Clinton Got Money From Rezko Codefendants

Daily Kos:

The vetting of the Clinton's is just beginning. This was a risky strategy by the Clinton's in the first place, because the boomerang effect will expose much more of their shenanigans to the American people....

...Since the name of Chicago defendant Antoin 'Tony' Rezko has come up in national debate, it seems fair to look at donations from other defendants in Chicago's "Operation Board Games."

Of the other five defendants, three have donated to the Clintons or to Clinton supporters, three have donated mostly to Republicans, and at least two have donated to Obama's political opponents. None have donated to Obama.

Read the whole story: Daily Kos

Comments

[rollingdivision]

Clinton accepting campaign donations from Rezko's co-defendants is vastly different that Obama's dealings. Obama knew Rezko was charged with bribery and Obama knew Rezko was under federal investigation, which resulted in Rezko's indictment and Obama knew Rezko was a fixer, a bad actor and unethical. Knowing all this, Obama sought out Tony Rezko for a favor, making it possible for Obama to own a house he admits he, Obama, couldn't afford. Obama knowingly sought, requested, negotiated and accepted a huge personal favor, for his own personal gain, we can argue about the dollar amount later, from someone Obama knew was shady. So for his own gain an unethical US Senator seeks out a huge personal favor and accepts the favor and then says "blockheaded move" and it's fine with Obama's disciples? If ExxonMobil did a $900,000 favor for Bush that would be fine also? There is a world of difference between Clinton accepting campaign donations and Obama effectively pocketing cash from Rezko.

[snowcat]

Hillary knew that all of the following were questionable but hasn't answered any questions about it all:


Norman Hsu, a fundraiser and donor to Hillary Clinton that was a fugitive of the law for over a decade;

Samuel Rivera, Mayor of New Jersey and a Clinton supporter, recently arrested for corruption;

The very public "Paul vs Clinton" legal battle where Hillary will have to testify under oath about Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaign understating over $750,000 in contributions to her 2000 Senate campaign, from one Peter Paul, that will be heard in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Hillary’s campaign initially denied even knowing Peter Paul, and then later, admitted meeting him but never had a conversation regarding his contribution to her campaign;

Hillary Clinton's association with the 527 Group, America Coming Together, financed by George Soros, which has been fined $775,000 for violating campaign finance laws.

Her association with that group is via, Harold Ickes, president of America Coming Together, who just "happened" to be a former Bill Clinton Top Aide.

As her top Ohio supporter Governor Ted Strickland said in his 2006 campaign, if a candidate is not releasing his or her "tax return, what is he hiding? We should question what"s going on."
Maybe the 5 million came from Rezko. We've all seen the photo of Hilz and REZ together!
from Daily Kos:Have any of her Democratic opponents, including Obama, sought more detailed answers from her about stories such as:
* Norman Hsu and his bundling of money for her campaign?
* How "dishwashers, waiters and others" poured "$1,000 and $2,000 contributions into Clinton's campaign treasury?"
* Bill's trip to Kazakhstan with Canadian magnate, Frank Giustra, that netted Giustra $3 billion and Bill's foundation a $131 million contribution from Giustra?
* How powerful foreign donors to Bill's presidential library, such as the Saudis, may pose a serious conflict of interest to Hillary's foreign policy actions as president?
* How Bill's tangled ties to an investment concern of Clinton friend, Ron Burkle, and it's dealings with Dubai may yet, again, threaten to compromise Hillary Clinton's execution of foreign policy as president?
* The fact that the with all of these questionable financial dealings, the Clintons have been unwilling to release their tax returns, especially in light of Hillary Clinton claiming that the $5 million she lent the campaign was "her own money?"

[rollingdivision]

Are people claiming something Clinton did or does in someway absolves Obama's unethical dealings? How?

