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

[rosal]

He attended a reception? So?
Yawn

[Mattie]

yes, given by the slum lord he says he barely knows! LOL!

[AnninCA]

*chuckle*

Article 1. I don't know him.
Article 2. And was this reception attended by Obama? Yes sir.

:)

[StephenJK]

Don't drink TOO much of the barbituate laced Kool-Aid. You'll go into respiratory arrest!

[alm123]

Obama digs himself deeper and deeper with each insult!
We now see the real "Senator"

[ulmew]

from the guardian, circa 2001:

"When Saddam swept to power in 1979, Auchi fled to Britain and a year later he and his family settled in west London. He set up General Mediterranean Holdings, a Luxembourg-based company which he has since built up into a worldwide empire including banking, pharmaceuticals, aviation and luxury hotels. His role in the emerging economies of the Middle East has won him powerful friends around the world, and, like his friends the Hindujas, he likes to be photographed with them. His photographic trophy cabinet has shots of him with Tunisian President Ben Ali, the late King Hussein of Jordan and SANDWICHED BETWEEN BILL CLINTON AND AL GORE LIKE AN OLD FRATERNITY BUDDY."

my question, obviously, is where the hell is the picture of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Nadhmi Auchi? the nine pages of google image results for anything with their three names gives nothing. someone with better media connections should get on this one.

from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2001/may/27/election2001.labour1

additionally, he was involved in some kind of power generation deal involving Bill Clinton, but there seems to be little or no information about it, or at least, I am too lazy to spend any more time looking for it.

[patapsco99]

Who cares nut job, Bill and Al gore are not running for president, Hillary is. Obama got his hand caught in the zipper of a sleazy billionairre. Can any say Hand job

[StephenJK]

"There's another reason for working inside the system. Dostoevsky said that taking a new step is what people fear most. Any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future. This acceptance is the reformation essential to any revolution. To bring on this reformation requires that the organizer work inside the system, among not only the middle class but the 40 per cent of American families - more than seventy million people - whose income range from $5,000 to $10,000 a year [in 1971]. They cannot be dismissed by labeling them blue collar or hard hat. They will not continue to be relatively passive and slightly challenging. If we fail to communicate with them, if we don't encourage them to form alliances with us, they will move to the right. Maybe they will anyway, but let's not let it happen by default.."

Take some time to read that and absorb it.

One candidate understands the complete theory Saul Alinsky is talking about. The other only understands the part about forming alliances and pushing everyone else out to the fringe.

[StephenJK]

Make no mistake, should she win the nomination (oh it is VERY possible at this point), she will do everything in her power to, not only, unify the democratic party but, seek to include more to our party of forward thinking, progressive ideas.

While holdover Clinton bashers from the 90's shout at the top of their lungs about how she lies, deceives and divides, Senator Clinton is quietly unifying the democratic base. She'll continue to do so if she does in fact win and the same if she loses.

And how pertinent are Saul Alinsky's words at this very time in American Politics? The following is a passage I got from wiki and it hits...HARD:

TBC in next post...

[StephenJK]

Hand job. There I said it. I feel so dirty. So used. Does anyone else here feel used?

LOL

It, and by "it" I mean being used, is a sad day in America when so many people choose to wear egg on their face when engaging in political debate. I know I've done it. And by "egg" I mean defending the, frankly, indefensible. It's just now, it would seem, that the stakes are very much going up on Obama's brass tacks. It would appear he's but a paper tiger with much more prowl than prowess.

Political talking heads were pretty careful to recognize the danger of partiality of one candidate over the other and quickly, adeptly changed their (and by "their" I mean Scarborough, Matthews (LOL and you thought I would mention Olberhausen? X-D ) and only a scant few others) tune on Clinton from overt Obama bias to a more even approach between the two candidates.

And even fewer who see's Clinton's true value as an ultimately unifying force in politics. She does what is necessary to win the people's confidence. Then demonstrates her shared morals and values in her political existence in the Senate (so far). Ask 10,000 New Yorkers from ALL walks of life and I guarantee better than 50% of those people approved of her service to their needs and wants.

[Mollye]

Nice post.

[bluevespagirl]

And which presidential candidate is using the secret service to dodge being served a subpoena by a California Superior Court to testify at a criminal fraud suit in which they are the defendants? That would be the corrupt Clinton family !

PETER F. PAUL, Plaintiff,
v.
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FOR U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE, INC., NEW YORK SENATE 2000, DAVID ROSEN, GARY SMITH, JAMES LEVIN, and AARON TONKEN, defendants

The Clintons would be seriously mistaken to bring up shady land deals right now!

Obama is no more guilty by association with a wealthy Iraqi at a dinner party then the Clintons are by inviting Rev. Wright to the White House! This is a non-issue. Let's move on to the issues that have caused rual PA to be bitter at their government for allowing companies to ship their jobs to China! The rich keep on getting richer and poor keep getting poorer. It's the republican way!

Obama 08 - it's a truth thing.

[foreffectivegovernment]

Peter F. Paul
"An audit by the Federal Elections Commission found that neither Senator Clinton nor her Senate campaign had accepted any illegal funds".
"The appellate court specifying that her behavior had been "perfectly legal.""
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_F._Paul

[StephenJK]

Not to mention Peter Paul is about as low a person as there is. He's a swindling grifter who never intended to work an honest day in his life. He's a clueless career criminal who has consistently demonstrated his inability to be an effective criminal. You know. The kind that don't get caught doing the dumbest crime you could think of? Like attempting to con the Cuban government with a fake shipment of coffee. He's as credible as Dick Cheney, Barack Obama's cousin.

[cramos]

OB has a suit in Fed Court pending against him by Larry Sinclair

[ThunderclapNewman]

A nuisance suit, which will be dismissed.

[cramos]

If there was no basis it would have been excused already.....

[RenStimpy]

LEVINE IS A CRACK HEAD LIAR !

Just because Barry was hanging out with Iraqi arms dealers and Saddam cronies while he was making speeches against the Iraq War does not make him a hypocrite. I'm pretty sure about this..

Sincerely
T. Rezko

[patapsco99]

Here we go, here we go, here is what Hillary has been waiting on. There will be more connect the dot articles later.