Chicago Sun-Times: FBI "logged frequent visits to Rezko from... U.S. Sen. Barack Obama"

[bidenista]

A bit of background from one of the men responsible Tony Rezko's FBI surveillance:

My life as an FBI mole
FBI PROBE | Real estate broker convicted of fraud becomes a mole for feds to nail Rezko

February 10, 2008
BY DAVID ROEDER Staff Reporter / [e-mail]

...Thomas wouldn't discuss details of his work for the FBI.

But sources said that, for more than two years when he was giving information to agents, Thomas provided a fly-on-the-wall look inside Rezko's real estate operations and his desperate attempts to keep his projects afloat.

Sources said Thomas also logged frequent visits to Rezko from Gov. Blagojevich and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Blagojevich and Obama were among the many politicians for whom Rezko raised campaign cash....

More: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/786015,CST-NWS-mole10.article

Would be interesting to know what he means by "frequent", and whether any transcripts exist of the Obama/Rezko conversations.

[TheCool]

1. Really who cares anymore?

This story has gained no traction and will gain no traction. He made a mistake.

This faux outrage over this is, well, outrageous.

[Lucinda]

4. The trial hasn't even started. This one isn't going away.

[mutant80]

8. I care!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

34. QUESTIONABLE SCANDALS, PRIMER ON REZKO

THE REZKO PRIMAR BY ARCH PUNDIT

The best synopsis of the Obama Rezko relationship was done by the Trib on January 23rd:

Both men declined to comment on their once-close friendship. Obama has been accused of no wrongdoing involving Rezko and has insisted that he never used his office to benefit Rezko.

Thus far, there is little in the public record to suggest otherwise, and the few exceptions that have come to light appear minor. On Capitol Hill, Obama once gave a summer internship to the son of a Rezko business associate on Rezko’s recommendation. Earlier, as a state senator, Obama was one of several South Side political and community leaders who wrote state and city officials urging approval of public funding for a senior housing project involving Rezko.

But when Rezko pushed for passage in Springfield of a major gambling measure, Obama vocally opposed it.

Obama publicly apologized for his 2005 property deal with Rezko, calling it “boneheaded” because Rezko was widely reported to be under grand jury investigation at the time. And Obama has given to charities $85,000 in Rezko-linked campaign contributions, including $40,035 last weekend following a published report suggesting that Rezko funneled a $10,000 donation to Obama through a business associate. Aides to Obama say the senator had no knowledge of any such scheme.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-rezko-clinton-080122,0,5430503.story

Rezko is tied to nearly every major politician in Illinois over the last couple decades going back to Jim Edgar under whom he received his first state contract. Rezko’s reputation as a slumlord largely got started after Obama was not practicing law full time and was largely dealt with by the City of Chicago and not state government entities.


FOR A FULL OVER VIEW SEE THE ARCH PUNDIT'S PRIMAR ON REZKO
http://archpundit.com/blog/2008/01/24/the-rezko-primer/

[philly_bob]

46. Thanks. May be nothing. But I want it discussed & researched here

before I cast my primary vote in April ... and please don't give me ho-hums and yawns and breezy dismissals.

Remember: I don't feel as if I know Obama. I want to know as much about Rezko as I know about Monica Lewinsky or Vince Foster. If Obama's supporters resist this kind of inquiry, they're not helping him.

Incidentally, the link to the first Chicago Tribune article is broken. Search Chicago Tribune on REZKO and the most recent article is from Sunday, Feb. 10, an opinion piece by John Kass, a bit over-written to my taste, but hinting at more trouble for Obama from Rezko inquiry:

The inevitability of President Barack Obama seems all but given now, doesn't it?

Just consider those enemy tribes—the Clintonistas and the Limbaughtonians—sullen peasants on a muddy roadside, waiting for the wheels of Obama's glittering coach to spatter their homespun garments.

The media so loves Obama that he's transcending again, this time from a politician into a religion.

So if some Mt. Vesuvius were to erupt over America, preserving us in its ashen heavings, future archeologists would one day hunch down over our covered forms, and chip away until America was revealed like the Pompeian clay people, our arms outstretched, eager, waiting for Barack.

Or, maybe not.

