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Recently Unsealed Court Documents Confirm Obama Heavily Embroiled in Rezko Case

By Un coup de des on June 27, 2008 at 1:36 PM in Barack Obama, Chicago, Chicago politics, Patrick Fitzgerald, Tony Rezko

According to today’s edition of the Chicago Sun-Times, “Barack Obama’s name could have been invoked more at the corruption trial of his former fund-raiser Tony Rezko.”  But prosecutors instead chose to focus on the first target of Fitzgerald’s probe: convicted slumlord and notorious Chicago political fixer Antoin “Tony” Rezko, the man who helped Obama purchase his Kenwood mansion in 2005. 

The prosecutors’ decision to refrain from discussing Obama’s deep imbrication in the Rezko scandal during the trial does not exonerate the Senator from Illinois, however.  I quote US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who issued the following admonition in the wake of Rezko’s conviction:

 U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said the verdict represented “an antidote to the poison of corruption” that trial testimony alleged included the fixing of state boards that controlled a $40 billion pension fund and made major decisions about million-dollar hospital construction. He expressed hope it would have an effect on Illinois politicians. “If morals don’t get to them, I hope the fear of going to jail does,” Fitzgerald told reporters.             

 Fitzgerald and the prosecutors are particularly concerned with Obama’s acceptance of “straw” campaign contributions others made on Rezko’s behalf.  I quote the Sun-Times:

The Illinois senator was the recipient of “straw” campaign contributions made by others on behalf of Rezko — money that Obama has since given to charities.            

The documents indicate that prosecutors considered offering witnesses to explore why Rezko used others to contribute to Obama and also to Blagojevich, and U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve ruled that they could. But they did not end up offering any such testimony during the trial.

“Witnesses will testify that Rezko was a long-standing supporter and fund-raiser of Barack Obama,” prosecutors wrote. 

 One contribution with which prosecutors are concerned is the donation Joseph Aramanda, an associate of Rezko who is also known as “Individual D” in the superseding indictment Fitzgerald’s prosecutors filed, submitted to Obama in 2004.  A Chicago Sun-Times article dated 24 December 2007 summarizes the situation quite succinctly:  

Aramanda is identified as “Individual D” in Rezko’s indictment. And when Levine pleaded guilty in October, Aramanda again was listed as “Individual D.”            

Aramanda was identified by the Sun-Times as “Individual D,” who allegedly received a $250,000 kickback tied to a scheme to steer lucrative state pension deals to firms and consultants that donated to Blagojevich. Aramanda is not specifically named or charged with criminal wrongdoing in the court papers. He did not return a call seeking comment Saturday. 

 Aramanda’s son, by the way, was rewarded an internship in Obama’s Senate office in Washington, DC, at the behest of Antoin “Tony” Rezko.  Why do the words quid pro quo come to mind unbidden?  

 Because the evidence the prosecutors presented regarding Obama’s involvement with Rezko and Aramanda is so compelling, Judge St. Eve ruled it was appropriate for prosecutors to invoke the name of Barack Obama during the Rezko trial.  All this prompts a few questions:

  • Do the prosecutors involved in Operation Board Games intend to broach other aspects of Obama’s deep and problematic entanglements with Antoin “Tony” Rezko?  
  • Will this scandal resurface after the Democratic Convention in August?
  • Is Rezko the first of many corrupt Chicago machine dominoes to fall?
  • Are Presidential candidates usually embroiled in fraudulent schemes involving investment firms, the Illinois Teachers’ Pension Fund and questionable campaign contributions?

No Quarter promises to alert readers to any and all developments involing Patrick Fitzgerald, Barack Obama and the unscrupulous Antoin “Tony” Rezko. 

No Quarter dossier on Obama and Rezko:

RezkoWatch contains even more information on Obama’s deep and problematic ties to convicted slumlord and notorious political fixer Antoin “Tony” Rezko.        

  • Aaron

    I have it from sources deep in the Chicago US Attorney’s office that they are actively pursuing charges against Obama but they understand the need for compelling irrefutable evidence and are proceeding with caution. The other side of this is that the US attorney’s office is well aware that if Obama wins before they can indict him and Daley, then Obama is going to replace Fitzgerald and kill the investigation post haste.

    • B from Bloomington

      Certainly hope something happens soon. Time is running out and bo belongs behind bars. He can flush his crap down the toilet there instead of trying to cram it down our throats.

    • http://www.TheOtherDemocrats.com FloridaDem

      Crooks, crooks, and more Crooks!

      Obama is as crooked as they come. The guy creeps me out more and more. I certainly hope your people in the Chicago US Attorney’s office are working as fast as they can on this. It’s of vital importance to the US.

      Bambi’s shown he’s clearly not what he appears to be, and is falsifying documents (like his birth certificate), and will clearly squelch this if he wins before they get an indictment.

      Hmmmmm He’s more and more Bush-like every day. Another little ‘titan’ who will use his power with out thinking of the legalities. I mean, he already has shown his ‘constitutional colors’ with his FISA vote.

      I shudder to think what’s down the road.

      • Donald from Hawaii

        Oh, for God’s sake! For the last fucking time, you stupid numbnuts out there in right-wing La-La Land –

        Nobody falsified Barack Obama’s birth certificate.

        He was born out here in Honolulu in 1961. My former boss, Congressman Neil Abercrombie, was both a neighbor and graduate school classmate of Obama’s parents while all three attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and he distinctly remembers the blessed event.

        Hell, I even met a retired head nurse of obstetrics at The Queen’s Medical Center, and who was actually present at Obama’s birth.

        Larry Johnson, your site’s continued role in actively facilitating the knowing and willful dissemination of false information with malice aforethought, i.e., with the intent to cause injury or harm — especially when the bullshit about the birth certificate has been clearly and easily refuted on countless occasions — potentially implicates you in a case of slander and libel. Therefore, you really ought to keep that in mind, and take pains to disassociate yourself from such irresponsible commentary.

