The Rezko Connection - Obama's Achilles Heel?

[Ugnmoose]

I am surprised this has not gotten more discussion. On the surface this looks to be a brewing scandal that might mean real problems for Obama. Even if he is not criminally implicated, the fact that he had such a close association with such a nefarious type as Tony Rezko is very troubling. And now that ABC News jumped on the story today it is bound to get some legs. Worse still for Obama is the fact that the trial will start on February 25th right in the thick of the primary season. And guess who is handling the investigation - none other than the intrepid Chicago Pol Buster, U.S. Attorney Pat Fitzgerald. Stay tuned on this one. I am certain it is not the last you will hear about it.


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

[David Dunham]

1. The Repugs will play up Obama's close ties to felon Rezko

[Atman]

2. Oh, yeah. Like the Clintons have no "nefarious ties" to anyone.

So, uh...what's your point?

.

[Ugnmoose]

3. Draw your own conclusions

I never said the Clinton's didn't have skeletons. My point is simply that this was reported today by a major news organziation. Nuff said.

[LakeSamish706]

5. I am neither a Hillary or Obama supporter, but this can't be good for sure....

Shit, if he were to make it to the GE the Repugs will wipe the floor with this if it's factual. Damn, not good at all.

[emilyg]

18. This op is not about Clinton.

[aquart]

4. But...but he's clean and pure and unsoiled and perfect and godlike.

So this can't possibly be true.

But if it's going to come out, please god it comes out before the primaries are over.

Actually, I don't think it matters. The people who have invested their hearts and money and time in him will simply not believe it. Look how they reacted to the NH vote. It doesn't square with the messianic narrative they've chosen (sweetly interrupted by NH)and they'll just call it a Hillary/Rove (they're best friends in this fan fic)plot and ignore it. It will be one more bit of evidence of Hillary's evil and Obama's victim innocence.

[sandnsea]

6. Did you know Hsu was sentenced to prison Friday?

Did you know Edwards had some shady house sales deals as well?

Just asking.

This is one on Obama. ONE.

[Ugnmoose]

8. This is not meant to be an attack on Obama

This is breaking news reported by the MSM. Personally, I hope it is totally unfounded. I would hate to see any of the major contenders caught in something like this. I want the nomination decided on the issues not based on skeletons in closets coming out.

[sandnsea]

10. He bought a piece of land from Rezko

A piece next to his house. He says it was a mistake and he shouldn't have done it. Rezko used the federal housing monies to enrich himself. That's not Obama's fault and I've never seen any indication that he was accused of being connected. That's it.

[LakeSamish706]

7. I seriously suggest at this time that all major Democratic candidates...

that have some serious skeletons in the closet get them out there, and now before we get to November. If shit like this comes out in September or October we may very well hand the WH back to the scum suckers.

[Ugnmoose]

9. More to the story from ABC News

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4115565&page=1

After ABC News cited a December 2006 Washington Post story about Senator Barak Obama's knowledge of legal problems faced by his friend Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the Obama campaign complained that the Post story mischaracterized what Obama had told the Washington Post reporter.

The Post reported that "Obama said that he was unaware of Rezko's brewing troubles in 2005," at the time Obama called Rezko about a real estate deal. Washington Post assistant managing editor Bill Hamilton told ABC News it stood by its reporter's story.


"Our story was accurate and the Obama campaign never raised any questions before," he said.

Obama's knowledge of the extent of the investigation of Rezko, now under federal indictment, is important because it raises questions about his judgment in approaching a man who was under federal investigation.

The Post reported that Obama said he "should have seen some red flags" Here is the full transcript of what Obama said to the Post, as provided by the Obama campaign:

Peter Slevin, Washington Post reporter: You must have been aware he was under investigation, no?

Barack Obama: Well, I'll be honest with you. I've known him for 20 years -- well, let me make sure I'm not exaggerating here, 1991, so, 15 years, I've known him for 15 years. He had never asked me to do anything, had never behaved in any untoward way with me. And, the, you know, I wasn't particularly knowledgeable about these various issues that he was involved with, but as I've said before, there's no doubt that I should have seen some red flags in terms of me purchasing a piece of property from him. Again, my focus was just making sure that the purchase itself met ethical guidelines, but there's no doubt that the optics of it I think – partly – well, no, I'll just stick to that, there's no doubt I should have been more attuned to it.

[kevsand]

11. This is not "breaking news."

Nor is it a "brewing" scandal, or a "skeleton in a closet." It was completely aired out by both the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune over a year ago, and there's just nothing there.

The only person who Rezko is going to bring down is Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Now he needs to be worried...

[madrchsod]

17. oh...... i can hardly wait for that..

but would that mean we`d get a republican or another relative from chicago?

[jasmine621]

12. Trust me, Obama's team is well prepared for this. nt

[thunder rising]

13. ABC news is a Pug shill ... this paragraph is sooo inflated

Here's the quote and an analysis of the paragraph:

"While Rezko's wife paid the full asking price for the land, <switch subject to make it look better> Obama paid $300,000 under the asking price for the house. <switch subjects again to infer connection> The house sold for $1,650,000 and the price Rezko's wife paid for the land was $625,000."

So, apparently the house listed with an ASKING price of $1,950,000 (very close to $2M; hence room to negotiate), and Rezco's wife bought the land adjacent (no connection) for $625,000. Did Obama end up with the lot and if so how much did he pay.

Fuck ABC news. If you didn't catch on with "Path to 911" what other clue do you need?

[ursi]

14. old news ...you just learned of this? Hmmm.

[bbernardini]

15. So what if he invested in the Pocket Fisherman?

Oh, REZKO. My mistake. :evilgrin:

[madrchsod]

16. most of today and for the most of the last year

in the chicago press and the national media. there`s nothing that obama did wrong but to exercise some poor judgment that he already admitted to...

opps...sorry

[sunonmars]

19. just wait until.....

They start spinning it as, Rezko, who is an Arab american of Syrian descent and a "fixer" and you'll see where they take this story.