One-degree of separation: Obama and the "Illinois Combine"
In his Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, column, the Chicago Tribune's John Kass provided clear insight into the Chicago machine being exposed through the federal fraud trial of indicted political fixer Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Kass began thusly:All week, Stuart Levine, the Republican snitch who loves his gladiator movies, has been telling the story of Illinois.Kass asked "what do we call this relationship, again? This Illinois custom of quiet sharing of power across party lines for the benefit of a fat connected few?
He tells it from the witness stand in federal court, weaving the tale of this political boss and that political boss, that Democrat, this Republican, all working together for the common good.
He means, the good stuff in their wallets.
"What is it? What is it, again?"
Stating that Levine's testimony is "putting things together for the prosecution", Kass remarked "That's the narrow focus. ... Actually, he's telling a larger tale, about power and clout in our state."
Kass turned to former Illinois U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald for wisdom:
"What do you call that Illinois political class that's not committed to any party, they simply want to make money off the taxpayers?" Fitzgerald said. "You know what to call them."And who are "these guys being mentioned"?, RezkoWatch asks.
What?
"The Illinois Combine," Fitzgerald said. "The bipartisan Illinois political combine. And all these guys being mentioned, they're part of it."
Well, quite simply put, most of them have been connected in one way or the other with 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama dating to at least 1995 when he ran for the Illinois State Senate. They have been—and some still are—colleagues, campaign contributors, and fellow travelers along Obama's meteoric rise in both Illinois and national politics, a veritable "who's who" of the "Illinois Combine".
Many of their names have appeared in indictments and on witness lists connected with Rezko's trial. Others, like Iraqi-British billionaire businessman and former Rezko partner, Nadhmi Auchi, are found in court documents. Although accused of no crimes, these names consistently reappear connected with that of Rezko—and Obama. Other names are yet destined to appear in future legal proceedings against Rezko.
Keep in mind what Dan Morain wrote in the September 8, 2007, Los Angeles Times:
"Now, promoting himself as a fresh face on the national political stage, proclaiming his distance from lobbyists and the Washington culture of special interests, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has to contend with his own history. ... From Chicago to Springfield, his past is filled with decidedly old-school political tactics -- a history of befriending powerful local elders, assisting benefactors and special interests, and neutralizing rivals."Oh, yes, and did we mention, Obama's name also appears on the witness list for the current trial, making his one more in what former Illinois U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald called the "Illinois Combine".
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