Is It Rahm, Or Is It Memorex? Sweet!

Via Hot Air headlines.

A Fox video report.

According to "reliable" sources close to the investigation, Rahm Emanuel had "multiple" conversations with Blagojevich regarding Obama's replacement and it's thought at least some of them were taped.

That doesn't mean he was engaged in any wrong doing. But not even POTUS and already one hand doesn't know what the other is doing? How many times might we be hearing that over the next four years?

Oops:

President-elect Barack Obama says neither he nor his aides had any contact with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich regarding his open Senate seat.

Comments

[SacTownMan]

Hey there's always room under the bus for one more!

[Dion]

Oh quit with the insinuations. Obama is the ONE who's different and free of any Illinois politics. He said so; and the media, who elected him, said so. Don't torpedo our chance to delve into socialism--who knows, you might like it. Life-long prison inmates grow to love their structure and so shall we. You'll see. Just remember not to complain--unless it's about being too hot due to global warming.

[Fred Beloit]

I read on the internet today that a John Depp wears "Che" thingies on his person. John Depp...John Depp...isn't he a French pirate or something?

[Denny, Alaska]

Goodness, what's all this blather about? Hasn't The One assured us all that "transparency" will be the defining feature of his presidency? Ergo, we only have to wait, for all will be revealed to us in good time. Oh ye of little faith!

[IslamoLlama]

"-- That doesn't mean he was engaged in any wrong doing. --"

Sure it does. That's what this entire escapade has been about since it broke on Monday. Fuck Blagojevich. How can this be subtly stamped on Obama despite all evidence to the contrary.

As pointed out in numerous other posts, Blagojevich is specifically caught bitching that Obama isn't willing to trade on the Senate seat. Which of course leads us to conclude that Chicago Politics blah blah they're in the same state blah blah Obama must be guilty of something.

1. Governor caught in pay for play Senate scandal
2. ???
3. Obama Scandal PROFIT!

[old trooper]

Wait until Rezko furnishes details on his dealings and contacts.

[Philip McDaniel]

I see IslamoLlama is starting to morph into jharp complete with expletives.

[WBestPresidentEver]

Liars, liars pants on fire. These people are so corrupt it is pathetic.
Watch for more coverups, and lies.
Can't we have a decent government anymore. Does it always have to be scandal after scandal ?
Where the hell do these people come from ?
As usual though, they will get away with it and it will all be explained away.
People will turn a blind eye and blame it on the republicans.
What can you do ?
The federal prosecutor will probably be terminated or is he in on it to ?
What did he know and when did he know it. How far does this go ?

[Dion]

Islamowhatsit:

How would Blagojevich know that Obama wasn't willing to trade on the senate seat?

[anon]

Here is how it goes:

1. Obama long time supporter of Blagojevich
2. Blagojevich widely known as long time crook.
3. Obama knew Blagojevich was a crook for a long time and did nothing.

I don't think Obama was involved in this Senate seat, though Rahm may have been in terms of pressure but not money.

What it shows us is more of Obama's true character, the people he supports and associates with and how he came to be a Senator to begin...and that reeks of corruption.

[Worst President Ever]

Great to see all you Proud American Patriots come together to root for the destruction of our new president. BDS takes hold. In a choice of American recovering or Destroying Barack, the Proud Patriots of this board would choose to destroy Barack, to hell with America.

Perhaps you should go read Ritzgerald's complaint against Blagojevich - there's no mention, zero, zilch, nada, of Barack Obama.

[mark l.]

nice 'underpants gnome' reference.

This whole thing so is so exquisitely beautiful in the sense that the magnitude exceeds any other scandal in the past 8 years.

fitzgerald isn't going after Blagojevich because of the sale of the seante seat.

he was already fervently chasing down chicago curruption on a grand scale. This Blagojevich isssue had to be prioritized becuase the corrutption was still goign on and had serious ramifications. There are a ton of other chicago pols on the chopping block, Fitz just isn't forced to play his cards on them yet.

He took forever with his Plame leak investigation. This investigation is going to be running for the next year, easy...

Every head that he brings down, is going to beg the question,

"Didn't obama do the same thing?"

Rahm emmanuel? goner. If not for this small episode, then for any one of the other hundred that are transparent and will be provided by the investigation.

