What Did Obama Know? When Did He Know It? ABC on Obama-Rezko

[jackson_dem]

BRIAN ROSS and RHONDA SCHWARTZ
Jan. 10, 2008

After ABC News cited a December 2006 Washington Post story about Senator Barak Obama's knowledge of legal problems faced by his friend Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the Obama campaign complained that the Post story mischaracterized what Obama had told the Washington Post reporter.

The Post reported that "Obama said that he was unaware of Rezko's brewing troubles in 2005," at the time Obama called Rezko about a real estate deal. Washington Post assistant managing editor Bill Hamilton told ABC News it stood by its reporter's story.
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"Our story was accurate and the Obama campaign never raised any questions before," he said.

Obama's knowledge of the extent of the investigation of Rezko, now under federal indictment, is important because it raises questions about his judgment in approaching a man who was under federal investigation.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4115565&page=1

[Thrill]

1. If thats all they have on him

He's in good shape

[jackson_dem]

2. Is this the first shot in a media backlash against Obama?

That is what I found most significant about this. ABC has been maddeningly pro-Obama since the campaign began. There was talk of a media backlash or at least the media giving Obama the same treatment that Hillary, Edwards, Giuliani, Romney, and the other big names have gotten. This may be an aberration or it must be the first shot in the media beginning to vet, or perhaps even destroy, the man they built up. It is well-known how the media loves to build larger-than-life figures and then tear them down.

[aquart]

23. Hey, if that's all they got....get it out now,

[terisan]

3. "a bone-headed mistake" in getting involved in a real estate deal with an underworld figure?

He couldn't buy some other house?


So the criminal bought the adjoining lot at full price and Obama got the house at $300,000 below asking price? Then the underworld figure sold Obama a slice of the lot to enlarge Obama's property.

....and Obama wrote lots of official letters for the underworld figure that were beneficial to the guy's business dealings.

Is this a new definition of hope?

[aquart]

24. Wait. Letters? Letters ARE "favors." Oops.

Who sold the house below asking price? Because homeowners don't like to do that. That's why HGTV has all those helpful shows.

Okay, this is way dirtier.

[ieoeja]

48. Except that the poster just added tons of spin.

The previous owner figured he could make more money splitting the property, selling half with the house and the other half as an empty lot. However, he refused to sell the house until the empty lot sold worried that he might have difficulty moving the empty lot.

Obama had previously (not afterwards as a favor to Rezko) assisted Rezko in obtaining taxpayer funded, low-income, inner-city minority housing. So Obama asked Rezko if he knew anybody interested in the property next door.

Rezko bought it himself. And sold Obama a small portion of it at cost (not at a loss; another lie I previously saw tossed around DU).

[sunonmars]

4. you wait until the attack machine gets going

for a start the guy under indictment is a guy Obamas known for 20 years and is a "fixer" for mafia apparently and is arab american of syrian descent (couldnt be an italian mobster, no but a middle eastern one), you throw that in there, they'll have a field day, screw the truth, they'll make it the truth.

[ieoeja]

49. The first time I ever read anything about Rezko and mafia was yesterday on DU.

Rezko is alleged to have pocketed money intended for low-income, inner-city housing.

There has never, ever been any suggestion of mob involvement. That is just a stupid "crook in Chicago must have mob ties" assumption by people who know nothing about this case.

[Mojorabbit]

5. I am glad it is coming out now

so it can be over with. If he wins the nomination he will need to have this out in the open and over with.

[terisan]

6. I want to hear a better explanation than it being "a bone-headed mistake."

[ieoeja]

51. Here's an explanation.

What is the alleged wrong-doing? What exactly is wrong with asking a real estate investor under federal indictment if he knows someone interested in purchasing an empty lot?

It is a bone-headed mistake "in politics". Nothing illegal or even remotely suggestive of being illegal. Think of it as a gaff. Like his gaff in the manner in which he told Hillary she was, "likeable enough". Or Hillary's gaff comparing Obama to MLK claiming that was a bad thing.

