Obama donor received a state grant

[bajamary]

From Sunday's LA Times:

Obama donor received a state grant
His letter on behalf of a table tennis company preceded the funding.


WASHINGTON -- After an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2000, Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama faced serious financial pressure: numerous debts, limited cash and a law practice he had neglected for a year. Help arrived in early 2001 from a significant new legal client -- a longtime political supporter.

Chicago entrepreneur Robert Blackwell Jr. paid Obama an $8,000-a-month retainer to give legal advice to his growing technology firm, Electronic Knowledge Interchange. It allowed Obama to supplement his $58,000 part-time state Senate salary for over a year with regular payments from Blackwell's firm that eventually totaled $112,000.

A few months after receiving his final payment from EKI, Obama sent a request on state Senate letterhead urging Illinois officials to provide a $50,000 tourism promotion grant to another Blackwell company, Killerspin.

Killerspin specializes in table tennis, running tournaments nationwide and selling its own line of equipment and apparel and DVD recordings of the competitions. With support from Obama, other state officials and an Obama aide who went to work part time for Killerspin, the company eventually obtained $320,000 in state grants between 2002 and 2004 to subsidize its tournaments.

for more go to:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-killerspin27apr27,1,7266833.story?page=1

[boston bean]

1. oopsie daisy

[boobooday]

2. Yeah, Obama has been doling out the favors . . .

Maybe he's trying to catch up with the "Queen of Pork"

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20306341/the_queen_of_pork

[Kittycat]

10. Ouch - that's going to leave a mark.

[rodeodance]

32. He lies and says he does not do so. He is a phony and a lier.

[goldcanyonaz]

3. Hey, that is great around here.

[Frustratedlady]

4. Well, that little revelation will provide headlines for McCain and Hillary for next week.

Why don't they leave that kid alone?

[ruggerson]

5. It will be interesting to see if any Obama supporters have a problem with this

[Kittycat]

13. You mean supporting a tourism event with someone he knew was legit?

Because that brought money in to the city, and attention on Chicago's ability to host events?

Being from Chicago, uh - no... We don't have an issue with this. But do you have an issue with HRCs pork pointed about above?

[ruggerson]

15. lol

you responded exactly as I thought you would. Replete with the "Hillary does it too" schoolyard reasoning.

[Kittycat]

25. No.. .Hillary is far worse, so why is this a 'concern' to her supporters on what Obama does?

[BzaDem]

58. Blah blah blah everything Obama does is fine because Hillary is far worse, blah blah blah

[BzaDem]

59. That someone was paying Obama. Slight difference.

[EFerrari]

6. Does Killerspin massacre labor organizers like the Colombian government does?

Bill's got to coach Obama on how to get more bang and more bucks.

[cliffordu]

7. Clinton backer plays pocket pool, film at 11

I'm thinking the 109 million dollar kids really don't wanna go there....

[slinkerwink]

8. ping-pong a scandal? this won't fly.

[boston bean]

14. bowling did though, no? nt

[Diane R]

9. And, the newest Rovian inspired Clinton attack.....talking point....arrives right on schedule.

[Tatiana]

11. I've donated to Sen. Obama. I've received state grants.

I received the grants because I submitted better narratives and proposals than the other applicants.

It had nothing to do with donating to Sen. Obama.

Silly season in politics, Part 7,478....

[berni_mccoy]

12. Desperate bullshit no one except Clinton supporters would twist into a problem.

[bajamary]

17. LA TIMES "Clinton supporters"

Oh, come on, you really think that the LA Times reporters are "Hillary Supporters"?

Perhaps you're drinking too much Kool Aid.

[berni_mccoy]

19. You took the article completely out of context, cutting only the b.s. you wanted. HERE:

Obama's presidential campaign rejects any suggestion that there was a connection between the legal work, the campaign contribution and the help with the grant. "Any implication that Sen. Obama would risk an ethical breach in order to secure a small grant for a pingpong tournament is nuts," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief political advisor.

Business relationships between lawmakers and people with government interests are not illegal or uncommon in Illinois or other states with a part-time Legislature, where lawmakers supplement their state salaries with income from the private sector.

YOU ARE DESPERATE.

[bajamary]

21. Oh no, not Axelrod

Have you ever heard how corrupt Chicago Machine politics is?

As your rebuttal, you highlighted a quote from Obama's head spin-meister, David Axelrod, who is one of the sleaziest political machine spinmesiters Chicago has seen in recent memory.

Axelrod's other major client is King Richard Daley II - not exactly a "change politicians".

David Axelrod is one master mudslinger and he'll do anything, absolutely anything to make his client win.

Do you know how many millions and millions of dollars Axelrod's already made from the Obama campaign? I bet not.

Do some real research and put down your Kool Aid. Try thinking for yourself. Now that's real change !

[The Wielding Truth]

16. Did you read this part? It seems to be nit picking again.

"(An Illinois ethics advocate who worked with Obama to pass state ethics reforms, Cynthia Canary, said she was not troubled by Obama's handling of the Blackwell business. She said his listing of all the law firm's clients "was a more complete disclosure than you see 80% of the time in Illinois." Further, she said that Obama's letter on behalf of the table tennis tournament did not "rise to the level of a conflict of interest" because Obama did not have decision-making authority over the grant.

