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Shady deals are one thing, but I can call Barack Obama Racist, and if the media ever gives you the story decide for yourself. Barack Obama is racist to Hispanic Americans in Illinois!
It can be verified with documented evidence Barrack Obama as an Illinois Senator has been placed on repeated written notice of (for instance but not limited to) ongoing illegal race discrimination against American Hispanics. I ,a Hispanic American citizen, with parents who are both Hispanic American citizens have myself been denied the right to formally officially file race discrimination "IDHR & EEOC" charges against Hormel Foods Corporation and UFCW at the agencies IDHR & EEOC in Illinois since 2004 when in fact other nonHispanics are allowed to file such charges of Race discrimination. Despite Barack Obama and his office having full knowledge and understanding of this serious situation Barrack Obama a civil rights attorney himself has refused to hold anyone at IDHR & EEOC accountable for their actions regarding the issue of IDHR & EEOC discriminating against Hispanic American complainants and to date Barack Obama is not investigating or even asking for any independant third party to investigate this racial discrimination citing only a separation of powers. It is unconscionable for Barack Obama to have used this device as it regards race discrimination which has effectively empowered IDHR & EEOC to maintain their illegal & discriminatory position and with Barack Obama's inaction Barack Obama is in fact discriminating against Hispanic American constituents of Illinois.
American constituents who happen to be only Hispanic are being harmed by Barack Obama who to this date continues to condone such illegal and discriminatory misconduct by his inaction.
This information can be verified by any news media so if you want the truth demand they cover this story!
Barrack Obama does not care about every Americans civil rights and equal rights

I was reading some of these comments, and I'm thinking, WHAT???? What are some of you smoking? People who watch Fox News are less informed? Where is the actual data on that uninformed assumption. Reality Check, Obama and Edwards are a couple of slick, hypocritical politicians. Obama is a muslim who wants to get his slimy hands, along with Osama, into our government and Edwards is a blank. What is Edwards anyway? Fred Thompson for President 2008. I think it would be hilarious if Fred enters the race with half the money or less than hillary and obama has and WINS!!!!!!!!

aepel...Interesting hypothesis re: Imus, and very believeable. Hope it works that well for Edwards, he is such a flawed candidate should be like shooting fish in a barrel. Obama will be tougher

Hillary Clinton has a lot of connections in Chicago, she, of course, has a lot of connections in New York. She, more that anybody else, needs to compromise both of her most strong rivals: Obama and Edwards. I am ONE HUNDRED PERCENTS SURE that all these pretty well designed traps and, of course, simultaneously very dirty ones, aimed at Obama and Edwards are made by her. That is the only way she could defeat them: the negative conspiracies behind the back, which might be, simultaneously, attributed to republicans by her campaign's efforts. The last one was this story with Don Imus termination. It was, actually, like to kill messenger, because the public image of Black female's careers through sexual promiscuity, and almost exclusively through it, is established and persistently supported by Oprah, her school of management, etc.. In short, Hillary Clinton has no other way to compete, as her own terrible deeds, actions, and more than controversial votes' casting are very, very well known nationwide. So, only shadow activities, using her money and all dirty tricks in all books are available tools for her campaign.

Hillary Clinton has a lot of connections in Chicago, she, of course, has a lot of connections in New York. She, more that anybody else, needs to compromise both of her most strong rivals: Obama and Edwards. I am ONE HUNDRED PERCENTS SURE that all these pretty well designed traps and, of course, simultaneously very dirty ones, aimed at Obama and Edwards are made by her. That is the only way she could defeat them: the negative conspiracies behind the back, which might be, simultaneously, attributed to republicans by her campaign's efforts. The last one was this story with Don Imus termination. It was, actually, like to kill messenger, because the public image of Black female's careers through sexual promiscuity, and almost exclusively through it, is established and persistently supported by Oprah, her school of management, etc.. In short, Hillary Clinton has no other way to compete, as her own terrible deeds, actions, and more than controversial votes' casting are very, very well known nationwide. So, only shadow activities, using her money and all dirty tricks in all books are available tools for her campaign.

Golgi Remember the terrorists are cheerleaders for the Democrats.

Rudy just announced that in his opinion Americans will feel safer against terrorism with a Republican president. Oooh. Tone deafness indeed. In the end this is going to be a big ouch to Rudy's campaign.

And Jerry, I'm really a Democrat but after hearing Polosi, Kennedy, Waxman, Durbin, Conyers and a few others, I'm going to have to vote otherwise.

Jerry Nelson...I didn't point out any scandals, the WP did. I was talking about Democrats pooping in their pants.

All of you independents that are going to vote Democratic, do you really want them appointing activist Justices who usurp the congressional power, allow the barbaric practice of sucking the brains out of babies, cower from our enemies, drive gas prices through the roof even more, sign the worthless and onerous Kyoto Protocol, push the tax break even day further towards December...etc. If the first days of their congressional take over is a portend of substance.. let's see first Polosi spends congressional time chatting with Joe Wilson and his lovely "covert?" wife Valerie Plame with a non story and then takes more time chatting with the Attorney General Gonzales about the Presidents LEGAL employment practices. And in between time she lets the hypocrite Albert Gore bloviate about "global warming" and hock his movie.
Ms Polosi, the social security scheme is financially upside down, illegals are invading our country and burdening the hospitals, schools and prisons, a whopping 30% of welfare money actually goes to the recipient, we have an archaic income tax system, etc...just for starters.
PS
Chatting is scoring political points

I'd just like to point out that nearly every candidate for president is a multi-millionaire. And half of Senators have at least a million. Economic distribution in the country is just plain unequal, and those who find success--in business, politics, or anywhere else--have a lot more money than the rest of us.