[snowcat]

Hillary knew this was questionable but hasn't answered to it:

As her top Ohio supporter Governor Ted Strickland said in his 2006 campaign, if a candidate is not releasing his or her "tax return, what is he hiding? We should question what"s going on."
Maybe the 5 million came from Rezko. We've all seen the photo of Hilz and REZ together!
from Daily Kos:Have any of her Democratic opponents, including Obama, sought more detailed answers from her about stories such as:
* Norman Hsu and his bundling of money for her campaign?
* How "dishwashers, waiters and others" poured "$1,000 and $2,000 contributions into Clinton's campaign treasury?"
* Bill's trip to Kazakhstan with Canadian magnate, Frank Giustra, that netted Giustra $3 billion and Bill's foundation a $131 million contribution from Giustra?
* How powerful foreign donors to Bill's presidential library, such as the Saudis, may pose a serious conflict of interest to Hillary's foreign policy actions as president?
* How Bill's tangled ties to an investment concern of Clinton friend, Ron Burkle, and it's dealings with Dubai may yet, again, threaten to compromise Hillary Clinton's execution of foreign policy as president?
* The fact that the with all of these questionable financial dealings, the Clintons have been unwilling to release their tax returns, especially in light of Hillary Clinton claiming that the $5 million she lent the campaign was "her own money?"

[SeekerOne]

I read an article recently that said Hillary Clinton accused her opponent in her Senate race of hiding something by not releasing his tax returns.

[Countess]

This is nothing compared to what the Clintons are hiding from the public. We know they have their own custom designed ethics and the Archives they are desperately trying to keep secret will show how dirty they are. Open the Archives!

[midtown]

From Los Angeles Daily News: "Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, chairman of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, has received $10,500 from indicted Chicago entrepreneur Antoin Rezko and his relatives or affiliates in previous council and mayoral campaigns, the Daily News has learned. . . . Eight contributions totaling $8,000 to Villaigosa's 2001 mayoral campaign were made on May 31, 2001, each for $1,000. They came from: Chamse Rezko, then a Rezko Enterprises executive; Elias Rezko, then owner of Rezko Enterprises; Ghadir Rezko, a retired Chicago resident; Imad Rezko, then a Rezko Enterprises partner; Michline Rezko, then a Panda Express manager in Chicago; Nada Rezko, a Chicago homemaker; Rimon Rezko, then a Rezko Enterprises executive; and Sara Rezko, a Chicago homemaker."

[midtown]

rollingdivision,

Bullshit. The Chicago Trib said emphatically that Obama did nothing wrong.

[rollingdivision]

Please post Chicago Tribune "nothing wrong" quote.

[rollingdivision]

"Nothing Wrong"

Obama: I toured home with Rezko

By David Jackson and Bob Secter | CHICAGO TRIBUNE REPORTERS
February 19, 2008

Before he bought his South Side mansion in 2005, Sen. Barack Obama took his friend and fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko on a tour of the premises to make sure it was a good deal, Obama's campaign revealed Monday.

Weeks after saying he'd answered all questions about his controversial dealings with the now-indicted Rezko, Obama released new details about their purchase of adjacent lots from the same seller on the same day. But the disclosures by Obama's presidential campaign left unanswered questions and raised new ones.

Obama was able to buy the house for $300,000 less than the listed price while Rezko, in his wife's name, paid the full $625,000 asking price for an undeveloped side lot. The campaign declined to share the sellers' e-mails with the Tribune or elaborate on the Bloomberg story. It's not clear why Obama had not previously divulged Rezko's tour of the house with him. In 2006, he told the Tribune he recalled talking to Rezko and his wife "either at an event or some conversation we had where they mentioned to me that they either knew the property or knew the developer or something like that. After they bought the parcels, Obama and Rezko entered a series of personal financial arrangements to redivide and improve the lots

[PrdAmerican]

Let's just get this over with already....Clinton supporters should be just as worried. We need to see her tax records now!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fzzJspLOxHE

[RISEUPAMERICA]

Where are OBAMA's Rezko financials???????

clinton has 15 yrs of financials in the P.D. we know way more about the clintons than we know about Obama

[dutchess2]

Obama released his tax records months ago...

