Fri, Aug 22, 2008 12:25pm ET

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Wash. Post uncritically reports McCain ad's false suggestion that Obama wrote letters for Rezko's project in 1998 "in return" for help ... in 2005

Summary: The Washington Post uncritically reported the false suggestion in an ad by Sen. John McCain that Sen. Barack Obama wrote letters in support of a Chicago housing project proposed by Chicago businessman Antoin Rezko's company "in return" for Rezko's "help[ing] him buy his million-dollar mansion." In fact, Obama reportedly wrote the letters in 1998 but did not purchase his house until 2005.
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Posted by DAWUSS

So in other words, McCain can't keep his story straight about Obama's associations?

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to DAWUSS

No, Wuss, I think the real point is that Obama was really sneaky in waiting 7 years to collect on his "favor".

Posted by snoopy in reply to DAWUSS

McCain left out the most damning piece of evidence too. If he was on his game, this one very important piece of evidence would convict Obama lock, stock and barrel. But I'm an honest guy, so while I'd prefer to not let the cat out of the bag, integrity forces me to reveal that one piece of very important evidence that, if McCain were to say it, would win him over in the minds of the American people.

What is that one piece of very important evidence, you ask?

He forgot to start the sentance with "As a former POW..."

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to snoopy

Now available for XBox

Posted by jeter2 in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

Hey Colonel you got the wrong war there. Maybe you can post the Vietnam version?

Anyway who cares that McCain was a POW when Obama is:

Super Obama!

 

Posted by snoopy in reply to jeter2

That's darn skippy!

Posted by jeter2 in reply to snoopy

Snoop since it's Friday, here's one of my favorite cartoons [off topic of course]

_Payne_3_20_08_Iraq_Bush.jpg

Posted by jeter2 in reply to jeter2

Or this one ;-)

Posted by snoopy in reply to jeter2

That's pretty good, but I'm still a big fan of tom tomorrow!

This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow

Posted by jeter2 in reply to snoopy

Ha! Good one Snoop ;-)

My favorite editorial/political cartoonist is Jerry Holbert.

I loved this one:

 

Political Cartoons by Jerry Holbert Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Posted by wolf kotenberg in reply to jeter2

that does look alot better than Dukakis bouncing around in a tank chuckle chukle

Posted by hogprint in reply to jeter2

# 54525  

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to snoopy

Why the heck is John McCain so critical of Barack Obama's purchase of a big house? As a former POW he has seven houses... But, as a former POW, he acquired them the AMERICAN way...he divorced his wife and married a rich young babe. As a former POW John McCain has NEVER done political favors for anyone. Maybe as the slimeball politician he is...but never as a former POW. That's because John McCain loves America....and he's a former POW.  ;>)

Posted by NiceguyEddie in reply to IRONY 101

Hey, maybe he'll tap Rudy Guiliiani as VP and it can be the "Former POW / Mayor on 9-11" ticket!

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to NiceguyEddie

Flip and Flop on the same ticket...?

Posted by snoopy in reply to IRONY 101

Well, I'm shocked to learn that the former POW known as John McCain was a former POW. Why, the former POW's positions in this election couldn't be more clear!

Apparently, John McCain Was a POW

Georgia Van Cuylenburg | Bio


Aug. 16 - A direct transcript of John McCain's responses at the Saddleback Faith Forum...

When asked about abortion, McCain said "when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam no one ever, once, aborted their babies."

When asked about Christian faith, McCain said "when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam I spoke to the baby Jesus every morning and every night - he kept me safe."

When asked about gay marriage, McCain said when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam none of the men ever got married - but maybe they changed their mind when they got back to their home state"

When asked about embryonic stem-cell research, McCain said "when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam we sometimes had to stay in cells."

When asked about AIDS, McCain said "when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam we didn't even know what AIDS was."

When asked about troubled youth, McCain said "when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam the local kids always would get in trouble for trying to help us."

When asked about the conflicts in Georgia, McCain said "when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam the guy in the bed next do me had a girl pal called Georgia - I am sorry to hear they are fighting."

When asked about safe nuclear power, McCain said "when I was a prisoner of war in Vietnam the guy on the other side of me had deadly gas."

When asked about his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam McCain said "he'd rather not talk about it."