To me, the question is how did they achieve that success, and do they acknowledge that it took an established structure for them to find their riches (i.e. could they have built the same fortune if born in Malawi or Bangladesh)? Do they recognize the inequality of opportunity facing Americans (and global citizens)? What do they plan to do to address these issues?

It appears that so far John Edwards, in rhetoric and specific policy proposals, is the only candidate to address these issues so far. Here's to hope that the others soon follow.

oh, forgot, solid politics has a story that the Hillary camp may have either set up or helped with both stories on obama and Edwards.
something worth checking into as we all know hillary is getting nervous over both candidates creeping up on her and swiping her bid for ultimate power away from her.

i don't think Chris is doing anything more than pointing out how some niave or misjudgements may affect both politicians campaigns. he is just bringing up stories already out and discussing how they may do damage to them. That is his job.
And, Though it's fair to question both candidates relationship with each respective problems but, i think the Rezko thing is a red herring by the sun times.
The relationship resko had was with the law firm and obama's boss. obama was a jr. lawyer who did as he was assigned to do. maybe he is more guilty of being niave rather than anything else.
We all have those experiences where we think someone is mentoring or helping or befriending us and then it turns out the person is not so great a person.
Besides, Rezko had this fingers into all of the political goings on in Chicago. not many in chicago could claim not to be affecting one way or another by this man.
And Rezko was known to bead in on the young, niave and just starting out politicians. The ones who had not learned the ropes yet and obama was just one of a line of pols Rezko used.
Besides, was this not covered before.

I just - mmmm! - just can't stop eating this sandwich - ooo! - fast enough to tell you about iiiiiiiiitt.... oooh. It's the thick, sensual slide of the mayonnaise across your tongue, along with the ample foamy padding od the wonder bread... just gets me soo hottt! I grab and chew and gnaw with increasing energy, swallowing gob after gob of American goodness.... mayonnaise! and wonder breeeeaaad... OHHHHH!

Does anyone have a cigarette?

As a first time contributor to this discussion, I must respond to ekim53 by saying that the "scandals" you refer to are for the most part either years old, or never conclusively established as a Democratic failing, or both.

On the other hand, the Republicans' failings are happening before our eyes, and with proof in the paper.

I am a registered independent, but I am not blind. I have made the judgment you seem to suggest we all should make, and as a result, I will be supporting Democrats unless and until I get the sense that the GOP is no longer an unthinking monopoly, unable and unwilling to react to changes on the ground.

Thank you Bill Clinton, you always have to have the last word...just ask Chis Wallace.

Excellent, excellent. Soon my evil plans will come to flower, and I will rule the universe!

lylepink Democrats never notice the stink of their poop. Kennedy, Durbin, Waxman, Reid and others have been stinking up the place for years. It's about power and votes.

It's not about the size of the cigar, it's about how you use it.

I see it's about time for me to pollute yet another discussion with my base, simplistic observations. Did anybody see the picture of Hillary when she was at Wellesley? Sort of preppy heifer crossed with hippie chick, with way too much poundage and way too much hair. Of course, back in the '60's, that was par for the course for educated women. It took a visionary like Phyllis Schlafly to form the simple, impressionable college girls' minds along the mainstream where they belong.

lylepink Do you think Hillary is a liar? She says she voted for the war, thats why she keeps defending her position...at least she did for a little while. I don't think she pulled a Kerry and voted for it before she voted against it...or was it the other way around? She needs a longer arms so she can get that political finger higher in the air, or I guess she can still use Bills...he's taller and has that cigar for an extension.

'an incredibly detailed look ' -- GEE, I don't see that there has been any incredibly detailed looks at ANY R's, have their? Like Rudy's connections to the mob, John McCain's S&L scam, Mitt's shady biz deals, hmm... must be that librul media thing again.

BAGHDAD -- A suicide bomber wearing a hidden belt of explosives attacked a police station in Iraq's volatile province of Diyala on Wednesday, killing at least four policeman just days after a double suicide bombing in the same province left nine U.S. soldiers dead.

Wednesday's explosion, which also injured at least 16 people, occurred at the front gate of the police station in a marketplace in Balad Ruz city, 45 miles northeast of Baghdad, police said. All fatalities were policemen and the wounded included 11 civilians and five policemen, authorities said.

Since U.S. and Iraqi troops launched the security crackdown in Baghdad in February, Sunni militants are believed to have moved out of the Iraqi capital to seek haven in nearby areas such as Diyala.

Despite that, a U.N. report released Wednesday said that violence in Baghdad remains at high levels.