        • Hope

          the blessed event? Please.
          If it’s not falsified, once again, the way to end all speculation is to release a copy of his ORIGINAL Ceritificate of Live Birth.

          Are the Sun Times and US Attorney Fitzgerald guilty of slander and libel, too? Or wait, are they just racist, or uneducated, maybe Bible thumpers, huh?

          What we do know is Obama is a criminal and you have very few moral standards if you support him.

        • Northwest rain

          The troll is here!!

          “You people” blah blah

          and then condemning Larry Johnson –

          This troll is one of the worst of the worst.

          Trolls cannot handle the truth — Obama is dirty — Rezko isn’t one of the ELECTED ones in the dirty political machine — OBAMA is one of the ELECTED individuals in the political machine that needs cleaning up!

          Get over it Obamabutts — your guy is dirty — very very dirty. For Obama to get where he is now in the Chicago political machines means Obama is dirty — and Rezko will begin to sing BEFORE he is sentenced in September

        • Betty

          ya but what about him falsifying documents (like his birth certificate)?

          • Betty

            I meant that to be funny, I wanted Donald’s head to spin.

        • TeakWoodKite

          What is the retired nurses name?

          Congressman Neil Abercrombie? He will now get requests from the public…Thanks

        • alee21

          Sounds like, “I know someone who knows someone..”. Heresay at best. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

        • Patriotparty11

          So great! No Problem! Just publish the birth certificate. Prove it, just like McCain had to. Like I have had to. Like any person in America running for the highest office in the land has to.

        • Faustina

          If i recall, there is a list of documents that Obama has refused to release.

          Why could that be?

          He needs to release all of them. We, the people, need to know who and what we are being asked to vote for.

          As Hillary has already pointed and for which she got the finger, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

        • KarenG

          If he has a real one, why does he refuse to
          release it….that would end the problem right there.

        • Brendy

          And you honestly think that ‘proving his birth certificate’ is the ONLY thing we have against the ‘great One’? HA! That’s only ONE of the hundreds of scary revelations we’re finding out about this crafty, sly empty suit.

        • Jim S

          The way Obamabots talk about him as the 2nd coming of Christ I figured he must have been born in Hawaii. As written in the Book of Obama, Revulsions:1 He will be borne in Hawaii to an atheist and a Muslim and He will be called Hussein. Was he ever baptized in a proper church and is are there any record of it? Did his father attend the service or was he enough of a Muslin to recognize that as a Muslin he couldn’t enter the church. Trying to fill in the blanks of a guy with no past.

        • Deep Truths

          Jeepers, this comment is certainly coming out of left field. Did you happen to read the thread title – AT ALL?

          What say you to the tread title my little Obamabot with kool-aid on your face?

        • jyotinc

          Hey Donald,
          You want to stop this kind of investigation, show us the real birth certificate with seal, that is if he got any. He’s running for this big position and you and I should be informed about the credibility or legitimacy of his citizenship.

        • DoroB

          Oh my gosh–blessed event??

          • MaryPat

            Well, Barry WAS born in a manger, you know.

            (Probably bought and paid for by Tony Rezko!)

    • wac for hillary

      Fitzgerald is probably having the same problem the Republicans are having–so much graft to choose from, so little time.

      • treason pete holds the elephant’s seat

        Democrats, too, all that graft, which to choose?

    • Joe

      Rezko knows where all of Barack’s birth certificates are buried.

    • Donald from Hawaii

      Two immediate thoughts here:

      (1) If we have learned anything about Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald over the past seven years, it’s that he is an honest man who likes to hold his cards close to his vest, and who runs a tight ship that is staffed by a professional crew with even tighter lips. His office is not one that leaks such information, even casually or accidentally.

      (2) If your “sources from deep inside the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s office” were true legal professionals such as described above in (1), they wouldn’t be talking so loosely to anyone about any active and ongoing investigation, let alone about one so politically sensitive as to potentially implicate the past practices of the prospective Democratic presidential nominee.

      Therefore, I have my doubts as to the veracity of your “sources”. If there is truly any evidence that potentially implicates Barack Obama in wrongdoing, then by federal law it would be incumbent upon Fitzgerald to notify Obama’s attorney in writing that his client is either a subject or the target of a federal investigation, and a new grand jury would be convened, both of which have yet to occur.

      Fitzgerald’s office staff has heretofore never actively speculated about someone’s guilt or innocence prior to the act of indictment, and I don’t see them doing that now.

      • treason pete holds the elephant’s seat

        I dont know, maybe Obama received a target letter, or maybe someone is leaning on Fitz.

        I hope he finds the courage to do the right thing by the country, even if they threaten his career.

        That’s where most men fall, ultimately, they put self before country.

        But, you know, someone is ALWAYS watching…

      • Teakwood

        never actively speculated about someone’s guilt or innocence

        “heretofore” ???

        No need to speculate about it. As Mr. Johnson has said before and it applies to US Attorney Fitzgerald, he deals in facts.

        I would love to read his autobiography. The shit that Fitzgerald knows and what he has had to go through to get the facts…

        I mean he has had to deal with terrorism, treason and RICO Chicago corrupton… what a mix.

        • Deep Truths

          I believe Fitzgerald let Rove squeak by in the Scooter Libby case because he has him dead to rights in the Attorney’s General firing. Ironically Fitzgerald himself was definitely on the list. And also one of Obama’s acquiantances involving embezzling Iraqi infrastructure is connected to the White House. Meeting with George Dubya as early as 2003.

