‘The Fix Was In’: Obama Donor Gets Sweetheart Real Estate Deal in Chicago
by Bob GoughWith much-publicized ties between President Barack Obama, the SEIU labor union and the ACORN volunteer organization, it would be a safe assumption that someone with a business relationship with not just one, but both of those groups would have an inside track on doing business with an Obama associate.
Credit: Christopher Woodward
But in the world of big money Democratic Chicago politics, there is a difference between white-collar clout and blue-collar clout.
Chicago real estate developer Thomas Bennett thought he had a deal in hand to purchase the old Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) building at 626 West Jackson, just blocks from Union Station. Bennett thought he was paying a fair price for the property as he had a written commitment from two tenants –SEIU and ACORN- to occupy office space in the building.
Bennett-Accepted Letter of Intent re Purchase of 626 West Jackson –
Bennett was dealing with Chicago Housing Authority Chairman Marty Nesbitt on the attempted purchased and put forth an offer of $9 million for the building.
“Occupancy in leasing or their purchasing a few floors that was the model but they were going to occupy,” Bennett said. “When you go in the market with a client, they know what their growth needs would be for a 10-year period. Absent that commitment, I’m not looking at that building. What made this a pragmatic deal was I had commitment from two credible users (SEIU and ACORN). Those don’t come down the road every day. It allowed me to put together a competitive bid. No way was someone going to compete with my bid.”
But Bennett didn’t put forth the winning bid. A company called Sterling Bay properties had the top bid. Actually, top bid is not the proper description. Sterling Bay won with a $7.7 million bid, $1.3 million less than Bennett’s $9 million offer.
“During my dealings, The CHA explained how important a quick, no-due-diligence close was to them,” Bennett said. “Yet they allowed the winning bidder to control the property for 5+ months before closing.”
You go with the highest bid with a party that has a good chance of closing the bid. As a life-long Chicagoan, this was disappointing. After the meeting, I put it in the rearview mirror and tried to move on.”
But later Bennett discovered Nesbitt also had another role: treasurer of the Obama Victory Fund.
Sterling Bay made a substantial campaign contribution ($28,500) to the Obama Victory Fund within months of the deal closing in late December 07. This $28,500 donation was after about $16,000 worth of campaign donations by Sterling Bay principals (Scott Goodman, Andrew Gloor and Craig Golden) to various Obama campaign funds going back to his U.S. Senate bid in 2004.
626 W Jackson – Sterling Bay Contributions – Timeline –
“Nesbit was clearly stonewalling, but he eventually got back to me,” Bennett said. “I wanted to meet days around Labor Day 2009…I couldn’t get on his calendar until after Thanksgiving (2009). I asked him ‘What did the building trade for?’ and he said $7.7 million, $1.3 million less than what we offered in the revised bid. That’s a substantial drop.”
“I went to my final CHA board meeting where Marty Nesbitt called me out in a very disrespectful manner in a room full of taxpayers. He said ‘You’re making a fool of yourself’ and I was amazed at how tolerant people were of this. At CHA they knew what was going on and they didn’t care. The fix was in.”
Credit: Christopher Woodward
Bennett went looking for the sale records for the building at the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office and the City of Chicago Department of Revenue.
“(In August 2009) two bureaucrats in the office told me there was nothing listed about the sale price,” Bennett said. “I wondered why the property was being traded in such a non-transparent event. That’s when I contacted Marty Nesbit to see what was going on. That went nowhere. I have every right to know what it traded for.
He didn’t learn of the sale price until he finally tracked down Nesbitt in early September 2009. While Bennett couldn’t find a sale price immediately after the sale, the information was available when QuincyNews.org met with Bennett on a trip to Chicago a few weeks ago in November 2009.
“I just said thank you,” Bennett said. “(Nesbit) clearly doesn’t appear to be a Tom Bennett fan. Clearly there was steering going on. They were using every trick in the book to slant the process in favor of their desired winning bidder.”
Bennett was willing to move on, but something keeps nagging him about the deal.
“I put in the highest bid…a credible deal…and I lost to a party with a track record of contribution to Obama’s campaign and Nesbitt has a track record of being Obama’s money guy,” Bennett said. “Look at how political fundraising has evolved. This appears to be a very corrupt quid pro quo involving campaign contributions.”
“When the fix is in, the fix is in.”
Phone calls to the Chicago Housing Authority were not returned. A CHA spokesman issued a no comment in a 2007 piece in the Chicago Sun-Times on the matter.
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219 Comments
Are any of you surprised at this? This is how business is done in the People's Soviet of Chicago- Richie Daley, sole proprietor.
The CHA, Chicago, Obama, Daley, who is this naive guy Bennet.
He must have inherited that $9 million he used for this bid.
Yes, transparency at its best. Nothing like finally having your suspicions confirmed about what Obama and his buddies are really like. And where was the press in 2008? Too busy licking "The One" and digging through Palin's trash cans to do any decent vetting of our now illustrious president. I will never forget what the news media didn't do – their job.
Change you can belive in. If your name is Capone.
CHAnge…you can believe in. Too funny. You can't make this stuff up.
As Blago says: "The CHA Building is an f-in' valuable thing."
Well, not exactly, but that's what he would have said.
The real question is why a guy like Bennett would want to climb in bed with SEIU/ACORN/Project Vote.
AAhh, transparency. Is there anyone alive today that doesn't understand that when a politician says 1 thing he/she is probably doing the opposite?
Bennet gets the Inspector Louis Renault award … "Iam shocked, schocked I tell you"
And yet one STILL cannot call Obama what he REALLY is lest one's post be deleted.
