The trail of corruption involving the people raising money for Obama's political career stretches from the city of Chicago to the Illinois tollway to the O'Hare airport all the way over to Iraq. And testimony in Rezko's corruption trial reveals that an equal number of Democrat and Republican crooks benefited from all the moneymaking schemes.
Rezko is not a Democrat; he's an equal opportunity profiteer. He supported President George Bush and attended a Christmas party at the White House in December 2003, at the same time that he was a top fundraiser for Obama's US Senate campaign.
Rezko co-hosted a $3.8 million Chicago fundraiser for Bush in 2003, and on December 9, 2003, he donated $4,000 to Bush, as a "self-employed businessman," and gave another $2,000 on December 19, 2003, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Prior to backing Rod Blagojevich for governor of Illinois, Rezko threw his money behind Republican candidates for governor, including George Ryan, who was convicted of doling out leases and contracts to cronies and sentenced to prison for more than 6 years.
Rezko then switched horses and chose Blagojevich in 2002 and Obama has supported Blagojevich, even when his administration was embroiled in corruption investigations.
Recent testimony in the Rezko trial by his co-conspirator, Chicago businessman, Stuart Levine, explained that Rezko had plans for Blagojevich to be Presidential, not Obama. However, anybody following the trial knows that Blagojevich is more likely to be headed to the "Big House" rather than occupying the White House.
Obama's entering into real estate deals with Rezko, while it was public knowledge that he was under investigation for funneling illegal contributions to Illinois politicians, was not a "boneheaded" move, it was motivated by pure greed. While knowing that he would get caught up in a major scandal, Obama went ahead with the deal because he and his wife wanted that mansion, with four fireplaces, six bathrooms, and a wine cellar, period.
On March 16, 2008, the Boston Globe added an interesting twist to the story when reporting that Donna Schwan, of MetroPro Realty, which listed the mansion and lot next door for the owners, "said it is her recollection that the Obamas may not have made the highest bid, and that other bidders may have matched Rezko's bid," but the willingness of both buyers to close in June 2005, "was decisive."
Which logically means had Rezko not been willing to buy the lot in June, the deal was off.
According to an article by Edward McClelland in the February 1, 2008 Salon Magazine, when asked who approached her about the house, Donna Schwan told Salon, "I honestly don't remember. Tony Rezko lived across the street, so he'd been interested in the lot."
Any claim that Obama was unaware of the investigations into the corrupt dealings of Rezko with Illinois politicians in June 2005 is ridiculous. On February 15, 2005, the Chicago Tribune reported:
"Gov. Rod Blagojevich long has vowed to purge the Illinois tollway of cronyism, yet two of his closest friends and political advisers have links to food vendors awarded lucrative contracts to operate inside the toll road's sleek new oases, government records show."
"The Subway sandwich shops and Panda Express Asian restaurants now being installed in the tollway's seven revamped rest stops are controlled by firms with strong ties to the food-service empire of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a Blagojevich confidant who has seeded the governor's cabinet with former business underlings."
Christopher Kelly, Blagojevich's chief fundraiser, "who also recommended the tollway's executive director for his job, is an investor in at least one Rezko-controlled food firm," the Tribune wrote. On March 16, 2005, the Tribune reported that:
"City officials alleged Tuesday that a minority contractor at O'Hare International Airport acted as a front for a firm run by Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a top adviser and fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich....
"Rezko, a member of Blagojevich's kitchen cabinet of advisers, has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks following questions about his links to operators of new tollway oasis franchises. The revamp of the oases is a showcase project for the Blagojevich administration."
I don't see any evidence of wrongdoing by Obama here.
Coincidentally, Patrick Fitzgerald hasn't found any either, nor has the roster of Chicago reporters that you introduce, and they've been looking for more than two years.
You seem to suggest that the FBI ramping up its manpower in Chicago in the same year that Obama bought a house is hard evidence. Are you kidding? This is as filthy a collection of lies and innuendo as I have ever laid eyes on.
You should understand that your "investigative reporting" does not meet the standards of truth that I would apply to a drunken round of dirty joke telling, and your qualifications for investigative reporting are best described by applying your nom de plume to them.
by
John Sanchez Jr. (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 1168 comments)
on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 8:35:25 AM
I completly agree with Mr Sanchez. What evidence are you providing here? It's all "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon", circumstancial twitter that has been proven to be dead ends even by the sources you cite in the beginning of the article.
by
TomMikesell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 23 comments)
on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 9:05:09 AM
that Democrats, and Republicans for that matter, but Democrats more specifically continue to give us candidates that are so flawed and damaged as to be unelectable time after time.
My contention is that our government for some time ceased to be a functioning government for The People and is now a tool for amoral elites who through their ownership of media, coupled with our archaic electoral process, weed out anyone that would threaten their stranglehold. It's why those candidates that resonate with people and offer commonsense solutions are ignored and ridiculed out of contention in the early stages and what we're left with are hand-picked candidates of the elite.
