Rezko Obama's Whitewater?

[allinktup]

I'm not going to pretend to fully undestand either of them, but something about this just reminds me of the early 90's...

trumped up allegations that hold no..."watergate"

[Proud2BAmurkin]

1. Nobody froze to death in Whitewater.

[Maribelle]

13. Obama supporters refuse to acknowledge this

It would have been so easy for Obama to come clean on this. But just exactly as he did the Texas two-step around "the party of ideas" he attempts to take the cowardly road around the slumlord issue inflicting abject poverty on children in his very own district.

This should be a nationl disgrace.

[allinktup]

19. This isn't an attack piece... please don't turn it in one

I haven't seen on shred of proof that this is true. Just like in Whitewater. Is this just politics? Shouldn't we expect better?

[Maribelle]

22. This isn't going to go away, as I posted below

Time for Obama to come clean

http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/757286,CST-NWS-brown24.article

[allinktup]

It's a column... An editorial...

Tell me somethig... do you know everything your friends or acquaintances do?

There is nothing in that article that proves anything. It's just an opinion piece.

[Occam Bandage]

20. Acknowledge what? That Rezko is scum? Yeah, we acknowledge that just fine.

We deny that a politician is always responsible for scummy landlords in his district.

[jlake]

2. Just the opposite. Rezko is a real scandal that is not being investigated.

Whitewater was a non-issue that was scrutinized by the GOP.

[redqueen]

6. What surprises me is that it isn't all over the M$M.

I've seen a few articles leaked, but nothing coming out of the talking heads' mouths about this.

It's unsettling.

[Occam Bandage]

8. That's because it's a cotton-candy scandal.

All air, no substance.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

29. That's because Obama is their cotton candy candidate. The PUKES are loving it.

[Occam Bandage]

39. Of course they are, because they know that if he wins the nom, the pukes are toast.

[allinktup]

11. But more importantly... Is it true?

Whitewater was all over everywhere, and it wasn't true. Is this the same thing?

I am not a clinton supporter, but I know right from wrong. And Whitewater was just disgusting.

I just see some similarities.

[redqueen]

23. I don't know...

but it is alarming to see the media so quiet and incurious about a Democratic 'scandal'.

[Occam Bandage]

27. That should tell you something. Even the bloodthirty, scandal-lovin' media doesn't think

there's anything here. This is a purely Chicago scandal, and it's been covered in the Chicago papers extensively.

[Andy823]

43. That's because

The republicans don't want all the facts coming out "before" the nomination. If Obama wins, then the flood gates open, and all kinds of things will come out on this.

[allinktup]

48. Not if the lake is dry...

[allinktup]

14. Do we know that?

from what i understand, it's the same thing. No proof of anything, and they're just hoping that the insinuations will convict him in the public.

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. Rezko is a real scandal

which has nothing to do with Obama.

[hughee99]

31. Whitewater was a non-issue? Not a real scandal?

Despite the fact that the Clintons were never charged with anything, Whitewater did result in Arkansas' sitting governor being removed from office and about a dozen other people were convicted of 40+ crimes (mostly fraud, conspiracy, embezzlement and bribery). Though the direction of the investigation may have focused toward getting the Clintons, as opposed to those who, in the end, were convicted, it was still a REAL scandal and should have been investigated.

[allinktup]

36. Yes whitewater was a real scandal... but the clinton's involvement wasn't

[hughee99]

42. I agree...

It was a genuine scandal, whose investigation was also used to try to smear high profile politician. As far as I can tell, nowhere in the list of charges against Rezko is any allegation that Obama has done anything illegal. Will those in the press (or those prosecuting the case) attempt to use this to smear another high profile politician in a similar manner?

[corkhead]

3. please don't be part of the echo chamber

something gets repeated enough, true or not, it plants a seed of doubt in the minds of the voters. It is a tried and true technique of the republicons. They don't need your help.

[allinktup]

4. that's my point here

that is exactly what is happening. perhaps I should have made that more clear.

[Maribelle]

5. Obama was caution to come clean about the slumlord operation in his district

the part of this problem that Obama supporters refuse to face is the abject poverty inflicted on the children

[allinktup]

7. From what i understand he did

and there wasn't much to it.

[Maribelle]

18. As of January 24, 2008 he had not come clean.

Time for Obama to come clean

http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/757286,CST-NWS-brown24.article

[allinktup]

21. I seem to remember a debate when he did come clean

...as clean as possible. when you're not dirty, there isn't much to clean off.

You're going to blame him for this whole thing when he spend 5 hours working on it?

That's like asking a gay guy if he knows anyone in san francisco.

[Maribelle]

26. That was the Chicago Sun Times, not hardly me.

And please don't think for even a second that should the RNC have to go against Obama, on this issue blood would not run. If these issues are not cleared they will haunt.

[allinktup]

28. I'm still saying...

I haven't seen any proof of anything. And he DID come clean... there just wan't much dirt.

[Maribelle]

33. I think there might be a chance you do not know the full story.

amen

[allinktup]

40. I said so much in the original post

but from what i have heard, there doesn't seem to be anything there, and i haven't seen any comments on here that would tell me otherwise.

[Mz Pip]

25. Oh good grief

That's like saying Don Perata the State Senator from Oakland, CA or Barbara Lee the Congresswoman representing Oakland in Congress can clean up every slumloard operation in his/her district.

