From TPM: "OBAMA ADMITS.."I toured my Home with Tony"

[KoKo]

www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obama-rezko-home-feb19,0,6690484.story
chicagotribune.com
TRIBUNE UPDATE
Obama: I toured home with Rezko

By David Jackson and Bob Secter

Tribune reporters

2:44 AM CST, February 19, 2008

Before he bought his South Side mansion in 2005, Sen. Barack Obama took his friend and fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko on a tour of the premises to make sure it was a good deal, Obama's campaign revealed Monday.

Weeks after saying he'd answered all questions about his controversial dealings with the now-indicted Rezko, Obama released new details about their purchase of adjacent lots from the same seller on the same day. But the disclosures by Obama's presidential campaign left unanswered questions and raised new ones.

Obama was able to buy the house for $300,000 less than the listed price while Rezko, in his wife's name, paid the full $625,000 asking price for an undeveloped side lot.

On Monday, Obama's campaign gave Bloomberg news service e-mails from the sellers, who reportedly said Obama's $1.65 million bid "was the best offer" and that they didn't cut their asking price because Rezko bought the adjacent yard.

The campaign said Obama and his wife started at $1.3 million and upped their offer twice over 10 days. According to the campaign, the sellers confirmed they "did not offer or give the Obamas a 'discount' on the house price on the basis of or in relation to the price offered and accepted on the lot."

Obama has been reticent to discuss Rezko since the Tribune in 2006 revealed their property transactions. He has called their financial dealings "boneheaded" because, at the time, Rezko was reported to be under grand jury investigation. Rezko is set to go on trial next month on corruption and fraud charges.

The campaign declined to share the sellers' e-mails with the Tribune or elaborate on the Bloomberg story. Spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement: "Despite the many extensive investigations into these questions and the numerous attacks we have weathered from the < Hillary> Clinton campaign, the resounding conclusion has been that the transaction was completely aboveboard."

It's not clear why Obama had not previously divulged Rezko's tour of the house with him. In 2006, he told the Tribune he recalled talking to Rezko and his wife "either at an event or some conversation we had where they mentioned to me that they either knew the property or knew the developer or something like that.

"I remember asking Tony, 'What do you think of the property?' And he was familiar with . He's been a longtime developer there."

Obama also said: "He thought it was a good house. And I said, 'I'm looking at putting in a bid on it.' And from that point on I just worked through my real estate broker."

After they bought the parcels, Obama and Rezko entered a series of personal financial arrangements to redivide and improve the lots.

[BlackVelvet04]

1. LOL It's absolutely clear why he didn't divulge it before.....

it looks really, really bad.

"It's not clear why Obama had not previously divulged Rezko's tour of the house with him."

[Hoof Hearted]

33. I wonder if those were billable hours on that tour?

You know, the 5 billable hours of work?

[grantcart]

2. Wow Hillary really is going to be a better candidate than Obama

Take your nothing on Rezko and raise you felon Norman Hsu

[maddiejoan]

3. Obama had that one

in his deck as well ya know

[jefferson_dem]

4. Wow! This is a really big deal.

Not (with Borat vocal inflection in full effect)!

[Barack_America]

9. No doubt. Do we really want to get into who has been to the Clinton's house?

I mean, seriously.

[babylonsister]

26. YesYesYes! Bring it on!

:D

[KoKo]

47. It would pale in comparison to who has sullied the Bush WH...

so BRING IT ON!

[Tatiana]

5. I'm glad the Obama campaign released this. n/t

[bigtree]

39. after months of pressure from the Trib

[Auntie Bush]

40. After he LIED about !

[Clinton Crusader]

6. It's not clear???

:rofl:

[GarbagemanLB]

7. Meanwhile, things aren't looking too good for Hillary in Wisconsin...

[billbuckhead]

8. Yes, Godfather

"Someday i will ask you a favor!"

[K Gardner]

10. I toured MY home with Tony, too !! Wow, what a coincidence.

[KoKo]

24. Did ya' ever think the "Tony's" are WHY we are in this Real Estate Melt Down...

...but then ..."Tony" was all into getting "TAX MONEY FROM HUD" to "HELP" those poor Black Folks..

Turns out that Tony the Syrian...was just IN IT FOR MAKING A BUCK on the backs of the poor and disenfranchised.

Like not building to "code" so that his "model project" ended up with Huge Complaints from African-Americans that their head and water DID NOT WORK...once "Tony's Construction Crew" built the "Model Apartments" that the "Activists" had been urging for....

:shrug:

[VolcanoJen]

11. Shouldn't this kind of stuff make us all the prouder...

... that Obama hasn't gone negative on Clintonian Scandals, yet? And, likely won't?

Makes me proud, anyway.

