Political Punch

How about Obamas tax returns for his years in Illinois,all 8 years.He managed to finance a 1.6 million dallor home,4 campaigns,(2 for the state legislature,1 house of representaives,1 US senate) also 22,000 for his church and 20,000 ayear per child for school.Now we find out Rezko was selling favors to the same board that Obama was on.All this money on a state legislators pay,and part time lecturing at University of Chicago.

Sad Obama thinks Americas voters havent heard of election finance laws that require detailed lists of donors and amounts donated.How does he think the media found out how much more that was given to Obamas campaigns by his friend Rezko.

Close his eyes and hope no one pushes? He submitted himself to full and open questioning by 36 jounalists at the Chicago Tribune, a paper that has done more investigative work on the Rezko matter than any other. The session lasted 92 minutes. Followed by 80 minutes with the Sun Times. Clinton has done nothing like that since she entered elective politics. I can see why the Clinton folks think you're great, Jake. Fascinating, too, how Obama's judgment is supposedly impaired because he's associated with one shady fundraiser. If you're keeping score vs. Clinton and McCain, how many indicted/convicted folks do they have on their side?

We certainly need a candidate with a keen mind and good memory and Senator Obama is not our man. He is a friend and associate of Tony Rezko for 15 years and doesn't suspect the man is a crook. He sits in a church listening to a pastor spewing hate for 20 years and does not consider leaving this church for another. One thing for sure, Senator Obama lacks any credibility or judgement. His excuses lack substance.

chicago tribune reports that obama now (since caught) admits to more contributions and more "mistakes" re rezko. also says that the obamas and rezkos had "occasional dinners" and obama spent a day at rezko's lake geneva retreat. remember when he claimed he only did 5 hours of work (at s.c. debate) and acted like he barely knew rezko's name? liar, liar, liar.

Mr. Tapper, thank you for alowing my post on Dr. Ron Paul. Congratulations on a good to the point articulate news report. Thanks and keep up the objective insightful analysis.

It is best that this all comes out now versus after the primaries because as the GOP strategists have began to publicly state, they are going to have a field day with the ammunition they have so far on Obama and his sidekick, the hateful and disgraceful "Rev." They already noted that the Swift Boat attacks on Kerry are going to seem like Hello Kitty after they are done w/Obama and his unknown character. The bonehead moves and "I had no idea" excuses are not going to work.

The most disturbing lines from the Chicago Trib article show Obama's REPEATED lapse in judgment, then he seems to blow that off as if it is not a factor in anything. Does he believe we are that stupid? perhaps the ONLY "good" judgment he as had in his opinion IS in his SPEECH on the War!

"Obama also said for the first time that his private real estate transactions with Rezko involved repeated lapses of judgment. The mistake, Obama said, was not simply that Rezko was under grand jury investigation at the time of their 2005 and 2006 dealings. "The mistake was he had been a contributor and somebody involved in politics," he said.

In an extensive interview that he hoped would quell the lingering controversy over his relationship with Rezko, Obama said that voters concerned about his judgment should view it as "a mistake in not seeing the potential conflicts of interest."

But he added that voters should also "see somebody who is not engaged in any wrongdoing . . . and who they can trust."

A pattern is becoming apparent with Senator Obama. At best he shows naivety, at worst duplicity. He is running on his judgment yet he shows poor instincts and judgment not to mention lack of political savvy. Senator Obama wants it both ways...he's intelligent, he's made "boneheaded" mistakes.

The other tenet of his candidacy is his ethics. While he may not have done anything illegal in regard to Rezko has he acted ethically? Read "Obama 'dropped in' to do Rezko favors" at http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/2008/03/follow-money-obama-dropped-in-to-do.html and "Just what did Obama do in return for Rezko's support?" at
http://pajamasmedia.com/2008/02/what_you_didnt_know_about_obam.php

Does Senator Obama have a "father issue" that blinds him to men in his life? He has had a 17 year relationship with Rezko and a 20 year relationship with Rev. Wright. In both cases he seems to have looked for "fatherly" advice from the men. How will he be influenced by his supporters Daschle, Kennedy, Kerry, and Daley among others if he is President? Will he be their puppet?

Does Senator Clinton have her own issues? Sure. Maybe it comes down to whether we want the devil we know or the devil we don't know.

