[VIDEO UPDATE] Obama Fundraiser and Political Patron Antoin “Tony” Rezko Convicted
By Truthteller on June 4, 2008 at 6:15 PM in Barack Obama, Chicago, Chicago politics, Democrats, Electability, Patrick Fitzgerald, Tony Rezko
Good job, Obamacrats. Do you seriously believe it is in the best interest of my Party to nominate someone who has had a professional, financial, personal and political relationship with a convicted slumlord and political fixer since at least 1991? Are we now the Party of corruption?
I quote the Chicago Tribune:
Rezko’s guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad repercussions for Blagojevich, who made Rezko a central player in his kitchen cabinet. It could also prove a political liability for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who once counted Rezko as a friend and fundraiser, as the likely Democratic presidential nominee heads into the general election campaign against Republican John McCain.
This will complicate Obama’s bid for the Presidency, for Rezko intends to appeal the verdict. [UPDATE: Moreover, the Republicans intend to highlight Obama's connections to Rezko during the campaign. I do not blame them, for as we discussed again and again at No Quarter, this is an issue of Obama's judgment and experience.
We warned you, but you ignored us. And no, I will not try to defend this, as Obama is not this registered Democrat's candidate. I am a person of integrity before I am a machine Democrat. I also do not rely on the Democratic Party's money in order to write online. Unlike other bloggers who will now mindlessly defend Barack Obama, I EARN MY MONEY ELSEWHERE.]
Thank you again, Obamacrats. I guess a McCain Presidency is the change in which all of us can believe.
The Chicago Tribune story also contains a window that outlines Obama’s relationship with Rezko since 1991. I recommend everyone view it. I also recommend consulting the documents the Chicago Tribune has compiled on the questionable property deal involving Rezko, Obama and the Kenwood mansion Obama and Rezko jointly purchased in 2005.
Also review No Quarter’s extensive dossier on Antoin “Tony” Rezko and Barack Obama.
We still have a chance to nominate the correct nominee, superdelegates. Will we choose a real President, or will we choose Rezko’s President?
No Quarter dossier on Barack Obama and Antoin “Tony” Rezko:
- What Hypocrite Obama Should Have Discussion during His Wesleyan Commencement Address
- Barack Obama’s Candidacy as a Take on The Picture of Dorian Gray
- A Majority of One: On Losing the Democratic Base
- Ok, So Tell Us What IS Allowed
- Two Lone Voices Speak for Millions of Us
- What’ll Be Left of the Democratic Party
- It Ain’t Over: Obama MAY Have to Pay the Piper After All
- Obama to Donate Contribution from Rezko’s Iraqi Friend
- Be My Friend, Godfather
- Jaws V, Starring Barack Obama
- The Chicago Three: Obama, Ayers & Rezko
- Charlie Gibson, Will You Ask Barack about Nadhmi Auchi?
- Saddam Hussein, Barack Hussein Obama’s Hidden Real Estate Partner?
- Barack “I-Didn’t-Know” Obama
- Those Who Haunt Him
- Hillary’s Campaign Comes out Swinging
- “Nobie and Obama”
- Authorization to Use Misleading Falsehoods
- What We’ve Noticed about the Speech
- This Is for Main Street (And for the Forgotten People Barack Obama Doesn’t Know)
- Michelle Obama: “Give Us Something Here”
- Rezko Muckrakers Alert!
- The Forgotten People
- Irrefutable Proof That Obama’s Own District Was Home to 11 Rezko Foreclosed Properties
- Speak the Truth, Fallout Be Damned
- The Rezko Saga: Two Videos
- Get Your Daily Rezko Dose Here
- The Media’s Panderbears, Part I
- Sunday Scoops: Rezko-gate and Adviser-gate
- Obama’s Prime-Slime Advisors
- Good Morning, Barack! (Rezko Got Jobs for Your Staffers? Do Tell.)