In its first human rights report since the security plan was launched on Feb. 14 -- with increasing U.S. and Iraqi troops levels in the capital -- the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said civilian casualties in the daily violence between January and March remained high, concentrated in and around Baghdad.

UNAMI also said that for the first time since it began issuing quarterly reports on the human rights situation in Iraq, the new Jan. 1 through March 31 report did not contain overall death figures from Iraq's Ministry of Health because it refused to release them.

On global warming, for example, Bush has still failed to take broad action most believe is necessary to combat the problem even while industry leaders have started to tackle the problem. This means that, on global warming, "there are oil, auto and utility executives showing more urgency than Bush," writes Brownstein. "That's like prisoners worrying that the warden is skimping on security."

ekim53: At least the dems know their poop stinks, while the repubs think theirs don't. A good laugh this early in the AM. I happen to be watching Fox now.

It's fun to watch Democrats poop in there pants over these issues and then blame Fox.
WIMPS!

Something for us nite owls to check out is the hearing Tuesday about the False info given to not only the public, but the immediate family of "Pat Tillman", including his brother "Kevin" who was a Ranger at the time and "Jessica Lynch" herself, finally getting the attention of Congress, by telling her story. Something always gets in the way, even the loss of nine in one day gets very little coverage.

Nissl,
"I've been around here a while and I've never seen CC devote a full article to questions about McCain, Romney, Rudy, or for that matter Hillary."
or NorthSider,
"I won't suggest you're doing the RNC's bidding, etc. here, but I have a serious question: what is "new"s about the Rezko stories RE: Obama?"
You are correct that there is a double standard, not just here with CC but with the rest of the media. In fact, if it was Obama-R, he'd be under indictment by the law and convicted by the media already. The last thing we need are Democrats whining that they get shafted while William Jefferson and his cold $100,000 remains in office, or Sandy Berger walks after stealing and destroying top-secret national security documents, or Chuck Shumer continues business as usual despite his campaign committee illegally obtaining a copy of Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's credit report...Did i mention Bill Clinton or the drug driving Patrick Kennedy? Yeah, the Dems get all the bad breaks...hmmm...must be a vast right wing conspiracy. One has to wonder what a Democrat needs to do to actually get in jail - kill someone? Oh yeah, forgot to mention Ted Kennedy.

lyn: The "Anything" is what I disagree with you about, although I don't think you really mean "Anything". Words are important even to an unlearned person.

Lylepink

I agree it is about freedom of choice. However, I will state again it is my belief that She will do (or say)ANYTHING to win. Wait and see.

lyn: The freedom to vote for whoever we want is really what it/this is all about. "She will do anything to win!!!" is a tad out of line.

Anyone who doen't think Chris has a bias I suggest you read previous "fix picks" espically any concerning HRC. He definitely tries to either justify or put the best spin on everything regarding HRC. Sorry Chris it won't work!!!!

lylepink
I don't really care what HRC did or didn't do. I personally have had enough of that FAKE southern tone she seems to think necessary to use anytime she speaks to black people. It is insulting!!!! More and more the phonies comes out. I was a strong supporter of Bill but would never vote for her. NEVER. She will do anything to win!!!

I would like to suggest that for those of you that keeps insisting that Hillary voted to go to war, and other falsehoods about the vote, go read what was in it. No matter how many times you post FALSE info, the informed folks here know what are FACTS.

Mark in Austin: I am not familiar with the Frontline story, so I can't comment on it at this time. My support for Hillary continues to be strong and a good way for some of you that have a fairly open mind is to check Hillary out through her entire life. Don't go to her web or others that support her, but get the info from as many unbiased sources as you can find. I have found a truly remarkable person in my research.

Lylepink is so Clintonesque. I didn't inhale. Clinton "did not vote to go to war".

Lylepink, Senator Clinton DID vote to authorize George Bush's adventures in Iraq, against my strong admonition.

I warned Hillary about the mentality of an executing happy George Bush. I will forever question her wisdom and judgment.

Hi LylePink -

I expect that whatever dirt can be shoveled at any candidate will be. In the end, we will have to weigh that against our core beliefs about America.

From my perspective, the priorities for the federal government are commitment to civil liberties, commitment to a strong military, and commitment to an open and efficient government. No candidate truly "satisfies", but several are passable for me. I would support one who totally disagreed with me on an issue of the day, as McCain does on Iraq, if he or she would own up to the basics of federal constitutional government and display some serious leadership skills. Richardson, Biden, your candidate, Obama, and Dodd have not been excluded by me. Neither have McCain, Giuliani or Fred Thompson. From my perspective, this story remains... inconsequential.

We have a long way to go, yet. If your candidate is nominated, I will want you to watch the "Front Line" episode called "Once Upon a Time in Arkansas" and tell me why I should consider that inconsequential, too. I am open to it, and I would rather hear it from you than a flack.

NPR, the giver of all truth and knowledge, says Hillary voted for the war:

Regarding the first part, Clinton is not alone. Of the other Democratic presidential candidates who were in Congress in 2002, Sens. Joe Biden (DE), Chris Dodd (CT) and John Edwards (NC) all voted for the war; only Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH) voted no. But all three senators have since renounced their vote. Not Hillary. And that has caused some on the antiwar left to go apoplectic.

