The Chicago Tribune reports that a “federal jury today convicted developer Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D).” Rezko received a guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts, including wire and mail fraud, money laundering, and aiding and abetting bribery. Rezko was also a political fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). Obama said they “were friends who occasionally socialized” but “now acknowledges that he was drawing too close to a campaign contributor.”
But even as the Republican National Committee uses Rezko to thwack Obama, the RNC has a Rezko problem of its own. And they forgot to mention it on Wednesday.It's a big Rezko problem. A big fat one known as Big Bob Kjellander and Big Bill Cellini.
If the trolls show up to crow about this, please reply thusly:
KEATING FIVE!
Rinse and Repeat.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:36 pmMaybe we should look into the political affiliations of the prosecutors in this case. And would charges have been filed if he wasn’t affiliated with Obama. We can no longer assume that justice is being served in this country.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:41 pmAnd soon we will get the Michelle Whitey tapes released and find we have settled on the lesser of two great candidates . . . more ammo for McSame, enough for him to continue to shoot himself in the foot and STILL win . . . .
June 4th, 2008 at 5:44 pmDear Jess:
KEATING FIVE!
June 4th, 2008 at 5:45 pmJess Wonderin Says:
And soon we will get the Michelle Whitey tapes released and find we have settled on the lesser of two great candidates
You do know that those tapes were proven to be ‘doctored’ right?
June 4th, 2008 at 5:47 pmhow can you asume justice is being served when Mu-kaka Mukasi is in charge?
June 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pmsorry, assume
June 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pmIf Tony Rezko was a member of the Bush gang the Fox “News” caption would be
June 4th, 2008 at 5:51 pm“REZKO FOUND INNOCENT ON 8 COUNTS!”
Rezko went to a White House Christmas Party in December 2003 along with two state GOP bigwigs and Karl Rove friend and operative Bob Kjellander. They were invited by Karl Rove.
This was about the time that corrupt Governor Ryan of IL was being pummeled by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. The GOP bigwigs wanted to make Fitzgerald stop.
What do you suppose they asked Rove – who happened to have his own “Fitzgerald problem” at the time?
June 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pmNot only mention Keating five but also that McCain belongs to the same party as Craig and Vitter. Given McCain’s past marital infidelity and dumping of his first wife, one could well suggest that sexual perverts all join the same party. Then we can talk about Duke, Abaramoff and others.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:53 pmJMOHR Says:
Not only mention Keating five but also that McCain belongs to the same party as Craig and Vitter. Given McCain’s past marital infidelity and dumping of his first wife, one could well suggest that sexual perverts all join the same party. Then we can talk about Duke, Abaramoff and others.
Absolutely! The right side has a closet so filled with skeletons (I’m not talking about Chertoff) that any topic they wish to bring up will immediately blow up in their face. The debates are gonna be fun. McSame is going to have a fit when his past words and deeds are laid bare. You think McSame is mean now? Just wait…
June 4th, 2008 at 5:56 pmOh so NOW you decide to mention Obama….
come on TP, the “tax exempt neutrality” argument is starting to lose its potency when you do things like this..
June 4th, 2008 at 6:02 pmWTF does this statement mean?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:05 pmI though Think Progress was on our side. Why are they repeating regressive talking talking points.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:08 pm>WTF does this statement mean?
It means TP constantly says its not advocating for any candidate so its tax exempt status wont be threatened. I took them at their word but honestly after seeing them fail to mention Obama is now the official delegate but somehow feeling it apropriate to bring up his name in the context of some distant associate convicted of criminal activity, I’m starting to think that they’d shill for hillary if they thought that 95 percent of people smart enough to use the internet didnt support her and her kooky Republican-lite selctively outraged tactics..
June 4th, 2008 at 6:19 pm…Rezko was also a political fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama…
While there are very clear differences between Democrats and Republicans it’s the simularities that are troubling, they all get their money from the same place.
This is why publicly financed campaigns are vital to our democracy.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pm>if they thought that
I mean “if they didnt know that..
June 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pmThe “Michelle/Whitey” tapes have already been proven a fraud.
-GSD
June 4th, 2008 at 6:30 pmHe’s BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!
Where’s the marshmallows? I want s’mores!