Either way, there are a few who don't consider Obama to be inevitable. They'll be paying close attention to the upcoming federal political corruption trial in Chicago of Obama's personal real estate fairy, indicted political fixer Tony Rezko.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-080109kass-column,0,6345625.column

[IndieLeft]

19. Not to mention, he didn't keep any of the campaign contributions.

As soon as he found out what Rezko was up to, he donated it to charity.

An until I see proof otherwise... it isn't worth my time.

[Yossariant]

30. He knew what Rezko was up to before he asked Rezko to buy him a house.

[flyarm]

36. he gave the money back in incriments...only when he was already exposed..he started only giving

back $40,000. until this all got legs..then he gave more back ..but he only gave the money to charity..not back to the source of the dirty money.

there is alot more here that is going to come out..and it is not going to be pretty.

why this man has been allowed to get this far is beyond me.

fly

[cloud75]

29. this story has got legs n/t

[jannyk]

43. I care & I imagine McCain is rubbing hs hands with glee too.

If you think they did a number on Kerry - just imagine the mileage they can get from Rezco.

No matter how much wailing there is regarding attacks from fellow Dems, he's still on 'home turf' and this is just the beginning. Just wait and see the carnage from Rezco once the 'enemy' is spinning it.

[indimuse]

54. The Rezmar/aka...REZKO.. joint venture will be based in Jordan..can you say Nuclear?

Who backs Obama...Nulear Power Co's..I wonder if these guys are somehow related to the other guys??? just asking.


Obama Revealed in Rezko Corruption Investigation (Wizbang Blue)If you aren't familiar with Obama's other ties with Rezko not to worry, ... and a concurrent three

years for fraud; he was paroled after three years" from ...
wizbangblue.com/2008/01/19/obama-revealed-in-rezko-corruption-investigation.php - 54k -


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/obamas-faustian-bargain-_b_82863.html


BLITZER: I'm going to go to Suzanne Malveaux in a second, but I just want to give you a chance, Senator Obama, if you want to respond. Senator Clinton made a

serious allegation that you worked for a slumlord. And I wonder if you want to respond.


OBAMA: I'm happy to respond. Here's what happened: I was an associate at a law firm that represented a church group that had partnered with this individual to do a

project and I did about five hours worth of work on this joint project. That's what she's referring to.

--Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute on January 21, 2008


This individual? Interesting that now Rezko is facing a federal trial on February 25th, Mr. Obama cannot speak his name. It's also interesting that Obama got smacked

with Rezko only after he slapped Clinton with WalMart, even though he's got his own problems on that regard. As recently as April 2007, Obama chose to back an

anti-union candidate in a run-off election against a labor-backed candidate for the Third Ward. And never mind that Antoin "Tony" Rezko and Barack Obama are deeply

linked throughout his political career and have been friends since 1990.


Mr. Obama has portrayed Mr. Rezko as a one-time fund-raiser whom he had occasionally seen socially. But interviews with more than a dozen political and business

associates suggest that the two men were closer than the senator has indicated.

Mr. Obama turned to Mr. Rezko for help at several important junctures. Records show that when Mr. Obama needed cash in the waning days of his losing 2000

Congressional campaign, Mr. Rezko rounded up thousands of dollars from business contacts. In 2003, Mr. Rezko helped Mr. Obama expand his fund-raising for the

Senate primary by being host of a dinner at his Mediterranean-style home for 150 people, including some whose names have since come up in the influence scandal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4355200

Captain_Nemo (917 posts) Sat Feb-02-08 06:53 PM
Original message
Obama, cheney's energy bill, Rezmar (Rezko), Iraq nuclear power plant. Lend me your ear and brain.
Obama voted for Cheney's energy bill - a giveaway to oil companies. Hillary voted no.

Rezko has a company called Rezmar. They are partnered with a British firm to build an Nuclear power plant in Iraq. Just asking...how come the MSM hasn't asked

him about this. further, how come the obama supporters haven't?

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=10211...

MENAFN - 31/07/2005

(MENAFN) Rezmar Corp., a real estate development company entered into a joint venture with a British firm in a $150-million deal to build a power plant in Iraq.

The contract, signed with Iraq's ministry of electricity, calls for joint venture to supply power to Iraq for 10 years, according to a spokesman for Chicago-based Rezmar.