- Today’s Rezko Trial Scoops (And Prosecutors on $20K Kickback to Obama)
- ABC News: Rezko $50 Million in Debt
- 312.321.2417
- (Pants on Fire!) Lynn Sweet: Obama and His Taking Questions on Rezko
- Rezko Trial: Obama May Be Witness
- Obama’s Judgment on the Eve of Judgment Day
- Truthtelling from Lanny Davis (What about “Iron My Shirt?”)
- Experience, and Experiences (of the Rezko Sort)
- No He Can’t Because Yes They Will
- More Questions on Rezko
- “Obama Bagman” in Jail
- Democratic Death Wish
- How to Buy A Mansion You Can’t Afford
- Will Rezko Blow Up Obama?
- It is “Possible” Obama Was Aware of Rezko’s Financial and Legal Woes
- 20-Year Associate of Obama Arrested
- Look before You Leap: Obama’s Mobbed-Up Allies
- Politics Is A Blood Sport
- BREAKING: ABC News Reports $100,000 from Rezko That Obama Hasn’t Returned
- CNN on Rezko and Obama: This Is Obama’s “Slumwater”
- FACT CHECK: Obama, His Contributor Rezko, The Slum Landlord Business
- A Dope with Hope?
- Obama/Rezko: It Comes down to Judgment
- Didn’t Obama Watch The Firm
- Steve Clemons on Tonight’s Debate
- Patrick Fitzgerald Ties Obama to Rezko Indictments
- All in for Hillary
- Obama, His Lobbyists and His Cronies
RezkoWatch contains even more information on Obama’s deep and problematic ties to convicted slumlord and notorious political fixer Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
I will never vote for Obama. Never
I bet there’s plenty of dirt on Axelrod.
He has that special “Tony Rezko” look.
ya think?
he is Daley’s guy afterall.
Obama’s reaction today was telling.
He merely “it was not the Rezko I knew”
that’s very mild.
He flip flops on everything.
Throws his grandmother under the bus, now his preachers too.
He called his grandmother a “typical white woman”
But that’s all he can say about Rezko? After a criminal conviction? Why not something stronger?
He has to be careful, I bet. Rezko’s got dirt on him. In least REzko can explain the land sales without o’s diversions.
Ok, Cindy, OK.
bo can crown himself Queen of the May or Queen of Sheba. He will never get my vote.
Please go to Dontvoteobama.net for more information on Obama, he is a horrible candidate.
Judgment, Change, the key campaign slogans of OB.
He is part of the most corrupt political machine in the United States and Rezko’s conviction is a small part of what “Operation Board Games, Pay to Play”,
as stated by Chief Prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald,
who led the team to Rezko’s conviction (and convicted Scooter Libby). Ob’s total campaign is a fraud.
Send this to ALL SUPER D’s NOW. This is only going to get worse. Read the Republican National Committee press release here:
http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/605222.html
Wow … no time waste, eh?
Are those cast members of The Sopranos in that top picture or just people who look like two-bit hoods? You’re known by the company you keep.
those are his sons!!!
As much as I admire Jeralyn Merritt, to say that the Rezko trial and verdict have nothing to do with Obama is just about as accurate as saying that Obama “winning” the Democratic primary had nothing at all to do with Donna Brazile, Howie Dean and the rest of the Dem elites. Obama was a key player in pulling off the pay-to-play board schemes. Every time money changed hands, Obama cut a cut.
I would agree about Jerrilyn. She has always supported Hillary, but now says she’ll support Obama. So be it, but her analysis of how Rezko will NOT affect Obama is incredibly naive.
Rezko is just one more link in the chain of all the negative associations Repubs will use in the fall.
Americans in general, when confronted with Wright, Ayers, Khalidi, Pleger, and now, Rezko—guilty in federal court by the very best prosecutor there is—-will find Obama to enmeshed in “suspicious” relationships.
He’ll lose in a landslide. No questions asked.
She’s being a knee jerk criminal def lawyer - they are always like that///
BUT - she just removed - censored- disappeared 2 of my very legit comments about the Rezko - daley - Obama ’s law firm connect and I couldnt believe it!
