Hillary: "There's a very big difference between posing for a picture with someone you don't know

[ruggerson]

and having a seventeen year relationship that the newspapers in Chicago are exploring."

Senator Clinton on the Today show, dismissing the decade old meet and greet "Rezko" photo.

[rodeodance]

1. Yes, there is a big difference.

[Seen the light]

2. Here's what I don't get about Clinton supporters

The Clintons, both of them, are two of the most corrupt national Democratic figures of the past couple of decades. Scandal after scandal has been linked to both of them. Assuming that even just two of those scandals are true (and I'll admit that the majority of those scandals they've been linked to were made up by the Republicans), isn't that a little worse than some flimsy relationship with this Rezko guy?

[mondo joe]

3. Republican attacks made for scandal. Just look at the millions spent on the special

prosecutor, and the worst thing they could find was Bill denying a blowjob.

Sorry - it doesn't matter how many fictional scandals are created.

[Seen the light]

6. Isn't this Rezko thing just like Whitewater?

No evidence of any wrongdoing WHATSOEVER by Clinton or Obama in either one of their "scandals." Yet both scandals pretty much boiled down to the fact that both had questionable relationships with some sleazeballs.

Why do the Clinton supporters conveniently forget this all the time when discussing Rezko? Again, not implying that Senator Clinton did a single thing wrong in Whitewater (she was cleared of any wrongdoing), but there is zero evidence that Obama did anything wrong either.

[mondo joe]

8. I don't know. I do know Whitewater was investigated and there was no wrong doing.

I don't know if that's true of Rezko or not. It may well be there's nothing wrong at all.

I have never brought up Rezko, and don't care to. My only comments on the matter have been to say that there's a big difference between bing involved with someone for 17 years and having a photo taken with the same person.

[Seen the light]

11. That's fair enough

I wish more Clinton supporters were like you. :)

I am an Obama supporter (and I really need to figure out how to change my avatar from "I voted" to some sort of Obama one) and I'm starting to feel like I'm sure the Clinton supporters felt during the '90s when Whitewater kept dogging them. Like Obama is being treated ridiculously unfairly by those with an agenda against him.

I wish more Clinton supporters going after Obama for this Rezko thing would remember how unfair the Whitewater thing was for the then-First Lady and the President.

[mondo joe]

12. I think the bickering on GD:P increases our antipathy but doesn't do a lot to

enlighten or build unity.

It's the story of internet chats and boards all over. We fall into trying to win arguments rather than have discourse.

I appreciate you asking a civil question and accepting my answer (whether you agree with it or not).

[karynnj]

9. While there were many many completely unfounded smears,

there were and are many scandals at least as convincing as the Rezko one. There WERE major problems with the 1996 campaign funding, there were questions on the Rose Law firm issues and the cattle futures. Just because neither was indicted does not mean there were no improprieties. There is not Obama could be indicted on here either.

[mondo joe]

13. Tens of millions of dollars and the full force of the federal government turned up nothing

but denying a blowjob.

I'm sorry, but it's hard for me to hold the Clintons to anything more than was found after that.

And it may well be a similar investigation would turn up nothing on Obama. I don't know.

[Cameron27]

4. Here's an answer from a Clinton supporter.

Bill and Hillary are probably the most investigated politicians in recent history. Bob Barr's multi-million dollar corrupt investigation was the culmination of years of smears and slander against them that started in Arkansas. It led to an innocent woman being prosecuted and jailed, but nothing else.

Bill Clinton lied about an extramarital blowjob, what man wouldn't I'd like to know. Bill Clinton was impeached but not convicted because he lied about an extramarital blowjob, now if that isn't enough penance, I don't know what is.

[1corona4u]

18. Considering how 'new' to the political 'scene' Obama is...

I'd say it's even more troubling. I mean, really....he's barely a senator, and he's already involved with a scandal? I could somewhat expect accusations about the Clintons since they've been in politics for a long, long time, but a 3 year senator?

Makes me wonder what he would be like 10, 20, years down the road....

[joeybee12]

19. It's the lying that is at issue...

BO tried to pass it off as just a five-hour indiscretion.

I have no illusions about the corruption rampant in politics--I do, however, have a real problem with a guy acting if he's somehow different or outside of the usual political cronyism.

[wyldwolf]

22. here's what I don't get about 'progressives' and republicans

Millions of tax payer's dollars were spent investigating said scandals and they didn't get jack. Yet, these two groups continue to push the 'corrupt' meme.

If the most ivestigated couple in history only has a purgery charge for a consensual affair on the record, the two are pretty clean.

[robbedvoter]

5. Yup. Like Bush saying Ken Lay donated to Ann Richards - MSM trying hard

But Obama didn't just do a photo op, he actually did favors for the guy:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/425305,CST-NWS-obama13.article
New Kenwood LLC also got letters of support from Obama, who represented a nearby Senate district.

"I am writing in support of the New Kenwood LLC's proposal to build a ninety-seven unit apartment building at 48th and Cottage Grove for senior citizens,'' Obama wrote in separate letters, each dated Oct. 28, 1998, to city and state housing officials. "This project will provide much needed housing for Fourth Ward citizens.''

Barack Obama backed the effort by Tony Rezko and Allison Davis - Rezko's partner and Obama's former boss - to win taxpayer funds to build the Cottage View Terrace apartments.

[durrrty libby]

7. A photo or a 17 year relationship. Hmmm What to think? What to think?

[grantcart]

10. or having a 17 year relationship of taking money from

Norman Hsu who is sitting in jail


or taking money and then pardoning Mark Rich


Do the Clintons really want to go down this road?

[niceypoo]

14. Going by the Obamites shallow logic, JFK was a Clinton cronie

[MethuenProgressive]

23. Going by the Obamaites logic, Karl Rove is an Obama cronie. Photo:

[Beacool]

15. Anybody with an ounce of common sense

knows fully well that presidents and first ladies pose with hundreds of people who they don't know. Rezko was a Democratic contributor and must have attended some event where the Clintons were also in attendance. There's a slew of pics of presidents standing next to questionable characters. What's the big deal?

On the other hand, Obama's relationship with Rezko lasted quite a few years. I don't think that he was aware of Rezko's trail of corruption, but the manner in which he purchased his home and a parcel of land next to it do raise some eyebrows.

Regardless, Hillary made that remark only after Obama's cheap shot about her sitting on the board of Wal-Mart.

[Barack_America]

16. I wonder if she remembers cashing his check?

Those photo-ops aren't free, after all.

Meh. Nevermind.

[durrrty libby]

17. Really? That's what you wonder about? Wow...Deep thoughts

[mondo joe]

21. Is there something illegal about accepting a donation?

?

[ShortnFiery]

20. The operative word is *POSING* as it fully explains what The Clintons do JUST to get elected. eom.