      • http://deleted Aaron

        You’re correct that any lawyer worth a spit wouldn’t devulge sensitive information with regards to an on going case. Hypotheticals and nuanced language go a long way when delivered appropriately to critical minds. One possible reason Obama wasn’t brought up in the Rezko trail is that they didn’t want to muddy the water until the appropriate time. There is similar talk about Illinois current govenor.

        As an aside some in this same group some thought that Obama might be employing a Sharpton defense, “They are only going after me because I’m running for POTUS.” This was an offensive move and as we can see with how he played the race card in Florida, Obama has no problem playing offense. We shall see if these people are accurate or only talkers I can not verify the information directly.

      • Deep Truths

        All I know is that an attorney can get a conviction on a perjury charge, which takes a lot of parsing, then he certainly can nail someone using wired surrogates.

        It taking so long because they dig and they keep finding new chit. Daunting task. Obama is a mass criminal, several layers of criminality.

  • missE

    kevin posted this link on another thread.

    Boston.com explains more about Obama’s developer friends.

    http://tinyurl.com/4own9w

    • Un coup de des

      I am writing an essay on that article right now. Expect a series of essays on the Boston Globe expose.

      • missE

        Thanks, I look forward to reading them.

      • Teakwood

        Un coup de des;

        Just wanted to say I really enjoy your work.
        I was wondering what differences you see in the Globes reporting when compared to the Suntimes’ body of work.

        • Un coup de des

          The Globe discusses how this has been a fraudulent scheme since the late 1990s. Or at least they imply the privitization of public housing in chicago is a fraudulent scheme in which Obama has been embroiled. And I believe they are correct.

          • Teakwood

            If you have run into info on how LLC’s and trusts were used as shields, I would love to hear about it.

            I agree with you on the housing scheme.

            • wac for hillary

              Just how many schemes are there? Wasn’t there one involving state retirement pensions and another about the education system in Chicago? We have white collar crooks where I live, but they are amateurs beside the ones in Chicago.

          • treason pete holds the elephant’s seat

            How does this relate back to the republican schemes to also capitalize on privatization?

            Wasn’t this really, in part, the genesis of the combine, in IL, and Washington, DC?

            I remember Rumsfeld speaking of privatization, the idea business could do the job better than government, using this excuse to essentially outsource some of the military responsibility ( paid off too, didn’t it? YOW!)while making an illegal fortune for himself, and his buddies in the Pentagon, through Iraq, and elsewhere, by war profiteering. (Also made some money for Alsammarae, Rezko and Obama’s buddy, but then he’s connected to the combine, too, the Chicago-Washington line. I wonder if Glenn Miller wrote a song about that, oh, no, that was Chattanooga, and a train. I keep thinking “plane crash” for some strange reason, today. The only plane crash song I know is “Snoopy and the Red Baron,” by the “Royal Guardsmen,” which I guess explains all those men in stripes, the ones who guard the pope, the “Swiss Guards.” Don’t ask, I digress.)

            I hope this issue is researched fairly, the blame goes to republicans and democrats, not just democrats.

            Says a lot when the writer only holds ONE party responsible, which, of course, you will not do, I’m sure you will be fair….

            • chklaver

              Have you read the articles by Evelyn Pringle?

              She provides a synopsis that will make your head spin. And yes it does include the Repubs, and points out the vast corruption that has been in Il for over 4 Governorships. Blago and his crew ran on the anti corruption platform.

              • hank48188

                The crooks in Illinois and the Chicago area all work across Party lines, they are equal-opportunity crooks. Obama was pretty helpful to Rezko by writing those nice letters that would help Rezko get those Gov’t backed loans for his Slum Projects. It’s just too bad the taxpayers get stuck with the tab.

      • http://deleted AnninCa

        Good……that article was easier to follow than the Chicago Trib gal.

        She’s just too deep into details. I don’t question her journalism.

        I do question the ability to make that story have legs.

        I read the Boston Globe story and “got it.”

        We need simpler stories.

        No story can be that dang complicated! If so, then it’s like the Republican smear campagaign against the Clintons.

        Murder, etc.

        I am so not willing to follow the Sinclairs off the cliff. I’m apparently too mentally balanced to entertain conspiracy theories.

        This story is simpler. His major doners also were slumlords. It’s not just Rezko.

        These creeps made money off of the public to provide housing but didn’t follow through with maintenance, upkeep.

        Now they are the worst type of slums…..paid for by good liberals.

        This has to stop.

        • kevin

          now they’re on his staff, who will be his choice for secretary of HUD?
          crackhouses for everyone
          maybe these developers will construct the re-education camps

        • missE

          The part where my jaw dropped was here:

          Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama’s presidential campaign and a member of his finance committee. Jarrett is the chief executive of Habitat Co., which managed Grove Parc Plaza from 2001 until this winter and co-managed an even larger subsidized complex in Chicago that was seized by the federal government in 2006, after city inspectors found widespread problems.

          • kevin

            That’s your HUD secretary right there.

        • wac for hillary

          Pringle must be hitting close to something. Rezko Watch has an article about Auchi’s lawyer threatening to sue media outlets that are publishing her articles.

      • educatedwhitewoman

        I hope so – Obama helped Rezko to get develop those slums and received big donations from Rezko as payback (“pay to play” as it’s known in Chicago) – all the while Obama ignored his poor constituents who lived in Rezko’s slums without heat. Oh yes, and all the while Obama and Michelle gave thousands to TUCC so that Rev. Wright could preach to his followers that all of their problems were due to the racist, white, American government!

        • educatedwhitewoman

          And, Obama repeatedly lied to the media about the amounts that he received from Rezko. Obama started off by admitting a $60,000 contribution, but the number kept climbing higher and higher, as Obama was confronted again and again with revealtions that he had donated more – eventually the figure came to $250,000 – and this doesn’t count the amounts from “friends of Rezko,” including other Arab Americans sympathetic to Hamas and the Palestinians.