I wrote her and told her I appreciatted her pro Hillary efforts - but the reason I went to her site was to get away from the censoring punks like Kos, Bowers and jonathon Singer…
but I have noticed recently her tendency to say what things were not ALLOWED to be discussed.
My question is what makes blog runners almost ALWAYS end up censors and convo fascists?
Its amazing!
I mean can you even imagine katherine Graham or even a Murdoch saying I dont agree with this topic - it SHALL not be discussed?!
Its amazing!
Well, it looks like all the Hillary HQ blog readers are gonna end up here at NQ.
Good. First, this site doesnt believe in censorship (why - whu - why - is it THE rarity?) and two - no quarter - means exactly that…
Death before dishonor - or to quote Churchill -
“Never give up…never, never, never…”
Cool your jets, my friend, and read my response to OTot “Sleepy” above.
I’m not an attorney, nor do I play one on TeeBee, but I worked as a paralegal in L.A. for years and fancy I know some things about the law.
I think Jeralyn is simply covering her own and TalkLeft’s cyber-behind should
a. Rezko not sing as anticipated, or
b. He sings, but not enough for Fitz to indict, or
c. Tony sings, Fitz indicts, but Obama skates anyway. This IS the Daley/Chicago Machine we’re talking here, after all.
In any case, I detect a lot of very careful, very lawyerly language in Jeralyn’s statement(s).
Cut her some slack, please, and BTW you’re not doing Hillary any good yourself, foaming and ranting all over the Intertubes. The First Amendment does not apply to privately-owned blogs, nor would it be a defense should Obama et al. go after Jeralyn for something some hothead–you, for instance–posted on TalkLeft.
You think Seymour Glass’s comments are “hot headed”?
I look at it like Einstein did. E=MC2.
The value of MC2 in this case are votes and not ones for Obama.
This is not rocket science. Bye Bye Obama.
Prove it…you are simply repeating lies that have NEVER been proven by anyone. you Hillary supporters are so shallow and just can’t accept the fact that your ‘gal’ did not win. end it. you sound like sheep with no character.
You sound just like an Obama worshipper. Do you have an idol of your master? Obama has not won. The MI and FL fiasco was just like what the Republicans pulled in 2000. Disenfranchise voters and steal votes is exactly why I won’t ever vote for any Dem supporter of Obama (of course not Obama either).
As far as the Operation Board Games “Pay to Play”, this is an equal opportunity, bipartisan scandal that the Rezko trial has just barely scratched. Obama and his buddies are just hoping he”ll be President, so he can pardon any who are convicted and stop any further investigations. Just like when Rove told Rezko that Fitzpatrick will be replaced and there would be no more investigation.
Fortunately, he is unelectable. I am now going to vote for McCain and work for him because this guy is so corrupt, so scary because of his “associations” and his total lack of any qualifications and experience. He is the Dems version of George W Bush.
Jesus H…
one witness in the trial said that he saw Obama coming to meet with Rezlo many, many times….
MO ONE expected Obama to be brought up - THIS trial was about a very specific part of the Gov’s admin and the pension board. There are to be 3 more trial;s btw…
Plus - its all about obamas bad judgment hanging around these very bad. corrupt figures.
Remember - Obama called rezko his political mentor.
Elizabeth, don’t you DARE lecture us about character, you sanctimonious little ass.
Your idol is just another dirty Chicago pol, who looked the other way when poor black people literally froze in the substandard slum housing he helped his pal Tony buy in the first place.
Jeralyn is a criminal Defense Attorney. Defense attorneys tend to think everyone is innocent. Prosecutors? Not so much.:)
I love Jeralyn. She’s just a tad too strict on her web site. I can’t bash BO after he’s the supposed nominee, so I won’t be going back after Friday.:( I have NOTHING nice to say about that asshole and won’t pretend to.
