Rezko Update -- Obama received three times more cash than admitted

HT to Captain Ed who also notes that this story isn't new. It was first published in June of 2007. But we agree with him that this might explain the exasperation with the Chicago media in their inability to get any answers from Obama about his ties to Tony Rezko.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

During his 12 years in politics, Sen. Barack Obama has received nearly three times more campaign cash from indicted businessman Tony Rezko and his associates than he has publicly acknowledged, the Chicago Sun-Times has found.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.

Obama has collected at least $168,308 from Rezko and his circle. Obama also has taken in an unknown amount of money from people who attended fund-raising events hosted by Rezko since the mid-1990s.

But seven months ago, Obama told the Sun-Times his "best estimate" was that Rezko raised "between $50,000 and $60,000" during Obama's political career.

But seven months ago, Obama told the Sun-Times his "best estimate" was that Rezko raised "between $50,000 and $60,000" during Obama's political career.

Obama, who wants to be the nation's next president, has been purging some of those donations -- giving charities more than $30,000 he got from Rezko and three of his business partners referenced in Rezko's federal indictments. All three attended a lavish fund-raiser Rezko hosted for Obama four years ago.

Obama, however, has kept $6,850 from others who also are referenced in Rezko's indictments. Obama also has hung on to contributions from doctors whom Rezko helped appoint to a state-government panel involved in some of Rezko's alleged fraud schemes. ...

Captain Ed runs down a couple other contributors that have shady dealings with Rezko:

The connections to Obama have received more attention, thanks to the local Chicago media rather than their national counterparts. One of Rezko’s associates turns out to be Ali D. Ata, who worked in Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s administration. Ata now faces fraud charges for writing a letter on state letterhead on behalf of Rezko that lied well enough to get millions of dollars in loans. Rezko brought Ata into Obama’s camp as a contributor.

There is also Joseph Aramanda. He faces no charges in the Rezko scandals, but Aramanda allegedly played a role in a scheme Rezko used to exploit the Illinois state teachers fund. Aramanda also had a son who worked on Obama’s staff, and he also contributed to Obama’s campaign.

This article sheds more light on the real relationship between Tony Rezko and Barack Obama. At the very least, it shows us that the ties are a lot deeper than just Rezko being a contributor to a political campaign. These guys knew each other well, and worked well together. And as we can see with the contributors, Obama clearly either doesn't care that he has shady money, or can't recognize corruption when it rears it's ugly head.

If it's the former, then there's no way in Hell he should be president. We already had a few corrupt presidents in our storied history, among them Clinton and LBJ. No one in this nation wants to see another one of either man in the cat bird seat.

It it's the latter, and that may be contended by Obama, then he is so inexperienced that he can't be trusted to avoid such pitfalls. Grant allowed his associates to run amuck, and in doing so they tarnished his reputation as a president. It also shows people that he's not ready to handle really tough issues.

He has been plagued in recent weeks by both Hillary, McCain, and even his own advisers by charges of inexperience and an inability to handle the job as president. This story doesn't help counter that argument.

Publius II