PART I: Obama, Blan-o, Eric WHitaker health care ties :
PART II: Obama, Martin Nesbitt real estate ties.
From:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/10/obamas_pal_eric_whitaker_his_t.html
By the Sun-Times Watchdog team
Dr. Eric Whitaker and Sen. Barack Obama go way back.
Their friendship began when they were graduate students at Harvard University. Now, Whitaker is one of Obama’s closest advisers.
Whitaker, 43, of Chicago, often travels with the presidential hopeful on the campaign trail and has vacationed with him in Hawaii. There’s talk Whitaker could be in line for a federal appointment if Obama becomes president.
Five years ago, Obama, then an Illinois state senator, gave a “glowing’’ reference for Whitaker to Tony Rezko, the now-convicted political fixer who helped Gov. Blagojevich find people to run state agencies. Blagojevich hired Whitaker to be the state’s public health director.
Obama has said that’s the only time he can recall talking to Rezko — who was a major campaign fund-raiser for him and for Blagojevich — about getting anyone a state job.
.....
Whitaker had been a rising star at Cook County’s Stroger Hospital, known for a program he created that went to barbershops to educate black men on preventive care.
“I did not seek any position and was stunned when I was asked to interview for the IDPH director position,” Whitaker, who declined an interview request, said in a written response to questions. “My first encounter with Tony Rezko was when he called and told me to come in for an interview approximately one week after I had already been interviewed’’ by three other Blagojevich advisers.
As state health chief, Whitaker spent millions on programs that used churches to educate minorities about AIDS, breast cancer and preparing for public health emergencies, a program hailed nationwide.
.....
Whitaker left the state payroll a year ago and joined Obama’s wife Michelle as a high-ranking executive at the University of Chicago Medical Center. When he was hired, U. of C. was seeking permission to expand its children’s hospital — one of five expansions the university sought from the state while Whitaker was health director. All were approved by the planning board. Whitaker and the U. of C. said he had nothing to do with those approvals.
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ANY OF THESE NAMES RING A BELL?
Martin Nesbitt
Martin Nesbitt lives and/or works in Chicago, IL
Nickname: Marty
Martin Nesbitt personal relations:
Anita Blanchard - spouse
Barack Obama - friend
Craig M. Robinson - friend
Other current Martin Nesbitt relationships:
Chicago (IL) Housing Authority - chairman
Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art - trustee
Muckety List of Most Networked in Chicago, 2008 - in top 100
PRG Parking Management - president
Pritzker Realty Group - VP
Martin Nesbitt past relationships:2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign - fundraiser
LaSalle Partners - partner