The 250-megawatt power plant is slated to be one of three power plants under construction at the same time. A Brazilian firm and an Iraqi company are building the

other two.

The Rezmar joint venture will be based in Jordan. Construction is slated to begin this fall.

[indimuse]

56. The Rezmar/aka...REZKO.. joint venture will be based in Jordan..can you say Nuclear?

Who backs Obama...Nulear Power Co's..I wonder if these guys are somehow related to the other guys??? just asking.


Obama Revealed in Rezko Corruption Investigation (Wizbang Blue)If you aren't familiar with Obama's other ties with Rezko not to worry, ... and a concurrent three

years for fraud; he was paroled after three years" from ...
wizbangblue.com/2008/01/19/obama-revealed-in-rezko-corruption-investigation.php - 54k -


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/obamas-faustian-bargain-_b_82863.html


BLITZER: I'm going to go to Suzanne Malveaux in a second, but I just want to give you a chance, Senator Obama, if you want to respond. Senator Clinton made a

serious allegation that you worked for a slumlord. And I wonder if you want to respond.


OBAMA: I'm happy to respond. Here's what happened: I was an associate at a law firm that represented a church group that had partnered with this individual to do a

project and I did about five hours worth of work on this joint project. That's what she's referring to.

--Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute on January 21, 2008


This individual? Interesting that now Rezko is facing a federal trial on February 25th, Mr. Obama cannot speak his name. It's also interesting that Obama got smacked

with Rezko only after he slapped Clinton with WalMart, even though he's got his own problems on that regard. As recently as April 2007, Obama chose to back an

anti-union candidate in a run-off election against a labor-backed candidate for the Third Ward. And never mind that Antoin "Tony" Rezko and Barack Obama are deeply

linked throughout his political career and have been friends since 1990.


Mr. Obama has portrayed Mr. Rezko as a one-time fund-raiser whom he had occasionally seen socially. But interviews with more than a dozen political and business

associates suggest that the two men were closer than the senator has indicated.

Mr. Obama turned to Mr. Rezko for help at several important junctures. Records show that when Mr. Obama needed cash in the waning days of his losing 2000

Congressional campaign, Mr. Rezko rounded up thousands of dollars from business contacts. In 2003, Mr. Rezko helped Mr. Obama expand his fund-raising for the

Senate primary by being host of a dinner at his Mediterranean-style home for 150 people, including some whose names have since come up in the influence scandal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4355200

Captain_Nemo (917 posts) Sat Feb-02-08 06:53 PM
Original message
Obama, cheney's energy bill, Rezmar (Rezko), Iraq nuclear power plant. Lend me your ear and brain.
Obama voted for Cheney's energy bill - a giveaway to oil companies. Hillary voted no.

Rezko has a company called Rezmar. They are partnered with a British firm to build an Nuclear power plant in Iraq. Just asking...how come the MSM hasn't asked

him about this. further, how come the obama supporters haven't?

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=10211...

MENAFN - 31/07/2005

(MENAFN) Rezmar Corp., a real estate development company entered into a joint venture with a British firm in a $150-million deal to build a power plant in Iraq.

The contract, signed with Iraq's ministry of electricity, calls for joint venture to supply power to Iraq for 10 years, according to a spokesman for Chicago-based Rezmar.

The 250-megawatt power plant is slated to be one of three power plants under construction at the same time. A Brazilian firm and an Iraqi company are building the

other two.

The Rezmar joint venture will be based in Jordan. Construction is slated to begin this fall.

[indimuse]

57. The Rezmar/aka...REZKO.. joint venture will be based in Jordan..can you say Nuclear?

Who backs Obama...Nulear Power Co's..I wonder if these guys are somehow related to the other guys??? just asking.


Obama Revealed in Rezko Corruption Investigation (Wizbang Blue)If you aren't familiar with Obama's other ties with Rezko not to worry, ... and a concurrent three

years for fraud; he was paroled after three years" from ...
wizbangblue.com/2008/01/19/obama-revealed-in-rezko-corruption-investigation.php - 54k -


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/obamas-faustian-bargain-_b_82863.html


BLITZER: I'm going to go to Suzanne Malveaux in a second, but I just want to give you a chance, Senator Obama, if you want to respond. Senator Clinton made a

serious allegation that you worked for a slumlord. And I wonder if you want to respond.


