Obama linked to 2004 party at Rezko’s home
Chicago Tribune
Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama’s name came up again at the Antoin “Tony” Rezko corruption trial and in a way that earlier filings in the case did not telegraph.
Stuart Levine, the prosecution’s star witness, said he and Obama were at a party Rezko threw at his Wilmette mansion on April 3, 2004, for Nadhmi Auchi, a controversial Iraqi-born billionaire who Rezko was trying to get to invest in a South Loop real-estate development.
Auchi, now a citizen of the United Kingdom, has faced criminal charges in Europe. He also figured in the revocation of Rezko’s bond early this year after attempting to wire him more than $3 million. Upon learning of that attempt, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve declared Rezko a flight risk and ordered him held in a federal jail in the Loop.
The Rezko party in 2004 was designed to induce Auchi to pour money into the South Loop investment. Obama’s presence at the party was not previously known. At the time, Obama was fresh off a surprise win in the Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and was riding a crest of national publicity.
Wild Thing’s comment…….
Tell me who you associate with and I’ll tell you what you are….the saying goes. Or you are who you associate with. Choose your friends carefully. There are more probably but they all are around for a good reason, because it is true.
From Wikipedia article on Nadhmi Auchi:
“Nadhmi Auchi was charged along with Saddam Hussein for conspiring to assassinate Iraqi President Abdul-Karim Qasim in 1959. Qasim was injured while his bodyguard was killed; Saddam managed to flee the country. Auchi was arrested for delivering weapons to the assassins but was later pardoned by President Qasim.”
Several US political fundraisers are currently on trial for corruption in connection with loans received from Auchi. Auchi is currently barred from entering the US by the state department as an undesirable alien.
In my family, it was “to be held in esteem, you must associate with those who are esteemable.”(I know that’s not a word, but we made some up along the way.) Not that from time to time, we all had some friends who were less than stellar, but we learned from those mistakes.
Money doesn’t always mean that person is a good person. I’ve seen homeless people who are kinder, nicer, smarter than Obama. I’d rather be friends with them, than a rich butthead who thinks only of himself.
Esteemable is a good word Lynn. It does not describe Obama’s associates. Just like Bill Clinton, too many of Obama’s associations are with people of at least shady nature if not just outright criminal behavior. Obama and these crooks may just be using each other, but there is still that old adage that “you are who you associate with”.
Some more of that “Democrat Transparency” they’ve been touting. Follow the money.
This guy is as dirty as the next politician. He claims in ads here in Pennsylvania he doesn’t take money from special Interest. Easy to say, but He’s getting a lot of money from individuals representing lawyers and law firms, security firms, real estate and Hollywood, …
And from Michelle Malkin,
“You can’t say that he doesn’t take special-interest money.”
“People in the oil and gas industries have given $222,309 to Obama. He received $528,765 from the pharmaceutical and health industry, making him the largest recipient of the sector’s largesse.”
He is not only an Elitist, he’s a liar, a cheat and most probably a thief.
Lynn, that is neat and esteemable is a great word.
Tom yes, I held such hope that the Clinton’s would be punished for their many crimes. Obama and the Clinton’s just keep getting away with stuff and it is so wrong.
Jack, yes following the money sure does work. Funny how I never heard of that before until Bill Clinton. And since then it has come in handy a lot.
Mark, yes he sure does take money from his own special Interest groups and people.
And thank you for that from Michelle.