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Obama About to Be Hit on Questionable Associates
October 04, 2008 10:28 AM
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the FBI is looking into whether or not former Obama pal Tony Rezko -- convicted in June of attempted extortion, mail and wire fraud, and aiding and abetting bribery -- paid for all or part of $90,000 worth work on the Northwest Side Chicago home of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Rezko apparently liked helping out his politician pals on their real estate transactions. As you may recall, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Rezko's wife, Rita, bought adjacent properties in a controversial and complicated series of real estate transactions, one of which Obama later called "boneheaded" because it might cause people to think he'd been done a favor in exchange for something untoward, which he denies is the case. Rezko at the time was under federal investigation.
A federal judge Wednesday froze more than $100,000 of Rezko's cash. Rezko's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 28.
The conservative Judicial Confirmation Network is running a TV ad tying Obama to not just Rezko, but William Ayers (now using cartoons to spread his ideas) and the bombastic Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
"We don't know who Barack Obama would choose" as a Supreme Court justice, the ad says, "but we know this. He chose as one of his first financial backers a slumlord now convicted on 16 counts of corruption. Obama chose as an associate a man who helped to bomb the Pentagon and said he 'didn't do enough.' And Obama chose as his pastor a man who has blamed America for the 9/11 attacks."
There's also a curious story bubbling out there about a former Obama poker buddy, Will County Executive Larry Walsh, and questions leveled by a political opponent about Walsh's connections to a county contractor.
It's unclear that Walsh did anything remotely wrong, but, hey, it's October.
Meaning?
Meaning you should expect to hear much more about these Obama associates -- some questions fair, others not; many associates legitimately slimy, others mere road kill on this political Autobahn -- in this last full month of the campaign.
To wit: the Washington Post reports that Sen. John McCain's campaign -- convinced that the maverick thing alone isn't working -- is about to open up a can of whoop-ass on Obama with a focus on his personal associations.
"We're going to get a little tougher," a senior Republican operative tells the Post. "We've got to question this guy's associations. Very soon. There's no question that we have to change the subject here."
Fasten your seatbelts!
-- jpt
October 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (1441)
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I am not affiliated with a party. I try my best to be fair and decide who would be the best to vote for based on what they stand for and their character. I can't see much good in either candidate really, there were others in the running that were a far better choice, but dirty tactics eliminated them early on.
One thing that bothers me is when people say that the hand of god is on Obama and other zealotic rhetoric. It scares me that someone would make statements like this only relying on what they have been told by the media and others they associate who have similar ideas. I wish people would do more open-minded research before they claim someone is a "God Send".
Obama is not a Saint, and neither is McCain. Please try to vote based on true American values, don't vote for someone because a Hollywood star tells you to.
Posted by: Too Late Nate | Nov 3, 2008 1:20:51 PM
Obama can not pass a top secret security clearance and anyone who argues with that is just stupid. Enough with all the justifications. He is not fit to lead the free world nor does he deserve the chance.
Posted by: J | Oct 12, 2008 4:21:52 PM
McCain is right to want to investigate Obama and his radical, risky relationships.
Facts are facts.
Obama did have meetings with the domestic terrorist.
McCain did not.
Face it.........Obama is risky and yes has had many shady characters in the past.........Rev. Wright, Ayers, Rezko, Farrakhan.
As Americans we should be scared of all of these guys.
Including Obama.
The media is so pro Obama they don't know how to handle reporting this.
Would it be okay if Obama had a party for Osama Bin Laden too?
William Ayers is a TERRORIST.
We need to get to the bottom of this.
Go McCain. He is a true patriot!
Posted by: al from nj | Oct 11, 2008 6:51:30 AM
u r blog Is very nice
Posted by: matthew | Oct 10, 2008 6:11:21 AM
Obama may appear to be leading, however there are many people who have no idea what Obama's history is, however when they hear about it they are not in favor of him winning. Some of us are willing to sit down and take part in trying to paint a more balanced election rather than let Obama and his campaign manipulate the public into thinking Obama has a good judgement of others Characters. The last thing we need is another terrorist using the Americans aa a tool to attack America again. When Obama is connected to have tiers with questionable people rather than say yes in my history I have had interactions with those who could be seen as the enemy.... They surely better be honest because if they are lying it will be exposed. there is that cliche once a liar always a liar. If that were to happen some just might stop and say you know, maybe Larry Sincalir was telling the truth, maybe.