Cathy,

Please listen to the facts: Rezko gave Obama at least $250,000. Obama says he never asked him for a favor. It is amazing just what a nice guy Rezko was. Go look at the Chicago Tribune coverage of the Rezko trial to date, if Rezko did not ask Obama for any pay-back, he was the only one that didn't have to give pay-back. Now, take off your rose-colored glasses, and really look at the facts, do you honestly think this is possible??

Pete,

Ha..ha..ha..
That's good...we need laughing for a while. BTW do you know how many crazy uncle he has?

Finally, the mainstream news is picking up on what anyone who had the time to pick up on alternate news sources has known all along. you believe the Republicans have been salivating over the idea of knocking Hillary out of the race so they can face off a much more lightweight candidate. He is a great inspirational speaker, but he is a tabula rasa onto whom people can thing CHANGE, at any cost, with pretty words and nothing but substanceless positions. He cozies up to everyone and stands for nothing. when I first became afraid of the swell of " Obamamania" a friend aptly commented, they're voting for a rock star.
We DO need experience, political savvy, someone who is able think fast, hold a lot of information in her mind, make compromises, and do the hard work necessary to BEGIN to get us out of the disastrous mess that BUSH and his cronies have made of our country and our standing in the world, and the added danger of terrorism, loss of civil liberties, and a kind of third world country side by side with the outrageous prosperity of the wealthy aristocracy of our nation. IT IS A DAUNTING JOB AND HILLARY IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS EVEN CLOSE TO BEGINNING TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO ATTEMPT WHAT MUST BE DONE

As a lifelong Democrat, who condemns the war, supports womens rights, fears what Mccain could do to the Supreme Court and further sink our unlivable enconomy DONT MAKE ME CHOOSE, for the first time,between a loose screw like Obama and a known entity like McCain. Look who Obama associates with and then disavows. Who will he, who hates to get his hands dirty , and then turns to haters and sleazebags, count on to help him with the details ( which he is above dealing with, by his own account), to make decisions and run the country? I HOPE STARRY EYED FOLLOWERS WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

Politics as usual. Just what Obama says he opposes. What a hypocrite.

Rezko created and bankrolled Obama. Pure and simple.

The drip drip information that the Obama campaign is engaged in is already damaging Obama for good. Everyday, Obama keeps coming out with drip of information about his relationship with Rezko and Wright.
First, Obama says these guys play minor roles, then he admits they have a little bigger roles. What are we to believe?

Republicans spent $70m to investigate the Clintons. They have not spent a penny, yet we already have a lot dripping out of the Obama campaign.

This is a lose - lose situation for democrats. This is why you should be a little careful about slick and smooth talking politicians. Democrats never learn. The college students are to blame for this mess.

I havent heard a word from Michelle Obama regarding all this controversey ;she has been muted by the campaign.....this is the first time I feel proud to be an american and the entire black community will wake up and come around and support my husband......She was one of the first to DEAL the race card....

I am shocked to say the least.I wanted it to be a Clinton/Obama ticket,but, if Hillary has Obama,I will hold my nose,blow hard and vote for McCain,even though the man and I are at odds on war,economy,healthcare etc.Though I am pro Hillary, I was a proud american as for the first time, we had a Black man and a woman as strong contenders for the race.Who says America isn't a great country?Race or gender has no role.I wish I would see the day when we elct a woman and also an African American as a President of the US.However,not this black man.This man has declared himself a phony.He claims that he is no washington school of politics and that he is new and clean clean comparing himself to Joshua at times, and then his connections to Rezko et all surfaces and he tried to Ohio/NAFTA/Canda the Washington way.It looks like he is now disclosing some hitherto denials on Rezko as some of it will come out in the courts.True he had some flag and pin flaps,and Michele is finally proud of her country,but,now connections to a radical priest who is spiritual advisor,mentor,the title of his book,who has beem spewing downright racial hatred,anti american and anti sematic statements for the past 20 yrs surface.You did not know anything about it?Barack, do you think that we are stupid?Gimme a break.You attended his church for 20yrs,claim not to miss sunday mass,call him your mentor/friend/uncle and have him baptize your kids, and you claim that you were in the dark.You are a Liar Liar.I am quite disgusted.I didn't expect this of you, as I wanted a Hillary/Obama ticket and I wanted you to be president for 8 years after Hillary.

