*Breaking*: Rezko contributed to Obama SD Meeks

Breaking: Rezko contributed to Obama SD Meeks

by Universal, Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:10:25 PM EDT

More Rezko problems for Barack Obama:

According to Illinois State Board of Elections records, Rezko's businesses, Rezmar Corp. and Rezko Concession, contributed $9,000 to Meeks' campaign funds in 2002. A Rezko employee contributed $5,000 to Meeks that same year, and Ali Ata, Rezko's co-defendant, contributed $2,000, the records show.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.vie w&pageId=59812

Uh oh...it's a WorldNetDaily story. Hmmmm.

But wait, there is corroboration:

Money also came in from companies owned by Tony Rezko, the wealthy businessman who was recently indicted for allegedly arranging payoffs from businesses seeking state contracts. Meeks says he wasn't aware of Rezko's contributions because someone else in his campaign office handles fund-raising.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/st ories/churchofclout/

(Hat tip to the Rezko Watch site {rezkowatch.blogspot.com/} for the Chicago Reader source)
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We all know of Rezko's ties to Obama. In fact, we keep learning more about them all the time, as Obama just 'deigned' (in Michelle's words) to let the public in on the little small fact that Rezko was part of his 2004 campaign for the US Senate.

Now, some of you know who Meeks is, and some do not. So, let's help fill in the gaps (from the WND article):

Indicted Illinois businessman Antoin Rezko, a key fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama, also raised money for a controversial pastor and superdelegate linked to the Democratic presidential candidate, WND has learned.
James Meeks - an Illinois state senator, pastor of one of the largest churches in the state and a declared spiritual adviser for Obama - came under fire for comments rebroadcast last week calling white American mayors "slave masters" and referring to black preachers and politicians who "protect" the "white man" as "house n-ggers."

And in case you don't want to trust WND, once again:

Another person Obama says he seeks out for spiritual counsel is state Sen. James Meeks, who is also the pastor of Chicago's Salem Baptist Church.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/falsani/726 619,obamafalsani040504.article#

Yep, that's James Meeks. No, he's not Jeremiah Wright, Jr., even if he sounds like him.

Another race-baiting spiritual adviser for Barack Obama.

Remind me of Barack's good judgment again, and how he bridges divides, etc. Because I'm missing something here, apparently.

We knew Rezko and Obama have been linked for around 20 years. Some knew about Meeks' ties with Obama, and Meeks' inflammatory statements.

Now you see more of the intertwining of this Illinois religio-political consortium.

Rezko, Wright (& Farrakhan), Meeks.

And Obama.

Tags: Barack Obama, James Meeks, Tony Rezko (all tags)

Comments

33 Comments

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damn

If these are facts we are doomed as Dem in GE.

by judas 2008-03-24 11:14PM | 0 recs

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ruuunnn

ruuuunnn for your lives.

Cause you know McCain is squeaky clean.

by kindthoughts 2008-03-24 11:15PM | 0 recs

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Re: ruuunnn

Like Biden your use of Squeeky Clean is obviously racist.

Shame on you.

See its so easy to make fun of team Obama...

by DTaylor 2008-03-24 11:18PM | 0 recs

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I do not have the

slightest clue as to what you are referring to.

by kindthoughts 2008-03-24 11:28PM | 0 recs

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Re: I do not have the

Me neither, but you know he's mentally high-fiving himself for whatever he thinks it actually says.

You got us again, you wily rascal, you!

by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner 2008-03-24 11:30PM | 0 recs

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Re: damn

Obama won't be the candidate at least not at the top of the ticket.

The DNC has been doing politics for a long time they aren't going to commit general election suicide for anyone.

by DTaylor 2008-03-24 11:16PM | 0 recs

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erm...

Holy salvation from the SDs.

by kindthoughts 2008-03-24 11:17PM | 0 recs

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Re: erm...

Politics being what they are it will come in the form of seating Florida and Michigan as is.

The DNC knows how to cover up a sucker punch =)

With Florida and Michigan seated and WITHOUT Obama getting the 45% in Michigan he loses on straight pledged delegates and he has NOTING to complain about.

By convention time he will be down over 1 Million votes when only registered Democrats are counted.

With Florida and Michigan counted even if you give him 100% of the 45% that voted no on Hillary he will still lose the popular vote.

With fewer pledged delegates, democratic votes, popular votes how can he complain?

