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* It’s all in the perspective. Bloomberg leads its Obama/Rezko story this way…
The couple who sold Barack Obama his Chicago home said the Illinois senator’s $1.65 million bid “was the best offer'’ and they didn’t cut their asking price because a campaign donor bought their adjacent land, according to e-mails between Obama’s presidential campaign and the seller. […]
The Obamas submitted three bids: $1.3 million on Jan. 15, 2005; $1.5 million on Jan. 21; and $1.65 million on Jan. 23, according to a copy of the sale contract shown to Bloomberg News. […]
The e-mail between Wondisford and the campaign adviser also says that the sellers had “stipulated that the closing dates for the two properties were to be the same.'’ In January 2006, Rita Rezko sold the Obamas one-sixth of the lot, for $104,500, to expand their yard. She later sold the rest of the land to Michael Sreenan, who said by e-mail yesterday that he bought it in late December 2006 for $575,000.
That seems to clear up a lot. The seller didn’t just take a first bid from Obama, and it was the seller who wanted the closing dates on the same day. Also, note that Rezko sold the land for a profit - He bought it for $625K, sold a slice to Obama for $104.5K and sold the rest to Streenan for $575K. So it doesn’t appear that he paid an exhorbitant amount. One of the criticisms has been that Rezko subsidized the house purchase.
* But this is how the Tribune leads its story…
Before he bought his South Side mansion in 2005, Sen. Barack Obama took his friend and fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko on a tour of the premises to make sure it was a good deal, Obama’s campaign revealed Monday. […]
Obama was able to buy the house for $300,000 less than the listed price while Rezko, in his wife’s name, paid the full $625,000 asking price for an undeveloped side lot.
You get an entirely different and more sensational picture from that article, perhaps because the Trib wasn’t given the e-mails that Bloomberg obtained. Newspapers are jealous that way.
* Meanwhile, some of you have asked me for a list of Illinois superdelegates. Here are the committed delegates. It appears that John Rednour, the Mayor of DuQuoin, is the only Illinois “Super” for Hillary Clinton.
Uncommitted Democratic super delegates are here. Congressmen Dan Lipinski and Rahm Emanuel top that list, which also includes Steve Powell (the UFCW 881 official), Edward Smith (I think that’s the Laborers’ Union chieftain, not the alderman) and Margie Woods (Will County Board).
…Adding… The Bill Foster campaign points out that if their guy wins next month’s special election to replace Denny Hastert, he’ll also be a super delegate. And considering that Obama is doing a TV ad for Foster, his convention intentions seem pretty clear.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 10:15 am
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ok, so Obama wasn’T being truthful when he said he and his wife knew the Rezkos and might have gone out to dinner with them, he actually was involved with them in a real estate deal and conveniently forgot to mention that…the question is why the lie?
Comment by Anonymous45 Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 10:41 am
Looks like the DNC rules say that not even the pledged delegates are bound to vote for the candidate they were pledged to vote for. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8583.html
Comment by Anon1 Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 10:45 am
Obama is not the messiah you want him to be Rich.
Comment by Cerrios Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 10:56 am
The reason the Tribune story is different is that
they get it….the big new news is the tour, at a time when Rezko was in the news under a huge cloud, Obama took him to look at the house!
and asked him for advice! Obama looks really
dumb now.
Also, the Bloomberg story still does not explain
away why they purchased the two pieces of land at the same time….Rezko helped Obama get the big house. Without the buyer of the other piece of
land, Obama would not be able to buy the house.
The house is Obama’s problem, and it’s a big one.
Comment by amy Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:02 am
I understand the Trib’s angle. Its’ inexplicable that a sharp, ambitious guy like Obama would invite someone with so much heat around him into his personal business.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:04 am
Cerrios, take a breath.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:04 am
y’know Rich, I think Cerrios’ comment is right on the money-Messianic Moniker Mutilated…he is just another ambitious insider pol–and not too smart when it comes to staying away from radioactive hangers on like Rezko
Comment by Anonymous45 Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:10 am
I don’t watch Meet the Press every week, but Durbin was on with Schumer this week and they were debating the super-delegate “conscience vs. will of the people” topic. It was really interesting and I thought Durbin did a great job of making the case why Obama should win over many of the super delegates if he keeps winning states.
