MyDD :: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes

Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes

by bradydundee, Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:13:50 PM EST

Saturday :: March 15, 2008
Obama Tells Sun Times Rezko is Still a Friend
By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 10:50:08 AM EST
This diary has several direct links to follow-up.

In addition to being interviewed by the Chicago Tribune this week about Tony Rezko, Barack Obama also sat down for an interview with the Chicago Sun Times. More statements by Obama from the Sun Times interview:
Here is a couple of links to this story
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/ob ama/843582,obama031408a.article
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/ob ama/844455,CST-NWS-obama15.article

Is Rezko still a friend?

"Yes,'' Obama said, "with the caveat if it turns out the allegations are true, then he's not who I thought he was, and I'd be very disappointed with that.''
And it's that friendship, Obama said, that probably kept him from realizing it was a mistake to enter into a real estate deal with Rezko.
"Probably because I'd known him for a long time, and he'd acted in an aboveboard manner with me," he said. "And I considered him a friend. ... It's further evidence that I'm not perfect.''
Chicago Tribune columnist John Kaas writes today about Obama's latest statements, "It's almost believable. As in, almost, but not quite. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local /chi-obama-kass-rezko-column,1,7963637.c olumn
The audio of the 80 minute Sun Times interview is here: http://www.suntimes.com/images/cds/MP3/0 31408obama.mp3

Tags: Tony Rezko & Barack Obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 25 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (2.00 / 1)

Did not know of Rezko`s past after more than a decade of knowing him, and did not know of Wright explosive`s sermons after 20 years...sure.

Wisdom Is The Reward For Listening Over A Lifetime

by gunner on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:18:55 PM EST

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (none / 0)

I wonder how you folks react when your friends do the wrong thing or run into trouble.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:22:50 PM EST

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (2.00 / 1)

I don`t make them President!

Wisdom Is The Reward For Listening Over A Lifetime

by gunner on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:26:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (none / 0)

I give my friends the benefit of the doubt. I think that Obama has a soft heart, and wants to believe in the goodness of people. I also try to look at the goodness, but some people just don't have that goodness no matter what they do. I believe that the Clintons have a lot of badness in their hearts, and that is one of the main reasons I dislike the Clintons so much.

by Spanky on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:30:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (1.00 / 1)

The Clintons may have a lot of "badness", but they are not American haters who refuse to wear the American flag pin in honor of America. And, their pastor is not the one who is inciting fearmonerging, hate speeches and resentment against USA. That is for terrorists, not for religious authorities, unless you are a radical ,which this guy is. And Obama got married under his blessing and got his two daughters baptized under him? I would not want my President to think of this man as his "spiritual adviser"

by American1989 on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:43:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

America Hater (none / 0)

Regardless of whether you think it was politically savvy for Obama not to don a flag lapel or wait to denouce a few of his former pastor's statements, can we at least agree that Obama is not an "America hater". That's the type of attck I'd expect from Rush Limbaugh not from fellow Democrats.

by DreamsOfABlueNation on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:50:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (none / 0)

You "believe" Clintons are bad.

Based on what? Based on some lies, smears, rumors someone fed you.

And you think Obama has a soft heart. Based on what?

Because no one knows the dirty things he did so far? His judgements for last 20 years are coming out now. He is a smart guy who went to Harvard. He can not be a dumb guy who can not make out right or wrong in 10 years.

Talk about double standards and hypocrisy!

by Sandeep on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:44:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (none / 0)

holly crap I have a swamp to sell you cheap

by bradydundee on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:40:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? (none / 0)

The repugs are mad because they want Hillary, because they have the dirt on Bill. They got the Spitzer thing on the Clintons, and if Hillary is the nominee we will never hear the end of the comparisons between Bill Clinton and Spitzer. They are both from NY, and both cheated while in office. The repugs will say can we really trust Bill Clinton in the White House again???

by Spanky on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:33:40 PM EST

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? (none / 0)

Dont run behind the excuse of Bill Clinton.

Simple answer - Hillary is the candidate, Talk about her.

