Obama's Political "Godfather" In Illinois

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr., An Old-School Politician, Called "Indispensable To Barack's Career"

(AP)  The president of the Illinois Senate is sitting in his statehouse office, talking in gravelly tones about political strategies and counter-strategies. Out of nowhere, the theme from "The Godfather" begins playing.

It turns out to be the ringtone on his cell phone - an appropriate song for the man who amounts to Barack Obama's political godfather.

Emil Jones Jr. helped Obama master the intricacies of the Legislature. When Democrats took control of the state Senate, Jones, though he risked offending colleagues who had toiled futilely on key issues under Republican rule, tapped Obama to take the lead on high-profile legislative initiatives that he now boasts about in his presidential campaign.

And when Obama wanted a promotion to the U.S. Senate, Jones provided critical support that gave the little-known legislator legitimacy, keeping him from being instantly trampled by the front-runners.

"He's been indispensable to Barack's career. He wants to see a black president before he gets called home," said fellow state Sen. Rickey Hendon, a Democrat.

While Obama got vital help from Jones, the two men have sharply different political styles, and Jones may not be a political asset in a White House campaign.

Jones, 72, is an unabashedly old-school politician. A former sewer inspector for the city of Chicago, Jones has relatives on the state payroll, steers state grants to favorite organizations and uses his clout to punish enemies and bury GOP legislation.

Obama supporters see the alliance as an example of Obama's ability to get things done by working with all kinds of people. Critics see it as hypocrisy - Obama refusing to speak out against the kinds of abuse he claims to oppose.

"His voting record is down-the-line unquestioned support of the Cook County machine," said Steve Rauschenberger, a former Republican state senator.

The two first met in the mid-1980s. Jones was already in the state Senate and Obama was a young community organizer on Chicago's South Side.

Obama apparently didn't think much of Jones. In his memoir "Dreams from My Father," Obama dismisses him as "an old ward heeler" who had little clout left after backing the wrong candidate.

But Jones was impressed by Obama and cooperated with Obama's Developing Communities Project on some issues. Later, Obama was elected to the state Senate, where Jones was then the minority leader and most powerful black member of the Legislature.

"When he first came, we sat down and he said to me, 'You know I like to work hard. Feel free to hand me any tough assignments on legislation,"' Jones recalls. "That was unusual, for a person to say 'I like to work."'

Jones gave him a chance, assigning Obama to a bipartisan task force in charge of drafting ethics legislation.

It was not a glamor job. Obama would be asking legislators to accept new restrictions and asking good-government groups to compromise, leaving no one entirely happy. But legislators ended up passing the state's first major ethics overhaul in years, including limits on gifts to officials.

Jones also let Obama work on establishing a state version of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and lobby Republicans to soften their legislation adding work requirements to the state welfare system - an effort that ended with GOP senators praising Obama.

Several senators said Jones and Obama, who represented neighboring Chicago districts, weren't particularly close. They didn't socialize much, and the legislative opportunities he gave to Obama were similar to those available to other promising senators.

But their relationship changed in 2002.

[hungryman9]

This is the first time I have posted anything, I''m a retired school teacher and want to say that Obama is not ready to be President. I have been reading these forums on several networks for weeks and my experience with teaching blacks is they still have a long way to go and the only way they can get there is education. Look at the murder and rapes in America today and most of them (not all) are committed by blacks. Our jails are high percentage blacks. People like Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton always complaining about more blacks in jail but they are the ones committing these crimes. I think the black people should listen to Bill Cosby. He tells it like it really is. There are blacks that would make good Presidents and they are J. W. Watts, Colin Powell, Condi Rice and others, but not this guy. He will do more harm than good to our country. He has too many shady characters in his life to be the commander in chief.

[pepperp1]

yep we knew this was coming and there is much much more, he gave Obama his legislation in the last year and Obama State career prior to that nothing no record of accomplishment and Obama the get along nice guy he is repaid his godfather''s District with 300 MILLION of your hard earned tax dollars in EARMARKS.................


