Obama News You Likely Won't Hear
 

In 2003, Obama -- then an Illinois state senator, gave a "glowing" reference for Whitaker to Tony Rezko -- the now-convicted political fixer who helped Blagojevich find people to run state agencies.

Obama has said that's the only time he can recall talking to Rezko -- who was a major campaign fund-raiser for him and for Blagojevich -- about getting anyone a state job.

"Somebody who I do remember talking directly to Tony about was Dr. Eric Whitaker," Obama told the Sun-Times in March 2008. "He and I played basketball together when he was getting his master's in public health at Harvard, while I was in law school there. He had expressed an interest in that job. I did contact Tony, or Tony contacted me, and I gave him a glowing recommendation because I thought he was outstanding."

And now?

E-mails and other records of Dr. Eric Whitaker -- one of President Obama's best friends -- have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The investigation involves "faith-based initiatives" and health-awareness campaigns funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health when Whitaker ran the agency for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to copies of subpoenas obtained under the state's Freedom of Information Act.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/politic...aker09.article

chicago politics

:tro::tro:

One day it will be a book/movie

what ever happened to ......................Tony Rezko??

very interesting question.

He has two seperate criminal trials one that ended and one pending with the next court date of 5/14/10. That case shows him to be released under a $1.5 million bond secured by properties most of which have been released.

A second case had a jury find him guilty on 17 various counts on 6/4/08. It shows him to still be awaiting sentence with a status day scheduled for 5/26/10. Incidently he had originally been released on a $2 million bond secured by 11 properties and after a unauthorized trip to Syria bond was revoked and an additional $6.5 million in property was eventually put up and he was released on home confinement. All of these properties have been released following Rezko's conviction and placement into 'custody'.

Federal Bureau of Prisons (www.bop.gov) has no record of him staying at any of their inns so my guess is the Fed Prosecuter has him under U.S. Marshall guard as they give him 'singin' lessons.

I looked into the properties put up for bond and more specifically the owners of the properties and there is quite a list including:

Aiham and Almira Alasmmarae
Frederick Dawali
Basim Dihu
Ferras Elshair
Sahar Nammari
Karam Rezko
Shant Avakian
Jenan Shamoun
Ali Baghdadi
Abir Dawali
Inam Malki
Kinda Rezko (LOL wonder if she changed her name after Tony got caught)
Abdul and Raghad Dahham
Barakat Rezko
Rezkellah Rezko
Maha Makdah


but admittedly no Obama's

how about a presidential pardon , what are the odds on that?

a million to one. Personally I think Rezko is playing the Fed while accumulating time served in a hotel and won't rat on anyone except maybe Blago.

how about a history lesson on al capone for tomorrow steve?

way before my time. If extortion is what you're looking for we can talk Jesse Jackson? Booze is legal, slots will be State run soon, there are 3 casinos in the Chicago area, prostitutes are independent for the most part, sports betting galore on the internet, Al would have had a hard time eeking out a living unless he was willing to delve into drugs.

BTW It is estimated that by 1929, Capone's income from the various aspects of his business was $60,000,000 (illegal alcohol), $25,000,000 (gambling establishments), $10,000,000 (vice) and $10,000,000 from various other rackets. It is claimed that Capone was employing over 600 gangsters to protect this business from rival gangs.

Capone openly admitted how he had obtained his wealth. "I make my money by supplying a public demand. If I break the law, my customers who number hundreds of the best people in Chicago, are as guilty as I am. The only difference is that I sell and they buy. Everybody calls me a racketeer. I call myself a businessman."


$100,000,000.00 in 1929 had about the same buying power as $1,262,859,649.12 in 2010.

Annual inflation over this period was about 3.18%.


amazing salary $1.2 billion/year

next up - chicago deep dish pizza

Something honestly good , how refreshing.

That list looks like a no-fly list! :D

LOL yea and if he hadn't been President the name Barack Obama would have fit among the others although as we all know Obama 'barely' knew him (Rezko)