Republicans say Clinton, Obama feasted on pork

What does that mean really ? That neither Clinton nor Obama will get the Jewish Vote ?

Obama’s Money from Islam

Rezko received a $3.5 million loan from London-based IRAQI billionaire Nadhmi Auchi -- a loan that was later forgiven in exchange for shares in a prime slice of Chicago real estate. Rezko gave $700,000 of the money to his wife and used the rest to pay legal bills and funnel cash to various supporters."

These Funds from Auchi's loan helped finance a complex series of transactions between Rezko and Democratic Presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama involving the 2005 purchase of Obama's Chicago mansion and Rezko's purchase of an adjoining landlocked parcel.

Rezko claims he paid “full market price” and Obama apparently received a “discount” of several hundred thousand dollars for his parcel. Rezko then improved his parcel to benefit Obama.

Instead of handing cash to Obama, Rezko handed Obama a preferential price for property. This is the same form of “honest graft” and preferential treatment that sent former Illinois Governor Otto Kerner to jail over 30 years ago, see United States v. Isaacs, 493 F.2d 1124 (7th Cir. 1974).

The Chicago Sun-Times recently reported that Mr. Rezko, around the same general period he was wheeling with Obama, also provided a preferential price for a property purchase by U. S. Representative Luis Gutierrez.

Instead of transferring cash to buy influence, Rezko was engaging in structured property transactions and preferential treatment of public officials to confer significant financial benefits on them, far above the legal limits of any legitimate political contribution permitted by federal law.

Thanks to the release of Barack Obama's income tax records, we are finally able to get some necessary perspective on the big favor Tony Rezko did for the Obamas in buying what has been termed in the press "the adjacent, undeveloped lot". It turns out this is a seriously misleading description.

Rather than merely purchasing a separate lot, Rezko appears to have purchased the yard of the Obama manse, and allowed them to live in the house+yard property, amounting to a gift (or loan, if you will) of considerable value.

The Obamas' tax returns from 2000-2005 had personal information blanked out, but strangely enough, the 2006 Form 1040 left in the home address.

The feds allege that Mr. Rezko was able to steer state contracts and policy decisions, such as authorization to build hospitals in specific locations, because he was so close to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (for whom he was a top fundraiser) and because he was willing to share the graft with his cronies

Rezko's connection to Obama began well before Obama ran for office. Rezko spotted him early, figured he might be a rising star, and helped secure funds for his initial campaigns. As a major mob figure, Rezko's role raises questions because NO one has ever accused him of being a civic-minded fellow who simply enjoys political fundraising because he delights in good government. Skeptical souls want to know what Rezko sought in return for his support and whether he got it?

Mr. Tony Rezko who owns a slum landlord business in inner city Chicago is under indictment in Illinois for seeking to extort money from potential state vendors.

IRAQI billionaire Nadhmi Auchi stills lives in London.

You Hillary / Republican haks got nothing besides Rezko discredited dirt and Rev Wright? Must be sad to have to dredge up bad dirt becasue you cant come up with anything new on our man of integrity and discipline.

Sorry, but comment 2 is B.S. The transactions are well documented. The 2 pieces of adjoining property were sold in 2 separate transactions. The owner was asking 1.9 million for the house and Obama offered 1.6 million which the owner took. The original owner had no relation to Rezko. How often does the purchaser wind up getting a home below the owner's original asking price? ALL THE TIME! And the property Rezko's wife purchased in a completely separate transaction is a full sized lot, suitable for development. There is a fence separating the vacant lot from Obama's property, so how does that become their "yard"? Please check your facts before spouting this foolishness.

Shocking btw what did John Mc cain chat about when he met the gentleman the US State Dept banned from the country because he is a russian mafia person. The meeting was arranged by his campaign manager. Perhaps he was telling him that US politicians shouldnt eat pork. John Mc Cain needs to explain that meeting oh yeah he is so clean that its ok if he does something dirty

McCain isn't taking any money for his state because he's busy wasting our national treasure in Iraq. That's a whole alot of pork, at least a couple farms worth.And has been caught misspeaking, beating his war drum, about the next place he wants to send our American troops. I guess he really does have a concience. I

It's also telling that Carlie tries to describe it as "money from Islam" simply because it *supposedly* came from an Iraqi billionaire after several degrees of separation. Hey, I hear that McCain got a $50 donation from someone drawn on a check from Bank America and Bank America has a customer who's Islam. Bet you didn't know that McCain was bought off with Money from Islam!

