Reformer: Trial Will Reveal 'Cesspool' of Obama's Allies

[unc70]

Source: ABC News

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."We have a sick political culture," said Jay Stewart, the executive director of the Chicago Better Government Association, "and that's theenvironment that Barack Obama came from."..."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 hiscurrent home on Chicago's South Side. Obama has since called his decision to involve Rezko "a bone-headed mistake."

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

---

I had noticed that Chris Matthews this morning acted like he knew something was coming out about Obama. The RW has been growing louder all week ahead of the start of the Rezko trial next week.Edit to add link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4818733&mesg_id=4818733

[Barrett808]

1. This versus the Keating Five...

...Go ahead, let's talk corruption.

[aquart]

3. Like I said.

His supporters have already dismissed Obama's willing corruption as penny ante.

I say, look out for Michele. That woman could have insisted on a cheaper house with no strings.

[The Croquist]

33. I don't know the validity of any supposed charges

but to blame Michelle Obama?
Do you KNOW that she was aware of any underhanded activity that none of us know about yet either?

[dansolo]

34. And this is not sexist how?

This poster is implying that Michelle Obama is a gold digger, and yet there is no cry about sexism from the Hillary supporters. Or are comments like this only sexism when they apply to Hillary.

[joeybee12]

37. Problem is McLame got a pass on that...pretty much ruined the

careers of the other 4, but not McLame...try and tell me how there isn't a double standard???

[anonymeme]

39. But Ma... the Republicans Are Doing it...

But Ma... the Republicans Are Doing it...

Does one person or one group's corruption excuse all other instances of corruption?

Aren't we Dems supposed to have a higher standard and stick to that?

And in a related question: Is corruption a matter of degree, or is corruption a matter of what it is: Bad acts, committed for bad -- and usually self-serving -- reasons?

Being a little bit corrupt, is pretty much like being a little bit pregnant -- no "little bit" about it, either you are or you aren't.

IF -- and I'm giving the benefit of the doubt here -- IF Obama is proven to have acted crookedly, involving himself in corrupt, why should he get a pass... any more than any of the Republican "bad guys" should get a pass?

[aquart]

2. Nonsense.

Obama supporters have already decided anything Hillary or her husband ever did is worse than anything Obama ever did so none of it matters. They'll just ignore it.

The most you'll ever get them to admit is that he just did what everybody did. You would think that would dent the messianic zeal...but no.

Back rooms don't matter when you are inspiring onstage.

[griffi94]

6. yes

but i don't think that will continue to hold up. i mean after all 29% of americans would still vote for bush so there are true believers everywhere. as soon as obama gets the nomination sewn up, then the press will finally show up start publicly vetting him. imo as soon as that starts to happen all those independent voters will swing to mccain, same with conservative democrats, and more likely than not, moderate repubs.

[dogfacedboy]

18. In other words, at least 29% of US voters are morons. n/t

[Mountainman]

4. Who here can direct me to the proof that Obama did anything illegal?

Where is the evidence? What are the charges? At what court are the charges being read?

Or are you just a bunch if fucking right wing type of swift boat hate mungers?

[JBoris]

5. He didn't do anything illegal...

.. and now people are trying to make transitively guilty. Its all a bunch of BS!

[unc70]

8. This is what is running in the "news".

The other thread from this morning was disturbing enough I risked starting a post in GD:P !!!!

We know that with the start of the Rezko trial next week, this will get a lot of coverage in the news. Whether anything is illegal or not, Obama is likely to be slimed by all this. If there is a problem with Obama, we all need to find out now rather than after Labor Day. Obviously, the Repubs can make what Obama has confirmed look bad enough, worse because he changed his story a couple of times over the last two years.

At least one of the star prosecution witnesses, Stuart Levine, wore a wire for several years gathering evidence. I suspect that most every politicial in Illinois is nervous that they might have said something unfortunate, if not illegal. Who knows. We just need to watch this carefully and get these issues resolved before Obama becomes our nominee.

[Mountainman]

15. I'm willing to bet this is just an attempt to hurt his election chances by painting him

as a crook because somebody else is.

For a good long time we finally have a chance to turn things in the favor of the middle class and the working class and people just want to piss on their own toes!

[Barrett808]

13. Not much on Obama at The Skeleton Closet:

http://www.realchange.org/obama.htm

[FVZA_Colonel]

19. and while this certainly won't calm all the doubts (here included),

didn't the real estate agent involved say that nothing irregular had happened.