The nature of the investigation is to examine the use of state and federal reps securing grants and funds for personal consideration and fundraising. Not bribery, but 'pay to play'. Obama never cashed a check or recieved benefits?

he bought a house next door to the financial mastermind of the scheme on the same day.

obama might escape indictment, but it doesn't help if everybdy he knew in Illinois politics doesn't.

[mark l.]

sorry, should have typed "rahmifications".

[mark l.]

emmanuel's guilt?

we'll let his own congressional distirct decide...

the same district that had dan rostenkowski, rod blagojevich...

I'm sure that his district understands that Rahm is a much better person than either of the two. The fact that blagojevich helped emmauel get his seat is just a coincidence. Just becuase he is asking for a payout on obama's seat, shouldn't make one believe that it is possible that other considerations were provided for Rahm to get Rod's congressional seat.

Why do democrats hate the people of Illinois?

[Dion]

Worst President Ever:

What an apt moniker. You and your media apparatchiks turned a blind eye to your Messiah’s long standing immersion in corruption and now you’re in the unenviable position of having to defend Him. “Worst President Ever” is close, but I think you meant “Worst President Elect Ever.”

[jharp]

1. Obama long time supporter of Blagojevich

Posted by: anon | Friday, December 12, 2008 at 12:19 PM

Wrong, wrong, wrong. And is that why Blago uttered on tape "f*ck him" among other things.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_12/016031.php

Like every other politician in Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich waited for Barack Obama's call this summer. He told colleagues that he expected a speaking role at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a nice bit of payback for being the first governor to endorse the senator from Illinois in his campaign for president. By showing off a connection to Obama in Denver, Blagojevich hoped to repair his own diminished reputation.

Obama's campaign made speaking offers to the Illinois treasurer, the comptroller, the attorney general and a Chicago city clerk. Sen. Richard J. Durbin (Ill.) was asked to introduce Obama on the convention's final night; Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (Ill.) was told he would speak on television during prime time. Finally, fed up and embarrassed that he still had heard nothing, Blagojevich joked to a crowd at the Illinois State Fair that, yes, he also had been asked to speak -- at 4 a.m., in a Denver area men's bathroom.

Long before federal prosecutors charged Blagojevich with bribery this week, Obama had worked to distance himself from his home-state governor. The two men have not talked for more than a year, colleagues said, save for a requisite handshake at a funeral or public event. Blagojevich rarely campaigned for Obama and never stumped with him. The governor arrived late at the Democratic convention and skipped Obama's victory-night celebration at Chicago's Grant Park.

We can tell from the criminal complaint that Blagojevich was not fond of Obama -- a couple of "mother-bleepers" removed all doubt

[Dark Jethro]

"Great to see all you Proud American Patriots come together to root for the destruction of our new president. BDS takes hold. In a choice of American recovering or Destroying Barack, the Proud Patriots of this board would choose to destroy Barack, to hell with America.

Perhaps you should go read Ritzgerald's complaint against Blagojevich - there's no mention, zero, zilch, nada, of Barack Obama.

Posted by: Worst President Ever"

President Carter! How nice to have you here, sir.

Let me just get you up to speed. You see, we are just finishing up eight years of Democrats choosing to destroy the President rather than support America. It was your party that told us that dissent was the highest form of patriotism.

Now, for two years some of us have been warning that Barack was an unknown with lots of unsavory characters in his background, but nobody wanted to listen. The chickens are coming home to roost, and it seems Obama is just another lying Chicago pol.

So much for change. Deal with it.

Now If you don't mind, I have some patriotic items to make for the inaguration day parade: Giant papermache puppets and Obama=Hitler signs.

Say hi to Billy for us.

[jharp]

1. Obama long time supporter of Blagojevich

Posted by: anon | Friday, December 12, 2008 at 12:19 PM

Wrong, wrong, wrong. And is that why Blago uttered on tape "f*ck him" among other things.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_12/016031.php

Like every other politician in Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich waited for Barack Obama's call this summer. He told colleagues that he expected a speaking role at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a nice bit of payback for being the first governor to endorse the senator from Illinois in his campaign for president. By showing off a connection to Obama in Denver, Blagojevich hoped to repair his own diminished reputation.