Obama's spokesman said that listing all clients was appropriate and that doing so allowed the public to see any and all potential conflicts for Obama and his law firm colleagues. "He was especially mindful of this responsibility as a leader of ethics reform," said Gibbs, his chief campaign spokesman.

Obama's wife, Michelle, then a member of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, reported her husband's work for EKI on a city of Chicago financial disclosure form obtained by The Times. Gibbs said she had identified EKI on her form after consulting with her husband. Gibbs said the questions on the city form were different from the state's and required different answers.

Gibbs said the letter Obama wrote on behalf of the Killerspin-backed tournament was appropriate and entirely unrelated to any payments by Blackwell's other firm for Obama's legal services.

"He wrote the letter on behalf of a constituent" with a worthy cause, Gibbs said, noting that the contest was broadcast internationally, reaching as many as 200 million viewers in 156 countries.

Though Obama's formal efforts for Killerspin consisted of writing a letter and a proclamation, the nitty-gritty of obtaining state grants fell to a former state Senate and campaign aide to Obama, Dan Shomon.")"


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-killerspin27apr27,1,7266833.story?page=1

[BzaDem]

57. With that logic, the Keating 5 scandal with McCain was nitpicking.

After all, he didn't have decision-making authority there either.

"Obama's spokesman said that listing all clients was appropriate and that doing so allowed the public to see any and all potential conflicts for Obama and his law firm colleagues." Alright, so making it obvious that there's a conflict of interest makes it not a conflict of interest?

And "He wrote the letter on behalf of a constituent" with a worthy cause? He was getting PAID by the guy!

[JTFrog]

18. I see we've weeded out some more nuts.

Obama's staff said the senator advocated only for the first year's grant -- which ended up being $20,000, not $50,000. The day after Obama wrote his letter urging the awarding of the state funds, Obama's U.S. Senate campaign received a $1,000 donation from Blackwell.

Obama's presidential campaign rejects any suggestion that there was a connection between the legal work, the campaign contribution and the help with the grant. "Any implication that Sen. Obama would risk an ethical breach in order to secure a small grant for a pingpong tournament is nuts," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief political advisor.

I swear you people are worse amateurs than your candidate. :eyes:

[bajamary]

20. "My candidate?" Are you a mind reader?

Get a grip, and please stop making the assumption that I have a candidate. Are you a mind reader?

My Democratic presidential candidate never ran this time - Al Gore.

The person I did vote for, John Edwards, sadly dropped out of the race.

I worked for Obama when he ran for the Senate in my state of Illinois. So please do not assume anything about me.

The Obama Kool Aid Crown on DU is a clear example of fuzzy thinking and ignorant defense of every single aspect of Mr. O.

Is he Jesus Christ to you all? Or Muhammad?

I just don't get it.

The man has flaws as does Hillary Clinton.

Frankly, I will support and vote for whomever is the Democratic nominee.

However, I think it is prudent for DUers to understand that even St. Obama has made mistakes, and furthermore, only acceptng that knowledge - not denying it or disocunting ti as you've done - will let us defend Obama if he becomes our nominee.

[JTFrog]

22. LOL. Maybe she's not your candidate, but you sure seem eager to try to make this into something

it's not and there are only two candidates that that helps. If you aren't for Hillary then who are you for?

No one has claimed that Obama is a saint. Even he says he's not perfect. But I'll certainly defend the man when the dittoheads start flinging this kind of poo out of their cages.

Don't let little things like facts get in the way of this little fling fest.

[bajamary]

24. too our DU Kool Aid drinkers

Gee, you're really off your game. Please drink more of your Kool Aid for clearly you need it, or is the official DU language of Obama nuts "poo out their cages" etc, etc.

Limited language soften to indicates a limited mind.

I've been a member of DU for sometime. I've never read that we have to choose between Obama or Clinton. It that an official Obama supporters policy?

As a member of DU, I have the right to post information that I think is important for the community to know about. You see, to some of us information is not an "attack" as your post seems to say.

Information in this Presidential contest is what we should all want to share, not as a element of a bitter DU battle that seems to we now waging at full tilt.

But we should take a step back, think for a change and learn from everyones mistakes.

By the way, I worked for Obama when he ran for US Senate in my state of Illinois.

[JTFrog]

26. Your subsequent posts in this thread prove your intent to attack Obama.

Sure you worked for Obama, as far as I know. :eyes:

But hey thanks for your concern and for doing your job to inform the community. This hugh!!!1 I'm series!11!!!

:hi:

[bajamary]

27. translation needed

Can you translate this

1 I'm series!11!!!

[JTFrog]

28. ...

:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:

[bajamary]

30. why not get a life

Oh my, why not get a life

[bajamary]

29. oh a mind reader Kool aid drinker

Oh, another mind reading Kool Aid drinker

Thanks for sharing that with the community

It's so thoughtful of you...........

[bajamary]

31. oh no

Oh no, you are soooooo cleaver with those little laughing things


Can I marry you?

