Rezko story getting some traction...

[Sancho]

I personally would support any of the Democratic candidates, but this could be a real issue. I wonder how close Obama really is to this character.

Indicted Obama fundraiser's bond revoked
By MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jan 28, 4:09 PM ET
CHICAGO - A judge revoked the $2 million bond Monday for indicted businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who has raised thousands of dollars for Barack Obama and Illinois politicians.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080128/ap_on_re_us/fundraiser_indicted

[sunonmars]

1. just wait until they get hold of who's providing Rezko with money

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4262713&mesg_id=4262713

[jbnow]

2. I know what you mean! Why would he be friends with

the guy? Could it be
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-rezko-clinton-080122,0,5430503.story?page=2&coll=patrick.net

It's easy to forget today, but in the years before 2005, Rezko enjoyed a reputation in Illinois as an up-and-coming, even enlightened entrepreneur with a strong interest in the risky low-income and affordable housing markets that relied on tax credits and other government assistance.

He also was a reliable source of campaign cash for an array of politicians from both parties.

Obama was a community organizer in the Roseland neighborhood before leaving for Harvard Law School, and on the South Side he saw firsthand a critical need for affordable housing.

OH MY GOD. Can you believe the nerve of Obama who understood the need for affordable housing becom8ing friends with a guy who had a good reputation in low income housing?

And look at the suspicious unusually frank ethics disclosure reports of Mr Obama? Hmmm???

At the Tribune's request, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans produced a list of all 260 civil and criminal cases in which the firm filed appearances, and the Tribune separately examined 1990s lawsuits that Rezmar Corp. listed in applications for government grants. The paper also examined files from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the city housing department, as well as the hundreds of clients

Obama listed in the unusually frank ethics disclosure reports

he filed as a state senator from December 1995 through April 2004.

Unusually frank. Strange. Why would he be open and honest if he is a politician? Do we really want an honest president?

Don't worry, they don't say things like unusually frank about Clinton's http://www.judicialwatch.org/6180.shtml

Judicial Watch Files Complaints against Hillary Rodham Clinton with Senate Ethics Committee and Department of Justice

I hope it's not too bad for Sen Clinton, you know those arrests at America Coming Together (ACT) fundraising group, that Federal Election Commission had that big investigation going on with. They worked for the Clinton campaign or held positions with consulting firms it hired. A LOT of money. It's a LOT under fishy circumstances...but otherwise you know we'd support her.

Do you think it's fair that a lot of people suspect Senator Clinton really did know that one of her BIG donors Hsu was doing that multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme bilking investors? Was he let out on bond yet? It really worries me that people might think badly of her.

HOW long do you want to do these stupid threads?

And I worry about poor Sen Clinton getting blamed for things like
It doesn't look good at all
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/21/AR2007112102280.html
SEC Opens Investigation of Company Headed by Key Supporter of Clintons
The Securities and Exchange Commission has launched an investigation into InfoUSA, a Nebraska company that used corporate funds to fly Hillary Rodham Clinton around the country, and one of only two companies to put Bill Clinton on its payroll after he left the White House.
snip
For the past four years, both Clintons have used Gupta's corporate plane, flying to Switzerland, Hawaii, Jamaica and Mexico -- about $900,000 worth of travel, The Post reported in May.

Earlier this year, the company's spending on the Clintons gave rise to a shareholder lawsuit complaining that hiring the former president was a "waste of corporate assets."
snip
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign declined comment last night

Sure there is a lot more but you know Obama knew this one guy and has opened his UNUSUALLY FRANK records

[Sancho]

4. This was not about Hillary or Edwards...

I think we all know the "investigations" about the Clintons. For a public who are just now learning about Obama and trying to pick the strongest candidate, there is a danger to being associated with a scandal.

As far as I can tell, there's more to be investigated here. Either there is a connection or there isn't, but if Obama is not squeaky clean, he'll be on the defensive and possibly lose the general election. The Florida pseudo-primary is today. I've already heard people talking about this affecting their vote. That's the reality.

This story was on the National page in the St. Pete Times today. It will influence people who are "undecided".

[jbnow]

5. I know who it was about but there are

all of these threads as though there is scandal brewing around Obama because this rezko is in trouble again.

This is no fresher or more relevant than the Clinton scandals from the last year. This "broke" a couple years ago. When Rezko was indicted Obama donated the money to charity and as they find more turns out to be indirectly connected with him they give that to charity too.

The comparison does matter. Obama's "unusually frank" disclosure forms have been gone over, Fitzgerald has investigated Rezko and charged him and indicated the others involved in wrongdoing-and Obama has not been found connected to wring doing. What do you want-what needs to be looked at?

It's mostly news he is being asked about because Clinton made it so. They pressured the media to do more and not much happened so she brought it up in the debate in a very misleading way.

85 K is mentioned in horror...that is a tiny amount compared to the amount Clinton got through criminals that weren't as long ago as when Obama was investigated in this. Obama didn't throw out her shady connections. I'm not actually accusing Clinton of wrong doing either. People give money and you don't always know the background...but this story has no more validity than the Clinton ones. If we want to throw dirt before Super Tuesday lets throw it in all directions.

It does bug me because it gets mud on this guy who doesn't deserve it. If money was a big thing he could be rich by having made choices other than going back to Chicago and taking low paying jobs that were hands on with people he would not profit from and going into public service. President of Harvard Law review can get any cushy job they want.

Is he suppose to take a public lie detector test?

[Sancho]

6. Today is the Florida primary; the story was in the St. Pete Times today...

The Times is pretty progressive, so the question is more about those who have never heard of Rezko before and hear about it as a scandal. I'm sure that dirt will be tossed about all the candidates, but Obama is new to Florida. Both Hillary and Edwards are pretty well known here. Remember that there is no campaigning here!

I'm not sure where an investigation would lead, or even if it is a dead end. The perception is important and the Repubs here will exaggerate, spin, lie, and cheat. ANY weakness in a new person may or may not be a problem in a close race and this jumped out at me...

(Lie detectors in Florida are rigged!)

[MethuenProgressive]

3. Close enough to get over $85,000.00 from him - that he gave back when the shit hit the fan.

RezkoGate.

[stillcool]

7. I wonder how many candidates..

have had to give money back to campaign contributors? Say like with close ties to Walmart. I suppose connections to a dirty business man is way worse than connections to a dirty corporation.

[realFedUp]

8. The LA Times was front page for days on Hsu...

but today just a small AP story in the middle of the front section
was all they could muster on this story tying Obama and Rezko.

Rezko helped out the Obama's buy their house and the lot next door.
Obama wrote letters in support of a large housing project that
got taxpayer monies and money to Rezko and Davis, Obama's former
boss.

I'd say just those two things are much larger than any
monies Hsu gave Hillary in bundling and that she gave back.