Posted by: Jackie Allen | Oct 10, 2008 1:15:11 AM
Americans, have lost their respect and dignity in the world by their uncivilized behaviour throughout this election. I thought they know better to behave well in an election. They have become a disgrace to themselves and the world. You call your country, "God's country" yet you are full of lies and smears. Even communist Russia behaved well in their election. You will agree with me that morals has declined from the American society.
Posted by: Harrison | Oct 7, 2008 10:08:27 AM
We do understand, don't we, that when McCain-Palin audiences boo and shout, "Obama is terrorist, and when McCain doesn't challenge that, it means that McCain-Palin are promulgating hate speech? They are encouraging people in racial hatred. The next step is attempted assassination. Let's just be blunt. McCain-Palin either speak out strongly against racial hatred and verbal slander or they are trying to use it for their own political advantage. PS This comment is blunt and so true, I doubt it will remain on the site.
Posted by: JAB | Oct 7, 2008 9:39:02 AM
It kills me how people want to judge Obama for KNOWING someone and serving on a couple of boards with a person who did some wrong things. How does Ayer's ACTIONS & PERSONAL decisions have anything to do with Obama CHARACTER? I am not understanding that. I am a Christian and I am sure many of you are as well...and for you I ask this question. Did the fact that Jesus ate with and befriended the prostitutes, tax payers and sinners make Him any less Jesus? We have ALL done somethings in our past and we have ALL had some dealings with folks with questionable character...but does the character of someone and what they did in the past have anything to do with who you are today? Especially if you weren't involved in the activities the other person has been convicted/accused of?
We need to take a long hard look at the state of America...how we got here and who was in power. Do we want more of that?
Could it be more of an issue of white folks having an issue voting for a black man? Someone brought up the race issue...and I will say this...us black folks have been voting for white presidents since we were give the RIGHT to vote and we didn't have a problem with it. But what is really ridiculous...is being a human being and having to receive the RIGHT to vote from WHITE America....because you are a BLACK American. You want to talk about racial issues..that's one for you to ponder. I am not playing a race card....because I love being a black woman and I would not change it for the world. But it kills me how many people can see the WRONGS of Obama...but totally skate over all the mess McCain and Palin have done. To me..its a black and white thing and that is sickening. It is 2008....the racial stuff needs to die.
Posted by: Dee | Oct 7, 2008 9:14:42 AM
It kills me how people want to judge Obama for KNOWING someone and serving on a couple of boards with a person who did some wrong things. How does Ayer's ACTIONS & PERSONAL decisions have anything to do with Obama CHARACTER? I am not understanding that. I am a Christian and I am sure many of you are as well...and for you I ask this question. Did the fact that Jesus ate with and befriended the prostitutes, tax payers and sinners make Him any less Jesus? We have ALL done somethings in our past and we have ALL had some dealings with folks with questionable character...but does the character of someone and what they did in the past have anything to do with who you are today? Especially if you weren't involved in the activities the other person has been convicted/accused of?
We need to take a long hard look at the state of America...how we got here and who was in power. Do we want more of that?
Could it be more of an issue of white folks having an issue voting for a black man? Someone brought up the race issue...and I will say this...us black folks have been voting for white presidents since we were give the RIGHT to vote and we didn't have a problem with it. But what is really ridiculous...is being a human being and having to receive the RIGHT to vote from WHITE America....because you are a BLACK American. You want to talk about racial issues..that's one for you to ponder. I am not playing a race card....because I love being a black woman and I would not change it for the world. But it kills me how many people can see the WRONGS of Obama...but totally skate over all the mess McCain and Palin have done. To me..its a black and white thing and that is sickening. It is 2008....the racial stuff needs to die.
Posted by: Dee | Oct 7, 2008 9:14:42 AM
YOU SEE WHAT BRAIN WASHING DOES!ABSOLUTLEY GUILTY BY SOOOOOOOO MANY ASSOCIATION.IT IS NOT PALINS FAULT IT IS OBAMAS DOING. HE HAD THIS AWFUL RADICAL FRIENDS. NOW IF IT WAS ONE BAD APPLE , YOU CAN SAY OK. ALL POLITICAL CANDIDATES HAVE SOME JUNK IN THERE TRUNK BUT OBAMAS.IS ENDLESSSS AND YOU AND SO MANY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE GOT TAKEN IN.