[islandmkl]

12. is it the shit, the amount, the depth, where it came from....

just what is it that is supposed to change anyone's mind about either/any candidate?

[jackson_dem]

13. Obama needs to come clean. Maybe subpeoning him for the trial will force him to do so?

How sad will it be if the Democratic front runner is testifying on a corruption trial?

[islandmkl]

14. "the crow opened up the can of worms and began to feast....

and the cat came along and ate the crow"

[zabet]

15. Then, The Big Dog killed the cat....

and eated it.

:evilgrin:

[anamandujano]

36. LMAO! Awesome

[KoKo]

I hope he will explain...why he didn't have "much" connection with Tony...but he was naive enough

to figure if he brought Tony through a house he wanted to purchase...he could tell him the flaws in the "heating." After all wasn't "Tony Rezco" the one who build those "housing developments" for the "poor" who found when they "moved in...he didn't give a shit whether they had heat?"

I'm sure MUCH OF THIS...is Campaign Spin...but a great test of how Obama would "answer smears against him as President" rides on how he deals with this. WHY DIDN'T OBAMA DISCLOSE that he WALKED TONY REZCO through the "home" (well over a million dollars) that he "Hoped to Purchase before he Bought It!"

The Right Wing will be ALL OVER THIS.

BTW..this post came from "TPM" and NOT "Matt Drudge" where much of what passes for Lefty Posts comes fro on DU these days...

Just saying...

[cali]

23. Sorry, he's not been subpoenaed and

he won't be. And maybe we should find out more about the entertaining of Giustra that Bill did in Westchester, or the flights Senator Clinton took on his private plane. And what about Gupta? That's all new stuff you know.

[jackson_dem]

27. How do you know he won't be?

[cali]

32. Because the trial is only a week and a half away

and because of Fitzgerald's remarks. If was going to be subpoenaed it would have happened.

[anamandujano]

37. Dear God, please let this blow before the convention. We should

not be saddled with this loser.

[npincus]

16. Big deal.

[KoKo]

18. It's a BIG "QUESTION MARK"...he needs to address why he didn't "come clean" about

asking Tony to "go through his future house purchase." :shrug: I don't see where this isn't a Legit Question. Obama ..can answer this.........

[Thrill]

17. Wow Its clear they have nothing on Obama..This is the best they have ?

I feel good about him in the GE

[KoKo]

21. Are you thinking "THEY/Repugs" will NEVER manufacture anything on Obama

so you don't have to worry? How long have you been around and how many elections have you been through to think that this would be true? :shrug:

If you are new..you will understand..what many have seen before you. If you are a "troll" there's no help for you...if you are just clueless...then my answer is for you to do RESEARCH! Google and Wicki are your friend about "Past Elections" and how things have gone with them.

peace to you...

koko

[Thrill]

28. Repukes have scared

Democrats shitless. Sad

[TheDonkey]

19. OMG!!! HOW COULD HEEEEEEEE!!!!

Say it ain't so!

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. again, nobody is going to care

show me a politician that hasn't made money or received some benefit from a contributor. No matter how slight, as this appears to be.

[KoKo]

22. Weren't YOU a part of DU when we DID CARE?

Suddenly ..you Don't Care?

Help me with your reasoning on this........since I know you aren't a "Troll."

:shrug:

[islandmkl]

25. care about what exactly? our candidate, whoever it turns out to be...

will get a shitstorm that will make '04 look like the practice session it was. To think either candidate is going to fare better against the Rovian tactics coming up is just too simple.

[KoKo]

31. THIS! Did ya' ever think the Melt Down "Tony's" are WHY we are in this Real Estate...

...but then ..."Tony" was all into getting "TAX MONEY FROM HUD" to "HELP" those poor Black Folks..

Turns out that Tony the Syrian...was just IN IT FOR MAKING A BUCK on the backs of the poor and disenfranchised.

Like not building to "code" so that his "model project" ended up with Huge Complaints from African-Americans that their head and water DID NOT WORK...once "Tony's Construction Crew" built the "Model Apartments" that the "Activists" had been urging for....

:shrug:

something here from TPM..they just one the "Polk Award for Journalism."

------------

Didn’t Obama Watch the Firm?

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:O1jKecV1EYAJ:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/01/22/didnt_obama_watch_the_firm/+Rezko+Housing+Fails+Chicago+Inspections&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us&client=firefox-a

By Larry Johnson - January 22, 2008, 7:57PM

I guess Senator Obama was just too busy working for the poor and homeless in Chicago to take time to watch the Tom Cruise movie, The Firm. Because if he had the Tony Rezko case would not be biting him in the ass. In case you forgot, Cruise played a white version of Barack Obama–a charming, up-and-comer fresh out of law school idealist who fell in with a crowd of scalawags who were tied to the mob.

