Do YOU PERSONALLY Care About Rezko?

[THUNDER HANDS]

I mean, honestly, do you care about this? Does this affect your life at all?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. No, of course not

and I don't care about whitewater, Edwards' hedge fund, walmart in the 1980s, Hsu...

Those kind of money-scandals are just dreary politics. The press likes them because there's a paper trail to investigate... it feels like hard journalism. But it's all crap.

The problem of political influence is more subtle than these silly "who got a check for $8,000" stories.

I had a big laugh over the many DU posts suggesting that Jay Rockefeller had sold his vote to the telecom industry for $17,000 in campaign contributions. He's Jay Rockefeller... Billionaires who devote their lives to political service are not for sale for $17,000 in a cash-transaction way.

[Andy823]

2. We all should care

If Obama has been lying the whole time about this issue, then we all need to know. He claims that "honesty" is a key issue in this race, and if he has been lying, then it should come out, and it will even if he does not address the issue.

If there is no wrong doing, great, he should come out and explain the whole thing, but if he lied, he should be held accountable for that lie, don't you think?

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. it does sound like a Clinton smear doesn't it

and I don't mean a smear FROM the Clinton's. I mean one of those charges against the Clintons that came out in the 90s by the RW attack machine. It didn't matter if the charge was true or not, and most of them weren't - but you smear enough mud and get people thinking bad about the candidate, you've accomplished the mission.

You'd think the Clinton people would be sick of that stuff by now.

[awaysidetraveler]

29. Here's fourteen links that suggest Rezko is a smear.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/awaysidetraveler/16

[Kittycat]

3. No. This was an IL matter, already vetted & dismissed by IL voters.

[aquart]

Excellent spin.

But not indictable still isn't the same as not dirty.

[Occam Bandage]

4. Things that actually affect my life, in some semblance of order:

1. The economy.
2. Student loans.
3. Healthcare.
4. Transit funding.
5. Taxation.

[Andy823]

19. Let's see

The guy we have in office now lied to us, is corrupt, and we shouldn't care that we may put someone else in office with the same traits? Wow, you Obabmanites are really something else! :eyes:

[Occam Bandage]

23. Get back to me when you have any evidence that Obama is involved with any wrongdoing.

[polichick]

5. Each bit of information shows something about a candidate...

It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle ~ every small piece helps you see the big picture.

[Lucinda]

18. Yup.

[jackson_dem]

6. We care about potential corruption. We aren't Republicans

[aquart]

7. Do I care to have a demonstrably corrupt president?

One so foolishly, carelessly greedy he simply could not bear to buy a cheaper house and stay within his budget?

Rezko doesn't mean a thing to me. The man who became his willing tool? That's a different story. Try polling that.

[awaysidetraveler]

30. I'd take a look at some of this info, before you jump to conslusions about Obama on Rezko.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/awaysidetraveler/16

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. I don't know enough to know if I care

and I care that I don't know enough to know that.

It doesn't effect my life any more than whether our candidate wins or loses the General Election, I'll agree to that.

[shaniqua6392]

10. We should all care about this and any other potential problems.

Don't forget that whoever our nominee is, will face a well funded buzz saw---The Republicans.

[Dhalgren]

11. No. Slum-lords funneling money to shady politicians? Come on!

It's business as usual! I am sure that the Republicans will not be able to make anything out of this. I mean, they just aren't into that kind of mud-slinging, right?

[southernleftylady]

12. To be honest I dont know what Rezko is? nt

[Dhalgren]

17. Rezko is a sleazy slum-lord who is currently under federal indictment

for fraud, RICO, embezzlement, god-knows-what-all. He and Obama have been sharing back-pockets for nearly eighteen years...

[Vinca]

13. Hillary's got Hsu, Obama's got Rezko. It's a wash. nt

[ProSense]

14. It's not a wash:

Obama comes clean, but Hillary's sleaze machine thrives

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. Most likely correct

but I will feel more confident about that after this there's been a little more time passed to find out if any additional shoes are around to drop. For the record, I predict not.

