Why Nobama

[ElectricBadger]

So far everything stated is mere theory, supposition based on lack of information, most of which would be available if seriously researched (such as college loans, stated income, and so on).

I believe the short of it is that while Obama's family was middle class, it was at the higher end of that. Obama himself, as one would expect from a best selling author and senator with a Harvard education has done well for himself. A harsh reality of American politics is that poor people don't run for high offices, so that's fairly unexceptional. And I'll point out that the McCains are worth several multiples of the Obamas, so not voting for Obama because he can afford things is a bit strange in my opinion. And I believe there have been some allegations against Cindy McCain's fortune with much more evidence behind them.

As for purchasing property, it was clearly a favor from one friend to another. If I had as much money as Razko, would I buy a property I could resell later for profit to make a situation easier for a friend? Certainly. Even if I were squeaky clean ethically, which Obama (by all reports) had no reason to doubt Razko was.

Religion...gah. This one drives me nuts. If - and this is a huge if, as there's NO evidence at all that Obama has been Muslim - but if Obama has to lie about his religion to be elected, I find that a MUCH sadder commentary on American bigotry than on him.

And in our current political situation, heavily invested in the future of two muslim countries, under attack by religious extremists, I'm heavily encouraged to vote for a president that has more experience with the Muslim faith than comes from college textbooks. Discounting him for his experiences with the Muslim faith and countries is comparable to refusing to hire a spanish teacher because they used to live in Mexico.

[Ragoczy]

As for purchasing property, it was clearly a favor from one friend to another. If I had as much money as Razko, would I buy a property I could resell later for profit to make a situation easier for a friend? Certainly. Even if I were squeaky clean ethically, which Obama (by all reports) had no reason to doubt Razko was.

A $500,000+ favor to a politician from a slumlord doesn't make you at all suspicious?

And he did have reason to doubt Rezko was "squeaky clean", saying, in fact, that he was "bone headed" to enter the deal when it had been reported that Rezko was under grand jury investigation. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,1468124.story)

The "profit" came from selling it to their own attorney for "development", despite the fact that the property's too small to build anything on? There are only three possibilities there -- the attorney's "development company" is run by idiots, was bilked by the Rezkos or is in on a deal to make Obama look better -- which does Occam's Razor support?

Also, the reported "profit" doesn't include taxes and other expenses over the years.

The purchase of ten feet of the the Rezko property and putting up a fence only occurred a few months before Rezko was indicted.

Until that fence went up Obama mowed the freakin' lawn on that property. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,1468124.story)

A politician gets this kind of "favor" from someone convicted of influence-peddling and it doesn't make you suspicious? It doesn't make you concerned about, at least, his judgment in doing so?

[js207]

A $500,000+ favor to a politician from a slumlord doesn't make you at all suspicious?

Particularly when said slumlord received tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state funding for building and maintaining those slums.

The funding for his travel and studies isn't that hard to explain, though: the "typical white" grandmother who raised him in Hawaii was VP of a fairly large bank, so throwing him a few $k here and there to help with tuition or fund his vacation wouldn't be a stretch for her.

[Ragoczy]

And I believe there have been some allegations against Cindy McCain's fortune with much more evidence behind them.

This is a bit disingenuous. There has never been an allegation, to my knowledge, against Cindy McCain for any type of financial wrong-doing. Cindy McCain inherited the bulk of her estate and now invests it -- with a large amount going to charity through the McCain's foundation. There were accusations against her father sixty years ago, but nothing against her. Whereas the discussion of Obama's finances here have had to do with his direct actions, decisions and judgment.