What more can one expect from the Messiah II and his minions. This is just another example of how dishonest any and everything has to do with our president. Barry Barack, Acorn and SEIU strike again. And you thought the government was of and for the people.
What comes around, goes around.
These people will eventually pay for this illegal activity.
You can cheat people without getting slimmed yourself.
Ask them how they sleep, especially now that the deal has come to light.
How quickly will our Attorney General Holder prosecute this ??? sadly never !!!
Well, this is no surprise and just the beginning of how corrupt Obama is – He's deceitful, manipulative and a liar – and it only gets worse.
I think we could save a lot of money if we just built a wall around Chicago and called it a penitentiary.
The people are waking up fast. Americans wont play this game and will simply make a clean sweep in the next election. Progressives are very evil people that always think they know better than others. In their minds the end justifies the means. It's going to get much uglier before this is over.
Chicago Politics at their finest. The bidding process (or lack of) is becoming a joke in the public sector. If there was full disclosure of the conflicts of interests, I'm not sure anything could be done except leaving the names off the bids and evaluating the pros and cons from their offers. This assumes that the CHA actually reviewed the other bids.
Rodney Dangerfield (Thornton Melon) was accurate in his description of how to do business…
"First of all, you have to grease the local politicians."
as my mom used to say, what can you expect from a pig but a grunt. Obama and his cronies have been corrupt from the beginning and will be until the end
Obama and his buddies are the most corrupt politicians we have ever had, and that is saying alot!
I guess Mr. Bennett needed to be reminded who's wearing the Jack Boots, and upon who's throat they belong…Poor bastard.
Mr Bennett's whining about his lost bid however is kind of like somebody calling the cops because somebody stole their bag of weed…Keep your nose clean, and keep your dealings forthright, and there is usually little to worry about…!
I tried.
Computer fried.
This happens all over the place. We lost a bid to operate the Thousand Island Resort many years ago because of a literal last minute (morning of the deadline date) offer from arelative of a NY state representative. The guy had zero experience in operating such a property and promptly proved it by turning a fine resort into a pig sty.
Better to not play in the mud with politicians if one can avoid it.
Weiss, Moran, Capone, Daily, and Obama.
And yet, as obvious as this is, there will be nothing done.
Kathryn, Kathleen and Chris, this is exactly why I hate Chicago and refused to move there.
You keep getting in put where the sun doesn't shine, and keep believing the people of Chicago are good.
Here Mark, let me take a stab at it. This administration is nothing more than a bunch of ghetto gangsters. They know less about integrity than they know about economics, except of course when it comes to pimp economics, the use of others for one's own benefit.
I suspect that very few of the morons who voted for this trash can read, but on the chance that any are reading this, "Shame on all of you. Get educated. Stop being useful idiots. Stop voting based on slogans and color! Stop destroying our country!"
A serious culling should occur.
[...] Read more…. [...]
Now we know what "change" BHO meant, from honesty to corruption. LOLROF
The real story here is the lack of a story in the mainstream media – this should be a 60 Minutes piece, instead, we have nothing. As conservatives, we neeed to AVOID the mainstream media, that means no network TV, no Hollywood (what is 'Avatar' but US bad indian good movie?) etc. We've done it and are happier as a result – who needs that poison? Thank God people are waking up, but NOTHING will change until the mainstream media has been defanged – and that means it needs to be REPLACED. Support conservative media!
Mark – I will. He's a snake oil salesman.
I would say a crook , but unfortunately I don't have the hard evidence at my fingertips, so I can't openly make that accusation, but I think his associations and dealing are suspect at the VERY LEAST. I don't think there's any question left that he is a sleazy politician just like most of the rest of them. So much for "changing how business is done" in politics.
Obama = ACORN
Every single thing he is even remotely related to is thoroughly corrupt.
P.S. Eli is right – this is going to be ugly, but the ugliness will be all from the liberals, as they see their power slipping. AVOID mainstream media – I wish talk radio would promote that message…..
Hello…Hello…. Mainstream media? Anybody home?
The Palin Justice Dept. will investigate EVERYTHING come January 2012!!!!!!!!
how do they sleep? like babies. when you have no conscience, no morals, and no ethics, it's easy…
It seems that every minute of everyday more corrupt government crap bubbles to the surface. When is enough, enough? This will never end until we end it. As the saying goes, "There's no time like the present."
Surprised no. Sickened yes.
When do we get to round up these thugs …………….
I wonder how Barry O will spend the unspent stimulus money – look for it in a democratic campaign treasure chest near you. These guys are corrupt to the core. The only Change barry understands is the change he gets from some tax payers hands or the change he puts into one of his croney's pockets
This is like the old "Electric Authority" building in Moscow that was actually a den of spies and kgb torturers…
How many of you posters voted for this asshole? If so, shame on you for having been duped by him and his friendly media. You should have done better homework to see thru his charade. It's your own fault. There was 40+ million of us who already knew that this guy was really bad and voted for Mc Cain. While Mc Cain had his warts, at least he is honest. You believe got snookered and now you are mad. Look in the friggin mirror and promise to do better next time.
So, on the one hand, Obama is a crook in Acorn's and the unions' pockets–that's why he took time out from his campaign and presidency to personally make sure the CHA accepted someone else's bid…to fix a $ 9million local property sale. Of course, the article makes no express factual connection to Obama at all, and any implied connection would be that he acted against his own 'gang members' as some of you so quaintly put your ghetto-spin on it. Either way, one more instance of you teabagging wingnuts going 'round the bend…
I`m sure Obama is not invoved in this.Just a right wing attack.It was Bush`s fault.HALIBURTAN,Karl Rove,it`s racisim,you don`t like a black president.