That is not to suggest that Clinton stands by comments she made in 2003, when she said she voted for the war "with conviction," or in 2004, when she said she doesn't regret her vote, because "clearly Saddam Hussein has been a real problem for the international community for more than a decade."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7275360

Sara: Support Obama as you should if you like him, but get your FACTS straight about Hillary. Hillary DID NOT VOTE TO GO TO WAR.

Chris, Please straighten out Olbermann's stand-in regarding her perception that because NH has only a 1%(?) Black population there couldn't possibly be much support for Barack Obama. Our population may not be racially diverse but within the spirit of the NH Primary, we are wide open to hear compelling, fresh ideas, and Obama brings an abundance of those.

Obama has a very good ground operation coming together and he is drawing strong crowds and enlisting committed volunteers.

This is nothing more than Hilary and Bill's digging up dirt that happened years ago. Obama is surging in the polls and the clintons will do and pay to pull him down. It doesn't matter what the media says about Obama, he still has my vote. The more dirt is dug up on Obama the more I dislike Hilary and Bill Clinton. It amazed me the extent she will go to to becomes president. She is not the only qualified candidate out there, and this is something she must accept. What about all the wrong she has done. She has too much pride to admit to the fact that she voted for the war. What about Bill and his wrong doing in the OVAL OFFICE. Hilliary is an arrogant and selfish woman. She is just like a spoiled brat. If she wins the primary, I will not vote for her in the general election. I have had enough of the Clintons and I don't want to see them in the Whitehouse again.

MikeB: I may have something for you to think about, we only have to look back at some things we have discussed in a limited way. Obama was a creation of the media and I have said they would try and take him down a peg or two, since they built him up so much. This is only the beginning of the second part of the story for the media, build him up and the tear him down part is so easy, since they have had this info all the time. The media has always been against both Clintons, Hillary in particular.

I can spell, just can't type!

I have just one question for the both of them, for all Presidential candidates actually, "Where do you stand with regards to the Bill Of Rights?". Now, the same crowd that has been howling and stirring up hysterical soccer moms for gun control are now calling for censorship of violent games and music and television shows and movies. SO, this isn't a test they can fudge on. Either they are dictator wannabees or they are representatives of the people. I, for one, really want to know. I wrote them letters, nice ones, and they didn't have the courtesy of relying.

How much carbon is emitted into the atomosphere to generate electricity for that 29,000 square foot house?

I know he says he buys "carbon offets" like co-hypocrite Gore, but does that mean ONLY the rich can pollute and pretend to be green?

Edwards worked for a hedge fund based out of the CAYMAN ISLANDS for a tax dodge, the same tax dodge that liberal liars say that Bush created to help send US jobs overseas.

CC we are in trouble. When You, Cheney, Bush, Limbaugh, Drudge, Hannity, kingofzouk and I got together in the smoke filled room last night to figure out how to overheat the planet and fund the military/industrial complex, I knew this Edwards/Obama thing was just going to far. Are cover is blow. Hillary is right. This is a vast right wing conspiracy, and we are it.

Colin, No back up, kinda lawyerly responses...I would expect that, 7 more points to address. What part of tone deaf and hypocritical don't you understaand?

GGGF -- your smear of Edwards is ridiculous and factually wrong, and I say that as someone who supports Obama for the Dem nomination.

Of the top of my head, lets correct a few things:

1. Edwards IS the son of a mill worker. Yes, his dad eventually moved into management. Before that he was a mill worker who was briefly unemployed when Edwards was a kid after he was laid off.

2. Funny how his "junk science" law suits were almost universally successful. I know bashing lawyers is "fun," but how about providing some facts if you want to slander someone like that.

3. Why is it again that Democrats aren't allowed to be both rich and progressive? Being a progressive means defending everyone's opportunity to be successful...just like Edwards has been. The difference is that progressives then gladly give back to strengthen their communities...just like Edwards has done.

4. He worked for one of the BEST hedge funds around. So what? hedge funds aren't bad other than when they operate in an illegal or irresponsible manner. Fortress hasn't done so. What's the problem?

hi, im chris cilizza. notice that i didnt say anything about my beloved hillary. ohh i love her so. blogging endlessly on her every move. i just love her and druge. he's my hero. repeating every thing he says.wow im so important that im going to tottaly ignore all the other canidates....unless the check clears. watch for teh line this friday!

Razorback:

"Can you articulate a standard which would apply to candidates of BOTH parties under which McCain's S&L ties and Hillary's land deals SHOULD be examined and debated, but Obama's should not?"

No, and that was my point. I've been around here a while and I've never seen CC devote a full article to questions about McCain, Romney, Rudy, or for that matter Hillary.

If everyone's fair game, then it's fine.

And I think it's lazy for CC not to offer his own take on the stories, rather than saying "this could be a big story, what do you think?"

Edwards can't hold up to much more scrutiny. And conspiracy theorists out there, this ain't a left right issue. It's about a dem candidate that's clean, expereinced, honest etc. I'm in NC and have watched this chameleon in action. Lets review

1. Edwards is not the son of a mill worker, daddy was in mill management, they were very middle to upper middle class in small town NC in the 1950's and 60's.