Posted by: MARIANN | Oct 7, 2008 8:35:04 AM
Guilt by association is an attack on voters and on the electoral process. Voters need to learn about the issues. Governor Palin should apologize for raising this STUPID guilt by association tactic against Senator Obama. And if she REALLY believes what she is saying, she REALLY should demand that they return Arnold Weber's campaign donations, because they are blood money by her definition. Weber was a member of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, the organization formed by BILL AYERS. Keeping that money is blatant hypocrisy.
"Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it." John McCain - 2/21/2000
Posted by: underdog | Oct 7, 2008 8:11:03 AM
The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government. And I won't be buried under their damn flag.
Ask McCain if he knows who said that. If he refuses to answer, ask his running mate. She will know.
These smears have to stop. McCain is throwing every loose association into this. McCain has far more to lose in guilt by association. The Keating scandal was about Cindy McCain too. A $300,000.00 dress for the RNC? Please.
Posted by: W Underwood | Oct 7, 2008 8:04:49 AM
Obama is a disgrace.
He should step down.
Why is anyone defending Obama and his radical ties?
He IS involved with radical far left associations.
He IS risky.
Plea to the Media:
Please keep these associations of Senator Obama in your news coverage daily.
Google anyone of these characters and it’s enough to rethink if Obama is the “All American Guy”
First it was convicted political fixer Antoin “Tony” Rezko;
then it was Nadhmi Auchi;
then it was William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn; the domestic terrorist
then it was Rashid Khalidi;
then it was Rev. Wright, Rev. Meeks, Rev. Otis, Father Pfleger
then “black liberation theology’ and the ten point system taught at Obama’s church: Trinity United Church of Christ,
then it was Louis Farrakhan; the “Nation of Islam” leader from Chicago
then it was the New Black Panthers;
then it was Aiham Alsammarae;
then it was Jodie Evans;
then it was Hamas;
then it was Hugo Chavez;
then it was Fidel Castro;
then it was Muammar al-Gaddafi;
then it was North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il;
then it was the Communist Party USA;
then it was ___; and then it was ___.
Please have your “fair and balanced” media coverage remind the public of Obama’s past
Barack Hussein Obama doesn’t sound “All American” to me and to my community
If the media doesn't do their job, Obama might end up being President.
That's insane!
Posted by: al from NJ | Oct 7, 2008 7:10:06 AM
A
world of sorrow and we know have a movie to compare it to. Batman begins,corrupition and a society who loves death and unfairness.obamba says he is firing back with attacks like mc cain.well the whole time he has been playing dirty and so has the mainstream media/they have covered only the so called good things about obamba and have tried to brainwash people into believing that he is sincere.OBAMA IS A LIE. EVERY THING HE HAS SAID HAS BEEN A LIE.HE HAS PLAYED ON OUR WEAKNESS AND VIPED THE MEDIA IN TO LIES.HIS RADICAL HISTORY AND HIS REAL AGENDA IS MUCH WORSE THAN BUSHES AWS .NO WAY CAN ANY DECENT HEARTED PERSON COMPARE THIS EVIL DARKNESS TO A MAN OF GOD WHO REPRESENTS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AND TRUTH.HIS CHURCH REPRESENTED WHO HE REALY IS.AN ANTI GOD AND HATEFUL DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BRAINWASHED US BY USING LIES AND THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO ATTRACT US. HE HAS NO EXPIERENCE ONLY IN RADICAL HATEFULE BELIEFS
Posted by: mariann | Oct 7, 2008 6:51:36 AM
McCain leads a rally where his supporters are screaming that Obama is a "terrorist" and he says nothing.
Palin supporters scream "kill him" and she says nothing. What does that say about the kind of people they are and the kind of people who support them?
One Car.
One House.
One Spouse.
