The Daily Obamanation .... ALL ROLLED INTO ONE

Chicago Connections: Barack Obama, Dorothy Tillman and Tony Rezko

Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 01:42:28 PM


First, in December 2006, controversial Chicago alderwoman Dorothy Tillman was exposed by a community newspaper for using a taxpayer-funded development project to steer contracts to family and friends and possibly cheat the IRS. Then, in April 2007 – despite being endorsed by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama – Tillman was booted from office after representing the historic black ward for more than two decades. Now, the 60-year-old Tillman has landed herself in jail.

Early yesterday morning, Tillman was arrested in her native Montgomery, Alabama and charged with criminal trespassing for tussling with local hospital administrators. Tillman says she was the victim of excessive force. She smiles in the mug shot photo – a rare picture in which she is without one of her trademark, wide-brimmed hats. “They knocked my hat off,†Tillman, referring to police, told the Chicago Tribune. “One of them put his knees on my spine and threatened to Taser me.â€


Tillman, whose ward included the largest concentration of vacant lots in Chicago, has long been known for shady dealings and bombastic behavior, including once pulling out a gun and waving it around at a city council meeting. Obama’s support of Tillman angered many in his hometown but did not receive national attention. Media stories of Tillman’s arrest do not even mention Obama. But the same cannot be said for Tony Rezko, the indicted real-estate magnate and political donor linked to Obama and many other Illinois politicians. Jury selection for Rezko’s trial begins today. –Todd Spivak

 

chicagotribune.com

PART 8 SIDEBAR

Critics: Obama endorsements counter calls for clean government

By David Jackson and John McCormick
June 12, 2007


<noscript></noscript>
There was little controversy earlier this year when Sen. Barack Obama endorsed Mayor Richard Daley over two black opponents for a sixth term, lending his star power to an inevitable rout.

But Obama's record of local endorsements -- one measure of how he has used his nascent political clout -- has drawn criticism from those who say it reflects his deference to Chicago's established political order and runs counter to his public calls for clean government.

In the 2006 Democratic primary, for example, Obama endorsed first-time candidate Alexi Giannoulias for state treasurer despite reports about loans Giannoulias' family-owned Broadway Bank made to crime figures. Records show Giannoulias and his family had given more than $10,000 to Obama's campaign, which banked at Broadway.

Obama endorsed former Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd), calling her "a very early supporter of my campaign." Tillman was then under fire for her stewardship of the scandal-plagued Harold Washington Cultural Center, where contracts benefited members of her family.

Obama rejected the notion that such endorsements conflict with his promotion of ethics reform in government.

"I have been very proud of my track record as a state legislator and as a U.S. senator in terms of maintaining highly ethical behavior throughout my public life," he said in a recent interview. "Dorothy Tillman and Alexi Giannoulias were strong supporters of mine. There were no allegations that they had done anything illegal. And it was not a conflict for me to show my support for them."

Obama supported the re-election of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration is embroiled in corruption probes.

And during the race for Cook County Board president, Obama predictably endorsed Todd Stroger over a Republican. But he was criticized for calling Stroger "a good progressive" despite allegations of job-rigging to favor members of Stroger's 8th Ward organization.

Such moves detract from Obama's political independence, according to observers such as James Shapiro, state chairman for the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization.

"I don't think these are principled endorsements, but rather are of political expedience," he said. "It may be understandable, but it's not justifiable."

Even so, many presidential voters may not care.

"Barack Obama is a political animal. That means supporting the people you went to the dance with," said Loyola University political science professor Alan Gitelson. "The bottom line is, I don't think it will have any impact one way or the other."

Copyright © 2008, Chicago Tribune

 

God Damn America!!!

So says Rev J Wright.

But when u look at the reasons for this speech, I couldn't agree more with this eloquent, intellectual pastor. ::

Nothing wrong with God (if he bloody well exist) damning a country which has brought profund injustice to its citizens and citizens of the world. :dunno:.

Should God bless a country for such evil? Of course NOT, DAMN IT I SAY!!!

Wright was so right on this occassion.

In fact, save for a few comments, Wright is a courageous man who is usually right on the money, calls it like it is and should be celebrated.

We need more Wrights in this world to attack the ills of this world in other injustice ridden nations across the globe.

Kudos to Rev Wright :bears: :blobbox:

 

::


Shit stirrer. :stir:

 

This is already covered in another topic ... address it there.

 

It's pretty obvious blacks don't get the same treatment by the government (for one) that other races do, be it in law, banking, employment, or even housing. It says something when the government has to make laws forcing people to employ us which should broaden the scope for you. I love it when other races think it's all in our heads. Occasionally the race card gets played when it's not justified but let's not pretend their isn't a difference in the way that we're treated that is still a hangover from slavery. But that's another argument for another day. You and TD can continue to deny this for the rest of your lives and I will continue to live with it for the rest of mine.

 

Obama doesn't really appeal to me ideologically speaking but reading all this dirty work people are doing on him, all this dirty, counter productive propaganda, all these accusations that reeks of racism or xenophobia, would make me feel like voting for him if I was american. Just because I wouldn't want to stand with the people bringing up this shit, they make me sick.

 

Some people at my work said they were going, bringing their kids too and said: This is like going to see King in my day" ::

 

You use my name? :warning: Explain....

 

Fuck you PetreTG


....on Political topics.....

 

Lead by example :nono:

 

::

What's sad is , how easily Obama get's smacked down.

Nothing I've posted about these connections Obama has, is heresay ... it's all fact.

It's confict of interest. It's a bird of a feather and his friends and associates flocked together.

Don't get mad at me for pointing out the obvious even if you must refuse to acknowledge it.