          • educatedwhitewoman

            correction: “revelations”

          • Northwest rain

            Obama claims to be giving the “tainted” political donations to charity — WHICH charities?? We really need to know which charities are getting this second-hand dirty money.

        • Teakwood

          The whole BLT needs the mayo of the poor (and two packets of kethup), to call it self a sandwich.

          Raise people out of poverty and their BLT is just stale bread.

          Did BO commit any selfless acts to help his constituents? Not a God Damn Ameikkkkan thing.

        • Deep Truths

          God you are so right. Never made the connection before. Egads!

    • Mandelay

      And the Globe did not open their “expose” for comments because they know better. This stuff has been kicking around for several years in the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Trib, and the Globe is picking it up now? How different is this stuff from Evelyn Pringle’s articles that have been so ridiculed? Maybe the Globe’s article is a good sign? Ya think? Or just part of the “timed release” of negative stories on days when we have the kissy-kissy feel good “Unity” farce? Do ya think? Other mainstream outlets might inform the public as well? My fave quote from the Globe article has to to with the people who’ve been hurt by Obama mixing it up with Rezko to create slums:

      “… some people in Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods are torn between a natural inclination to support Obama and a concern about his relationships with the developers they hold responsible for Chicago’s affordable housing failures. ”

      I would ask these poor people who ended up living in an Obama/Rezko slum: This year, was it so important to elect a black man President? Even at the expense of your own lives and the lives of your children? Is it that important that you can swallow being Obama’s pawns for Rezko’s contributions? Is this what we’ve come to? Is that all that matters? While he puts his feet up on the desk in the Oval Office, do you get to chase the rats around the living room? Does anyone remember Hillary Clinton calling him out in one of the debates for his relationship with this “slumlord”? And how she was blasted for doing so? Who was really looking out for you? How did you vote over there in Chicago? What a farce.

      • kevin

        While he puts his feet up on the desk in the Oval Office, do you get to chase the rats around the living room?

        Well said, that sums him up nicely.

    • Elle

      Obama’s connections and deals with his developer friends … and now so many connected to those deals are in his campaign for POTUS …. if they succeed would make corruption in Indonesia (where he grew up and where corruption is a way of life) look like a walk in the park!

      Audacious … and dangerous.

      For the sake of democracy and America, I hope he is stopped.

  • larryfan

    Obama will continue to sidestep Rezko.

    Obama will continue to distract anything with Rezko with more “promises” of issues he’ll claim he can CHANGE.

    With the money Obama is claiming….he will build a Force Shield to combat the attacks……

    BUT

    Truth will Prevail.

    And the Truth is not on Obama’s side.

    • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

      Count on hearing the Race Card.

    • mr. natural

      As well we have learned, enforcing the law is racist. Even the truth is racist.

  • Teakwood

    BO during his recent presser…I have problems with this statement on so many different levels. BO is pulling a Gary Hart, so lets just call this the “Monkey Business” challenge.

    “You will recall that for my entire political career here, I was not the the endorsed candidate of any political organization here,” the Democratic presidential hopeful said at the Westin Hotel downtown. “I didn’t go around wielding a bunch of clout. My reputation in Springfield was as an independent. There is no doubt I had friends and continue to have friends who come out of the more traditional school of Chicago politics but that’s not what launched my political career and that’s not what I’ve ever depended on to get elected, and I would challenge any Chicago reporter to dispute that basic fact.”

    .

    Lets start with Emil Jones..”make me senator”…

    “http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1025587,CST-NWS-obamaforweb26.article”

    • missE

      He is going to regret that challenge.

    • wac for hillary

      He’s an independent, and he has friends who come out of the more traditional school of Chicago politics? If we had a real press, all of the reporters would have burst out laughing at that point. Let’s hope there are still some real reporters in Chicago who take the challenge.

    • http://thehorizontalworld.blogspot.com/ Medusa

      Thanks for this great piece, Un coup de des. It’s hard to keep up on the blow-by-blow of BO’s criminal friends.

      How and when did Axelrod get involved in the Obamafia? Do you know?

    • KarenG

      Wasn’t it Obama that said he was tough enough to
      go after the Republicans because he had come
      through Chicago politics? I think he has two personalities……

  • roseeriter

    Obama’s Dossiere is impressive especially when compared to his so called experience to become the president..No comparison..
    Makes me understand Hillary’s unity a bit more, she’ll be there to pick up the pieces and if the Obamabots accept Hillary in this joint campaign effort, they’ll vote for her and the rightful to be president person will be ready ON DAY 1!!

    How’s that for some hope??

    NOBAMA!

  • kcfromtx

    Truth wont prevail. Ovomit will cheat his way into the White House.
    He will get millions of fraudulent votes in states other than Illinois and North Carolina. He has ACORN doing his dirty work and he taught them how to do it.

    • wac for hillary

      I choose to believe there are enough of us out here, who will never vote for Obama, who will make sure he and the lovely Michelle never set foot in the White House.

      • Northwest rain

        I agree — even the individuals who don’t have Internet access or the time to do the research know that something is wrong about Obama.

        There is a lack of character that many people pick up on — he also has a lack of empathy.

        Obama has so many negatives to choose from that finding just one to point to as the reason NOT TO VOTE Obama is getting harder and harder.

        Basically the Chicago political machine has learned to grab government subsidies before they reach the people most in need of help. There are a lot of poor people who need help — and a heavy concentration in urban areas — stealing from the poor is a low as an individual can get. Stealing from the poor and living in mansions.

        No wonder Obama has had an unlimited budget — the Chicago political machine wants to move into other urban areas. Moving the DNC to Chicago is just the beginning of this take over.

        • Teakwood

          Much the same way Emil set up Nesbit and his airport parking and limo buisness. Now in Boston and Florida when I looked in December.