2. There are the phony junk science cerbral palsey law suits leading to many uneceessary C sections for woemn in NC and elsewhere.

3. Edwards has about a half of a senate term for experience, ran for pres the other half. (couldn't have been reelected to the Senate in 2004, hence didn't run)

4. His phony I don't take money from lobbyists pledge, true, but he does take it from their family members.

5. The Edwards 28,000 SF compound is simply stupid and tone deaf for a populist.

6. Edwards was elected to the Senate as a centrist dem, now radically left for the primaries, what next?

7. His populist wife's rude comments about their neighbor, (never met him, wouldn't be nice) gee how southern and quaint Eliz.

8. The infamous haircut, geez, how stupid

9. NC is very much a right to work state, just a guess here but many many contactors do not have union employees, and roofers, drywallers, masons, and landscapers in NC have many illegals, and Spanish speaking supervisors. Wanna bet how many non union workers and illegals worked on building the Edwards 28,000 SF compound?

10. This hedge fund thing stinks to high heaven. Not illegal most likley, but hugely tone deaf, and hypocritical.

This is just scratching the surface on Mr. Two Americas.....there is much more

Go Bill Richardson eh. he has the experience and is far more genuine than Edwards, Hillary is crashing, we'll see how Barack holds up!

Chris - we only want news that slurs Repubs. Stop printing the truth and get on with the yellow journalism. We are counting on you to make sure we don't need any policies or ideas to win an election.

once again, chris is carrying water for the repubicans,rather than focusing on a 400 dollar hair cut or linking obama to gangsters, how about you do real reporting and dig up something on rudy g or saint john?

p.s. i just had two posts either deleted or not posted by you. while anonymous gets away with murder. thats real classy of you.

Where is everybody? Come back and trade insults with me. this site used to be so good until I came along. what happened.

I am having to go back to 1998 to get material. can anyone suggest any good leftist websites where I can get things to post here? I am out of ideas and don't knwo what to think without some help.

Always something divisive over at Salon. thank you Korn for providing my original thoughts for the day. By the time I make my rounds - Kos, NYT, Salon, Huff, moveon, the nation, I will have plenty of my own clever original thoughts to post. Look for them.

I had to go to the NT Times to get my pasting this time. they are a very reliable smear machine and can be counted on to print falsehoods that attempt to elect Dems. I will try to find some more for you. I got this cut and paste thing down now. do any of you know how to do it - it's cool.

You see I aim to taint all Repubs by bringing up false allegations - like hiring someone for a giant organization without knowing everything about them. this is in no way comparable to taking bribes, lining ones pocket and lying to the public as Dems are known to do frequently. If only I can get you stooges to go along with this.

Why did doolittle step down. We Dems promote anyone with any suggestion of slime. that is how we got the current crop of Dem leaders. Our fav is Kennedy - not the pill popping one that got away with almost running down a cop - the one that did get away with drowning a girl, cheating on exams, drinking and cheating his marriage away and generally lying about everything. he is my hero.

Giuliani Testified He Was Briefed on Kerik in '00

By WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM
Published: March 30, 2007
Rudolph W. Giuliani told a grand jury that his former chief investigator remembered having briefed him on some aspects of Bernard B. Kerik's relationship with a company suspected of ties to organized crime before Mr. Kerik's appointment as New York City police commissioner, according to court records.

More Politics NewsMr. Giuliani, testifying last year under oath before a Bronx grand jury investigating Mr. Kerik, said he had no memory of the briefing, but he did not dispute that it had taken place, according to a transcript of his testimony.

Mr. Giuliani's testimony amounts to a significantly new version of what information was probably before him in the summer of 2000 as he was debating Mr. Kerik's appointment as the city's top law enforcement officer. Mr. Giuliani had previously said that he had never been told of Mr. Kerik's entanglement with the company before promoting him to the police job or later supporting his failed bid to be the nation's homeland security secretary.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/us/politics/30rudy.html?ex=1332993600&en=fd8193f2ec3aeb29&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Sometimes I have to go way back to dig up sludge. I ignore anything that Dems do like Murtha's bribes, jefferson's freezer, pelosi's PACS, Reid's land deals, Moran's loans, Hastings wiretaps, etc. the list is too long to type, I need to cut and paste my stuff. Let me go over to moveon and see what to think today.

What did Obama know? And when did he know it?

Didn't see anything about that.

C'mon Chris...this is just a throwaway line:

"Is Obama, who has risen to national prominence with pledges of reforming and renewing politics, really just another pay-to-play politician?"

The Sun-Times article doesn't even allege any kind of "pay-to-play"...it just notes the Resko ties from the past. Association with shady characters...sure, that's a fair comment. "Pay-to-play" corruption? Not even close.

Chris,

I won't suggest you're doing the RNC's bidding, etc. here, but I have a serious question: what is "new"s about the Rezko stories RE: Obama?

Tony Rezko is a slumlord and a sleaze-bag. That's correct. That's why he's been indicted and why everyone in Chicago now knows what he did with his developments. But he gave money to every Illinois pol, Republican and Democrat alike.

