Obama Attended Rezko Reception For Controversial Iraqi Billionaire

When Iraqi-born billionaire Nadhmi Auchi attended an April 3, 2004 reception for himself at Tony Rezko's home White House hopeful Barack Obama, and his wife, attended the reception, Stuart Levine testified just now in the trial. Auchi is the man who provided Rezko a $3.5 million loan that Rezko did not disclose to the court -- resulting in his January arrest.

"Mr. and Mrs. Obama were there, were they not?" Rezko lawyer Joseph Duffy asked.

"Yes, sir," Levine said.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Mollye]

This speaks volumes about what Rezko did in Chicago during Obama's tenure.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hP-YoB5mnZs

[lifterus]

For any successful politician in this country, the game involves taking money from rich people who want to kiss your ass so they can later ask to hook up a friend's nephew with a job interview from some other rich dude. Or they can email him, request for him to get his colleagues to read a proposal. Et cetera, et cetera. It's a game they all play to varying degrees with people of varying character. Obama's record is quite impressive by comparison of the other two. The litany of criminals and shady business dealings the Clintons have had over the decades is astonishing. And McCain is literally a puppet for lobbyists.

As an Obama supporter, you won't find me attacking them for this minutea.

Hate the game, not the player. If you don't like the reality of American politics, please by all means vote for the one and only candidate of the three who has no interest and no platform involving lobbyist reform whatsoever (Clinton). That's just pure brilliance. Even McCain pretends to care about this issue at least.

[Nofoolhere]

So why is HuffPost giving new life to this long dead right wing corporatist corpse in the presence of what should be a rich set of genuine campaign issues? The stench is overpowering. But if you want to know the true colors of any entity such as the true nature of HuffPost, regardless how they advertise themselves, observe their behavior. As the scriptures say, "By their deeds you shall know them!"

I suspect we will be able to estimate the actual number of Knaves and Fools in the electorate, by how much they buy into this excrement. So then, if there are too many, Obama will lose, and then we are doomed to submit to a fascistic corporatist engineered and executed coup.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Barack turned back some donor money, but now the conversation has it that he's taking private financing for his campaign. I don't think people should be able to buy the Office. I think that ALL Candidates should be restricted to public financing ONLY, just to clear up any 'confusion' that might be involved, especially on the issue of Iraq. Iraq is about oil, about billions upon billions of dollars in oil revenue, about ending a war that never should have been started, and about putting a halt to public corruption that dates back DECADES in terms of the middle east. I'm tired of Exxon.gov, I think that as long as continued oil profits remains our governing national ethic, we'll have a hell of a time ever really making the United States an energy-independent country, because there'll always be this friends/buddies/cousins/in-laws undercurrent involving foreign countries and oilfields. Imagine 3 trillion worth of AFV research, or installed solar systems, or wind or hydro systems...I think that level of change would put our country well beyond the political reach of deep-pockets types abroad for a good long time. But it's money out the window, water under the bridge, now, time alone will tell the outcome here. I'm an Independent, Barack is a Democrat, and both our major parties have some serious corner-to-corner fiscal housekeeping to tend to, in my view. Nuff said.

[hopelessobama]

SURPRISE! this gets buried here on huffpost. pathetic. if rezko was involved with clinton, or if clinton went to trinity church and picked up the hamas manifesto, it would be headline news! hey huffington, how much does barack pay you?

[PKSSK]

People look up the mentioned billionaire's name on wikpedia and read through until you will find the name of the democratic opponents husband. This is a non story for Obama, but may cause problems for the democratic opponent and other government entites. This could get interesting.

[LBM]

This Obama lie has got to get him in trouble. Saying you have no recollection of meeting one of the wealthiest men in the world who is thought of as the front to Saddam Hussein's intelligence service and who donated to your campaign and who is barred from entering the US by the state department as an undesirable alien. Wow. This guy is way worse than Rezko! When the going gets tough, Obama just can't remember. This lie is a whopper. There is no comparison to forgetting that you took money from someone who was charged with Saddam Hussein for conspiracy to assasinate a President and saying that when you flew into a war zone there was sniper fire when there wasn't.

[AnninCA]

Obama is having a bad hair week. :)

[anika]

hehe... when it rains.... it pours....

[rvme]

The US going into Iraq is said to be a recruitment tool for Terrorist organizations. Obama is proving to be a recruit for the Republican Party. If I was Barack and wanted to pull off this scam to get the nomination, he should go on vacation until August. Otherwise more foot in mouth issues will come up.