PA, IND, and NC real Dem voters need to turn out and save your Party for the corrupt Liberal elitist Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, Clyburn and Dean before its to late and they destroy your chances for Nov with this fraud of a primary.

[crater7]

HAVE YOU HEARD? NEWS REPORT SAYS, TRINITY CHURCH SCRUBBING WEB SITE.

HMMMMMM......

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D AMERICA."

[popstom1]

This is just the start

[broncfan1661]

pepperp1 wrote;
yep we knew this was coming and there is much much more

Yes there is but you won''t see it on ABC, CBS, CNN or NBC or the likes of Politico.com (The Obama News Networks)

[pepperp1]

Critics see it as hypocrisy - Obama refusing to speak out against the kinds of abuse he claims to oppose.

Critics see it as hypocrisy - Obama refusing to speak out against the kinds of abuse he claims to oppose.

Critics see it as hypocrisy - Obama refusing to speak out against the kinds of abuse he claims to oppose.

Critics see it as hypocrisy - Obama refusing to speak out against the kinds of abuse he claims to oppose.

Critics see it as hypocrisy - Obama refusing to speak out against the kinds of abuse he claims to oppose.



Fringe wack a do''s all

[mcvet]

PA, IND, and NC real Dem voters need to turn out and save your Party for the corrupt Liberal elitist Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, Clyburn and Dean before its to late and they destroy your chances for Nov with this fraud of a primary.



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Posted by pepperp1 at 04:43 PM : Mar 31, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL You are either a Wolf in sheeps clothing or a complete IDIOT! Have you seen the figures, the turn out in these elections. Not since Jack Kennedy has there been this much excitement in the party and the nation. Now crawl back under your rock and enjoy the ride... We''re going to make HISTORY this November!! Sieg Heil Bush

[repdemapart]

start saving contents of NOBAMA''s trinity church''s website. they are about to scrap it.

[pepperp1]

ok we all know the RNC is corrupt rancid to the core and now we know the DNC to be in the same shape with the nut screaming liberal Dean at the helm stuffing the ballot box for his corrupt Party Puppet.....



McCain or Clinton no Party Puppet again....no wonder Pelosi wants Obama.........ARGGGGGGGGGGGGG

took the Washington press core and entire year to report again on the obvious about their Pet Dem and the 300 million kickback in earmarks that Obama paid this guy, America take back your country get out a vote in the primary

[trishab4]

Barack Hussein, please answer this:
When did you first become aware of the fact that in 1984 Reverend Wright traveled to Libya with Louis Farrakhan to visit Muammar Qadhafi? Similarly, when did you become aware of Wright''''s role in giving Farrakhan a lifetime-achievement award and that Wright referred to the Nation of Islam leader as a man of %u201Cintegrity and honesty?%u201D Did those things trouble you when you learned of them?


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Posted by trapbreak at 05:22 PM : Mar 31, 2008

-krapbreak, in 1984, BO was 22 years old. You tink someone his age gives a d@mn about what is going on in the world? What an iodiot question you asked here.

-Moammar Qadhafi is a close friend of your heart-close GOP administration, now. Isn''t he, krapbreak?

[jack3213]

BLACK FOR SAKE OF BLACK IS STILL RACISM. A WOMAN FOR SAKE OF GENDER IS STILL DISCRIMITORY. THESE DEMOCRATS ARE SIMPLY EVIL HYPOCRITS.

[trishab4]

oammar Qadhafi is a close friend of your heart-close GOP administration, now. Isn''''''''t he, krapbreak? - - Posted by trishab4

He certainly wasn''''t in 1984.

In 1984, its "People''''s Bureau" in London had shot at demonstrators in the square outside, killing a policewoman standing with them.

In 1986, a bomb exploded in the La Belle discotheque in West Berlin, used by US servicemen there. Libya was blamed.

Reagan It sent 16 F111''''s based in Britain to attack and only narrowly missed getting Gaddafi.


