by James Oliphant
The joke going around Washington for weeks now is that the Democratic presidential race features a candidate from New York who was born in Illinois and a candidate from Illinois who "was born in a manger."
Well, maybe Barack Obama is a little more highly-sourced than we thought.
Friday, Obama endured one of his roughest days as a candidate, coming clean about his ties to Antoin Rezko and watching his former pastor leave the campaign after arguably self-immolating.
As Swampster Mark Silva pointed out below, Friday is a great day to release bad news. Why? Because people don't read newspapers or watch the news on Saturday. They go to Home Depot.
Now, something else has come along to make Obama's timing seem fortuitous. Saturday morning, a violent storm ripped through Atlanta, spawning an F-2 tornado that smashed its way right through downtown.
Why is Atlanta relevant? It's home to CNN. And in fact, the CNN Center suffered significant damage from the storm.
That means that today, the story on CNN has been well, CNN. (The media can get a little self-absorbed. I know that'[s shocking. But besides, the video is great for TV.) Obama's troubles have been but a footnote.
RIght now, CNN has been forced to broadcast its sister channel, CNN International, on its US platform because of the damage. And CNN International isn't exactly obsessed with Tony Rezko.
Thank your lucky stars, Barack. Or perhaps someone else.







Comments
A very, very interesting summary from an Obama supporter. He/she sounds truly shaken. Here's the link if you wanna sound-off:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/obamas-judgment-wright-or-wron.php
Posted by: Umbria | March 15, 2008 2:08 PM
Just a side point I need clarified. Why does Mark Silva state that Friday is a great day to release bad news b/c noone watches news on Saturday? I understand the not watching news on Saturday, however now these articles are on the cover of every Sundy paper, which is the one paper that everyone reads (it's the only one I get delivered). For example here in Chicago it is a lead story on the cover of both major Sunday papers. Based on Mr. Silva's rational wouldn't it be better to release this stuff on Thursday and ill-timed to release it on Friday?
Posted by: Rick | March 15, 2008 2:30 PM
Is the Sun newspaper owned by the KKK?
Posted by: Mark | March 15, 2008 2:58 PM
CNN - Clintons New Network.
Barack Obama '08
Posted by: sandra | March 15, 2008 5:59 PM
It appears Obama truly does have the truth on his side. All his inner strength and faith have brought him through this tumultuous period. The light is shining stronger upon him from an inner goodness known to few. Envied by many.
Especially amongst his opponents. They were hoping he'd be creamed by now, limp, toast, over.
So let's get back to what matters, shall we? Hillary is a lot of things. Transparent is not among her strengths of character. Neither is honesty. Barack has the ability to come clean. I appreciate his candor, and look forward to supporting his presidency this fall. Honesty and transparancy, all of us can agree, are not what the Clintons do very well, if at all. Besides, it's our economy and the fifth anniversary of Clinton's voting for war in Iraq we should be talking about.
• Abramoff GOP Lobbying Firm Indicted, Major HRC Donor
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/14/91513/8023/534/476441
• Clintons Tied To Rezko
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/clintons-tied-to-rezko.php
• File under "I Didn't Read The NIE And Voted For The War."
Report Shows No Link Between Saddam and al Qaeda
http://blogs.abcnews.com/rapidreport/2008/03/report-shows-no.html
• When candidates keep their tax returns secret — no, not that one - MCCAIN
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14907.html
• Media ignore McCain's finances after obsessing over Dems'
http://mediamatters.org/items/200803140010
Posted by: kravitz | March 15, 2008 6:12 PM
The Resko news in the paper this Sunday should be good for Obama. I hope Rick enjoys it. After a sit down with the Chicago Tribune editorial board, all the questions the Chicago Tribune had about Sen. Obama's relationship with Tony Resko have been answered. People can keep digging, but there is nothing there.
Posted by: Megan | March 15, 2008 7:45 PM
I think, God was pissed at CNN for trying to smear him.
Posted by: wolf | March 15, 2008 7:55 PM
It's an old trick that should surprise no one. Police routinely schedule press conferences for late Friday afternoon if the news in question is particularly unsavory to them. If it can be done after 6 p.m., even better. Miss that evening news cycle and you're golden. In a presidential campaign as hot as this one though, forget it. The timing doesn't matter much because there will always be millions of people scouring the channels or the Internet looking for the latest news. Absolute dorks, most of them. The kind who will hang around The Swamp posting pithy comments on a Saturday night. Ha! Losers.
Somebody please get me a girl.
Posted by: Mark | March 15, 2008 9:39 PM
Well Megan I was just talking about the timing of news being released, but since you brought it up...
You are misguided if you truly think the Rezko issue has "nothing there". For the first point BO states that it was a "mistake" and "boneheaded". I am confident that implies he did something wrong.
Second major point is what has not truly been shown, and that is that Rezko lost money on the real estate. Now follow me. Rezko bought the property for $625k. Paid closing costs and other associated costs. Sold 1/6 of the land for $105k to BO. He then had it for 11 months and sold the other 5/6 for $575k. So basic math would say Rezko bought for $625k sold for $680k so $55k profit, right? No. True cost of ownership would include what you could make with the money being tied up. Even with the most basic way of saying it was a cash deal with $500k tied up that would be at 5.5% (cd return) around a $30k return. So now we are down to 25k profit. Was there a broker involved in the final sale? Probably, as I believe it was stated Rezko and Obama had the same broker. Commercial real estate (having been an investment broker for four years) would make 6% on the deal. 6% of 500k is another 30k. Oops, now we've moved into negative territory. Throw taxes in, maintenance (probably need to get the lawn mowed and stuff), any other ancillary costs and you are easily at negative 25k. Even without a broker it's a breakeven deal. So now we have a big time real estate developer who has made tens of millions of dollars bothering with a small plot of land in the city for sale purposes, not to develop (very odd in real estate), losing money, with a political ally who now has a bigger yard who may feel as BO said that he just helped BO out. What's not to love about this real estate deal?
