Jailed Obama fundraiser is talking with prosecutors

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By The Associated Press
Published: October 12, 2008

CHICAGO — Jailed political fundraiser Antoin "Tony” Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer who helped launch Barack Obama on his political career, is whispering secrets to federal prosecutors about corruption in Illinois, and the political fallout could be explosive.

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Rezko was friendly with Obama — offering him a job when he finished law school, funding his earliest political campaigns and purchasing a lot next to his house. But based on the known facts, charges so far and testimony at Rezko’s trial, there’s no indication there’ll be a so-called "October surprise” that could hurt the Democratic presidential nominee — even though Rezko says prosecutors are pressing him for dirt about Obama.

Rezko, 53, a real estate developer, was convicted in June of scheming to use his clout with Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s office to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks out of a contractor and seven money management firms seeking to do business with the state.


 


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Interesting story on one of the cable news shows tonight. Evidently, Palin has some "home construction" issues to explain. She and the first dude built a huge lake front home less than one mile from the new 12 million Wasilla Sports Complex that she helped push through. It seems that the same contractors who were awarded the contract to build the new city owned complex while she was mayor managed to work on her new lakefront home for free...hmmmm, I smell a rat and I darn sure smell yet another Alaska scandal for Mrs Palin. You betcha! Palin is as crooked as the day is long and when all of this home building business sees the light of day, she will be toast and not soon enough.
Michael, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 10:35 pm
A truly OBJECTIVE paper would dedicate similar time and space perhaps to better pursuit of info regarding Palin or, I dunno, maybe in-depth reporting on current economic issues, though this is, after all, referred to as the Jokelahoman, which finds it more economic to lay off reporters and keep editorial staff instead...
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Jesus, you've left this sorry POS story up for a day and a half....we can tell who'se side you are on.

WORST paper in the country!!!!!!
Jeff, pauls valley - Oct 13, 2008 at 6:54 pm
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Casey, where did you get your information about the US having a a trillion dollar reserve? Our national debt has been astranomical for the last 20 years or so. We could only wish that there was ever a reserve.
HELEN, NOBLE - Oct 13, 2008 at 2:27 pm
The best the conservative movement could offer the last 8 years is George W. Bush, a depressed economy, high costs of living, & high fuel prices. There isn't much to be attracted to when you have a 72 year old man camping with a 42 year old governor who tried to get her state to leave the union and has more questions than answers. So Barrack Obama associations do not appear so bad, especially when you consider the fact when the Conservatives put Bush in office, gas was $1.42 a gallon and America had a near trillion dollar reserve. It is crazy to think that putting McCain in office will be any better than George W. Bush, especially since McCain has supported Bush in all of his budget requests, money given to Iraq and the Arabs. People try to paint Obama bad because he's from Chicago and there just has to be a bit of dirt someone can dig up on a black man...When Bush and McCain has openly urinated on not only the democrats but their own party, it is ridiculous that people are still trying to enjoy a golden shower from the two! Obama has been surrounded by secret service agents, been given top government clearances and been investigated long before he ever stepped foot in the Senate. Any comparisons to his corruption is a last ditch effort to thwart America’s hope for any kind of future
Oklahoma, okc - Oct 13, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Tony Rezko, Saul Alinsky's "community organizing" legacy that Obama was baby fed, William Ayers and his lovely wife, Mrs. Dorn, Father Pfleger's and Rev. Wright's Marxist worldview. Not exactly moral equivalence with Mr. McCain's past association with Charles Keating, from whom he distanced himself later. Don't recall Mr. Keating killing cops or bombing buildings or advocating that the end always justifies the means, which is what Alinsky basically taught in his "Rules for Radicals." Apparently Americans can't read or do research.
Jerry, Flower Mound - Oct 13, 2008 at 10:58 am
Everybody is right, in order for anyone of any affiliation to become an alderman in the capital of the Nation of Islam, you have to form some rather seedy alliances. Obama's home base was just down the street from the Nation of Islam temple. If you have not been there I recommend a visit. The temple has a gilded dome made of 18k gold. It stands surrounded by those 1911 single width shotgun style homes. I saw a real estate sign just a couple blocks from it showing $9000 on the sign. Obama did not live in one of those homes. He grew up in a rather nice Craftsman style home of considerable more value. As people climb the ladder of Chicago politics, they form alliances with unions, social organizations, other ward aldermans, and other necessary evils. At all junctures of climbing the ladder, there is always the possibility of having to pull strings to cut loose someone arrested or covering up someone's messes. Its all good for political markers but nothing rises to the level needed to unseat Obama. It may be nasty stuff, but its not earth shattering.
burt, edmond - Oct 13, 2008 at 10:45 am
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Since I remember being one of the very few edmonites who didn't vote for bush EVER, let me say Obama IS the change we need.
barbara, drayden - Oct 13, 2008 at 9:39 am
Hey Jason, why don't you tell us what you really think?
Jan, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2008 at 11:46 pm
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I don't think this scandal-mongering on either side is very helpful, and, in a healthy Republic, would rightly be sneered at as juvenile. However, this is not a healthy Republic, as roughly half of the country - the Blue half - is made up of people whose ideology resembles that of the murderous, contemptible Bolsheviks of 1919. They pioneered the art of the smear, and will be the ruination of this nation eventually, with their political correctness and Marxist economics and vicious atheistic ethic, the latter of which resembles nothing so much as the anything-to-win ethics of the Nazi Party in 1930's Germany. When their messiah Obama ascends to the throne in January, it will all just be icing on the rancid, far-left cake. McCain is just Obama-lite, so I won't be voting for him either, BTW. Sad as it is, Bob Barr is about as close to a decent candidate as will appear on my ballot this year, so I'll vote for him. Wish Ron Paul had run as an independent.
Jason, Edmond - Oct 12, 2008 at 4:59 pm
And why is the headline "Jailed Obama fundraiser". Tony Rezko was a lot of things, and being an Obama fundraiser is just a small part of his past. In fact, if you read the story, it's clear that Gov. Rod Blagojevich has a lot more to worry about concerning his connection with Rezko than Sen. Obama. It would be a more accurate headline to mention the connection with Blagojevich than to Obama. But, once again, that would get in the way of the partisan message of this paper and its website.
woman in okc, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Notice, The Oklahoman has the headline of this story in multiple places, but the headline about Gov. Palin being found to have abused the power of her office...it's nowhere to be found in the headlines. Hmmm....
woman in okc, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Anytime anybody says "Rezko," the response should be "Keating." Regardless of how right-wingers want to smear Obama by innuendo, McCain's already been there, done that. Jeff is right - they're avoiding a positive campaign on the issues because they ain't got one!
Walter, Edmond - Oct 12, 2008 at 3:55 pm
The fact that anyone with any sense at all would vote for Obama explains the you can't fix stupid joke.
J, nirvana - Oct 12, 2008 at 2:59 pm
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More of the Jokelahoman trying to stir the pot 'cause their guy is going down in flames. Hate mongering at it's worse.
Jeff, pauls valley - Oct 12, 2008 at 9:42 am
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Corruption in Illinois? How unusual!
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Oct 12, 2008 at 9:36 am

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