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Posted by trapbreak at 05:35 PM : Mar 31, 2008

-krepbreak, then blame it only on your GOP president, why he normalized relations with this thug.

[pepperp1]

Yes there is but you won''''t see it on ABC, CBS, CNN or NBC or the likes of Politico.com (The Obama News Networks)


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Posted by broncfan1661 at 05:07 PM : Mar 31, 2008

ask your self why...

[pepperp1]

28 percent of voters Dems need to count on in Nov will not vote have said they will not vote for the light weight liberal corrupt Obama...

[jntlw-2009]

Most politicians start out this way as rookies until they get the feel of the politics involved whether it be on the state or federal level. Someone takes them under their wings to teach them the ways or processes. Nothing new here folks! Hillary got it too when she was in the Senate as a rookie. Of course she had her husband too who and she had WH experience. Some get all the breaks - huh!

[sosoe-2009]

"You know I like to work hard. Feel free to hand me any tough assignments on legislation". This is the type of person I want representing me and my family in the white house! Not a LIAR, who feels she is "entitled" to the presidency! Not someone who doesn''t feel she has to pay small business owners for services rendered to her! Hell-ery "skipped out" on two companies in Ohio, oweing more than $25,000. She won''t even return phone calls or e-mails! The companies even sent a certified letter! No response!! Hell-ery "skipped out" on an Iowa office worker, without paying!! THAT''S SAD!! Her LACK OF CHARACTER is why we will NEVER vote for her!

[shutupnvote]

Obama needs to step aside and the Dems need to fire DNC Dean and Brazile the election fraud fixers and real Dems should do more than threaten Pelosi with holding contributions they should withhold all contributions to any Dem candidate until Mich and Fla are counted.....Geraldine F. was right Obama is lucky any other candidate that had a Rev like Wright and Political Patron like Rezko and a Political Godfather Jones and a Spouse who continually criticize America as typical and un proud %u2026.and the Party continues covering this up with this Press buddies at GE owned NBC at their own Peril

it may be to late Obama lies his surrogate vicious attacks and press ploys may have so bloodied Clinton even she wont be able to pull this folly out of the toilet.

Any Dem in our State SD or not, that comes out for this fraud will go down with Obama in Nov of on the ballot and we are a true battleground%u202628 percent of Dems are on record they will not vote for Obama period and if they blow Nov kiss those Party members GOODEYE .

If Obama in 08 then McCain easy choice

[rowdytexan2]

HEYYYYYYYYYY CBS! You failed to mention $300 million dollars worth of Obama''s earmarks went to Mr. Jones district in Illinois!!!!!! Woooooooo hoooooooooooo! You FORGOT SOMETHING!!!!

[rowdytexan2]

That is $300 million dollar worth of government money plowed into the corrupt Richard Daly political machine!!!!

HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[obama8years]

youtube.com/watch?v=LIe4d9Nmg9k

Obama is backing muslim extremist!

badbarack.org

obamatruth.org

OBAMA TIES TO HAMAS

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency today reports that the Wright, Jr., long-time pastor of Obama, published an op-ed piece signed by a Hamas leader. The item appeared in the July 22, 2007 edition of his Trinity United Church newspaper on the "Pastor''''''''''''''''s Page." Justifies attacks on Israeli civilians, and carries a supporting introduction by Mr. Wright.

Obama issued a statement strongly condemning these views of his pastor. "I certainly wasnt in church when that outrageously wrong [Hamas] piece was re-printed in the bulletin.


Obama is a long-time member of Trinity United, and his financial contributions to his church are reported to be substantial ("All told, the [Obama] couple gave $27,500 to [Trinity United] in 2005 and 2006," according to the New York Times of March 26). His moral support to the church has been unwavering. As more and more and more details of the extremist political positions of the church are revealed, Obamas response has been to distance himself from these, but also to repeat, over and over, that he didn''''''''''''''''t know, that he wasn''''''''''''''''t there.

I find it very difficult to believe that an intelligent, energetic, and very political man like Obama is perpetually ignorant about what goes on in the church to which he devotes so many of his resources. If he does get to the White House....

