Barack Obama's ability to get within a few feet of the Leader of the Free World is part of the reason Antoin Rezko wanted to be the senator's ally. Photograph provided by the White House.In writing my perception of the upcoming federal court trial of politico Antoin Rezko, I deliberately downplayed the portions that will mention Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
It is true that Obama’s name will come up, although it is not likely to be a key figure in the criminal case. It will be people who want to make a political case against the adopted-Chicago Democrat who try to elevate the content of Obama-related testimony to the level of a national crime.
REZKO SAW THE rise of a political star in Obama and decided he wanted to have a personal connection. This was a man who tried to develop ties to all the top pols at City Hall and the Statehouse.
What he did to curry favor was to help Obama get a larger-than-usual lot for his home in the Hyde Park neighborhood. A slightly larger piece of property that the standard urban lot adds to the value, while also causing Rezko to take a financial hit on the adjacent property he bought.
But Rezko apparently figured the financial loss would be worth it because of all the favors he would be able to ask in the future from Illinois’ junior senator.
No evidence has come out thus far that Obama ever did anything to help Rezko, and he has since said he should never have gotten involved in the deal. He probably deserves to be the butt of a few political jokes because of his ties to Antoin.
BUT THE ONLY thing that will really come out of the trial concerning Obama is that political people will be able to spend the bulk of this year (and the next four if Obama actually becomes president) speculating just what he would have done to repay his friend Tony for the land deal.
Speculation is not fact. However, let’s speculate a bit on our own and envision what would happen if this case is carried out to the extreme. Suppose we someday get the combination of a Rezko conviction and prison sentence, and an Obama presidency.
Just imagine all the jokes that will be told about Barack being in a position to give Rezko either clemency or a presidential pardon.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Hillary R. Clinton is among the many political people who want to think of the Rezko trial as an event (http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6292) loaded with dirt about presidential opponent Barack Obama.
It is true that Obama’s name will come up, although it is not likely to be a key figure in the criminal case. It will be people who want to make a political case against the adopted-Chicago Democrat who try to elevate the content of Obama-related testimony to the level of a national crime.
REZKO SAW THE rise of a political star in Obama and decided he wanted to have a personal connection. This was a man who tried to develop ties to all the top pols at City Hall and the Statehouse.
What he did to curry favor was to help Obama get a larger-than-usual lot for his home in the Hyde Park neighborhood. A slightly larger piece of property that the standard urban lot adds to the value, while also causing Rezko to take a financial hit on the adjacent property he bought.
But Rezko apparently figured the financial loss would be worth it because of all the favors he would be able to ask in the future from Illinois’ junior senator.
No evidence has come out thus far that Obama ever did anything to help Rezko, and he has since said he should never have gotten involved in the deal. He probably deserves to be the butt of a few political jokes because of his ties to Antoin.
BUT THE ONLY thing that will really come out of the trial concerning Obama is that political people will be able to spend the bulk of this year (and the next four if Obama actually becomes president) speculating just what he would have done to repay his friend Tony for the land deal.
Speculation is not fact. However, let’s speculate a bit on our own and envision what would happen if this case is carried out to the extreme. Suppose we someday get the combination of a Rezko conviction and prison sentence, and an Obama presidency.
Just imagine all the jokes that will be told about Barack being in a position to give Rezko either clemency or a presidential pardon.
-30-
EDITOR’S NOTE: Hillary R. Clinton is among the many political people who want to think of the Rezko trial as an event (http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=6292) loaded with dirt about presidential opponent Barack Obama.
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