Cross-blogged at http://www.repubx.com – the first in news and home to IntelliFETCH Search – check it out!
why are you censoring comments?
JimBob – you are getting one side of the story. I understand the wanting to bash Obama over everything, but I am a lender/developer in real estate and have dealt with Chicago developers in work outs and foreclosures before. We are missing a major part to this story. You can think everyone is on the take and everyone is underhanded except this lowly Chicagoan developer, but you'd be foolishly sticking your head in the sand. You don't just lose to a lower bid. There is something more to the story that isn't being told here.
see the book titled Media Malpractice.
repeat every day. Politicians are corrupt. They lie and steal. This is who you trust to tell the truth about 9/11, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Al Qaeda, your tax dollars, Goldman Sachs Bailouts etc.
To s.ay "Oh well we should have been bore careful" isn't good enough. We need to investigate Obama and his cronies and throw them in prison if they were involved in illegal activities. For that matter, prosecute every scumbag who holds public office and has practiced any type of illegal activity. New times call for a new set of rules. Libs wanted to prosecute Bush. It you can find out he did something comparable to Obama, throw his butt in the clink. Status Quo has got to go!
KEEP on LYING OBAMA and all of your dirty little friends. Karma is a funny thing … ask your new buddy and personal golf coach Tiger! We will all continue to pray for you – not that you need any divine intervention to continue FAILING. Nice job whacko's – Hoax and Chains and FUBO
Anyone who read Fredoso's excellent The Case Against Barack Obama knew that he was up to his eyelashes in crooked Chicago politics and influence peddling. Without doubt the most fraudulent individual to occupy the Oval Office, leaving even Clinton in the dust.
You mean a propped up stuffed shirt, that was ill prepared to be a US Senator let alone the President of the United States?
This transaction should be stopped until the policy can look into this. It looks like crime may have been commented against the Chicago Taxpayer.
Were is Liz Madigan States Attorney on this one.
Anyone else notice that the revolving fix was in? Future occupants and tenants, SEIU and ACORN??
All These Commie thugs need to be exported permanently, all of them starting with the community organizer in chief!
I suspect we will find this is standard operating procedure for the SEIU dealt Marxist rot that has taken over in DC.
About as quickly as Molasses moves on a cold Winters day…………………………Hanzo
whats wrong with everyone? can't you see this is Bush and big businesses fault!
Here Mark, let me take a stab at it. This administration is nothing more than a bunch of ghetto gangsters. They know less about integrity than they know about economics, except of course when it comes to pimp economics, the use of others for one's own benefit.
I suspect that very few of the morons who voted for this trash can read, but on the chance that any are reading this, "Shame on all of you. Get educated. Stop being useful idiots. Stop voting based on slogans and color! Stop destroying our country!"
what do you expect look what we have in the house .can't wait until he is the hell out..,
What a crook. Somebody should just hand Obama the violin case with the tommy gun inside. maybe he's not reading the teleprompter but repeatedly checking the exit doors for a rival gang hit.
"There is something more to the story that isn't being told here. "
Ya think…?
Stop your WHINING! That's just how we roll THE MACHINE – htttp://www.LIVESHOT.cc
YES WE CON!
YES WE CON! http://www.FATBOY.cc
HOW THE MSM WILL PORTRAY THIS…."No news here folks, move along….None of your business anyway…" Our top story tonight, President Obama lassoes the moon!"
When are these people going to jail……Where is the FBI or the Justice Dept. ?
How long are the American people going to stand for this corruption and outright theft?
Ought to be a criminal lawsuit in this, ASAP
Can you smeeeeeell what Barack is cookin'?
This needs to be publicly investigated at the Congressional level. If the DC crooks of my former party stonewall, the Republicans should hold their own public hearing on this. The corrupt Chicago criminals involved here need to be arrested, indicted, arraigned, tried, convicted and incarcerated after paying a collective 10 million dollars in fines. ACORN and SEIU are criminalized organizations, as are CHA officials. These people are among the at least 10,000 corrupt Democrats who need arresting and jailing once civilized Americans throw out our corrupt President's DC/Chicago-style criminals in November.
Nothing to see here. Move on. It looks much cleaner than expected for some reason.
Not only did Obama outright lie about changing how the government fundamentally operates, but he is the worst abuser of all preceding presidents when it comes to making sweetheart deals! This is probably the most corrupt presidential administration in history and there have been corrupt administrations before this one for sure! However, we must remember that organized crime was always the best in Chicago in the honor of Alphonso Capone! However, I think it's Irish this time?
Sure! losing to a lower bid is not out of the ordinary Joey and let's leave Obama out of this deal (he wouldn't know what was going on in all this… party of the first and party of the second part thing anyway). But come on Joey…… the CHA, Mayor Daley and campaign contributions?
KSM & his bunch will be arriving from Cuba soon. That doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Since this is now news, would it be inappropriate to challenge the sale in the Illinois state court? Doesn't the Chicago Housing Authority act as an agent of the state, and would they not (theoretically at least) be responsible to act in the best interest of the state? I know that graft, corruption, fraud and other words are simply synonyms for Chicago, but where are the viable news agencies like the National Enquirer, Daily Tribune, New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, and Marvel Comics when we need them to get out the news in an honest and forthright manner? Maybe Richard Burris will look into this after he finishes buying whatever properties he wants when he returns in December. By the way, has anyone looked into real estate sales by the rest of Obama staffers?
As I said previously, this is the most corrupt presidency in history and Nixon even had to leave office! I guess in honor of Alphonso Capone, the mob does it best in Chicago! Talk about blackmail!