OBAMA: I'm happy to respond. Here's what happened: I was an associate at a law firm that represented a church group that had partnered with this individual to do a

project and I did about five hours worth of work on this joint project. That's what she's referring to.

--Democratic presidential debate sponsored by CNN and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute on January 21, 2008


This individual? Interesting that now Rezko is facing a federal trial on February 25th, Mr. Obama cannot speak his name. It's also interesting that Obama got smacked

with Rezko only after he slapped Clinton with WalMart, even though he's got his own problems on that regard. As recently as April 2007, Obama chose to back an

anti-union candidate in a run-off election against a labor-backed candidate for the Third Ward. And never mind that Antoin "Tony" Rezko and Barack Obama are deeply

linked throughout his political career and have been friends since 1990.


Mr. Obama has portrayed Mr. Rezko as a one-time fund-raiser whom he had occasionally seen socially. But interviews with more than a dozen political and business

associates suggest that the two men were closer than the senator has indicated.

Mr. Obama turned to Mr. Rezko for help at several important junctures. Records show that when Mr. Obama needed cash in the waning days of his losing 2000

Congressional campaign, Mr. Rezko rounded up thousands of dollars from business contacts. In 2003, Mr. Rezko helped Mr. Obama expand his fund-raising for the

Senate primary by being host of a dinner at his Mediterranean-style home for 150 people, including some whose names have since come up in the influence scandal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4355200

Captain_Nemo (917 posts) Sat Feb-02-08 06:53 PM
Original message
Obama, cheney's energy bill, Rezmar (Rezko), Iraq nuclear power plant. Lend me your ear and brain.
Obama voted for Cheney's energy bill - a giveaway to oil companies. Hillary voted no.

Rezko has a company called Rezmar. They are partnered with a British firm to build an Nuclear power plant in Iraq. Just asking...how come the MSM hasn't asked

him about this. further, how come the obama supporters haven't?

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=10211...

MENAFN - 31/07/2005

(MENAFN) Rezmar Corp., a real estate development company entered into a joint venture with a British firm in a $150-million deal to build a power plant in Iraq.

The contract, signed with Iraq's ministry of electricity, calls for joint venture to supply power to Iraq for 10 years, according to a spokesman for Chicago-based Rezmar.

The 250-megawatt power plant is slated to be one of three power plants under construction at the same time. A Brazilian firm and an Iraqi company are building the

other two.

The Rezmar joint venture will be based in Jordan. Construction is slated to begin this fall.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Frequent? Give us a solid number...

[Ravy]

3. Obama has already explained this in the debate.

He did about 5 hours of background work for a church group that was doing a business deal with Rezko.

I don't see what the big deal is.

[shayes51]

6. And his explanation seems to be lacking.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

10. lol nt

[joshcryer]

13. HAHHHHAHAHAHA

SERIOUSLY. SERIOUSLY!!!!

[BlackVelvet04]

15. duh.......we understand why you don't see the big deal. n/t

[rodeodance]

32. Its what he left out of that little comment that might come back to haunt him

[flyarm]

38. bullshit no he hasn't..and only when exposed did he give money back in increments..that was after

he pulled in other money to replace the dirty money!

so Mr.Dirty will be our candidate eh?

fuck that!

the repigs will have a damn field day..

but from what i understand there is much more to come!

fly

[Ravy]

47. Um. Do I have to put the dripping SARCASM tag on *everything* ?

[Blue State Bandit]

5. WOW!

[mutant80]

9. That is a Fake Photoshop Job

[mutant80]

12. like everything Obamite, it's dishonest

[JTFrog]

23. No it isn't. If it were she would have sued Matt Lauer instead of claiming

Gonzo disease and not being able to recall taking the picture or meeting the man.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22839654/

[Blue State Bandit]

24. from the NY-Times

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-rezko-clinton-connection/

edited to ad link and a hardy.....



swing and a miss!