But I have to give a big thumbs down to WAND TV or wherever Sen. Durbin was for the broadcast. They “green screened” him and it looked just awful. The picture quality was so piss poor I thought I was watching that stupid Jeff “backpack” Berkiwotz show, not Meet the Press on NBC.
Comment by Napoleon has left the building Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:17 am
As I read both articles, Obama and Reszko coordinated their respective efforts to simultaneously purchase the two properties, Obama the house, and Reszko the vacant lot. Obama has always been rather shy about how coordinated their efforts were. The touring of the house by both of them seems to be in conflict with the earlier explanations. Why was Reszko so intimately involved with the purchase of the Obama family home.
Obama has a lot more explaining to do. I’m surprised that he allowed this issue to fester for so long as he has.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:23 am
I understood that superdelegates were under no obligation to be pledged to any particular candidate. Why are Superdelegates either uncommitted or committed to a candidate? Perhaps they’re not as super as they’re supposed to be.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:27 am
I don’t think Rich can be accused of making a messiah out of Senator Obama. He’s right that this latest revelation basically absolves the Senator of any possible accusation of corruption. What’s left behind is, Why was he hanging out with this dirtbag?
I think the answer is, “Welcome to Chicago. Now lets move on.”
Comment by Ramsin Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:28 am
Levois, according to Roger Simon’s piece in Politico below, NONE of the Dem delegates — super or elected — are, technically, pledged. News to me — could be a wild convention.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8583.html
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:36 am
The Obama Campaign’s explanation does nothing.
The fact that the property sold for more at a later date is irrelevant. No one could have known that at the time of the original sale. Rezko assumed all the risk, Obama had no risk (Assuming Obama bought the house to live in, not to speculate in the real estate market)
The fact remains that out of three million people in Chicago, Obama turned to Tony Rezko to partner with in buying the property. It was Obama who brought the property to Rezko’s attention (by his own admission) and without Rezko’s participation, he admits he could not have bought the property.
Finally, I think it’s pretty sloppy journalism for Bloomberg to rely on e-mails that were obviously solicited by the Obama campaign. What seller would not be intimidated to receive an e-mail from a presidential campaign?
Frankly, I think this is worse for Obama because it smacks of heavy-handed Chicago-style intimidation by his campaign.
Cerrios is exactly right.
Comment by Old Elephant Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:36 am
I’m not an Obama fan, but I just don’t think the Rezko house story is going to get much traction with the average only-a-few-minutes-to-think about-politics voter, especially voters who don’t live in Illinois. It says, at most, iffy decision
not corruption. And most voters can relate to
iffy decisions because we’ve all made a few.
I’m more concerned about Obama raising my taxes
and being rather vague about getting us out of Iraq. A poorly thought out housing purchase doesn’t predict anything about an Obama presidency
and most certainly does not predict an Obama
dominated by greedy contributors.
Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:38 am
Great investigative reporting from bloomberg. Doesn’t say the seller was a doctor at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Doesn’t identify the campaign advisor who arranged the e-mails. Could it be valerie jarrett who travels with michelle and sits on the board at that hospital. Doesn’t mention michelle works there and got a big pay hike a few months later. Maybe valerie put the buyer and sellers together. Maybe Valerie should answer some questions.
Comment by joe Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:45 am
Joe- Maybe this form of insinuation is a little disingenuous and unfair. Maybe you could ask anything in this way and make it seem like you have information you don’t since you’re putting it in the form of a question. Maybe these questions would be better directed to a reporter than a public forum where they work as innuendos.
Comment by Ramsin Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 11:58 am
Barack Obama was close personal friends with a guy who turned out to be a future felon. The future felon collected politicans in Illinois like campaign buttons. Obama relied on this personal friend for advice and campaign fund raising: apparently Rezko even advised the Obamas about the real estate deal and facilitated the Obama’s acquisition of their Hyde Park home.