Move on. Rezko is Obama's other crazy uncle.

OBAMA GO AWAY!!!
You are a liar, talk about doing anything and saying anything to get nominated. wasn't that what you said about Hillary? Hmmmm looks to me that you are the one doing and saying anything to get yourself nominated. Change??? out with the old politics?? Washington is where good ideas go and die??? You are not in capacity to make change, cause you are typical of old politics, and what's bad is that you claim that u are not. I guess your ideas will be DOA in Washington. Do not embarrass yourself anymore, QUIT OBAMA

Obama and his supporters have succeeded
in splitting the Democratic Party. No
wonder he does not want to be the VP
under Hillary. This a blessing in
disguise. MCCain will be the only loser.
The Republican cabal will be very
disappointed because they have spent
millions of dollars to push this so
called uniter against Hillary only to
see it blows up before they themselves
can expose him in the general election
then win the presidency. No wonder
MCCain had no money to run. All the
Republican money was going to Obama. How
come a first term politician, running
for president, got more donation in the
primaries than other seasoned politicians? Who are these donors? No,
not the poor, disillusioned blacks
voting for him 9-1. How does Oprah, the
Kennedys, Kerry, and others feel, we
would like to hear their comments. They
jumped on the bandwaggon earlier on. As
public figures they owe us an apology.
How will this affect their standings?
Even the DNC, the superdelegates, the
committed and uncommitted delegates
should take a stand against Obama and
this should be swift including counting
the delegates in Florida and Michigan.
Next, the DNC should make it a winner
takes all in the past and future
contests. Total delegates won, not
counting superdelegares, Clinton 1414,
Obama 1231. Finally, make all future
contests be primaries vs caucuses, the
country will be voting big comes
November, dems will have a gauge of the
electorate. Put the white woman against
the white man she wins in a landslide
because all the jilted Obama blacks
will return to the Hillary camp.

Nette 60:
What you have listed, is small potatoes compared to the thousands of records that Ken Starr went through in the 90's, trying to bust the Clinton's for what some thought were shady financial dealings. But the Clinton's were exonerated of any and all wrong doing, regarding those dealings. What makes you think, that after going through all of that scrutiny, and knowing that people are going to check their dealings even more during a presidential campaign....why do you think anything will be found now? I hope you're not one of those who can't handle disappointment at all, because when the Clinton's release all the info you wanted, and nothing illegal or bad is found, you are going to go into denial and depression. You may want to schedule a vacation for after the info is released, in order for you to recuperate.

Alison, what you wrote does not interest me in the least. Most of what you have written is not fact but instead it's fiction. Gosh we wouldn't want to jeopardize the country by having two intelligent people in the White House...duh! Bill Clinton has other things to do,I'm sure that his role will be no different than any other spouses role in the White House. Can you imagine the role that Michelle Obama would play if Barack Hussain Obama were elected? Here we have a person that's never been proud of her country. Do we really want this type of person occupying the White House representing our country??? NOT! This concerns me more than what interest you.

By the way check the facts regarding earmarked funds requested by Hillary.

Why are you so concerned about the early to mid 90's, weren't you alive then? One thing that Bill Clinton left visible for everyone to see was a country that was finacially sound with the largest budget surplus in American history and did this all at peace time.

I'm sure that it would take Hillary longer to release her daily records from being first lady because she and Eleanor Roosevelt are the only two 1st ladies that actually made substantial accomplishments, especially in Foreign Affairs, and Hillary has done more for women than any first lady ever.

Obama is a fake. How can he think he can decieve the American people. Obama is destroying the democratic party, He touts "politics of change", when he is bought and paid for by Rezko.

Thank God for ABC News!!! I have been so upset with the media's behaviour in this Democratic race that I quit watching the news altogether. Then, just recently, it occurred to me that there is something I can DO instead of sticking my head in the sand and waiting for it to be over, and that is to investigate who the sponsors are on CNN, MSNBC, NBC, Fox News (which is a lost cause anyway) and other channels, to let them know I will not purchase any product of theirs as long as their money is supporting the kind of 'unfree' press we have been subjected to in this campaign. Remember the Don Imus episode? Al Sharpton got to the sponsors of Imus' show and poof, Imus was history. The only thing these guys respect is money. So instead of just complaing about this let's get cracking and let the sponsors know, "I'm mad as hell and won't take it any longer". We have the power so let's exercise it and be the change we want in the world, to paraphrase Gandhi.