[laconicsax]

35. Evidence for that?

[Quixote1818]

48. No it isn't. It turned out to be real. nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

37. that photo is a fake....and a really crappy photochop job to boot

[Quixote1818]

49. It's real. The stuff about it being fake was dropped. nt

[flyarm]

39. your photo is a fake..like obama is a fake, that photo is a fake! eom

[Proud2BAmurkin]

7. holy shit.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. Rezko is Obama's Kenny Boy....watch him crawdaddy

[mutant80]

16. Front Page NYT tomorrow I bet

[Nailzberg]

14. I like your edit of the last paragraph.

Sources said Thomas also logged frequent visits to Rezko from Gov. Blagojevich and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Blagojevich and Obama were among the many politicians for whom Rezko raised campaign cash. Neither has been charged with any wrongdoing.

[bidenista]

18. well, i think we would've read about it on DU if Obama had been charged

...don't you?

[flyarm]

41. ( READ THIS) no one knows where Fitz will take this ..his office does not leak..

THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME..CHECK THIS OUT!


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/10/23/MNGAQFCQJ61.DTL

The man behind CIA leak inquiry
Special prosecutor said to be immune to political pressure
Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Sunday, October 23, 2005

here is an old article..and here you see where this may lead..asnd i say ..may..lead..

snip:

Fitzgerald's 161-attorney office is busy on other fronts as well. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley was questioned in his City Hall office for two hours in August in connection with an ongoing scandal involving alleged violations of a 40-year-old court order that bars most political patronage in Chicago. And Fitzgerald's office also is looking into fundraising for the campaigns of Ryan's successor, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat.

snip:

"He's one of those rare individuals who follows the law wherever it goes. He doesn't care what the public thinks,'' said Adrienne Drell, who teaches at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

A longtime reporter at the downtown Chicago federal building, Drell has known every U.S. attorney in the city since James R. Thompson, a Republican who parlayed his prosecution of Kerner and other Chicago politicians into a victory in the Illinois governor's race in 1976.

"Fitzgerald is as straight as they come,'' she said.

Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, criminal defense attorney and a longtime observer of the capital's investigations, surmises that Fitzgerald has prevented leaks in the Plame case by not using a prosecutor's tactic of disclosing information to selected reporters as a way of pressuring witnesses or possible defendants.


**oh yeah and look at this artyicle..written in Oct 2005..this investigation has been going on a long time..so now..just now Obama took money from this crook..and didn't have any idea he was taking money from an indicted man??????????

oh yeah..i sure believe that...well one person who won't be swayed by that bullshi tis Fitzgerald.

fly

[Unsane]

17. Does anybody understand this story? Or really even care?

I don't even understand what the hell Obama did wrong. This story is like a less interesting version of Whitewater or something. It has a yawn factor of 10.

[fooj]

33. Really?

Think about a nuclear power plant in Iraq. Still YAWNING?

It might be easier to understand if people actually invested some time into researching. Geez...

[philly_bob]

62. I don't understand it ... yet. But I really, really care.

It may be nothing, but if it turns out to be a Big Deal, we're stuck with a McCain presidency and Supreme Court.

This is part of legitimate questioning of Obama's record. You're not helping him by minimizing it.

[ProSense]

20. Another story that say absolutely nothing about Obama being involved in anything

Sources said the government had him wear a hidden wire to record conversations with a Chicago alderman -- but that he did not record Blagojevich or Obama.Sources said Thomas also logged frequent visits to Rezko from Gov. Blagojevich and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Blagojevich and Obama were among the many politicians for whom Rezko raised campaign cash. Neither has been charged with any wrongdoing.

<...>

Sources said the government had him wear a hidden wire to record conversations with a Chicago alderman -- but that he did not record Blagojevich or Obama.

Obviously, he wasn't even part of the investigation.

[ursi]

21. lol! he's an informant! what did he do wrong to negotiate that role?

[Danger Mouse]

22. delicious.

[oviedodem]

25. ROTFL!!!

Best response for this inane and flame bait post.

[bidenista]

27. uh-huh

[Danger Mouse]

28. so, looking forward to that thread limit?

i certainly am!

[Vinca]

26. What was it? 13 arrests re Whitewater?

Association doesn't equal guilt.

[rodeodance]

31. yeah yeah

[Hart2008]

40. But 14 convictions and four Clinton pardons do equal guilt.

If accepting a pardon does equal guilt, then what does it mean to give a pardon to someone who might implicate the President or his wife?

[ArkySue]

50. 14 Convictions? I don't think so

More like one.
Got a link?