Posted by mary59 in reply to snoopy

Now ask him if he's getting a bit thin on top ;-)

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to snoopy

I'm dying to hear Joe Biden say that a typical John McCain statement consists of a noun, a verb and POW.  ;>)

Posted by NiceguyEddie in reply to DAWUSS

The story, the facts, his platform, his positions... what exactly DOES McCain keep strait?

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to NiceguyEddie

As a former POW he keeps Cindy in line...   ;>)

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to IRONY 101

If you can't keep your rich trollop in line, how can you deal with the Russians?

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to DAWUSS

No, Wuss. McCain is lying. Nice try with the language but look honey, I think everybody is on to you. Actually, since day 1. Your use of the language is a good attempt to be sly, but broads like you aren't that smart. The smart ones post here and are honest about what they have to say. No jibberish on every subject. So put on your heels and trollopish makeup and find yourself a guy. And I won't use the language that your Presidential choice used with his Sugar Mommy.

Posted by donaldmaddog5642 in reply to princeofwheels

To PRINCE,

How many times do I have to tell all of you? DON'T RESPOND TO WUSS! It is so damn OBVIOUS who he (or she) is and who is paying by the post. First of all, NOBODY can be that dense. Second, the structure, grammar, and spelling are just too, too, well, fey. Like the guy who sits down to play cards and says, "Gee, whiz, I really don't know anything about this game, so be patient, O.K." In going back and reading many of your previous posts and answers to this individual it pains me to see how much time and energy is wasted on this drivel. I guess I have been too appreciative of so much of what IS posted here that I resent seeing it sidetracked by foolish nonsense. My level of understanding of some issues has been greatly aided by these discussions. Please, please use your smarts.

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to donaldmaddog5642

Dogg, you are right but it is Friday. Also, I can play with the Wuss because I am the POW around here.

Seriously, I feel the same way but every now and then, it is time to have some fun. Wuss is a phony, I know that but...being the POW around here, I should get special dispensation just like the other pow, McBush.

Posted by unhipcat

Another example of the difficulty the senator from Arizona has keeping timelines straight.

Posted by wolf kotenberg in reply to unhipcat

his loss of memory brings forth a whole new meaning to his future cabinet and trusted advisors. I would be worried that these unelected people could suggest things to McCain and he would be unable to distinguish from following the law of the land and making new law of the land.

Posted by leftinmississippi in reply to wolf kotenberg

I wonder too, but hopefully we won't find out.  Obama has to hit back harder when these things flare up.  Rezko, Ayers and Wright are his Willie Hortons unless he smacks McCain and his groupies down. 

Posted by wolf kotenberg

I would like to see those letters before I can trust McCain's ad.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to wolf kotenberg

The only letters John McCain wants you to see are P, Oand W.

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to IRONY 101

Even when vacationing in Taxachusetts.

Posted by snoopy

Since it's Friday it would be really selfish of me not to share this!

 

1.Water drinks Michael Phelps.

2.Scientists recently discovered the cause for warmer sea temperature and melting icebergs happens every time Michael Phelps gets in the water.

3.Michael Phelps’ sweat is consider a banned substance for other athletes.  Too bad Michael Phelps never sweats.

4.When Michael Phelps jumps into the pool, he isn’t making a splash; the water is just trying to get out of his way.

5.Once, when Michael Phelps swam the Atlantic and came across mermaids, one said to him “I thought you were just a myth!”

6.Ancient Greeks used to sacrifice 100 cows to Poseidon who would then turn around and sacrifice them to Michael Phelps.

7.Michael Phelps does not swim like dolphins; dolphins swim like Michael Phelps.

8.There is no need to save the whales, Michael Phelps has saved them all.

9.When Michael Phelps goes water skiing he doesn’t use skis; or a boat.

10.Every time you see a shooting star you are really watching Michael Phelps train in space.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to snoopy

Isn't Michael Phelps also a former POW...?  ;>)

Posted by BottleBlonde

On MSNBC, they portrayed both Obama's and McCain's competing ads about this issue in an equal fashion, which is unequal treatment!

Obama's ad was based on facts - that McCain doesn't even know how many houses he and his wife own - and it doesn't matter, righties, that the homes are in her name!

McCain's ads are based upon lies and distortions! It furthers the conservative agenda to simply expose listeners to this ad without explaining how untrue the ad is. That's why they have campaign ad factchecks in very major paper. News stories about those ads should also adhere to that fact-check rule.

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to BottleBlonde

True...but are you aware that John McCain is a former POW?