But I digress. Here’s the problem. Why is Barack not coming clean about his relationship with Antoin “Tony” Rezko, who is facing charges on federal corruption charges? If there really is nothing there, then don’t do the Bill Clinton shuffle. Just tell the truth.

But Obama can’t or won’t do that. And I wonder why? During Monday night’s Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton brought up Obama’s past association with Rezko. Wolf Blitzer gave Obama a chance to set the record straight:

BLITZER: I’m going to go to Suzanne Malveaux in a second, but I just want to give you a chance, Senator Obama, if you want to respond. Senator Clinton made a serious allegation that you worked for a slumlord. And I wonder if you want to respond.

OBAMA: I’m happy to respond. Here’s what happened: I was an associate at a law firm that represented a church group that had partnered with this individual to do a project and I did about five hours worth of work on this joint project. That’s what she’s referring to.

So he was just associated with a law firm that partnered with Rezko? Just some guy? This is not true. In some circles it is called a lie. Now I don’t know about you, but when someone starts tap dancing about simple, easily investigated facts it means they are covering something up. Obama had more than an incidental relationship with Rezko.

FACT. Obama bought property with Tony Rezko. Here are the facts from Obama’s own mouth:

Q: Senator, when did you first meet Tony Rezko? How did you become friends? How often would you meet with him, and when did you last speak with him?

A: I had attracted some media attention when I was elected the first black President of the Harvard Law Review. And while I was in law school, David Brint, who was a development partner with Tony Rezko contacted me and asked whether I would be interested in being a developer. Ultimately, after discussions in which I met Mr. Rezko, I said no.

I have probably had lunch with Rezko once or twice a year and our spouses may have gotten together on two to four occasions in the time that I have known him. I last spoke with Tony Rezko more than six months ago.

Q: Did you approach Rezko or his wife about the property, or did they approach you?

A: To the best of my recollection, I told him about the property, and he developed an interest, knowing both the location and, as I recall, the developer who had previously purchased it.

Q: Why did you not publicly disclose the transaction after Rezko got indicted?

A: At the time, it didn’t strike me as relevant. I did however donate campaign contributions from Rezko to charity.

Doesn’t everybody buy an adjacent piece of property with a casual acquaintance whom you barely know?

FACT. Rezko has been a major contributor to Obama’s political campaigns. According to the Chicago Sun-Times:

During his 12 years in politics, Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly three times more campaign cash from indicted businessman Tony Rezko and his associates than he has publicly acknowledged, the Chicago Sun-Times has found.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s….Sources close to both Rezko and Obama, however, said Rezko raised money often for Obama….

Tony was one of the biggest fund-raisers.”

FACT. Obama used his political position to lobby on behalf of Rezko’s business interests.

Taylor Marsh provides the details:

There’s also been a lot of back and forth about the letters Obama wrote on behalf of a project that Rezko owned. One story has Rezko’s attorney saying adamantly that his client didn’t ask Obama to write the letters. Obama still wrote them. Another letter written by Obama was on behalf of New Kenwood LLC, a company formed by Obama’s former boss, Davis, and Rezko.

“I am writing in support of the New Kenwood LLC’s proposal to build a ninety-seven unit apartment building at 48th and Cottage Grove for senior citizens,” Obama wrote in separate letters, each dated Oct. 28, 1998, to city and state housing officials. “This project will provide much needed housing for Fourth Ward citizens.”

At the time he wrote the letters, Obama was also a lawyer with Miner Barnhill & Galland, the law firm Davis formerly headed. Among the firm’s clients were several companies owned by Davis and Rezko. The firm did not represent New Kenwood.

Davis and Rezko hired Daley & George, the law firm of the mayor’s brother Michael, to help them get $3.1 million from bonds issued by the city of Chicago. … ..

I am sick and tired of the word parsing. I did not like it when Bill Clinton did it, but at least he could argue he was trying to save his marriage. Hillary took too long to admit her mistake in supporting the Iraq war resolution in 2002. And George W. Bush takes the prize. We have had seven, going on eight years, of him flat out lying about terrorism and war, and Americans have died because of it.

So excuse me if you expect me to take Senator Barack Obama seriously while he claims not to know some guy who was his neighbor. Yeah he ate lunch with him but only twice a year for several years. Tony somebody. And then there’s that matter about Rezko giving him hundreds of thousands of dollars for his campaigns. Anyone who has ever run for public office does not give a rats ass about anyone willing to pony up hundreds of thousands of dollars for their campaign. And I am sure Obama feels the same way. Why would he remember a generous contributor?

And finally, Senator Obama, you don’t know this guy but you’ll write two letters using your good name to shill for his business enterprises? Cut me a break. If you are going to lie at least do it with some style. You don’t know dick about Tony Rezko? I don’t think so.

