Obama fundraiser found guilty

[RecycleMichael]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080604/ap_on_re_us/fundraiser_trial

Jury: Rezko guilty of 16 counts in corruption case
By MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO - A prominent fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Rod Blagojevich was convicted Wednesday of fraud and money laundering after a high-profile federal trial provided an unusually detailed glimpse of the pay-to-play politics that has made Illinois infamous. Antoin "Tony" Rezko, 52, showed no emotion as the jury delivered a mixed verdict that found him guilty of scheming with the government's star witness to get kickbacks out of money management firms wanting state business, but acquitted him of charges that included attempted extortion.

The jury delivered its guilty verdict on 16 of 24 counts after a nine-week trial. Rezko has known Obama since he entered politics and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with the Democratic presidential candidate, although testimony barely touched on their relationship. Most of the focus was on shakedowns prosecutors said Rezko arranged when he was a top adviser to Blagojevich.

Neither Blagojevich nor Obama has been accused of wrongdoing. Rezko's defense attorneys maintained that the government had little evidence tying him to corruption and that the star witness, admitted political fixer Stuart P. Levine, was not credible because years of drug use had damaged his memory.

Levine was a member of a state board that decided which hospitals got built and was on a panel that decided which investment firms got allocations from a $40 billion fund that pays the pensions of retired teachers. Levine testified that Rezko, drawing on the political clout he developed as a Blagojevich fundraiser, stacked both boards with members who could be relied upon to follow orders when big-money decisions came up. Prosecutors said he used that clout to shake down companies and individuals hoping for state business for $7 million in kickbacks.

While Obama's name rarely surfaced during testimony, the case drew attention to Obama's relationship with Rezko, a man Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton derided in one televised debate as a "slum landlord." Rezko, a real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur, had been friendly with Obama for years, even offering him a job after Obama finished law school. Obama turned down the offer, but a political friendship developed.

Rezko donated more than $21,000 to Obama and raised far more for his campaigns in Illinois, though not his presidential bid. He also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next to the new Obama home at the same time from a couple who insisted on selling both pieces of property simultaneously. The purchase raised questions about the extent of his help. The charges against Rezko had nothing to do with Obama, who has donated $150,000 in Rezko-related contributions to charity.

Rezko, 52, was charged with scheming with Levine to split a $1.5 million kickback from a contractor who wanted to build a hospital in northern Illinois and to shake down money management firms wanting to invest in the teacher pension fund. Rezko denied he had anything to do with such a scheme.

Rezko attorneys claimed that once FBI wiretaps picked up Levine talking about payoffs and other corruption he needed to provide federal prosecutors with a "big fish" like Rezko in order to get a deal and avoid a possible life sentence. Levine did make a deal with prosecutors under which instead of life he will probably get a 5 1/2-year prison sentence and forfeit $5 million. He admitted on the stand that for 30 years he attended twice-a-month marathon drug parties, where he shared drugs including cocaine and crystal methamphetamine with male companions. Rezko attorneys said Levine's brain had been so badly damaged that he couldn't recall what Rezko had said and done years ago.

[USRufnex]

"The charges against Rezko had nothing to do with Obama, who has donated $150,000 in Rezko-related contributions to charity."

-- Let's just say if me, myself... sings for some Chicago opera patron with a multimillion dollar condo on Lake Shore Drive.... if this guy bankrolls my career....

Am I implicated and arrested for his actions... and is it my responsibility to know of any illegal activities the guy may have engaged in???

-- Oh, nice concession post the day after Obama officially wraps it up, RM.  [B)]

...while Hillary tries to force her way onto the ticket, maybe I can start posting some highly vetted stories about Hillary and Bill and....

[RecycleMichael]

You are who you hang with.

[waterboy]

A stitch in time, saves nine.

Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.

A woman scorned....

We all hang together or we'll surely hang separately.

Don't cry over spilled milk.

99% of all drug addicts started out drinking milk.

Strong stuff there Michael.

[USRufnex]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/26/hsu_raised_big_money_for_clinton_supporters/

Hsu raised big money for Clinton supporters
Candidates she courted benefit
By Scott Helman, Globe Staff  |  September 26, 2007

Disgraced fund-raiser Norman Hsu did a lot more than just pump $850,000 into Hillary Clinton's campaign bank account: He also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local, state, and federal candidates who have endorsed Clinton or whose support she courted.

A major fund-raiser for Democrats since 2003, Hsu became one of Clinton's biggest bundlers - gathering scores of individual checks and sending them to her campaign. But since revelations last month that Hsu was a fugitive in a 15-year-old California fraud case, Clinton has said she would return the $850,000 she has taken from him and his associates.