[Hart2008]

52. Read it and weap! 14 convictions with four Clinton pardons...

Convictions
Ultimately the Clintons were never charged, but 14 other persons were convicted of more than 40 crimes, including a sitting Governor who was removed from office.

Jim Guy Tucker: Governor of Arkansas at the time, removed from office (fraud, 3 counts)
John Haley: attorney for Jim Guy Tucker (tax fraud)
William J. Marks Sr.: Jim Guy Tucker business partner (conspiracy)
Stephen Smith (Whitewater): former Governor Clinton aide (conspiracy to misapply funds). Bill Clinton pardoned.
Webster Hubbell: Clinton political supporter; Rose Law Firm partner (embezzlement, fraud)
Jim McDougal: banker, Clinton political supporter: (18 felonies, varied)
Susan McDougal: Clinton political supporter (multiple fraud, contempt of court) Bill Clinton pardoned.
David Hale: banker, self proclaimed Clinton political supporter: (conspiracy, fraud)
Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president (embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign)
Chris Wade: Whitewater real estate broker (multiple loan fraud) Bill Clinton pardoned.
Larry Kuca: Madison real estate agent (multiple loan fraud)
Robert W. Palmer: Madison appraiser (conspiracy). Bill Clinton pardoned.
John Latham: Madison Bank CEO (bank fraud)
Eugene Fitzhugh: Whitewater defendant (multiple bribery)
Charles Matthews (Whitewater): Whitewater defendant (bribery)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewater_scandal#Convictions

Ignore the Clinton sleaze factor at the peril of the party.

:hangover:

[ArkySue]

53. facts...

Jim Guy Tucker was not involved with Clinton "scandal" and was ultimately exonerated.
Susan McDougal was imprisoned for refusing to lie about the Clintons.
Embezzlement charges have nothing to do with the Clintons.
David Hale, although a criminal, was taken at his word about anything derogatory about the Clintons. Did he ever serve time?

The Clintons made the mistake of investing in the Whitewater deal, and lost money over it. The MadisonGuarenty Co. ripped off the Clintons.

Just sayin' as I live here and followed the BS carefully at the time.

[Hart2008]

55. Webster Hubbell was Hillary's partner at Rose and then No.2 in the U.S. Justice Dept.

Web Hubbell was influential with Hillary becoming a partner at the Rose law firm. He was particularly close to Chelsea, and wrote about her in his book. (Some websites have posted pictures comparing how similar Chelsea and Hubbell look.)

Susan McDougal was found in civil contempt of court for refusing to answer three question in front of a grand jury. In our system, juries determine facts, not judges, prosecutors or even Presidents. By accepting the pardon from Clinton, she admitted her guilt of the charges that she was convicted and which were outstanding, i.e., criminal contempt-of-court and fraud. (Accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt. President Ford always carried a Supreme Court decision stating this in his pocket and then produced it, and read it word for word when the question was raised as to why he pardoned Nixon.)

Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president (embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign)

Embezzleing money for a campaign is quite different from embezzling money from the campaign.

We tend to judge people by the company they keep.

[ArkySue]

59. "We tend to judge people by the company they keep."

Yeah, like Tony Rezko and Dennis Ross. :eyes:

[Hart2008]

61. When Obama pardons someone who could implicate him in a crime, I'll see your point. n/t

[jackson_dem]

42. If true this should be a concern to all Democrats

I was always worried that the Rezko trial was set after Super Tuesday. By then it may have been too late if, as the conventional wisdom held, the nominee was decided on Super Tuesday. The trial was slated to begin a week before Texas and Ohio, which would give us some opportunity to correct course if Obama is permanently damaged by the trial. Now it was been delayed thanks to Rezko to begin the day before the March 4 Texas/Ohio primaries. Obama may have it clinched by the time the real dirt comes out.

[bidenista]

45. we'll see

If there is "dirt", and Obama is the nominee, DU will go insane.

[Occam Bandage]

44. Yawn. Wake us when he's implicated in any wrongdoing.

[IsItJustMe]

51. Is this what they mean by the term, "SWIFTBOATING".

[Viking12]

60. Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner!!

[Perry Logan]

58. If this had come out about Hillary, imagine the nasty names they'd be calling her.

[avrdream]

63. For those of us far away, please keep posting this story.

It hasn't made it onto the radar in Australia as far as I can tell.

Thanks for the update.