Presumably, Senator Obama is embarassed by his personal association with a future felon. But there isn’t even a scintilla ov evidence that Obama compromised his personal integrity or had any involvemnt with the illegal machinations of Tony Rezco. He was not involved in any way with Rezko’s alleged illegal behaviors.
There’s really no story here. The Clintons can only wish their reputations and dealings were as impeccable as Barack Obama’s. For those that don’t remember John McCain, an honorable and decent fellow, was closely tied to a major figure in the savings and loan scandal, Charles Keating. “Stuff” like this happens during political careers.
Scandalmongers eat your hearts out. Obama could have handled this situation better from a PR standpoint, but there’s no red meat in this real estate transaction for political hit men (opposition researchers) and 527 groups to do any real damage to Obama’s reputation. Guilt by association and character assassination aren’t going to derail Barack Obama’s march to the White House. He won’t be swift-boated!
Comment by Captain America Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:03 pm
The Clintons must be pretty irritated that Emanuel remains uncommitted.
Comment by David Starrett Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:06 pm
Capt. America,
That aint the point. BO is supposed to be different…or is he from other pols?
Comment by Anonymous45 Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:08 pm
why were the purchases on the same day?
ummm…because the owner had moved to Maryland and didn’t want to fly back to Chicago twice to do separate closings?
duh.
Even if Rezko did somehow subsidize Obama’s purchase, having both close on the same date is not a smoking gun. Rezko could have just as easily closed a month later or a month earlier than Obama.
The seller stipulated simultaneous closings to save on closing costs and travel costs.
it ain’t rocket science folks. you may now remove the tin foil hats.
Comment by jerry 101 Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:11 pm
oh, and another duh for you tin foil hat wearing rezko folks.
if you’re buying a house and want some advice, are you going to go to a perfect stranger with expertise in real estate matters for said advice, or are you going to go to a personal friend who is an expert on real estate matters?
I’d go to a personal friend over someone I don’t know.
Comment by jerry 101 Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:14 pm
You’d go to a friend under federal investigation, take their advice, then get them in on the deal?
This goes well beyond bad judgment, this shows that the two have been in collusion for some time.
Oh, BTW, do all the assistant US attorneys in the Northern District office wear “tinfoil hats?”
Don’t think so.
Comment by Centrino Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:25 pm
===Oh, BTW, do all the assistant US attorneys in the Northern District office wear “tinfoil hats?”===
That assumes that the USA is investigating Obama.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:28 pm
This story just proves that Obama really is like all the rest. The incredibly poor judgment he showed here, and the simple fact that he was not truthful about it proves that he is a politician like all the rest. From union bully to mediocre state legislator, to do-nothing U.S. Senator. This man has not distinguished himself as leadership material, yet here we are.
Comment by Mark Andrew Gannon Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:32 pm
===Great investigative reporting from bloomberg. Doesn’t say the seller was a doctor at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Doesn’t identify the campaign advisor who arranged the e-mails. Could it be valerie jarrett who travels with michelle and sits on the board at that hospital. Doesn’t mention michelle works there and got a big pay hike a few months later. Maybe valerie put the buyer and sellers together. Maybe Valerie should answer some questions.
Academic endocrinologist and academic pediatrician involved in buying US Senator as they move to Johns Hopkins!
I’m trying to even come up with a plausible way in which this is possible. Did the University pay them off somehow? Or what is the connection you think exists here?
Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:37 pm
Good to see Ramsin back.
The problem with the Rezko story is that it calls into question Obama’s judgment. “Judgment from day one” has been Obama’s retort to Clinton’s “experience from day one.” Similarly, the plagarism story can be trouble because another underpinning of Obama’s campaign has been his honesty and soaring rhetoric. Why he didn’t attribute the quote to Governor Patrick is beyond me.
The Obama campaign will maintain its healthy share of acolytes. But they should be aware that he will not remain immune from criticism - and that it will be coming in much stronger in the next few months. “Boneheaded mistakes” are not always forgiven by the public.