[Hobarticus]

7. I intend to watch this closely...

Interesting to see how he handles this.

[RummyTheDummy]

19. It came out months ago

I remember reading something posted on Drudge, or maybe it was here. They seem to be running together lately.

[Barack_America]

8. Here's a great racist comment left...

"More shuck and jive to follow: "You know", "it's a bonehead mistake". Very typical "scuse me pleeeezzz".
Posted by:XXXXXXX"

I hope Cuomo's proud of himself for re-introducing that phrase to racists nationwide.

(P.S. I already reported that particular comment)

[hedda_foil]

9. This is a piece of crap

The Chicago Tribune has reported this story extensively and frequently, as has the Sun Times and there has never been a hint that Obama was aware that Rezko was being investigated. If it were common knowledge in insider circles, the local press would have glommed onto it while they were busily reporting the story. The WaPo seems to have screwed up this part of their story in a report printed well before Obama decided to run for President -- when it didn't seem worth making a fuss about. Frankly, at that point, it would have looked like whining while drawing more attention to the story. The Rezko investigation has nothing to do with Obama. It's aimed at Gov. Blagojevich, who is a real piece of work and will wind up indicted for massive fraud by Patrick Fitzgerald in trhe near future. Blagojevich strongly supported another candidate for the Senate against Obama -- Blair Hull, a mega-millionaire and Blago's biggest funder, who ran a self-financed campaign that very nearly succeeded until the Trib learned that ex-wife had charged him with abusing her. Obama isn't part of the self-destructing Blagojevich machine.

There has never been any doubt that the Rezko thing would be an issue in the campaign but the charge that Obama knew Rezko was under investigation is false.

[Barack_America]

10. Any chance of digging up links to those stories?

Just to try to balance this out.

[Didereaux]

11. heres a link to a previous thread today with more links

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4025848&mesg_id=4025848

as noted the trial is set for 25th of feb

[jackson_dem]

12. Two pieces on Obama-Rezko on ABC's site today?

Now THAT is an interesting development...Did anyone watch ABC's nightly news telecast tonight? Did they cover Rezko on it or is it limited to the website right now?

[jackson_dem]

13. Maybe it was known that Rezko was a crook

The revelation stunned government watchdogs, because in the Illinois Senate and on Capitol Hill, Obama flaunted his reputation as a clean-government champion. He has urged tighter fundraising and disclosure rules and railed against getting too cozy with lobbyists.

Obama, who’d known Rezko since the early 1990s, later said it was “boneheaded” of him not to anticipate how the sale would look; he returned Rezko’s contributions. Critics have found no evidence that he did legislative favors for Rezko.

But Cindi Canary, the executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said the deal still gives her pause.

“More than anything else, there was a sense that Senator Obama should have known better,” she said. “One is judged by the company one keeps. Tony Rezko was a very well-known wheeler and dealer in Illinois politics, someone who for a number of years had a swirl of trouble around him and allegations before the final indictment came down.”

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/277049.html

[aquart]

22. No favors? No crime.

[Nailzberg]

14. You nailed it. except for one bit about Hull

Which I find interesting because it says a lot about Blago .The Gov never came through on supporting him. Hull helped Rod out in his campaign, and when it came time to cash in on the favor, Rod was no where to be found. Pretty much the story of Blagovich right there. He's turned his back on everyone who's ever helped him. Not gonna keep shady deals quiet when your partners aren't getting their share.

Your assessment of the entire Resko situation is spot on. The US Attorney has been building a case on Resko for a while. If anything was bad about this deal, Obama would have be included in the flood of charges the US Attorney's office has been meting out. The deal with Obama's house has been in the general press for a year now, it's obviously not part of a grand jury proceeding.

[Didereaux]

15. one reason Obama didn't wind up on the indictment list, even as an honorable mention...

The US Atty could not find a quid pro quo to run with. It is fact that Obama nenefitted by $300K or so on that deal and Rezko took a hit fro that amount for no discernable reason. The only logical reason that fits is that Rezko simply hadn't found a good use for the IOU yet and so Obama got a free ride. But the circumstantial evidence said Obama got lucky.