[FogBelter]

I want to see the Clintons Tax Returns, Hillary's Archival Documents, Bill's Pardon Records.

Until they are forthcoming with this information they will be considered untrustworthy and unworthy of consideration for a return trip to the White House.

They are guilty until proven innocent in the Court of Public Opinion.

[snowcat]

We have not seen any of the returns for years since he left offic, she "won' (bought?) senate seat and his libaray earned kazillions­!!!!Doesn'­t compare to Obama and anything!

[shinybear]

We knew this as soon as they released the photo of Rezko with the Clintons. You only get photo ops like like that by making big donations and everyone knows it.

Rezko has donated to dozens of politicians at every level of government.

Obama has returned his Rezko related donations.

Will the Clintons?

[rollingdivision]

Clinton can return campaign contributions from people who turn out to be criminal. Obama can't unring the bell on his knowingly unethical deal for personal gain. The Obama's lusted for a big beautiful mason. They found the mason they lusted for, but they couldn't afford it. The Obama's desires drove them to throw their ethics to the side and climb into the sewer with Tony Rezko and satisfy their greed. Conversely, Clinton has no ties with these donors and exhibited no ethic failings in accepting campaign contributions. Obama is running with a claim that he is different, the doesn't appear to be too different.

[dutchess2]

Woah!

Anything I have seen in the press regarding Obama and Rezko indicates he is not a person of interest, he has donated every Rezko dime to charity, and has had not contact with Rezko for the time period of the investigation.

In terms of politicla risk, the pic with Hillary and Bill and Rezko at the White House - things
only made available to large doners, is a more serious problem the Clintons have not explained yet.

You just here to sling mud or you have some facts we can look at?

[FogBelter]

You should be writing for Saturday Night Live ... you're semi-funny.

[vcthree]

A masterful display of hair-splitting, I must say.

[FogBelter]

This isn't a surprise in the least ...

Hillary had no experience ... so she attacks Obama's Experience.

Hillary has an anemic Legislative Record ... so she attacks Obama's Legislative Record.

Hillary supported NAFTA ... so she uses a sloppy, Nixonian "Ratfucking" ploy with allies in Canada to make it look like Obama supports NAFTA.

Hillary won't release her Tax Returns ... then insinuates Obama has shady sources of his income, when he HAS released his Tax Returns.

So of course the Clintons are in the tar pit with Rezko and Co. ... The louder the accusation directed at Obama, the more likely the Clintons are more severe offenders.

The Clintons are counting on the electorate being complete, gibbering, morons (It's the way the elite grow to think) ... I hate to disappoint them, but they are in for a shock if they think that misconception will be the salvation of their Campaign.

[RISEUPAMERICA]

BLIND FOLLOWING GOT US BUSH

[FogBelter]

I agree ... so Clinton supporters need to wise up.

[coonce]

Republican Governor Jim Edgar also worked with Rezko in Illinois fundraising. Why don't we hear the media pushing HIS name and with the same breath saying...although Edgar is not in anyway invovled in this case or crime.....

I'm sick of this unfair reporting. Rezko helped a LOT of people -- if we're going to mention Obama's name, shouldn't the OTHER NAMES be talked about too?

[Shelly1970]

Speculation is the only thing we can do right now. Lets see if more information comes forward.

[SeekerOne]

Yes, you are forced to speculate as wildly as you must, pending facts.

[VOTER]

Rezko, also, donated money to GW Bush.

[beholder]

This game of who has more hidden secrets will be lost by Bill and Hillary. And McCain too for that matter. Some people still remember who the Keating Five where. Oh, and by the way Mcain hasn't released his tax returns either. So when it comes to a general election who is ready from day one to act in the best interest of the people and not special interests. I'd say there is only one choice.