[BethinIllinois]

And another:
And another:
[[Will Rezko Blow Up Obama?
by Larr Johnson, Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 09:41:25 PM EST

By Larry C. Johnson (bio/blog)

Today's arrest of slumlord Tony Rezko could be very bad news for Barack Obama's presidential ambitions. Rezko was arrested because he lied to the Feds--he claimed in November 2006 he had no assets and was virtually broke, but in April 2007 he received $3.5 million from a company owned by an Iraqi billionaire who also happens to be a convicted felon . ...

So what does this have to do with Obama? Well, buried in a footnote ... we learn Auchi was denied a visa to the US because of his conviction in France on fraud charges. Auchi's buddy, Rezko sent a request to the U.S. Department of State in November 2005 for a visa waiver. And Rezko asked unidentified "Illinois government officials" to ask for clearance as well. How much you want to bet one of those officials was Barack Hussein Obama?

Imagine this nightmare scenario. Obama nails down the Democratic nomination for President on Super Tuesday. But then comes the Rezko trial and we learn Obama was doing favors to get an Iraqi felon a visa to the United States. You know, he is just helping out one of his major fund raisers. Will his story line about a new day in Washington still sound plausible? Will folks still believe he's serious about not being beholden to "special interests?"]]

[BethinIllinois]

Auchi apparently donated money to Obama, so this is not so good! From: http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/1/31/152237/856

[[Auchi participated in more than just Rezko's pizza and property ventures, however; he also contributed to Barack Obama's campaign by donating to a 2005 fundraiser through a company of which is wife is a Director. I quote the relevant paragraph from a London Times exclusive:

The Times has, however, discovered state documents in Illinois recording that the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA lent money to Mr Obama's fundraiser in May 2005. Fintrade's directors include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr Auchi's wife. ...
The donation is significant, for some believe Barack Obama may be one of the unnamed "Illinois government officials" mentioned in the following ABC News report on the FBI affidavit filed in US Attorney Fitzgerald's case against Rezko before Obama's political godfather was arrested on Monday:

According to an FBI affidavit filed in the case, Rezko sought to get a visa for Auchi to visit the United States by contacting "certain Illinois government officials."
Rezko sought the visa on behalf of his friend in 2004, and Rezko helped Obama finance the real estate transaction involving his Kenwood mansion in 2005. We also learn today that Auchi's company has deleted information on two websites regarding Auchi's visit to Illinois in 2004 upon hearing that rumors of a meeting between Auchi and Obama are circulating in the US. ]]

[BethinIllinois]

I decided I needed to do a little research. On a search with just the three names, this popped up first: http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/03/obama---rezko-.html

This blogger obviously believes there's a distinct connection between the 3 that does not bode well for Obama.

Now, off to do some more reading.

[Mollye]

Finally, some news getting out about Auchi. Obama does not know him, but was at a party with him and Rezko? Did Obama get any of that $3,500,000.00 Auchi loaned to Rezko (or was it more)? It did occur before Rezko helped Obama with his house deal, didn't it?

[rvme]

the very week of the real estate scam... Just a coincidence?

[Ramirez]

There is nothing wrong with this sort of thing, and even if there is, the Clintons do it too, even worse. Plus the Clinton are racists and so is McCain.

[Mattie]

but, but, but, but the Clintons do it too. Politics of hope and change what a joke!

[patapsco99]

Boo Hoo, Hoo, my politician that I trusted is the same as everyone else, even worse, he has no experience.

[kaafir]

Obama"s Recipe for Mealy-Mouth Presidential Cookies

Filed under: Grandmother"s All-Time Favorites

Some ingredients are optional. Preferred brands are noted.

2 Sticks of smarmy real estate developer (preferred brand is "Rezko")
� tsp. of questionable judgment
1 tsp. of illicit campaign contributions
2 cups of filtered speeches (preferred brand is "Yes We Can")
� cup of nutty sermons (preferred brand is "Wright-style Sermons")
1 bag of typical white people
2 tsps. of useless endorsements (preferred brand is Kerry & Kennedy"Massachusetts"s finest!)
� cup of bi-partisan legislation (this is optional"tastes fine without it)
1 tsp. each of Change and Hope
1 tsp of arrogant smugness
Dash of eloquence
A pinch of all weather weatherman William Ayers

Knead dough until those darn anti-American lumps are removed. To achieve optimum consistency, roll over dough with bus, back up, and roll over again. Bake cookies in oven until they are unelectable. When cookies are done, they taste so much better if they are sprinkled "liberally" with lies and rhetoric.

TIP: These cookies go well with a nice cold glass of Kool-aid. Also, just for fun"try eating them out of both sides of your mouth! Be careful because they are extremely addictive and you will soon find you can"t stop eating them!

Recipe :Courtesy TheJibreelaMonsters