I told you they have been doing this for a long time =p

by DTaylor 2008-03-24 11:21PM | 0 recs

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cause you

know sitting Michigan as is, with delegates for candidate "Uncommitted" is really gonna bring the Obama supporters into the fold.

by kindthoughts 2008-03-24 11:27PM | 0 recs

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Re: erm...

I don't agree, mainly because, well, I won't get into it!

I love you HRC supporter, I heart you!

by hope monger 2008-03-24 11:29PM | 0 recs

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Re:

What will all the superdelegates do once they finish reading Universal's latest "diary"? Even the ones that have already endorsed Obama will realize their error when they log into mydd and read this story.

Clearly, Obama doesn't stand a chance.

by Skaje 2008-03-24 11:54PM | 0 recs

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Re:

oh is Obama related to Meeks? I've never heard of him before, is he another preacher?

is Obama really Meeks in disguise?

by hope monger 2008-03-24 11:26PM | 0 recs

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re

Harry Reid is working on it. Hillary will be the nominee :)

by rossinatl 2008-03-24 11:30PM | 0 recs

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Re: re

yes, no, maybe so

by hope monger 2008-03-24 11:48PM | 0 recs

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Re: Breaking: Rezko contributed to Obama SD Meek

Okay Universal, I realize that both Barack Obama and James Meeks are black, but they're not actually the same person.

But hey don't let me stop you from posting your 12,000th "BREAKING!!!!" diary in the last week.

by Johnny Gentle Famous Crooner 2008-03-24 11:35PM | 0 recs

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Re: Breaking: Rezko contributed to Obama SD Meek

break out the champagne, this is the end of the obama campaign!!!

by soros 2008-03-24 11:54PM | 0 recs

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Re: Breaking:

Universal has single-handedly brought down Obama and convinced all 700+ superdelegates to endorse Clinton with this diary. Right now, DNC members, Senators, and Governors across the country are logging into mydd, checking the recent diary list, and reading Universal's story.

by Skaje 2008-03-24 11:58PM | 0 recs

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Re: Breaking: Rezko contributed

break out the champagne, this is the end of the obama campaign!!!

by soros 2008-03-24 11:55PM | 0 recs

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I guess that's it.

Meeks will not be the Democratic nominee for President this year.

BTW, did you know that Clinton SD Spitzer had a sex scandal?

by thezzyzx 2008-03-25 02:21AM | 0 recs

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Thank you, Universal-

You are improving. However, this story needs legs. It's got tiny little stubs.

Contributions to super delegates is nothing new. Both the Clinton and the Obama PACs have been doing that for awhile.

by Setrak 2008-03-25 02:59AM | 0 recs

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Try some actual knowledge

For the record, I am a registered Illinois lobbyist, and former Democratic campaign consultant.

There is no serious connection between Meeks and Obama, save for the fact that both are black, they know each other as colleagues from the two years they served together in the State Senate, and Meeks heads an extremely large black church that Obama no-doubt courted in his 2004 run for US Senate.

In addition, Meeks is a good man, single handledly keeping the issue of education funding reform on the table in Illinois.

Tony Rezko gave money to A LOT of people in Illinois -- Democrat and Republican alike. Every single statewide official in Illinois had to return Rezko money when he was indicted. Even uber-popular former GOP Governor Jim Edgar was a recipient of Rezko contributions.

Enough of the smear tactics, please. Not only are you smearing Obama, you smearing a good man in Sen. Meeks.

by Grady 2008-03-25 04:44AM | 0 recs

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Re: Try some actual knowledge

Accusing Meeks of "race baiting" with no evidence is especially disgusting

by Grady 2008-03-25 04:46AM | 0 recs

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Re: Try some actual knowledge

Bravo.

Meeks would have gotten my vote for governor had he decided to run.

As it was, rather than shred the IL Democratic party and their chances of retaining the governor's mansion -- he instead extracted a promise from Blago for an increase in education funding.

Hillary would do well to take a lesson from Meeks.

by zonk 2008-03-25 05:26AM | 0 recs

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Sorry, but here are the facts

Obama gave an interview to the Sun-Times, in which this was reported:

Another person Obama says he seeks out for spiritual counsel is state Sen. James Meeks, who is also the pastor of Chicago's Salem Baptist Church. The day after Obama won the primary in March, he stopped by Salem for Wednesday-night Bible study.

