Obama’s Housing Problem
UPDATE: This article by David Freddoso reminded me of something. Here’s what triggered my question:
On June 15, 2005, Obama bought a gorgeous house in Hyde Park for $1.65 million, $300,000 below the list price.
Why did the Obamas get such a deal, especially considering the fact that that was at the height of the housing bubble? It seems to me that they shouldn’t have gotten a discount. They should’ve paid a bit more than market value at that point.
Following Barack Obama’s complaint about Sen. McCain not knowing how many homes Sen. McCain owned, the RNC has put together a fact sheet titled “OBAMA’S HOUSING PROBLEM” with this subtitle: “Brought To You By Convicted Felon Tony Rezko”. This was utterly predictable. It’s also refreshing to see the RNC react this quickly.
NOTE: The 3 Story House Has Four Fireplaces And A Wine Cellar. “When Obama and his wife, Michelle, a hospital executive, decided to move with their two young girls from their Hyde Park condominium, they chose a spacious three-story Georgian revival home on a tree-lined street in the Kenwood neighborhood, not far from the University of Chicago. The owner had listed the house, nearly 100 years old, with four fireplaces and a wine cellar, and an adjacent lot as separate parcels.” (Peter Slevin, “Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser,” The Washington Post, 12/17/06)
I don’t have a problem with the Obamas living in a nice home. This is what I’ve got a problem with:
Obama Paid $300,000 Less Than The Asking Price For His Mansion, While Tony Rezko’s Wife Paid Full Price For A Vacant Lot Next Door On The Very Same Day. “Two years ago, Obama bought a mansion on the South Side, in the Kenwood neighborhood, from a doctor. On the same day, [Antoin ‘Tony’] Rezko’s wife, Rita Rezko, bought the vacant lot next door from the same seller. The doctor had listed the properties for sale together. He sold the house to Obama for $300,000 below the asking price. The doctor got his asking price on the lot from Rezko’s wife.” (Tim Novak, “Obama And His Rezko Ties,” Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07)
It’s only fair that Sen. Obama get a deal considering this:
“As A State Senator, Barack Obama Wrote Letters To City And State Officials Supporting His Political Patron Tony Rezko’s Successful Bid To Get More Than $14 Million From Taxpayers To Build Apartments For Senior Citizens.” (Tim
Novak, “Obama’s Letters For Rezko,” Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)The Letters Show That Obama Did Do A Political Favor For Rezko. “Obama’s letters, written nearly nine years ago, for the first time show the Democratic presidential hopeful did a political favor for Rezko, a longtime friend, campaign fund-raiser and
client of the law firm where Obama worked, who was indicted last fall on federal charges that accuse him of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking state business under Gov. Blagojevich.” (Tim Novak, “Obama’s Letters For Rezko,” Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)
That won’t sit well considering this:
FLASHBACK: In December Of 2006, Obama Said He Had “Never Done Any Favors For Him.” “The letters appear to contradict a statement last December from Obama, who told the Chicago Tribune that, in all the years he’s known Rezko, ‘I’ve never done any favors for him.’” (Tim Novak, “Obama’s Letters For Rezko,” Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)
That isn’t all:
Rezko Offered Obama A Job When He Was A Harvard Law Student And The Two Have Stayed In Touch Ever Since. “One of them was Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who was offered a job by Rezko in the early 1990s while a top student at Harvard Law School. Obama did not take it, but over the years, the two men stayed in touch…” (Peter Slevin, “Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser,” The Washington Post, 12/17/06)
Frankly, it was stupid of Sen. Obama and Gov. Kaine to raise this issue. That’s all the proof I need that these gentlemen aren’t mental giants, to put it nicely. Sen. Obama has made a number of unforced errors recently. This is the biggest that I can think of, though.
Technorati Tags: Obama, Corruption, Rezko, Conviction, Scandal, John McCain, Quid Pro Quo, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
August 21st, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I am very interested in this whole Rezko deal…I hear from a friend in NY that the WSJ is about to print a huge expose on the Rezko matter on Monday. We’ll see.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 am
The real sleazebag begins to emerge.
What is he jealous???
Ill never again complain about Bill Clinton. This guy makes Bill look like an altar boy!
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Oh, I get it. This is supposed to be the response to McCain forgetting that he has 10 houses, ranches, condos, and lofts worth a total of $13,823,269.
Right.
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
This just shows you how silly assed and wound around the axil liberals can get.
McCain gets criticised for giving an honest answer, and Obama gets a free pass from the national media on the sweetheart deal for his house from his Syrian buddy now setting in the big house in Statesville.
I dont see any thing about how much property you own in Art 2, Sec 1, do you Liem?
The properties in question are are Cindy’s anyway. Yes, she’s wealthy. Is there a problem with that too?
Do you own mutual funds, in an IRA , 401K, pension plan? What stocks are in them? How many shares of each? Whats the individual value of each one? Total worth of each fund? Annual percentage return? Can you can answer that off the top your head? Or are you so diehard a marxist you dont care to dirty yourself in capitalism and investment.
Question you need to ask is did Cindy McCain get hers a la Rezko, or did she actually get them the old fashion way - by paying for them herself.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 am
The question was “how many houses do you own.” It’s usually like asking how many kids you have. Not “how many hairs are on your head” or “how many times has this website drooled over Rev. Wright.”
And why would I have a problem with Cindy being rich? It’s not as if McCain divorced his disabled wife to trade her in for a better, prettier, younger, richer model.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
And he honestly answered “I DON’T KNOW, Ill have my staff get back to you”, because they are not residences, but properties she takes care of.
So again, how silly assed you and the press can get trying to slimeball someone they clearly hope looses while ignoring the fairy tale they are promoting in failing to vette someone they obviously are rooting for.
Yeah, we disagree with McCain over more stuff we cant change than just his just his married life. Being wealthy and owning property is hardly one of them.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
The only reason I’m making a point of the housing comment is that Obama has consistently been labeled as an ‘elitist’ and ‘out of touch’.
McCain saying that he honestly doesn’t know how many houses he has is technically a legitimate answer, but he smeared his own image of being more similar to the average American, giving Obama the chance to attack.
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Well thats nice, but being similar to the “average” is not an ideal, its a political gimmick.
I dont give a hoot how similar he is, as long as he’s honest and knows what the hell he’s, doing to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and America.