        • LilRod

          ” he also has a lack of empathy. ”

          I agree 100%! His words are so empty sounding…never coming from his heart.

          THAT I have noticed from day 1

    • Chad3337

      Re: O cheating his way into the White House.

      You are so right. Mark my words; this election will be won in St. Louis, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan, and Cleveland and Cincinnatti, Ohio. Of course the polls will be kept open long past midnight in those jurisdictions, and neither Republicans nor Independents will have the courage to challenge the legitimacy of those votes. Look at Alice Palmer; look at Florida and Michigan–O will prevail “by whatever means . . . ” (Remind you of anyone, GWB maybe?)

  • BernieO

    Anyone else wonder whether a lot of these “small” donors are actually straw donors.

    • Ivory Bill Woodpecker

      I wonder how many of them are Republicans; maybe this is the ultimate “ratf**k”?

      • Morgan

        I can’t say I know, but I really don’t think there’s something like that going on. I am a Republican, voting for McCain even though he’s not my first choice.

        But given the situation we’re in, trust me, I’d rather Hillary were around than Obama. I disagree with Hillary on a million things, but I do believe she a) would protect her country and b) is intelligent.

        I don’t believe either of those things about Obama. I think he loves the ‘himself’ he’s created, and I think he’s sort of an idiot.

        Barring Hillary getting back in, I am hoping that some folks across the way will vote for McCain, regardless of differences. Outside of policy, and much like Hillary, I think he loves this country and I think he’s an honorable guy.

        Being totally honest, it’s amazing that those traits should be enough to recommend a candidate, but compared to Obama I think it’s true. The guy is truly a manufactured and carefully controlled image, with nothing inside.

        • karen for Clinton

          McCain is my solution, Morgan. McCain has MY “ultraliberal” vote. Sigh, (1971 for me!)

          I sure would like to wake up in the morning without my first thought being the betrayal of my EX-party and the fear of this corrupt con-man possibly taking over our country.

          I support anyone who can take him down with any means necessary, whether it be Rove or Fitz.

          Morgan, if there was NOTHING inside he would not have come this far. That empty slate is full of all the WRONG things.

          RHR – Rise Hillary Rise.

      • wac for hillary

        I wonder how many of them are foreign nationals.

    • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

      Joseph Aramanda and Semir Sirazi donate rezko’s money to Obama in their names.

      The “small donor” claim is as smarmy as the Comrade gets. It is bundled money. They put their feet on the throats of employees, bury money in other “unemployed people” and “students’” names. Its an old dirty trick. usually politicians with SOME semblance of integrity don’t run off and make TV spots saying they don’t collect money from lobbyists just because they do it the sneaky way. But then Comrade Obama doesn’t have “some” semblance of integrity.

      The bundler still gets “credit” for collecting the big bucks in the end. So did that Pakistani “fundraiser” over in billionaire’s row in San Francisco. You know, the party where Obama made fun of Bitter Hicks with Guns Who Pray.

      There are numerous posts here in the NQ archives about how this lying sack of crap does indeed take money from lobbyists and big businesses as well. He’s a Wall Street Darling. Just ask JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Lehman. ANd Exelon. It’s all just a back door laundering deal, with a nose thumbing at the suckers who buy into this liar’s hype. Its’ how Obama rolls.

    • kevin

      oprah and her minions

      • wac for hillary

        Oprah has been strangely quiet lately. Are her ratings still dropping?

        • csuzeq

          Rumor has it that Oprah has some “regrets” where barky is concerned. Supposedly people close to her says Obama has turned out not to be who she thought and I wonder if we’ll see her at all speaking politics again.

  • Salty

    BOHICA Dems ….. so who smells a deal coming out of this that will harm the Dem Party…I DO I DO

  • Lou

    I think it’s time for Obama to resign his candidacy.
    There is just too much coming against him. I’ve heard that he will be arrested.
    We need a Dem in office and he can’t do it.
    Save the party. Step down Obama.

    Obama received 1,000,000 from his dealings with Rezco.
    It was documented in December.

    • tampagurl

      I wish something would happen quick. Although, I really don’t have a problem voting for McCain. I just heard him on the tube saying he would be the president for everyone not just Repubs but Dems as well. The more I listen to him the more I like him. Also, I’m with the Repubs on the drilling issue. I really wish there was a Repubocrat party, because although I’ve voted Democrat all my life the older I get the more I fall in the center of both party’s.

      • jwrjr

        Voting preferences (in order):

        1. Clinton
        2. slime mold
        3. John McCain
        4. Obama

    • Carly Concerned Canadian

      Hi there, do you have a link for that info documented in Dec..
      I have been following the Rezko trial, and think there will be alot more to come out of it…I hope Obama is forced to step down…
      Thank you
      Carly

  • Ellen Tenn

    Obama is the biggest fraud ever. I can’t believe so many people bought into his Hope and Change. What a joke! Sadly, the American people will have to learn to live with it.
    Yuck!

    • wac for hillary

      Isn’t it amazing that after two terms of Bush’s baloney, people are falling for another fraud in Obama?

      • Brendy

        Actually, someone who is even WORSE than Bush (and I voted for Bush twice)! I’ve had my problems with Bush on some things – but Obama???? This person is creepy and scary, along with his resentful, ungrateful, arrogant wife!

  • WasLNbutNoBamaBotsKeepStealingMyName
  • Teakwood

    Aside from the court testimony that Almare was told by Resko that “Fitzgerald will be taken care of”, I wondering about the laws regarding political prosecutions and the 90 day prior “rule”.

    Will Fitzgerald’s hand be forced in some way, because he is required to bring indictments at some deadline point?

    Any US attorney types care to respond?

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

    They will do something to Fitzgerald. That’s CHicago. These people are thugs. They will put a gun in his mouth and pull another one of Obama’s Godfather/Untouchable quotes on him

    What presidential candidate talks about bringing a gun to a knife fight? And people think this guy should be President?