[lurky]

15. Reminds me of Whitewater on a smaller scale.

Real estate deals, guilt-by-association, innuendo. We've all heard it before, haven't we?

Irony, anyone?

[Dhalgren]

21. How can you possibly know that? Whitewater was investigated

to the point of absurdity and splashed all over the media for years. How much verified detail do you know about Rezko and Obama and their dealings?

[Meshuga]

20. I would only care if Rezko had ties with an opposing candidate

In this case I would make a huge deal about it. But if he has ties with my candidate then I would not make such a fuzz and treat it as it should be treated.

That's the rule around here. It is fun to watch. :popcorn:

[suston96]

22. How deep is the ocean? Don't Google "Rezko".......

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/184540,122306obama.article

http://i.abcnews.com/Blotter/story?id=4111483&page=1

The Rezko Connection: Obama's Achilles Heel?
Obama's Connection With an Accused Political Fixer Raises Questions

By BRIAN ROSS and RHONDA SCHWARTZ
Jan. 10, 2008

In sharp contrast to his tough talk about ethics reform in government, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., approached a well-known Illinois political fixer under active federal investigation, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, for "advice" as he sought to find a way to buy a house shortly after being elected to the United States Senate.

The parcel included an adjacent lot which Obama told the Chicago Tribune he could not afford because "it was already a stretch to buy the house."

On the same day Obama closed on his house, Rezko's wife bought the adjacent empty lot, meeting the condition of the seller who wanted to sell both properties at the same time.

Rezko had been widely reported to be under investigation by the U.S. attorney and the FBI at the time Obama contacted him and has since been indicted on corruption charges by a federal grand jury in a case that prosecutors say involves bribes, kickbacks and "efforts to illegally obtain millions of dollars."

Yeah, just a mistake. I guess.

[Renew Deal]

24. Once I saw that Fitzy said there was no wrong doing.

I lost interest.

[Little Star]

36. Link please

[oasis]

25. I care about a presidential candidate pretending to be something he isn't.(eom)

[sandnsea]

26. I don't like corruption anywhere

But I don't think innocent people should be held accountable for the corruption of the guilty ones.

[AndyTiedye]

27. No, But It Is Enough Ammunition for the Mighty Slime Machine to Destroy Obama in the General

They already have Hillary covered, they've been on her case for 15 years.
Now they have what they need to sink Obama if he is our candidate.
They don't have anything on Edwards except a haircut (but maybe that's all they needed).

[JDPriestly]

28. I voted yes because this will be a huge issue in November if Obama

is nominated.

[robbedvoter]

31. MSM is sitting on it until GE. Now they want Hillary out.

[jbnow]

32. Of course. I knew most of this "news"

and had looked into it as much as I could before I decided what candidate to back.
NONE of this is new except some unnamed source "confirmed" to the Chicago tabloid that Obama is the "political candidate" mentioned in one paragraph of the the 60+ page indictment of rezko that came out many weeks ago.

Maybe he is. If so "political candidate" isn't implicated in any wrongdoing.
The paragraph is in a long list of what another defendant, Levine, solicited from "Individual J and Investment Firm 7" in 2004. One thing was a contribution from them to "political candidate"

Well it's been known that besides having contributed all of Rezko's contributions some time ago the campaign has done the same with those found from people associated with him. That would be a lot of people as the guy is an old timer on the scene. .

The issues raised by the tabloid Chicago Sun Times have come up for a long time, have been investigated and answered back in 2006 and 2007. They keep bringing them up as though new with a disclaimer that no wrong doing has been found.

Hear about the 2006 house deal? There probably was a favor not having to do with the actual purchase of his house but the owner of the house wanted to sell the extra lot at the same time. Obama couldn't afford the lot. Rezko's wife bought that lot. Later Obama bought a 1/6th strip of the lot. He paid them 1/6th of their full lot purchase price which was more than the assessed value of the strip

Obama called it bonehead and it was just because it's not great to be connected with a weasel, wrong doing or not. He said he was asked for and granted no favors.

