New Rezko Details From Obama as told to Chicago Tribune today

by indus, Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:05:04 PM EST

Indicted Chicago businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko was a more significant fundraiser for presidential candidate Barack Obama's earlier political campaigns than previously known. Rezko raised as much as $250,000 for the first three offices Obama sought, the senator told the Tribune on Friday.

Obama also said for the first time that his private real estate transactions with Rezko involved repeated lapses of judgment. The mistake, Obama said, was not simply that Rezko was under grand jury investigation at the time of their 2005 and 2006 dealings. "The mistake was he had been a contributor and somebody involved in politics," he said.

In an extensive interview that he hoped would quell the lingering controversy over his relationship with Rezko, Obama said that voters concerned about his judgment should view it as "a mistake in not seeing the potential conflicts of interest."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-obama-rezkomar15,0,2968927.story




Tags: Obama, Rezko, Judgement, Lapses (all tags)

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Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 5)

His judgement is a fallacy. His whole capaign isn't based on the entirty of his judgement but on his judgement in making a speech against the war.

The rest of his judgement sucks. he has Rezko for a friend and takes money from him, getting his help on a real estate deal that seems shady even if it isn't.

He knew he was going to run for president from the first day he stepped into the senate and yet he did not distance himself from pastor Wright.

His judgement sucks. No thank you. A speech against the war is not enough for me to vote to give you the keys to our nation.


by americanincanada on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:11:25 PM EST

His "wonderful" judgment is a fiction... (2.00 / 3)

From No More Apples....

"9/11 widow Kristen Breitweiser puts her finger on exactly what bothers me most about Obama: the rhetoric about "working with Republicans."

But back in '02, for those of us who dared to speak out against President Bush and his war in Iraq, we stood virtually alone. There was no resounding chorus of people calling "bullshit" on Bush's folly. No, back in 2002 you were called unpatriotic if you dared to question the president; labeled as helping the terrorists if you raised doubt about his divine call to action.

Now forgive me, but I do not recall the help (or the voice) of any Barack Obama from Illinois. Indeed, I cannot recall hearing or feeling the impact of any one speech from the Illinois Senator. Did he attend the rally on the mall in Washington? The marches and protests in NYC? Did he conduct national press interviews? Did he write any editorials? Organize any protest rallies? Mobilize the people? Did he write any petitions? If he did, I never saw any of them.

Yet according to Barack Obama, because he spoke out in 2002 against the war in Iraq, he is better qualified to be president."

MR. ALL-TALK AND NO ACTION wants to be POTUS.

I think not!


by Shazone on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:42:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: His "wonderful" judgment (2.00 / 1)

That is a powerful piece by Breitweiser.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:57:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 1)

I wonder if the SD`S are watching


Wisdom Is The Reward For Listening Over A Lifetime
by gunner on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:18:19 PM EST

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

Yeah, they are. One of them endorsed him today!


by marcotom on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:48:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 2)

I hope so. It's hitting all over.

http://thepage.time.com/2008/03/14/obama -admits-repeated-poor-judgment-with-rezk o/

It makes me wonder what is coming in the trial if he feels the need to admit this now. I mean, he is basically admitting that he has lied about the extent of his relationship with Rezko. There must be somethng more coming.


by americanincanada on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:19:58 PM EST

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 1)


 This does not bode well for Nov though. Who would have thought the rethugs even had a chance 2 months ago.
Wisdom Is The Reward For Listening Over A Lifetime
by gunner on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:25:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Who would have thought?!!!!! (2.00 / 3)

Try those of us who've been saying Obama would be a weak candidate months ago.


by sinclair on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:31:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

From $50-60k to $160k then add in the amounts from (none / 0)

the previous campaigns, which they say was over $250,000 - what it adds up to is that he received almost $400,000 from Rezko.

Slumlords really disturb me. They are the absolute ugliest kinds of people.

They take advantage of people, families, working people and often, the poorest of the poor, and they seek out those people because they are weak and so it ends up being very profitable for them.

Slumlords kill people.

Maybe not with guns, but they kill people and ruin lives on a massive scale.


Universal healthcare IS a core Democratic value
Comprehensively cover 100%, not only the healthiest 80%
by architek on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 08:51:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who would have thought?!!!!! (none / 0)

Yeah, it's not like we've been silent. Cursed and vilified - oh yes! But not silent.