Comment by phocion Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:39 pm
===The fact remains that out of three million people in Chicago, Obama turned to Tony Rezko to partner with in buying the property. It was Obama who brought the property to Rezko’s attention (by his own admission) and without Rezko’s participation, he admits he could not have bought the property.
No, he did not admit that. What he said was that the two properties had to be closed on the same day. According to other reports Rezko’s offer was only $25,000 more than the next highest offer and so the sale would have closed with or without Rezko
Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:41 pm
===Also, the Bloomberg story still does not explain
away why they purchased the two pieces of land at the same time….Rezko helped Obama get the big house. Without the buyer of the other piece of
land, Obama would not be able to buy the house.
Did you read the story? The sellers listed a condition of listing that the two properties be closed on the same day.
Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 12:42 pm
Regardless of what we think of he Obama/Rezko real estate foul up…..no one else cares besides Hillary and Bill. Truth is he made a hugh mistake in judgement and integrity…but as I said before no body cares!
Comment by downhereforyears Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 1:05 pm
Hey Rich, I’m new to your blog, tell me why Obama shouldn’t be held accountable for his lapse in judgement.
Comment by ispyforthefed Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 1:09 pm
ispyforthefed, I’m not sure where you got that idea. I’ve written columns on the subject and posted here about the wrong-headed association with Rezko.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 1:17 pm
My mistake, as I said I’m new and thought you were defending what Sen Obama did. I’d enjoy reading some of your previous columns.
Comment by ispyforthefed Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 1:27 pm
ispyforthefed, check the Google.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 1:28 pm
Ok, so if there is no problem with the Obama Resko connections why did he give the money away? And if the money is tainted, why doesn’t someone tell Obama he should give back the influence that the money bought for him when money wasn’t being tossed at him in buckets. Little bits of money when you are starting out buys a much greater amount of influence than big buck now, proportionally speaking.
Comment by Hearing voices Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 1:41 pm
==Ok, so if there is no problem with the Obama Resko connections===
Who said that?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 1:44 pm
The back and forth on this issue is always hilarious. I think the people who viscerally want Obama to be “stained” are talking about one thing (”Why aren’t you condemning him!?”) while the people who are unwilling to admit any chink in his armor are talking about another (”Nothing at all to see here.”) And the answer, of course, lies in the middle, (”There’s kind of something to see here, but if you’re willing to be honest about it, it doesn’t amount to much.”)
He should be embarassed by his friendship with Rezko. It is a valid criticism, particularly considering he thought enough of him after the indictment to call him up about his personal property matters.
Okay. So, what now? Do you want a big swooshing graphic to come down across a photo of Rezko and Obama smoking cigars with rock music blaring and a talking head telling you that Real Estate Closinggate is going to bring down the Obama candidacy?
Do you want people to throw their buttons in the garbage and rend their clothing because the guy is a politician?
I think the visceral desire to see people denounce Senator Obama comes partially from the fact that to so many people refuse to admit ANY criticism. But you shouldn’t just assume that people who rightly see this is not a big deal ALSO believe that the guy is above any criticism.
Because it isn’t that big a deal. It is a valid criticism, just like there are valid criticisms of ever politician in the history of ever. Except Paul Simon (on that I agree with the Archpundit!)
Comment by Ramsin Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 2:06 pm
===Except Paul Simon===
During the S&L debacle, it came out that Simon made a call on behalf of a contributor who ran an iffy savings and loan. Nobody is God.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 2:08 pm
Damn you journalists with your memories!
Comment by Ramsin Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 2:10 pm
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 2:11 pm
There is clear and convincing proof that Obama managed to get slimed by his relationship with exactly one scumbag. It’s one case of documented bad judgment. Doesn’t mean that Obama is a scumbag, by any stretch. Bill Clinton and Hillary could fill a fieldhouse with their questionable connections. Some might argue that they have questionable judgment as a result.
As for Bill Foster and Jim Oberweis, my only wish is that they both could lose.