June 4th, 2008 at 6:59 pmIf you don’t like the commentary base here, Chucky RHF, you’re free to stop posting. At least this time you spared us the the CAPS — mostly.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:03 pmTaking some pretty big liberties with the facts aren’t you RHF? Where’d you get your talking points, Rove?
June 4th, 2008 at 7:08 pm>So ON YOUR SIDE means that legitimate controversy
Its legitimate to you, the same way its legitimate for clinton bashers to talk about how they offed vince foster and sold cocaine in arkansas. At this point, Obama is going ot be the democratic nominee, so anyone trying to play “6 degrees of corruption” with anyone obamas ever dealt with is doign the republicans good work for them..
> it looks like influence peddling.
Yeah, so does the entire concept of lobbying.
I really, really dont want to get in an argument with you. In fact, this is going to be the last post i make on this or any related subject. Right now my only side I’m on is keeping George bush from vicariously getting a 3rd term via mccain. If your on a different side, so be it.
I’m not even critiquing the merits of bashing obama or not.
I’m just saying if TP’s going to claim neutrality then posts like this don’t do alot toward making people beleive those claims.
It’s all I’m saying dude…you want to keep arguing with me, by all means, go ahead..
June 4th, 2008 at 7:29 pmJanuary 21,2009….News Flash!President Obama’s first official act as President was to Pardon his longtime friend and business associate Tony Rezko,for the 14 charges of money laundering,bribery and mail fraud.President Obama then appointed Rezko to the office of attorney General.Change you can believe in.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:22 pmWhat do I believe in?
Cincigal74…a lunatic you can ignore.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:50 pm#26 Ms_Joanne Says:
What do I believe in?
Cincigal74…a lunatic you can ignore.
Well put Ms. Joanne, hope you had a good day..
June 4th, 2008 at 9:07 pmI did thank you, Freedom Rebel. And the same to you!
June 4th, 2008 at 9:46 pmSomethings never change. Freshman Senator Obama hasn’t been sitting long in the Senate and he’s nominee of the Democrats. Rezko helped Obama buy the house he couldn’t afford and yes they were friends also. Notice how Obama seems to drop friends really fast. One can only wonder how he picks his friends. His Minister was a twenty year friend and Obama dropped him per the DNC orders. Rezko got dropped with the indictment. Senator Obama seems to drop friends really fast. Is he a friend of the American People if so how fast will he drop us. Rezko made friends in both parties and he is most likely looking for a pardon. Bush will have alot of pardons to give out.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:43 pmJackie Says:
Somethings never change.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
That’s right, Jackie, you never change – we can always count on you for such profound musings as “Is he a friend of the American People if so how fast will he drop us.” You’re probably one of the few people who still believe that Obama is a Muslim.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:41 amAs an African American and the Mother of a US Military soldier I think I earned the right to have an opinion. I got to see Senator Obama speak in Los Angeles and there were more questions then answers. I never said I think Obama is a Muslim as he is a baptized Baptist. Now my comments come from his actions with at lease two friends he allowed Americans to know he has. Senator Obama admitted a mad choice in picking Rezko those were the Senators words not mine. Obama’s Minister Rev. Wright formed a twenty year friendship. Obama now 47 years old met up with Rev. Wright when he was 27 year old. That’s a long time to be part of someones life. I respect Senator Obama’s decision to end his friendship and anything else he chooses. As of 1964 Blacks were given the right to vote and I understand the years I didn’t have equal rights. I respect the supporters of Senator Obama as my daughter is one of them but I was given Civil Rights in 1964 and will stand up for who and what I believe. I have a child fighting for MY country and I will speak my mind.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:57 amJackie, blacks could vote before 1964. Blacks got to vote before women did.
I couldn’t care less what Obama’s religion is. If he was baptized, not baptized, an atheist, etc. No politician should have to be making his religious stance known. That is not part of the job.
I understand and totally agree with you on Rezko and Wright. I couldn’t believe that Obama said that if he were still at the church, he would have left. That’s Monday night quarterbacking. He had twenty years to leave that church, and he put Wright in a senior position in his staff. He’s trying to do a magic act, and hope that we’re all retarded. His statements didn’t even make a lick of sense. I felt like it was Bush talking all over again. Just mumble, and hope something distracts us.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:50 amPlease tell me that you’re joking with this comment. You want to be hidden from the truth? You want everything to be screened beforehand for you? Are you a Republican? I could give you a list of sites that share the same mindset you have.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:52 am