That first statement tells you enough to know that you can readily discount the rest of Carlie's post as a partisan BS hack job.

Remember Keating? McCain, Obama and Hillary all have skeletons in their closets and skeletons that everyone already knows about. I am, though, beginning to believe that Hillary supporters McGovern and Cleaver are right that she can't win because of her gender. That's pretty sad, if true. Good thread about it here:
http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digits.php?rType=1&sPath=1839&sNode=1839&uId=289

Looks like business as usual for the democrats!!! Tax & spend, even if it isn't theirs. It's a joke that you liberals think that this is OK, letting the money that we earn go to these projects that serve no purpose except their own. Look at the article the other day on your congressman Delahunt. Wasting money to fix a pond that overflows and only effects a few people (ironically one of those people was a former democratic congressman from New York).

The both of them are going to bankrupt this country due to this terrible policy. Universal Healthcare, Obama's line that he is going to give the UN $150 billion dollars to pay our 'fair share', their stance on SSN. It's all a joke, and you are all falling for it!!!!!

Obama is running as an outsider and a uniter of the races. The fact he is a patronage politician with strong ties to the Chicago machine is relevant. His ties to his spiritual advisor and mentor, Rev Wright, a known racebaiter and anti-semite,go back deacades. This is very contrary to his unification plateform.

Right, J.J., I smell a twisted, lying bigot!

It's hard to believe that people like Jeff are still trotting out that 'tax and spend' garbage. Look at this current administration and it's budget. When Clinton left office, the budget was in a surplus. And now? I don't blame Jeff for being a good little monkey and repeating what his grandfather told him, but wake up. As far as taxes go, when our economy goes into recession, which it's looking as though it will, that's just another form of a tax. When gas prices are $3.xx a gallon, that has a huge impact on low income families. Of course, if you make over, say, $90,000 a year, it doesn't make much difference that you pay a few dollars more per gallon while Exxon posts record profits in the billions. Wasn't the war supposed to pay for itself with oil revenues? I think that's what we were told. How's that working out for us? Wake up.

Clinton/Nutter ticket is most favorable for a shift in democratic success!

Comment #1 "Ron" is an uneducated, Anti-Semitic fool. Spending money has nothing to do with being Jewish. "Ron" is probably just some lazy, unemployed 30-something year-old still living at home. Jewish people are not the problem "Ron", YOU ARE! As for the pork-barrel spending, remember that they are all politicians, and all liars in one facet or another.

It's seems there is a general misconception in america that the president actually makes the laws and spends all the money himself...last time I checked congress makes the laws...the president may suggest a budget or veto bills but congress must approve these budgets etc...the president isn't repsonsible for everything....pork barrell spending is a gross misuse of funds paid by middle class americans like myself 40-50,000 a year tax payers...there is no free government money..it is our money. To fix the problems in washington we need a major overhaul of all "old time" congressmen and women...we need everyday america people instead of millionaires who vote themself lifetime pensions worth far more than medicare will ever pay you or me...with our money. People need to realize national health care isn't free, mortgage bail outs aren't free. Instead of focusing it's attention on steroids in baseball and other such minor issues our government should be actively intervening with the oil companies who made billions last year...again not the presidents fault...the big joke..refineries decreasing output of gasoline because there was starting to be a surplus....thus insuring the price per gallon remain high......

This little tidbit isn't news...

It's God forsaken PROPAGANDA.

What was omitted from this trash's short four sentences,was that, according to Citizens Against Government Waste survey, it was individual Republicans who pushed the most "pork" last year. In addition, the three House of Representative Republicans who sponsored legislation calling for a moratorium on such spending all engaged in the practice. They are Jack Kingston of Georgia, Zach Wamp of Tennessee and Frank Wolf of Virginia.

America is on to the liars that comprise the GOP: they can't be trusted, and ever since March 19th, 2003 - they won't be.

Please visit my anti-war website, www.shockedandawful.com

perhaps it was omitted because the article it is about the three candidates. typical liberal rubbish, "yeah, but look what these other guys did!" ugh. you fekkers are such predictable little twits.