Ya, but first let me call the other three Republicans in this town, so we can get out of here.
They can now do as they like; we gave them permission by that landslide “mandate” election.
Like another loser so famously said: “You lost, get over it.”
Well if this were under Bush you'd have Olberman lighting himself on fire every Monday through Friday. But because it's Obama, instead we should focus on how terrible George Bush was, and at how dumb Sarah Palin is. Quick, what’s that over there?
Chicago deserves the Cubs.
God damned lying thieves; especially bama!!!
Will NBC discuss this sleaze??? How about CBS, NYT, ABC?? Of course not.
For all of you new comers out there – to the Chicago Way – - let me remind you:
1. YOU VOTED HIM IN, and
2. MILLENIUM PARK = SIX HUNDRED MILLION IN STEALING.. S. T. E. A. L. I. N. G.
when are YOU PEOPLE IN CHICAGO GOING TO WAKE THE F UP?
i left twenty five years ago and NEVER went back once
RIGHT ON!!!!!!!
IMPEACH THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION! This doesn't surprise me but it makes me grossed out more than I was before as to why Americans who voted for this lot of crooks didn't figure this was going to happen before the election.
Well known Chicago business/politics dictum: We don't want nobody, nobody sent.
As Jesse says, "I am somebody." That's how it works because the cash on the table means nothing.
Chicago Motto: Ubi Est Mea — Translation: Where's Mine?
Did you ever have any doubts.
Obama provers once again that he favors OBAMA and not the United States of America.
Way to go their OBIWON
We might as well just refer to ourselves as a 3rd world country…..We are already behaving like them in so many ways…..What really "Galls" me is that these a$$holes carry-out all this corruption in "Plain sight" and then get away with it!! Joe-6-Pack would be doing a 20 yr stretch at Joliett for this CRIME!!! What a terrible example of 'Character & Integrity' we are sending to the next generation!!
Oh, the final and most important part of this play is that the building will be flipped so the buyer can quickly realize the $1.3 million they underpaid for the property. They aren't in the game just to collect rent. This is how Chicago works. We need a boatload of independent prosecutors.
Wow Wow Wow…does any honest person in the US have a chance against the corrupt and lying Obama administration. Somewhere somehow the real of law must come into play. it realy does disgust me to constantly read of the power plys of this new administration. This is NOT the America I know and love.
I totally concur!!! I have shunned EVERY bit of mainstream BS and am a much happier, more well informed person. It is POISON! The day of reckoning is coming!
Again folks, WE ARE BIG BROTHER, NOW! Before the internet / information age, we would likely not have known about this and many other stories. Washington just did what it wanted. NO MORE. Get your friends, relatives- even people you don't like, involved in knowing what is going on in our government. It's so unbelievably corrupt that I truly resent having to pay taxes!! You should see the numbers on HOW MANY of our representatives went to the Global Warming Summit, (FOR A COMPLETE HOAX, NO LESS), and how much EACH ONE of them spent on hotel, airfare, food, etc. It's staggering.
How many people got sweetheart deals around Obama?? Countless. Acorn, Chicago Thugs, Do-Nothing-Suck-Off-The-Taxypayer-Union workers and on and on. Not all unions are corrupt but too many are. It is my understanding that unions paid 60 MILLION to Obama's campaign.
I've been reading about the middle ages a lot recently and honestly, our present government is not a lot different from the way it was run then. Our representatives are PUBLIC SERVANTS, NOT THE ELITE CLASS!!! They make way too much money and don't you DARE tell me that "we have to pay them enough to get the best and brightest" because if you think Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, Charley Rangel, etc., are the best and brightest, THERE IS NO HOPE for saving this country!
This is one of the reasons I'll be moving out of Chicago in the next 10 months. In addition to 10.250% sales tax, $16,000 a year property tax bill, and nothing the bunch or ignorant crooks running my local mafia….uhhh, I mean "local government". 7 years in this great city, but the stench is getting to be too much….
Marty Nesbit should get the Nobel prize for this. Maybe someone can nominate him.
Obamanomics: Handing out YOUR tax dollars to buy votes and
pay for political favors. The Chicago way is now the Belway way.
Mike
Because he probably figured dealing with Obama people, having SEIU and ACORN backing would be good for brownie points. And it probably would've, if the other bidder hadn't made a pile of campaign contributions.
What I want to know is why this cr@p is never reported on the three major news networks? What a joke!!!! Corruption at it's finest.
WOW BATMAN WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT. AND TO THINK I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO KNOW HE WAS A CROOK. OH WELL I AM FROM NEW JERSEY MAYBE THATS WHY.
Wake up America – this is a mere sampling of the kind of corruption that Obama and his henchman will bring to every agenda pursued by this administration: bribary, deceit, thuggery and vindictiveness.
It's like Capone and his cronies never died.
Democrats should be ashamed of themselves.
Don't hold your breath.
OBAMA NOMICS. A building that is worth 9 million gets sold for 1.3 million less to YO Buddies, and you wonder why our ecomony is in the dirt, LOL. Chicago, Chicken on the Car, Car on the Go…I thought you people from Chi Town were smart and tough. More like stupid and fools, LOL. Ho by the way I have some beach front property in Alaska if you want for a great price…..
The Famous Ellie Light?!?!? The "traveling nurse".?..you are a repeated joke! Here's a little 'note-to-the-wise', people are laughing at you…and not in a good way!
The culture of corruption in the OhBymmer Wrecking Crew is arrogant, astonishing, astounding. Somewhere, somehow, OhBummer or a relative or a crony will get something more out of this besides the $28K campaign war-chest bribe.
