count.

[hueyshort]

123. Er, then the article continues PAST the first paragraph

or did you stop reading after that?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

139. Duh...Stop making yourself look stupid

The Media Matters article makes it clear the the January 23 article (FUCKING JANUARY 23RD -- THIS IS FROM TWO MONTHS AGO) contains no information that hasn't been out there for more than two years, and no indication that Obama did anything improper. Elected officials write letters on behalf of their constituents all the time -- it's part of their job; nobody outside the Clinton Campaign is suggesting that this is anything other than the legitimate advocacy for a constituent.

Media Matters does not traffic in right-wing smear campaigns.

But apparently you do.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

92. Obama is not the messiah He is a friggin politician NO different then Clinton.only a shiny new penny

[blm]

110. Did Obama the politician protect Rezko from accountability? Did Clintons protect BushInc from

acountability of their corruption along with Jackson Stephens, Dubai and Saudi royals, Marc Rich, AQ Khan, James Bath, et al?

Have ANY of those BCCI figures mentioned above put millions of dollars into the Clintons bank accounts AFTER they were protected throughout the 90s from accountability for their roles in BCCI operations?

[hueyshort]

119. Um, isn't Obama the Big "Change" guy?

[blm]

122. Did Obama protect Rezko from accountability? Did Clinton protect BCCI figures from accountability?

Why can't you answer that question if you want to make people feel the level of outrage YOU feel?

[stillcool]

100. Rinse and Repeat?

http://illinoisreason.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/illinois-blogs-recap-rezko-obama-not-much-there-there/

Illinois Blogs Recap Rezko & Obama: Not Much There There, UPDATED

January 23, 2008 in Obama by robnesvacil

Tags: Barack Obama, President 2008, Tony Rezko

Two Illinois poliblog institutions, The Capitol Fax Blog (by political journalist Rich Miller) and ArchPundit (by political blogger Larry Handlin), are producing primers for the American people and the self-proclaimed media of record (not that the “national” media feels a need to be bothered with actual details when there’s a good soap opera to splash some ink on).

For those interested in learning just what Sen. Barack Obama’s not-very-much-of-a-relationship with Chicago developer Tony Rezko is, read up…

CapFax’s In defense of the locals reviews the Illinois political media’s coverage of Sen. Obama and attempts by the Tribune, Sun-Times, etc. to find skeletons in his closet over the years. Of note: the Chicago Tribune discovered two instances of what might be of interest to those hoping to turn Tony Rezko into Obama’s Marc Rich or Norman Hsu.

First, the Trib uncovered the property purchase in which the Obama family bought a home and Mr. Rezko’s wife bought an adjoining piece of property from the same seller on the same day. Sen. Obama has apologized for this event and acknowledged how, from the outside looking in, it appears unseemly even though everything was done legally and legitimately.

Second, the Trib also found that Sen. Obama’s staff gave an internship to a kid whose father was connected to Rezko and who had donated money to Obama’s previous campaigns. Ummm… ok.

Mr. Miller also writes that the Trib explained the research they did to investigate the connections between the law firm Sen. Obama used to work for and Rezko. Would that more media would bother to actually “work” a story as the Chicago papers have with regards to any sort of ties between Obama and Rezko (and most, if not all, of those ties seem to be perfectly legit based on that rather exhaustive research).

In his post, Mr. Miller also notes that an oppo-research consultant from one of Sen. Obama’s US Senate primary opponents, Mike Henry, was hired by the Clinton campaign and that since his hiring Clinton’s attacks have mirrored the earlier attacks from that 2004 primary opponent. Go figure.

UPDATE: Rich Miller has posted a follow-up today in “Present votes and Rezko“.

ArchPundit also currently has a series of five eight “Rezko primers” up on his blog (don’t know if he’ll add more so check his site for the latest UPDATE: Arch did add a few more and has a summary/linky post on all eight in “The Rezko Primer“). His posts’ titles are rather self-explanatory:

* Rezko Primer I: Job Offer and Friendship Begins
* Rezko Primer II: Political Donations
* Rezko Primer III. Legal work on projects Rezko was involved
* Rezko Primer IV. Letters of Support for projects Rezko was involved
* Rezko Primer V. Intern-son of Rezko ally/Obama donor
* New: VI. House Purchase
* New: VII. Land Strip Purchase from Rezko
* New: VIII. Landscaping and Property Maintenance Arrangement

Don’t get me wrong. Rezko is going to court after having been accused of some pretty serious white collar crimes. If convicted he ought to pay his debt to society.

But guilt by association witch hunts are damn weak — just ask the Clintons their thoughts on Kenneth Starr and his investigation of the, ahem, Whitewater Land Deal… — even if the national media is willing to lazily regurgitate an opponent’s spin on their front pages and TV news crawlers.

If some sort of quid pro quo had ever surfaced there’d be something to talk about but as it stands there’s really no there “there” between Rezko and Obama. No one has ever found any instance of Obama doing anything as a legislator that would have illegally (or even unethically) benefited Rezko. (That said, journalist Miller correctly notes that something about Obama may yet surface during Rezko’s trial but given the boxes of files the Illinois media has analyzed it seems unlikely.)

(c/p Daily Kos)

UPDATE 2: DKos diarist and Obama biograper John K Wilson has written “The Real Story of Rezko and Obama: 10 Myths Debunked“… (He even clarifies the debunked attacks surrounding the “house deal” noting that Obama’s bid for his home was the higher of two bids, even though his winning bid was below the seller’s asking price. Usually, that’s called a good deal.)

[hueyshort]

118. Nothing To See Here, Folks. Move Along.

[stillcool]

128. Lots to see and read...

why don't you try it?

[Lucinda]

133. Kicking to read later. Thanks for the post.

[hueyshort]

135. Here's another good one

MSM never bothered covering'

Chicago Sun Times

During his 12 years in politics, Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly three times more campaign cash from indicted businessman Tony Rezko and his associates than he has publicly acknowledged, the Chicago Sun-Times has found.

www.suntimes.com/news/politics/432197,CST-NWS-obama18.article

[JBoris]

148. Debunked

Claim: The Chicago Sun-Times accused Obama of downplaying the $50,000–$60,000 in donations he received from Rezko (Rezko, before his legal troubles started, had cohosted a fundraiser for Obama). The newspaper claimed the actual amount was $168,000.

The truth: The Sun Times came up with that figure by counting every donation to Obama from anyone ever associated with Rezko, even if there was no evidence Rezko prompted the donation. Obama donated additional money to charity, but he’s under no obligation (legal or even moral) to return every dollar ever linked to Rezko. If you play a game of "six degrees of separation" with Rezko, he’s linked to almost every politician in Chicago

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/29/171056/015/838/445627">Full story

[ProSense]

141. Rezko has nothing to do with Obama. n/t

[catgirl]

142. Another flame post

[txaslftist]

143. Sssssnnnnooooorrre.

The Rezko story doesn't have legs. Not when Clinton has pardongate and McCain has the Keating Five.

But you keep on plugging away with your last century politics.

It's already over.

[snappyturtle]

144. Oh I glad you dusted off the cobwebs and brought this out into the

daylight............again. :sarcasm: Wish you could find some new dirt. imho

[bagimin]

145. With all the freakin skeletons rattling around in the Clinton

closet and you're worried about this vague crap..

[shaniqua6392]

149. There is an article on msnbc.com today on Obama/Rezko.

Here is the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23571095/

[Strawman]

151. Thanks Ken Starr