Obama 08
"Jesus was a community organizer -- Pontius Pilate was a governor". Obama/Biden - 08
Posted by: kate buckingham | Oct 7, 2008 5:57:57 AM
I never heard anything about Obama's association with Rezko or Ayers. It should have been clearly presented by the press. These things really matter to mainstream Americans who aren't caught up in personality cults.
A lot of people I know don't have any idea about Obama's associations. Given those facts, it's very clear who the lesser of 2 evils is. Obama is radical and dangerous and the greater evil.
He's going to lose votes and this election.
The American people haven't heard about this stuff. I told people, and they'd never heard about it.
It's very important for Governor Palin to keep speaking out and she will.
The MSM and Obama supporters don't get to "decide" what is important to the American people. We decide that.
This matter is key - a lot of people haven't heard about it - and it will change their vote.
As Americans, we do not want a man in the White House who has associated with a US Terrorist and repeatedly lied about it.
That's enough to consider him the greater of two evils.
For a lot of people, they vote according to the "lesser of two evils" maxim. Just prove this level evil, and it's over.
As far as Keating, people won't care. McCain was cleared and it was 20 years ago. With Ayers, he's not changed. He's still radical left Marxist and has not ever apologized or shown remorse for his actions.
He doesn't get a "pass" on being a US Terrorist. Bombing US buildings doesn't get a man a "pass". It doesn't matter. You might say that it was when Obama was 8. Well, that's an unAmerican pov, imo. An American pov is that a person who has designs to be President should never risk his future political career by associating with a man like that and allowing one's political career to be launched from his living room.
Obama is way left. So, he might think that is "OK". Others might overlook it. But I don't and most Americans will not who are undecided or swing voters.
We refuse to be told that our patriotism doesn't matter and we're "wrong" to care that Obama associated with Ayers and Ayers committed treason.
That dog don't hunt.
We're patriotic. We don't hate America like some people do... like Ayers... and those who aren't proud of America.
We're thankful for America and we're a different sort than those who want a handout. We just want jobs. We'll work for what we get.
I honestly believe that we have better hearts than anyone who would try to sweep under the carpet a US Terrorist and call him "respectable" and one's "friend". A man with designs on the White House should be more careful of the "friends" he makes and who he calls "friend"... because he will be judged. Ayers has not changed.
America will not give Obama a "free pass" on Ayer even if others will. As a whole, there are enough of us that will swing.
Why? Because we love America. And we don't condone terrorism against the US and we don't condone treason by Marxists... like Obama clearly does as well as his supporters.
Do I question your patriotism?? Absolutely.
Posted by: laura d | Oct 7, 2008 1:55:11 AM
I'm not sure why you're holding my comments as 'spam' but if it's to protect McCain, then please know that any propaganda you and the McCain campaign throw out there is not going to work this time. Period.
Posted by: Sandra S | Oct 7, 2008 1:46:20 AM
Hmmmm... those are federal prosecutors with whom Rezko is speaking. Wouldn't they be under the Bush administration as federal prosecutors?? Wonder if they'd be going after the truth about Rezko's dealings with Obama as federal prosecutors??
Hmmmmm... interesting that Rezko is singing and his sentencing has been postponed.
Gotta ask. Why would someone want a Chicago politician with so many shady associations as President??
I really see no qualifications for President in Obama.
This whole race makes no sense. Hillary Clinton should have won the Democratic nomination.
Posted by: laura d | Oct 7, 2008 1:42:21 AM
I remember when John McCain said, "I pledge again a respectful campaign. A respectful campaign based on the issues and based on the stark differences we have on the vision for the future of America." What a liar!
Posted by: sawrad | Oct 7, 2008 1:37:42 AM
The fact of the matter is that we didn't really even care that Bill Clinton was unfaithful to Hillary. That wasn't related to him doing his job.
Obama lying to the American public about a relationship with Ayers is directly related to his truthfulness in the job of President. He lied to the American people again and again and again.
Now, you may not care about that because you may be like Scientologists you're in so deep in Obama worship.
However, to normal people - it matters. We really don't want a man who would have the associations anyway in the White House. But then he lies about it again and again.
So, are you Chicago mobsters?? Just checking. You're friends of Obama... and you don't care about corruption... so it makes a girl wonder.
Posted by: laura d | Oct 7, 2008 1:13:28 AM
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