As the trial of embattled Illinois political insider Tony Rezko creates headaches for Sen. Barack Obama, the legal fate of Sen. Hillary Clinton's famously disgraced campaign financier is playing out as well. Norman Hsu, who on Feb. 28 pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he cheated investors out of $20 million, appeared in the Southern District of New York on Friday. There was no trial. Rather, the former Clinton backer and his lawyers were there to structure the process for upcoming legal proceedings.You do remember the Hsunami, don't you? Hsu was a big bundler for Hillary and other Democrats around the country, and was doing so all while being a fugitive felon from California. It's since been revealed that he also engaged in running a Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of millions.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama can't exactly capitalize off Hillary's woes, since he's got a problem of his own. Three actually (four counting Michelle Obama's penchant for saying rather inflammatory statements that aren't easily dismissed). Can you say Tony Rezko? I knew you could. That trial is also underway.
Then, there's the question of earmarks for a hospital where Michelle Obama worked. Not only did the hospital receive more than a million in earmarks (aka pork) directed by Barack in the US Senate, but Michelle Obama got a raise shortly thereafter. She says that it was just a coincidence, and who am I to argue.
Finally, there's Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who still holds an influential position in the Obama campaign and advised Obama in the past. Bad news doesn't begin to describe this lout.
The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor of Mr. Obama's Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, gave the sermon at the school's Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel in Washington on Jan. 15, 2006.The hits will keep on coming, and thus far Obama hasn't exactly gone out of his way to distance himself from Wright. His supporters, however, have gone off the deep end with comments such as this (via LGF). There's nothing that you can say that makes those comments appropriate with any kind of context. Wright is making all kinds of absurd statements that are nothing short of conspiracy theories flung about by the ignorant or hate-filled small minded people around the world.
"We've got more black men in prison than there are in college," he began. "Racism is alive and well. Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run. No black man will ever be considered for president, no matter how hard you run Jesse [Jackson] and no black woman can ever be considered for anything outside what she can give with her body."
Mr. Wright thundered on: "America is still the No. 1 killer in the world. . . . We are deeply involved in the importing of drugs, the exporting of guns, and the training of professional killers . . . We bombed Cambodia, Iraq and Nicaragua, killing women and children while trying to get public opinion turned against Castro and Ghadhafi . . . We put [Nelson] Mandela in prison and supported apartheid the whole 27 years he was there. We believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God."
His voice rising, Mr. Wright said, "We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians and branding anybody who spoke out against it as being anti-Semitic. . . . We care nothing about human life if the end justifies the means. . . ."
Concluding, Mr. Wright said: "We started the AIDS virus . . . We are only able to maintain our level of living by making sure that Third World people live in grinding poverty. . . ."
Considering this view of America, it's not surprising that in December Mr. Wright's church gave an award to Louis Farrakhan for lifetime achievement. In the church magazine, Trumpet, Mr. Wright spoke glowingly of the Nation of Islam leader. "His depth on analysis [sic] when it comes to the racial ills of this nation is astounding and eye-opening," Mr. Wright said of Mr. Farrakhan. "He brings a perspective that is helpful and honest."
Far from having an optimistic view on the world and America, Obama is surrounding himself with people who hold views that America is evil and needs to be changed - and that's the kind of change he's looking to implement.
UPDATE:
Well, since appearing on the Blog Bunker this afternoon, holy heck broke out over the Rev. Wright statements. Obama has appeared on Fox News and seemingly repudiated Wright, though one has to wonder whether Obama really understands just how fatal his comments were. Repudiation isn't nearly enough and the fact that Obama was a regular attendee at Wright's church suggests that he was far more familiar with Wright's rhetoric than just an occasional statement. As Hot Air points out, what did he know and when did he know it? Well, the fact is that Obama knew a whole lot more than he's admitted to, and as we should all know - it's not the crime, but the coverup. Here, Obama knew just how racist and off the wall his pastor is, and yet he kept him in the loop and was a close advisor of the campaign.
Combine this with still more revelations that Rezko raised far more money for Obama than previously disclosed and this has turned into one awful day for the Obama campaign. And yet, Hillary can't benefit - not with the whole Spitzer mess still swirling about.
UPDATE:
Just how far back did Obama know of Wright's penchants for throwing hate-bombs during his sermons? Far enough.
And is it too little too late for Obama to toss/push/ease Wright out of his campaign? Well, that remains to be seen. However, Tom Maguire thinks that this might be a real serious problem for the Obama campaign. Video and transcripts of Wright sermons will appear and they will reflect badly on Obama, who has gone on the record claiming that these were rare occurrences. Given that Obama says he was a regular at the church, once more of these items get out in the public, Obama's glow will disappear rather quickly.
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