"I know that he's a person of prayer," Meeks says. "The night after the election, he was the hottest thing going from Galesburg to Rockford. He did all the TV shows, and all the morning news, but his last stop at night was for church. He came by to say thank you, and he came by for prayer."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/falsani/726 619,obamafalsani040504.article

No connection?

by econmom 2008-03-25 05:32AM | 0 recs

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Re: Sorry, but here are the facts

Oh WOW!!!!

I already said that Obama no doubt courted him during his run for Senate based on the size and influence of Meeks congregation.

All you link does is point out that Obama gives Meeks a shout out in the days after an important win in the Primary.

Truly a mind blowing conspiracy!

Again, you are not only smearing Obama, you smearing a good man in James Meeks. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

by Grady 2008-03-25 06:00AM | 0 recs

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Imagine the disaster he'll bring upon

the country if he chooses advisers like this with his superior judgment.

Another person Obama says he seeks out for spiritual counsel is state Sen. James Meeks, who is also the pastor of Chicago's Salem Baptist Church. The day after Obama won the primary in March, he stopped by Salem for Wednesday-night Bible study

Oh wait, Samantha Power and Austin Goolsby. He does have crappy judgment in spiritual advisers and political advisers.

by LatinoVoter 2008-03-25 04:48AM | 0 recs

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Rezko contributed to Obama SD Meeks

Interesting.

by bobbank 2008-03-25 05:12AM | 0 recs

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Re: Breaking: Rezko contributed to

How is that little girl in Bosnia doing today when she was in the middle of all that sniper fire?

by Spanky 2008-03-25 05:24AM | 0 recs

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I think I might

find another black man to rage against...

This particular minister -- who also happens to be a state senator -- was pulled over last year in a routine traffic stop (in which no citation was issued); the officer drew his gun on Meeks and then profanely told him to get out of the car.

It's on a number of racially charged incidents that led to a complete shakeup of the CPD (Not THE main reason... decades of tortured confessions have a way of being a bigger deal).

I think you should find another crazy black to pillory... this one seems to have recent events on his side that might lead one to be a bit pissed off.

by zonk 2008-03-25 05:24AM | 0 recs

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Actually, he's an Obama delegate also

In terms of race baiting, CBS had this to say in its story about Meeks' incendiary usage of a banned word:

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/James. Meeks.Mayor.2.330967.html

Among other things in that controversial sermon last month, Meeks referred to unnamed white mayors and white governors, accusing them of running a lousy educational system that intentionally kept young African-American students from learning how to read and write.

by econmom 2008-03-25 05:36AM | 0 recs

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Re: Actually, he's an Obama delegate also

Guess what?

What Meeks is saying about the Illinois school system happens to be true.

The overwhelmingly white, GOP, and suburban powered establishment from about 1976 to 2002 controlled the state government and systematically underfunded city schools to benefit the suburbs.

Again, you are picking the wrong guy to smear.

by Grady 2008-03-25 06:04AM | 0 recs

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Meeks Is Anti-Gay: SPL

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelrepo rt/article.jsp?sid=410

Surely, readers of this site know who the Southern Poverty Law Center is, the guardian against hate crimes and attitudes. Why is Rev. Meeks on their list?

Rev. James Meeks
Chicago, Ill.
The Rev. James Meeks is a key member of Chicago's "Gatekeepers" network, an interracial group of evangelical ministers who strive to erase the division between church and state. A stalwart anti-gay activist, Meeks has used his House of Hope mega-church to launch petition drives for the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), a major state-level "family values" pressure group that lauded him last year for leading African Americans in "clearly understanding the threat of gay marriage."

With over 22,000 members, Meeks' congregation was large enough to buoy his successful 2002 campaign for state senator. Last year, he ran for governor as a virtual single-issue candidate, drawing national support from Christian fundamentalists by boldly vowing to fight marriage equality at every turn. Meeks eventually dropped out of the race.

Meeks and the IFI are partnered with Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defense Fund, major anti-gay organizations of the Christian Right. They also are tightly allied with Americans for Truth, an Illinois group that said in a press release last year that "fighting AIDS without talking against homosexuality is like fighting lung cancer without talking against smoking."

by econmom 2008-03-25 05:25AM | 0 recs

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Re: Meeks Is Anti-Gay: SPL

And apparently you are anti-black, but I won't hold it against Hillary Clinton.

by Grady 2008-03-25 06:05AM | 0 recs