OBAMA MUST ANSWER QUESTIONS SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN DECIDE

A Jury Heard The Facts And Has Judged Obama's Fundraiser Tony Rezko; Shouldn't The American People Be Able To Do The Same?
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AFTER TONY REZKO WAS CONVICTED OF FRAUD YESTERDAY, THERE REMAINS MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OBAMA REZKO RELATIONSHIP

Did Obama Or His Office Do Favors For Tony Rezko?

"[S]en. Barack Obama's Ties To Indicted Dealmaker Antoin 'Tony' Rezko Include An Internship The Senator Provided The Son Of A Contributor At The Request Of Rezko, An Obama Spokesman Confirmed Saturday." (Frank Main, "Internship Also Links Obama, Rezko," Chicago Sun-Times, 12/24/06)

Rezko Recommended A Business Associate's Son For "One Of The Coveted Summer Internships" In Obama's Senate Office. "Political fundraiser Antoin 'Tony' Rezko made a modest pitch to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama last year. Rezko recommended a 20-year-old student from Glenview for one of the coveted summer internships in Obama's Capitol Hill office. The student got the job and spent five weeks in Washington, answering Obama's front office phone and logging constituent mail. The student was paid an $804 stipend, about $160 per week, for a position valued mostly for the experience it provides." (David Jackson and Ray Gibson, "Obama Intern Had Ties To Rezko," Chicago Tribune, 12/24/06)

"As A State Senator, Barack Obama Wrote Letters To City And State Officials Supporting His Political Patron Tony Rezko's Successful Bid To Get More Than $14 Million From Taxpayers To Build Apartments For Senior Citizens." (Tim Novak, "Obama's Letters For Rezko," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)

Did Obama Know That Tony Rezko Was Saving Him $300,000 On The Purchase Of His Home?

Obama Purchased His Chicago Home For $300,000 Less Than The Asking Price While Rezko's Wife, Rita Rezko, Purchased The Adjoining Lot For The Full Asking Price. "Two years ago, Obama bought a mansion on the South Side, in the Kenwood neighborhood, from a doctor. On the same day, Rezko's wife, Rita Rezko, bought the vacant lot next door from the same seller. The doctor had listed the properties for sale together. He sold the house to Obama for $300,000 below the asking price. The doctor got his asking price on the lot from Rezko's wife." (Tim Novak, "Obama And His Rezko Ties," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07)

Could Obama Have Afforded His Home Without Rezko's Help?

Obama Originally Said That He Could Not Afford To Purchase The Parcel Of Land Rezko's Wife Purchased And That The House Itself Was Already A Stretch. "It was 'already a stretch' to buy the house, Obama said, so the vacant lot was not affordable for his family." (Ray Gibson and David Jackson, "Rezko Owns Vacant Lot Next To Obama's Home," Chicago Tribune, 11/1/06)

But Obama Later Said That He Did Not Need Help Purchasing "Both Or Either Of The Tracts" Of Land Involved In The Purchase Of His Chicago Home. Reporter: "Did you generally or expressively state a need for help in buying both or either of the tracts?" Obama: "No, I didn't need help." ("Interview With Obama: Still Confident," Time.com, 3/6/08)
Did Obama Meet Nadhmi Auchi And Give Him A Toast?

According To Rezko Trial Testimony, Obama Attended A Reception For Nadhmi Auchi At The Home Of Tony Rezko April 3, 2004. "When Iraqi-born billionaire Nadhmi Auchi attended an April 3, 2004 reception for himself at Tony Rezko's home White House hopeful Barack Obama, and his wife, attended the reception, Stuart Levine testified just now in the trial." (Natasha Korecki, "Obama Bomb Dropped," Chicago Sun-Times' "Eye On Rezko" Blog, http://blogs.suntimes.com/rezko/, 4/14/08)

"But According To Two Sources Familiar With The Gathering, The Obamas Attended The Wilmette Reception, Which Came Less Than A Month After Obama's Democratic Primary Win For His U.S. Senate Seat." (Natasha Korecki, Chris Fusco and Tim Novak, "Obama's Name In Rezko Trial," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/15/08)

