So, what about this: Reformer: Trial Will Reveal 'Cesspool' of Obama's Allies

[whistle]

<snip>
With the corruption trial of one of Sen. Barack Obama's longtime friends and supporters set to begin Monday in Chicago, Ill., reform watchdogs say it will reveal the "cesspool" of Illinois politics in which Obama came of age and has said little about in his campaign for president.

Stewart says he does not understand why Obama has lectured others about corruption in Washington and Kenya but "been noticeably silent on the issue of corruption here in his home state, including at this point, mostly Democratic politicians."

There was no immediate comment from the Obama campaign.

The trial Monday involves federal charges of bribery and extortion against Tony Rezko, a real estate developer who became known in Illinois politics as a behind-the-scenes operator and fixer.

While Obama is not considered a target of the Rezko investigation, Stewart says it will shed light on a man who was pivotal to Obama's political career.

"This wasn't just some guy who wrote a check once for Barack Obama, it's someone who was an early supporter and had a personal relationship with Sen. Obama for quite some time," Stewart said.

Indeed, even after he was elected to the United States Senate, Obama involved Rezko in a land deal that enabled the senator to buy his current home on Chicago's South Side.

Obama has since called his decision to involve Rezko "a bone-headed mistake."

"Tony Rezko is all that is wrong with the old kind of politics or any kind of politics," said the Better Government Association's Stewart.

The Rezko trial will focus on Rezko's alleged role in steering Illinois state contracts in exchange for kickbacks and political contributions to Rezko friends.

The most damning examples cited by prosecutors involve Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, but several of the contributions were directed to Obama's 2004 Senate campaign.


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http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4365942&page=1

[tritsofme]

1. Will Obama pledge to appoint an independent US Attorney to Illinois' Northern District?

Someone independent of the Daley Machine from which he was spawned?

I doubt he will.

We're the city that works, and Mr. Obama wouldn't want to bite the hand that feeds him.

[Kittycat]

2. Hillary Endorsed mcCain today.

[RetroLounge]

4. Yeah, right...

:rofl:

RL

[Cha]

5. Don't get a hernia

carrying water for hilly.

[RetroLounge]

7. Gonna spam that all over the forum?

or is that your latest O-Bot talking point?

:rofl:

RL

[Kittycat]

6. Sure sounded like it to me, and most of the sane democrats I know.

Sure pissed of Maddow & Olberman, as well.

What right does she have uplifting a republican nominee in the middle of the Democratic Primary? She's nothing more than another lieberman.

[RetroLounge]

8. Yawn...

:rofl:

RL

[saracat]

10. You mean Obama's mentor?

[madrchsod]

13. you mean the late paul simon and dick durbin?

those two guys showed obama the way.....

[saracat]

15. No his "real" and "official ' entor, whom he states he admires sooo much ,Lieberman!

[saracat]

11. Shhh. She let people know McCain has experience Hope she doesn't let the GOP know he is old!

Sheesh. Everyone knows mccain has more experience than Barack! how could he not? he is 72 years old and has completed how many terms as Senator? You might not "like" his experience but it exists!

[mmonk]

3. This has already been posted here.

McCain's network is working hard.

[Danger Mouse]

9. Good citizens check for duplicates.

Bad citizens post spam.

[madrchsod]

12. i think this should be the 4th or 5th one today

by the time the trial gets started there will be maybe one or two a day

[kwenu]

14. Can it be any worse than the Clinton cesspool of allies????