We're it anyone in general , some of these things , though questionable , would be ... "OK" because it's America and we're supposedly free to think and say what we want so, if that's how you want to live your life, more power to ya.

But once again .... for the President of the United States of America ?

Sorry ... It's not OK.

And don't give me that line about how others had this or that in there backgrounds before becoming president.

I AGREE.

I'm telling you to learn a fucking lesson for a change instead of getting fooled into making the same mistake again. :clap:

 

It is the good old racial bigotry coming out. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o></o>
Reminds of “The blacks are comingâ€￾ phenomenon that Afrikaner leaders used successfully to scare the life out of Afrikaner folk back in the 50s and 60s. Here we see that same tactic … malicious & shameless character assassination, vicious rumour mongering etc, all because of fear. <o></o>
<o></o>
Of course as it is often the case, if ones mind is inherently positive and pure there wouldn’t anything to fear but that isn’t the case.<o></o>
<o></o>
It is hilarious to follow though.<o></o>

 

Why does it have to be racial because there is a smear campaign in POLITICS :notallthere:

Just because it CAN be doesn't mean it always is :nono:

 

This thread has no more to do with fear of blacks than it has to do with fear of clowns . Anyone that cannot see the obvious conflicts of interest for a leader of a country like the USA , is just plain stupid.

 

You are right. Of course not all smear is racially based.

However, I have been here too long to decipher which is which based on the direction the arrows are coming from

We all know each other well by now in this asylum.

 

Probably because Obama's race was brought up way too often for it to not be a factor in the smear campaign.

 

That's why he is doing good :dunno: A person making history and it's bound to be brought up....His religious affiliation is brought up more than his race :crafty:

 

Well, don't you think saying that he's doing good because he's black isn't exactly what I'm talking about? That basically means "Without his skin color the guy is nothing". You could say this about any black candidate and it's far from being constructive criticism. If he was nothing without his skin color, you wouldn't need to bring up his race to show it, the facts would be speaking by themselves and he wouldn't be where he is right now.

 

On a side note, I LOVE that he's not Christian, it's the first time Christians defended a person for believing in another religion :laughing: In politics of all places.....ppppfftftt. Another example of history making opcorn:

 

I OBVIOUSLY do not think he's doing good on race alone, remember America is full of white rednecks :stir:

 

I don't know what you think dude, I'm just clarifying my stance as you asked for.

 

I can see why it was misleading, I was saying his race is not the reason he was doing good (can't be, blacks are minority)and reasons for it being brought up, there are other reasons besides being a bigot or a country full of them......

 

Fair enough.

 

::

 

:: Sorry TD, but you agreed with TFK and normally tend to take that same stance on the racism issue.

 

Sorry, but I think it's the whole victim mentality more then any racism. Of course, racism does exist, but it's so easy to blame all of life's problem on racism, whether it be real or imagined, then it is to accept responsibility for your own actions.

I know lots of succesful minorities. Why is it they were able to overcome 'racism' and have succesful careers, where others were not? The succesful blacks have the same skin color as the unsuccesful blacks. The difference is the succesful ones took the initiative to better themselves and become succesful, rather then sit around and bitch about their lot in life, and blame everyone and everything but themselves for their own failures, rather then actually do something about it.

And don't get the misconception that the victim mentality is exclusive to minorities. As InI shows, there are whites out there who do the same exact thing.

I work in the ghetto's of Newark everyday. I'm in their schools. I see the victim mentality every single day. It's not the white man who is selling the drugs to the crackheads and junkies. It's not the white man who litters the entire city with graffiti, making it look like shit. It's not the white man who has vandalized the city, throwing trash all over the place and refusing to clean it up.

I work in the schools, and let me tell you, some of these new schools that have been built, like Science Park High School, 1st Ave, Belmont-Runyon...they are state of the art in every way. They have technology and tools that I've never seen in any other district, and I've worked all across the state. But unfortunately, the kids don't learn anything, because they are allowed to run wild, because they never learned respect and discipline at home, or because the teachers, having given up trying long ago, are just going through the motions, hoping to collect their paycheck without getting killed.

How is this the result of racism?

There are new homes and apartments being built all over the city. Nice ones too. And the people that are living there are paying next to nothing, because of government assistance. Meanwhile I work hard to pay my mortgage, pay my bills, pay my taxes. And these people are given places to live, and they destroy them. Homes that were brand new a few years ago are covered with graffiti, riddled with trash, and starting to fall apart already.

How is that the result of racism?

The bottom line is, you can take the easy road, and bitch and moan how it's racism, and it's everyone else's fault but your own, but that doesn't accomplish anything.

Or you can fight past all of that, take responsibility for yourself, work hard, educate yourself, make the right decisions, show some self respect and respect toward others, and you can make something out of yourself. It's funny how that attitude makes the effect of racism go away.

TFK

 

:bears: :bears: :bears: :bears:

GREAT post

cant put it any better

 

You are going to have to elaborate :dunno: Everything I say is truth! ::

When I take a stand on an issue, it's based on logic. If you could tell me exactly what I said that you think is wrong.....I can correct you on how I was right :: Maybe you are assuming something?

If it's about jobs you were talking about, all other races will get picked last. If a minority is in charge, he would do the same respectively. It's the human condition to choose people like yourself, black people in this country are better off than other minorities, other cultures and races don't have laws to get chosen. And when black people are in place in the work environment, they are 10 times likely to not get fired than if it was a white male. Companies are scared to death to fire a minority in fear of getting sued for racial discrimination, so enjoy the benefit instead of trying to say you can't get a break :dunno: If you were not talking about that, then ....ooopps::

 

Aren't you from another country?