[jackson_dem]

16. Obama apparently lobbied for $14 million for Rezko

Raising more suspicion is Obama initially lying about never having done any favors for Rezko. You are right, though. No smoking gun has been found yet to indict Obama and probably never will be found. A US Attorney wasn't going to attempt to indict a powerful and wildly popular senator if he wasn't sure he could easily indict and confident of a conviction.

In June, 2007 the Chicago Sun-Times published a story about letters Obama had written to city and state officials in support of a low-income senior citizen development project headed by Rezko and partner Allison Davis. The project received more than $14 million in taxpayer funds, including $885,000 in development fees for Rezko and Davis. Before the Sun-Times discovered Obama's letters in support of Rezko, Sen. Obama had told the Tribune, "I've never done any favors for him."

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

[Didereaux]

18. thank you another piece of the puzzle in place.

[aquart]

29. So Obama lied to their faces.

Rezko gets $14 million or $885,000 (depending on what you're counting) for a cash outlay of only $520,500. I could live nicely for life on that profit.

The house deal is dirty. A five year old with an abacus could figure it out. I honestly and truly believed this guy was the great and dedicated leader everybody said. But he's cozy with filth and willingly covered in it.

I don't like him. I don't want him for president. But I feel cheated. Robbed. Betrayed. I never had a clue.

[ieoeja]

54. And you're being lied to right now.

[Wickerman]

62. God forbid a Dem pol would lobby for a low-income Sr. housing project

That simply reeks of corruption. :eyes:

Maybe Obama did a favor for his low income constituents.:think:

edit - to be clear, Obama isn't my candidate, but I swear, the way we eat our young here...

[Nailzberg]

17. I haven't heard all that.

Do you have a link that shows Rezko took a hit for $300,000? From what I read he paid the asking price.

And as for Obama's property, I read it had been listed for months with only two offers, of which Obama's was higher. There isn't even circumstantial evidence of wrongdoing without showing Rezko overpaid.

[Didereaux]

20. here is the quote from the link PLAINLY shown in my post above.

While Rezko's wife paid the full asking price for the land, Obama paid $300,000 under the asking price for the house. The house sold for $1,650,000 and the price Rezko's wife paid for the land was $625,000.

Cuttin g to the chase, Obama profited by 300K, Rezko overpaid by that amount. Dig out the arithmetic for yourself

[Nailzberg]

21. It does not say Rezko overpaid.

"While Rezko's wife paid the full asking price..."

I don't need to do any arithmetic on this. The Washington Post article states the asking price was paid, not $300,000 above the asking price. Where does that indicate the Rezko's overpaid by 300,000?

[Didereaux]

25. I'm sorry i am not qualified to correct your levels of deficiencies,,,sorry.

[Nailzberg]

59. You don't appear qualified at much except smear tactics.

The Obama's paid under the asking price by $300,000. The Rezko's paid the asking price. The appraisal of the land turns up the land is worth less than the asking price.

I'm guess I'm just seeing what the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and the US Attorney's office have seen, we all must lack your supreme powers.

This is the kind of mud the GOPers threw at the Clinton's for years. I thought that wasn't our style of politics. Count naivite among my "deficiencies".

[aquart]

30. Obama had the land valued when he wanted to buy part of the lot.

""I told them if you can spare another 5 or 10 feet, I'd be happy to purchase it from you," Obama said. "They came back and said they could sell us up to 10 feet."

Using a standard formula, Obama's appraiser estimated the 1,500-square-foot portion at a market value of $40,500.

But Obama felt it would be fair to pay the Rezkos $104,500, or a sixth of their original $625,000 purchase price, because he was acquiring a sixth of their land. The sale closed in January 2006."