NOW the Rezko connections will start to get legs. Suspend, Hillary, but don’t release those delegates.
Loudobbs.com - Should Hillary run Indy!
Dobbs and Larry King are the only one at CNN not drinking the Obama-Aid. MSNBC is chugging and serving it up.
BREAKING:
Best he could hope for is his middle eastern friends like Alsammarae and other escapees from Iraqi prisons help to get their pal barky elected so he can get a pardon and run HUD.
Uppity, when a man surrenders on the spot when could be out another four months, he’s about to sing. He’s begging for protection and given that three gay men were shot just for being close associates with Obama/Trinity.
Is it any wonder the DNC and MSM kept pushing for the delegates to choose right away?
Yeah, something seems pretty funky, with Rezko.
Stunning, almost.
You think the Nation of Islam is not paying attention to Rezko?
Some of those members are waiting. Rezko is being sued by JR. and not very happy about getting caught with his house tied to a “trust” care of Rezko…
And BO runs with this crowd…
Who could have seen this coming?
HA HA HA HA HA LMAO
As I said : My vote will not matter when the republicans are through with him , he will be lucky to carry 3 states.
I guess nobody got any smarter over here. Idiots, all of you.
Hey Ralphie hows the weather this evening in Palestine?
Still in bomb shelters?
hey ralphie. still working down the sewers?
Thanks for your input Ralphie. We promise to give it all the weight it deserves.
OBAMA/REZKO - 16 COUNTS.
GUILTY, GUILTY,GUILTY, GUILTY,GUILTY, GUILTY,GUILTY, GUILTY,GUILTY, GUILTY,GUILTY, GUILTY,GUILTY, GUILTY,GUILTY, GUILTY,
This will absolutely NOY be an issue - unless the Republicans prefer to dredge up Charles Keating - which was a true scandal. Just like the Michelle “rant” tape - if it exists, and at this point it’s hard to believe that if it did, no one has seen it, Cindy McCain has such a questionable past - including a connection to Charles Keating, that it will be neutralized…
Jeff I don’t mean to shoot holes in your theory or anything, but watching a black woman whose husband wants to be president railing against Whitey won’t be neutralized by ANYTHING. Whitey will be TRIPPING over himself to get to the polls.
Oh, absolutely, Uppity!!
And the combination of Wright, Pleger, Ayers, Khalidi, and now Rezko….
will bring out McCain’s Republican base in a landslide, not to mention moderate and conservative Democrats who are already disgusted by what Obama represents.
To think otherwise is incredibly naive.
Oh, absolutely, Uppity!!
And the combination of Wright, Pleger, Ayers, Khalidi, and now Rezko….
will bring out McCain’s Republican base in a landslide, not to mention moderate and conservative Democrats who are already disgusted by what Obama represents.
To think otherwise is incredibly naive.
BOY AINT U DUMB!?
Gaza’s Obama campaign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21YF7ggCG6g
where did Rezko get the money to put down on the property when he owed $400kto casinos in NV?????????
Furthermore, what did Obama know and when did he know it?????
ROFL! Obama said, “This is not the Tony Rezko I knew”
Can you believe the way this guy has no problem lying? He is truly a political whore.
Oh and he says this underscores the “need for reform”. I’m dying laughing here!
Obama sounds just like Blago, not much difference, at all.
Have the Obamas paid their real estate taxes yet?
DIDNT HE SAY THE SAME WORDS ABOUT WRIGHT?
And wasn’t that the same line he used about his “uncle” Jeremiah Wright? “That’s not the Rev. Wright I knew?” Geez, does he ever pay attention to anything?
Whether or not Obama has ever been actively involved in any criminal activities, his associations do matter. If he has associated with convicted felons, especially those selling political influence, IT IS A BIG DEAL. If he has a long-standing, working relationship with a convicted felon, IT IS AN EVEN BIGGER DEAL.