And when it comes to our ailing economy who is endorsed by the last effective Fed Chairman, Paul Volker----

BARACK OBAMA

[bradleyglisson]

This needs to be reported on TV. Let the vetting of Hillary begin!

[snowcat]

anyone have a list of contact info for news/ networks? We have to let them know we know what they are NOT reporting.

[snowcat]

Some of us political news junkies have known about this for quite some time and it really hasn't been reported until now. I hope it gets as much play as the Obama/Rezko bit has. Now every time someone in the Clinton camp says " REZKO!", they can respond "REZKO & where are your TAX RETURNS??!!oh, and by the way , what about that PAUL V. CLINTON TRIALand your buddy , BILL RENDELL and TERRI MCAULIFFE

[Tankan]

Well now, be fair!

Just because there's a lot of smoke and mirrors, doesn't mean there's a fire!

[cittykat2]

So If you believe that Obama is hiding something, Then you will agree that the Clintons are hiding as well. Since they have more experience, there has to be alot more to that picture with Rezko.

Let's not forget she claimed she didn't even know who he was. It was quite interesting that she knew more about him when she was debating and accusing Obama of shady dealings with Rezko. There have been no allegations against Obama and his dealings with Rezko. All of you accusers, you must have evidence or that doesn't matter to you.

Once again the Media refuses to report what they know until the election is over. It never fails they will come back in November and the entire story about Obama and Rezko will be nothing but a bone head mistake and with Clintons it will be totally misunderstandings and whole lot of unansewered questions. We do need accountability from the media as well

[RISEUPAMERICA]

Clintons don't really claim to be saints........but obama does and he isn't

Obama is hurting the party and should drop out
now before this rezko trial hurts the party

[AnninCA]

This story is just silly. The issue isn't that Rezko raised money for Obama. We all know that. The question is what did Rezko really get in return.

And it appears very obvious that there is a reason to ask that question.

The more Obama refuses to answer questions, the more obvious it's becoming that he's hiding something.

[CTmom13]

like how the Clintons won't release 6 years worth of tax returns? Lots hiding there

[RISEUPAMERICA]

there both quilty of hiding financials.... but one is tied to a on going trial and the other is not

[ltfcrazy]

Why is it silly when it's connected to your candidate and serious when connected to the other one? You are just ridiculous.

[PragmaticProgressive]

From DailyKos

Myth #1: Obama did legal work for Rezko

Claim: Hillary Clinton during a debate denounced Obama for "representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago."

The truth: According to Factcheck.org, "Obama was associated with a law firm that represented the community groups working with Rezko on several deals. There's no evidence that Obama spent much time on them, and he never represented Rezko directly. So it was wrong for Clinton to say he was ‘representing ... Rezko.’ That's untrue."

Myth #2: Obama knew Rezko was a slumlord

Claim: The Chicago Sun-Times reported that in 1997, Rezko’s company failed to turn the heat back on in one of his buildings, while giving $1,000 to Obama’s campaign fund.

The truth: There’s no evidence that Obama knew about problems with Rezko’s buildings. A state senator doesn’t deal with tenant complaints, and the Chicago newspapers never reported on Rezko’s problems as a landlord until after he was indicted. According to the Chicago Tribune, "in the years before 2005, Rezko enjoyed a reputation in Illinois as an up-and-coming, even enlightened entrepreneur with a strong interest in the risky low-income and affordable housing markets." http://www.chicagotribune.com/...

Myth #3: Obama underpaid for his house in a deal with Rezko

Claim: Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass wrote: "Rezko paid more than the asking price for the side lot, and Obama paid less than the asking price for the big house. It’s the Chicago way." Kass claimed that Rezko was "Obama's Real Estate Fairy" and this is "the story of the dream house the Obamas wanted and couldn't quite afford and how the Rezkos helped."