You hit the nail on the head with that!
You asking how many of us voted for him? Not me – not on your life.
Too many journalists are union socialists just like Obama. I can't say this about all journalists though. The good ones, that actually bring real stories and connect with readers, end up writing books, get syndicated, etc. They are good at their trade, don't need a union, and don't need a socialist life appointment. I understand it's tough in every industry, but to sell your soul for an easier life for YOURSELF, is about as noble as giving a piece prize to the treasonous liar Al Gore.
Obama gave a 25 million government contract to one of his donors last week to train attorneys in Afganistan. How much more do we the people have to take of this lying evil man. He needs to be stopped.
Lying, cheating and so, so much more. I would have never believed this could happen in America. Afterall, this man is the President for gods sake.
Par for the course, after all, politics is nothing more than the science of deceit, with lying, cheating, and stealing being the tools of the trade.
Liberals (socialists) have discovered that "getting" a living is easier than "earning" one. Socialism is the religiion of "covetting your neighbor's goods" perfected to a science. Stealing your neighbor's goods is the logical next step, only they call it "redistribution of wealth".
Repeat Bush`s fault! Teabagger,Right wing,Haliburtin,Nazi`s,Racist,Palin,Repeat agin.LOL
president Obama has to have some place to work when he gets out his one term in the white house… Corruption. I'm just glad the Olympics wasn't there.
This is the kind of dealings that is going on in the White House and Washington. Absolutely sickening.
Thank you for risking your life for this "Firey Little Blast." of legal paper.
Now after a good reading and a 2nd and 3rd reading , is it legal, is it dirty legal, is it just dirty and illegal??? How many full "Degrees to Obama" has this "FIX" been made.???
Again thank you.
Hang these thieves
It's why I moved my business to Florida. Seriously!!! Chicago is pro-crony, and anti-business!
The culture of corruption of OhBummer and the OhBummer Wrecking Crew rolls on and on —- and mostly ignored by the Democrat-captured media. I’m betting that OhBummer or a relative or a friend will get a further kickback on this deal — beyond the $28K campaign war chest bribe.
CHA: Chicago Housing Autority
NGE: Neal, Gerber, Eisenberg. Lawfirm in Chicago that is the new home to the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. ( http://www.pr-inside.com/neal-gerber-eisenberg-is... )
Coincidence? Probably. Interesting? Slightly.
I wonder if the MSM will comment on this.
I am so suprised. More corruption, more special favors, more bribes and payoffs and kickbacks associated with Obama and his Chicago thugs. Shocking, just shocking. Hoax and Chains you surely CAN believe in.
"Change You Can Believe In" Chicago Style"
Deflect the facts,attack the person!I knew that in 3rd grade(1967)and I'd never heard of Saul alinsky-GET OUT OF HERE!
Interestin comments, but the fact is, we have these things because we accept them.
Let's see now… no bid contract to train lawyers in Afghanistan in exchange for campaign donation; selling Chicago building under market for campaign donation; lending billions to Brazil to develop oil wells owned by George Soros, campaign donator; cancelling missile shields in Poland and Hungary (or wherever) and voila!, a market just so happens to open up in Russia for GE, campaign donator. Steer business to University of Chicago Medical Center and The First Linebacker gets a $200,000 raise for orchestrating a patient dumping scam along with her cronies, slumlord Jarrett and Commie Axelrod. Meechelle was so irreplaceable, that to this day the job has not been filled. Sure looks to me like Obie crafts policy on how it benefits his friends and big donors, does it not?
I'll drive, I know a short cut.
Right past the location where the Robert Taylor Homees used to be.
It's empty there now.
I would bet that it is far worse than what is being reported. The O administration is gangland corruption at it's best.
How many billions are unaccounted for in the stimu-less bill?
Don't worry Mr. Bennet, losing bids is not something new to Chicago folks.
You should have seen the bid we lost in Copenhagen, they were all lower bids.
This is the most corrupt and inept Administration…EVER!
Hold on, I'll pretend I'm a liberal for a minute: "The corruption in Chicago is all Bush's fault."
LMAO.
What I find amazing is that these dirty quid pro quos, which would amount to an impeachable offense, don't seem to bother you in the least. Is this just par for the course for a lib?
This is par for the course for Chicago-style politics, which are among the most corrupt in the nation.
He's 10% black, but totally CORRUPT.
How come this blog has not published that O'Keefe was arrested yesterday and why is no one supporting him
as this will be a big time jail sentence
Why are people not protecting these people as you know the obama gang are out to hang and bury them
Read
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/26/acorn-...
um, acted against his own "gang members" interest"? How so, when the contributor to Obama's campaign was awarded the property even though his bid was significantly less than competitors' bids? At least us "teabagging wingnuts" can read and comprehend. No wonder you liberals were so easily fooled by this criminal.
Holder is busy figuring out how to prosecute our soldiers and how to defend terrorists.
TRBRE is Back Baby!
obozo corruption on display………….. but then the real Americans knew it was coming
dont forget the obozo incompetence
And when all that can be taken is gone…. they will start eating their own. They already are starting to figure out that not everyone has a front row seat in this new world order. Dems don't care who gets squashed.
Political money laundering, like everything else Politicians do is the worst deal in the world for the tax payer.
Nesbitt buys favor for $28K from Obama, which he uses to buy votes
Obama gets elected and the Chicago Dem's repay favor to Nesbittvi a a1.7M "discount" on a property sale.
Nesbitt's return on investment is 60:1
How much money did Obama "Raise" during the election? 60:1 is probably on the low end for repayment of favors for most of that money.
This government is out of control, the are stealing us blind.
