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Obama's Name Surfaces in Rezko Trial
March 06, 2008 3:13 PM
That didn’t take long.
Barack Obama’s name just surfaced in today's opening arguments of the federal corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, according to our ace reporter Melissa Murphy, who's at the trial.
Joe Duffy, a lawyer for Rezko, told jurors that his client met Obama when the presidential aspirant was a Harvard Law student, and that he tried to hire him to be general counsel for his construction company, an offer Obama apparently turned down.
Rezko supported many politicians, Duffy explained, as he laid out his argument against the government's laundry list of corruption charges.
Obama has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the Rezko case, but his ties to the man facing a laundry list of corruption charges have caused turbulence for his campaign.
Obama has returned nearly $150,000 in political contributions from Rezko and his associates, and has tried to minimize the impact of an questionable real estate purchase he completed with the assistance of Rezko. Obama has called the deal, in which Rezko purchased an adjoining lot that helped Obama buy his current Chicago-area home, "boneheaded."
Melissa Murphy contributed to this report.
March 6, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (102)
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Much has been made about the Clinton ad with the 3 AM phone call claiming the ad is a fear ad. According to Obama himself, he seems to make bone-headed decisions. On major issues in which his vote is really important, he has angered fellow Democrats in the state Senate by "pushing the wrong buttons". One such instance involved the welfare of children. All things considered, we SHOULD be afraid if he is the one answering the phone! Not only are his judgments flawed, but so is his ability to carry out his duties when the chips are down.
Posted by: Ruth Cole | Mar 6, 2008 5:42:32 PM
Did you read the above? Rezko offered a job and was refused. This is an indictment? Ånd why is the lead == "surfaced" when it is common journalistic practice to have the lead and the headline summarize or announce the main point of the article?
Posted by: rwelker | Mar 6, 2008 6:13:27 PM
I am so disturbed by how little coverage this relationship has gotten by the media. This election is bringing out a lot of issues about the American "democratic process"...and how the media figures into the decision.
Posted by: Pam | Mar 6, 2008 6:14:04 PM
Everyone should read the transcript, archived on this site, of the hearing in January relative to Rezko's maze of company and LLC ownerships. It is stunning that Barack Obama has the arrogance to characterize his real estate dealings with this man as a "bonehead" mistake. Did a "bonehead" mistake also have Obama tour the house with Rezcho prior to the deal? This was no bonehead mistake. Obama is a fraud.
Posted by: PattyofNewOrleans | Mar 6, 2008 9:23:10 PM
Osama Obama is as crooked as all the rest of them..You can tell when he is lying...just watch his lips move..
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | Mar 6, 2008 10:04:26 PM
What the article failed to state is that Rezko gave to both dems and republicans alike. Go see the article in the Chicago Sun. Bush's name was also mentioned today. People this is sensationalism. A distraction. Those of you who are supporting Hillary, you do not want them to start airing her laundry. If she gets the nomination you bet the Republicans are going to have a field day with her and Bill. This is small potatoes compared to what's coming to Hillary. Hillary for president. Let us pray!
Posted by: erykah | Mar 6, 2008 10:35:27 PM
The media is afraid to REALLY investigate Obama because of the race card. Plain and simple, shame on the media for not doing their job.
Posted by: YOU CANT FOOL ME | Mar 6, 2008 10:37:59 PM
So Obama retured $150,000.00. How much did he keep???
Posted by: YOU CANT FOOL ME | Mar 6, 2008 10:49:25 PM
This guy is a crook just like all the rest of them..
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | Mar 7, 2008 1:31:00 AM
The Media gave Obama a pass, to mess up Hillary. They thought he would have the Dem. Nom won before the trial. Remember the tial was postponed. They didn't count on Hillary making a come back the 2nd time and out pop the trial. More to follow...