What developer pays full price for land to then flip it a year later for negtive or at the best even cash? Why would a big developer even waste his time? The deal was mentioned to Rezko by Obama.
Posted by: Rick | March 15, 2008 10:03 PM
Well, I hope the Clinton News Network (CNN) will finally start digging into the CLINTON's campaign donors, their tax returns, presidential papers and investigate that as much they did with this dead end story about Rezco. You don't hear a peep from CNN about the Clinton's and all their secrets, scandals and shinnanigans!
Posted by: Anonymous | March 15, 2008 10:29 PM
Well, I hope the Clinton News Network (CNN) will finally start digging into the CLINTON's campaign donors, their tax returns, presidential papers and investigate that as much they did with this dead end story about Rezco. You don't hear a peep from CNN about the Clinton's and all their secrets, scandals and shinnanigans!
Posted by: Robyn | March 15, 2008 10:30 PM
A Former Muslim woman and proud American citizen familiar with Islam law, agrees obama is very dishonest man, here is why Obama is a Christian now. He was born a Muslim because his father was Muslim and his step father was Muslim. According to Muslim religion, the father’s religion determines the religion of the offspring. Therefore, Obama was truly once a Muslim although he denies he was ever a Muslim, which shows once again he doesn't have the backbone or honesty to recognize his heritage. When he came to the U.S to live with his maternal grandparents, is when he was introduced to Christianity. To hear him say that he’s never been a Muslim his entire life is truly a lie since he spent his first 10 years in Indonesia, a Muslim country, living with a Muslim step father and don’t forget the law in Islam called TAGIYEH which means you can lie about your religion in order to do good for Allah! My question to you is what good does obama plan to do for Allah! Since he has the public backing of Louis Farrakhan. Nation of Islam Minister, Obama agrees and highly respects the opinions of his spiritual advisor Rev. Wright who has recently awarded notorious Louis Farrakhan. Nation of Islam Minister with their churches highest award, Farrakhan epitomizes racism, in the form of anti-Semitism, record of offensive statements, even denigrating the Holocaust falsely attributing it to Jewish cooperation with Hitler "They helped him get the Third Reich on the road. Any praise of Farrakhan heightens the prestige of the leader of the Nation of Islam. His anti-Semitism and false insistence that Jews have played an inordinate role in victimizing African Americans. Farrakhan has vilified whites and singled out Jews to blame for crimes. He talks of Jewish conspiracies and reviled Jews in a manner that brings Hitler to mind. And yet Obama who HAS NOT distanced himself from Farraklhan as he wants the media to believe and Rev Wright heaped praise of Farrakhan. Applauding his "depth of analysis when it comes to the racial ills of this nation. They praised "his integrity and honesty and called him an unforgettable force, a catalyst for change and a religious leader who is sincere about his faith and his purpose. And we should just trust our great country to a media made fairy tale which in last few days, several campaign financers, corrupt business and personal friends suck as indicted Rezko, former Dallas Mayor Hill, Rep. Rick Renzi and Mr. Auchi, leading supplier of arms to Saddam's regime convicted for corruption in France, the British-Iraqi billionaire lent millions and millions of dollars to Obama are coming out of the woodwork left and right, lies about side meetings with Canada going behind the American voters backs telling us one thing and them another. ALL this from the half black ex-Muslim man who touts change and claims to be a uniter of all people? Proof he is just another in-experienced Washington politician that the media gave a free pass at the risk of our great country!
Posted by: no obamanation | March 16, 2008 8:23 AM
James Oliphant you are beyond depraved.
Violent storms have destroyed homes, disrupted individual lives (perhaps killed people?) caused widespread misery and injury, and you see it as the Lord intervening on behalf of your Messiah.
Do us a favor and just stick to your usual fawninig puff pieces.
Posted by: MJ | March 16, 2008 9:37 AM
http://prorev.com/hillary.htm
http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1259.cfm
http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/hcvrillary.htm
It is all about earmarks..
www.huffingtonpost.com.john-k-wilson.clinton-by-far-worst-abus_b_84102.html
I cast it with conviction...due to my experience!
you tube ==> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwLaCb07lAs
Posted by: S Elie | March 16, 2008 2:01 PM
Rick, you obviously do not understand the real estate market regarding why would Rezko sell at a loss or break even.
As a commercial loan officer, I can say with authority many many developers are willing to sell property at a loss, or break even if they can, to get out from under real estate. We have developers willing to take losses because the carrying costs are just too much when you don't have a market wanting to buy.
Posted by: Suzanne | March 16, 2008 5:38 PM
Barack Obama is a racist. So is anyone supporting him.
20 years in a church where attendees follow a theology that pledges allegiance to Africa above the USA?
What is wrong with the liberal left and much of the media?
Posted by: James | April 6, 2008 7:13 AM