Congratulations to ABC for airing this info. What is going on with the other major news agencies? Seem to be a day late and a dollar short. The reporting this a.m. on MSNBC was horrible.

jay, how about ayers and dohrn for the third strike? (i'm sure there will be many more, but that's just a starter.....)

Democrata, I take it then you are a bitter Obama supporter who has had a really bad couple of days?

So this is where all the Clintonites hang out! I've seen more tripe here than I ever have on a blog...can't believe this is a mainstream press site or a mainstream press reporter. Reads more like one of the minor agenda sites.

Clinton's past doesn't not erase Obama's present.

Try answering why he would lie, again?

1992 is not an answer for 2008.

alison: Obama has NOT been forthcoming with any of this information. He only comes out with it when the information is about to come out anyway. He did it before when all of sudden he remembered that Rezko had actually toured the property. Prior to that he said that he just talked to him at an event or something.

Nette 60:

are you aware of the following:
1: Sen Clinton has not put out a tax return since 2000
2: Sen Clintom has not published any earmarks she has gotten in all seven years in the Senate
3: Pres Clinton has isolated all records related to pardons and other issues he does not want out there and has them sealed though Nov 2012 (in Clinton terms that would be after Hillary's reelection)
4: Sen Clinton is running - among other things - on her health care plan: yet every document related to the 1993-94 Health Care work done has also been sealed -
5: Clinton "archivists" are now preparing to release some of the former First Lady's "schedules". That is going to be the transparency they release? Where the First Lady made appearances?
6: The Clintons have not made public the donors to the Clinton library - who donated over $170million last year alone?
7: Should Sen Clinton win the Presidency what is the role of a former president in that administration? As a former President when he makes foreigh trips does he speak for the US Government? What about the 22md amendment?
8: Is it not concerning that a non elected person (first man) would in fact be speaking - with the wuthority as a former president - for the country on policy?

Does any of this not interest you?
It interests me

Let me get this straight. Hillary wants to debate about fundraising. Bring it on.
Tax returns???????????

The Clinton tax thing is just a distraction tactic. They don't have anything else on her. Why doesn't Obam present his tax records from the Rezko years to present?

I am African American female and never supported Obama. All this info has been on the net for months!!!! His church preaches hate and hate is hate. I have knouwn he was a hypocrite from the beginning. Caught hell from family and friends who like many of you did not do your homework on the person who wants to be President...The guy is a wolf in sheeps clothing and was just waiting to get into the White House with his friends...Rev Wright and Loius Farrakhan

I am African American female and never supported Obama. All this info has been on the net for months!!!! His church preaches hate and hate is hate. I have knouwn he was a hypocrite from the beginning. Caught hell from family and friends who like many of you did not do your homework on the person who wants to be President...The guy is a wolf in sheeps clothing and was just waiting to get into the White House with his friends...Rev Wright and Loius Farrakhan

Jake, great reporting.

Wow!!! Remember when Michelle Obama said,
"If you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House."

LOVE the keyes comment!!! wouldn't it be fun to do an article about how it came to be keyes in the first place?

re the rezko admission, it's just one thing after another, 10000 becomes 80000 becomes 250000, etc. and he did no favors, yeah right! i guess the letters don't count?

like the wright thing, wasn't there, oops was there but not listening? whatever!

the wright thing gets a little press on abc, same for rezko. cnn and nbc/msnbc try to shove it all under the rug and when they can't they twist it into an unrecognizable state then spin it so it sounds like their appointed messiah is squeaky clean. thanks for not doing that here.

"Again, the Obama campaign seems to handle these things by closing their eyes, holding their breath, and hoping a starstruck media will leave it at that.

But this ain't no Senate race against Alan Keyes."

Jake, your short, simple yet precise reporting do justice to fair minded Correspondents. Thank you.

Funny how this election really seems to make the one ridiculed canidate, Dr. Paul, the only rational honest voice with sound answers. Still completly ignored. Don't you folks think Dr. Paul is worth a second consideration. After all, he was the only canidate expressing the currrent financial & military collaspe we are in now and the only one with some positive corrective action. The election is not over yet. Think about it. See you in the food line.