<http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0611010273nov01,1,2716725.story?page=3>

One-sixth of Rezko's lot was worth $40,500. Six-sixths would therefore be worth $243,000. Rezko's wife paid $625,000 for a lot worth $243,000. Got it now? That is NOT full asking price. That's $382,000 TOO MUCH. Coincidentally, right next door, Obama is BUYING a house for $300,000 LESS than the asking price. Then he pays Rezko $64,000 TOO MUCH for the sixth of the lot he's adding to his property. If you can't smell the stench you haven't got a sense of smell.

I am sick with disappointment and I don't even like the guy. But I did think it would still be okay if he got in. Now I know that isn't true.

[Nailzberg]

60. I see what you're saying. I'm not seeing impropriety in it, though.

Perhaps there is more we aren't privy too. But my reading of this would is that the asking price was above market value, which would be normal in negotiation. Obama's offer was $300,000 less than the asking price, and it was the better bid of the two the seller received.

Rezko did not go lower than the asking price, and thus overpaid. What was Rezko thinking? Who knows? Perhaps he was thinking it was a high risk-high reward purchase, with the next door neighbor's quickly becoming a superstar. Or perhaps he was thinking he could sell a portion to Obama on the cheap for to get a favor. I can't judge his intent.

Obama's paying one-sixth of the price paid by Rezko, rather than the one-sixth appraisal value, is what keeps this from being stinky. Rezko didn't turn a profit on the land and Obama didn't obtain land for less than it's value. If this wasn't Rezko, we wouldn't even be talking about this, which perhaps Obama should have known better on that. But the deal looks legit to me.

[dysfunctional press]

66. it seems that you are making some very incorrect assumptions...

just because obama's 1/6 portion was valued at $40,500- that DOES NOT mean that the entire parcel was worth 6 times that amount. the remaining 5/6 of a lot is probably still big enough to build on- the 1/6 portion would not be big enough, therefore the remaining 5/6 would have a much greater value per sq. ft.
another way to look at it-

if rezko's wife paid $625,000, and if the remaining 5/6 parcel would still be valued at $585,000- that would make the value of obama's slice $40,000.

[aquart]

27. Why do you say it's "obviously" not part of a grand jury proceeding?

If it's not part of the central case, it could be farmed out to a separate jury. Or, they could be holding till the evidence on this part of the case is in. Sounds like they have a LOT of witnesses to hear. And if they are "meting out charges" with the jury still meeting, then they are doing it in stages, turning the early indictees into witnesses against the higher level people as they plead out their cases. Do you know if it's a regular or special grand jury? In New York State, a special grand jury can continue for years. My panel served for three years on a complicated case that kept spawning tentacles and secondary juries. But I know nothing about Illinois or federal grand juries.

[Nailzberg]

61. You are right, I should not have said obviously.

As the land deal was investigated in the press over a year ago, and the deal itself took place in 2005, I would presume the US Attorney's office has reviewed this as part of their intense investigation into Rezko.

[aquart]

26. Okay, now that I know about the house going for under asking price...

I begin to see the flaws in the statement above. Particularly this: "the charge that Obama knew Rezko was under investigation is false."

That strikes me as just a wee bit of a red herring. I should HOPE Obama didn't know about the investigation. Those things are usually done very quietly. HOWEVER, that's NOT the same thing as not knowing the guy's a crook. It's NOT POSSIBLE that Obama went to him to "solve" this problem without knowing EXACTLY who he was and what his role was in Illinois politics. In New York, I think we call this guy a "fixer." You want a better phone number? Better anything? You call the "fixer" and it's done. Because you're buddies. And that's what buddies do. And then, later, if he needs a little favor...(my boss needed to find phony witnesses for a public hearing for his "fixer.")So the "under investigation" is completely irrelevant to what happened. Completely.

So let me get this straight. Somebody offered Obama a house he couldn't afford at a way cheaper price and that wasn't enough, he wanted the land next to it. So he went to the "fixer" and the deal was done. And I'm supposed to believe a deal that involved MONEY did NOT involve a quid pro quo? WHO OWNED THE HOUSE?????

[aquart]

28. Why did Rezko pay $625,000 for a lot valued at $243,000?

Was it to cover the $300,000 knocked off the price for Obama?

