Jealous of the attention that other false stories have somehow managed to attract in the wider media, the Chicago Sun-Times figured it was about time to toss its hat into the ring.
Here are some juicy excerpts from the "Sun-Times Exclusive," which they've highlighted in red just to make sure we know how important it is. And if you're not convinced that there are really important things we need to know about Obama, they've conveniently providedlinks to seven other articles suggesting that they've got something on Obama.
So just what is in the "Sun-Times Exclusive" that warrants such prominent treatment on its website:
The Illinois senator isn’t accused of any wrongdoing. And there’s no evidence Obama knew contributions to his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign came from schemes Rezko is accused of orchestrating.
Devastating. But there's more... and it gets worse...
The allegations against Rezko that involve Obama are contained in one paragraph of a 78-page document filed last month in which prosecutors outline their corruption and fraud case against Rezko, who was also a key money man for Gov. Blagojevich and other politicians.
So Obama is not accused of wrongdoing, but allegations "involve" Obama. OK, he must have done something wrong?
Obama is not named in the Dec. 21 court document. But a source familiar with the case confirmed that Obama is the unnamed "political candidate" referred to in a section of the document that accuses Rezko of orchestrating a scheme in which a firm hired to handle state teacher pension investments first had to pay $250,000 in "sham" finder’s fees. From that money, $10,000 was donated to Obama’s successful run for the Senate in the name of a Rezko business associate, according to the court filing and the source.
Got it. Obama is "involved" because a campaign contributor who, unbeknownst to Obama, may have been orchestrating a fraudulent scheme contributed $10,000 to Obama's Senate campaign that was funneled through a business associate. How Obama couldn't have looked in his crystal ball and seen this leaves me... well... less hopeful.
The folks at the Sun-Times were kind enough to give Obama an opportunity to respond. Sadly, we indeed learned that this story does merit the attention the Sun-Times has given it:
Q. Was Sen. Obama aware that Rezko allegedly had directed at least one person to donate to the senator’s campaign and later reimbursed that person, possibly violating federal election law?
A. No.
Q. Has the Federal Election Commission or the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago contacted the senator or any of his representatives about these matters?
A. No.
Are there not more worthy stories out there that provide more substantive insight into the candidates' views on important issues? Didn't Mike Huckabee just remark that he'd like toamend the Constitution "so it's in God's standards"?
The Rezko stories have been written... many, many times. That the Sun-Times would run this hit-piece on the day voters are set to caucus in Nevada is just breathtaking.
Why don't you let the Sun-Times know how you feel?