Among the more appealing messages that Barack Obama campaigned on in 2008 was his promise to change the culture in Washington and usher in a new era of openness and honesty in government. It was the sort of message that still resonates with an increasingly cynical electorate that is, as Obama’s handlers recognized, fed up with the corruption, hidden agendas and back-room deals that characterize life within the beltway. Voters hoped that this fresh face, so full of earnest enthusiasm and idealistic vision, could be the one to usher in a new era.
Almost two years after that historic election, more and more voters are realizing that not only didn’t get the change they had hoped for, they’re actually getting much more of business as usual than they could have ever imagined. As ethical questions continue to swirl around the people that the president has embraced one cannot help but wonder if the vaunted political acumen of the Obama administration has been vastly overrated, or if the president and his advisors simply feel that they can and should be able to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people at will.
The list of Obama associates and appointees who have serious ethical problems is long indeed, from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and his unpaid taxes through ex “Green Czar” Van Jones’ communist ties. Now there is a new name on that dishonor roll: the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate seat that was once held by Barack Obama: Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
Giannoulias’ sordid history and that of his shady associates should be enough to concern any canny politician this side of Boss Tweed, but the president has embraced Giannoulias as if he were the second coming of Obama himself. Giannoulias’s political baggage has not stopped the president from endorsing a candidate who helped run a bank into the ground, who made millions while that bank bled red ink, and who has ties to the mob and disgraced political figures.
Giannoulias was the senior lender at Broadway Bank from 2002 through 2006. Among the people that he approved for loans were one Michael “Jaws” Giorango, a fellow Giannoulias would describe as a “colorful character.” Giorango is colorful indeed, with a long police blotter that includes multiple convictions for bookmaking and for running a prostitution ring. While he was at the bank, Giannoulias approved an $11.8 million loan that Jaws applied for, although he would later claim that he wasn’t aware of Giorango’s background at the time. Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass set the record straight earlier this year:
“With the Tribune’s editorial board, Giannoulias was asked how his relationship with Giorango developed, and at what point did he learn that Giorango, whom he described as a “colorful character,” had a criminal background. “I learned of it primarily when I was running for the office of state treasurer (in 2006),” Giannoulias said. “I mean, I don’t remember the exact date, whether it was during the primary or during the general. I think it was during the primary.” He was promptly reminded that on April 27, 2006, during his campaign for treasurer, he told Tribune reporters that he had discussed Giorango’s criminal past with him. The discussion took place as Giannoulias worked on millions of dollars’ worth of bank loans for Giorango. It was years before Giannoulias’ entry into politics.”
No matter, the president has stuck with the man that he described in 2006 in these glowing terms: “He’s one of the most outstanding young men that I could ever hope to meet. He’s somebody who cares deeply about people.” Rather than retreating from that faulty assessment, in the light of all of the damning revelations that has surfaced over the last four years, Obama doubled down during a recent Giannoulias fundraiser, declaring: “Alexi is my friend. I know his character. I know how much he loves this country. I know how committed he is to public service for all the right reasons. You can trust him. You can count on him.”
CHICAGO ON THE POTOMAC: http://nsr.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/02/chicago-…
Tell me whom your friends are and I will tell you what you are,caracterwise.
Mr Barack Hussein Obama;why is it that by mentioning the president they
allways forget to mention his midle name?, is notting more than a
demagogue.He is a master in manipulating crowds just as some former
president (dictator) of Italy used to do,wrecking a whole nation.
So mr president,I beg you to step down from your oval office,you have
done far to much dammage already.You are atracted to the wrong friends.
You do not like Jews in general nor do you have any liking for the state of
Israel.You even mentioned the capital of Israel as "Al Qouds"wich is the
muslim name for Jerusalem,while you should know that it has been the
Jewish capital for more than 3000 years.All the things you did during your
presidency up til now were damaging to America and the free world of
Europe.And it frightens me that you seem to have an affinity for Muslims.
Can you even IMAGINE if this was a Republican president do this kind of thing? The press would be having a field day. But Obama…he gets the slide. Absolutely AMAZING what the press ignores about the man every single day. I am sickened.
It's mind-boggling how anyone can support Alexi Giannoulias. He was a business partner to a number of organized crime figures. He is dangerously incompetent, proven both by the fact that he ran his family's bank into the ground and that his tenure as treasurer has left Illinois in financial ruin.
"I know how committed he is to public service for all the right reasons. You can trust him. You can count on him.” – Hussein. I guess he thinks Giannoulias ran an escort service for all the right reasons as well.
It's a good think hussein and the dp are so far in their bubble they don't seem to see how it looks to the rest of the country.
Maybe Alexi's mafia friends made Obama an offer he couldn't refuse. "You make a my nephew da senator and I show my appreciation."
typical crud from below this admin shows as they keep glorifying thugs and all of those that come along with them pray always stand strong for our great nation USA
Why does Raines Freddie/Fannie own the patent for CO2 carbon computer that some guy who died on 9/11 invented?? The Democratic congress gave it to Raines Nov 2008.. 44 % of the people killed on 9/11 were in competetion with CCX,,Chicago Climate Exchange. Poor souls …Al Gore, Ohbummer and Maurice Strong, plus whatever Congress and House member who own stock in CCX will make TRILLIONS if the can pass Cap & Trade..Funny how that bill they passes yesterday does not include Fanny/Freddie, and Dobbs and Frank that cause the mess will not be investigate,,I think they have a lot of money riding on this Dark Horse!!!
{{Interesting twist to 9/11::
9/11 real purposes was to scare the climate deniers and remove the competition to the racketeering launch of the Chicago Climate Exchange by Al Gore and Maurcie Strong and Richard Sandor.}}
"
If you were going to attack a country, wouldn't you attack their capitol building, the leaders and lawmakers,,Talk about shutting down a country and causing mass confusion???? It's not so much what they hit and targeted on 9/11, but what they didn't?? The WTC financial center,,,(maybe that was a ploy to get the financ…ial world moved to Chicago,Chicago Merticale Exchange,,,I never have trusted those Chicago windy city boys!!,,why haven't they built back the WTC in 9 years?????? A mosque at Ground Zero?? I smell a really BIG RAT!! What a COS!!!
May 21, 2010
"Show me who you walk with, and I will show you who you are…" -Barack Obama
Every single day, Obama shows us who he is.
If the Chicago boys didn't help pull it of, they sure stand to gain a lot by 9/11!! and NYC stands to lose a lot from 9/11.
"…so full of earnest enthusiasm and idealistic vision…"
Just how do you get "earnest enthusiasm and idealistic vision" from "S__t"!!
Also, Obama and Giannoulias both have ties to Rezko, among others!
rdog