[rowdytexan2]

They have swamped Chicago with like triple the number of agents in Chicago because they have found so much fraud there! Every brother''s cousin''s aunt''s mother''s son''s sister''s, ANY relative is in high ranking positions, in all public entities, and non-profits, like Michelle Obama''s job the corrupt UM Hospital!!!

[popstom1]

Hey jack I am a male voteing for Clinton I guess
I am just a plane racist

[popstom1]

Chicago FBI playground

[obama8years]

obamatruth.org

Read about the Obama hospital job and putting people out of work

[shutupnvote]

That is $300 million dollar worth of government money plowed into the corrupt Richard Daly political machine!!!!

HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 06:28 PM : Mar 31, 2008

NO THAT%u2019S 300 MILLION OF OUR MONEY..That we worked every day to earn for his payoff


WHY is the Dem Party covering for Obama why dose Pelosi want to be the nominee he can not win he dose not have the Party support....are they trying to throw the Race??????? Maybe Pelosi is one of those women who cant play with others of her own ***, maybe or do they know things will be so bad and hard decisions will have to be made that if they have all 3 branches its their fault. I%u2019m a Independent but if the Dems put up this Puppet prince at the convention leave the Party

[obama8years]

I have blond hair and blue eyes and I''''m a Catholic and I support Obama.

I''''m pretty much a normal Obama supporter.
-----------------------------------
Do you hate whites?
Are you anti-american?
Do you put your hands over your ears and read the huf?
Do you want america to lose the war?
Do you call everyone racist for speaking things you dont like hearing?
Do you sympathize with suicide bombers?
Do you have a family of your own? (this has to be no)

If you answer yes to most of these questions, then you are a bonified Obama Supporter.


If you answered yes to most

[pepperp1]

22% of Democrats Want Clinton to Drop Out; 22% Say Obama Should Withdraw ...Rasmussen and 28 percent of Dems who currently support Clinton will not support Obama if he is the nominee.....my guess they will also leave the Party as they should.



If the Dems are corrupt enough to send a Obama to the country then McCain in 08%u2026

[popstom1]

To the so call America Media Do your job right now
you have spit on the grave of Edward R Murrow

[amerecua]

It disturbs me to here Obama say he wants to return to a Bush Senior/Reagan foreign policy. These two administration are the definition of Military Industrial Complex. Ask our neigbors to the south if they want a return to Reagan/Bush. El Salvador, Nicuaragua, Guatemala, Panama, y mas. The death of thousands of Latin Americans, overthrowing of countless democratically elected leaders, extreme poverty, and our so called current immigration issues are the direct result of a Reagan/Bush foreign policy. I''m an Obama supporter, but I''m deeply offended by these comments and may turn to Nader.

[goalonecbs]

Hillary is like an old Aunt to be. I can no more disown her than and can my mother.

What a fake Obama is!

[goalonecbs]

I heard Obama speak of Fat Cats in Washington. Who is he talking about.. Senator Kennedy and Senator John Kerry.
What a fake Obama is!

[jesterbelle]

McCAINS'' STANCE ON THE ISSUES

ECONOMY:Hell if I know!
HOUSING CRISIS:An old refrigerator box works great.
THE WAR:We need to go to Iran to track down Osama.
JOBS:Let''s open some more McDonalds.
HEALTHCARE:Don''t get sick!
GAS PRICES:They aren''t THAT high.

A vote for McCain is a vote for George Bush.

[blkpresident]

Godfather Obama: Who is asking for a favor today, Tom, on my daughter''s birthday?

Tom Hagen: A couple people have requested an audience with you Godfather.

Godfather Obama: Who are they, Tom?

Tom Hagen: There''s OLD man McCain and that woman Susan B. Anthony--oops strike that Godfather Obama. Wrong century, I meant to say Lil'' Hillary. Seems OLD man McCain wanted your blessings to pursue a geritol spokesman career out in Hollywood, and that woman mentioned something about wanting a brand new apron and a cake mixing bowl.

