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AP fact checks guv

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Illinois

The AP points out a major flaw in the governor’s self defense.

When asked whether [Tony Rezko and Stu Levine’s] conduct raises questions about his judgment, Blagojevich answered it shows the need for strong systems to root out corruption.

Blagojevich says a lot of the things Levine pleaded guilty to occurred before his administration had an inspector general. He says he believes the system is much better today.

However, Blagojevich first appointed an inspector general for his office in April 2003. Based on his guilty plea, Levine’s crimes continued until at least May 2004.
There is no indication Blagojevich’s inspector was involved in discovering the offenses that are part of a federal corruption probe.

This story shows once again that every word he says has to be checked and double-checked. He will say anything. That attribute makes him an incredibly good campaigner, as long as his opponent doesn’t have the cash to respond, but it doesn’t exactly make him a fount of reliable information.

As I wrote in this morning’s Capitol Fax, the “say anything” campaign is epitomized in this radio ad [wav file], which accuses her of all sorts of nasty things, including how she “runs down those who honor our veterans” and claiming she wants to raise taxes.

And here’s another one just like it.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 9:35 am

Comments

[…] But what do I find this morning? Blagojevich attacking Topinka for running down those who honor our veterans. Rich has two commercials up about it. Topinka was saying that Quinn needs to do more and ensure the administration honors the veterans hiring preference that there is some deal of evidence suggesting it’s not been honored in many cases. […]

Pingback by ArchPundit » Blog Archive » The Same Playbook: Bush and Blagojevich Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 10:06 am
The key here is that all this illegal activity occurred on Corruptovich’s watch.
He was the one steering the boat, no one else!
Otherwise why did muzzle Z. Scott and Mary Leahy?
He’s abandoning his so-called friends and confidants at a alarming rate.

The stench coming from this governor and his administration’s office is and has been unbearable since he took the oath of office.
God help Illinois!

Comment by Hydraulics (Da Pressure of Thangs) Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 10:23 am
Hey fellas, you know after Nov. 7th IL will be the blueist and most powerful democratic state in the country? The reds are even giving up the treasurerâ€™s seat. The rest is gravy. Shinola, we may even have the next president coming from our territory, if not, we’ll have an interesting 08 race.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 10:33 am
“It shows the need for strong systems to root out corruption”. What the hell does that mean?

Comment by Cooper Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 10:57 am
Everything that comes out Corruptovich’s mouth BS rhetoric!
When is Timothy Martin resigning, he’s classless and an embarrassment?

Comment by I.D.O.T. Bleachers Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 11:13 am
Anon 10:33 - I’m betting the next president will NOT come from Illinois. Blago is way to tarnished now to ever have aspirations of the White House and you really need to read the article today about the Obama/Rezko real estate deal partly about Obama’s personal dwelling. Makes interesting reading and that sweet relationship they have had will come back to bit Obama in the butt in ‘08. Go to the right side of this blog and under the Tribune, it’s the second article entitled, “Rezko owns vacant lot next to Obama’s home.”

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 11:41 am
==you really need to read the article today about the Obama/Rezko real estate deal partly about Obamaâ€™s personal dwelling

I read it. The telling thing is that instead of playing fast and loose with Rezko–Obama held him at arms length and made sure he didn’t get any benefit to the point of paying more than the assessed valuation for a strip of land he bought from him.

Comment by archpundit Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 11:44 am
Archpundit, there is more than one telling thing in this article. This article tells me the democratic politicians have been bellying up to the wrong cash box. All you have to do is read the first page of the on-line article. As the Tribune says, it raises eyebrows. The Tribune is also quick to state that “Obama said he was careful to ensure their transactions were ethical and proper.” But don’t you find it curious that it took 3 on-line pages of a Tribune article to explain all the ins and outs of the transaction(s)? Doesn’t anyone find it interesting that Rezko is so closely interwoven with the high ranking dems in this state. I do find it curious that Obama closed on his house in the morning and Rezko’s wife closed on the lot next door in the afternoon. Again folks, it’s the APPEARANCE of impropriety that will bring these politicians down.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:16 pm
===This article tells me the democratic politicians have been bellying up to the wrong cash box.

Like either party in this state has much to claim in this matter?

The story isn’t hard to understand in that Obama bought a property and Rezko, probably trying to get some in, bought some property and then Obama paid above market value on purpose for some of that property and then has mowed the property.