    • wac for hillary

      In a way, I wish Lyndon Johnson was still around. I’d like to see Obama try to play tough guy with him. Johnson would make a snack of him.

      • Mandelay

        :-) Yes!

    • nickoury

      Yeah, who the hell are those people?

      Aother “Bring it on” type.

      How can anyone support this clown?

  • cofer

    Once again, the Democratic party is helping a Republican win the White House.

    • wac for hillary

      Who was it that said, “It’s deja vu all over again?”

      • jwrjr

        Wasn’t that “Yogi” Berra?

      • karen for Clinton

        John Cougar Mellencamp.

  • Jaki Baez

    then Obama is going to replace Fitzgerald and kill the investigation post haste
    ________________________________________________
    I would advise Mr. Fitzgerald that if he values his career, this is the time to put the cards on the table, even if it is a half deck. Obama is using his million dollar smile, his color, his christian root song and dance, and his powerful corrupted DNC, that I don’t recognize anymore, to take over our land. Today, just the appearance of the golden girl and Obama together, has left me sick to my stomach. Hillary should have wore Black and that would at least gave us the impression that it was a funeral for her, but, BLUE? Very heartbreaking for us to see this unity. Never in my life I have seen such a corrupted party, and I though Bush Junior was bad! Gosh, every country is talking about the corruptions, the ties, associations, the homosexual accusation, and NOT one person is willing to ask the golden questions in the media. Bless you Larry, and all the other pen journalist soldiers that have made it a cruasde to expose this man to our nation!

  • http://deleted AnninCa

    As usual, this story is too complex to follow. However, there is an easier story today from the Boston Globe.

    It simply tells the story of development and Rezko and what they pulled.

    Simply put:

    Obama supported private investment in redevelopment. What slumlords did? They let their properties deteriorate. Then they took advantage of Obama-backed legislation. Rebuilt. And walked away again. Now THOSE properties are uninhabitable.

    When Hillary said, “you were busy with your slumlord friend,” she failed to bite her tongue, but she hit the bullseye.

    Rezko is only one developer who backed Obama and who also pulled this scam.

    The properties they developed?

    Today, they are nothing more than crack-head crash pads.

    That’s Obama’s contribution.

    He was contacted regularly by his Illinois voters in his district.

    No answer.

    • tampagurl

      AnninCa, she was booed for saying that during one of their debates and Obama was cheered for criticizing her for siting on a board for WalMart. I never understood that. Talk about night and day!!!

      • http://deleted AnninCa

        Well, because good girls don’t ever usurp the man.

        It was the subtle sexism that prevailed in the campaign.

        I know everyone wants to see the obvious stuff.

        But really, the truth was told on that debate.

        He flat-out lied to the public. He said he worked “4 or 5 hours.” He dismissed her. And he got away with it.

        That is sexism.

        The woman was dismissed.

        That’s the real barrier Hillary was up against. I love the message today, that we’ll never have to face that again.

        I also must say, I so think that message is BS.

        Yes, we will.

        And we will especially if we let the hyenas bury us in rhetorical debate.

        Screw the debate.

        Get organized.

        GO PUMA

        • http://deleted AnninCa

          And let me be totally honest here. Larry is a man. I always look for how to compliment him to keep this site alive.

          Is that sexism?

          You betcha.

          I want to keep the man happy.

          *sigh*

          Sorry, but that’s the truth!

          I do have my boundaries. I compliment only when I mean it.

          But….I search for positives. I think about it before I criticize.

          That’s my own defense measures about sexism.

          I really don’t trust men who are on our side much.

          I think they will turn.

          Now, I trust that my own attitude is the result of a life of experience, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

          But I think the sexism is so prevalent that is always what could happen, in a flash.

          I have the same exact mindset I had in my 70′s, when I was absolutely sure women were under attack.

          I have always, always, watched out of the corner of my eye about any man who suggested he supported me or women’s rights.

          It is the bane of women, I think, to have to be sharp on their toes.

          Even my 1940′s father warned me, however.

          He was adament.

          Do not put HIM through college. He’ll dump you and get the younger woman on his arm.

          I paid attention.

          • hank48188

            Why would the sex of someone that is against Obama matter?

      • B from Bloomington

        So true. Michelle Obama was salaried board member of Treehouse foods (major supplier for Walmart) and resigned only because it would look bad for bo in his bid for president. But the money she made (not chump change) went into their bank account, so bo has benefited from some bucks from Wal-Mart himself. People are such idiots.

        • alee21

          Still not clear why MO got a 3-fold salary hike at the time of Obami’s election to the US Senate. As a U of Chicago employee very few people make that kind of money and it didn’t sound like the position she had was all that important (VP for community and external affairs). Lots of VPs and directors at universities and hospitals that sound grand but nothing important in reality.
          Someone should look into that connection, along with Obami’s connections to Ayers and Rezko. As you recall, Ayers belongs to a very wealthy and influential family in Chicago and Ayers Sr got ex-terrorists/bombers son Ayers and daughter-in-law professorships at leading universities.

      • Mandelay

        Yes, that’s the way it went down. Booed for telling the truth. A former First Lady of the United States and a U.S. Senator was booed for telling the truth and calling out a fellow candidate for POTUS for corruption that has been well documented and equally ignored. That’s what we’ve become.

        • C.S.

          When this occurred I checked it out. Senator Clinton was on the board of WalMart when Sam Walton ran it and he admitted that she had chided him for not having more women in upper management; which caused him to open up high level positions to women.

          Michelle Obama was setting on the board of Treehouse Foods after Sam Walton’s death and after his company was sold. Not the same company at all and it was only after Sam Walton’s death that it got the reputation it has now.