[moriah]

31. It's possible..

.... that the price of the lot fell.

Those things happen in these markets. Homes may not lose value if they're historical, or not as much value, but if the land in the area is overpriced and there is a price drop, the land loses value first in comparison to nice houses, especially historical ones. Not sure if the house that the Obamas purchased was historical, but it certainly looks like it's in good shape.

Edit to add -- it may have been valued at over $600k but it later fell to under $300k.

[aquart]

36. The house went for $1.65 million. The $625k is the adjoining lot.

So between June 2005 and January 2006, land on Chicago's South Side dropped 50% in value? I don't buy it, but it's worth checking.

[ieoeja]

55. Lot with house = $1.65 million. Empty lot = $625k.

So we're looking at a million dollar home on a %625k lot.

And $300k is 18% of $1.65 million. Selling price is typically 15% less than the asking price. So Obama got a good deal, but not a great deal.

[dysfunctional press]

67. where does it say that the value of the lot was only $243,000?

:shrug: where do you come up with that figure?

[kevsand]

73. They made it up.

It's part of their determination to refuse to understand that, when it comes to real estate, the whole is often worth more than the sum of its parts.

[indimuse]

32. ooo... there is that "judgment word again...

I am certain...once the MSM starts to release ALL their collected data on BHO..His Judgment Theme will slowly disintegrate)))))))))....

[indimuse]

33. something the RW is working on and will expose!

Obama and Rezko’s wife bought adjacent properties on Chicago’s South Side, closing the deals on the same day. Seven months later, wanting a bigger yard for his $1.65 million house, Obama bought a slice of the Rezko property for $104,500.
…
So Obama ran this deal through a trust and Rezko had his wife make the buy, although it was Obama and Tony Rezko who discussed this property Obama was looking at. Come on, this is pretty sheisty, both Obama and Rezko tried hard to cover their tracks! I say that since in my opinion Obama and Tony Rezko had everything planned before doing anything. The same seller owned both properties, which explains why they would prefer to close both on the same day, although it’s still odd that they would demand it when selling separate properties. No matter if the seller moved out of state, to close a nice 6 and 7 figure deal, it does not seem that it would be too much trouble to close them separately if needed. I still feel Obama cut the deals on the same day in order to get a discount on his purchase price. A $300,000 discount!

Chicago authorities alleged last year that Rezko set up a front minority company to win permission to open three Panda Express outlets at O’Hare International Airport. His nominal partner was Jabir Herbert Muhammad, son of the late Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad.

Rezko and Muhammad settled the matter, which became public in 2005, months before Obama’s house purchase. Without admitting wrongdoing, they agreed to end their O’Hare operations and were disqualified from the city’s minority business program.
…

Not only does Obama’s pal have Nation of Islam ties, Tony Rezko was caught abusing a program setup for minority business owners. The political far Left, who laud Obama as their patron saint endorse minority business programs, but Rezko abused one and then Obama went and purchased land from him. That on top of Rezko’s other dirty deeds. I’m sure Obama would tell you he forgot to read the paper on the days Rezko was being caught doing all this mess. Wikipedia says Rezko is a Syrian born Christian. With ties to people like Jabir Herbert Muhammad, I feel like Rezko is more of a typical Syrian than a Christian. This is the man Barack Hussein Obama Jr. cut a deal with.

If you didn’t know, the Nation of Islam worked boxing champ Muhammad Ali over pretty good outside of the ring. Muhammad Ali sued Jabir back in 1994 for forging his signature.

The article also mentions:

http://www.independentconservative.com/2006/12/29/obama_land_deal_p2/

[indimuse]

34. Let talk about Hillary's tears....

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/184540,122306obama.article

People claim Obama is so “bright”, but I’m supposed to believe he missed all the reports of Rezko being in legal hot water?

The Chicago Tribune has a picture of Rezko, if you’re interested in knowing who to avoid if you spend time in Chicago.

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Obama’s links to Rezko are deeper than that land deal.