Where is the benefit that Obama is getting from Rezko?

What appearance of impropriety is there? That Obama ensured there was none? Was he supposed to back out of the sale when he found out Rezko bought the other property? I’m confused about what else Obama should have done.

In the case of Blagojevich, we can all name probably a hundred things he should have done to avoid the appearance and most likely actual impropriety. Here the politician does everything we should want him to do including paying more for the property, working closely with the city to make sure the fence was up to code, and paying the costs of the design aspect of the fence that Rezko had to build by law. What’s the scandal?

Comment by archpundit Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 12:40 pm
Every syllable of those radio spots is a lie… except this tag:

“paid for by Friends of Blagojevich”

-of that, truer words were never spoken. Unfortunately it refers to the actual government.

Comment by Gregor Samsa Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 1:11 pm
The “paid for by Friends of Blagojevich” should actually read “paid for by the State of Illinois Taxpayer”. This is because of the pay to play manner in which this administration runs the Governor’s office. Blagojevich’s campaign gets the donations to air their absurd commercials, then they award lucrative contracts to those donors in order to repay them the money that had previously been kicked into the governor’s campaign. In the end it all comes our of the taxpayer’s pocket all nice and neat like.

Comment by Poor Milorad Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 1:58 pm
Archpundit,

I guess the answer to your question about “what’s the scandal? Some of us Obamaites thought better of him. We already knew that Blago was swimmin’ with the sharks but it is startling to learn Obama is in the same pool. I would hazard to guess that he is even closer to Rezco than Blago.

So where is the harm? Rezco uses politicians like chess pieces in order to further his financial interests. In buying the property adjacent to Obama’s he in fact was securing Obama’s ability to control the land without paying for it. So much so, that Obama even felt obligated to care for the property. He was able to parcel out chunks of the land to himself and even set the price he should pay. Obama thought there might be an appearance of impropriety, so he designed an aethetically pleasing fence and asked Rezco to pay for it.

Buying a mansion for $300,000 less than the asking price. 1.65 million.
Having a friend buy the adjacent property from the same owner at full price. $625,000.
Having control of the land next door and not having any neighbors. Priceless

Comment by Garp Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 2:01 pm
Garp, bless you. I was having a hard time conveying to Archpundit why there was an appearance of impropriety in this Obama/Rezko deal. I’d like to know just how Rezko’s wife happened to know that Obama was closing on the house in the morning and she closed on the adjacent lot in the afternoon? We bought a lot and built a home on it. And only our family and VERY CLOSE FRIENDS knew what we were doing.

Obama needs to give back every single solitary penny he has ever gotten from Rezko, PERIOD. He needs to bill Rezko for the yard work, and he needs to pay for the fence. He needs to divorce himself of any and all appearance of impropriety and never ever again have a business dealing with Rezko or any of Rezko’s buddies, especially Rezko’s wife. If Obama does that, he has my support. But until then, I still believe this will come back and bit him in the butt. By ‘08, Blago will be chest deep in his legal problems and the public will be constantly reminded of the cozy relationship Rezko has had with all politicians. It’s time for Obama to come clean, and the sooner the better.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 2:12 pm
===would hazard to guess that he is even closer to Rezco than Blago.

Based on what?

===. He was able to parcel out chunks of the land to himself and even set the price he should pay.

He payed over double the assessed valuation for the land. So yes, he set the price–far higher than he had to.

====Obama thought there might be an appearance of impropriety, so he designed an aethetically pleasing fence and asked Rezco to pay for it.

As owners of such properties are obligated to do under city ordinance. He worked to have the fence meet historical design requirements that have to be met–if he didn’t ensure that everyone could criticize him for not meeting code. Again, he paid for that work.

===Buying a mansion for $300,000 less than the asking price. 1.65 million.
Having a friend buy the adjacent property from the same owner at full price. $625,000.

How is buying a mansion for less than the asking price a scandal if Rezko wasn’t involved in the purchase?

===Obama needs to give back every single solitary penny he has ever gotten from Rezko, PERIOD

He did.

==He needs to bill Rezko for the yard work

I’m sure he’s planning on it, but how is it corrupt to pay to have the lot next to you mowed?