SIMPLY FILE A FEDERAL LAWSUIT ASKING THE COURT TO PLACE A HOLD ON THE PROPERTY AND ASKING THAT THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATE THE TRANSACTION UNDER A RICO ACTION. THE SO-CALLED WINNING BIDDER STOLE $1.3 MILLION FROM THE CHA. I WOULD THINK THE CHA OBTAINS FEDERAL FUNDS. THEN INLCUDE IN THE SUIT 95 JOHN DOES UNTIL YOU CAN LINK THE SEUI AND RAHM ON THE ISSUE.
Nesbitt "invested" 28K in Obama and made a 50:1 return.
No wonder Obama collected so much during the election (TROLLS: don't even bother with the myth that the bulk was from individual donors)
Not only are we getting raped, we are paying for it, and apparently at quite a premium.
This is so disgusting. Thank you for telling the story of truth and thankful the good wealthy are fighting for their rights I will support you. Bennett. I think we need to expose everhything in every town. We need to not accept this anymore. I am on the West coast so this is all new to me.
Chicago Democrats have long been the most corrupt bunch of politicians in the U.S., perhaps our most corrupt ever… and our mush-minded electorate handed them The White House. Any guesses how this is all going to turn out?
Pay to Play, the Chicago Way!
Thank you. I appreciate your support. All the best, Tom Bennett
Me too.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant,”
— U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis
Candidly, I was genuinely surprised at what went down in late 2007.
I was simply trying to put-together a legitimate business deal. Absent less than a handful of instances, my dealings with SEIU, ACORN Housing and Project Vote were generally positive. Both senior-level management and the members were appreciate of my efforts and the service I provided.
DEMMHATER — you bring-up some thoughtful points. 60 Minutes may want to cover this matter. The story reported is just the tip-of-the-iceberg.
Actually, I'm a registered Reagan Democrat in Chicago and native Chicagoan (southside). Bob Gough (Quincy News) and Abdon Pallasch (SunTimes) reported in a non-partisan, professional manner.
I heard Bo's wife got her law license taken away for some pretty bad stuff and she seems to be sleeping just fine!
Keep your eyes open on Valerie Jarrett's property that she had earmarked for the Olympic Village.
Keep looking out…..
(parte dos)
The local elites overseas may be just like those here in the dhimmicrat party, but far, far more people that I talked to in Lima, or Buenos Aires or Bogota, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok, or even Europe wanted to know how to emigrate to the US, not bash it. And I couldn't begin to guess if Bennet is a straight shooter or a jilted lover. Don't care. I do think that there is a reason most of the mid-sized businesses moved to the 'burbs- and that is to avoid having to face crony capitalism.
[...] Complete Story: [...]
Loser?
I don't know, Charlie Rangel looks to walk with little ill effect. Look at the Panthers in Philly!
Mr Bennet, I got two things to say to that: Fat. Chance. They have as much interest in investigating this as Hugo Chavez has in restoring democracy in Venezuela.
Hey petey, If I'm a Teabagger, that makes you a Teabaggee. Open wide k*nt.
Squirrel?
Ah the streets of the south side of Chicago, you learn to detest weakness.
ah brevity! you gotta love it
Unless you've lived in Chicago and knows how things are done there, don't tell Ralph that his post is "harsh"; it isn't.
What does it matter where Bennet earned his money? Does that make his $9 million bid any less credible if was inherited? Is $9 million too much money to be earned/inherited under the Obama administration?
Something tells me you're missing the point of this so called 'transaction.'
Interesting perspective Chicago Ralph.
The story that was reported earlier today is the tip-of-the-iceberg.
By the way, as a native Chicagoan and native southsider – your comments
appear a bit off-base.
All the best, Tom Bennett
Anne, they still aren't doing their job… they are just pretending a bit better. Keep your eyes open, I highly doubt we're hearing the worst of things.
Atty Orly Taitz sues Obama in Washington DC over his lack of Constitutional eligibility to be the President. Orly’s Quo Warranto filed in DC 1/25/10. Copy of the Complaint can be obtained here.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25814311/Orly-s-Quo-War...
Now the city will lose money on the real estate tax since it will be on the lower sale price.
This is not republican vs. democrate, it is us vs. them.
We the people need to vote all incumbents out of office.
It can't hurt to start with the progressives!!!
Hmmm…one wonders about Mr.Bennet in the first place, securing ACORN and SEIU as future tenants, and he shut up at the proper time, not applying too mush pressure. He now sees that the Marxists are verrrrry cannibalistic in nature, you just have to be one more rung up the ladder of corruption to secure, essentially 'no-bid' contracts, which, in retrospect, is what was awarded……………………..Hanzo
And the CORRUPTION continues. These socialist SOB's do not car about the taxpayer or the law.
Lying, cheating,stealing and the transparency of mud, and all this from the most corrupt government in the history of this nation. This is the "hope and change" you could believe in! The "useful idiots" have struck again.
I didn't and never would vote for nobama. I saw, clearly, in the campaign how guilelessly he lied and instinctively appeared dishonest. I think the thing that surprised me the most, during the campaign, was how many people thought he was such a "savior"! He was clearly a dishonest political person who mist evidently loved to see people look at him lovingly. He is the emotionally coldest person I have ever seen in public life and his wife is the same. They exhibit some kind of assumed entitlement which is certainly not the case.
Watch him when he speaks or listens while others speak. He has an upward tilt to his head, his nose appearing to sniff at some elusive fart. His every expression seems to say "Somebody just farted, I can smell it. Michelle, was it you?
