John Fund Identifies The Obama "Rumor"

[RiverStone]

The Atlantic.com
11/19/07

* * * *

Why does it seem that Republican columnists have better sources among Democrats than everyone else?

Here's John Fund, writing in today's OpinionJournal.com:

The murmured charge is that as an Illinois state senator, Mr. Obama engaged in a real estate deal that benefited him in exchange for legislative favors. In short, what might pass for standard operating procedure in the Illinois legislature could nonetheless prove embarrassing to someone campaigning as a paragon of political virtue for president. So far, however, no proof of the allegation has been presented.

Pretty thin stuff. And haven't we heard the Tony Rezko tale already?

For the record, the Obama and Clinton campaigns try to plant negative stories about each other all the time. Felonious fundraisers, issue positions, legislative records, the occasional guilt-by-association catches -- those are fair game.

Other stuff seems to be off-limits.

Earlier this year, Obama donor David Geffen mouthed off to Maureen Dowd about the verbotten subject of the Clintons' private life, triggering an intense bout of jockeying between the Clinton and Obama campaigns. Then -- silence.

more here:

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/11/john_fund_identifies_the_obama.php

[blogslut]

1. And yet it is the wingnuts that are spreading this "rumor"

Interesting

[mod mom]

4. Obama's ahead, they want to run against Hillary.

[Skidmore]

7. You got it.

They want HRC. Years of thick files already amassed and much more to uncover.

Anyone who wants to spend the next 4 years riding the slime maching rather than addressing the problems of the nation should vote Hillary. She's their girl.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. exactly. but it was only a matter of time until rezko

became an issue. His rise in Iowa must be worrying the moneybagmen in the GOP.

[blm]

12. Certainly looks that way.

.

[Historic NY]

2. So far, however, no proof of the allegation has been presented.

sounds like a bunch of old washer women gossiping.

[Blackhatjack]

3. You can bet the Repub Opposition File on Obama Includes this....

... and if there is any substance to the allegation that he gained in a real estate transaction from using his influence in the IL State Senate, it will be damaging to him.

Of course, Repub Members of Congress have made this kind of transaction almost an art form.

But there has always been a double standard regarding Democrats and Repubs.

[RiverStone]

11. Oh, they have a thick file alright

And in a sense, I think it is far better for this b.s. to be aired now then later.

As we know, the rethug machine will pull no punches and go as low as they need to. Obama has already been aggressively responding to the "rumor mill" and stands by his personal (and political ) integrity.

These tactic should be of no surprise to anyone. In fact, consider them good practice for what will certainly follow in the General from the pukes. It will be far worse - we Dems need to develop our counter punches!

[Blackhatjack]

16. Well said... get it out and address it now. That will be best for Obama and Dems.

[TacticalPeek]

5. Wake me when a credible person makes a claim.

:shrug:

[hedgehog]

6. I'm not convinced that Tony Rezko is guilty of anything beyond being

an immigrant Arab-American businessman in George Bush's America.

" Years ago, a U.S. attorney said to me: ''We can indict anybody on La Salle Street we want. Maybe it would be more difficult to get a conviction, but we still have the power to ruin him.'' Justice Robert H. Jackson, one of the Supreme Court's greats in the 20th century, warned of the power of the federal prosecutor when he said that the power is enormous and easily perverted. ''The prosecutor,'' Jackson said in 1940 when he was U.S. attorney general, ''has more power over life, liberty and reputation than any other person in America. That power must be shielded from politics and even from the Department of Justice.''


http://www.agreeley.com/articles/032307.html

[Crazy Dave]

8. Maybe it's the "Wal-Mart" pickle story again with more details

:eyes:

[KharmaTrain]

9. Fund Is Such a Reliable Source...CoughbullshitCough

There is an ongoing investigation into Fratto here in Illinois, but it looks like Gov. Blago could be the target of the investigation. Fratto also had connections with Obama...as he did with a lot of state legislators but so far the scandal has avoided him. But why should that stop the GOOP from doing what they do best...slime.

This smells more and more like a GOOP Blackwell special...and I wouldn't be surprised if its coming from the same place that is push-polling Mittens and trying to point the finger at McCain. The dirty tricksters are out in force and eager to get things rollin'.

But this is how the corporate media telephone game is played...one rumor is amplified by another and so on and so on...soon Obama's guilty of killing Vince Foster. Obama's mistake was addressing this slime and giving it some legitimacy.

[stevedeshazer]

15. Everything you need to know about John Fund is in this audio

http://www.americanpolitics.com/fundpillsburyfull.mp3

[Imagevision]

13. John Fund and Bob Novak went to different schools together...

[book_worm]

14. So why are we spreading this rumor on DU?

[RiverStone]

18. The source does not state the rumor as fact

Good to expose the b.s for all to see.

The rethug smear machine will be in full force come General election time. We Dems need to fine tune our counter attacks --- it will only get far worse.

Rove may be out of the office - but my guess is he still has an undisclosed parking spot reserved for him at Shrub's White House, or is living there in an undergound bunker!

[regnaD kciN]

17. Why can't John Fund find better things to do with his time...

...like knocking up his girlfriend and/or her daughter, then fulminating in print over the Democrats' lack of morals? You know, the usual.

:puke: