Chicago Columnist: Obama Still Owes Answers On House Deal

Sun Times:

Even I'm a little leery of writing another Barack Obama-Tony Rezko column at this point.

After Hillary Clinton's resurgence in Tuesday's primaries, the ins-and-outs of the odd real estate transaction involving Obama and Rezko hardly seems the issue on which the Democratic presidential nomination should swing, the missing answers certainly no more pertinent than the missing Clinton income tax returns.

But until we get all the answers, we won't really know, will we?

Read the whole story: Sun Times

Comments

[Gogetter]

He offers this question as an example of the questions that Obama needs to answer:

"Then why, I wonder, did the sellers accept the Rezkos' offer of $625,000 if it only matched the offer they already had on the table? Or was it no longer on the table?"

This sounds like a question for the seller.

[Freddy334]

Obama has a lot of questions he needs to answer. He appears to have not held up well to even minor scrutiny. He ran away from reporters and the public is starting to wonder who he really is. What about Barrack Hussein Obama's close relationship to bigots, anti-semites, middle eastern Isalmic billionaires and govts and terrorists like Jesse Jackson, Farrakhan and Ayers?

Time for Hillary to release her tax returns and for Obama to start answering questions. I am still for Hillary but I may end up voting for Nader or not voting.

[JacobSinger]

I've heard Jesse Jackson callled a lot of things...most unflattering, some of which might be true...but a TERRORIST???

Are you smoking crack or what? Perhaps you're not an ignorant redneck, but comments like that surely make you sound like one....

[Susan1968]

For Amomma:

Exerpts from one of several articles on RezkoWatch

A Sunni Muslim and a citizen of both Iraq and the United States, he is under investigation for setting up a deal to loot Iraq's powerplants with Rezko....

Alsammarae became the "only cabinet-level Iraqi official to be convicted and jailed for misusing money during his time in office." ...

...On December 29, 2006, Baar reported that Aiham Alsammarae's daughter, Dania Alsammarae, had contacted the offices of Sens. Dick Durbin (R-Ill.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) "for help securing her Father's release."

Additionally, Baar wrote, "The next question for Senator Obama to consider, should the Senate start investigating post-War Iraq, was why in the world Bremer appointed Alsammarae as Electricity Minister in the interim government given his [2000] pre-War position towards sanctions?"

...The "security company" that helped Alsammarae to escape was the controversial private military corporation Blackwater USA, headquartered in North Carolina but which has a facility in Mount Carroll, Illinois. McClatchy Newspapers wrote September 17, 2007

Eight months after Aiham Alsammarae escaped from a Baghdad jail and returned to his home in suburban CHICAGO.....

Entire in-depth article HERE:

http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/2008/02/rezko-and-alsamarrae-corruption-in-iraq.html

[mcfried]

Please could you stop posting links that are not reputable. We are starting to behave like Republicans.

[VOTER]

The Chicago Sun Times............................LOL

[justwaitandsee]

1.March 6th,
2008
4:30 pm SNL (Saturday Night Live)… The comedians who need it to come to the rescue of Senator Clinton…

What I find amazing it that the media has given this Comedy Sketch Show so much power and influence… It was important for SNL to point out the fascination the media has had with Senator Obama… And SNL tell me, what so wrong with that… What’s wrong with many people wanting to feel so inspired…?

Am I wrong… is there actually something so wrong with that…

Everyone is picking on Hillary… Everyone is asking Hillary the tough questions…. Why don’t they ever ask Senator Obama any tough questions… we all know no one is circulating false emails about Senator Obama being a Muslim… Senator Obama is never asked about his religion….Senator Obama is never referred to by his middle name…

Well I keep hearing the Senator Clinton is a fighter

• A fighter who cries when she is losing
• A fighter whose campaigns threatens to sue anyone who rules which are not in their favor
• A fighter whose campaign spreads false Muslim emails of Senator Obama…whose campaign use racial codes to stir up tension….whose Husband compares Senator Obama to Jesse Jackson after losing South Carolina….a senator who makes assertion that Senator Obama is Muslim….
• A fighter who has skitsophrenic episodes…One minute warm and loving…next minute screaming and yelling….and the next minute crying ……
• A fighter whose spread lies and missrepentsent Senator Obama Record
• A fighter whose spreads fear in order to drum up votes
• A fighter whose diminishes Senator Obama opposition to the Iraq although she voted for it…….
• A fighter who needs Saturday Night Live to come to her rescue.

Since Senator Clinton was so important to you… What is your level of responsibility towards America…?

Where was your political coverage when there were more important events?

• Where was Saturday Night Live when the war was being talked about….
• Where was Saturday Night Live when the war was being engage
• Where was Saturday Night Live when many of our soldiers were dying in this ill advise war

But Senator Clinton was a more important cause for you… You need it to interject yourselves into this political process….What was your purpose again….Oh yeah, Senator Clinton the fighter needed you to help her fight

— Posted by PLB

[markflour]

Should Obama drop everything to endlessly answer all the fishing expeditions that pops into every reporter's head?