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to IRONY 101

BTW, that John McCain is a former POW is an obscure fact that he doesn't like to talk about...so let's not spread it around.  ;>)

Posted by DAWUSS in reply to IRONY 101

I think Obama played as a POW in this one video game back in '97

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to DAWUSS

I think I remember that video game. It was called "THE JOHN McCAIN GAME - How to parlay getting shot down over Viet Nam into a lucrative political career!"

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to IRONY 101

Oh, and in the video game John McCain finishes first in his class at Annapolis...

Posted by snoopy in reply to IRONY 101

You could say his POW time was his first two flip flops.

1. He was for following the uniform code of military conduct for POW's before he was against it.

2. He was against revealing information to the enemy before he was for it.

Posted by wolf kotenberg in reply to snoopy

I think his greatest achievement as a POW was to keep hidden the fact he was the son of an admiral.

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to wolf kotenberg

I've had enough...get off my case. Being the only true POW in the USA, I represent everything said about me. I, being the POW, don't like this McCain guy cutting in on my territory. He became a film and radio star while parading around as POW. Hell, how many films and tapes did he make for the N. Vietnamese Film Association? Jane Fonda had one picture taken and look what happened to her.

Please, POW speaking, I deny that John MCain is part of the family. Although he looked like a Red Star in those N. Vietnamese flicks.

Posted by friedbergboy1422

Next time anyone brings up Rezko or Ayers, can we fight back with G. Gordon Liddy?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/05/g-gordon-liddy-john-mccai_n_100134.html

Posted by Pyrrhonist in reply to friedbergboy1422

I think that's perfectly fair. 

Posted by snoopy

OT, but y'all really should re-visit yesterdays' thread on CNN. Our resident troll showed up a day late and a dollar short, yet he thinks he's winning arguments because no one is responding! Way too funny!

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to snoopy

Snoop, I catch those once in a while when I check out old archived items, the warriors who pop into a 3 day old thread and start demanding answers of posters who are nowhere around.

Some pretty hilarious declarations of victory in those, when the "cowards" who were done posting a few days earlier don't fight back.

Sorry, back to gramps, if you haven't heard his handlers' response to the Obama ad about the 8 houses, it's pretty funny/sad. They worked in Hawaii and arugula in an attempt to show Obama as the true elitist.

And I did my lunchtime El Rushbo scan, where fatboy was countering by asking if Obama knows how many half-brothers he has.They're really running out of bullets early.

Posted by snoopy in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

One thing you left out on the housing issue is they also used his POW background for an excuse:

Speaking to the Washington Post, aide Brian Rogers, in full damage-control mode, acknowledged that his boss had "some investment properties and stuff," but added: "This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison."

Now what's really funny is this isn't the first time he forgot. Seems he also forgot what kind of car he drives:

In our News interview, he was asked what kind of car he drove. As with Politico’s question about home ownership, he didn’t know and had to ask a nearby aide. “A Cadillac CTS,” she told him. But then the senator was quick to point out that he had bought his daughter a Prius — the prefect (sic) halo symbol for his green pretensions. […]

Posts courtesy of thinkprogress and huffpo!

Posted by IRONY 101 in reply to snoopy

 "This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison."

Ohhhh, right...John McCain is a former POW. I had forgotten that. John McCain doesn't like to talk about it, you know...

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

COL.,  It won't be long before the buffoons get really angry and begins their...what if something "happens" to Obama? Will the Clintons' ride in to rescue the Democrat(sic) Party? Then after spewing this bile for a few hours to their nimrods, they will only say they were joking. But the next day, they will abase their lowly nimrods and want to know why something wasn't done and why the orders were not followed. Of course, another bit of Con humor.

Rush or Seannie the Sissy..here is the challenge. I WILL vote for McCain if either one or both of your commit suicide on National TV.....wait for it, it is coming, pretty soon....here it is... I am not kidding. I would stoop that low just for you only if you prove your loyality to the party. ; )

Posted by snoopy in reply to princeofwheels

But Hannity and Rush, as current POS's, don't quite have the same party loyalty is McCain, the former POW. Maybe that's why this year the republican party is getting PWND!

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to snoopy

SNOOP, where is a the online dictionary for abbreviations. IMOFYA, PWND, etc.etc.  Some of us aren't into to this type of language. Please help.

