Greenwald: "Rezko" is the Whitewater of the Obama campaign.

[BurtWorm]

http://feeds.salon.com/~r/salon/greenwald/~3/246169759/index.html

The "Rezko" game

Throughout the 1990s, the word "Whitewater" was the weapon used continuously by the Limbaugh Right and the establishment press to cast innuendo on the Clintons' financial lives. The word was just tossed around as slippery shorthand for corrupt dealings. It never had any substance. No specific allegations of wrongdoing were ever made about the original "Whitewater" transactions by those throwing the term around. And after $73 million was spent on an endless investigation, no wrongdoing on the part of the Clintons was found.

One could read literally thousands of news accounts about the "Whitewater scandal" and never encounter a single, specific charge of impropriety. The word simply stood for a series of confusing, complex, boring financial transactions that were combined with dark and vague innuendo which, repeated enough, led to a "where-there's-smoke- there's-fire" presumption of guilt. Slothful journalists could not get enough of the tactic because tossing "Whitewater" around required no real work, active investigation or critical thought -- the mortal enemies of most establishment reporters -- but instead was just a cheap and easy way to imply that they were pursuing some sort of scandal.

"Rezko" is the Whitewater of the Obama campaign. It's almost impossible now to find an article or news account about Obama that doesn't include some dark reference to the "Rezko" affair, always with the suggestion or even overt claim that it's reflective of some serious vulnerability, some suggestion of wrongdoing and corruption. But what is it? The reporters throwing the word around quite plainly have no idea.

Having paid only casual attention to it in the past, I spent several hours yesterday morning reading every "Rezko" article I could find in an attempt to understand as much as possible about the allegations. The point isn't that there is no credible evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Obama, although that's unquestionably true. It's far beyond that. There aren't even any theoretical allegations or suggestions as to what he might have done wrong at all. The person who is accused of wrongdoing is Tony Rezko, in matters inarguably having nothing to do with Obama. Nobody claims otherwise (although many try to imply otherwise).

The only substantive connections Obama and Rezko have is that the latter was a contributor to Obama's campaign and was a partner in a standard residential real-estate purchase which nobody suggests, at least in terms of Obama's conduct, was anything but above-board. But Rezko himself has a sinister-sounding, villain-like last name and is of Syrian origin, which, for multiple reasons, helps build the shallow media drama.

...

[tabatha]

1. no credible evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Obama

Having paid only casual attention to it in the past, I spent several hours yesterday morning reading every "Rezko" article I could find in an attempt to understand as much as possible about the allegations. The point isn't that there is no credible evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Obama, although that's unquestionably true.

Yup, it's called the smear, tarnish game.

[Alter Ego]

3. Seriously.

And yet we hear his name squawked from every corner of the Clinton camp like parrots. "RAAAWWWK! REZKO! REZKO! RAAAWWWK!"

[Truth2Tell]

2. The Clintons are like an abused child

they have grown up to be abusers themselves. Closing the cycle of sleaze.

[democrattotheend]

4. That's a pretty good analogy n/t

[blm]

10. Good analogy. But Whitewater provided PERFECT COVER for Bushies to get into Rose Law Firm

and scrub the crap out of the files and documents for Jackson Stephens, the firm's biggest client and the man who staked WalMart, brought BCCI bank into this country and had extensive dealings beneficial to GHWBush's illegal operations.

Jackson Stephens also bankrolled Bill's political career and underwrote his primary campaign when Bushies expected impeachment after the BCCI report was released in Dec 1992.

Would Clintons take a little heat for Jackson Stephens and Poppy Bush in exchange for the WH?

BCCI matters were deep-sixed throughout the 90s protecting alot of powerful people connected to GHWBush, Stephens, Dubai and Saudi royals, including Marc Rich, AQ Khan, Bin Ladens, James Bath, and more.

[Truth2Tell]

11. Exactamundo.

Rezko is a meaningless street corner bum compared to Stephens. Barack can't hold a candle to the Clintons when it comes to shady dealings with high-level shadow-government mafia.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Well, Hillary has plenty of New "Rezkos" and then some........

and she has just given carte blanche for those issues to be brought into the equation by the media.

and has some have said about Obama and his issue of Rezko, might as well bring them out now than later.