One of the victims of the Bill Ayers bombings, who is now a police detective, appeared on FOX News and made the unassailably reasonable point that persons applying for the position of POTUS should meet the same or higher standards than police officers. He mentioned that he knew of fellow police officers who were fired or released only because of their casual associations (boyhood friends, neighbors, etc) with criminals.
Obama has no business being the media- and self-proclaimed Democratic nominee for POTUS!!!
Obama:
He’s right. I preferred Hillary. But, his comparison of him today to Bush and McCain in 2000 is effing delusional. While he and Bush are both idiots, Bush didn’t hang around with thugs and criminals. Or, at least Bush’s friends were white collar criminals.
If I had given a flip about the Republicans in 2000, I would have voted for McCain over Bush. I would have voted for McCain over Gore. Just think how much better off the world would have been. No 2004 sitting out an election between Bush and Kerry. Third time’s the charm.
For me, it’s only 24 hours later … and in August, there won’t be enough to favorably change my mind and in November? hahahahahaha …
Better comparison is the bradley voters who went to nader….
which EVERY Bradleyite I knew did.
Its payback time.
well said.
But the last time Fitzgerald got close to political swindles (ie Libby case) he steered clear of it.
Governor Blagovich is next in line. Interestingly though, Fitzgerald obtained a guilty verdict on the slimmest of perjury charges. He’s sharp and to me, a hero.
The pics DO look like the Road Company for, “The Sopranos - the Musical!” don’t they?
Soooo… Obama’s associates are not only criminals and anti-American racists, but they bail on him when they get caught, then he bails on them, and everyone ignores the whole mess and nominates him for President. Okay. AND the righties haven’t even begun to fight BHO. Bye bye Bami.
Good job, Democratic Party.
BULLETIN!
CLINTON QUITTING ON FRIDAY!
LOU DOBBS BREAKING NEWS CLINTON TO QUIT FRIDAY!
I thought she was quitting yesterday?? Didn’t happen, did it?
“suspending”. Smirk.
Jeralyn Merritt doesn’t know what she is talking about. Sorry.
I hope all the readers here will look down the list of Larry’s stories about rezko and read the one called “How to Buy a Mansion You Can’t Afford”. It has all the details about the deal, but the most interesting detail is how Rezko and Obama got the owner to split the parcel. The was one single parcel for 80 years, and with the help of Michelle Obama they were able to make the split.
Clinton dropping out!! Its over!
But, But I thought there was a tape and Michelle said all these nasty things. Is the tooth fairy going to leave the tape under my bed tonight? HA!
Really you people should be ashamed of yourself. Spreadings lies like this to win a campaign is not the politics of ur party. You all have proven yourselves to be absolutely pathetic. Your candidate and you all deserve each other.
Once you get through throwing your hissy fit, we will make space on the bandwagon. See you in the Fall.
Thank you. We try.
It’s already over for Obama. He can’t win. Have you even looked at the electoral college? It’s physically impossible.
“suspending,” Foot. You know what that means in a race, right?
Smirk.
This will absolutely NOY be an issue - unless the Republicans prefer to dredge up Charles Keating - which was a true scandal. Just like the Michelle “rant” tape - if it exists, and at this point it’s hard to believe that if it did, no one has seen it, Cindy McCain has such a questionable past - including a connection to Charles Keating, that it will be neutralized…
No. It won’t happen. The media are in the tank for John McCain, make no mistake of it.
It’s not a tit-for-tat deal. Rezko’s connections to Obama are complex to follow, but it’s not all that impossible.
So far, the only real connection is the house…and some energy corporations connections.
He frankly is such a lightweight that he didn’t have much to offer Rezko.
But…my guess is that the connections that propelled him into office will now be wanting a bit of a payback on their “investment,” other than his vote on a bad energy bill that is his sole real record.
don’t forget Obama’s pushing to change the number of members on the boards, that allowed Rezko and Blagojevich to place corrupt members on (members Obama supported!) those boards. Guaranteeing Rezko and his cronies the contracts.
I did forget about that.