Frellthat,

It isn't about who is in the lead. A candidate for the Democratic party must reach a total of 2025 delegates to "WIN" the nomination. Neither candidate can acheive this. (At least, it's not likely) So, it falls into the hands of the Superdelegates. Their job is to decide (when a party is split, just like it is now) who would be the best candidate to win the presidency. It falls to THEIR judgement. Period. We may not all like it, but that's the way it's set up.

Obama has not even been accused of anything. But even if he were, how would this compare to anything the Clintons have done? Does it even bring him anywhere near their level of corruption? This is not even the pot versus the kettle... it's the pot versus the china cup.

....SOMEPLACE in the previous postings is/ was a URL to Obama's "earmarks"; one was for $1,000,000 for the hospital at which Michelle works.

hmmmmm

People, even with 80% of the vote in all the remaining states, including Florida and Michigan, Hillary cannot even come close to catching up with Obama's lead. All of this negativity only serves to help the McCain campaign.

Rezko raised money for alot of people including taking pictures with the clintons. What of it. Senator Obama has done nothing illegal or never been accused of anything, those are the facts.

Crooks like Rezko do not do anyone favors without getting or hoping for favors or kickbacks. People like that do not just throw million bucks away for nothing. The more delay for the truth of the Obama-Rezko dealings, the more damage it will do to the democrats. Wow. all those democrats avowing for this Saint Obama should urge him to confess like all of us now.

Why was he in Chicago today will he have to testify any time soon, we will not be seeing a democrat in the white house how can it happen now

Yes, meanwhile, Hillary gets a free ride from the press because she refuses to release her tax returns. :/

This is silly. Obama has still not even been accused of any wrongdoing. Rezko raised funds for all Illinois Democrats. That's not a crime.

IF OBAMA'S INSTINCT TELLS HIM THAT REZKO WAS A GOOD MAN, GOD HELPS US IF OBAMA IS ELECTED AND RULES AMERICA WITH HIS INSTINCTS.

"I did not have ... er... do favors for that man" - Baraq Obama

I AM REALLY CURIOUS WHAT IS OBAMA THINKING? HE REALLY THINKS HE CAN HIDE THE TRUTH FROM THE AMERICAN PULBIC? EVEN HIS STARRY-EYED DEMOCRATIC AND MEIDA WORSHIPPERS WILL LET HIM OFF, THE REPUBLICANS WILL TRUMP HIM WITH ALL THEIR POWER. DOES OBAMA WANT TO HELP THE DEMOCRATS TO LOSE THE WHITE HOUSE?S

Even if we believe what Obama tells us now, he surely shows a serious lack of judgement. When he was asked this question by Moran, he just walked out. He should answer the question now. Does his behavior shows that he has good judgement?

I just heard today that "Mika" on Morning Joe is Zbigniew Brzezinski's daughter. If that is true, it would go a long way to explain the MSNBC love affair with Obama. Brzezinski is one of Obama's foreign policy advisors and known for his negative views of Israel and the jewish community. What influence did Rezko's Syrian connections have on Obama? Or wait, maybe Obama didn't notice that Rezko was Syrian...

SE Croft, Hillary doesn't need luck, she's very intelligent and is aware of what's going on around her. As stated earlier the Repubicans have spent millions of taxpayers dollars to investigate her through Kenneth Starr but failed to find her guilty of anything. Obama is not even aware of what's going on around him. He continues to attend and support a chuch that clearly has their focus on an Un-American agenda, maybe that's why his wife said that the is the 1st time in her adult life she's ever been proud to be an American or is it something to do with her marriage?...who knows why she would make such a statement? Anyone attending that Chuch cannot be about unity, it appears after hearing the Pastor rant it's more about hatred.

This is not the kind of CHANGE the American people deserve. I think most of the American people can now clearly see that the change he represents certainly is not a positive change. With Kerry and Kennedy in his corner it looks like more of the same old Washington politics. Did you ever stop to think that those guys are not supporting Hillary because they cannot control her and pull the strings. She's way smarter than they are and they are well aware she will not dance to their music. They are both from Mass. and even with their support along with the Mass. Governor, Obama still lost that primary soundly. The people of Mass. know because they have been represented by those guys for a long time and they realize they are talkers and not doers.