    • TeakWoodKite

      He was contacted regularly by his Illinois voters in his district.

      Obama has publicly stated he “was not aware” of their plight and was NOT contacted by any constituents.

      . Yet on a public transportation issue, where he was “involved” he states he was aware of complaints… Which is it?

    • wac for hillary

      I know I keep mentioning Rezko Watch, but they do have some good stuff on this issue. They also have videos of the tenements being discussed here; Obama and Rezko should be forced to live there–the buildings are beyond bad.

  • missE

    Here’s an interesting tidbit about Pfleger and
    Chicago politics in the Chicago Daily Observer.

    http://tinyurl.com/3rxf78

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

    That Iraqi prison escapee Alsammarae gave him money too. He returned that money in May.

    • wac for hillary

      That’s another crazy issue. How did that guy get in the U.S. and where is he now? How many of these corrupt radical bastards are backing Obama?

  • baghdadobama

    OVOMIT…..I LIKE THAT NAME FOR THAT PIECE OF SHIT. CAN YOU ALL IMAGINE HILLARY OUT THERE STUMPING FOR OBAMA KNOWING ITS COMING FOR HIM….SHE MUST KNOW HOW DIRTY HE REALLY IS, COME ON FITZ !

  • DJ

    I have ONE question. If Obama were to become president, could he not then PARDON Rezko…Could he?

    • kevin

      he most certainly could

      • wac for hillary

        And would.

    • http://deleted AnninCa

      Of course. And that is what Rezko is counting upon.

      Isn’t that obvious from his letter?

  • Jaki Baez

    Comment by roseeriter | 2008-06-27 13:58:23
    _____________________________________
    Nice idea, except he will shut her up in some dark
    room in the white house and throw away the key. This way all his associations that want our secrets, want to change our values and every other reason they want to occupy the whitehouse will make it difficult for her to check on him. No. She cannot be on his ticket, either she becomes independent or go with Mccain, or just say goodbye to her 18 millions- because by November- he might only get 2 millions after everybody knows his life. This, dear child, is a crusade of faith and our country, and we rather see 4 more years of safety than the unknown, and this is a democrat telling you this, not a republican.

  • Steve

    I wonder which charities did Homobana contribute those funds to? Holy Trinity of Hell, Fr. Fleger’s St Sabina? It would be interesting to find out? Plus is there any truth to the rumor, that Obama never really wanted that hkme in Chicago..It was just a front for Rezko’s Las Vegas dealings?

  • typical.white.person

    These henchmen Obama sends over here to NQ to lie and obfuscate are a pain in the a**.

    They give me Obamaroids©.

  • Curious

    Did any of you see the “unity” in Unity, NH?

  • tampagurl

    I wonder what the bot’s are up to. It’s very quite here today.

    • Bonita

      I think he needed them to cheer for him at the Unity rally.

      • tampagurl

        LOL, I didn’t think of that, or doing their daily prayers to Obama almighty.

  • http://www.hillaryloyalistnowformccain.com valsthewoman

    PELOSI CAT FIGHT
    written by A Hillary Loyalist

    There has been a subtle catfight going on since the primary season began. The catfight is between Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. Both of these women enjoy being at the top.
    read more http://hillaryloyalistnowformccain.com/pelosicatfight.aspx

    • http://deleted AnninCa

      I’ll read it eventually. But I hate seeing even this political fight reduced to female ego.

      Catfight is so female.

      I do think Pelosi is frightened about giving power over.

      She’s a typical “first.”

      She can’t afford the luxury of compromise.

      Although her positions are total compromise.

      She’s a “first.”

      Ditto for Obama.

  • cofer
  • PhxNickD

    For the gay & lesbian community that thinks BHO is on our side — it is mentioned again here that BHO is tied to the Teacher’s Pension Union; recently even the GLAD.org website proclaimed his support for the community by hosting a video of BHO being interviewed by Chris Matthews (although that series of clips is no longer on that site) In the interview with Chris Matthews BHO is proclaiming how he supported the transfer of benefits to surviving domestic partners. If one does a little research you will find that the HB581 (2003) shows that he did not vote on that particular bill.

    I believe he just did the same thing with veterans benefits, take credit without voting!

    • tampagurl

      What a lying piece of shit Obama is!!!!

  • http://Reddragon62.blogspot.com/ RedDragon62

    I do not think Obama will be called to answer for his criminal activity here in Chicago.
    The fix is in. I would be willing to bet my last dollar that as soon as they get TOO close to Obama, some flunky will take the heat as to not let Obama get scorched.
    It happens here all the time. Just look at Mayor Daley!

    • Mandelay

      Red Dragon62, do you think Patrick Fitzgerald would go after Daley?

      • treason pete holds the elephant’s seat

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Brezhnev

        I think of Daley’s father, and I think of Brezhnev.

        (I grew up in Chicago, that’s how I saw him, as a kid.)

        Not speaking for the Red Dragon, but I think Fitz would go after Daley, if Fitz stays clean, which I hope he does.

        It’s a personal choice, and there’s A LOT of pressure to play ball with the kooks, the Rezko’s are the type to go after your family, make your life very very difficult, but, in the end, if you want to be a warrior, you have to fight for what is right, what is truly American, and that is protecting the integrity of the Constitution, and our laws, no matter what.

  • Larse12

    My goodness Cofer after reading this article how can Obama be our nominee? What is wrong with the DNC and the media. This guy is going to be behind bars.
    This is a joke.

    • anonymous

      He is not the nominee. There is no nominee until the convention.

  • http://Reddragon62.blogspot.com/ RedDragon62

    To be honest about it Mandelay, NO!
    Daley is Teflon here. Just like his father before him. Now I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. Too many scandals have been linked to him and not a hair on his fat head has been ruffled.
    I know Fitzgerald is a great Prosecutor, but if what he did with the Scooter trial and now Rezco, it seems he has a pattern when it comes to these guys of settling for the Flunkies and not the big fish.

