Didn’t Obama Watch the Firm?

[randymaine]

By Larry Johnson
TPM Cafe

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.

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.

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.”

Read more:
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2008/jan/22/didn_t_obama_watch_the_firm

[tabatha]

1. He probably could not cover the whole story in less than 1 minute

with HRC interrupting him all the time.

Not to worry, Dsachle is setting up some kind of fact-check center to set the Clinton's stories right.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. This is mild compared to the mound of shit that's probably being saved up

to heap on Obama come August if he's still around.

[Kittycat]

4. Like the mound of shit that is the Clintons?

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. You sound like Rush Limbaugh.

There was a time not too long ago that only Rush Limbaugh & his listeners hated the Clintons. By the way, how is Rush doing these days?

[stillcool]

3. Nice comments there...

I'm going to have to wait for another 'interpretation' of the reality.