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Rezko Trial: Obama Consulted on Board Picks

March 10, 2008 1:27 PM

As an Illinois lawmaker, Barack Obama was one of eight state officials consulted on appointments to a state board which later became involved in what prosecutors describe as a fraud scheme, the Associated Press reports today.

That information was contained in a June 2003 memo from a national Democratic official introduced this morning as evidence at the trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a Chicago-area developer and political operative facing corruption charges.

The memo does not say how much influence Obama had over the process of picking members for the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, AP said.

And it did not indicate Obama was involved in the alleged corruption that later tainted the board.

March 10, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (176)

User Comments

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WHO THE HELL CARES...OBAMA HAS ONE POSSIBLE SCANDAL..SHALL WE START LISTING OL' BILLY BOB'S AND HILLARYS SCANDALS. IF THE WORST THING THAT OBAMA DID WAS BE-FRIEND A POSSBIBLE SCUMBAG...I WOULD STILL VOTE FOR HIM WITH A SMILE...

Posted by: GODISNOTREAL | Mar 10, 2008 1:41:43 PM

So, ... there is non information here?

Posted by: Mark Webb | Mar 10, 2008 1:45:29 PM

No news here. The media is trying to get something out of the Rezko suit that does not exist. Hillary, Bill, Bush and every politician out there have had something to do with a fund raiser that got indicted. Bill Clinton actually testified in court. Hillary returned almost a million to Norman Hsu who is in jail today.

Posted by: james | Mar 10, 2008 1:51:19 PM

obama knew the SYRIAN slum lord
for 20 years and also contribute in his
(obama) campaign when HE ran for office
in CHICAGO.So how can you say he was not
involved in the alleged corruption that
tainted the BOARD.Again tip-toe around
OBAMA.

Posted by: baccarattwo | Mar 10, 2008 1:52:20 PM

There is no question in my mind that Obama will be called to testify. It is about time Brian Ross started to peel back the onion on Obama. So far, he's had an easy ride. Things are beginning to change.

Posted by: Nia | Mar 10, 2008 2:01:25 PM

Health Facilities planning board? Does this tie in to Michelle O's 200k raise?
I can only imagine what is going to come out next and I wonder if the media will cover it or continue to pretend that all of this is on the "up and up"
Sounds like Obama is less of a "change" candidate than he would like us to believe!!

Posted by: Jerry | Mar 10, 2008 2:04:25 PM

The problem is that Obama acts like the saint who does politics differently from other politicians. But he's no different. His campaign theme is about clean politics. But he just hasn't dipped his hands in the national politics longer than other dirty politicians. Barely 3 years in national politics. Wait until he gets into double digits. This is only the beginning. Nobody's perfect.

Posted by: Dao | Mar 10, 2008 2:06:59 PM

This man Obama comes with to much baggage,it can't all be just rumors!

Posted by: Kathy | Mar 10, 2008 2:07:32 PM

And why is this important???


You guys keep on fishing. You might get a nibble but no catch.

Posted by: ROB | Mar 10, 2008 2:08:14 PM

The media has had pain trying to het something on Obama's record and it has been daunting. To say he is not vetted is not true. They have been investigating him for a while and all they have is this. I will vote for him if this is all they have.

Posted by: james | Mar 10, 2008 2:08:18 PM

Brian Ross,

Excellent work! The more you dig, the more filth you are going to find.

Posted by: Michelle | Mar 10, 2008 2:12:55 PM

This does not even begin to pass the "smell test". Have to hold your nose if you vote for Obama. This already stinks to high heaven and just stay tuned. There is lots more to come. Oprah is in this up to her ears as well.

Posted by: Bill Elliott | Mar 10, 2008 2:13:04 PM

Yeah, let's talk about Clinton scandals. Whitewater was investigated for 6 YEARS at a cost of 60 MILLION dollars and no evidence was ever found that the Clintons did anything wrong. People today still drag that dead horse out for view. But let there be any suggestion that Obama may have done wrong and it's "they're smearing Obama" oh my, how can anyone say such things about "Saint Obama". Talk about a double standard.

Posted by: JR | Mar 10, 2008 2:16:31 PM

I smell something funny. It's funny that people here see something coming down the pike that "may" be negative stuff for Obama and his followers revert back to Hillary and her decade and a half old scandals. It amazes me that Ken Star investigated these allegations against HRC and found nothing but people still want to believe that she is quilty. People really are afraid of strong powerful woman.

Posted by: Karl | Mar 10, 2008 2:18:05 PM

You, Obamanias, are making it seem like Obama is special just because he doesn't have much baggage. Any fresh first term Senate will have same amount of baggage as Obama. Obama was just smart enough to take the opportunity during a time when people wanted changed from Bush type of politics.

So if Obama has nothing to hide why did he run from Rezko questions in San Antonio, and making himself look bad? lol

Posted by: Dao | Mar 10, 2008 2:29:17 PM

It is becoming increasingly clear that O'Bama and Clinton are carrying some pretty heavy baggage. This is just the tip of the iceberg for O'Bama. Sitm watch and enjoy the show that has just begun. How did we end up with these two for our candidates?

Posted by: Bob H | Mar 10, 2008 2:37:15 PM

obama dances well, to well. how could you not know what a friend of 20 years does? PLEASE!!! people are just riding the obama wave as it were. but they eventually crash...

Posted by: sal | Mar 10, 2008 2:50:45 PM

Unfortunately for Sen. Obama it's almost inevitable that the ongoing Rezko corruption trial is going to bring out very damaging stuff. The Chicago press has already been all over him for this, and the national media will soon be forced to cover the "dirty old politics" of Sen. Holier-Than-Thou.

Posted by: hopesprings52 | Mar 10, 2008 2:58:33 PM

Obama claimed himself a clean and new type of politics. He lied because he was just the same as others... The bad but pretending good is the WORST... Please don't claim yourself as pure as Saint again....

Posted by: Truth | Mar 10, 2008 3:13:01 PM

Makin' a Mountain out of a Mole hill...

This is just too much fun for one fool...

Posted by: Jester of Fools | Mar 10, 2008 3:16:53 PM

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