As the case in point all three of the remaining candidates are wedded to the same industries/elites/special interests that put us in the dire situation we're in. It's a case of a choice between Tweedle-Dee, Tweddle-Dumb and Tweedle-Dumber. That's why I don't think it's a mistake that no matter who Democrats nominate it will be McCain who wins. If Clinton should somehow get the nod it will drive those Republicans that would have stayed home to the polls and those that supported Obama to protest vote for McCain and stay home. If, as this article points out, it's Obama he'll face the blast-furnace of exposure of his questionable dealings coupled with the same voter backlash again assuring a McCain win. And of course we can't leave out corruptible e-voting machines that still encompass 80% of how we cast our votes.
Either way, and although it really doesn't matter which one of these corporate shills becomes president, McCain certainly will have the effect of further disenfranchising people from the political process and give said elites their best person to allow them to continue their corrupt practices. And being it will be McCain there is no need to rush an attack on Iran, but if in the unlikely event Obama becomes the candidate and it looks like he'd win count on that attack before the election which will knock the so-called "peace candidate" out of the box.
In the end we're close to the end. There is no way we can avoid the calamity about to ensue. We are, and I say this knowing it's alarmist, but none the less true, we are on the brink of extinction. World-wide over-population, rapid depletion of natural resources, economic collapse, food shortages, expanding wars, pandemics, climate change and the wrath that Mother Nature will unleash will make it impossible for mankind to survive. In the best case scenario those powers-that-be also know this and their plan is to be the last people standing after the majority of us "common people" are finished slaughtering each other. Man in his short time on Earth has proven to be the most intelligent and most flawed species to ever inhabit this planet, but in the end mankind's intelligence was no match for his insatiable greed.
by
Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 1419 comments)
on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 9:43:04 AM
Investigative reporting or amateur blogger with an agenda
ANY "journalist" who expects to be taken seriously should not be so presumptive about conclusions like "Obama's web of corruption"...I read and read your post and found out mostly about Rezko and Daley and the corrupt local Chicago scene that Obama rose from with a slate of national ethics reform proposals!
Where is documentation of the things you fault Obama for? He's been beating McCain in head-to-head polls consistently since the elections began, unlike Hillary. 150,000 Republicans in Ohio even switched party "for one day only" to push Hillary into the nomination!
Your intentional omissions are irresponsible. Obama's "trail of dirt" pales in comparison to that of either Hillary or McCain, both in quantity and quality. From Whitewater to Filegate to Travelgate to Rose Law improprieties to last week's lies about sniper fire on the tarmac, Obama's "dirt" file would never measure up to Hillary's. Does this fact not exist in your analysis?
McCain's list of lobbyist indiscretions, conflicts-of-interest and blind-eyed oversight of the Enron/Abramoff networks going back decades eclipses anything Obama did (or didn't do) locally in Chicago on the way up.
With these other facts in balance, many reasonable readers might still opt for Obama as the lesser of three evils - were these facts included. Because they're not, the author's agenda comes through blatantly. If you are for Hillary, the truth is always the best policy, just say so.
"Obama is a political psychopath" - ? I'd think even his worst detractors would agree that Obama is cool and calculated. I saw nothing to back up this wide-eyed assertion, leaving only the tinny taste of bias.
Structure, organization, relevance deptartment: this article mostly collects rehashes wrongdoing by everybody but Obama - Rezko, Daley, the wife, other bit players. I was let down after reading this piece because so much of it was tangential, except the insulting rhetoric. I was really drawn in by the headline, but left disappointed by the end.
It's also not news - we are not "investigative reporters" if we do no first hand interviews or original research. Otherwise we are bloggers, writing persuasive OpEds that piece together already published media, completely dependent on the internet.
Let's discuss Obama, Hillary and McCain, and let's feel free to offer our opinions and make our best cases based on facts and stats at our disposal. But let's not make up our readers' minds for them, that is not only bias, it's propaganda.
"Journalism" requires self-policed objectivity, just the facts, who, what, where, when and how, and ALL the facts relevant to allow the reader to decide. This piece is not OpEdNews' best, this type of writing is part of a wide problem with media and reporting today and is best left to political dirty tricksters and their accomplices.
by
Gustav Wynn (59 articles, 38 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 281 comments)
on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 1:59:14 PM
Comment is flagged and has been reviewed by the editors -
Reason: Inappropriate Content
Editor's Message: The author's piece did not violate OEN policies in the view of the editor in question, and was approved for open discussion. Questions raised by the commenter with regard to the author's substance or conclusions are not necessarily linked to OEN editorial guidelines.
If it is so flawed, who gave it the editorial Okay? And why?
Hmmmmmm Inquiring minds want to know....
by
Marilyn Frith (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 191 comments)
on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 4:43:18 PM
The typo in the title was an oversight on the editorial part of Op Ed News. It should have been corrected before publishing. We apologize for the error to the author – and also to our readers – and it has since been rectified. Thank you for pointing it out.