Posted by: kat | Mar 7, 2008 2:33:04 AM
If the media had exposed Obama's Rezko affair during the early part of the primary, there might not be any Obamamania because right now those who voted for Obama are wishing they could have a redo of the voting so they can change their vote and could have voted Hillary. This is the fault of the media who treated Obama with kid gloves. Just three days of showing Obama hugging Rezko in jovial mood, the Texas, Rhode Island, and Ohio voters were intelligent enough to discern who is the real Obama. Super delegates will have to decide with good judgment who is the best choice between Obama and Hillary. No amount of numbers will determine who should be the rightful nominee. Obama is not strong enough to lead this nation, his past life or maybe present life now is full of secrets. A trasparent personality makes him trustworthy but he decided to cover up and tell lies instead. During the debate with Hillary he said that "I only have 5 minutes of realtionship with Rezko but it turn out he disclosed( in 2007) that they have a house hunting in 2007 and then in the trial of Rezko,the lawyer of Rezko presented an evidence that Obama and Rezko are having a relationship that is more than acquintance. Obama should set this clear to regain his credibility among super delegates who will decide on his fate. His big corporate financial supporters like Execon will have to exert effort and influence in convincing the super delegates because their money and efforts in his campaign will just go down the drain. The best policy is HONESTY AND SELF RESPECT
Posted by: ds | Mar 7, 2008 5:19:22 AM
Obama is not above the rest of the Chicago polictians..His creed for power
and money ..giving back money ..does not
excusse him from the corruption ..like
all criminals .. justice must prevail..
that saying of Do as I say but not
what I do ..applies to Obama ..
Posted by: Stan Klecha | Mar 7, 2008 9:29:34 AM
SAN ANTONIO -- As Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) closed a combative press conference on Monday, where he was thrown seriously off message being asked about influence peddler Tony Rezko and why his campaign at first denied his economic adviser Austan Goolsbee met the Canadian consul in Chicago and talked about NAFTA, some reporters wanted him to take more questions. Obama promptly closed the press conference. Toward the end of the press conference, the question of Goolsbee's meeting was raised again. Obama answered curtly and then walked out after a staffer called last question. The press erupted with shouts, but Obama continued to walk out.
He paused only to say, "Come on guys; I answered like eight questions. We're running late.”
On the flight from San Antonio to Dallas, Obama, unsurprisingly, did not wander back to make small talk with the traveling press corps.
Posted by: pleaseanswer | Mar 7, 2008 1:00:41 PM
Does anyone remeber the Whitewater affair. I'm sure Hillary does. All of the strings that were pulled to distance Hillary and Bill? Tut, Tut muckrakers!
Posted by: Essie | Mar 7, 2008 2:06:46 PM
Clintons got money from Rezko co-defendants
Posted by: Mark | Mar 7, 2008 2:45:35 PM
Senator Obama may have more problems than this case because of an article I read written by a black journalist "Obama and me" it is really unbelievable that he would put his name on other people's bills in the Illinois state house because he was preparing to run for congress and wanted a list of accomplishments at the expense of others who worked hard but got no credit. This is something I don't think we can condone and I don't think he should get away with it but the press seems to give him a free pass. We will be stuck yet again with someone who will not get us to the white house because we listened to his words, and did not look into his works and his records, experience is something you can not buy from others.
Posted by: Helen Putera | Mar 7, 2008 6:28:06 PM
hmmm showing some boneheaded judegement on a land deal that is causing a headache in a campaign, showing bad judgement that gave a mandate to a president to spend 4000 american lives in a war based on false pretenses....yeah, those are the same thing.
Posted by: Louis | Mar 7, 2008 6:28:53 PM
"Obama has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the Rezko case"
end of story.
Posted by: Louis | Mar 7, 2008 6:29:25 PM
Obama's words are failing him now.
Many who believed and voted for him are
crushed that they were fooled.
Posted by: OhioNative | Mar 7, 2008 8:20:31 PM
Okay, I am a HRC supporter.
But, nothing to terrible here has happened yet, and perhaps never.
I say, until something does.....let's stick to the DEMS winning the White House and those issues that are really important.
Posted by: cyberpoint | Mar 7, 2008 8:33:39 PM
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