The same tabloid came back a couple months later to "prove" he had too done favors for him and brought up 2 letters they'd found supporting a deal for Renzo that used tax payer money.

He did write a letter of support in 1998 as many community leaders did on behalf of the non-profit firm New Kenwood LLC for a project called Cottage View Terrace. It was a complex that was planned to be affordable but pleasant housing for seniors with a wellness clinic and adult day care services as part of the complex. Those services would be for other seniors in the area too but easy access for those who lived there. New Kenwood was founded by an ex-boss of Obama's and Renzo.

Renzo may be a "slum lord" but this project was not a slum. It was well done and remains highly rated.

I looked for a link on this part because it's been awhile since I read about the evaluations of the project and found a 2007 page that gives many sourced quotes.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0607/Obama_and_Rezko.html

OK. So in 1998 Obama along with many other politicians and community activists and agencies wrote in support of this project which was completed and is considered an asset.

6 years later Obama buys the house that Rezko bought the lot next door to.

I have a hard time believing that shows Obama lied when he said there was no quid pro quo, no favor done.

Another Rezko related firm (can't recall the name) had asked Obama after he was a US Senator to write a letter introducing the company to Iraqi government officials because they wanted to do security work. Obama's office declined because that was not something they get involved with. It wasn't in Rezko's name so I don't even know if he knew it was a favor from Rezko he was decling.

The civil rights firm he worked for was associated with Rezko's non-profit firms at times from long before Obama went to work there since one thing they handled was public housing but Obama did not represent him or his firms though he did some hours of work for the non-profit in the early 90's.

So I was concerned when I first saw the rumors but as I followed it everywhere I could his role didn't look too concerning. I thought if this is the dirty stuff on this guy this is a clean guy

What did concern me was the expectation that Clinton would be using and distorting. Especially as the campaign pushed papers to try to bring the already investigated issue to national attention and it didn't happen (except for ABC did do it, it just didn't have legs) it was assumed she'd get it into national spotlight herself.

[guerrillafiter]

33. There should be a "I care somewhat" or " not sure" poll option

This is just not among my top issues.

[Zynx]

34. Very few scandals PERSONALLY effect anyone.

[HughMoran]

35. Do I care about Rezko or WalMart or "millworker" from long ago: NO

They have no effect on me or how I think of these candidates. They have done an awful lot since "then".

If you weren't so biased, you might be someone worth having a discussion with.

[joshcryer]

37. I care if Obama was friends with a slum lord.

Absolutely.

[Little Star]

38. I care and here is part of the reason why.

Obama surfaces in Rekzo's federal corruption case
Source confirmed Obama is the unnamed "political candidate" referred to in document which outlines case against Rezko

January 20, 2008
BY DAVE MCKINNEY, NATASHA KORECKI, CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters
Chicago Sun Times

snip>
Obama is not named in the Dec. 21 court document. But a source familiar with the case confirmed that Obama is the unnamed “political candidate” referred to in a section of the document that accuses Rezko of orchestrating a scheme in which a firm hired to handle state teacher pension investments first had to pay $250,000 in “sham” finder’s fees. From that money, $10,000 was donated to Obama’s successful run for the Senate in the name of a Rezko business associate, according to the court filing and the source.

Rezko, who was part of Obama’s senatorial finance committee, also is accused of directing “at least one other individual” to donate money to Obama and then reimbursing that individual — in possible violation of federal election law.

snip<

He needs a thorough vetting!!!!!!

[yardwork]

39. No. All politicians engage in financial shenanigans.

As long as it is as minor as this appears to be, it doesn't bother me enough to influence my vote. However, I think it's important for folks who are tending to put a halo on Obama to remember that he's a politician, not a saint.