I am really shocked. Obama who is supposed to be so intellignet, could not and can't see there is a conflict of interest in his dealings with Rezko? Obama was a state senate for 7 years. Rezko is accused of making all kinds of kickbacks for favors from the Illinois politicians. How can the smart Obama does not know anything?

Obama only releases information about Rezcko in dribs and drabs - usually just before the about to hit the fan. He can't be trusted.

that he released this now, clearly knowing that it wouldn't be covered while the Wright stuff was on the air, is just more of that "old kind of politics" he practices all the time.

His decades-long close relationship with that criminal Rezko is dripping out, and the trial will reveal more--i hope it's just not too late--the media is totally in the tank for him (until he gets the nomination, then they'll go back to loving McCain)

Obama's relationship with Rezko has spanned 17 years. Rezko raised a quarter of a million dollars for him. Rezko received state/federal funds to "develop" sub-par housing in then State Senator Obama's district. The dots will be connected, and Rezko will talk to save his family, if not himself.

Co-worker of mine 'was' a diehard Obama supporter voted for him in CT primary. Last night after reading ABC's story on the pastor said I can't vote for him now, I just can't. I wonder how many states which have already would want a re-do now? Maybe it's a good thing Florida and Michigan will be voting later, they'll have more information available to them.

Another Rezko story and still no evidence of clear wrong doing by Obama. Context matters. When a candidate comes out of one of the dirtiest corners of the country with no more in question than a deal on a house and no proof of favors or pay offs or board positionings or anything more suspicious, I'd call it amazing.

Hillary should be so lucky.

Obama said of Rezko "My instinct was to believe him"... these are the same instincts that he used to oppose the war... either his instincts are good or they are bad OR he got lucky and made comments against the war (from the state senate) and was unlucky in dealing with Rezko. Is this the kind of judgment you Obamites want in the presidency... a roll of the dice decision maker?

SJ

Looks like we dont have to defend Hillary's candidacy anymore or condemn Obama's lunacy anymore...Obama is doing it himself....

He lied to start out when he said he barely knew rezko.

Then it unwinded that he knew him better than he said he did.

There are still many unanswered Questions.

For his house sale, the house was a landmark house and had to have special ok to sell it from the landmark board. then it had to have special ok to sell part of the lot. All this had to go through the landmark committee. Though the process. Takes weeks or months, his was rushed through, did Rezko help with that or was it that Michelle Obama was on that committee.? Seems Michelle quit the landmark committee when her house closed was.

Who Charity did he Dump the money from Rezko and his friends?

His Church or one of their hospitals or functions? Rezkos hospitals, or the Hospital Michelle worked for and on leave from?

Wish he would come clean with it all.

The FBI has taped conversation of Rezko talking to different people and I am sure, the Obama camp know something is coming.

Levine is going to take the stand soon and there is no denying what these guys were up too. The Chicago Sun Times reported that As a state senator, Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko’s.

The New York Times reported that Sen. Obama attended a business meeting on behalf of Mr. Rezko to impress potential investors for his business schemes.

All these little drips are coming out today on the net, my gut feeling is something is coming down and Obama camp is trying to do some major damage control.

Benjamin: I don't know how deft I would call it, more sneaky and under-handed. The question is why is he now admitting to the additional money from Rezko? That is the line of the story to follow. Is it because it is going to come up in the Rezko trial, or did some hard-working investigative reporter get the information and he wants to "confess" before it is reported. Please take off your rose-colored glasses. This stinks and you know it, no matter what spin you put on this.

Oh My God! Still Obama supporters want to release him of responsibility !!!!!

Jack...from the sound of it your issue appears to be more with where Mr. Obama chose to speak out rather than the content because after visiting the Huffinton Post I did not come away with the same "message" that you appear to have come away with......While many do not find the Huffington Post to be as crediable as ABC or some of the other news media, I think Mr. Obama felt that they were more fair and less on the Clinton bandwagon.

