Republicans Hit Back At Obama Via Rezko
The McCain campaign and Republican National Committee are hitting back at the Obama campaign's offensive casting John McCain as out of touch.
The Obama campaign has today been aggressively spotlighting McCain's inability to say how many houses he owns – he and his wife reportedly own at least eight – and McCain's recent comment that someone would need an income of $5 million to be considered rich. (McCain's campaign later said McCain was joking.)
In an effort to push back, the McCain camp and RNC are drawing reporters' attention to Obama's connection to convicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko, which was widely reported when Rezko was on trial earlier this year. Obama was not accused of wrongdoing during the trial.
As Politico notes, the McCain campaign is preparing to launch a Web site focused on Obama's connections to Rezko. (UPDATE: And here it is. It comes from the RNC, not the McCain campaign, though the campaign did send it to reporters.)
And the RNC sent out an email today headlined "OBAMA'S HOUSING PROBLEM: Brought To You By Convicted Felon Tony Rezko." In it, the RNC notes that Obama paid $300,000 less than asking price for his home – which the RNC helpfully notes "Had Four Fireplaces And A Wine Cellar" – on the same day that Rezko's wife bought the vacant lot next door for asking price.
"Later, the Obamas bought a 10-foot-by-150-foot piece of the lot for $104,500," the Washington Post reported in a passage spotlighted by the RNC. "An appraisal put the value of the strip at $40,500, a spokesman said, but Obama considered it fair to pay one-sixth of the original price for one-sixth of the lot."
Rezko, an Obama friend and fundraiser who once offered the presumptive Democratic nominee a job, was convicted in June on corruption charges.
© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. The Obama campaign has today been aggressively spotlighting McCain's inability to say how many houses he owns – he and his wife reportedly own at least eight – and McCain's recent comment that someone would need an income of $5 million to be considered rich. (McCain's campaign later said McCain was joking.)
In an effort to push back, the McCain camp and RNC are drawing reporters' attention to Obama's connection to convicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko, which was widely reported when Rezko was on trial earlier this year. Obama was not accused of wrongdoing during the trial.
As Politico notes, the McCain campaign is preparing to launch a Web site focused on Obama's connections to Rezko. (UPDATE: And here it is. It comes from the RNC, not the McCain campaign, though the campaign did send it to reporters.)
And the RNC sent out an email today headlined "OBAMA'S HOUSING PROBLEM: Brought To You By Convicted Felon Tony Rezko." In it, the RNC notes that Obama paid $300,000 less than asking price for his home – which the RNC helpfully notes "Had Four Fireplaces And A Wine Cellar" – on the same day that Rezko's wife bought the vacant lot next door for asking price.
"Later, the Obamas bought a 10-foot-by-150-foot piece of the lot for $104,500," the Washington Post reported in a passage spotlighted by the RNC. "An appraisal put the value of the strip at $40,500, a spokesman said, but Obama considered it fair to pay one-sixth of the original price for one-sixth of the lot."
Rezko, an Obama friend and fundraiser who once offered the presumptive Democratic nominee a job, was convicted in June on corruption charges.
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It would appear that the Republicans have run out of new smears - rehashing now?
The other day, he couldn''t define what it means to be rich, and most of his responses to serious questions were his one line campaign rhetoric. He''s been in Washington too long to make any difference even if he wanted to. After 8 years of GW making the US a laughing stock, It will be a sad day the day
America elects John McCain
I wonder if it has dawned on the RNC (and McCain) that this lack of interest in what Americans thing might be one symptom of why most Americans find the Republican party - and especially John McCain, to be so hopelessly out of touch?
For the record: on their new web attack page, the RNC makes much to-do of Obama''s connections to Mr. Rezko and much to-do about Rezko recent trial.
But the RNC does not mention that Rezko''s very public trial found absolutely nothing indicating any kind of improper relationship between Obama and Rezko.
Unlike, say, the felonious connections of John McCain to the perpetrators and campaign contributors involved in the savings and loan scandal. For which McCain received only a very mild slap on the wrist from his colleagues.
Rezko is now in prison, where most Republicans just might find themselves%u2026.
http://obama.3cdn.net/a74586f9067028c40a_5km6vrqwa.pdf