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This will feed the RW smear machine for years! I don't equate this to Whitewater...this really smells...<><><>
First, a few words of explanation as to how we will proceed in REZKO for Dummies:
Because so many journalists, much more than usual, are reading today (oy vey, don’t ask) we will go real slow. We will start with 2 video presentations - the Good Morning America package and an earlier CNN production.
Then, later today, in response to popular demand, we will scour the internets and come up with real life questions and defenses from the Obama supporters regarding the REZKO. We will then, in Part II, answer the questions (in Q and A style) you all have about the REZKO.
The piece then links to the aforementioned YouTube clips of media reports about Mr. Rezko.
And, as promised by these heroes, here is today’s offering:
REZKO For Dummies, Part II Sunday, January 13th, 2008
In our post A Challenge To Big Media and Big Blogs we dared these peas in a pod to Prove us wrong. Show us where we are wrong in the Obama benefactor and friend, the indicted Antoin “Tony” Rezko, story. No one has come forward to take up the challenge.
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In old Chicago, paper bags filled with money were passed, literally “under the table” to politicians. These days complicated schemes are employed by politicians on the take. Herewith, as lawyers say, is our “theory of the case”. As TV show detective “Monk” says “Here’s what happened”:
Obama had multiple land dealings regarding Rezko. Obama and his supporters answer a question about a particular land deal by bringing up details about a different land deal. This is how they try to kill the REZKO scandal - distract, distort, deflect. But they never answer directly.
I. Obama/REZKO land dealings benefitting REZKO:
Both as part time State Senator and part time lawyer, Obama helped his friend of 17 years, REZKO, obtain tens of millions of dollars in government subsidies. There are many of these land deals.
At the Chicago political machine law firm where Obama worked, Obama helped pump tens of millions of government subsidy monies to the REZKO company called REZMAR.
As State Senator, Obama, in his official capacity, also helped pump tens of millions of more dollars to REZKO.
II. Obama/REZKO land dealings benefitting Obama:
Obama received many contributions from REZKO and even more money from contributions raised by REZKO for all of Obama’s political campaigns (the failed congressional race, the state senate race, the U.S. Senate race). But the biggest personal benefit Obama received from REZKO, that we know of, is the big house Obama lives in today.
Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. Obama and Michelle owned a condominum at that time but now that Obama was a U.S. Senator they wanted to move to a big house. Obama could not afford the big house he wanted. The house cost $2,305,000. However, in 2005 Obama bought the house he could not afford. Here is how Obama bought a house he could not afford:
Step 1 - Obama talked the doctor selling the house into selling the house and the house’s side yard separately. There would be two separate buyers of the single property - both purchasing the property on the same day.
Step 2 - Obama had previously asked his friend REZKO to buy the side yard of the house. REZKO was doing financially well at this point.
Step 3 - Obama purchased the land with the house on it. REZKO, probably to hide his involvement in this land deal and protect Obama, had his wife Rita purchase the side yard. Both purchases of the single property closed on the same day.
Result - Obama got a $300,000 discount on the much more valuable property on which the house stood. REZKO’s wife, Rita, purchased the side yard for full price. After the deal, Obama paid for mowing of his front lawn as well as REZKO’s yard.
The math is this: Obama gets a $300,000 discount and pays $1,605,000 for his house; REZKO’s wife buys the yard at full price for the undeveloped, less valuable side yard for $625,000. Obama gets a $2,305,000 house for $1,605,000. “Profit” to Obama = $925,000.
III. Obama/REZKO land deal benefitting REZKO:
By 2006 Obama and REZKO had reversed fortunes. Obama was a U.S. Senator peddling books (his latest autobiography chock full of “composite” characters and made up situations). Obama’s wife, Michelle, had fortuitously received all sorts of financial benefits from her new found status as wife of a U.S. Senator - including a promotion and a $316,962 salary from the hospital she worked at. REZKO was in financial difficulty and it was reported that REZKO was about to be indicted.
Obama came to the REZKO rescue. REZKO, Obama’s friend, slumlord and Chicago fixer was in trouble. Money was drying up and Patrick Fitzgerald was on his tail. REZKO needed money. The cash flushed Obama obliged. Obama offered to buy some of the REZKO-owned side yard.
The 10 feet of land Obama decided to purchase from REZKO was appraised at $40,000. Obama paid the financially troubled REZKO $104,500. Shortly thereafter, REZKO was indicted by “Scooter” Libby prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald on charges including Bribes, Kickbacks, and Extortion.
Why Obama rescued REZKO remains a mystery. Why would an up and coming Chicago politician risk his political future for a slumlord about to be indicted remains a question. Obama supporters will no doubt burn incense and declare Obama a great humanitarian and friend. Impartial observers, and prosecutors, might suspect this transaction was “hush money”. “Hush money” talks real loudly in Chicago.
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