In Obama's case they will be talking about his so called famed judgements.

by Sandeep on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:46:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? (none / 0)

Yes, Bill is not the candidate.

But neither is Wright.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:52:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? (none / 0)

And are you going to live in the fear of Repubs and nominate Obama based on that fear?

So you mean Obama is useless except the fact that Bill Clinton is not associated with him?

by Sandeep on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:47:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: (2.00 / 0)

He puts on cement shoes every day lately it seems.

Gwen Ifil said that he's possibly ruined the entire party's chances in Nov. even if we don't nominate him. He's destroying the brand we've worked hard to build.

No longer a Democrat, now proudly an independent voter!

by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:35:34 PM EST

Re: Big heart? Sure... (none / 0)

But Carter was a very nice man with a big heart that gave people the benefit of the doubt as well.

I think Carter is a great man and a wonderful person...but he was a terrible president.

Obama cannot win and we need to move on from him and soon.

by americanincanada on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:35:57 PM EST

Re: Big heart? Sure... (none / 0)

"Obama cannot win and we need to move on from him and soon."

By move on, I assume you propose nominating Clinton, a candidate that 50% of polled Americans consistently say they view negatively and would not vote for. For all of Obama's faults, he is still viewed more positively--and thus is a more astute candidate choice for the Democrats -- than Clinton.

by DreamsOfABlueNation on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:54:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Big heart? Sure... (none / 0)

Clinton will still win it in Nov. Obama is a roll of dice, it can go bad sharply.

by Sandeep on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:48:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Opinions (none / 0)

That's your opinion. There is always the chance that the Republican's have dirt on Hillary too that they can release upon her nomination. Given that they've been expecting her to win for four years I would imagine they've spent much more time and resources on opposition research for her than for Obama. That combined with her negatives make her just as much a dice roll as Obama.

by DreamsOfABlueNation on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 05:11:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes (2.00 / 0)

"Yes,'' Obama said, "with the caveat if it turns out the allegations are true, then he's not who I thought he was, and I'd be very disappointed with that.''

So Obama's explanation, his defense so to speak, is that he was completely clueless as to who's who, and who does what in Chicago politics. He's actually banking on us appreciating him being clueless about politics in his own community as a Presidential quality.

Obama doesn't know things. Obama doesn't know people. Obama thinks he'll be a fine POTUS.

Puhleeez...

Re-elect the President in 2012

by DemAC on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:37:03 PM EST

Re: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes (none / 0)

I enjoy seeing the outrage from people about Rezko, which was centered around failing real estate. I can't remember, was there some kind of real estate issue with Hillary in the past? Whitewash, Whitepaper...no. It was Whitewater. Additionally, Obama has not be accused of doing anything illegal. Glass houses people...

by Rockville Liberal on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 12:58:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes (none / 0)

BUT, then again, obama is a different kind of politician...NOT!

by californiarose on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:41:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes (none / 0)

Do you mean Obama will bring the same old Washington style politics which Hillary is so good at?

Why need Obama if both live in glass houses and we know Hillary has lived in such a house longer?

You need to find a new excuse.

by Sandeep on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:51:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes (none / 0)

No one has accused of doing a favor for Rezko for contributions. Without a quid pro quo, there is no scandal.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:53:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes (none / 0)

No one has yet proven that Obama did political favors for Rezko. The circumstances are there and in plain view however, and we'll see what happens when Tony Rezko starts to talk. Something that, incidentally, should happen sometime in the fall, if Fitzgerald pushes on.

Re-elect the President in 2012

by DemAC on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:02:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Yes (none / 0)

You're right. But I haven't even seen a single specific allegation of a favor done by Obama.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 02:08:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question: Is Rezko still a friend? Answer: Ye (none / 0)

A candidate who always says it is not the experience that counts but the judgement he has shown now shows his lack of Juddement.

His 20 years association with a Pastor who thinks US should be damned.
His Association with Resko who financed him throughout his political career.

by indus on Sat Mar 15, 2008 at 01:34:52 PM EST

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