Tangled Webs: Rezko, Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, Obama and Now Eric Whitaker
One of Obama’s closest friends part of federal probe. Chicago Sun Times.
So we have a situation where then Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama recommends a friend to his fundraising and house fairy Tony Rezko, who’s acting as a “consultant” to Gov. Blago (the now impeached and indicted)
the now-convicted political fixer who helped Blagojevich find people to run state agencies
Tony Rezko, not officially on the payroll. Obama’s friend gets the job, which is charged with handing out funds to “non-profits”, one of which was newly started and run by a state Rep. (Of course, who else could do the job so well) Now lots of taxpayer money is apparently missing and the Feds have launched a probe.
Hence the subpoena. As observers have noted, Whitaker was last seen on the links with our President Barack Obama. PreviouslyBarack’s spouse Michelle also worked with Whitaker.
It is any wonder Illinois is broke? The whole state operates like one big patronage system and cycles our money back to elect these grasping and incompetent people.
There’s also this part of the story, outlined back in 2008:
Whitaker’s agency also got caught up in scandal. He oversaw the budget of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, which approves medical construction projects. Rezko and his associates controlled that board, which they used to solicit kickbacks and payoffs, according to testimony at Rezko’s trial.
Rezko was convicted. Whitaker, who said he wasn’t involved in the board’s day-to-day operations, was never accused of any wrongdoing.
“During my time as director of IDPH, I received four or five calls from Tony Rezko seeking my support for and attendance at the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital charity event,” Whitaker said. “After my employment interview, I never had a conversation with Mr. Rezko about the” health department or the planning board.
Our President Barack Obama had an interest in that board too. Oh, and Susan Sher, quoted as counsel in the article, works for Michelle now as her chief of staff. And as we know, Valerie Jarrett, slumlord, helps out The On.
None of this may be illegal, it may not even be unethical, but it sure stinks.
In other news, another prominent Chicago suicide.
…Just a reminder, the judge in the Blago trial has ruled the president doesn’t have to testify, but reserves the right to change his mind if further evidence is presented. And Rahmbo hasn’t been subpoenaed yet.
Patrick Fitzgerald is sure giving the appearance that he is protecting the President by prematurely arresting the Milorad he cut-short the wire recordings between the Blagojevich team and Obama’s new administration. Anyone has followed the career of P.F. realize this act was totally out of his character…if this move by the feds’ doesn’t get Fitz fired, he’s got some serious $hit on the Prez.
So it is revealed that Barack Obama was and is Eric Whitaker’s clout. “Well”to quote my most favorite Illinois politician, “rooty toot toot.”
People simply don’t understand Tony Rezko. Here was this Syrian immigrant with all the great American values moving ahead in this nation of opportunity, doing good things such as building architecturally compatible high end homes in the Prairie Avenue District, when he gets seduced by a trio, even a quartet of not so well motivated individuals and be made to think that he can be a big shot.
His abilities, combined with this new egocentric attitude, converts his previous delight in sponsoring truly qualified, experienced and effective politicians into a Kevin Klein like egotist (remember the film, “A Fish Called Wanda”). Even his large contributions were spread out over a number of years, but none of his recipients should be tainted by his largesse. His motivations were practical as they were well motivated. The only public official he really deceived was surprisingly Toni Preckwinkle, but the lesson she learned will stand her in good stead when she really needs it. Ultimately, Rezko got away with nothing concerning Chicago’s second smartest alderman.
The real culprit in this whole enterprise was Stuart Levine. Rod Blagojevich’s big mistake was literally forgetting where and how he came from, walking over people, and acting imperiously improperly.
I don’t want to ruin Speaker Madigan’s reputation, but he is truly a pussycat, and I have at least one source who can verify my evaluation without risk (I didn’t say the pussycat didn’t have the ability to be a lion or a tiger).
The true Blaogojevich tragedy can be summed up in this evaluation. He really did have the realistic opportunity to be the first blue collar President. I can literally think of dozens of American politicians who could have become President. But Blagojevich was truly one of them; as was Eliot Spitzer.
Barack Hussein Obama, however, was the lucky pullup. Who would have thunk it back in 2003. Not me, who was urging him to get out of the U.S. Senate race and support Dan Hynes (which was not an unintelligent point of view). But in fairness to myself, even though my motivations were misunderstood and distrusted I did help put the lad into orbit in 2006.
Oh, yes, back to Eric Whitaker. I’ve never met the good doctor, but he and a very limited few of real friends have received honors and benefits because of Barack. I’m proud to say that there are many individuals who have advanced as a result of my mentoring (and I have never lined my pockets thereby or therefrom, nor do I think, has he (Barack)).
There comes a great deal of pride and self satisfaction when you help good people achieve things they never thought they could. I am not a wealthy person, but I am happy and satisfied. I’ve never missed a meal; I’ve traveled well. Most important I’ve had great friendships and experiences, a loving wife I don’t deserve and a talented son she does deserve (me too).
Mr. Rezko is paying more than his debt to society. He is not my friend. I only met him once. But I would like to get to know him better when he gets out of ‘graduate school’, if only for the reason that I’d just like to be around when he gets out.
As far as Mr. Whitaker is concerned, I hope no one is looking for anything improper, because I don’t think they will find it. I just can’t conceive of a real friend of President Obama’s doing anything deliberately to betray him. Rezko did not fall into that category (being a real friend), and in the one instance, which Barack (incorrectly by the way) referred to as boneheaded, assisted in a real estate deal that was ultimately far more beneficial to Rezko than Obama, and that was the purchase of the empty (but developable) lot next to the house the Obamas purchased on Greenwood.
Hey Phil,
It may have been of some leverage to all the hospitals that Rezko/Levine were strong-arming that State Sen. Obama was packing the IHFPB with Rezko’s/Levine’s/Kieferbaum’s picks.
Isn’t there something illegal and at very least distasteful about politicians selling access to health care to the highest bidder?
JBP
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