Obama's campaign made speaking offers to the Illinois treasurer, the comptroller, the attorney general and a Chicago city clerk. Sen. Richard J. Durbin (Ill.) was asked to introduce Obama on the convention's final night; Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (Ill.) was told he would speak on television during prime time. Finally, fed up and embarrassed that he still had heard nothing, Blagojevich joked to a crowd at the Illinois State Fair that, yes, he also had been asked to speak -- at 4 a.m., in a Denver area men's bathroom.

Long before federal prosecutors charged Blagojevich with bribery this week, Obama had worked to distance himself from his home-state governor. The two men have not talked for more than a year, colleagues said, save for a requisite handshake at a funeral or public event. Blagojevich rarely campaigned for Obama and never stumped with him. The governor arrived late at the Democratic convention and skipped Obama's victory-night celebration at Chicago's Grant Park.

We can tell from the criminal complaint that Blagojevich was not fond of Obama -- a couple of "mother-bleepers" removed all doubt

[mark l.]

This is like a nuclear bomb exploding in the middle of chicago, and the dems are under a belief that if they just run around and pee on the little fires that are left, they can rebuild.

These little fireman are so radioactive, and they lack any clue that their political skins are going to start melting off.

absolute denial.

Rezko has been talking for months, begging for his sentencing so that he can stop. Fitz just moved his sentencing date back. I'm sure Rezko has nothing new to add, ;).

Forget obama, for now...

how many politicians out there are sweating? 5, 10, 20? This isn't going tobe just about state or federal representatives, but both. Of those 5, 10 , 20-how many are going to offer as their defense, Obama got money for legistlation, how come you haven't indicted him?

crabs in a bucket.

[Bob]

1. Gov. Blagojevich sells Senate seats to highest bidder
2. Pres.-elect Obama was a senator from Illinois
3. Obama's senate seat was bought

[Dark Jethro]

"We can tell from the criminal complaint that Blagojevich was not fond of Obama -- a couple of "mother-bleepers" removed all doubt "

I guess that is why Obama supported him in his election, and re-election.

All together now "...that is not the Rod I knew..."

If SNL wasn't obsessed with Palin porn, they could lay off their writers as this material writes itself.

[mark l.]

"We can tell from the criminal complaint that Blagojevich was not fond of Obama -- a couple of "mother-bleepers" removed all doubt"

so your argument goes obama wouldn't make a deal, so he isn't guilty.

Let me ask you this:

If emmanuel knew that the senate seat was being sold, and did nothing, can he serve as the president's chief of staff?

jharp-you desperately need to show that Rahm didn't know anything. good luck.

[Dion]

"Blagojevich rarely campaigned for Obama and never stumped with him."

Perhaps not in 2008. But, look back a few years--like 1 or 2 and you'll see they were quite cozy. Had this scandal not come to light, Blagojevich would have been nominated to a cushy cabinet position and JJ Junior would be a newly minted senator.

You Obamatons have an infinite capacity for the "willing suspension of disbelief." Heehee.

[mark l.]

"Great to see all you Proud American Patriots come together to root for the destruction of our new president."

live by the sword, die by the sword.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- This whole thing so is so exquisitely beautiful in the sense that the magnitude exceeds any other scandal in the past 8 years. --"

Say what?

You must have missed this:
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.audit/
or this
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/nyregion/10arar.html?bl&ex=1229058000&en=97e09bceab92cc7c&ei=5087%0A
or the firestorm that was Jack Abramoff -
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/12/the_friday_line_the_top_ten_po.html?hpid=topnews

"-- The casualty list from those with ties to Abramoff is impressive; Reps. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), Tom DeLay (R-Texas), John Doolittle (R-Calif.) and Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) lost, resigned or were jailed as a direct result of their ties to Abramoff. People like former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.) and Ralph Reed (R-Ga.) lost bids for higher office due in varying degrees to links to Black Jack. --"

Blago is no small scandal, but if you're trying to run the "ZOMG! Democrats are worse!" game again, you're completely out of your league. Hell, Blago was the replacement for corrupt Governor George Ryan (R) who was himself a kingpin of sales in state property.

That said, the DIRECT QUOTE from the FOX News piece reads:

"I have never spoken with the governor on this subject. I am confident that no representative of mine would have any part in any deals related to this seat," Obama said.

So far, I haven't seen much in the way to discredit this statement. Did Obama express his pick for the job through intermediaries? Yeah. No surprise there. It was his seat to begin with.