The truth: None of this is true. The seller decided to divide the lot in offering it for sale, not Obama or Rezko. Rezko had paid the list price for his lot, not an excessive amount (as the resale value later proved). The owner reportedly had already been offered $625,000 for the side lot, so Rezko didn’t offer any more money and there was no way Obama could have gotten a special deal this way. The only special arrangement Rezko provided was selling the two lots on the same day, which simplified matters for the seller. Obama paid $1.65 million for a house originally priced at $1.95 million. His was the higher of two bids for the main property. It’s not unusual at all in the Chicago real estate business to see a 15 percent price cut on an expensive house that’s been on the market for four months. Nor is it unusual that a vacant lot next door would sell to a condo developer without such a discount. In the Hyde Park market, there are a lot of upper-middle-class residents making six figures, but not very many millionaires (it’s not Lincoln Park or the Gold Coast). Therefore, a pricey mansion is very difficult to sell, while a $300,000 townhouse is very common.

Myth #4: Rezko’s lot was a front (yard) deal

Claim: One blogger declared it was "a $925,000 favor to a sitting US Senator" because "the Rezko property was never intended to be a separate piece of land."

The truth: It’s insane to think that Obama arranged for Rezko to buy the lot as his front yard, and never intended for anyone to develop it. If Obama had arranged such a deal, it would be crazy for him to spend $104,500 to buy part of the land from Rezko. There is not even the slightest evidence to support this notion.

Myth #5: Obama underpaid (or overpaid) for the slice of Rezko’s lot

Claim: John Kass declared: "Obama’s appraiser told him the fair market value of that slice was $40,500. Since that’s one-sixth of the Rezko side, it means Rezko paid $625,000 for property that was actually worth $243,000. That would make Rezko a complete fool. But he’s no fool." Fox News Channel incorrectly reported that Rezko "sold half that lot to Obama for 1/3 its original value."

The truth: The appraiser was clearly wrong (probably basing the low value on the fact that 1/6th of the lot was too small for any house, which would dramatically reduce its value standing alone). That’s why Obama decided to buy 1/6th of Rezko’s lot for 1/6th of what Rezko paid for it ($104,500). A year after the 10-foot-wide strip of land was sold to Obama, a Rezko business associate bought the rest of the lot for $575,000, resulting in a profit for the Rezkos of $54,000 from the two land sales. This sale proved that Obama paid fair market value for his portion of the land.

Myth #6: Obama hasn’t returned all the money linked to Rezko’s donations

Claim: The Chicago Sun-Times accused Obama of downplaying the $50,000–$60,000 in donations he received from Rezko (Rezko, before his legal troubles started, had cohosted a fundraiser for Obama). The newspaper claimed the actual amount was $168,000.

The truth: The Sun Times came up with that figure by counting every donation to Obama from anyone ever associated with Rezko, even if there was no evidence Rezko prompted the donation. Obama donated additional money to charity, but he’s under no obligation (legal or even moral) to return every dollar ever linked to Rezko. If you play a game of "six degrees of separation" with Rezko, he’s linked to almost every politician in Chicago.

Myth #7: Rezko had a special relationship with Obama

Claim: The Clinton campaign denounces "Sen. Obama's 17-year relationship with the indicted influence peddler."

The truth: Rezko attached himself to lots of politicians. Rezko donated money to every major Democratic politician in Illinois, then helped organize a $3.5 million fundraiser for President George W. Bush in 2003. After giving large campaign donations to Democratic Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, Rezko arranged to have his buddies appointed by Blagojevich to state boards such as the Teachers’ Retirement System Board and the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board. With his friend Stuart Levine, Rezko threatened to hold up a $220 million deal to invest teachers’ pension fund money unless $2 million was paid to Levine or $1.5 million was donated to Blagojevich’s campaign. Rezko and Levine also demanded a $1 million cut from a developer to build a hospital. Rezko was indicted for pretending to sell his Papa John’s pizza restaurants while secretly maintaining control of them, and fraudulently using the transaction to get $10 million in loans. It is Blagojevich, not Obama, who did favors for Rezko. Rezko’s eye for scouting political talent was amazing, but he did not capitalize on Obama’s influence. Obama said he had known Rezko for twenty years and "he had never asked me for anything. I’ve never done any favors for him."