Oakland has plenty of "slumlords" and I don't see anyone trashing Lee or Perata for not cleaning up every mess in their district. A State Senator has only so much power.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[ProSense]

9. It's no such thing. The Clintons' Whitewater scandal was a massive entanglement

Whitewater controversy

Beyond the Clinton team's hyping Obama's link to Rezko, his indictment is a problem focused on connections with Gov. Rod Blagojevich:

Earlier this month, Obama gave to charity more than $40,000 in past political contributions from seven individuals with ties to Rezko. The decision to donate the money contributed to Obama's House and Senate campaigns — but not his current presidential bid — came after a published report that Obama is the unnamed "political candidate" in one paragraph of a 78-page prosecution document that outlines the case against Rezko.

Obama also has had to answer questions about how Rezko became involved in the purchase of the Obama family home as well as other ties to Rezko that go back more than 15 years.

Obama has been accused of no wrongdoing involving Rezko or anyone else.

Rezko also has been one of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's leading fundraisers.

Rezko is charged in a 24-count indictment with pressuring businesses seeking work before two state regulatory boards to make campaign contributions and payoffs.

Once the estimated eight- to 12-week trial is over, Rezko still will face federal charges alleging he swindled General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10 million in connection with the sale of two pizza restaurant chains.

link

[suston96]

12. I don't remember Whitewater. Was it investigated?

[allinktup]

15. Yes, and there was nothing to it

[ProSense]

16. Here:

Convictions
Ultimately the Clintons were never charged, but 14 other persons were convicted of more than 40 crimes, including a sitting Governor who was removed from office.<33>

• Jim Guy Tucker: Governor of Arkansas at the time, removed from office (fraud, 3 counts)
  
• John Haley: attorney for Jim Guy Tucker (tax fraud)
  
• William J. Marks Sr.: Jim Guy Tucker business partner (conspiracy)
  
• Stephen Smith (Whitewater): former Governor Clinton aide (conspiracy to misapply funds). Bill Clinton pardoned.
  
• Webster Hubbell: Clinton political supporter; Rose Law Firm partner (embezzlement, fraud)
  
• Jim McDougal: banker, Clinton political supporter: (18 felonies, varied)
  
• Susan McDougal: Clinton political supporter (multiple fraud, contempt of court) Bill Clinton pardoned.
  
• David Hale: banker, self proclaimed Clinton political supporter: (conspiracy, fraud)
  
• Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president (embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign)
  
• Chris Wade: Whitewater real estate broker (multiple loan fraud) Bill Clinton pardoned.
  
• Larry Kuca: Madison real estate agent (multiple loan fraud)
  
• Robert W. Palmer: Madison appraiser (conspiracy). Bill Clinton pardoned.
  
• John Latham: Madison Bank CEO (bank fraud)
  
• Eugene Fitzhugh: Whitewater defendant (multiple bribery)
  
• Charles Matthews (Whitewater): Whitewater defendant (bribery)
  
  link

[DURHAM D]

35. Now you have proved without a doubt that you are a Republican operative.

I have assumed so all along and you have just hoisted by your own petard.

[allinktup]

37. chill out... he was just answering someone's question

you see, those are facts. we democrats like them... good or bad.

[DURHAM D]

41. How old are you? n/t

[allinktup]

45. Why does that matter?

I read up on this stuff every day. DU, Huff-Po, C&R, Kos.......

You think i'm some 18 year old kid who doesn't have a clue? Sorry to disappoint you.

[DURHAM D]

46. You lack context.

Goodbye

[allinktup]

47. Well, when you are ASKING a question... you are looking for context

Or would you prefer i just pretend to know everything about it and ramble on like a republican?

I am old enough to know that I don't know it all. And apparanly you don't either because you have contributed nothing to this conversation.

[ProSense]

44. "I have assumed so all along and you have just hoisted by your own petard."?

You've just proved you are willing to say anything!

[predfan]

51. heh heh heh you said petard

[predfan]

10. just as well get this out of the way now..........

here's the one thing Hillary has an advantage in, if you can call it that, and that's the fact there's very little to come out that hasn't already been vetted. She's a tough nut, and a vigorous hard fought campaign, and this situation, will get Obama battle ready. It's comical to hear the pundidts discuss the gutter politics of the Clintons. Anyone remember the McCain treatment in S.C. in 2000 by the Bush organization, or the pictures of Republican deligates in 200w with purple heart bandaids? Get ready for an ugly, bloody campaign this fall.

[redqueen]

32. He does seem to need some preparation for battle...

he won his Senate seat in a reportedly easy contest... so... this GE will differ like night and day from his past experience.

[allinktup]

49. He's getting a lifetime's worth of prep-work

[redqueen]

50. Not till the talking heads go to town on this, no. (nt)

[Tulkas]

24. Obama made one mistake, associating with Rezko, Not like the Clintons at all

[allinktup]

30. Now now now... no bashing...

this is supposed to be a "polite" thread.

I already did my bashing thread today. Although, it wasn't supposed to be one, and I'm the one who got bashed.

[elixir]

34. I certainly think it may be. Word has it that Obama may be mentioned in the court documents.

:shrug:

[allinktup]

38. i would assume so

he did spend 5 hours on it... it's still 5 hours, so it would be on the record.

but if that's it... no wonder why media isn't covering it.