Obama’s letters for Rezko
(http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/425305,CST-NWS-obama13.article)

June 13, 2007

BY TIM NOVAK Staff Reporter/[e-mail]

As a state senator, Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko’s successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens.

The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama’s former boss, according to records from the project, which was four blocks outside Obama’s state Senate district.

Obama’s letters, written nearly nine years ago, for the first time show the Democratic presidential hopeful did a political favor for Rezko — a longtime friend, campaign fund-raiser and client of the law firm where Obama worked — who was indicted last fall on federal charges that accuse him of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking state business under Gov. Blagojevich.

The letters appear to contradict a statement last December from Obama, who told the Chicago Tribune that, in all the years he’s known Rezko, “I’ve never done any favors for him.”

On Tuesday, Bill Burton, press secretary for Obama’s presidential campaign, said the letters Obama wrote in support of the development weren’t intended as a favor to Rezko or Davis.

“This wasn’t done as a favor for anyone,” Burton said in a written statement. “It was done in the interests of the people in the community who have benefited from the project.

“I don’t know that anyone specifically asked him to write this letter nine years ago,” the statement said. “There was a consensus in the community about the positive impact the project would make and Obama supported it because it was going to help people in his district. . . . They had a wellness clinic and adult day-care services, as well as a series of social services for residents. It’s a successful project. It’s meant a lot to the community, and he’s proud to have supported it.”

The development, called the Cottage View Terrace apartments, opened five years ago at 4801 S. Cottage Grove, providing 97 apartments for low-income senior citizens.

Asked about the Obama letters, Rezko’s attorney, Joseph Duffy, said Tuesday, “Mr. Rezko never spoke with, nor sought a letter from, Senator Obama in connection with that project.”

Davis couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

‘Boneheaded’ deal in 2005

Since announcing his presidential bid, Obama has faced repeated questions about his 17-year relationship with Rezko, one of his earliest political contributors, who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Obama.Rezko backed Obama’s election to the Illinois Senate in 1996, his successful re-election bids and his 2004 election to the U.S. Senate.

Two years ago, the two men were involved in a real estate deal that Obama later apologized for, calling it “boneheaded” and a “mistake” because the transaction occurred while Rezko was widely known to be under federal investigation. Rezko’s wife paid full price for a vacant lot in Chicago’s historic Kenwood district on the same day Obama bought the mansion next door from the same property owner for $300,000 below the asking price. Rezko’s wife subsequently sold a sliver of the land to Obama.

Obama’s relationship with Rezko dates to the senator’s days as a student at Harvard Law School, when Rezko offered him a job, which Obama turned down.

After graduation, Obama returned to Chicago and joined Davis’ small law firm — then known as Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland — which specialized in helping developers build housing for the poor. Five of those deals included Rezko’s company, Rezmar Corp. Those Rezmar projects ran into trouble. Some buildings ended up being boarded up. Some went into foreclosure.

While Obama served in the Illinois Senate, he continued to work for the law firm, which Davis left in 1997 to become a developer.

Davis soon went into business with Rezko, creating a company called New Kenwood LLC to build the seven-story apartment building for senior citizens on a vacant stretch of land once occupied by a gas station at 48th and Cottage Grove. The city of Chicago owned the land — nearly two acres tainted by lead, benzene and other toxic chemicals.

Davis is a member of the Chicago Plan Commission. He was originally appointed to the commission in 1991 by his friend, Mayor Daley. Davis, like Rezko, has been a prolific campaign fund-raiser for politicians including Daley and Obama.

Soon after they incorporated New Kenwood in 1998, Davis and Rezko got letters of support from elected officials — Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) and state Rep. Lou Jones (D-Chicago), whose districts included the proposed project.

Firm paid city $1 for land

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.”

At the time he wrote the letters, Obama was also a lawyer with Miner Barnhill & Galland, the law firm Davis formerly headed. Among the firm’s clients were several companies owned by Davis and Rezko. The firm did not represent New Kenwood.