This guy keeps acting like Obama owes him something. I guess everybody wants their 15 minutes of fame.

But questions were asked and answered. It seems silly that he continues to want more. When will it stop?

It seems like Obama got tired of this guy trying to leech off of him. So he gave the answers to a different paper. Is it really surprising that this guy is still unhappy?

It's pathetic!

[justwaitandsee]

Seriously...Get it over it already....WHO CARES......

[Didi47]

Everybody who has a head on their shoulders cares. That's who!

[Didi47]

markflour:

Questions were NOT asked NOR answered. That the problem! Questions were avoided, dismissed and replaced with attacks on Hillary. The questions being raised are the ones McCain most certainly would ask Obama... and the public is entitled to answers. After all you have no problems with Hillary being scrutinized do you. And if you believe Obama is the right man for the job... you should be encouraging him to open up to the public and answer these questions, no?

What are you afraid of? As for Obama dropping everything to answer questions... well Yes he should. That is what this nomination process is SUPPOSED to be ABOUT. I believe they call it
vetted in the US. Well Hillary has certainly been raked over the coals to no end. And now it's Obama's turn. Or is he not up to it?

[larry278]

The comments are entertaining, if nothing else. If BHO tells the truth about the mansion deal-it would be surprising. But his Barackship is found of surprises. BHO would have his wry smile while he came clean on this & answered all of our questions. The rumor that BHO always has a wry smile when he speaks the truth or a lie hasn't been shown to have a basis in fact-yet.

[Tankan]

All smoke and mirrors!

The politics of doubt and mistrust!

No proof needed, the mere accusation is sufficient to work its magic!

[Didi47]

Tankan:

You say: " All smoke and mirrors! The politics of doubt and mistrust!
No proof needed, the mere accusation is sufficient to work its magic!"

You should know... you put Hillary through enough of it. Now, let's see if your guy can handle the same.

[RedRooster]

I wish someone would offer to buy and to keep vacant the very expensive lot adjoining my home, my pets would love it!

[jmaroon]

This story has been written and re-written, it is a story that Obama has responded to ad nauseum (he has stated repeatedly, "it was a bonehead move" and he has been transparent about his dealings with the media to the satisfaction of the AP, Tribune, Sun-Times, etc. (until now) when all of a sudden, Lynn Sweet starts claiming that she hasn't been satisfied after all.

Hmmmm... isn't this the same Lynn Sweet who was cited by Wolfson on the Sunday network rounds as being the ONLY reporter still asking questions? Could it be that she is a plant for the Clintons? Gee, I wonder. Now her colleagues are lending a hand, but the fact is this story has been covered and covered again. I am a Chicagoan. I know, I've been having this flashed across the front page on too many occasions already not to have taken notice.

Now, here is a story that relates to Rezko and Chicago dirty dealings that has received far less attention for all you junkies out there... only problem is that it also involves the Clintons.

His name is Myron Cherry. He is an attorney in Chicago. He is a big-time friend and fundraiser for the Clintons, is mixed up with IPA (that wonderful firm that has come under investigation for various misdealings, including fraud and sexual harassment), and was listed in the Rezko indictment as 'Individual H' because he was also under investigation. He has claimed his innocence.

I've been to his office. He has photos of himself and Clinton all over the place, and likes to 'take calls' from Clinton when you are just arriving or leaving. He is a real charmer. There has been some written on him already, but not nearly as much attention on Mr. Cherry as there should be. Oh, and lest you think this is purely an attempt to distract form Obama, there have been possible dealings with Obama as well; these should be looked at too.

Just a thought.

[Didi47]

jmaroon:

You've been to his office? How'd you do that? Break in?

[rollingdivision]

From the Chicago Sun Times June 13, 2007:

Obama's letters for Rezko
NOT A FAVOR? As a state senator, he went to bat for now-indicted developer's deal

BY TIM NOVAK Staff [e-mail]
As a state senator, Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko's successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens.
The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama's former boss, according to records from the project, which was four blocks outside Obama's state Senate district.

Obama's letters, written nearly nine years ago, for the first time show the Democratic presidential hopeful did a political favor for Rezko -- a longtime friend, campaign fund-raiser and client of the law firm where Obama worked -- who was indicted last fall on federal charges that accuse him of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking state business under Gov. Blagojevich.
The letters appear to contradict a statement last December from Obama, who told the Chicago Tribune that, in all the years he's known Rezko, "I've never done any favors for him.''

[mcfried]

Rezko had a good reputation in Chicago up until 2005.

[estreya]

THAT is the salient issue. But it's an "inconvenient truth" to anyone trying to elevate Clinton by diminishing Obama.

[MPeter]

It just shows how clean Obama is that you scumbags have to keep coming back to the same story no matter how much you dig into his life. Why don't try the truckloads of crooked deals in the Clinton Household? HSU, Peter Paul, Vince Forster, MCDougal, Gennifer Flowers, Khazhakitan, Saudi Sheiks buying American Ports, Bill and the Canadian Mines Mogul, fundraising from illegal chinese immigrants...you want more? How about you ask for her WH records and income tax returns??

[justwaitandsee]

Please get over it.....I know Senator Obama is to good to be true


But get over it already,

[Didi47]

justwaitandsee:

Get over what? The questions are just starting! Good grief... no one knows anything about Obama, other than he makes people swoon when he speaks! So get over what? Asking what he's about? Are you for real?

This is a PRESIDENTIAL Election... get it? The public is supposed to be FULLY INFORMED.. and not just sold a media made - pop star - that has not been Vetted.

And if you believe in him, you should ENCOURAGE questions about him. Not run away from them or be upset about them being asked!

After all you had no problem with Hillary being vetted did you?

[Rhouse]

Go read the full post and you'll see why it isn't going away. It expains how the Obama campaign, by it's own actions, is keeping it in the news.

[mcfried]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a_9sOMpy91Js&refer=us
The guy is pissed because he didn't get an interview.

[justwaitandsee]

I agree....What there is nothing else going on in Chicago

[hank48188]

It's just like Michelle Obama says, "this country has been getting worse, year by year, since I was a little girl". I guess if you live in Chicago and have listened to Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan spew their hatred your whole life you might tend to take a negative view of our country. Just look at her writings from Princton and see what her perceptions are.

[justwaitandsee]

Get off it already....

[enoughalready13]

Honestly, if this is not an issue, why can't he answer some basic questions. Perhaps because he did illegal or unethical stuff? Even though he was the "champion" for ethics in the IL Senate?

This guy is a total sham. He claims his message and campaign are about transparency and better working ways in Washington - how is that possible under him when all he does is do the same shady things as every other politician?

If you're going to TALK THE TALK, Barack Obama, then WALK THE WALK.

[Monkeytime]

What specific question do you want him to answere?

[Amomma]

Monkeytime, the questions I would like to see answered are 1 If you knew Rezko was under investigation by the Feds(Obama would have had to be deaf dumb and blind not to know) and that Rezko, by court records that were published in the News, was broke why would you ask him for help with the house lot deal? 2 Did you know that massive amounts of money were being pumped into keeping Rezko afloat were coming from Nadhmi Auchi Saddam's long time bag man in the oil for food money laundering fraud? 3 In Obama's "close" friendship with Rezko how much information was Obama given about the fact that Saddam only kept the fact that the WMD program was never repaired and that the Iraq economy was in shambles?

I

[justwaitandsee]

Yeah, what specific questions do you want answered......So we can wrap this story up

[Monkeytime]

Maybe I'm blinded by "Obamamania", but I can't see the point of this story other than to say "there's still a story here." Well where?

According to Mr. Brown , the author:

- "The Tribune originally broke the Obama house story, and its reporters had the benefit of a face-to-face interview with the senator."

- "For the Sun-Times, Obama would only respond in writing to questions submitted by our reporters."

-"One fact that seemed suspicious back on day one of the story -- both sales closing on the same day -- no longer seems as questionable when you look at it from the seller's viewpoint."

So he's responded in a face to face, verbal format and a written format and neither paper found any wrongdoing, yet Mr. Brown remains "suspicious." Of what, he isn't really clear.

The only "new" question Mr. Brown has - which he acknowledges was errantly omitted by his own paper's list of questions, is:

"Then why, I wonder, did the sellers accept the Rezkos' offer of $625,000 if it only matched the offer they already had on the table? Or was it no longer on the table?"


No one can prove a negative. Where is the story?

[Amomma]

If every one would google Nadhmi Auchi, Tony Rezko and Obama you will see that the scope of this goes way beyond Chicago politics and a stupid house deal. The connections to the Middle East and access to information on Obama's part is staggering. He KNEW, like really "I know" there are no WMD in Iraq because of Tony Rezko and Rezko's vast connections. I only wish Obama could have taken a meeting with Intelligence before we went to war. Instead he has based his campaign on the info and one speech he made.

[Didi47]

Mr brown: What do you mean by, "...the ins-and-outs of the odd real estate transaction involving Obama and Rezko hardly seems the issue on which the Democratic presidential nomination should swing, the missing answers certainly no more pertinent than the missing Clinton income tax returns."

Are you for real? First of all - the ins and outs of 'odd real estate' transaction.... you claim are not important... are in fact a can of 'unanswered worms' the public has a right to have answered. And one would think that as a journalist, you would get busy and do your homework... by investigating this 'mystery' no?

Or is your role, to kind of hang around and see what the pro Obama media and pundits come up with to continue this 'cover up'??

[Monkeytime]

Links please. And not some right wing radio guy's wacky blog.

Maybe you should try going back to comparing Obama to Hitler.

[Amomma]

OK point well made. No more Hitler comparison.
Just read the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune coverage of Obama and Rezko connections over the last months. These two newspapers are the only papers in the country who understand Chicago Politics and how they interact on the world stage.

[Amomma]

Here is a link Monkeytime let me know what you think
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/2/6/9238/78303