A Source Told The Chicago Sun-Times That "Obama Not Only Gave Rezko's Guest Of Honor, Iraqi Billionaire Nadhmi Auchi, A Big Welcome . . . But He Made A Few Toasts!" "Dem presidential contender Barack Obama's handlers may be telling the press Obama has NO 'recollection' of a 2004 party at influence peddler Tony Rezko's Wilmette house, but a top Sneed source claims Obama not only gave Rezko's guest of honor, Iraqi billionaire Nadhmi Auchi, a big welcome . . . but he made a few toasts!" (Michael Sneed, "Which Is It? Obamarama..." Chicago Sun-Times, 4/16/08)

Did Obama Or His Staff Write A Letter To The State Department On Auchi's Behalf?

Rezko "Asked Certain Illinois Government Officials" To Help Auchi Obtain A Visa To Visit The U.S. After He Had Previously Been Turned Down By The State Department. "The filing says when Auchi was unable to obtain a visa to visit the United States in 2005, Rezko intervened and 'asked certain Illinois government officials' to appeal the State Department's ruling." (Brain Ross, "Obama 'Backer' Rezko Ordered To Jail," ABC News' "The Blotter" Blog, www.abcnews.com, 1/28/08)

The Government Officials Approached Are Not Known, But Sen. Obama Had Just Taken Office In The U.S. Senate In 2005. "The officials who Rezko approached are not specified. Sen. Obama had just taken office as a U.S. senator in 2005, the same year he sought Rezko's help in the purchase of his home." (Brain Ross, "Obama 'Backer' Rezko Ordered To Jail," ABC News' "The Blotter" Blog, www.abcnews.com, 1/28/08)

Has Obama Removed All Rezko Related Funds From His Campaign Coffers As New Rezko Related Donors Have Come To Light?

Obama Has Acknowledged That Rezko Has Raised About $250,000 For His Campaigns. "For the first time, Sen. Barack Obama put a figure Friday to the amount of campaign contributions that indicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko raised for the senator's campaigns, and the number -- about $250,000 -- was far more than he previously acknowledged." (Tim Novak, Chris Fusco, Dave McKinney and Carol Marin, "More Rezko Dough Found," Chicago Sun-Times, 3/15/08)

However The Most Recently Reported Total Of Rezko Related Funds The Obama Campaign Has Donated To Charity Is $160,000. "Obama, seeking to distance himself from his patron [Rezko], has donated $160,000 in Rezko-related contributions to charity." (Dan Morain, "Obama To Be In Background Of Trial," Los Angeles Times, 3/3/08)

Mustafa Abdalla And Ferras Elshair Posted Properties To Secure Tony Rezko's Release From Jail. "Tony Rezko's $8.5 million bail is being secured by properties and cash linked to friends and family. Here are many of those people and what they'd forfeit if Rezko flees: - Former Iraqi Electricity Minister Aiham Alsammarae and his wife, Amura: an Oak Brook mansion and two South Loop condominiums - Illinois Department of Central Management Services employee Mustafa Abdalla: house in Libertyville - ... - Former Illinois Department of Central Management Services employee Ferras Elshair: house in Darien..." (Natasha Korecki, Tim Novak and Chris Fusco, "Springing Rezko," Chicago Sun-Times, 4/27/08)

Mustafa Abdalla, Illinois Department Of Central Management Services Employee, Donated $1,000 To Obama June 30, 2003. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.openscrets.org, Accessed 4/29/08)

Ferras Elshair, Former Illinois Department Of Central Management Services Employee, Donated $250 To Obama May 28, 2004. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.openscrets.org, Accessed 4/29/08)

Semir Sirazi, Who Testified In The Last Week Of Rezko Trial Testimony, Is A 10 Year Friend Of Tony Rezko. "Tony Rezko's 10-year friend, Semir Sirazi, said two checks from Rezko in 2003 -- for $48,000 and $66,000 -- bounced. Sirazi provided consulting services for Rezko's Rezmar companies." (Natasha Korecki, "Witness: Rezko's Checks Bounced," Chicago Sun-Times' "Eye On Rezko" Blog, blogs.suntimes.com, 5/1/08)

Semir Sirazi Has Donated $4,000 To Barack Obama; $2,000 On 6/30/03 And $2,000 On 6/30/04. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 5/1/08)

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