Comment by chiatty Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 3:01 pm
======Except Paul Simon===
Plagiarizer!
Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:00 pm
Ramsin and I’ve talked about this several times and I think in general he gets this about right. I tend not to spend much time on how incredibly stupid the Rezko contact and strip was because nearly everyone agrees that was incredibly stupid. However, there are lots of claims that are silly and so I spend time discussing those, but I’m happy to admit, it was really, really stupid.
That said, there are the fan club members who seem to think any criticism is apostasy.
Comment by archpundit Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:04 pm
None of this changes my opinion of the man. He continues to inspire me with his message of hope and change. I am proud to have been an ardent supporter since Iowa when my first candidate, John Edwards, failed to make the cut. Edwards inspired a similar sense of hope in me, but I am a devoted follower of Obama from here on out. If he does not get the nomination, I will be forced to vote for Hillary but I see no possible way that will happen.
Comment by Don Kosin Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:19 pm
I just want to know why camp Obama is slowly trickling out these explanations that always seem to contradict previous statements? And why were the sellers statements vetted through the campaign, why to an outlet not familiar with the story, and why did they offer to come forward 15 months ago and now just are? The whole thing just stinks and the half-truths and the cover-ups make it worse. Any time one of these “explanations” come out, it leads to more questions, not answers, and thats the troubling thing. I want to believe this is not a big deal, but I haven’t been satisified yet.
Don’t take any of these negative commentors seriously Rich. I know you are a highly ethical jounalist who just happens to be positioning himself for a White House Press Corp job. (snark intended)
Comment by Bud Man Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:20 pm
LOL.
Never.
Have I ever told you how much I hate that city?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:25 pm
Ramsin,
I do not want people to throw away their gear because he’s a poltician, just to know that HE IS a politician. Everything you hear says he represents a new breed of politics! This story shows it is all a line of bull, crafted by Axelrod for the Chicago machine pol.
That is why this story is relevant. The man is not something new: he’s a repackaged version of the always dangerous and corrupt Chicago politician (both parties apply).
Comment by Bud Man Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:27 pm
Bud Man, only the hardest of the hardcore would fall into that category of people who don’t think Obama is a politician. It’s pretty clear that he is, new breed or not. You and others here are taking the argument to an illogical extreme.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:29 pm
I still fail to see where Obama did the kind/type of business with Rezko that Rezko has been indicted for. Friendship is one thing, your performance and honesty in business is quite separate. A number of “friends” of mine were ensnared in the Ryan issues - I wasn’t but they were. I still think of them as friends, however, I wouldn’t get involved in business deals with them. Rezko has yet to be found guilty likely as that may be, however I don’t see Obama as necessarily tarnished by the friendship. The house deal has been brought out into the light of day and there really isn’t anything there, except perhaps evidence of an extravagant lifestyle. And, for the record, I am totally against Obama for POTUS.
Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:44 pm
Rich —
I think you misconstrued what I was saying. The feds are investigating/prosecuting Rezko.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear.
Comment by Centrino Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 4:57 pm
Sorry Rich, it’s just frustrating for someone who wants to elect a President not a personality. I need to watch less MSNBC I guess!
I never did hear that you hate Washington. I know the feeling!
Comment by Bud Man Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 5:29 pm
bob creamer is on HuffingtonPost with a pro
Obama post. ex inmate, future inmate, nice company
in that group!
Comment by amy Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 7:42 pm
two quick points-
From where I sit, which is probably too close to be completely objective, but: I just don’t see that the house deal/Rezko relationship is going to hurt Obama in the long run. It’s not that easy to soundbite, and there’s just no “there” beyond trusting a person who didn’t prove worthy of his trust. Barack wasn’t the only smart guy taken in by Rezko, or consider the leagues of smart guys who were completely fooled by Snortin’ Stu Levine.
-Having said all that, I’m still puzzled why the house deal still has legs. Seems to me that the Tony tour wasn’t going to come out until Bloomberg (noted for hard-hitting investigative pieces…) was nosing around, which is troubling.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Feb 19, 08 @ 7:51 pm