    Just my observation. I could be and sometimes am….Wrong! ;-)

    • TeakWoodKite

      Friday, August 1st, will be a day to remember. The lexicon For Bo’s Urban dictionary will grow. Just my observation.

      :)

    • Mandelay

      :-( Hope so. That’s some dynasty, the Daileys. That would be something. I had read somewhere that Obama had said he would not remove Fitzgerald if he (Obama) were to be elected POTUS.

      • alee21

        Who can trust Obama on anything? Promises are made to be broken by Obama. He is a common liar and criminal.

        • treason pete holds the elephant’s seat

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Brezhnev

          I think of Daley’s father, and I think of Brezhnev.

          Not speaking for the Red Dragon, but I think Fitz would go after Daley, if Fitz stays clean, which I hope he does.

          It’s a personal choice, and there’s A LOT of pressure to play ball with the kooks, the Rezko’s are the type to go after your family, make your life very very difficult, but, in the end, if you want to be a warrior, you have to fight for what is right, what is truly American, and that is protecting the integrity of the Constitution, and our laws, no matter what.

    • KarenG

      I think Blagojevich is target number one…..I
      am afraid they will let Obama go to go after the bigger fish.

  • lor818

    Do you think the the obamatrons picked today to have Hillary start campaigning with the criminal so this could be swept aside? I really would not put it past them. This should be ALL over the the tv right now!!!!!

  • http://Reddragon62.blogspot.com/ RedDragon62

    Don’t count on what Obama say’s. If Fitzgerald gets too close to Obama, I am willing to bet that He, Fitzgerald, will either be fired or he will take some high profile gig at a Law firm somewhere. Quid pro quo.
    If history has taught us anything, it’s that ANYONE can be bought!
    Now I am not intimating that Fitzgerald is corrupt,. But he is a “POLITICAL” appointee is he not?

    • treason pete holds the elephant’s seat

      I dont think quid pro quo without some kind of co opt, or pressure, on the part of those who might threaten Fritz.

      I wrote earlier most men capitulate when their careers are threatened, funny enough, most WOMEN won’t, they fight even harder.

      But it’s Fritz’s choice, in the end, no one can make it for him.

  • KarenG

    Here was another story in the Sun Times this week…
    if you remember a few weeks ago, Rezko wrote a letter to the judge……’

    Rezko submitted misleading letter on “pressure” from prosecutors
    Monday, June 16, 2008

    Chicago Sun-Times:

    In a letter to a judge publicized last week, political fund-raiser Tony Rezko said “overzealous” prosecutors pressured him to tell them “the wrong things” about presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

    But that letter appears to be misleading, given that Rezko never submitted to an interview with federal prosecutors or any federal investigators, sources said.

    Rezko’s lawyer, Joseph Duffy, said Rezko never sat down for an interview and was never pressured directly, or indirectly, through Duffy, to talk about Obama, Gov. Blagojevich — or anyone else.

    Rezko’s correspondence to U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve came in April, in the midst of his corruption trial and as he sat in solitary confinement at a downtown lockup. Arrested in January after a bond violation, Rezko pleaded with St. Eve to release him so he could see his family and assist in his defense. She eventually did release him.

    …

    If Rezko were to have a future change of heart, the note he sent could end up backfiring on him, legal observers say.

    Former prosecutor Zachary Fardon noted that Scott Fawell, former chief of staff to Gov. George Ryan, wrote a similar letter, saying he wouldn’t make up lies about Ryan. Fawell was the star witness in Ryan’s trial.

    …

    I question why his attorney did not tell the judge the letter was misleading at the time. Since he never had the alleged conversations the denials ring pretty hollow too.

  • Deep Truths

    Larry you should repost this when you can. It came out at the time of the Faux Unity dog and pony show.

  • tiberius

    Rezko is a slick operator, who weaseled his way into a lot of high places. He deliberately made political connections to exploit them. That’s his modus operandi. Guys like Rezko don’t begin their associations by announcing themselves to be crooks. They come on as friends and supporters. Their success depends on skillful deceipt. Rezko was pretty damn successful. There’s a photo of the guy posing with Bill and Hillary Clinton. They didn’t know they were posing with a snake. We can’t make assumptions about what Obama knew at the time he was having dealings with Rezko. In Chicago politics, even honest politicians are surrounded by snakes.

    Hillary Clinton had a similar problem with Norman Hsu. The guy deceived everybody. Republican bloggers have done their worst, trying to besmirch Hillary by way of guilt through association. Were Hillary the presumptive candidate, you’d be hearing no end of vile allegations. I never though Norman Hsu was a reflection on Hillary. Nor do I draw conclusions from the lengthy list of close Clinton business associates and contributors who have been charged and convicted of felonies. Influential people simply attract snakes like magnets. The more influential you become and the longer you’re around, the more you’ll have who’ve managed to attach themselves to you.

    • Thinker

      There’s a photo of the guy posing with Bill and Hillary Clinton. They didn’t know they were posing with a snake.

      ^^ They didn’t know that they were posing with a snake, and a picture doesn’t make a relationship.

      The difference is that Obama had an actual relationship with this crook that went on year, after year, after year. And according to an FBI mole in Rezko’s office, they talked on a daily basis.

      He had to know that Rezko was dirty. At the time of his land deal, Rezko was already under investigation, and the land deal that Barack participated in himself is highly suspect. Rezko is corrupt and so is Obama.

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  • Thinker

    But here’s the thing:

    Obama received a lot of votes before Wright etc hit the airwaves. He received votes before we could actually do some research on this man.

    I bet you if a lot of his voters knew then, what they know now, they wouldn’t want to vote for him.