Mosty, during the primary, I saw Obama lie directly to the public, claiming he only worked 4 hours on a case. He had given back only 30,000 in donated money.
Then, he got busted. He gave back a total of 120,000.
He lied directly to the public, and that was the 3rd major lie to people.
Obama is a liar. No question about it. He obviously denies stuff until it’s stuffed down his throat, so I couldn’t care less what he says about this situation now. I already know. Liars lie. That’s just their character.
120,000 was a lie too.
it ended up at 250,000.
Oh my God. Is this troll for real? The republicans turned a war hero (Kerry) into a traitor and McCain into a father of a bastard black child and you think this will be a non issue? You’re too stupid to breathe. The republicans won’t have to fight dirty this time, just expose the truth. Please don’t breed. You’re fucking up the gene pool.
I will return later and moderate these comments. I am in no mood to read demands that I unify behind a corrupt candidate.
You asked if the Democratic party had become the party of corruption. The answer should be obvious. The blind eye toward Obama’s association with people like Rezko and Ayers demonstrated that the DNC has no scruples.
If that wasn’t enough evidence, the DNC’s decision to make a back room and illegal determination concerning Florida and Michigan should have made it obvious.
And just in case we weren’t totally convinced, their undemocratic stripping of earned delegates from Hillary and given to Obama and the awarding of delegates to Obama when he wasn’t even on the ballot made the obvious completely apparent.
“we will make space on the bandwagon. See you in the Fall.” No need to make room, that bandwagon will be pretty empty by fall.
Hillary suspending her campaign: that would be fine because she still would retain her delegates until the convention and lots can happen between now and August 25.
The Rezko verdict must have the trolls pretty upset. Does he have incriminating evidence? Will he seek a deal and who is the evidence against?
Exactly right, Pres….It would be irresponsible to keep her staff on. And way too disheartening for us, too. The press has been mean enough to her. I’m glad this is over for one reason. I’m a huge admirer of our Annie Oakley, but if I never read one more insulting story that’s just plain nasty, it will be none too soon. It’s abusive to us!
Suspending is perfect. I like whomever suggested that she and Bill just go take a great vacation.
She’s conducted the campaign beautifully. Everyone got a say in this. She didn’t let them pretend this wasn’t a near tie.
She’s earned the right to be treated like the lady she is. And I cannot wait to send money to the candidate who is running against Pelosi.
(I hear that this woman is giving her the first challenge to her seat in years.)
*woohoo*
I think rather than suspend her campaign she should work the superdelegates, and delegates, make the case.
Obama is Blago, period, and I’m willing to bet their corruption is similar, too.
I mean, really, goddamn Howard Dean for foisting this corrupt simple minded piece of shit on the public. Obama and the hospital boards? What other Rezko is waiting to get his hands on social security, OUR social security? And on, and on, and on.
What the hell is wrong with you DNC people, anyway?
So, when does Fitz go after the IL senator, too?
Anyone else think the guy on the left in that pic is super fine?!
No… Look like spoiled little punk-ass thugs
I’m not ashamed of mysel , But I am ashamed of the DNC for leting this black son of a bitch run rough shod over the American nomination process.
Are you ashamed of yourself for being a racist wanker? Just asking. Anyone who finds it important to drop mention of a person’s race into an insult is a racist.
LOL: who is Obama kidding?
Getting cozy under the bus. Poor Grandma; what did she do to deserve Rezko, Wright, and Pfleger’s company?
Boy, EVERYONE he knows sure changed a LOT in the last few years, huh? Rip Van Winkle, did you have a nice nap? If a Michelle tape comes out, is he going to say, “That’s not the Michelle I knew”?
Andy…
take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these kinds of abuses in the future
One way is to vote for Hillary or McCain. I will Obama in court and Hillary in Denver.
deny, deny, deny … Obama invited people tonight in his interview with Charlie Gibson to kick the tires …. I think I hear the air leaking …
Totally agree. I wonder if Obama will say, “That wasn’t the Michelle I knew.”