Reply #116: You Obama folks stick your heads in the sand obviously. [View All]

[ACanadianLiberal]

I don't care anything else, even the Rev. Wright thing. One thing I want all of us to be honest and fair is that how Mr. Obama reacted to his constituents who lived in those 11 builings in which the slumlord Rezko and Sen. Obama were involved when his constituents complained the situations. What did Mr. Barack Hope Obama do for those small people?

One source (Carol Marin, NBC News) said his answer was: "I didn't know".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-YoB5mnZs&NR=1

Another source, from Sen. Obama's communications director Robert Gibbs, said he “did follow up on constituency complaints about housing as matter of routine”.

Sun-Times' questions, and Obama campaign's answers
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/353786,CST-NWS-rezquestions23.article

"Q: Many Rezmar government-financed housing deals have ended up in legal battles, including foreclosure. Several Rezmar buildings are now boarded up, and others are in need of major repairs. Taxpayers have lost millions of dollars on these deals. While Senator Obama has called Mr. Rezko a legal client, campaign contributor and a friend, there's ample evidence that Mr. Rezko was a slum landlord. Was the senator aware then that Mr. Rezko's projects were deeply mired in physical and financial problems? Does the senator think it is fair to characterize Mr. Rezko as a slum landlord?

"A: Housing partnerships in which low-income-housing tax credits are syndicated frequently struggle financially. The reasons for the problems such partnerships struggle are complex but frequently include urban crime, demographic changes and social factors outside the control of any developer or owner. Senator Obama was not otherwise aware of financial and physical problems attributable to misconduct by Mr. Rezko.

"Q: Rezmar's buildings were often cited for code violations, including lack of heat in the winter. One third of Rezmar's government-financed housing projects were in the state Senate district represented by Sen. Obama. Did anyone ever complain to the senator about the physical conditions of Rezmar's buildings? If so, who?

"A: Senator Obama did follow up on constituency complaints about housing as matter of routine. Further questions about their condition should be addressed to the CHA . It is our understanding that, according to CHA, the buildings owned by Rezmar were maintained in good condition and good standing.

"Q: Did the senator ever complain to anyone -- government officials, Rezmar or Tony Rezko -- about the physical conditions of Rezmar's buildings?

"A: Again, Senator Obama did follow up on constituency complaints about housing as matter of routine.

Be honest to yourself, if this were the senator from your district, and those scandals had occurred under this Senator's watch, would you be satisfied with his "matter of routine" answer? Do you want to drill this a little bit deeper? Things like, asking him to be specific about what matter of routine is supposed to look like, what end answer Mr. Obama got from the matter of routine, wheather he visited any of those 11 slum buildings.

This Gibbs guy obviously tried so hard to talk away from the hot issue, which I view as a central piece of this man's political character.

Forget about the presidential race a few seconds. When you look at this specific example, can you simply sweep it under the carpet and tell yourself that this is just a minor issue belonging to the small part of his imperfection?