Myth #8: Obama did favors for Rezko

Claim: Chicago Sun-Times revealed that in 1998, Obama wrote a letter endorsing a low-income housing development for which Rezko was a codeveloper. As the Sun-Times put it, "NOT A FAVOR? As a state senator, he went to bat for now-indicted developer’s deal." Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass wrote, "No favors? When you transcend politics and walk on water, I guess it all depends on what your definition of favor is."

The truth: The common definition of a favor in this context is a political action done in exchange for donations. Rezko’s lawyer reported that Rezko had not asked Obama to write the letter. Instead, Obama (along with a local state representative and an alderman) endorsed the project because it had widespread community support. It’s difficult to imagine any politician on the south side of Chicago who wouldn’t have a routine letter written to endorse government funding for affordable housing and social services for low-income senior citizens in that area. When it came to political influence, Obama didn’t do any favors for Rezko. The Chicago Tribune reported, "when Rezko pushed for passage in Springfield of a major gambling measure, Obama vocally opposed it."

Myth #9: Obama should have known about Rezko’s sleazy background

Claim: The Chicago Tribune, although endorsing Obama, wrote: "His assertion in network TV interviews last week that nobody had indications Rezko was engaging in wrongdoing strains credulity: Tribune stories linked Rezko to questionable fundraising for Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2004."

The truth: At the time Obama bought his house, there was no public indication of Rezko’s problems. When Obama bought a small strip of Rezko’s land in 2006, rumors were swirling around Chicago that the federal government was investigating Rezko, but he wasn’t indicted until October 2006. The Tribune stories before 2006 reveal that Rezko was a tightly connected political player, but the evidence of criminal misconduct wasn’t proven.

Myth #10: Obama hasn’t been forthcoming about his mistakes with Rezko

Claim: The Chicago Tribune editorialized, "Obama has been too self-exculpatory."

The truth: Obama has been honest about the mistake he made, and the fact that Rezko was trying to buy future influence with him. Obama declared, "I am the first one to acknowledge that it was a boneheaded move for me to purchase this 10-foot strip from Rezko, given that he was already under a cloud of concern. I will also acknowledge that from his perspective, he no doubt believed that by buying the piece of property next to me that he would, if not be doing me a favor, it would help strengthen our relationship." Obama’s mistake was in allowing the appearance of impropriety. He never actually did anything wrong. And that’s the key issue here.
Despite all of these rumors about Obama and Rezko, none of the evidence indicates any actual wrongdoing. Conservative Republican Tom Bevan called the evidence against Obama "pretty darn weak." Conor Clarke of the New Republic reported that Obama’s real estate deal with Rezko was a "nonscandal." According to Clarke, "journalists have followed the smoke and haven’t found the fire. At that point, accusing someone of something that looks wrong stops making sense."

[Ides]

Myth #11, Rezko was a slumlord.

In reality, Rezko was an upstanding citizen and member of the community for decades. It was not until 2004, the year before Obama bought his lot, that any suspicion of Rezko's activities was even raised.

[RISEUPAMERICA]

nice copy and paste, can't you write for yourself

and long posts such as this should have been axed , try a link to the story next time

no one here is going to read it.........i sure didn't

[beholder]

Enough with the innuendo. If you have some dirt dish it---otherwise save us the hot air.
I have not heard a single question Obama has refused to anwser.

[vcthree]

Hugh and Tony Rodham getting paid $400,000 to lobby for Presidential pardons is also silly. But I digress.

[EvoMan]

I have a feeling she's going to get vetted real good over the next month.

[NC4Obama]

Not in the MSM i doubt they even mention it.

[EvoMan]

Who said anything about the MSM ;-)