Today's Article
It is the job of every
politician to know
how a top fundraiser
earns his money.
politician to know
how a top fundraiser
earns his money.
The American Spark
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Was Convicted Obama Donor A Slum Lord?
By Cliff Montgomery - Apr. 26th, 2007
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL) said he was not aware the business of longtime
friend and now-indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko owned problem buildings in Chicago 's South Side
district which Obama had once represented as a state senator.
"Should I have known these buildings were in a state of disrepair? My answer would be that it wasn't brought
to my attention," Obama told reporters Monday.
Rezko's Rezmar Corp. did seem to have a decent mission: the business obtained millions in government funds
to refurbish apartment buildings for the poor.
But a slew of court and city documents reveal that 30 of Rezmar's apartment buildings have since been
subject to code violations, foreclosures, and lawsuits filed by the city, according to the Monday editions of the
Chicago Sun-Times. About 10 of those buildings were in Obama's Illinois Senate district.
Rezmar Corp. did not immediately return phone calls for comment, according to the Associated Press.
"One of the perils of public life is that you end up being responsible for--or you're held responsible
for--associations that you didn't necessarily know were a problem," Obama said.
In short, Obama is saying that others are employing on him what's known as a "guilt-by-association" rhetorical
deceit. Indeed, that's possible--one can't yet verify wrongdoing in Obama's case.
Be that as it may, it is still the job of any politician to have a basic notion of how a principal fundraiser earns his
money.
Rezko first became acquainted with Obama in 1990, and through the years has been a top fundraiser for the
rising political star. In October 2006, Rezko was indicted on charges of shaking down investment firms that
looked to do business with the state.
The senator's ties to Rezko came under scrutiny last year after it was revealed that Rezko's wife purchased a
lot next door to Obama's new house on Chicago's South Side, only to then have Obama pay Rezko $104,500
to expand the senator's yard into part of the lot.
Obama apparently decided to hide behind the law on that one, saying that the arrangements were ethical and
proper; but he did acknowledge it was also a "boneheaded" business transaction on his part...
Among other Democratic matters, this one rings out to us at the American Spark as special: Two months after
Merle Haggard released a song to promote Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), a
rival candidate--former senator of North Carolina John Edwards--is handing out a CD featuring his own
Haggard tune.
Donors who contribute $50 or more to Edwards' presidential bid will be given an advance copy of "Moneyland,"
a collection of songs about the plight of rural America. Among other songs, the CD includes a duet with
Haggard and Marty Stuart called "Farmer's Blues."
A spokesman for the Edwards campaign said the former senator did not immediately have a comment on the
CD.
One of Edwards' policy objectives is a Rural Recovery Act, which explains his plans to aid rural economies and
support family farmers.
But on Haggard's Web site, it's clear that the star is backing Clinton for president. The singer is prominently
advertising copies of his recent song "Hillary," which praises Clinton and declares, "Let's put a woman in
charge."
It is not a surprise that Haggard is supporting a lady for president; it is surprising--at least to us--that Mr.
Haggard is supporting an avowed liberal for president.
This is of course not an attack on the fine political philosophy of liberalism--which is simply the "belief in the
natural equality and civil rights of all people," and not the innate insult misguided neo-cons pretend it to be. But
you know neo-conservatism is really in trouble when a self-described "Okie" gleefully puts himself in the liberal
camp.
And since true American conservatism--also known to political science experts as "classical liberalism"--has
taken a black eye in recent years thanks those radical rejects on the Far Right, the demise of its mindset can
only be a good thing for American left-wingers, moderates and true right-wingers alike.
By Cliff Montgomery - Apr. 26th, 2007
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL) said he was not aware the business of longtime
friend and now-indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko owned problem buildings in Chicago 's South Side
district which Obama had once represented as a state senator.
"Should I have known these buildings were in a state of disrepair? My answer would be that it wasn't brought
to my attention," Obama told reporters Monday.
Rezko's Rezmar Corp. did seem to have a decent mission: the business obtained millions in government funds
to refurbish apartment buildings for the poor.
But a slew of court and city documents reveal that 30 of Rezmar's apartment buildings have since been
subject to code violations, foreclosures, and lawsuits filed by the city, according to the Monday editions of the
Chicago Sun-Times. About 10 of those buildings were in Obama's Illinois Senate district.
Rezmar Corp. did not immediately return phone calls for comment, according to the Associated Press.
"One of the perils of public life is that you end up being responsible for--or you're held responsible
for--associations that you didn't necessarily know were a problem," Obama said.
In short, Obama is saying that others are employing on him what's known as a "guilt-by-association" rhetorical
deceit. Indeed, that's possible--one can't yet verify wrongdoing in Obama's case.
Be that as it may, it is still the job of any politician to have a basic notion of how a principal fundraiser earns his
money.
Rezko first became acquainted with Obama in 1990, and through the years has been a top fundraiser for the
rising political star. In October 2006, Rezko was indicted on charges of shaking down investment firms that
looked to do business with the state.
The senator's ties to Rezko came under scrutiny last year after it was revealed that Rezko's wife purchased a
lot next door to Obama's new house on Chicago's South Side, only to then have Obama pay Rezko $104,500
to expand the senator's yard into part of the lot.
Obama apparently decided to hide behind the law on that one, saying that the arrangements were ethical and
proper; but he did acknowledge it was also a "boneheaded" business transaction on his part...
Among other Democratic matters, this one rings out to us at the American Spark as special: Two months after
Merle Haggard released a song to promote Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), a
rival candidate--former senator of North Carolina John Edwards--is handing out a CD featuring his own
Haggard tune.
Donors who contribute $50 or more to Edwards' presidential bid will be given an advance copy of "Moneyland,"
a collection of songs about the plight of rural America. Among other songs, the CD includes a duet with
Haggard and Marty Stuart called "Farmer's Blues."
A spokesman for the Edwards campaign said the former senator did not immediately have a comment on the
CD.
One of Edwards' policy objectives is a Rural Recovery Act, which explains his plans to aid rural economies and
support family farmers.
But on Haggard's Web site, it's clear that the star is backing Clinton for president. The singer is prominently
advertising copies of his recent song "Hillary," which praises Clinton and declares, "Let's put a woman in
charge."
It is not a surprise that Haggard is supporting a lady for president; it is surprising--at least to us--that Mr.
Haggard is supporting an avowed liberal for president.
This is of course not an attack on the fine political philosophy of liberalism--which is simply the "belief in the
natural equality and civil rights of all people," and not the innate insult misguided neo-cons pretend it to be. But
you know neo-conservatism is really in trouble when a self-described "Okie" gleefully puts himself in the liberal
camp.
And since true American conservatism--also known to political science experts as "classical liberalism"--has
taken a black eye in recent years thanks those radical rejects on the Far Right, the demise of its mindset can
only be a good thing for American left-wingers, moderates and true right-wingers alike.