I believe the what else can come out? Is the earmarks he released will have ties to projects that Rezko owns, on top of his mentor for 20 years, on top of his race baiting finally being looked at by some of the media. He can always blame on a bonehead mistake (GAG)

OMG and the cult followers still blame the Clintons!!!! I cannot believe this and yet I read it every day. Obama is disclosing this little BIT right now because he is going to be blown wide open on this association with Rezko, so he is playing offense. Obama is a phony, he is a manipulator, he is arrogant and he is condescending. He BELIEVES he can tell you anything and you will blindly believe it. He is cherished by MSNBC and many of the other broadcasting media. Congratulations to ABC to finally start bringing his baggage to the center. And this man has a LOT OF BAGGAGE. He has his wife who made a statement of not being proud of American, he has his pastor who gyrates his hips at the pulpit as he brings up Bill Clinton and Monica, he shouts demeaning statements about Hillary Clinton, he damns America, he has relationships with Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton and Jesse jackson call super delegates and threaten them. Obama has never opened up to what he truly believes, he just says a few words and his cult followers fill in the blanks and he goes for it.
Beware of this man. He is going to sell out America. The last cult leader lead his followers to drink Kool aide. Beware.

Strange that he would be so willing now with this information I have to agree maybe there is something more coming and they know it, so the best way is to take in front before the news breaks.

Obama for a man that has taken the stance that Hillary is not fit to be president because she lacks proper judgment, and made the wrong call, he sure seems to be racking up a lot of poor judgment and wrong calls lately.

shalabalaboo: You are right! Especially coming from the guy that's "going to be right on Day One."

There's been too many "I thought" or "should have beens" or "it was a mistake" and of course his campaign playing the race card at every opportunity. And then I find out more about the place where he worships, it's just getting to be too much from this guy. I don't think we need another Mr. I Don't Know Anything running the White House, we have one of those now and look at the messes that he's created for the country.

At this point I will favor the experience of Hillary and I do trust her the most of all of the candidates. She's already been grilled and grilled again by the Rethuglicans and she was never found guilty of wrong doing after they spent millions of taxpayer dollars to investigate her. She is really the only practical choice, because John McCain is stuck in a "war mode" and knows absolutely nothing about the economy.

Oh the state primaries are nothing, 10 of the 14 state caucuses Obama won are non binding. Delegates can chose to support another candidate anytime in the 4 stage process.

In the other 5 states his delegates may just not show up to state conventions and then the vote would go against him there as well, giving more national delegates to Clinton.

There are about 300 caucus state delegates that can still be re-decided!

Lets see how this plays out in IOWA tomorrow shall we.

Spin, spin, spin - want to bet more is coming from the Rezko trial?

How arrogant can Obama be? First he expects voters to believe he didn't know about Wrights diatribes, now he is telling us how to view the Rezko fiasco.

Is he trying to hoodwink us, bamboozle us?

Quick - somebody remind me why Obama is more electable than Senator Clinton?

Obama supporters - is he pulling the old okie doke?

Go back to Illinois Senator Obama - you are damaging the Democratic party.

Gee surprise surprise. Did he wait until after deadline for the Sat papers?

This man's "Judgement" should really be questioned the next time he asks for someone's vote based on it.

"We are Joshua" "We will take you to the promised land" Who said this??? Saint Obama himself.I am clean clean and so clean that nothing will stick on me

This is a little tardy for Obama to admit this now. And after the Reverend Wright material seems even more damaging. I do wonder how this will all play out in the state primaries to come. Nevertheless, it does seems ABC is telling it like it is, which is more than I can say of CNN, CBS, or MSNBC. Perhaps those three networks could send some of their employees over to ABC to see how to do their jobs as a genuine news organization.

I do not know what to make of this. Is Mr. Obama believable? He has had association with the church for 20 years, and acknowledges the significant impact of the pastor in his life, yet he came to be aware of the rather extraordinary (and non-spiritual, I might add) only recently.
Now, he says this about Rezko. This topic was broached over a month ago.
All the rave and swoon Mr. Obama had received made me wonder: Is he for real? or is he another savvy and likable politician? And yet I was hoping he would win, so that I can cast a vote to become part of a historic event. I did know about this church before and had posted some info on the church. I was hoping that people will start to demand more clarity from Mr. Obama on this church. But many people, did not really care about this issue. Now the media is after this. The media always lags.
Am I less certain?

But my guess is that Mr. Obama seems likable that this will not affect his nomination. But will this affect the general election? I do not know.