Chicago, which vies for the title of corruption and murder capital USA, has a godfather (former sewer inspector) who guided Θbama and his fellow Rats to the halls of power in Illinois and Washington.
Posted on 09/20/2008 11:24:07 AM PDT by red flanker
The Democrat was surging ahead but now revelations about the men who helped shape him are putting voters off
Long before Obama launched his campaign for the White House, he was considering a run for the US Senate in 2003 and paid an intriguing visit to a former Chicago sewers inspector who had risen to become one of the most influential African-American politicians in Illinois.
“You have the power to elect a US senator,” Obama told Emil Jones, Democratic leader of the Illinois senate. Jones looked at the ambitious young man smiling before him and asked, teasingly: “Do you know anybody I could make a US senator?”
According to Jones, Obama replied: “Me.” It was his first, audacious step in a spectacular rise from the murky political backwaters of Springfield, the Illinois capital.
The exchange also sealed an intimate personal and political relationship that is likely to attract intense scrutiny amid the furore over Obama’s links to some of Chicago’s most controversial power brokers.
Obama has often described Jones as a key political mentor whose patronage was crucial to his success in a state long dominated by near-feudal political machines. Jones, 71, describes himself as Obama’s “godfather” and once said: “He feels like a son to me.”
Like the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the outspoken pastor of Obama’s Chicago church, and like Tony Rezko, the millionaire fundraiser and former friend of Obama who is on trial for corruption, Jones is in danger of becoming a hindrance to his protégé’s presidential ambitions.
For almost a year Jones has used his position as leader of the state senate to block anticorruption legislation passed unanimously by the state’s lower house. He has also become embroiled in ethical controversies concerning his wife’s job and his stepson’s business.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Chicago, which vies for the title of corruption and murder capital USA, has a godfather (former sewer inspector) who guided Θbama and his fellow Rats to the halls of power in Illinois and Washington.
Since one would have to go to a BRITISH newspaper to learn about this, I don’t think Obama has anything to worry about. Especially since he has nearly the entire U.S. media whoring for him.
Can’t wait for the lame stream media to do expose pieces on all these corrupt people that shaped Obama’s future and ideology!
Don’t hold your breath the MSM will cover up Obama’s past.
This needs to be hammered by the 527’s. These commercials are so easy they write themselves and can DEVASTATE Obama’s campaign if done right.
I’m waiting...
Seven weeks out from the election, and there is SO much that most Americans don’t know about this synthetic man. He gives me the creeps.
McCain is a very flawed candidate, but at least we know what we’re getting.
we also get a first rate VP
Its really sad that the UK press is more objective than the US press concerning America’s Presidential campaign.
The audacity of shady Chicago politicians. Hope for more kick-backs. Change and even $1,000 bills in Democrat pockets in Illinois.
This is what the American people have been waiting for.
Sorry,but, Gary IN.has got them beat on the murder aspect of that statement,hands down.It is just around the corner though.
On a per capita basis, but in absolute numbers Chicago has been going thru 400-650+ murders per year (Gary with less than 50 per year). Robberies per capita in Chicago is almost double that of Gary, Indina.
Recently, there have been so many murders in Chicago, people are asking if Θbama will support a surge as in Iraq.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.