[JTFrog]

38. Would that make me Mrs. Cleaver?

Oh no, you are soooooo cleaver with those little laughing things

"Gee Ward, weren't you a little hard on the Beaver?"

:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:

[bajamary]

33. genius

Please. please I think you're the most magnificent thinker I've ever ever meet.

I hope you get a MacArthur Genius Grant.

we want you to run for President

Surely, you can bet up on a woman - aka Hillary

[bajamary]

34. where are you darling

where are you darling?

[bajamary]

35. I've been rejected

Oh no, I've been rejected by my darling

[bajamary]

36. gong to a monastary

That's it. I've been compleately rejected so I'm off to a monastary

No more politics for moi

bye bye cruel world

[JTFrog]

39. Stalking is bad, mmmmkay? n/t

[americanstranger]

41. Mind the bunnies.

This one seems to be, umm, 'boiling' mad, if you catch my drift...

- as

[bajamary]

48. oh good the bullies are here

Oh goody, the bullies are here

I'm so afraid of you "as" and "jtfrog"

That's the game they LOVE to play

are you really big boys now?

[americanstranger]

49. Nah, I just love toying with weak minds.

It amuses me.

- as

[bajamary]

52. Bully Number two

Dear Bully Number Two,

I'm afraid I have to brake your heart as I love Bully Number One "as"

Sorry, my dearest bright and clear thinking DUer

[americanstranger]

54. Dance.

You can't stop, and I got some spare time.

Win-win.

- as

[americanstranger]

37. I'm sick of fucking Kool-Aid.

Could you please find and use a different cliche?

That one's got a little mileage on it. Thanks.

- as

[bajamary]

40. poor baby

oh, poor baby

do you get your Kool Aid in a bottle?

Love your imaginative use of f**k

Great mind

[americanstranger]

43. Distinct lack of imagination here.

Excuse me, but about 67% of your brain seems to be not working.

You got no game, but I do admire your eagerness. Back on the short bus with you.

- as

[bajamary]

44. wawawawawa

I don't have a tin hat on like you do

Did you just have more Kool Aid?

Thought so

[americanstranger]

46. That's nice, dear.

- as

[bajamary]

45. I'm afraid

I'm so afraid of this insightful comments

[americanstranger]

47. Dance, little puppet, dance.

What better way to increase your post count, after all?

Besides, I can tell when a fish like you is hooked.

Dance, little puppet. Dance.

- as

[bajamary]

50. a bully number one

Ah, that's how you got your post count so high or did you inhale?

thanks for your wise comments bully number one

I love you

[americanstranger]

51. Heh. You dance divinely....

Dance, puppet. Can't help yourself, can you?

Thought not.

- as

[FrenchieCat]

23. A 2 page hit piece designed to confuse! How Quaint!

While the Clintons and McCain go on about their own peculiar business!


"Any implication that Sen. Obama would risk an ethical breach in order to secure a small grant for a pingpong tournament is nuts," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief political advisor.

Sounds about right to me, once you've gone through the convoluted gibberish that actually tries to lose you while repeating the same issues a couple of times but stretches the piece out to look like something really nefarious.

A $20,000 grant return on a $112,000 investment doesn't seem like a very good deal. The throwing in of a $1,000 donation to Obama's Senate Campaign at the end makes it seem that much more desperate.

and as far as getting paid to do legal work, that's what one does with a legal degree from Harvard, I would hope.

Funny how Obama is held to such a higher standard....and they always use the excuse that it is because he talks about a new politics. So he must be right, old politics must be extra corrupted! If this along with Rezco is the best they can come up with for the new kid on the block, they are in bad shape.

I think that the press should go back to promoting racism and how great it is to be a racist in the 21st century like pronto....cause the corruption angle does make it seem that Obama is a wet behind the ears rookie playing in the big leagues.

I highly recommend that they stick to what works; racism is probably a better avenue for the media and those who want to see Obama fail and citizen of our nation at each other's throat.

[yourguide]

42. PING-PONG-GATE!!! This is going to be HUGH!!!11!!!!

File under: kingergarten-gate.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Maribelle]

53. That's the Chicago Way. Obama is such an old-school Chicago politician.

Tisk, tisk.

[ProSense]

55. What about the $1.4 million earmark Hillary gave to Rev. Butts:

Clinton provided $1,431,500 in earmarks in the 2008 federal budget for Butts'

[kwenu]

56. A big nothingburger. Relevant only to dedicated non-supporters of Obama.

After reading the entire story, the conclusion is that he practiced law as he is licensed to do. He did not violate any ethics laws. He disclosed the matter in accordance with law and custom. Here is the seminal quote of truth after the reporter tries to spin a story:

Business relationships between lawmakers and people with government interests are not illegal or uncommon in Illinois or other states with a part-time Legislature, where lawmakers supplement their state salaries with income from the private sector.

Now if this article had any mettle it would compare this "issue" to Hillary and her Rose Law Firm dealings (among many others) and McCain and his dealings with Charles H. Keating, Jr. And we don't even need to talk about Dubya and the loans/gifts from his daddy's friends so he could bungle yet another business.

Conclusion: Another story for the garbage can.