Godfather Obama: We''re gentlemen here, Tom, show the woman in first.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by pepperp1 at 07:00 PM : Mar 31, 2008

Absolutely, and older mature knowledgeable candidate is better than a political hack with Richard Daly corrupt politics any day of the week!

Say no to HIllary, you can say no to Obama! According to his wife Michelle, he doesn''t even know how to pick up his socks!

By the way CBS!!!! HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOO! You left out the part where Obama has put $300 million dollars in to Jones district in Chicago in earmarks! You left out the payola!!!!! HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[ksh1022]

Obama says he is for doing things differently: "change". But look at his "godfather" E. Jones Chicago machine insider. Look at his minister Rev Wright. Racist, America hating pro black preacher. Look at his wife. Angry, "proud for the first time". Obama says one thing and does another. He just has pretty words. His actions speak the truth of Obama. He is a sleazy politician who jumped in the game too early because he so arrogant.

[croft777]

Sounds like a bush move.

[nearl4511]

Yeah, how dare Obama have a patron. The NERVE of some people. (sarcasm off).

Look at the posters here. Some still convinced that Obama is a closet Muslim or a citizen of United Africa or something. Those posting in my local newspapaer compared him to Hitler, because why? Oh he doesn''t spread a mesage of hate like the Brown shirts.

Most of you wouldn''t recognize a Muslim if he bit you in the A S S .

Then one of the few Obama supporters -BLK - resorts to sexism.

Not enough maturity to elect a person of color or a woman in this country I''m afraid.

[pepperp1]

Dems need to wise up and dump this guy Ky appears ready polls show Clinton at 58 and Obama 28....the more you peel this Obama onion the more rotten you see the core...300 million dollar kick back in earmarks in 1 year to his godfathers district...Im waiting for the Rezko conviction and the deal Fitxgerald will cut faterwards to shed more light on this fraud

Trapbreak, McCain has now said these tax breaks should stay in force.

[gorgeousm]

ROMANCE WITH OBAMA HAS ENDED

This Obama is more and more controversial, and more filthy than the deceiving public relations speeches he attempts to dupe us with!

Throw this lying, condescending LAWYER/TRICKSTER/POLITICIAN out!

Hussein Obama stands for ANYTHING BUT good American interests!

His loyalties lie with all sorts of anti-American, and anti-White ideals and racist White People haters.

Crawl back to Rev Wright and Louis Farakkan in your UNHOLY church, and work with those MENTORS OF YOURS, on your CLANDESTINE PLOT TO DESTROY AMERICA!

[kenbomc]

Posted by gorgeousm at 01:28 AM : Apr 01, 2008;

BOO!

[rogerspebble]

According to The Book of Revelations the anti-christ
is: The anti-christ will be a man,in his 40s, of
MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with
persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like
appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to
him and he will promise false hope and world peace,
and when he is in power, will destroy everything.

Is it OBAMA?? (PART-1)

[rogerspebble]

If you think I am crazy..Im sorry but I refuse to take
a chance on the ''unknown'' candidate.

Ken Blackwell - Columnist for the New York Sun

It''s an amazing time to be alive in America. We''re in
a year of firsts in this presidential election: the
first viable woman candidate; the first viable
African-American candidate; and, a candidate who is
the first
frontrunning freedom fighter over 70. The next
president of America will be a first.

We won''t truly be in an election of firsts, however,
until we judge every candidate by where they stand. We
won''t arrive where we should be until we no longer
talk about skin color or gender. Now that Barack Obama
steps to the front of the Democratic field, we need to
stop talking about his race, and start talking about
his policies and his politics. (PART-2)

[jack3213]

VOTING BECAUSE OF COLOR, CREED, OR *** AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO ISSUES OR WHAT THEY STAND FOR, OR WHAT THEY VOTED FOR IN THE SENATE, OR HOW MUCH CREDIBILITY THEY HAVE IS BEING FOOLISH AND UNEDUCATED. STOP BEING A VICTIM AND WANTING SOMETHING FOR NOTHING, THEY WILL NOT GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT AGGRAVATION. TRUE, BUSH IS NOT WHAT WE WANT, BUT MCCAIN IS FAR BETTER, MORE HONEST, AND MUCH MORE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAN ANY OF THE TWO DUMB DEMOCRATS.

