Obama Admits More Extensive Rezko Ties

CHICAGO — Presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday that he got more political money from indicted Chicago businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko than he has previously acknowledged.

Rezko helped raise up to $250,000 for his various political races, Obama's campaign said. The campaign had previously put the figure at $150,000 but now says that amount was only for his 2004 Senate race.

And in interviews with two Chicago newspapers, the Democrat again said it was a mistake to involve Rezko in his purchase of a new home _ not just because Rezko was under federal investigation but because he was a contributor and political activist.

Still, Obama said he did nothing unethical.

"He never once asked me for any favors, or ever did any favors for me," the Illinois senator said in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "He never gave me any gifts or gave me any indication he was setting me up to ask for any favors in the future."

Obama met Friday with the editorial boards of the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times in an effort to resolve nagging questions about his relationship with Rezko, a Chicago businessman and major fundraiser in Illinois politics.

Rezko is on trial on charges including mail fraud and attempted extortion. Federal prosecutors say he tried to use his connections to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to demand kickbacks from companies wanting to do business with state government.

Obama is not accused of any wrongdoing.

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But his long friendship with Rezko has hampered his efforts to campaign as a new-style politician who abhors backroom deals and insider favors.

Rezko has not contributed to Obama's presidential campaign, but he did raise money for Obama's bids for other offices.

His staff said Friday evening that Rezko raised about $160,000 for Obama's successful run for U.S. Senate in 2004 and $60,000 to $90,000 for his state Senate campaigns and a failed bid for Congress in 2000.

Previously, his presidential campaign said Rezko was connected to about $150,000, all of which was later donated to charity.

"We reviewed our records for any contributions we believe could reasonably be credited to Mr. Rezko's political support and that is the generous estimate we concluded upon," spokesman Ben LaBolt said in an e-mail.

Rezko advised Obama on buying a new Chicago home in 2005 and his wife bought a vacant lot next to the Obamas' house. Rezko's wife, Rita, later sold part of the lot to Obama so they would have a bigger side yard.

Obama said he got no price break on his new house because Rezko was buying the lot next door from the same sellers. And he said it was Rezko's idea, not his, to buy the lot.

"He said, 'Well, I might be interested in purchasing the lot.' And my response was, 'That would be fine,'" Obama said. "This is an area where I can see sort of a lapse in judgment, where I could have said 'No, I'm not sure that's a good idea.'"

Comments

[schoolmaster]

ok

[gfm975]

WHAT? Obama wasn't exactly forthcoming? You mean HE was SECRETIVE about his dealings with the slumlord?

Just a few weeks ago CLINTON was treated with outrage just to suggest a lapse in judgmet.. in fact was accused of racisim just for mentioning OBAMA's ties with Mr. Slumlord.... and now OBAMA finbally admits there was more than he first let on... and yet, no on wants to comment?? WHY pray tell is there such deafening silence?

Kid Gloves maybe?

[samson24]

I'm sorry to say this , but between Obama's history with his Pastor, and the Rezco connection, and the 6 weeks until the next Primary, his campaign is over.

[schoolmaster]

Why these revelations are coming so late in the game? Hillary's assertion that the media is unfair to her seems to carry water, as it was not that rigorous in vetting Obama. As many other political bigwigs, even the media seems to have been carried away by Obama's oration and his antiwar rhetoric , the result of his impressions from the preachings of his pastor. If the facts were substantively revealed before the onset of elections, it is possible the outcome in various states could have been different. This however is not to say that his antiwar stance is not correct.

[drab]

"He said, 'Well, I might be interested in purchasing the lot.' And my response was, 'That would be fine,'" Obama said. "This is an area where I can see sort of a lapse in judgment, where I could have said 'No, I'm not sure that's a good idea.'" Yea right if anybody believes this I have a 40x100 lot to sell you in Chicago.First it isn't a lot its Obamas lawn,second who asked to separate the front lawn from the house you or the owners?The answer to that question is the only way to clear this up.The owners aren't saying you say its all fuzzy and you can't remember.If if was you and Rezko do not pass go,go straight to Joliet.

[2good2beetrue]

How is it possible that this story has been posted since 9:06 p.m. and no one has commented. Have all the Obama maniacs lost their voice or their stomachs for their candidate? If Rezko was a Hillary early money man your site would be all over it like vultures. (And I have rather more respect for the benefits vultures provide to society than that done by your web site.) This site has been "pimping" Obama for months now without straight up saying you are endorsing his candidacy.

My theory is holding so it looks like I will be voting for McCain or not voting because our best candidate (Hillary) has been so demonized by guys like you that her campaign is sorely damaged. The wantabes in the national Democratic leadership and the White Guys in Ties of the MSM have been responsible for this. Now Obama is ripe for swiftboating and it was a joy to tune in to Countdown for the first time in weeks just to see how Obermann would try to tap dance around The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. and Rezko on the same day.

As a Florida Democrat I hope my vote will count when the convention begins. Our state does not deserve to lose our voice while many in Texas were given chances to both vote and caucus. I cannot presume to speak for Michigan but our vote in Florida was fair. I can attest to the fact that I had calls from Obama supporters in the months leading up to our primary and none from Clinton. So who was campaigning for votes in the Sunshine State?

The Rezko and Rev.. Wright should not go away just because they are putting your man on the defensive. Hillary has had to play that court for years/

[yourkillingmelarry]

Hang in there Barack. No one said this was going to be easy. You are right, getting involved with this guy was stupid. From what I can see there is not much there...there. We are after all oh so human.

[alwayslearning]

Drip...Dri­p...Drip..­.We knew that we would learn more and more about Senator Obama. He is just hoping no one finds out everything until after he becomes President and we can do nothing about it.

[liz3]

Obama is running from his church, Minister Wright and Rezko.!!!! In the next 8 months what else is going to come to light that he wil have to have to run from??? There is a pattern here and it isn't change. It's hypocrocy, arrogance and POLITICS AS USUAL.

[cosmicfish]

This man is in Rezko shit uo to his eye balls - Republicans will eat him alive this November. Hope we are ready for four more years of Republican dictatorship.

[CalexenderJ]

Damn, this is not Obama's week, if he can survive this, the path should be clear to the White House. If not, we can look forward to four long years of John McBush, or 4 years of partisan gridlock in Washington with HRC.

[DaisyMiller]

thanks! this one gave me a good laugh. when I read Obama said, "but he never once asked me for any favors" I laughed out loud. thanks!

[ChiGuy]

While I am disappointed that this all didn't come out sooner, there is still NO charge of wrongdoing by the prosecutors in the Rezko trial after more that 18 months of investigation.

I believe him when he says that his decisions were naive, but well intentioned.

Case closed.

[KINGPHARO]

HMMM WHAT MORE IS GONNA COME OUT ON HIM????HE NEEDS TO QUIT THAT RACISTS CHURCH AND JOIN ANOTHER...OTHERWISE HE'S GOT A ROUGH ROAD AHEAD.HE CONDEMNS THAT BLACK RACISTS' (WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MAN OF GOD) COMMENTS, BUT WON'T DENOUCE HIS MEMBERSHIP IN THAT CHURCH????SOMETHING IS FISHY.

[fitnessnerd]

Okay, if you look "rough week" up in the dictionary, there is going to be a picture of Barack Obama and this week next to it...