Maybe President G.W. Bush was in on it? Standard scapegoat. Seriously why are "WE" surprised at the actions of the b:obama "family and friends" discount program. aka / B.O.F.F. Bought Outright From Funds /
Nobody should be surprised. This is how Chicago Politics works. This is the change everyone wanted so badly, they had to elect a junior senator/community organizer as POTUS. Now we are seeing what a total disaster Hussein really is.
It is becoming more and more evident that Obama's motive for becoming president was simply to enrich himself and his friends. They are plundering OUR treasury as fast as they can. The financial crisis made for a great opportunity. We need to take back Congress ASAP to put the breaks on Obama's plans.
Transparency means you are transparent, means they don't see you, means you don't exist.
What about Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan? I am sure she will have a press conference before the end of the week. Right?
That would be me Ralph, wouldn't want to be trapped here!
Tom, are you the same Mr. Bennett from the article that got screwed on the real estate deal?
Nope. They're probably still looking for proof that Bush missed a roll call in the National Guard.
The pendulum swing and when it swings back there may be McCarthy-like hearings to eradicate the corrupt progressives in our system. There is no stablity with slimy friends of Obama.
Thug?
Joseph W.
I freely admit to getting one side of the story here. I grew up in the metro area (SW 'burbs) and read the Trib and Daily News and Sun Times. I have family that live there today. I don't think every one is on the take. I don't think Dick Daley was or Richie is. I am certain that there is a GREAT DEAL of corruption below the throne in Chicago. How many Alderman went Joliet because they got caught with their hands in the Cookie (or more literally- money) Jar? And although I am a conservative I would rather see Obambi do what Slick Willie did, but I think that Obambi is incapable of accepting that he might have erred in pushing for health care when people want jobs. I would like to see Obambi defend America, not apologize to every tin pot dictator. I travelled a lot when I was in the service and the people, not local elites, love America. (parte uno)
A bit harsh doncha think Ralph?
Charlie Rangel ooks to walk, so I don't know. Look at the Panthers in Philly!
ellie, you are a total joke. What address are you using for this post? We are on to you.
My father did business in Chicago back in the 30s and 40s. This has a very familiar ring to it. Bennett is lucky that cement bathing suits have gone out of style. Of course there have been a couple of prominent suicides among wise guys recently.
Mean and debased business. Isn't anyone bringing a lawsuit? Hopefully, a portfolio is building and at some point in time the gavel will fall and justice served.
You wouldn't happen to be talking of the S word, would you? I notice it's absent. Me I'd just laugh at someone calling me that, but I guess as we say down here, the stuck pig squeels.
Mike K—
In response to your above-opine, there have been three rather high profile deaths recently under very strange circumstances —
1. John Ruff – a political consultant to Roland Burris died in a one-car accident on a country road outside of Chicago in June 2009. Mr. Ruff was intimately involved with the engineering and backroom dealing involved with the Burris appointment.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/burris/1614432...
2. Chris Kelly – a political fixer, reported-gambler, O'Hare Airport Contractor and Blagoyevich fundraiser and right-hand man died under very suspicious and questionable circumstances in September 2009 days before he was to report to Federal Prison.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-chri...
3. Michael Scott – a longtime fixture in Chicago Democratic Politics, Richard Daley's liason to African American community, 2016 Olympic Board Member and former Chicago Board of Education President was shot with an alleged self-inflicted gun shot would in downtown Chicago in November 2009. In fact, it is my understanding that his death is still under investigation by select-local and federal investigators without glare of local and national media.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/16/chicago.school.p...
While none of the three-above gentlemen were reported to be wise guys, the circumstance surrounding their respective deaths continue to rattle the local political and federal investigation landscapes. Over time we will certainly learn more about circumstances involved with the above.
As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”
Thank you for your comment.
All the best,
Tom Bennett
The same sort of thing happens in Atlanta, as well. Good advise, and a good reason to limit the power of government as much as possible.
"The guy had zero experience in operating such a property and promptly proved it by turning a fine resort into a pig sty." Uh oh, didn't we just do that very thing on a grand scale in 08?
Chicago? Mayor Daly has I think 45 members of his administartion that have been CONVICTED of corruption. So why would you be surprised that the cha is corrupt.
Oops, I think he is.
Tom, it's called being "Cold cocked"
[...] [...]
Fight organized crime! Vote out all incumbents!
It's staggering to me how matter-of-fact (even proud!) people like Chicago Ralph are with regard to the "Chicago Way." Such corruption and malfeasance are NOT simply the "cost of doing business;" rather, they amount to a penalty on business and on good governance. In addition, they lead to a deep cynicism and fatalism in the minds of the eloctorate, to the point where we feel we can't trust any of these clowns anymore. We simply HAVE to call to account these corruptocrats, and make them pay for their crimes. Otherwise, we get the CHAnge we deserve.
What a ridiculous artlice. Did anyone stop to consider if this Bennett guy was qualified to close a transaction like this. I seriously doubt it based on what I've read, On the other hand the winning bidder has an established track record on similar transactions and has the financial backing to CLOSE THE DEAL!!
You think it's easy being a conservative Republican voting south sider.
Come with me to my neighborhood bar one Friday afternoon and go toe to toe with all these Local 1 ironworkers.
It has been fun, I can tell that.
Change things here in Chicago, believe me, it going to take baby steps.
Repeat to yourself every day
"The voices are not real, the voices are not real"
obozo is the new capone
Are you kidding me? I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that Sterling Bay is an established commercial real estate company with millions of dollars worth of assets. What was Bennett bringing? His First Communion Money? Anybody with an ounce of business sense can see through this story.
Charlie:
Fascinating perspective.
Yesterday's report was just the tip-of-the-iceberg.