This story is just an obnoxious drive-by of guilt by association. Where on earth is the allegation or even the appearance of impropriety on the part of Obama? I mean, Obama worked at a big law firm and might have worked for a couple hours on a case tangentially connected to this guy? *Might* have...

The "law firm client" thing is such an easy sell for operatives pushing a story, and you guys buy it hook line and sinker every time. In this case, Obama was a junior litigator and the likelihood he had knowledge, much less anything to do with Rezko's shennanigans on the South Side is virtually nil. That "connection" is silly on it's face, and since there's no proof for the implication drawn by the story, it's wildly irresponsible.

Faced With Facts, McCain Denies His Own Straight Talk
Yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) told CNN that that President Bush's escalation in Iraq is going so well, "General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in an unarmed humvee." On Monday, he told radio host Bill Bennett that there "are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods, today."

This morning, during an interview with McCain, CNN's John Roberts rebutted McCain's assertions, stating, "I checked with General Petraeus's people overnight and they said he never goes out in anything less than an up-armored humvee." He added that a new report by retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey "said no Iraqi government official, coalition soldier, diplomat reporter could walk the streets of Baghdad without heavily armed protection."

Faced with overwhelming evidence that he was wrong, McCain denied he'd ever said it: "Well, I'm not saying they could go without protection. The President goes around America with protection. So, certainly I didn't say that."

HOW SEN. JOHN McCAIN'S TASTELESS TWO-LINER ABOUT CHELSEA CLINTON AND JANET RENO WAS CENSORED OUT OF THE NATION'S LEADING NEWSPAPERS.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
BY DAVID CORN

During the last few months, many established media outlets have decided to report innuendo and rumor about the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, as long as they have a source they can cite (at least anonymously), or another media player has reported the same.

But this new standard in the practice of journalism seemingly does not extend to other political figures, at least not media darlings like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Earlier this month, at a Republican Senate fund-raiser, McCain told a downright nasty joke making fun of Janet Reno, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.

The fact that McCain had made the tasteless joke was reported in major newspapers, as was the vain attempt by his press secretary to initially deny what McCain had done. But in several major newspapers, the joke itself was kept a secret. When McCain subsequently apologized to President Clinton, the Washington Post, in its personality section, noted the apology but said the joke "was too vicious to print."

http://www.salon.com/news/1998/06/25newsb.html

I think you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. Anyone say anything but actions and relationships say a lot more about charecter and values then do empty rehtoric.

Both Obama and Edwards are the same shallow, prettyboy politicians that will say anything to win.

I hope that people read the articles carefully because they will see that there is nothing of substance in Obama.

Quite right

The Keating Five (or Keating Five Scandal) refers to a Congressional scandal related to the collapse of most of the Savings and Loan institutions in the United States in the late 1980s. McCain was one of five senators who met at least twice in 1987 with Ed Gray, chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, seeking to prevent the government's seizure of Lincoln Savings and Loan, a subsidiary of Charles H. Keating's American Continental Corporation. Between 1982-1987, McCain received approximately $112,000 in political contributions from Keating and his associates. In addition, McCain's wife and her father had invested $359,100 in a Keating shopping center in April 1986, a year before McCain met with the regulators. McCain, his family and baby-sitter made at least nine trips at Keating's expense, sometimes aboard the American Continental jet. After learning Keating was in trouble over Lincoln, McCain paid for the air trips totalling $13,433.Federal regulators ultimately filed a $1.1 billion civil racketeering and fraud suit against Keating, accusing him of siphoning Lincoln's deposits to his family and into political campaigns. McCain received a rebuke from the Ethics Committee for exercising poor judgment for intervening with the federal regulators on behalf of Keating. On his Keating Five experience, McCain said: "The appearance of it was wrong. It's a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do."

The Dems who are not phomies are not in leadership. What gives?

If you read the media articles about Obama carefully and do a little research, it becomes clear that Obama has done nothing improper to warrant these attacks by the local Chicago news media. 1. Obama worked for the lawfirm for 6 YEARS and did a total of 5 HOURS worth of legal work as a JUNIOR Associate representing, NOT REZKO, but one of the community associations who wanted to improve housing in the area. 2. The lawfirm for which Obama worked is a small CIVIL RIGHTS law firm trying to HELP people, filing voting rights cases, discrimination and civil rights lawsuits, not representing big corporate clients and business interests. 3. There is absolutely NO suggestion that Obama himself did anything improper or had any knowledge whatsoever of Rezko's shady and possibly illegal practices. I hope that people read the articles carefully because they will see that there is nothing of substance against Obama. This is an obvious attempt to smear his character simply by association-it is Rezko, not Obama, who is in the wrong. It is the Chicago Sun Times and Tribune that has repeatedly tried to impugn Obama's character. Obama is a good and decent man and does not deserve this treatment.

This article confirms what I think everyone senses deep in their heart: Edwards is a complete phony.

not born yesterday:

Of course a multimillionaire can be a true voice for the poor and working people.

What they cannot do is be a pretend populist. FDR didn't pretend to be a country boy. Neither did JFK.

Dee Dee Myers, former Clinton spokesperson understands this. See her Frontline interview at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/myers2.html

DEE DEE interview:

Q. The president is here in Los Angeles and he gets a haircut from Christophe in May [1993]. And the press finds out about it. Did you know you had a PR disaster in the making?

