Faces From Obama's Past Reemerge

Washington Post: Blagojevich Drama Brings Figures From President-Elect's Political Past Into The Limelight

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Eli Saslow and Hamil R. Harris.

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President-elect Barack Obama spent yesterday afternoon in Honolulu, going to the zoo with his daughters and visiting his high school campus. And yet, he couldn't escape the political melodrama unfolding more than 4,000 miles away.

While Obama vacationed, some of the main characters from his political past took turns starring in a bizarre Chicago news conference. First to the lectern was embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested this month on federal corruption charges, and from whom Obama has worked to distance himself. Blagojevich then introduced Roland Burris, his appointment to fill Obama's seat in the U.S. Senate. Burris once held a fundraiser at his house for Obama and calls the president-elect "somebody whose career I really helped launch."

Then, near the end of the news conference, Rep. Bobby L. Rush was beckoned to the front of the room, where he asked the public not to "lynch" Burris because of the charges against Blagojevich. Rush defeated Obama in a 2000 House race and chided him as an "educated fool" before eventually endorsing him for president and asserting that "I helped teach him."

Obama has not talked with the men in the past few weeks, friends said, and some of the president-elect's associates dismissed his connection to the trio as coincidence. But, if nothing else, the image of all three standing together in front of flashing cameras served as a reminder of the political environment in which Obama developed: Blagojevich is awaiting an indictment; Burris may be blocked from claiming the Senate seat by leaders in Illinois and Washington; and Rush pushed for a black senator to replace Obama, who prefers not to participate in "the politics of race."

After the news conference, Obama released a statement commending Burris as a "good man and a fine public servant," before arguing that he should not be given the Senate seat. Illinois, he said, is "entitled to . . . major decisions free of taint and controversy." Obama avoided mentioning race.

It is that "taint" of controversy with which Obama has become associated during the past month. He never liked Blagojevich, friends said, and federal transcripts confirmed that Obama never spoke with the Illinois governor as the latter allegedly tried to auction off the vacant Senate seat. Yet the men giving yesterday's news conference served as important components in Obama's career.

Obama endorsed Burris in the Democratic primary for governor in 2002, which Blagojevich won. Burris said in an interview this month that he "probably introduced [Obama] to Blagojevich after that" and persuaded Obama to join him in endorsing their fellow Democrat. In 2004, Burris endorsed Obama for the U.S. Senate and held a fundraiser.

"We all know each other, because we're all in the same business," Burris said this month. "We might not all like each other all of the time, but we're running in the same big circle."

Burris said he has not spoken to Obama since Nov. 4, but he pursued Obama's seat. He found a supporter of sorts in Rush, who held a news conference last month insisting that Illinois replace Obama with a black senator. Rush said that he did not back a specific candidate but that "we really are about the principle that there should be an African American." Obama was the only African American in the Senate.

Yesterday, Burris spotted Rush in the crowd at the news conference and pointed gleefully. "How you doing, Congressman?" he asked. "All righty." Burris eventually summoned Rush to the lectern. Rush wasted no time before invoking Obama's name.

"My prayers have been answered," Rush said, "because I prayed fervently that the governor would continue the legacy established by President-elect Obama, and that the governor would appoint an African American to complete the term of President Obama."

One of Rush's colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), told the Associated Press last night that he had been offered the appointment last week but that he turned it down because "I thought the environment had been poisoned."

It wasn't the first time race had come up between Rush and Obama. Rush, a former Black Panther who represents Chicago's South Side, defeated Obama in 2000 because he dominated the black vote. During the campaign, he collected the endorsements of almost every major black politician in Chicago -- including Burris -- and depicted Obama as a foreigner to black culture. "Barack is a person who read about the civil rights protests and thinks he knows all about it," Rush said.

Activist Al Sharpton said yesterday: "I think that Governor Blagojevich is trying to save himself and cynically trying to draw the president-elect into this. But President-elect Obama should stay out of this. The worst thing that he could do is be drawn back into Illinois politics."

[hatesthecolt]

texasbeta, LMAO!

[texasbeta]

You are right DJ. It is a conspiracy. He is really a Manchurian Candidate that was programmed at age 5 in Indonesia...and had the mental faculty above all other 5 yr olds to take in the material that keep it for 40 years. He is really trained like Jason Bourne, can eat bullets, and shoot fire out of his arse! He, and he alone, will bring down this country...which is in such phenomenal shape as it currently stands. Seriously coach...too much weed is never a good thing for anyone my man. Lay the apple bong down!

[misha128-2009]

.. time for a game of even if...

EVEN IF Obama was born in Kenya and/or held any other citizenship, there is still NO DOUBT his mother is a US Citizen and therefore he''''s entitled to US Citizenship at birth. Sooooooooooooo why should I care? Give me a REALLY GOOD reason why this should matter?

Posted by hatesthecolt at 08:27 AM : Jan 02, 2009

Actually the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and United States v. Wong Kim Ark affirmed the following holding that the common law and the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed citizenship to all persons born in the United States, regardless of their ethnic heritage. The Supreme Court decision was based on the following text - %u201Call persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.%u201D

[chitownfire1]

There are records that he went to school under the name Barry Sorento. His Own sister has said he was born at a different hospital than what he claims he was born at. So by that alone is enough to at the very least raise enough doubt


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Posted by DJ_Houston

Whats your point??? Number one, the name Sorento is the name of his step-father at the time. Obamas mother chose, as many women do, to change her childs last name to the last name of her new husband. Only those with small minds would see the harm in that.

Number two, Obamas sister wasnt even born when Obama was born, how can she remember what hospital he was born at. Moreover, its highly unlikely that his sister would convey such conflicting information. Just because you want to believe something you heard doesnt make what you heard true.

I know you believe yourself to be part of this underground movement fighting to get the ''TRUTH'' out against countless federal agencies, branches of government, and the mass media who are all involved in this inexplicable mass conspiracy to hide the true identity of Barrack Obama....HA HA HA!!!! Sorry, for laughing, but I really cant take your cause as seriously as you do......

[hatesthecolt]

Yes but, a USAF Colonel does have standing

Posted by DJ_Houston

Not the way I read the initial Federal Court dismissal.

[flsunjnky]

DJ, your incorrigible. I did not say that you listen to Rush, I said that it seems that you do. Look at this post. No one but you and I. We are not going to agree with each other. But, like I said, I appreciate your candor. Nice debate. Lets move on to another topic somewhere. See ya there.

[flsunjnky]

It seems that maybe you have been listening to Rush a little too much. I appreciate your candor, but I suggest that you try to develop a little critical thinking of your own. At that point, maybe you would be able to make better sense of what you believe and reflect to others.

[flsunjnky]

Oh, well maybe he will send you a certified copy. Get real. I just think you will be proven wrong. I also know that you don''t think so. But without question, we will have to wait and see, won''t we. After all, like I said, a Supreme Court justice is going to swear him into office. Do you really think s/he would do so if there was a doubt as to his citizenship?

[flsunjnky]

As it should be, when there is a valid question, and if that question can not be answered.

[flsunjnky]

None of what you are saying is going to stand the test of law. His citizenship will no be a question when he is sworn into office. Like it or not.