There is more follow-up to be reported shortly. Stay tuned.
All the best,
Tom Bennett
I think you misspelled the county name; it is Crook County, isn’t it?
That POS sitting in the white house is nothing more than a STREET THUG turned politician with the help of more street thugs bent on getting theirs even if it means destroying this country. The STUPID part is, it's hard to be a BIG SHOT in a country where no one any longers cares who you are or what you've got. ALL they know is you should be ashamed of yourself for promising it to me and then never giving it to me and I should be ashamed for believing you would give it to me. Hey here is a novel idea, how about all you idiots out there that voted for the POS take the time to learn, research, verify, and conclude things on your own, least you be lead around by the nose by the POS and his cronnies. Just because you can read a teleprompter doesn't make you qualified to run the country. Now we all have to suffer because of YOUR ignorance and stupidity…..Hows that???
This Bennet guy sounds like a manical sour puss. How or why would he think he could compete with a company like sterling bay that has a track record, where he has none. I think the article is nothing more than a bash brag / hope to tarnish the image over sour grapes. Go buy another building then.
Mr. Sloth:
Thank you for your comments. Its a fascinating perspective.
Since when is purchasing a 100,000 sf vacant building with a momentum from a large,
credible officer user in my back-pocket called rocket science?
Sterling Record indeed has a track record — substantial donations to Marty Nesbitt and the various
Obama-related campaign funds.
Lastly, the above-story as reported is the tip-of-the-iceberg.
There is more to the story to come – stay tuned!
All the best,
Tom Bennett
O.K. I want in then! I am a little light on the cash but I too have a really confusing deal involving lots of moving parts and diiferent parties. Did I mention I am a life long Chicagoian? Hopefully that helps. Let me know if anyone is interested in discussing my (our) deal.
I don't see anything about the details of Bennett's ability to close the deal. Perhaps he was qualified or maybe he wasn't. It's not uncommon to accept a much lower bid that looks like a sure thing. Not enough information here for a fair assessment.
Wait a second. Are you all suggesting that the SEIU and ACORN, the ultimate beneficiaries of this deal, do not have enough influence with the Obama administration to overcome a $28,500 contribution. You can't have it both ways on the conspiracy. If this had gone the other way, these comments would all be about how the fix was in for ACORN and SEIU. I don't know what it is, but I'll bet there was another, legitimate reason the CHA went with Sterling Bay.
RealEstateGuy:
Thank you for your comments.
The story, as reported in both BigGovernment and the SunTimes September in 2007, is just the tip-of-the-iceberg.
An element of the BigGovernment storyline is the scope of the story is White Collar Fund-raising clout vs. Blue Collar Clout as I presume SEIU and ACORN members are not hanging-out on the same high-brow fundraising circuit as Marty Nesbitt and company. Further, SEIU and ACORN would have been one of a handful of beneficiaries of the deal.
Lastly, connect-the-dots and you be the judge of a broader, coordinated effort upon more information being released related to this matter. Again, information to date, as reported, is the tip-of-the-iceberg.
Stay tuned.
All the best,
Tom Bennett
Factsplease:
Thank you for your comment. The story as reported in September 2007 and in BigGovernment earlier this week is just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg of a broader storyline to be reported.
Please stay tuned.
All the best,
Tom Bennett
Doesn't Tom Bennett resemble the author of this story. Bald and chubby but the facial hair is new. What kind of alternative world is this goofball living in. I hope Mr. Nesbitt gets a court ordered order of protection by this slob!
Seriously, check out the picture from the Times article from September of 2007. Hillarious:)
Dear Mick:
Thank you for your comments. Based upon the fascinating tone of your recent comment posts, I presume you are one of the following —
1. A political hack and stooge for Nesbitt and Company;
2. The highly-placed political operative for both Rich Daley and Anita Alvarez that harassed my family in October 2008 a handful of times in the days leading-up to Jon Burge's October 2008 indictment.
3. The highly-placed political operative for both Rich Daley and Anita Alvarez that dropped-off another highly-placed Daley/Alvarez operative (at least twice) to harrass my family in October 2008 in the days leading-up to Jon Burge's October 2008 indictment.
4. Mr. Irrelevant.
5. Mr. Irrelevant's stooge.
All the best,
Tom Bennett
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellant,
vs.
EDWARD R. VRDOLYAK, Defendant-Appellee.
Case No. 09-1891.
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
Argued December 10, 2009, Decided January 29, 2010.
http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname...
wait a minute Bennett…where is the corny "tip of the iceberg" catch phrase in this last response? Here's a "tip" – give it up!
Man I have been getting acai berry pulp and also like Three or more some other dietary supplements at the same time who understands whats carrying out things to my family. hehe.
"…Is there anyone alive today that doesn't understand that when a politician says 1 thing he/she is probably doing the opposite?…" LOL! While this is true to some degree about politicians in general, BO is no ordinary politician, and shouldn't be lumped in with all the others. For one thing, he's more consistent at it. He's a work unto himself.
Mark, it's only going to get worse from here. Just wait till he completes his takeover of the Internet, abolishes conservative talk radio, takes over the media (not the lamestream, as he's already done that), and confiscates our guns. In that case, we're screwed.
"Charlie South Side" needs a swift kick in the pie hole. Posts on here have been discussing the situation at hand and given serious, logical input. Haven't read many petty attacks, atleast from what I have seen thus far. Do yourself a favor; read some literature and get informed. You are one "Chuck" with an evident bias. No wit and, of course, no clue.
Man I have been using acai berry pulp and also like Three or more different health supplements simultaneously so who appreciates things that are doing things to me. lol.
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