No. God, I sound like a complete idiot, all the things that I didn't see coming. The president was here in Los Angeles. Christophe had cut his hair a few times during the campaign.....

I guess that makes Dee Dee Myers and I silly.

Dee Dee says she sounds like a complete IDIOT for not understanding that this haircut was "a PR disaster in the making".

I wonder if she would consider anyone else for not understanding that a pricey haircut can be a PR disaster is complete idiot

If I have to defend this, at least I won't have to come up with any policies this week. there is hope in all things.

Kos help me. you said I wouldn't get caught telling the same old lies. I need to find a better source for my beliefs. Let me see what huffington has to offer.

I find it particularly interesting that Rezko is from Syria, and has a long history of shady business dealings with Nation of Islam founder's son Jabir Herbert Muhammad in which they fraudulently obtained minority set-aside contracts.

Last March, Chicago officials charged that Jabir Herbert Muhammad had acted as a front for the real owner, Rezko, who is of Syrian Arab heritage and does not qualify for minority set-asides.

While Obama was president of the Harvard Law Review, Rezko's firm offered Obama a job. When Obama first ran for the Illinois Senate in 1996, Rezko was among his first political donors. And when Obama ran for the U.S. Senate, Rezko was a major fundraiser.

He accepted campaign contributions from Antoin "Tony'' Rezko without knowing that Rezko was a slumlord with problem buildings in the state Senate district Obama represented at the time.

Obama worked for a small Chicago law firm -- Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland -- between 1993 and 2004. The firm worked on deals that got $43 million in government funds for 15 apartment buildings Rezmar rehabilitated with not-for-profit community groups. Four of the buildings ended up being foreclosed on.

In all, Rezmar rehabbed 30 buildings. A third of those were in the Illinois Senate district Obama represented between 1997 and 2004. Many of the buildings fell into disrepair and financial straits while Obama was state senator, prompting the city to repeatedly sue over problems including no heat.

Obama, a friend of Rezko for 17 years, said he often got complaints as a state senator about housing problems. But, he said, "As far as I can tell, we were never contacted by Rezko tenants."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-061104obama-rezko-story,0,2788405.story

What a remarkable coincidence!

I, Barack of O'Bama, demonstrate my lack of presidential judgment by getting into a real estate deal with a radioactive political fixer who got himself indicted, making me look so, so audacious.

From http://www.solidpolitics.com

Barack Obama is either in a dead-heat, 21 points behind Hillary Clinton or somewhere in between.... Some liberal bloggers are making the case that the Rasmussen poll, showing Obama tied with Hillary, is more accurate than Gallup and other polls that show Hillary leading by double-digits.... But there is one common denominator in all the polls: Hillary does better with older voters than she does with younger voters.... This means Hillary still has an advantage because older voters are more likely to cast ballots....

OK, I admit I make things up all the time. Stop checking real news sources. I hate to get caught lying all the time. we Dems really rely upon the gullibility of the voters and on no one bothering to verify our smears. Please don't watch fox or read the WSJ or Wash times. they refuse to print lies. It is causing us all sorts of trouble. we may not win the election if we can't keep the press in our pocket.

No saddam al queda link?

http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed042606a.cfm

JustTired said:

Here is an idea.. instead of us spending oh 100 billion or so on a war that is a total waste of time..

ExxonMobil's sales for the last 12 months is $377 billion. How are we going to replace all of that with alternative energy that currently costs more? This is ONE company. It doesn't include any other oil companies, anything outside of the US, or any utility emissions.

When is comes to global warming, $100 billion is a drop in the bucket.

No WMDs?
http://www.mrc.org/press/2006/press20060623.asp

No WMDs?
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=10101&offer=&hidebodyad=true

NO WMDs?

http://www.ravnwood.com/archives/005243.php

As you can tell my cut and paste button is working again. I am prepared to post all sorts of new idiotic ideas now, which I will claim for my own. and instead of not having any name, I am going to have a new name every time. I get smarter every day.

Of course a multimillionaire can be a true voice for the poor and working people! your question is just silly.

First of all, John Edwards was once poor. Second and more importantly, it just takes the ability to empathize in order to understand the difficulties of others. For prominent examples look at FDR and Eleanor and RFK, who were certainly born with silver spoons in their mouths.

Nissl:

Can you articulate a standard which would apply to candidates of BOTH parties under which McCain's S&L ties and Hillary's land deals SHOULD be examined and debated, but Obama's should not?

In the story on Edwards the Hedge Fund in question also became the first hedge fund to go public thereby opening up its operation for much more scrutiny at the end of Edwards' tenure as an advisor.

The best way to level the playing field for everyone isn't to throw stones from the outside it is to convince the powers-that-be on the inside that the way they do buisness is wrong and they need to change. Edwards did this and now you are lamb-basting him for it.
And get off the 400 dollar haircut, Romney, Bush, Clinton, Richardson, heck even McCain have personal stylists that charge them an arm and leg for a haircut. These people are on TV all the time and have to look perfect all the time, 400 dollars is a small price to pay for that.