Davis and Rezko hired Daley & George, the law firm of the mayor’s brother Michael, to help them get $3.1 million from bonds issued by the city of Chicago.

Rezko and Davis paid the city $1 for the land and spent more than $100,000 to clean it up, including the removal of an underground storage tank. Some tainted land was left behind, but state environmental officials approved construction after Rezko and Davis agreed to cover the polluted areas with parking lots, sidewalks or three feet of dirt, records show.

The $14.6 million Cottage View Terrace was funded entirely by city, state and federal taxpayers.

The project included $855,000 in development fees for New Kenwood. Records don’t show how Davis and Rezko split the money. Davis owned 51 percent of New Kenwood, Rezko 49 percent, according to the records.

In addition to the development fees, a separate Davis-owned company stood to make another $900,000 through federal tax credits.

Cottage View Terrace was supposed to be managed by Davis’ longtime business partner, William Moorehead. But Moorehead said last week that his company was dumped before the apartments opened in 2002. The apartments are now managed by Urban Property Advisors, a company owned by Davis’ son, Cullen Davis.

Moorehead is due to report to prison next month to begin serving a four-year sentence for stealing more than $1 million from the Robert Taylor Homes and other public housing projects he managed for the Chicago Housing Authority and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, as well as from two developments he co-owned with Davis near Cabrini-Green on the North Side.

RWD






June 15, 2007 Posted by rightwingdog | 2008 Election, Chicago, Clinton, Democrat, Liberal Democrat, Obama, POLITICS, Presidential Candidate, Senator | | No Comments


About Me! Here is some information that will give you an idea of where I am coming from with the content of my posting.

Politically, I am a CONSERVATIVE Republican and a political junkie. The posting content to this blog is intended to be varied but the great majority will have a bent toward politics and/or government.

I am also an avid reader and a news junkie as well. I read two or three newspapers and prowl the Internet daily. The books I have read are kept in my “WAR ROOM”. I figure that if Hillary can have one, then so can I. I look at them as a sportsman looks at his trophies.

http://rightwingdog.wordpress.com/2007/06/15/

[robbedvoter]

35. Such a title for such a petty, irrelevant accusation...

[aquart]

37. Oh, no. Your guy is the same piece of work that Ted Stevens is.

But he's just newer at it.

[robbedvoter]

38. I actually don't have a "guy" (politically speaking, that is). Obeserver and BS spotter - wherever.

Such as your comparing Obama with Ted Stevens. On other threads, we seem to agree.(i.e - Mo Do & the phonies)

[cali]

39. You're comparing Obama to Ted Stevens?

OK, now I think you deserve everything that Frenchie Cat is throwing at you. I've defended YOUR candidate against bullshit for months but if Hillary supporters are going to act like you are, I'll refrain. Heck, I may even start throwing REAL shit at her here.

[redqueen]

53. Why do you keep broad-brushing supporters that way?

Because one supporter does something, you extrapolate that into what "Hillary supporters" are going to act like? And then threaten to start throwing shit?

Unreal.

[ieoeja]

56. Frustration?

cali was one of Hillary's staunchest defenders for quite some time. In fact, I was quite surprised to learn cali was not a Hillary supporter.

But you are right, he should not have broad-brushed this one. And he'll probably be the first to admit it (when he cools down).

I would say it is aquart's Fox News Channel style. FNC would not be nearly so reprehensible if they would admit they are biased instead of putting on airs of being "fair". aquart is doing the same thing here with all his, "I really wanted to like this guy" then coming out with spin, spin, spin.

[redqueen]

57. It's a pattern with that person

and they've never once backed down after making very nasty, ugly comments about an entire group of supporters, usually Edwards'.

It's nice that you're so positive and optimistic, but this isn't out of character AT ALL. I'm glad she has only just now decided to start spewing bile about "Hillary supporters", so that you have been spared noticing this childish behavior up to now.

[DaLittle Kitty]

40. Barack Mom and Dad pic

[leftynyc]

45. Lovely looking couple

Why are posting it all over the place?

