Boneheaded deal haunts house Obama built.

[Swede]

The candidate has called the transaction a “boneheaded mistake” and donated $150,000 in campaign contributions linked to Mr Rezko to charity. The Obama campaign strongly denies that the Obamas received any discount in the transaction even though Mrs Rezko paid the full asking price of $625,000 for the garden, while the Obamas paid $300,000 below the asking price for the house.

But Mr Obama is coming under pressure to answer lingering questions about the property deal.The Chicago-Sun Times printed its phone number above an editorial headlined: “Sen. Obama, time to call us about Rezko.” Its rival Chicago Tribune opined:“Rezko’s trial now is the background music to Obama’s campaign. And the volume will surely increase before it fades.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3499430.ece

[cooolandrew]

1. No cuplpability no story. Sorry. NEXT!!!

[cooolandrew]

4. Clintons linked to Rezko, MSNBC llink..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22947679/

[redqueen]

32. Heh... that seems as popular as the story about Clinton's lies about her support for NAFTA.

*sigh*

[cooolandrew]

50. Clintons linked to Rezko sotry link...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22947679/

[MojoMojoMojo]

5. But plenty of gullibility

[oasis]

6. k&r is next.

:kick:

[OhioBlue]

2. yawn. n/t

[oasis]

3. Rezko is Obama's Kenneth Lay. (eom)

[olkaz]

8. I'd love for you to explain that analogy at length.

You know, with provable facts and whatnot.

[oasis]

23. Embarrassing benefactors for Bush and Obama.

Both politicians have worked hard to publicly deny their actual relationships to these crooks.

But then, you knew that.

[tabatha]

7. The previous owners of the house have said

that the Obamas bid was the highest - that is why they accepted it.

It may have been $300,000 below asking price, but no-one offered higher than Obama.

The article was in Bloomberg news - google it.

[rox63]

11. Sounds like they had overpriced the house

And they accepted Obama's offer as the best they were going to get.

[oasis]

14. I'm willing to bet that "no-one offered higher" than Obama'$ campaign

in order get the previous owners to come forward with this revelation.

[tabatha]

25. So everyone is a liar.

By the way, the Obama campaign has to account for money's spent - and they have.

Clinton has not.

[CK_John]

9. Follow the money what charity got the giveback?? n/t

[BeatleBoot]

10. This isn't going away.

[tabatha]

27. It will fade away because there is no there there.

Glenn Greenwald has looked hard into this matter and he cannot find any wrong doing by Obama.

I bet you have no facts to support your claim.

[BeatleBoot]

37. Then why did Obama send a lawyer to represent him at the trial?

[anigbrowl]

40. He hasn't.

Obama isn't a party to the trial, nor is he scheduled to be called as a witness.

Taking notes among the audience (I believe someone is doing so on behalf of the campaign, and it would be sensible for such a person to have legal skills) isn't 'representing him'.

[Hepburn]

55. Before you comment on the American legal system....

...it might behove you to have even the tiniest facts about how it works. Obama is not a named defendant...try explaining your bullshit about him having formal representation at this trial and do that dealing with facts. I am sure that would be refreshing to other posters if just one post from you was on point. Give it a spin....you might enjoy being informed, factual and honest. New experiences are often soooooooooo refreshing.

[Hepburn]

52. It already has....

...except for some of the nut cakes supporters of Hilly who are desperate because she is losing so badly.

If the boot fits...wear it, OK?

[MojoMojoMojo]

12. If the house or land purchase is tied to Iraqi money.I think it will be downhill for Obama

Auchi loaned Rezco 3.5 million 3 weeks before the transaction.
The GOP will be all over this in the GE.
The Times also said Auchi directly loaned Obamas campaign money through a Panamanian Corporation but didnt give details.
Iraqi money will disqualify Obama in the eyes of the general public.Obama will be unelectable.

[Cant trust em]

16. Yesterday someone posted to me about the "Syrian-born" Rezko

and his connection with BH Obama. Yes, this was on DEMOCRATIC Underground.

