Sen. Obama linked to accused fundraiser (so the '08 mudslinging begins)

[grizmaster]

I guess we can officially say that the repubs fear Obama. They've already started the rovian attacks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061105/ap_on_re_us/fundraiser_charged_obama_2


CHICAGO - Responding to a newspaper report, Sen. Barack Obama said Saturday that arrangements he had with a political fundraiser accused of shaking down companies might have raised the appearance of impropriety.

Antoin "Tony" Rezko, whom Gov. Rod Blagojevich has described as a friend and a fundraiser, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he plotted to squeeze millions of dollars in kickbacks out of investment firms seeking state business. He also has pleaded not guilty to obtaining a $10.5 million loan from General Electric Capital Corp. through fraud and swindling a group of investors.

Obama and his wife closed on a $1.65 million home last year in Chicago; the same day, Rezko's wife closed on a $625,000 lot next door, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

[TayTay]

1. What makes you think this came from Rove instead of NYC?

I don't think Rove cares about this. This kind of stuff usually comes from your own.

Perhaps out of New York? Who wins and who loses if Barack Obama is smeared?

[grizmaster]

10. I said "rovian" not Rove

it's the style of attack and how early it is that makes it a rove-style attack.

Which could have come from a dem, but I doubt it. And repubs have been doing these kinds of attacks on Hillary and other dems for years. What makes you assume this is more likely a dem on dem attack?

[TayTay]

14. Who wins and who loses in this?

It's like "Follow the money," it's one of those axioms of politics that are true.

Who wins and who loses on a smear on Barack Obama?

[grizmaster]

16. anybody who doesn't want him to gain political traction

and that would be all repubs, and as you're insinuating, possibly some dems.

[karynnj]

17. I think this is pure Chicago politics

Their governor is very possibly in major trouble over this. This fund raiser is bad news. There was a story this weekend that was on DU about this from the Chicago Tribune - their conclusion was that Obama did nothing wrong, but should have avoided th eappearance of improbiety. The Tribune has been far to the right since I was a kid reading it in the 60s.

Chicago papers LIVE on Chicago corruption - so this is far more likely than saying it is smearing. (Given the circumstances, it was fair to ask questions - which Obama has answered.)

[Wickerman]

2. not this old crap again

putting new spin on this nothing story.

[grizmaster]

12. seems that all that's left in the GOP tank

is all there old routines and smears.

And I agree, I don't think this amounts to more than frustrated defeated repubs passing gas.

[The Blue Flower]

3. Might as well do it now

Let them do it now, and it'll be out of the way when it matters. If this is the worst they've got, I don't see it being a problem.

[Alhena]

4. This is old news for Chicago ...

Here is a link of Obama answering the hard questions about this transaction. He freely admits his mistake was engaging in any dealings at all with Rezko, but the deal itself was above-board, by all indication. He even appears to have lost money in his purchase of a small piece of land from Rezko:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2006/11/post_41.html

[Mass]

5. Seems to me it has started a while ago, you know.

And yes, this has been out for at least one week. Dems and MSM were too busy talking Kerry down, so they missed this one, but it was on the nuts sites all along.

[zulchzulu]

6. What? Ya mean the Repigs play dirty? Say it isn't true...

If you're a "frontrunner" this early in the 2008 presidential race, you will be seen as The Devil Incarnate in six months or so... it's an old, old story.

[truebrit71]

7. I believe Obama addressed this when it came out here locally last week...

...basically said he made an error in judgement and realizes that now he is in the spotlight he needs to take better care of these sorts of things...

Left me feeling kinda cold, I like the guy, I think he was tremendous potential, he didn't duck and run from the accusations, but he needs to come out stronger on this type of stuff...especially if there is anything else that might "raise the appearance of impropriety" because if he persuades his wife to allow him to run, there is gonna be a whole bunch of diggin' goin' on....

[MessiahRp]

8. FWIW I don't think Obama will run for President, at least not in '08

He may start an exploratory committee, raise some money but he and Hillary would be drawing from a similar money pool so I don't anticipate him going full into it.

Plus I find this interesting... looks like he's already gearing up for his Senate re-election:

http://yellowpages.superpages.com/listings.jsp?SRC=comwp&sid=12213&STYPE=S&PG=L&R=N&C=&N=obama+2010&T=&S=&search=Find+It

Rp

[terrya]

11. I don't either.

It's just too soon. And I think Senator Obama sees that. I think he's far more interested in re-election to the Senate in 08.

[karynnj]

18. He's not up till 2010

He can open a Senate 2010 fund and transfer it to a President 08 fund.

[grizmaster]

15. you could be right on that

but that doesn't stop them from fearing him enough to start building the smears

[politicasista]

9. This came up about a week or so ago n/t

[Eugene]

13. This is all they got?

If I'm reading this right Rezko made a killing at Obama's expense.
He did Obama no favor. No public policies, funds, or contracts
were involved. This is an exceptionally bad case of innuendo.