Did any of his representatives try to strike special deals with the governor? Nope. None on record, at the very least.

So what - exactly - are you accusing Obama of? Bribery? Clearly not. Lying? Nope, not from the article's own direct quote. Being in contact with the Governor who has the direct authority to appoint his successor? BINGO!

Obama is guilty by association - ie, he doesn't have to do anything wrong, he just has to be in the same state and WHAMO! guilty.

Strange how this didn't extend to Senator Vitter's friends during his sexscapade scandal or to the Republican delegation when Stevens went down in Alaska. Hell, even Clinton and Schumer miraculously escaped blame for being from the same state as Eliot Spitzer, even though both campaigned for him heavily.

But then Schumer and Clinton aren't the President-elect. I guess different rules apply.

[jharp]

jharp-you desperately need to show that Rahm didn't know anything. good luck.

Posted by: mark l. | Friday, December 12, 2008 at 12:54 PM

mark l,

You continue with your moronic questions. Please think a little before posting. How do you prove a negative?

It'd be you that desperately needs to show Rahm did know.

Good grief.

[syn]

"You Obamatons have an infinite capacity for the "willing suspension of disbelief."

And, an infinite capacity for the willing acceptance of illusions.

[Worst President Ever]

I gave Bush the benefit of the doubt and hoped he would be a good president.

Again, read Fitzgerald's complaint. He listened to Blagojevich's phone calls and said Obama WAS NOT INVOLVED. If Rahm was really talking to him and involved in some sort of Quid Pro QUo deal, it's hard to imagine Fitzgerald lying about it.

Reading this latest outbreak of BDS - it's gonna be a fun eight years. That's right, in spite of the delusions of this board, Obama wins re-election in a landslide.

[mark l.]

the cnn cite?
got any convictions?

jack abramoff?
plenty of convictions, probably-but over a far sammler amount of money.
The funny thing about abramoff...the dealy case is still going.

bob ney?
"Before he pled guilty, Ney was identified in the guilty pleas of Jack Abramoff, former Tom DeLay deputy chief of staff Tony Rudy, former DeLay press secretary Michael Scanlon and former Ney chief of staff Neil Volz for receiving lavish gifts in exchange for political favors." wiki

"lavish gifts for politcal favors". obama bought his house next door to (abramoff) one the same day as (abramoff) and later bought adjacent property next to (abramoff), immediately before (abramoff) sold his property less than six months later. michelle obama worked at a hospital run by (abramoff) for 350k a year.

funny-blagojevich was seeking in exchange for the senate seat, a cushy, high paying job for his wife.

yep. obama has nothing to worry about.

[Anon]

Islamo,

It is unlikely that anyone knew about Spitzer's propensity for hookers, so the things aren't on quite the same scale. It has been pretty common knowledge for some time that Blagojevich is a crook and he has been under investigation for years.

What this really means is that Obama is not the pure, pristine beyond politics politician that so many of his supporters have believed him to be. That's it.

It also shows that the culture of corruption in this country is extremely widespread and deep, the fact that the governor of Illinois could be an obvious, blatant, known crook who was conducting a Tony Soprano type shakedown for a Senate seat shows exactly how bad things are in this country and it isn't a Democrat or a Repubublican thing, but an American thing.

PS...the Senate seat was not Obama's, it belongs to the people of the state of Illinois, Obama has no more business decide who gets it as I do.

[Lala]

Why didn't Fitzgerald wait for an indictment? Is he hoping for a rollover pre-indictment?

"Mr. Fitzgerald has publicly said that there is no connection between President-elect Obama and the investigation. That may be true today, but it’s almost inevitable that someone involved in this scheme will be anxious to roll over on the other conspirators and cooperate with the government. The forthcoming trial and the people named could have a dramatic affect on the upcoming Obama Administration.

Let’s hope that the arrest of Gov. Blagojevich is not a prelude to what we can expect from the upcoming Obama Administration. I say this because those you chose to associate with are usually a reflection of your own values. So far, Obama’s friend Tony Rezko has been convicted and now Gov. Blagojevich, Mr. Harris and most probably five or six others will go down that same path. The waiting list for pardons for Illinois politicians from President Obama will be lengthy by the end of his administration."

http://www.northstarwriters.com/gl055.htm

[mark l.]

the question, jharp, is simple enough:

can emmanuel function as the chief of staff of the potus, if he new that there were serious criminal acts being committed and chose to do nothing?

somebody was wearing a wire...my guess is blagojevich's chief of staff.

you are aware of only this singular tape/episode.

how many hours of tape do you think exist? how long were the wiretaps running?