[MojoMojoMojo]

26. It wasnt me ,but Obama does have too many financial ties to MiddleEastern foreign money.

He had a Syrian campaign finance manager Rezco
He received loans *wink wink* from Iraqi billionaire Auchi.
This is a serious impropriety of foreign influence and conflict of interest if Obama is taking large sums of FOREIGN money.
Also If Obama took a campaign loan from a foreign corporation, which was actually a campaign donation, I believe that to be illegal.

[oasis]

17. Your post deserves a thread in order to more fully examine the Iraq angle. (eom)

[tabatha]

29. You think.

There are no facts of wrong doing.
Wait for the evidence - you will wait a long time.

[PurityOfEssence]

43. Nadhmi Auchi was charged along with Saddam Hussein with attempted assassination in 1959

Nadhmi Auchi was charged along with Saddam Hussein for conspiring to assassinate Iraqi President Abdul-Karim Qasim in 1959. Qasim was injured while his bodyguard was killed; Saddam managed to flee the country. Auchi was arrested for delivering weapons to the assassins but was later pardoned by President Qasim.

Look him up on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadhmi_Auchi

RealClearPolitics has some interesting things to say, too. Considering that Auchi is a mover and shaker in improving the lot of Arabs in UK society and has been convicted in French courts for his involvement in the ELF scandal, he can be counted on for some good copy. He's not just a bigtime Iraqi, he was Director of Planning and Development in the Iraqi Ministry of Oil during Saddam Hussein's regime. Then there was that stint as Iraqi Ambassador to Luxembourg, which helped him funnel weapons back home. Hey, but he was also Vice Chair of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, so he really gets around...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/who_is_nadhmi_auchi_and_whats.html

A Syrian, An Iraqi, Farrakhan, that serious islamist Raila Odinga...there are going to be some wild questions asked and accusations bandied about at some point.

[Hepburn]

53. Where Rezko got is money has less than -0- connection to....

...anyone but Rezko and any person who allegedly gave him money.

My next door neighbor is a complete SOB asshole. Where she got her money to purchase the property next to mine has nothing to do with me.

[Cant trust em]

13. the spectre of impropriety is more significant than actual impropriety

The owners of that property wanted to sell it, and the lot next to it together. That wasn't happening. When Obama brought Rezko into the deal to take the other half of the property, they sold it to them as a volume discount. Like the idea of you can buy one pair of shoes for $50, but if you buy two pairs of shoes, we'll sell them both to you for $90.

I've read about the Rezko "scandal" several times and each time I come away with a feeling of unsatisfaction. Being cozy with Rezko is dumb, but there hasn't been any evidence of something unethical. So far nothing has come out that Obama has actually done anything wrong.

[MojoMojoMojo]

19. The property wasnt split until the day of the transaction.Actually it was more like a $2.5 million

House that Obama bought for 1.6 million.
Then he bought 10 feet off Rezcos wife for $100,000.If the remainder is no longer suitable for building then it would prove a scam.
But regardless I believe the remainder was sold to Rezcos lawyer who will keep it as an expensive souvenir.

[Josiah1982]

15. chicago style corruption clear through eom

[Vinca]

18. Are you sure you want to discuss real estate deals in any campaign

involving a Clinton?

1) Webster Hubbell: Bill Clinton friend and political ally; Hillary Clinton Rose Law Firm partner: embezzlement; fraud; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Whither Whitewater?" October 18, 1995)

2) Jim Guy Tucker: fraud; three felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Second-Term Stall" February 11, 1997; Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)

3) William J. Marks Sr.: Jim Guy Tucker business partner; one conspiracy conviction (Associated Press "Whitewater Defendant Pleads Guilty" August 28, 1997)

4) Jim McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: eighteen felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)

5) Susan McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend; former wife of Jim McDougal: four felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)

6) David Hale: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: two felony convictions of conspiracy and mail fraud (Wall Street Journal "The Arkansas Machine Strikes Back" March 19, 1996)

7) Chris Wade: Whitewater real estate broker; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

8) Stephen Smith: former Governor Clinton aide; one conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

9) Larry Kuca: Madison real estate agent; fraudulent loans (Wall Steet Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

10) Robert Palmer: Madison appraiser; one conspiracy felony conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hale Predicts Hillary Conviction" October 21, 1996)

11) Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president; embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign; two misdemeanor convictions (Wall Street Journal "Arkansas Bank Shot" May 4, 1995)

12) John Latham: Madison Bank CEO; bank fraud conviction (Wall Street Journal "Smoke Without Fire" January 12, 1996)

13) John Haley: attorney for Jim Guy Tucker; misdemeanor guilty plea; tax fraud (Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)

14) Eugene Fitzhugh: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of trying to bribe David Hale; is appealing a ten month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)

15) Charles Matthews: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of bribery, served fourteen months of a sixteen month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)

[MojoMojoMojo]

20. Sure, its been vetted by Ken Starr and 100% clean

[Vinca]

30. So far there is nothing more unusual about Obama's house deal

than the deal the Clintons made on the Chappequa house.

[Benhurst]

22. Bottom line: both our top candidates are corrupt.

Sort of good news: so is McCain.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

21. I'll take Rezko over the Clintons' cavalcade of slimy donors any day.

Hsu

Gupta

Rich

Murdoch

Burkle

etc.

And oh yeah, Rezko too!

[oasis]

24. You'd be well advised to wait until after Rezco's trial before going out on a limb.

:wow:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

28. And you will be well advised to stop throwing stones from your candidate's big ol' glass house.

I mean god, she can't even accuse Obama of dirty dealing with Rezko without of photo of her and Bill with him surfacing the next day! She should really STFU about donors.

[MojoMojoMojo]

34. Mccain will be catapulting boulders not throwing stones

We can not afford to be stuck with a self destructing candidate.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

35. I agree. Clinton should drop out now. nt

[MojoMojoMojo]

31. Same for not nominating an unelectable candidate until the trial is over

Read about Seigelman in Allabama if you want to know where this could possibly be going.
Bush is using the justice dept as a political weapon.
BTW Bush took 3.5 million from Rezco

[mrreowwr_kittty]

36. Read about Ron Burkle and the Dubai port deals.

And any Dem, including and especially Hillary Clinton, can be "Seigelman-ed" by this administration at point so that is a poor argument against Obama.

[Hepburn]

56. The Hillbot extremist have already done this.

Your advice is too late...most even have cut the branch off hehind themselves, to boot.

[BeatleBoot]

38. Robo-Response

[ExtraGriz]

33. its not the price of the house

or what obama bid or paid for the house, or that rezko accompanied him to look the house over...it was the 'coincidence" that rezko bought the adjacent lot at the same time obama bought the house. both properties had to be sold and closed on the same day, the sellers said they wouldnt of sold obama the house unless rezko bought the adjacent property. they are questioning how rezko got the money to buy that property since he was beyond broke with creditors hounding him, and his wife rita only made 37k a year at her job.

[BeatleBoot]

39. Here's his "House"

[ElsewheresDaughter]

54. how the fuck did he afford to purchase that house on less then $40,000 a year salary?!?!

[Hoof Hearted]

41. Hell of a nice house on 37K, I'd say. n/t

[oasis]

42. How much Kool-Aid must an Obama supporter drink to be blind to those facts?

:wow:

[jackson_dem]

44. If you "hope" enough you can buy a $2 million house with no money!

Believe!

[oasis]

45. lol

:-)

[JoFerret]

51. Would make a nice museum

.

[mckeown1128]

46. It's a lie...

Obama did NOT pay below the asking price. Obama paid the FULL price for the property. The previous owners of the house have come out and said that Obama paid the full price.

[oasis]

47. The perception of impropiety will be hard for Obama to shake. He'll be

painted as being to cozy with the crooked Rezko. If Obama bristles at questions about their relationship, it'll be aired on the evening news.

Bigtime.

[mckeown1128]

48. I will take one ridiculous Resko themed scandal

compared to the volumes of books written about ridiculous Clinton scandals anytime. I love when people try to imply that somehow one non-scandal about Obama will somehow sink his campaign...yet the laundry list of Clinton scandals won't sink the Clinton campaign.

[oasis]

49. But it's not up to what you would "take". Obama has set a standard for himself.

In the eyes of the public, he, and he alone, must live up to that standard.

Hillary and her set of negatives was already a given.