Grumpy, reluctant, sore-losing, unhappy, irritable Hillary supporter for Barack Obama 2008
by DemAC on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 10:39:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

This is great news for Obama.  He is getting rid of all the loose ends.  He has released his earmarks, he is talking to the press about Rezko, and now he has cut his ties with Rev Wright.  Obama needs to put out his 2007 tax returns, then it will be a clean sweep of the house.  Hillary still has not released her tax returns from 205, 2006 or 2007.  We still don't have any of her papers from her White House days.  We don't have a donor list from the Clinton Library, and we don't have anything on Hillary's earmarks for 2005, 2006, or 2007.

Hillary has a lot of explaining to do.  Also, we now have learned that her experience has been all a sham.


by Spanky on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 08:46:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"This is great news for Obama" (none / 0)

Now that's some spin!


Grumpy, reluctant, sore-losing, unhappy, irritable Hillary supporter for Barack Obama 2008
by DemAC on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 10:40:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

You don't get it, do you? Ever thought about why he is getting out with this right now? It will be completely lost in the Wright controversy. And it is nothing more than people in Chicago have known for a long time. He is admitting it now to have it out of the way.


by marcotom on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:49:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

Rezko!  Rezko Rezko Rezko REZKO!!!

Even the Republicans have given up on Rezko already.  Only on mydd is it worthy of 10 diaries a day.


by Skaje on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:28:13 PM EST

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 1)


 OK you win.... WRIGHT,WRIGHT,WRIGHT,WRIGHT.
Wisdom Is The Reward For Listening Over A Lifetime
by gunner on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:30:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 1)

BHO brought this up today - not me and see it came on a friday so that it does not get picked during the weekend.

All bad news comes up on a Friday :)


by indus on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 08:16:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

I'm not sure how new any of this is.  Yeah, he was an Obama fundraiser.   I guess he raised more money than was previously stated.  So what.


by tom32182 on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:35:47 PM EST

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 2)

The size of Rezko's contribution to Obama is getting bigger everytime Obama gives us "new" information.

What else Obama will tell us about Rezko when he gives us another "new" information?


by praxis1 on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:50:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

Okay, here's my question...

Hillary's got her own jailed fund-raiser. Over the years, I recall several incidents in which various Democrats have had to return tainted money from guys like this. What's the endgame here? That both Clinton and Obama have had dealings with shady fund-raisers?


by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 08:43:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Its true, why is he being so slow to release this? (none / 0)

there has got to be something else that makes him so reluctant..


Universal healthcare IS a core Democratic value
Comprehensively cover 100%, not only the healthiest 80%
by architek on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 08:53:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 3)

But Obama is THE ONE, who is above all the washington corruption and can bring this country to the new direction! If he is just like Hillary, why so much hatred against Hillary? Why do we need to elect a junior senator for president?


by praxis1 on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 09:24:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

I understand what you're saying, but I think you're oversimplifying Obama's message. No one thinks the guy's perfect, and he's certainly not saying he is.

He's running as the outsider/change candidate, probably the most standard page in the campaign playbook. (Hell, even Mitt frickin' Romney called himself the outsider/change candidate.) That's not quite the same thing as proclaiming to be the flawless Jesus Christ of candidates.


by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 11:04:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Heard this earlier.. (none / 0)

I read that lot of people who work on Obama's campaign
are professional Dem fundraisers and they would not have been able to get work with the Clinton campaign.

Many of them used to work for Howard Dean, whose platform I also wasn't too hot about.

They needed jobs doing what they do, so they threw their hat in with Obama.

This actually makes sense, although IMO its pretty pathetic.

I really don't follow this insider stuff, I just want a good President.

(I support Hillary, I DON'T see her as an insider. I am sick of Bush and the GOP stealing our future.)


Universal healthcare IS a core Democratic value
Comprehensively cover 100%, not only the healthiest 80%
by architek on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 07:52:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

How come all of these alleged Clinton supporters never seem to spend any time talking about how great she is.  It's always about the next MAJOR SCANDAL that will somehow destroy Obama...


Beat McCain!
by thezzyzx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:38:39 PM EST

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)


 Because people have been saying this about him for months. No one was interested in hearing any of it.
Wisdom Is The Reward For Listening Over A Lifetime
by gunner on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:44:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

If no one is listening despite it being said over and over and over again, maybe you should stop trying to drag one candidate down and start trying to build yours up.

I've been reading this place for months now and outside of the Clinton energy plan diary and the PA rally described, I can't think of many pieces promoting Clinton.  They've all been attacking Obama.


Beat McCain!
by thezzyzx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:48:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (none / 0)

I nobody will ever be interested! That's the whole point.

If I could get a dollar for every time somebody on MyDD said that the Obama campaign is crashing...


by marcotom on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:52:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: New Rezko Details From Obama (2.00 / 1)

Nice attempt to deflect the focus from the wrong doings?

Same old Washington politics?


by Sandeep on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 10:23:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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