[DaLittle Kitty]

41. Is Not Judgement What Being President IS ALL About?

We've had enough Poor Judgement over the past 7 years have we not?

[SoxFan]

42. You don't want to go down this road

Whitewater
Monica
Travelgate
Web Hubbell
Lippo Group
Rose Law Firm billing records
Cattle futures

[DaLittle Kitty]

43. and Comparatively to BOTH... John Edwards IS SQUEAKY CLEAN!

Barack and HillBill in the End ARE CERTAIN LOSERS... Too Much baggage and Naivete'!:)

[leftynyc]

46. $70 million dollars of investigations later

and they have bupkis. What's your point again?

[SoxFan]

47. "bupkis"

Clinton's agriculture secretary, Mike Espy, was convicted on bribery charges.
Clinton HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros convicted of lying to FBI investigators.
Hillary's law partner and Justice Dept. official Webster Hubbell was convicted of mail fraud.
Bill Clinton fundraiser Michael Brown found guilty of money laundering.
Clinton fundraiser Nora Lum, convicted of campaign finance violations.

[reality based]

50. Re Mike Espy

From http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/02/espy/

"The jury in the corruption trial of Mike Espy found the former Agriculture secretary not guilty Wednesday of taking gifts from companies his department regulated and lying about it.

"The jury deliberated for more than five hours Tuesday and continued deliberations Wednesday before finding him innocent of all 30 charges against him."

I'm sure you'd like to tell us more about that bribery conviction.

[Cameron27]

52. I think that road was

investigated with a microscope by Bob Barr, using millions of taxpayer money, and resulted in an innocent woman being prosecuted and sent to jail, and nothing else.

[jackson_dem]

58. I do

Hillary has been vetted. Edwards, who is clean as a whistle, has been vetted. Bill Clinton is right. Obama hasn't been vetted. Kudos to ABC for finally doing some journalism on Obama.

[saracat]

69. So? That means this can't be "looked at" ? Why not?

Those items were!

[William769]

44. K&R!

[Didereaux]

63. Rezko recruited Obama at Harvard? Is that guy his GODFATHER?

Early-career legal work puts senator on the defensive

Chicago Tribune - Chicago, Ill.
Author: Rick Pearson
Date: Apr 24, 2007
Section: News
Text Word Count: 761
Abstract (Document Summary)

While was president of the Harvard Law Review, Rezko's firm offered Obama a job. When Obama first ran for the Illinois Senate in 1996, was among his first political donors. And when Obama ran for the U.S. Senate, Rezko was a major fundraiser.

I was unawares the Rezko connection had gone all the way back to when Obama was in school! What the fuck was this guy his GODFATHER or something?

NOTE: that was the snippet shown from the article in the Chicago Tribunes (on-line)archives

[karynnj]

64. It might be fair to state whether he accepted a job - he didn't

He went to work as an advocate.

[Didereaux]

65. hmmmmm, public advocate for good, private for ????? that too is a valid question

[jackson_dem]

68. Fortunately for Obama ABC is the only MSM entity reporting on Rezko right now

[Didereaux]

70. kinda my point, that when the trial opens 25 Feb it will be splashed all over the place...and

it would behoove everyone who wants the Repugs out of office to sit and work on a best strategy to defend from the fallout. It maybe that the best is the simplest...just do not respond. This thing has two levels, one that affects the Democratic Party internally(the fitness of a candidate 'vetting' if you will) and the other the affects the Democratic Party externally...how the voting public at large sees the issue.

I realize that the Kiddie Army does not understand this, and 'frankly my dear etc". This is stuff fro the experienced, serious, people who really do have November as the goal.

[kevsand]

72. Are you implying that Obama was secretly working for Rezko...

...when he was actually working as a low-paid community organizer? Do you have even the faintest whiff of any crumb that might be considered evidence of that? Or do you just make things up wholesale to see what will stick? That sort of idle speculation is entirely reprehensible and has no place in any responsible discussion.

[Thrill]

71. Who cares? I don't