In at least some cases, Clinton or her aides directly channeled contributions from Hsu and his network to other politicians supportive of her presidential campaign, according to interviews and campaign finance records. There is nothing illegal about one politician steering wealthy contributors to another, but the New York senator's close ties to Hsu have become an embarrassment for her and her campaign.

Last fall, as the Nevada governor's race was heating up, Clinton agreed to help raise money for Democrat Dina Titus, a prominent party leader in a state that holds a key early presidential caucus. Clinton arranged for Hsu, at the time a little-known New York apparel executive with no apparent reason to take interest in Nevada politics, to give Titus $5,000 on Nov. 3, according to a person with knowledge of Clinton's fund-raising.

And in February, when former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack ended his own White House bid, he was about $450,000 in the red. A month after dropping out, Vilsack endorsed Clinton, and Clinton agreed to help him retire his debts. (Both insisted there was no quid pro quo.)

Over the next few months, some of Clinton's biggest fund-raisers gave Vilsack checks, including Hsu, who kicked in the maximum allowable contribution, $2,300, on May 3 after attending an event organized by Clinton's campaign, Newsweek reported this month. An associate of Hsu's, Paul Su, chipped in $1,000 on the same day.

In other cases, Clinton helped direct Hsu's money to influential politicians who have yet to endorse her but hail from key presidential primary states. Clinton raised at least $6,000 from Hsu and his network last year for Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire, according to Lynch aides. Lynch has no plans to endorse anyone before the state's crucial January primary, aides said.

And at least some of the $17,000 that Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan collected from Hsu and his associates in 2005 and 2006 stems from a Nov. 29, 2005, fund-raising reception for her hosted by Steven Rattner, a New York investment firm executive and major Clinton donor seen as a candidate for US Treasury secretary if Clinton wins. Granholm's office said she has not made an endorsement decision.

Clinton's campaign acknowledged that they urged Hsu to give to fellow Democrats.

"We frequently encourage supporters of ours to donate to other Democrats - Mr. Hsu was no exception," Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said in an e-mail.

Federal prosecutors in New York unsealed a separate criminal complaint against Hsu on Thursday, charging him with breaking campaign finance laws by giving to Clinton and other candidates in other people's names and with running a "massive" Ponzi scheme to defraud investors out of more than $60 million.

Clinton's critics have said that her relationship to Hsu dredges up memories of the fund-raising scandals that dogged her husband, Bill, in the White House in the 1990s. Hillary Clinton has sought to limit the damage by vowing more thorough background checks on major donors.

A spokesman for Hsu, Robert Emmers, declined to comment.

Campaign finance records show numerous contributions from Hsu and his associates to Clinton supporters......

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

You are who you hang with.

Since you have stated plainly that you won't vote for McCain and you are a dedicated Democrat, I'm pretty amazed you continue denegrate Obama.  Unless this is some part of a grass roots effot to topple the delegates at the convention with a smear campaign for the next three months, it makes no sense why you would keep going after Obama.

That's the job of us unrepentant repugs. []

Note to USR- couldn't have said it better, right on.

[okiebybirth]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

You are who you hang with.

[USRufnex]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

You are who you hang with.

Really?!?



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/us/05hsu.html

Norman Hsu, the shamed political powerbroker and Democratic donor, was sentenced Friday to a three-year prison term by a California judge in connection with a 1992 plea in a fraud case in which investors lost millions of dollars in an elaborate Ponzi scheme.

------------------------------------------------

Mr. Hsu, 56, a California businessman and former apparel industry executive, is expected to soon appear before the United States attorney in New York on separate but similar charges of defrauding unwitting investors out of $60 million in another Ponzi scheme.

Mr. Hsu has been a major campaign contributor for many Democratic politicians, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has returned $850,000 in contributions tied to him.

[USRufnex]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

You are who you hang with.

Record Obama Crowd, the Size of a City

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., May 18, 2008. (Associated Press)

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by USRufnex

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

You are who you hang with.

Record Obama Crowd, the Size of a City

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., May 18, 2008. (Associated Press)

Pay no attention to the fact that these people were there for a rock concert and Obama spoke at intermission...

Maybe McCain should show up at a U2 concert and claim that they all showed up for him.

Do you research anything?

[USRufnex]

Yes, I do.  

And if the Dave Matthews Band was opening with a free hour long concert during an Obama rally, you'd have a major point... but...