Your analysis and refutations are not in question and the correction of the title to reflect accurately the proper spelling of Senator Obama's first name, "Barack", should not be construed as an effort to impugn your thoughtful and carefully crafted rebuttal.
Cordially, Frank J. Ranelli Senior Editor OEN
by
Frank J. Ranelli (66 articles, 143 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 378 comments)
on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 5:51:24 PM
This is why Americans are so ill-informed. An average person would read her article and begin a campaign of "did you hear.......?" against Obama. Any undecided's who read any articles on either candidates need to investigate or at least read further to confirm or disprove information that they plan to make a final decision on.
by
PeterJ (11 articles, 2 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 131 comments)
on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 12:57:10 PM
Dear Evelyn--thanks for this and keep up the good work. However, you will never convince this bunch of Obamacites that their fella ever did anything wrong. He is their savior no matter how vile his mentor of 20 years is. Obama could not have possibly been influenced by any of that garbage. He is perfect. They will make every excuse for him--just like the radical rightwingers did for George Bush.
by
Merylr (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 19 comments)
on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 5:43:05 PM
Merylr, the tenor of your comment, like the tenor of Ms. Pringle's article, is the reason why this former John Edwards supporter is now an Obama supporter. Since the election of 2000, I have seen far too much division in this country. The fighting - Republicans vs Democrats, liberals against conservatives, haves vs. have-nots, evangelicals against everybody else, has torn our nation apart. In Edwards, I saw someone who wanted to unite us. I see the same in Obama. In Clinton, and in her most ardent supporters, I see those who are not only content with division, but who are so desperate to win that they are willing to destroy their party and their fellow Democrats to do so. Ms. Pringle says, "shame on" the Democratic leaders who have endorsed Obama. I say, shame on Democrats who feel it necessary to demean their fellow party members by questioning their intelligence and common sense. That is exactly what you have done, in assuming that Obama's supporters think him perfect, and in judging us to be as mindless as those who support George W. Bush.
by
TennMom (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 21 comments)
on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 12:10:53 AM
It is fine that you moved from John Edwards to endorsing Barack Obama. It is not, fine, however, in my opinion, to compare Hillary support with the vision-limited Bushistas of old or new incarnation. That is very short-sighted and points to your own lack of fundamental understanding of the true complexion of this current crisis within Democratic ranks. The Democratic Party has essentially self-destructed with a little help from right-wing, moneyed friends. To blame Bill and Hillary for all ills past and present is an easy dodge for those whose political acumen rests soley on popular sentiment and contrived hype for the Obamarama passing for serious campaign presentation. The Democrats will cave on this issue and advise Hillary to concede because that is the line of least resistance. All stuff runs down to Hill, as they say. And that pun is intended. If you are looking for Obama to save the country and the Party, lots of luck.
by
Marilyn Frith (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 191 comments)
on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 11:41:36 AM
Everyone knows that Chicago has a reputation for corrupt politics. It is a well earned reputation that goes way way back in time. However, Chicago local politics is NOT national level politics. I would say that there are forces behind Obama, that while having strong Chicago ties, are national in scope. Dare I say that the Kennedy family, who have a long connection to Chicago business and politics but who are national players, are perhaps key to Obama's success.
Stirling
by
Lord Stirling (24 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 132 comments)
on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 12:49:32 PM
And thanks for taking us to a higher level of comprehension re this current Democratic Party fiasco. To believe that these self-inflicted wounds are all happenstance, the result of more ineptitude is to believe that Bush, Inc. is clinically insane. No, I think they know exactly what they are about. They may be nuts, but they ain't stupid, as the saying goes. Follow the money...
Ted Kennedy promoted John Kerry; John Kerry graciously conceded to George Bush; you do the math. Now all Dem gentlemen statesmen will ask Hillary to graciously step aside; perhaps she will be offered a seat on the Supreme Court as a consolation prize. When she turned to Obama during one of their debates and said it was an honor to be on the stage with him, I wanted to throw something at the TV. To me he does dishonor to the country. If you want to hear a true American politician-turned-patriot--another black man--look up Mayor of Newark, NJ, Cory Booker. He makes Barack sound like a pandering neophyte. Interviewed on the Bill Moyers show, Mayor Booker was so truly inspiring, I wanted to cry. He said he was proud, all his life to be an American, and marveled at the opportunity our vast and diverse country holds for all citizens who are willing to roll up their sleeves, pitch in to change the violence and self-loathing that permeates our culture. He is changing his city with deeds, not words.
Bravo for Mr. Booker. There is a candidate for Dem Convention Keynote speaker; and I bet he won't try to immediately parlay it into a run for the White House. He has his head on straight at only 38 years of age.
by
Marilyn Frith (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 191 comments)
on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 2:55:05 PM
I think I even used don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain too.
Obama could have had all the Democrats behind him and he will still lose against McCain when the curtain is openned. You should have stuck with Hillary. All of her dirty laundry has been displayed.
by
Gallaher (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 608 comments)
on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 5:51:28 PM
14 comments
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