==He needs to divorce himself of any and all appearance of impropriety and never ever again have a business dealing with Rezko or any of Rezkoâ€™s buddies, especially Rezkoâ€™s wife. I

Given the only dealings he has with him is having had Rezko buy the property next to him, exactly what is he supposed to divorce himself from? Is he supposed to sell the house? Seriously?

There’s enough corruption in Illinois to find real problems. This isn’t one of them.

Comment by archpundit Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 2:23 pm
Don’t you mean a “fount” and not a “font?”

Comment by Ed. Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 2:56 pm
Archpundit,

I appreciate your attempts to defend Obama, however, I’m not buyin’ it and I really liked the guy.

===would hazard to guess that he is even closer to Rezco than Blago.

Based on what?

***The fact that I don’t see Rezco wanting to be Blago’s neighbor.

===. He was able to parcel out chunks of the land to himself and even set the price he should pay.

He paid over double the assessed valuation for the land. So yes, he set the priceâ€“far higher than he had to.

***Who is kidding who hear? Do you really believe that appraisal BS? Someone buys property for $625,000 and would be willing to sell 1/6th of it a year later for $40,000. Give me a break. Obama new if he bought it too cheap it would look even worse than it already does.

====Obama thought there might be an appearance of impropriety, so he designed an aesthetically pleasing fence and asked Rezco to pay for it.

As owners of such properties are obligated to do under city ordinance. He worked to have the fence meet historical design requirements that have to be metâ€“if he didnâ€™t ensure that everyone could criticize him for not meeting code. Again, he paid for that work.

***That sounds like more hogwash. He built the fence because Rezco was getting in trouble and he thought it would look bad if his kids were frolicking on Uncle Toney’s lawn. Youâ€™re quoting of city ordinance and historical requirements sound good but probably are not true. Have you read the statutes?

===Buying a mansion for $300,000 less than the asking price. 1.65 million.
Having a friend buy the adjacent property from the same owner at full price. $625,000.

How is buying a mansion for less than the asking price a scandal if Rezko wasnâ€™t involved in the purchase?

***I suppose you believe that it was pure coincidence that both properties closed on the same day. I suppose you think it is coincidence that one guy gets a $300,000 break in the price and the other guy pays full price from the same owner on the same day.

Some skeptics might think that the two properties were sold in conjunction with one another and the $625,000 sale price might have helped determine the price Obama paid. Especially, since you suggest that Rezco was willing to sell Obama 1/6th of his land for 1/16th of the purchase price. What a giving neighbor.

Comment by Garp Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:04 pm
Oh my gosh! The web these guys weave….
Guess Obama is not as spotless many might think….
Where is the national media attention?

Comment by Alarming Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:18 pm
Obama needs to give back every single solitary penny he has ever gotten from Rezko, PERIOD. You state, “He did.” Read the Tribune article again. It says, “Rezko and his companies donated at least $8,000 to Obama’s state Senate campaigns and $11,500 to Obama’s federal fund. (Obama has said he will divest those federal donations.) Rezko also hosted a 2003 event to boost Obama’s campaign fund.” The article says Obama has said he WILL divest those FEDERAL donations (it doesn’t say he has done so). What about the State donations and the money hauled in at the 2003 campaign fund event? If I have an empty lot next door to my home, I MAY mow it to make my own place look better. But you can bet if I have to PAY someone to do it, the weeds can grown as high as that aesthetically pleasing fence. There is the look of impropriety here, plain and simple.

In the Tribune article, Obama added that both men agreed there were broader reasons for a fence. “I had had a conversation with him in which I indicated that it probably was important for us to have a separation of the properties because the property was all one piece, it wasn’t really demarcated, and I did think that it was important for there not to be any perception whatsoever that somehow I was having any use of their property,” Obama said. You bet there were broader reasons. Obama saw the red flag going up and decided to take action. Obama needs to divorce himself from Rezko. I’m guessing by now everyone else has. Argue all you want Archpundit. This thing is beginning to stink.

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:20 pm
The premise of Rod’s argument is so flawed and shaky that it would probably register on one of those Earthquake Richter scales.

Just what, exactly, was this guy doing while at Pepperdine law school?

Comment by Angie Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 3:32 pm
I have avoided looking at the ads, either on TV or here at the CFBlog. It just makes me sick. Milarod must really think people are stupid. He has piled it on so thick that it’s staring to back-fire on him and people are feeling sorry for Judy or they are turning it off.

Comment by Disgusted Wednesday, Nov 1, 06 @ 10:08 pm