The Obama thing is much to do about nothing. As soon as he found out the guy was shady he severed all ties.

Hey... so who does pay for global warming... ;) I think that no matter what our belief in global warming is, and I believe personally it is happening, that we have to keep our country competitive against the Chinese, the Indians, the Japanese, etc.. Here is an idea.. instead of us spending oh 100 billion or so on a war that is a total waste of time.. why don't we spend that money on solar, wind, and nuclear. We can really hurt the terrorists more there then we could ever how we are currently spending it. And yes.. nuclear is actually a good option if it is not screwed over by people with no idea how it works...

You know this most recent article does lead to some hope that the election might not be a total rout. Both of these politicians appear to have some serious issues... which is good because it sort of balances out the lack of good "winnable" candidates currently running as Republicans... If we can't beat them on character... maybe we can just make them look really bad... should be easy from the sounds of it.

Chris, I'll be happy with the balance here if you next link to columns about Rudy living with his mistress, McCain's S&L ties, Romney's ever-shifting positions, and the Clinton land deals.

I don't see anything new of actual substance regarding Obama in the article. The purchase of a small chunk of land from Rezko at market rates was the old story, and probably does reflect a lapse in judgment if nothing illegal.

The new story is that Rezko did business with Obama's old firm, and that Rezko's business failed and did a poor job maintaining their buildings. The Sun-Times has not established that Obama did a single thing for Rezko as a lawyer, nor does the bleeding-heart lead about Rezko's inability or unwillingness to keep the heat on have anything to do with the issue at hand.

I know people want to talk about Obama now that he's tied for the lead, but I'd like to see some actual analysis of these stories. This whole "on the one hand, on the other hand" thing, specifically targeting democrats might I add, is so 2004.

What about the misperception that John Edwards is an environmentally friendly champion of the working poor, when in fact he lives in a 29,000 square foot house, gets $400 haircuts, and work for a hedge fund that sets up overseas tax dodges in the Cayman Island.

Razorback

I enjoyed our discussion yesterday on global warming and just re-read the posts and thanks for the nice comments about me. However, I must tell you that I am not a liberal. I am firmly in the middle, some of my views might be characterized as liberal but others are definitely conservative. I am a retired military officer and current small business man. I am disgusted with both parties and ideologues of the left and right. Lately, I have been more disgusted with the incompetence of the Bush administration but give the Democrats in Congress time and they will be up there (or down there) in my estimation.

Those who drive Volvos and eat tofu went up to the mountain, and were handed the objective truth by the Almighty.

Yeah right, whatever.

What about the misperception that the cost of global warming is paid for by industry, instead of by CONSUMERS?

As the researchers explained in their report, "The extent of Americans' misperceptions vary significantly depending on their source of news. Those who receive most of their news from Fox News are more likely than average to have misperceptions. Those who receive most of their news from NPR or PBS are less likely to have misperceptions. These variations cannot simply be explained as a result of differences in the demographic characteristics of each audience, because these variations can also be found when comparing the demographic subgroups of each audience."

Almost shocking was the extent to which Fox News viewers were mistaken. Those who relied on the conservative network for news, PIPA reported, were "three times more likely than the next nearest network to hold all three misperceptions. In the audience for NPR/PBS, however, there was an overwhelming majority who did not have any of the three misperceptions, and hardly any had all three."

Looking at the misperceptions one at a time, people were asked, for example, if the U.S. had discovered the alleged stockpiles of WMD in Iraq since the war began. Just 11% of those who relied on newspapers as their "primary news source" incorrectly believed that U.S. forces had made such a discovery. Only slightly more -- 17% -- of those who relied on NPR and PBS were wrong. Yet 33% of Fox News viewers were wrong, far ahead of those who relied on any other outlet.

Likewise, when people were asked if the U.S. had "clear evidence" that Saddam Hussein was "working closely with al Queda," similar results were found. Only 16% of NPR and PBS listeners/viewers believed that the U.S. has such evidence, while 67% of Fox News viewers were under that mistaken impression.

Overall, 80 percent of those who relied on Fox News as their primary news source believed at least one of the three misperceptions. Viewers/listeners/readers of other news outlets didn't even come close to this total.

In other words, Fox News viewers are literally less informed about these basic facts. They have, put simply, been led to believe things that are simply not true. These poor dupes would have done better in this survey, statistically speaking, if they received no news at all and simply guessed whether the claims were accurate.

Yeah, where is this kind of oppo on the R side? Please don't make me laugh by saying Rudy, for instance, isn't up to his eyeballs in slimy cronies.

Why don't you talk a little about Rudy's connections to New Jersey 'businessmen'? I like to hear a little about that. Oh, and how about all the charges Bernie Kerik [Rudy's partner] has been indicted on?

WELL CC, NICE WORK... HOW MUCH IS THE RNC PAYING YOU?

Does anyone really think that Obama raised $26 million in one quarter from the working poor and Katrina survivors?

But Edwards earned it. And so did Dick Cheney. Is "earning it" moral justification for inequality? It is in the mind of Edwards.

And the $400 haircut, and the employment with a hedge fund that does overseas tax dodges?

Edwards is the ultimate hypocrite.