Evidently, YOUR kool-aid drinking research consists of reading a buncha propagandist Republican hack-pseudo-journalists who insist that all 75,000 showed up for a concert by The Decemberists... IPLAW compares the Decemberists to a U2 concert... LOL.  [}:)]

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/50836-conservative-critics-raise-stink-over-decemberistsbarack-obama-rally



But hey, let's play this game anyway: supposing for a moment that the Decemberists really did draw 10,000 of those 75,000 people to Waterfront Park this past Sunday, that leaves 65,000 who came solely to see Obama speak-- still a landmark for his campaign. And that, of course, assumes Decemberists fans and Obama supporters are mutually exclusive entities. Um, LOL.

And we won't even get into the "Decemberists are Commies!" theories being bandied about. Instead, have another look at the Decemberists kicking it with Senator Obama in the photo above, and catch the band opening for Death Cab for Cutie May 24 at the 8,000-capacity Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon.


http://www.decemberists.com/news.aspx

Decemberists to play Obama rally in Portland SUNDAY
Points of Order:
* The Decemberists to play set at Barack Obama Rally SUNDAY

For those in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon this weekend, The Decemberists will play an hour-long set at a Rally with Barack Obama THIS SUNDAY, May 18th. The rally will take place at The Bowl in Waterfront Park, Corner of SW Columbia St. and Naito Pkwy, just south of the Hawthorne Bridge.

Doors open at 12:30 pm and The Decemberists will play shortly thereafter. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information and to RSVP, check out the event page on the Obama website

Yours,
The Decemberists

http://www.guitarbassman.com/2008/05/23/conservatives-knock-obamadecemberists-rally/

[USRufnex]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw

Do you research anything?

Here's some light nutty-as-a-fruitcake high fiber conservative crapola for you:

Soy is making kids 'gay'

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53327

Enjoy.  [)]

[guido911]

quote:Originally posted by USRufnex

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

You are who you hang with.

Record Obama Crowd, the Size of a City

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., May 18, 2008. (Associated Press)

So what, more people showed up at Dan's Bake Sale nearly fifteen years ago--and neither U2 nor the Decembrists were playing. I seem to recall Rush Limbaugh made an appearance...Well, I guess this is more Republican hack stuff.

[USRufnex]

No Guido... if I tried to use IPLAW's logic... then the folks at Dan's Bake Sale were only there for the pie... []

"The last time this many conservatives gathered in one place was Berlin in 1935."

-- Jay Leno

[RecycleMichael]

This story just broke today. I have written about Obama's relationship with this guy for six months. The trial ended today. It had nothing to do with my support of Hillary. I know that Hillary will not be the nominee. You guys act as if I mentioned the story today just to be sour grapes.

I am not completely happy with Obama as my candidate for two reasons. I have written about them for months now.

The first was his relationship with this guy Rezko. Obama has been too close to this guy for me to be totally comfortable. Obama approached him to buy adjoining land for the Obama home, held fundraisers for every race Obama has ever ran, and has now been found guilty of getting kickbacks from government contracts, fraud and money laundering. Chicago politics are very shady and this guy was pretty well known to be involved in many funny deals.

The second reason why I had reservations about Obama was his church. I wrote about his preacher weeks before any media coverage happened. I firmly believe that if America had talked about this issue, Obama would have never won in Iowa. The Hillary campaign ran a flawed campaign in so many ways, but not using this story was one of their biggest.

Obama has solved this one for me. I now respect him for showing the courage to separate himself from his church, something that I too would have struggled with.

Hillary had flaws too, I know. Her husband, her vote on Iraq, her attitude of "I know everything", all made her hard to support. But she was totally qualified in my book and had done everything to win the highest political prize in our country. She had been involved in so many positive things and had worked hard.

Her husband was my favorite politician up until the Lewinsky scandal. He knew he was being watched, yet did it anyway. I never trusted him again. He had it all and risked it just for a chance to drop his pants.

Obama was not prepared enough for me. He is very untested and unproven. But the democrats in America think that is a strength right now. I understand. We felt the same way when we elected Jimmy Carter after the Nixon/Ford shamble. The passion for change can be powerful.

I won't vote for McCain. I think he is wrong on the war, wrong on nuclear energy, wrong on immigration, and wrong for America. He was my favorite republican because of his liberal past and willingness to work with democrats, but the last couple of months he has changed all that to appeal to the republican base.

I will support Obama. But I won't fall in love with him like so many others have. Democrats fall in love with their candidates and republicans fall in line with theirs.