Better Government Group Hits Obama

Interesting story on ABC News website.

Some background for those who may not be familiar with Illinois politics.

The Better Government Association is one of those rare groups that is genuinely independent and speaks out against corruption in Illinois, regardless of the party. I think Mr. Stewart makes a couple of good points.

Senator Obama says he wants to change politics, but he has been less than candid about the true nature of his relationship to Rezko and others. Obama has had a close professional and personal relationship with Rezko since the beginning of his political career. He turned to Rezko to help him buy his home — even asking Rezko to tour the house with him before he bought it .

He entered into an arrangement in which Rezko’s wife bought the lot next door for full price, while he got a reduced price on the home. Then after he bought the home, went back to Rezko to buy a portion of the lot, so he could have a bigger yard. (See earlier posts here and here)

All of this occurring after if was public knowledge that Rezko was already under investigation by the federal prosecutors.

What other presidential candidate would turn to a major fundraiser, who is about to be indicted, and seek their help in buying a home?

I think Mr. Stewart’s other key point is that Obama has sat by idly as though Illinois were another planet, and not the state he represents in the U.S. Senate.

One glaring example: Mr. Obama’s political godfather — Senate President Emil Jones — has blocked every single major ethics reform over the past two years. In one notorius example, a bill to curb so-called “Pay-to-Play” corruption has been held up in the Senate’s Rules Committee by Senator Jones and Committee Chairman (and Democrat Congressional Candidate)Debbie Halvorson, even though a majority of Senators are sponsors of the bill.

Let me make that more clear – if just the bill’s sponsors were to vote for it, it would pass. (The bill, by the way, already passed the Democrat-controlled House unanimously, so it’s not some partisan issue)

Yet, despite requests from his former colleagues to intervene with his political Godfather Jone, Obama can’t even pick up the phone and ask him to let the state Senate vote on reforms. That’s the kind of thing that’s frustrating to reformers in Illinois.

Senator Jones, by the way,  has put his friends and family on the state payroll through jobs and contracts (well documented by the Sun-Times and Tribune), but Obama is silent about those ethical lapses.

Jones has personally campaigned for Obama in other states and even sends legislative staff to campaign on his behalf — but Obama ignores Senator Jones’ own ethical problems and his heavy-handed blocking of key reforms in Illinois.