[stillcool]

27. from the owners of the home...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080218/pl_bloomberg/ar8nlioqedc4_1

I think the shit-flingers are moving beyond the house, and just trying to attach the Rezko name in any way possible with Obama. Bless their little hearts, it seems the kitchen sink is empty.

[jaybeat]

26. Who here thinks it will matter?

Ken Starr spent a gazillion dollars and couldn't prove shit. But that didn't stop him and his Repuke pals from paralyzing a Presidency.

With Hillary, they may have convinced 40% of Americans that she's the Devil Incarnate, but at least it has all been out for over a decade.

With Barack, this is all "new" news, or it will be presented as such, even if it is not.

And all of his talk about "changing how things are done in Washington" is going to sound pretty empty as we wallow in the juicy details (or innuendos, 'cause that's enough) of how he got things done in the Windy City.

Can YOU say President McLame? Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory? Four more years of Republican FCC as motivation for our MSM attack dogs?

I thought you could...

[BearSquirrel2]

38. This stuff is lame ...

The picture in the African garb and this real estate stuff is lame. I too am interested in Rezko, but every other candidate also has guilty associates.

Don't believe for a second that Hillary "weathered the storm". She can travel well still in liberal circles (her recent behavior notwithstanding). But all the Republicans have to do is bring out the old stuff that everyone has already been convinced of. Then listen to her talk about the "vast right wing conspiracy". I do agree that their was a fairly robust smear campaign. But you have to be careful about how you say things to not sound fruity.

In the end, all Faux News has to do is drag out old research and effectively just play reruns. With Obama, they have to figure out something new. I think the "middle ground" folks will be far more skeptical about Faux bringing up new much as opposed to just reminding them of things they had already been convinced of.

[jaybeat]

41. Lame worked pretty well against Bill

I mean, a blow job and a blue dress constituting high crimes and misdemeanors? WTF?

Why would mainstream Fox news-believing Americans be more skeptical about new dirt on Obama? I mean, the guy hasn't been a public figure outside of Illinois, so OF COURSE anything about his is going to be "new." This is a world where "new" is what leads the "new-s." Old Hillary dirt is just that--old. Same old, boring, heard that, been there, what's Brittany up to? But "new" dirt on Obama, young, clean, "different kind of politician" Obama--THAT's News with a capitol "N"!! Their ratings will go up as his poll numbers fall.

Lame sells papers and TV commercial ad time. Always has. Especially if it is "new" lame.

[JerseygirlCT]

30. Lots of insinuation, no facts.

But that's the RW smear machine's MO. Sad to see people in our own party using it, too.

[anonymeme]

40. That's What Trials Are For, Evidence About Obama's Involvement May Come Out in Trial...

That's What Trials Are For, Evidence About Obama's Involvement May Come Out in Trial...

So let me ask, Mountainman, in your lexicon of what's what, is anybody who even allows the idea that Obama may have been involved in some kind of wrong-doing "a bunch if fucking right wing type of swift boat hate mungers(sic)?"

Should Barack Obama not be held to the same legal, moral and ethical standard as everyone else?

[Deny and Shred]

7. I'd feel better about the charges if they weren't brought by Federal Prosecutors

A) I have developed a natural tendency over the past 7 years to look for an ulterior motive with a Pro-RW slant when DoJ or Federal Prosecutors are involved. The motive here is obvious, and fits the basic 'Discredit the Opposition' strategy.

B) I can hope all I want for a squeaky clean nominee. I DO like the fact that he's owned up to it as a mistake, and I hope this is his worst skeleton in his closet. No, that wouldn't make it right, but for US politicians these days, this is not big stuff.

[unc70]

10. Remember this Federal Prosecutor is Patrick Fitzgerald

He has been cleaning house left and right, R and D in Illinois the last couple of years: Gov. George Ryan, Lord Black, hospitals, city and state government.

[moondust]

46. The guy who let Cheney and Rove off scot-free?

Surely there is a prosecutor less politically suspect than Fitzgerald that could handle this case.

[ieoeja]

12. B) What do you mean by "wrong"?

Politically it was a mistake asking someone in the real estate business if he knew anyone interested in purchasing some property when that businessman was facing federal indictments.

So it was the "wrong" thing to do when running for office. But were he not running for office there would certainly be nothing wrong with that.