[Dion]

Islamowhatsit said:

"But then Schumer and Clinton aren't the President-elect. I guess different rules apply."

BINGO to coin a term. Different rules do apply. Every preposterous conspiracy ever dreamed has been applied in the last 8 years, and yet now, despite some juicy FBI wire tap transcripts, we're supposed to skim along and Believe the Gospel according leftists.

Remember, Fitzgerald was a hero when he prosecuted Libby over Armitage's Plame leak. Let's see how popular he is with the cock-eyed leftists now.

[Worst President Ever]

"PS...the Senate seat was not Obama's, it belongs to the people of the state of Illinois, Obama has no more business decide who gets it as I do."

There is no evidence that Obama was involved. In fact, Fitzgerald, who actually - you know - ran the investigation and listened to the phone conversations - said that Obama's not involved.

[jharp]

http://www.rollcall.com/news/30743-1.html

Republicans need to come to terms with the fact that over the last four years, Democrats have gained control of every level of government.

In the House, Republicans had a 232-202 majority after the 2004 election. Next year, Democrats will have a 257-178 edge. In the Senate, Republicans had a 55-45 majority after the 2004 election. Next year, Democrats will have 58 or 59 Senate seats.

And we all know what a wonderful President we have soon to take office.

Pretty funny stuff watching them froth over Obama's non connection to a scandal.

And they wonder why they have been crushed at the ballot box. Crushed.

[jharp]

can emmanuel function as the chief of staff of the potus, if he new that there were serious criminal acts being committed and chose to do nothing?

somebody was wearing a wire...my guess is blagojevich's chief of staff.

you are aware of only this singular tape/episode.

how many hours of tape do you think exist? how long were the wiretaps running?

Posted by: mark l. | Friday, December 12, 2008 at 01:24 PM

I don't know. I am judging based on the evidence or lack of evidence. And as of today there is no evidence that Rahm knew of serious criminal acts.

You should do the same. Common sense calls for it.

[mark l.]

john harris was the wiretap.

just resigned.

any politician who has had a criminal discussion in the past year with him, just shat their pants.

[mark l.]

ha...

[Lala]

Obama and Blag - so happy together - last Tuesday

http://minx.cc/?post=279535

[mark l.]

bush should do the right thing...

pardon obama for all his sins as clinton did marc rich, and let everyone else suffer for their crimes.

If bush offered obama a pardon, would obama accept it, just so he doesn't have to look over his shoulder for anyone of the rats who'd be willing to sell him out? Surely obama's fundraising was independent of everyone elses, and rezko sought to keep obama exclusively insulated from the other politicians. nobody has dirt on him, right?

and fitzgerald...he's not some guy on a crusade trying to make a name for himself by trying to indict high ranking officials. good thing he isn't on a mission to restore his crediblity after investigating the plame leak and only managing to get the veep's attorney for perjury.

there are going to be a ton of political corpses. given that this is chicago, I am waiting for actual bodies to start floating up out of lake michigan.

[Worst President Ever]

Fitzgerald says Obama wasn't involved.

And Blgojevich, himself, said this about Obama:

"They’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

Some frigging conspiracy.

[Fred Beloit]

Harpo cries: "I don't know. I am judging based on the evidence or lack of evidence. And as of today there is no evidence that Rahm knew of serious criminal acts.
You should do the same. Common sense calls for it."

Harpo doesn't give a damn about common sense when he daily accuses Bush of lying us into the Iraq war when Clinton, while POTUS, and all the intelligence agencies of the West, including our own, all believed Saddam had WMD.
What a dweeb!

[Lala]

So what does Gov Rendell (D) think about all this?

Rendell also said that it's likely Obama's chief of staff, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), has had contact with the Blagojevich. Rendell said that he talks to his senators five or six times each month.

"We have to. It's inherent in the job," Rendell said. "Did Rahm Emanuel, who took Rob Blagojevich's seat in Congress have contact with Rod Blagojevich? Of course, he did.