[jgunther7]

How good are experienced presidents, anyway? Suppose you had to choose between two Presidential candidates, one of whom had spent 20 years in Congress plus had considerable other relevant experience and the other of whom had about half a dozen years in the Illinois state legislature and 2 years in Congress. Which one do you think would make a better President? If you chose #1, congratulations, you picked James Buchanan over Abraham Lincoln. Your pick disagrees with that of most historians, who see Lincoln as the greatest President ever and Buchanan as the second worst ever, better only than Warren ''Teapot Dome'' Harding. Both served in what was probably the most difficult period in American history, where slavery and secession tore the nation asunder.

[mcvet]

If Obama is our next Preident......
America will be screwed.
Just say NO to this long winded, empty suited Liar.


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Posted by mnmaid at 08:50 AM : Apr 01, 2008
+ report abuse

Why is that? YOU nazi''s come on with this *** but never express what it is you find to be so bad. Could it be that your hatred and bigotry has gotten the best of you?? We are living with the WORST in case you haven''t noticed!! ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Obama is a hypocrite opportunist, who spouted racial
unity while he patronized a racially-divisive lunatic.

Attended for 20 years with no problem, but would
leave now. Something about not being comfortable...

;-)




-


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Posted by RField9 at 02:14 AM : Apr 01, 2008
+ report abuse

Bottom line you folks don''t have a record to run on or issues to put forth so you trash the man personally! Wasn''t THAT how we ended up with the WORST in our history??? Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

VOTING BECAUSE OF COLOR, CREED, OR *** AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO ISSUES OR WHAT THEY STAND FOR, OR WHAT THEY VOTED FOR IN THE SENATE, OR HOW MUCH CREDIBILITY THEY HAVE IS BEING FOOLISH AND UNEDUCATED. STOP BEING A VICTIM AND WANTING SOMETHING FOR NOTHING, THEY WILL NOT GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT AGGRAVATION. TRUE, BUSH IS NOT WHAT WE WANT, BUT MCCAIN IS FAR BETTER, MORE HONEST, AND MUCH MORE ABLE TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAN ANY OF THE TWO DUMB DEMOCRATS.


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Posted by Jack3213 at 07:45 AM : Apr 01, 2008
+ report abuse

Well lets see, McSame has been present through 6 years of the WORST in our history. He and his party have done NOTHING on Social Security, Medicare, Health Insurance, Budget, Trickle Down, Trade Agreements that hurt American Workers... I could go on for HOURS but when you look at the record of John McSame and the Republican''s NO ONE in their right mind votes to continue this mess!! Sieg Heil Bush

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by MCVet at 09:15 AM : Apr 01, 2008

You''re right. Voting blindly without researching Obama''s politics, his legislative non-abilities, and his change of stance on every issue is casting a thoughtless vote.

That''s exactly how we got Mr. Bush. No one bothered to find out he''d been a failure all his life before they voted for him.

Anybody that''s read or researched Obama sees his incompetence and corruption and dirty politics instead of following along and voting like blind sheep because the media presents him as some kind American Idol candidate!

This article alone does not even present you with the fact that Mr. Obama has poured $300 million dollars into Mr. Jones districts in payola since he became a US senator! Big time payola using our tax dollars to reward his corruption!

WAke up America!

[parrot123-2009]

This article alone does not even present you with the fact that Mr. Obama has poured $300 million dollars into Mr. Jones districts in payola since he became a US senator! Big time payola using our tax dollars to reward his corruption!

WAke up America!
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 09:28 AM : Apr 01, 2008

How Dare you ? Forgotten about STEVENS, who''s still in the senate - with his bridge and the back & forth bribing going on in Alaska ??