[anigbrowl]

34. You know, I joined DU because...

I had been following the Rezko story ince last summer, and I was real surprised to see it still bein tossed around on DU like hot cookies (I had been reading DU a lot loner than I've been posting, but didn't want to add to the number of online forums I read & post in).

Several times, I've pointed out that the best way to deal with the Rezko issue is to go back a look at Barack Obama's own interview with the Chicago Sun-Times - that's settled it for most people, because he gives candida and forthright answes to over 20 questions.

So now here we are with the next installment of Rezko junk. Let's deconstruct just the first few lines:

'Did ya' ever think the Melt Down "Tony's" are WHY we are in this Real Estate...'

In this real estate 'what'? A crude but effective typographic trick for getting the viewer to fill in their own uncomplimentary word. As it happens, no I never have thought about it, because I'm not aware that Tony Rezko has ever had anything to do with the mortgage industry. In fact, if he's building houses that are paid for by HUD etc., where do subprime mortgages even come into the picture?

'Tony the Syrian'

Ah, good old fashioned xenophobia.

I'll stop there: I think I've made my point. I encourage supporters and those curious about Barack Obama to learn all they can about his relationship with Tony Rezko, as I believe that examining the facts will fully satisfy you of Senator Obama's integrity. Just stick to reputable news sources, instead of DU posts and random blogs (sorry folks, but I don't trust DU for actual news although it's a fine talking shop). Google or Google news will give you all the source material you could ask for.

[THUNDER HANDS]

30. it's still not a big deal though

I was never part of the Whitewater crowd. I don't care what little bonuses politicians get as long as they vote the right way and have a vision for the future that i agree with.

[KoKo]

41. Let "THE GUILT..."Gnaw at your RAT SOUL,"...then...

Just kidding...I really couldn't deal with your hypocrisy...but, I've always respected you "Magic." Been here a long while like you...and many of your posts...I've participated on.

But...oooohhh we have a ways to go where our "consciences" could ever meet somewhere..

Still.. thanks for replying with your viewpoint!

peace...
koko

[anamandujano]

35. and in return got him a sweet government deal

[Cheeseburger Walrus]

29. Almost worth a yawn...

but I have this tasty burger to get back to!

[rodeodance]

38. Its the changing of his story that will be the issue. Perceptions matter.

[anamandujano]

43. I don't doubt there will be more changes to come as more info surfaces.

It ought to be fun watching him try to keep pace.

[KoKo]

44. he DID change his story...I was hoping some Obama Fans would defend this!

It's not good when he denies some things about his relationship with "Tony Rezco" and yet ...it turns out there was "more there" than he was willing to admit!

If we are going to vett all our Candidates then shouldn't Obama be held accountable...too? I've bought and sold SEVEN HOUSES in my lifetime... and I'm older than Obama. I can remember EVERY PERSON who ever toured through my house that I invited for advice.

I doubt that Obama's "young memory" could be so faulty that he happened to not remember seeking the advice of a guy who offered very young Obama at Harvard Law a JOB in CHICAGO..that Obama rejected at that point...but seemed to be happy to pall around with later.

He took him on a tour of a house he wanted to purchase. Yet..if you check out Syrian Born Tony Rezco...it would seem he made it up the ladder in Chicago Housing Construction VERY FAST for an Immigrant.. :shrug: Maybe there's "nothing there" or "maybe there is."

Is it no longer important for Democratic Candidates to have INTEGRITY? To ANSWER QUESTIONS to those who they are asking to Vote for Them? :shrug:

[rodeodance]

48. I agree, he DID change his story and that is a problem for him regardless if the Obamakids want to

admit it or not.



my guess is that they will continue to crap on any and all threads. sad.

[high density]

42. "Rezko" must trigger an orgasm button on some Clinton supporters

The more you guys try to blow this up, the tamer the whole situation seems. So thank you for your crazed obsession over it.

[Schema Thing]

45. Er.... if you're buying a house, and you know someone who knows everything

about the housing market in the area you want to buy in, you would be a dumbass not to consult with that person.


<P>

[KoKo]

46. Your post speaks for itself.in cluelessness about purchasing houses for Average Americans...

:eyes: But, then...Obama is "above" the rest of us.

[Schema Thing]

49. Doesn't sound like he's "above" us, does it?

He made three lower offers to buy the most home he could get at a price he could afford.

[indepat]

50. These tied-in financial deals meet neither the smell nor believable tests

:shrug:

[Iceburg]

52. Right! Hillary needs to stay in. This story is just unfolding /nt

[UALRBSofL]

51. NewsFlash

K/R

[LadyVT]

53. A scandal like this can change things on a dime...