[Medusa]

12. One alleged--and I repeat--alleged

questionable acquaintance.

Hillary's? In at least the triple digits.

[bleowheels]

6. If that's how they're gonna play us, then let's bring back the Whitewater of the Clinton campaign.

If Rezko is in Obama's past and Whitewater is in Clinton's past then why can't Whitewater be brought up again. If the Clinton campaign thinks that the Republicans are not going to rehash all of this crap, then they (Clinton's campaign) are kidding themselves.

[LittleClarkie]

7. In the end Whitewater didn't bring Bill down.

Let the Right use what they wish.

[Hawkeye-X]

8. *sigh*

[Rageneau]

9. I'll know Obama is innocent in the Rezko deal as soon as has been investigated like Hillary was

I'm sure Obama is innocent in this land deal, but, like Hillary and Whitewater, he should be willing to prove it.

Like Hillary, he should be willing to have all his financial affairs thoroughly looked into, so there will be no lingering doubts. (Bill & Hillary INVITED an investigation into Whitewater, actually helped get it underway.)

The U.S. Government then spent over 100 million dollars looking into every aspect of the Clinton's financial lives. Right-wing organizations like Judicial Watch and Landmark Legal Foundation spent another 20 million or so, trying to find something -- ANYTHING -- to charge either Clinton with. It was the disappointment of their lives that they couldn't.

So that is the standard: When there is even a whiff of suspicion, the Democratic candidate and his or her spouse should graciously permit themselves to be the subjects of open-ended investigations conducted by their most bitter political enemies, until they are either cleared or charged with actual crimes. That's exactly what happened to the Clintons.

I'm a Hillary supporter, but if Obama will agree that he and Michelle should receive the same level of scrutiny into their finances the Clintons have, I'd happily support him.

But in my heart I know Obama cannot survive the same scrutiny as the Clintons, so I am sure that Obama will never agree to being vetted as fully as Hillary was, nor would his supporters ever see the essential fairness of expecting both candidates to receive the same treatment.

Because sometimes, a double standard is the only standard some people can live with.

[cali]

16. lol!! So in your heart you know Obama is guilty. Aren't you the little

inquisitor. And Obama has been investgated and found to be clean by one the most respected and toughest Federal Prosecutors in the country. In your twisted little heart you know more than Fitzgerald and many others. Sick, sick, sick.

[yourguide]

13. Ah except now HRC is tied to rezko...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4907332

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. The Problem With The Comparison Is That The Voters Knew Bill Was A Rascal And Voted For Him Anyway

Much of Obama's success is a function of his perceived moral probity... Without that he's nothing special...

[blm]

17. Voters KNEW in 1992 that Bill would protect GHWBush's secrecy and privilege?

And deep-six all the outstanding matters in IranContra and BCCI for GHWBush, Jackson Stephens, Dubai and Saudi royals, Bin Ladens, Marc Rich, AQ KHan, Adnan Khashoggi, James Bath..... setting the stage for the return of BushInc in 2000 more powerful than ever?

Are you sure about that?

[Justitia]

20. Gee, you think they knew he'd get IMPEACHED? -eom

[Major Hogwash]

15. Was this on 60 Minutes? Nope, instead we had "he is not a Muslim, as far as I know."

As long as the media keeps letting someone like Hillary smear another Democrat like Obama like that, who is running for the same office, it won't matter.

The public doesn't know the truth about Rezko, what they heard was Obama might be a Muslim.

[Exilednight]

18. It appears that Hillary has links to Rezko....

 The company’s attorney, Myron “Mike” Cherry, also a contributor of yours(Clinton's), has been identified in published reports as “Individual H” in the Illinois criminal indictment of businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko. Cherry has acknowledged in published reports that he was the conduit for some of the IPA campaign contributions.

http://www.reversespin.com/?m=200709

[Justitia]

19. Every time I hear "Rezko", I'm gonna say "Monica" or "Vince Foster" or the Canadian woman Bill is

currently fucking.

Over and over again.

[Texas Hill Country]

21. The problem is that Hillary doesnt present herself as an angelic saviour

Obama does and it is responsible for the bulk of his appeal. Any tarnish on that, and it's a major hit.