Thanx,

Sen. McCain

P.S. Where's my car?

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to princeofwheels

There's only one abbreviation John McCain needs to know and that's

Posted by Pyrrhonist in reply to princeofwheels

I'd like to know that too. I don't even know what WITH is.

Posted by snoopy in reply to Pyrrhonist

OK all!

POW - prisoner of war

POS - piece of doo doo

PWND - what's gonna happen to the republican party in november.

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to snoopy

Thank You but HMHDIH?

Your Buddy, Johnny Mac

HMHDIH...how many houses do I have?

Posted by cb in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

Since this is apparently old news (still 1st column, top of page 1 of this site) let me ask you to address this today…

Even if Obama did get a special deal on a house, what the hell does this have to do with the inquiry as to whether he makes a better president than McCain?

So, first Obama makes a sweetheart deal with Rezko’s wife (wink, wink) and then he has to do the “backstroke” because he gets his hand caught in the cookie jar after everybody notices all the payola coming in and that doesn’t matter?  It may be a classic case of influence peddling…and it does matter.

§         But Obama acknowledged "it was stupid" of him to get involved in the purchase almost one year ago of a strip of property adjoining his $1.65 million home from Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who owned a vacant lot next door. Rezko, a political insider and fundraiser, was indicted in October on charges of trying to extort campaign donations and kickbacks from firms seeking state business. Rezko has pleaded not guilty.

"I am the first one to acknowledge that it was a boneheaded move for me to purchase this 10-foot strip from Rezko, given that he was already under a cloud of concern," Obama said. "I will also acknowledge that from his perspective, he no doubt believed that by buying the piece of property next to me that he would, if not be doing me a favor, it would help strengthen our relationship."

December 28, 2006:

      • Rita Rezko sells the rest of the land to a company owned by Michael Sreenan, who is a - "former Rezko business attorney" - for $575,000

June 1, 2007

      • Obama campaign says it will donate to charity $5,000 contributed to his Senate campaign by Ali Ata, former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority, who was charged in connection to the Rezko case (AP, June 1, 2007)

June 7, 2007

      • The Chicago Tribune reports that Obama will donate to charity $16,500 contributed to his federal campaign from "two Chicago businessmen who had financial ties to indicted dealmaker Antoin "Tony" Rezko." (Chicago Tribune, June 7, 2007)

June 18, 2007

      • The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Rezko-linked contributors have given Obama $168,308 since the mid-1990s, far more than the "between $50,000 and $60,000" Obama previously told the paper

June 25, 2007

      • The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Obama is giving to charity a total of $3500 in contributions from two men "referenced" in the Rezko indictments

December 14, 2007

      • Obama donates $5,000 contribution from Abdelhamid "Al" Chaib, a businessman indicted that week in connection with Rezko

January 19, 2008

      • Obama announces that he will donate to charity $40,350 in contributions "from seven Chicago-area individuals who appear to be linked to Rezko."

January 29, 2008

      • Obama campaign announces that it will donate to charity more than $70,000 in Rezko-linked contributions
      •  

The whole deal stinks! From a guy who is making “change” the center piece of his campaign it sure sounds like the Same old Chicago style politics to me.  That’s why it is important to note.  He’s not “The One”…He’s a fake! 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let me also add, Obama couldn’t have bought his mansion without Rezco’s wife (wink, wink) buying the other lot on the same day at the same time since the seller was unwilling to sell them separately and Obama couldn’t afford to buy both on his own.  No Rezco help, no Obama mansion.  Now that would have been a shame. But it was nothing some Chicago style politics and perhaps some strategically placed political influence couldn’t solve.    

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to cb

Keep up the good work, CB (wink wink)

Posted by snoopy in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

Talk about a CB radio in a WiFi world...

Posted by Timmee in reply to cb

I guess you are still working on your post about Abramoff. It's going to be a long one.

All he can do is give money back that has any whiff of Rezko's rotten smell. It looks like he has done that.

Posted by princeofwheels in reply to cb

But if Obama says he was a POW will that make everything OKAY...

How about some Keating 5 stuff while you are being historically inclined?

Why did this Obama guy donate money from these people to charity? Was it the right thing to do?

Posted by pjdevitt

Whenever they bring up Rezko, Obama ought to bring up the Keating Five. I do not understand why they can keep bringing this up without the campaign reminding everyone about McCain's ethical and judgmental lapses.