Obama Distances Self From Indicted Donor

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama sought to distance himself Wednesday from a real estate developer and fast-food magnate facing federal corruption charges, saying he had no indication of any problems when he accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

"My relationship is he was somebody who I knew and had been a supporter for many years, he was somebody who had supported a wide range of candidates all throughout Illinois," the Democratic presidential candidate said in an interview with CBS News' The Early Show. "Nobody had an inkling that he was involved in any problems. When those problems were discovered, we returned money from him that had been contributed."

Obama, an Illinois senator, also said it was a mistake for him to have purchased a strip of land from Rezko's wife. The land adjoins the Obamas' Chicago home. Rezko was widely reported to be under grand jury investigation at the time.

"Everything was above board and there's been no allegations that it wasn't," Obama told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

"In terms of appearances, and I've already said this, that I should not have entered into any kind of agreement with him," Obama added on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Obama also has given to charity about $37,000 in contributions to his Senate campaign and political action committee that were linked to Rezko. Rezko also raised tens of thousands of dollars for Obama's state legislative and Senate races.

Rezko faces a Feb. 25 trial, almost three weeks after the Super Tuesday primaries that could go a long way in settling the Democratic nomination. He is charged with fraud, attempted extortion and money laundering for allegedly plotting to get campaign money and payoffs from firms seeking to do business before two state boards.

Once that trial is behind him, the 53-year-old Rezko faces a separate federal charge of swindling the General Electric Capital Corp. out of $10 million in connection with the sale of pizza restaurants.

Obama's name has not come up in connection with any of the corruption charges swirling around Rezko. In fact, prosecutors indicate the source of Rezko's clout was somewhere within Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration.

Presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton raised Obama's relationship with Rezko in a Democratic debate Monday night.

[elsylee28]

Awesome article to help us analyze the political fiasco at the BlogZine SAVAGE POLITICS.

"The Boom Generation and their Pathetic Spawn" at www.SAVAGEPOLITICS.com

[msy428]

I don''t know if CBS is reorting the interview accurately or not, but Senator Obama''s explanation regarding Rezko is sufficient enough to vendicate him. He had to admit wrong doing ("its a mistake...") but it does not erase ethical concerns such as: did he get a discount on the adjacent lot? What is worse about this whole thing is that the Senator goes around campaigning that he is a different kind of politician and someone who cannot be corrupted because he "does not take money from lobbyists". He goes around accusing the Clinton''s of double talk. Moreover, the voters are fooled by this. Let''s be real.

[heartlight3]

I think the Clintons have a lot of nerve using Obama''s remote connection to a questionable donor, when they have similar issues with donors to their own campaign. A candidate does not have control over what their donors choose to do in their lives. All they can do when revelations of donor wrongdoing come up is give back the money or donate it to charity and move on. Isn''t that what the Clintons have done?

[johnfrost-2009]

Obama has been addicted to crack cocaine for 12-15 years and has never done rehab.
I believe Obama is still smoking crack. Getting out of crack cocaine is as difficult as going to Europe from NY in a bicycle.
Larry Sinclair in a Youtube video claims he had *** and crack cocaine with Obama in 1999, He''s challenging Obama to take a polygraph test and tell the truth to the American Public.
Obama is silent on these charges.

[johnfrost-2009]

OPEN BORDERS CANDIDATES:

1.- "Si se puede" crack cocaine user-seller Muslim Obama
2.- "No Mexican woman is illegal" Hillary Clinton
3.- "All Illegal children must receive free education"Mc Cain
4.- %u201CCome to New York%u2019s sanctuary%u201D Giuliani.
5.- %u201CIllegals deserve several services %u201DHuckabee

"Breaking and entering is a felony and all illegals are felons"
Who is the toughest Candidate with Mexico, Islam%u2019s terror and Illegals?
**** Mitt Romney***** I respect this man greatly.
A.- Romney%u2019s family strong and functional, 5 Married children solid Americans.
B.- Mitt%u2019s a good solid patriotic American, no felonies in his record.
C.- Extremely good record as Governor
D.- Tough on Mexico, Islam%u2019s terror and Illegals.

Mitt Romney will be the best President ever and will restore America to its former greatness.

Mitt Romney, President.
Fred Thompson, VP
Giuliani, Sec of State
Tom Tancredo, Interior Secy.

No DemoAlqaidas in the White House ever!!!!
OBAMA IS A MUSLIM ROBOT IRANIAN PLANT
MUSLIM REZKO HAS OBAMA IN HIS POCKET

[realpatriot1]

cptdeuce,

Segregational? Is that a word? The Church is in a black neighborhood but I''m sure they would welcome you if you want to show up on sunday. In fact, Obam has laready invited the entire country to come check out the chior.

[vmcneal2]

This is just a nasty campaign fight...nothing new. Let''s not lose focus on the real problems in this country. We will all be better off once George and Dead Eye *** are out of office. I''ll take Hillary, Obama or Edwards any day over what we''ve had for the past 7 years.

[watcher269-2009]

Now this is a change - the Republicans embrace their indicted donors.

[realpatriot1]

bubba tried playing the race-card again today. He told a reporter that Obama was trying to start a race war. Of course, he didn''t offer any examples to back up his charge.When reporters asked Obama to comment he simply said that it was a side show and didn''t return fire. Good for him!

He should let the Clintons hang themselves with their hostility and hate. Bill''s face has been looking like Santa''s suit lately; he might need to make a return visit to his Cardiologist soon.

"I like it when Barack & Hillary fight."-Bill Clinton.

[samthetvcat]

It''s sad because they''re praying on the desperation of people who used to have it good in better times like when the car industry was booming who are now ''lucky'' to not get downsized from Starbucks. It frustrates me, but I understand it too . . .

The politicians to me seem like they''re just using people to maintain their power. And what is the personal price to them to promise handouts? After their terms they make millions on the talk circuit. We all lose with this approach in the long-run, I just don''t know how to stop it . . . Lou Dobbs, what do we do? LOL