[thevoiceofreason]

20. And who are the fed prosecutors?

The republican hacks who have been tasked with the job of going after persons with ties to democrats. I'm not saying Rezko is clean -- I have no knowledge and thus make no statement in that regard. What I do know is that many of these "prosecutions" are actually "persecutions."

Time will tell.

But really, do you think for a second that if there was real dirt there, somewhere (other than in the recesses of the Hillary/McCain supporters minds -- probably her only instance of being hopeful in the entire campaign) someone would have found something, or brought something up, or whispered to someone something that would have given Barack the heads up that he was tainted, thereby giving him the chance to "bow out gracefully?" No, what the myopic attackers of Obama think is that his hubris is so great, so deep, that he is blithely whistling past the graveyard knowing the fall is coming and wishing fervently that it may not.

C'mon folks. This is the freaking editor-in-chief of the Harvard Law Review. Wishing is for wells.

[unc70]

22. The Fed Prosecuter is Patrick Fitzgerald. Any creds from you now?

I would not want to be on his persons of interest list. Not good for ones freedom.

I suspect you would find few at DU who would attack Patrick Fitzgerald and his integrity.

[MethuenProgressive]

9. Will it be in time to snap the DUbamas out of their trance?

Not if the MSM has anything to say about it. They'll protect their Anointed One.

[mitchtv]

14. Those prosecuters had better watch out

A lightning bolt is about to chastise them for their impudence

[iconoclastic cat]

16. Deleted, since I'm sure you know. nt

[ieoeja]

11. And Obama is accused of what?

According to the federal prosecutor trying the case Obama is uninvolved. The entire case is about Rezko's involvement with the Governor's office. And Obama was never a part of the Governor's office.

[bluestateguy]

17. Oh gee. Old obscure land deals. Where have we heard that before?

nt

[mitchtv]

21. several weeks ago

in an anti Hillary thread

[ledvader7]

23. Clinton 170k Donors Serial Sexual Harrassers

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/

Clinton donations from troubled firm
Posted: Friday, February 29, 2008 5:47 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, Clinton

From NBC's Lisa Myers and Jim Popkin
Sen. Hillary Clinton has declined to return $170,000 in campaign contributions from individuals at a company accused of widespread sexual harassment, and whose CEO is a disbarred lawyer with a criminal record, federal campaign records show.

The federal government has accused the Illinois management consulting firm, International Profit Associates, or IPA, of a brazen pattern of sexual harassment including "sexual assaults," "degrading anti-female language" and "obscene suggestions."

In a 2001 lawsuit full of lurid details, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims that 103 women employees at IPA were victimized for years. The civil case is ongoing, and IPA vigorously denies the allegations.

"This is by far, hands down, the worst case I've ever experienced," said Diane Smason, one of the EEOC lawyers handling the lawsuit. "Every woman there experienced sex harassment, they were part of a hostile work environment of sex harassment. And this occurred from the top down."

Sen. Clinton's spokesman, Howard Wolfson, told NBC News in a statement that the senator decided to keep the funds because the lawsuit is "ongoing" and because none of the sexual harassment allegations has been proven in court.

"With regard to the pending harassment suit, as a general matter, the campaign assesses findings of fact in deciding whether to return contributions," Wolfson said.

[Dogmudgeon]

24. HILLARY DID IT, TOO! HILLARY DID IT, TOO!

She had to! She just HAD to!

--p!

[RBInMaine]

35. Yup ! Try Norman Hsu, Walmart Board, Whitewater, Travelgate,

Rose Law Firm, and MOST OF ALL, her current taking of POTS of money from numerous corporations and GLADLY DEFENDING the practice. Half the country can't stand her. Her husband saddled us with NAFTA and the Monica connundrum, and then pardoned the rotten crook Mark Rich. And you want to return to those days????? Just what is in your head??

[bhikkhu]

25. A young couple buying a house while corrupt bankers circle...

that is more or less the picture drawn in my mind.

You can say that politics, influence and power corrupt everything they touch, but I frankly don't find anything but empathy for the Obama's - a young couple "on the rise", trying to buy a nice house for their family. A few years ago I did the same and it was not easy - fortunately we made good choices and have a reasonable mortgage and a good house. It really doesn't sound like Obama did anything different.

[Trajan]

28. It isnt Obama ....

This attempt to tie him to another person's criminality is silly ...