"They may have thought he was the craziest SOB in the world, but you still have to have contact with him."

Emanuel has not answered questions over whether he was the unnamed Washington adviser in the criminal complaint who spoke with Blagojevich about the open Senate seat.

[mark l.]

obama's nightmare scenario?

rahm emmanuel is still loyal to the clintons.

How did hillary know that Rezko was fairgame/treasure trove, during the primary debates?
How did Hillary get the Secretary of State post?
Do the clinton's hold a grudge against obama?
Would Hillary be Joe biden's clear cut choice for veep, should obama resign in disgrace?
If she became veep, wouldn't that put her on track for to be the next pres, should biden stroke out?

The number one beneficiary of obama failing is hillary clinton, not the gop. Hillary can even go on to treat obama like a martyr, advancing her own belief about the gop attack machine and the libs will eat it up.

I f**king love the clintons.

[Dion]

Worst President-elect Ever said:

"Fitzgerald says Obama wasn't involved."

No he didn't.

Worst President-elect Ever quoted Blago:

"They’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them."

That's right. Blago knew he wasn't going to get what he wanted because he and Obama discussed it. Let's see what is said under oath. Is lying under oath a crime--even when it's not about sex?

[mark l.]

"Fitzgerald says Obama wasn't involved."

'wasn't involved' in the Senate seat fiasco. The senate seat isn't at the heart of the investigation, it is peripheral to the much larger investigation on massive chicago corruption.

you're brushing off the first pebble from an avalanche that is still happening and telling yourself that you have survived. Look up the mountain...and keep looking up for the next 12 to 18 months. The boulders have justed started getting some 'big mo'.

[Worst President Ever]

In plain english, Fitz said Obama's not involved. He's not mentioned in the 7+page complaint. The case is about offering to sell a senate seat for public office. In Blago's own words, Obama wasn't involved. So I guess you're hoping someone, somewhere on Obama's staff talked to Blago. BFD- in point of fact, Obama hasn't spoken to Blago for a year, he didn't let him speak at the convention, and recently put his support behind an ethics bill in the Illinois legislature that Blago had vetoed.

So you, you guys are basically full of it.

Fitzgerald said, "I should make clear the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever -- his conduct."

"We hope that people out there understand that this complaint only charges two individuals. These two individuals are presumed innocent, but we make no charges about any of the other people who are referenced in the complaint, most not by name. And people should not cast aspersions on people who are discussed on wiretap or bugged tapes or conduct when other people are scheming to figure out how to approach them for different things. We hope you'll bear that in mind and not cast aspersions on people for being named or being discussed or if you learn they're being interviewed."

[mark l.]

you are correct wpe.

not only did obama have nothing to do with the seante seat, but neither did rezko.

ie-rezko is just a victim of fitz's overzealous prosecution and not guilty of anything. poor guy.

[Dion]

"..Obama hasn't spoken to Blago for a year.."

Oh? You're an omnipotent little acolyte aren't you?

[mark l.]

"Nearly as lame, however, are Obama's attempts to downplay his relationship with Rezko. When Clinton said at this week's debate that Obama had worked as a lawyer on Rezko's behalf, Obama responded by saying that he'd done "about five hours' worth of work" on a Rezko-related project while an associate at a Chicago law firm. That's fairly accurate as far as it goes, but it doesn't go very far.

Obama has known Rezko, who has been indicted in what prosecutors call "two separate and extensive fraud schemes," since 1990, when Obama was a law student and Rezko offered him a job. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Rezko was one of Obama's earliest supporters when he ran for the Illinois Senate in the mid-1990s and later served on Obama's finance committee -- and held a fundraiser for Obama -- when he ran for the U.S. Senate. After Obama was elected to the Senate, he and Rezko's wife bought adjoining pieces of property, then she turned around and sold him hers for just a fraction of what she'd paid for it. According to the Sun-Times, it was "widely known" at the time of that deal that Rezko was under federal investigation; he was indicted less than a year later.

Asked on CBS Wednesday to explain his "relationship" with Rezko, Obama said: "Well, my relationship is he was somebody who I knew and had been a supporter for many years. He was somebody who had supported a wide range of candidates all throughout Illinois. Nobody had an inkling that he was involved in any problems."

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/01/25/rezko/

free fall, baby.