As a supporter of BOTH Hillary and Obama, I find the willingness of DUers to SLAM each candidate using the flimsiest pretexts to be disturbing, to say the least ...

Fucking GROW UP .....

[PurityOfEssence]

29. And you know this for a fact.

If he's helping somebody through his capacity as an elected official, the "help" is fair subject matter. It's not like this is the first inkling anybody's had that this pal is a tad shady, and, once again, the covering up and downplaying are often worse than the crimes or awareness of them.

Ya gotta be clean to be President; it's a nasty world out there in the modern media.

[unc70]

31. It also brings up his judgment and making good decisions

Those go to the very core of his candidacy, that he was right on the war and that judgment trumped experience.

That is why it is important that we clear this up one way or the other as soon as possible.

The Democratic Party can ill afford any little surprises.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

47. been "Whitewater" rafting lately? n/t

[Trajan]

32. Without direct evidence based on fact ...

Then it is worthless, except if your intent is to destroy a candidate by rumor alone ...

And frankly, WE don't like partisans using such tactics against our own candidates ....

We don't need to leave DU to find a 'nasty world' ....

QED ....

[jaybeat]

42. ...then a fine young man like Barack should have nothing to worry about.

RIGHT??

:rofl: :rofl:

Miss your turnip truck much?

[Trajan]

45. The fine young man has nothing to worry about ...

But that doesn't absolve some DUers of being vicious detractors against our own candidates ...

Swing your axe much ?

As a supporter of BOTH the Candidates, I reject completely ANY unsubstantiated attacks against either, and I would associate those who would stoop to such tactics with the GOP opposition, who also attack our candidates using broad and unsubstantiated smears ... I see little difference between their positions and your positions, at this point ...

The little 'Turnip Truck' quip was funny ? .... Hmmmmm ....

[jaybeat]

48. Wish you were right. Wish you were right.

As a supporter of BOTH the Candidates, I reject completely ANY unsubstantiated attacks against either, and I would associate those who would stoop to such tactics with the GOP opposition, who also attack our candidates using broad and unsubstantiated smears ... I see little difference between their positions and your positions, at this point ...

THAT *is* my point!! LOL!

*I* certainly don't think that Obama has committed some terrible crime based on what evidence has seen the light of day so far. Yes, DUH, that IS what trials are for. Etc., etc.

But do you, for a millisecond, think that's what the MSM or the vast majority of the voting public think???

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

That's were the turnip truck comes in!

Who CARES what you, I, or other DUers think??? MY point is that the MSM and their Repuke friends are going to have a field day with this. It won't MATTER if it is just "unsubstantiated attacks"--that's the bread and butter of the political smear experts that ANY Dem nominee is going to be up against.

Hello? Can you say "Swift Boat Chicagoans for Tar and Feathers"? Can you say "Accusation on Page 1, Retraction (if it comes) on Page 97, three weeks AFTER the GE"???

I *DO* wish you were right. I DO wish that IF and ONLY if an accusation is proven in a court of law would voters then consider it true enough to influence their opinion of a candidate. BUT THAT'S NOT THE REAL WORLD!!! If if were, we would have sent George W. Bush to the Hauge 5 years ago, and never heard of an intern named Monica.

In the reality-based universe, the MSM, Faux and all the rest, will define Obama and every other politician how they like, and most voters will base their opinions of them on those definitions. And we all know that the corporate establishment has more than enough reasons to paint the pictures of John "straight-talking," POW war-hero, "maverick" McCain, and back-room dealin', smooth operator, crack-smokin', Muslim pretty-boy Obama/Osama/Hussein/Saddam/Whateverhisnameis.

And because it, and he, are new, the picture they paint will be "news." At least with Hillary, the equally ugly picture they paint is old, old news.

Beat your chest all you want, but all you get is sore pecs.

[RBInMaine]

36. Corporate media slant, bias, and propaganda.

[jaybeat]

43. Wins votes and influences elections. (nt)

[moondust]

44. I doubt it.

Obama has known for a long time how much potential damage Rezko would be if there was anything to it. He has also known that it would all be dug up eventually, one way or another. Having the advantage of being the first to know the real story, I think he would have made a concerted effort to get out in front of it and limit the damage, starting a long time ago. He hasn't.

The MSM will keep playing the story just as they keep shamelessly playing the "Hussein" story and the "native costume" story which are clearly non-stories.