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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: goldworldnet who wrote (51145)	10/11/2008 10:00:41 AM
From: lorne	2 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 224691

Kenya's Obamamania hits a high note Oct 10 02:07 AM US/Eastern breitbart.com Inside a Nairobi pub recently, a folk group sang the praises of Barack Obama, hoping that their ode to Kenya's new favourite son will match the US political star's meteoric rise. In a pulsating dance rhythm -- a fusion of one-string fiddles, drums, cow horn and strident vocals -- the all-male Kenge Kenge folk troupe has produced a catchy song about the US presidential hopeful ahead of the November 4 election. "In America blessing is Obama, American people for good change vote Obama. In America ooh, in America, this is the time, if you miss it it's gone," the vocalists sang. Kenge Kenge launched the song in Kenya at OJ's Pub last Friday to a nonchalant crowd that had initially gyrated to more familiar curtain-raiser rhythms. Nonetheless band leader George Achieng was enthusiatic that the song -- "Obama for Change" -- would stir excitement among Kenyans who are closely following the US presidential campaign hoping for an Obama win. "It will definitely sell. Already people are asking for it (the CD)," Achieng told AFP after the performance. The 13-member band composed the song for Obama, whose late father was Kenyan, during a five-nation European tour that kicked off in late July. "We started performing this song during our shows and that is when we realised it was hitting," said Achieng. Since being given a hero's welcome here in 2006, Obama has stirred interest among Kenyans, not least from the country's Luo community to which his father belonged and sees his presidency as a harbinger of hope for the east African country. "Kenyans are going to be happy especially the Luo community, but that's not going to help them," said Alphonce Omondi, a 27-year-old student and a reveller at OJ's Pub. "Obama is going to be a public figure. He's going to work hard for the American community and not Kenyans or Luos," added Omondi, a Luo, wearing a T-shirt with Obama's picture. "I'm proud. I'm a Luo man. I'm proud and I congratulate him." Although many Kenyans acknowledge that an Obama win would not automatically change their lives, seeing an African American of Kenyan descent become the most powerful man in the world would be enough reason for celebration. "Fine, he has a Kenyan origin and everything, but I don't think it's going to only apply on us," said Bella Awuor, another patron. She added that an Obama presidency would break the long list of America's white leaders. "It's always been white, white, white, but at least for once we are proud and we are really praying that Obama is going make it," added Awuor. Her sister Josephine Adhiambo was cautious. "There has never been a black president. So there are chances that they might not choose him at the end of the day. But chances I think are 90 percent," she said, also predicting that the band's song would be a hit. Obamamania in Nairobi has also spread to public transport vans, on which Obama's pictures are threatening to rival Arsenal and Manchester United insignia as the favourite decoration. In Nairobi's largest slum Kibera, several groups have sprung in support of the Illinois senator and T-shirt vendors across the city are making a killing by selling tops bearing Obama's picture or name. "Obama is concerned about the youth," said Daniel Ochieng, the leader of a Kibera self-help group also doubling as a local Obama campaign machine under the moniker "Obama's Disciples." "He can help us more than an older candidate," he added, in an apparent reference to Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who is 72. Obama is 47. T-shirt designer Tony Ndolo has sold 250 tops written "Ndio Tunaweza," Swahili version of Obama's campaign slogan "Yes We Can," in the last two weeks. "I can't complain. Yes I'm making money as you can see. Barack means blessing in Swahili and well, it's a blessing to my wallet," Ndolo said. Rising from devastating post-election violence, some Kenyans warned against "rigging" Obama out of the presidential contest. "If he (Obama) is beaten, he should be beaten fairly otherwise there will be chaos in the whole world," said Kibera resident Elias Juma, who says he is from the same village as Obama's Kenyan folks. But for Kenge Kenge band leader Achieng, "as long as he (Obama) wins then I'm satisfied and I know that my song has done its work."

To: goldworldnet who wrote (51145)	10/11/2008 10:22:45 AM
From: nigel bates	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224691

>>Obama has been trying ignore this for a long time.<< No, he's been ignoring it - because it's beneath contempt.

To: goldworldnet who wrote (51145)	10/11/2008 11:09:50 AM
From: TideGlider	1 Recommendation Respond to of 224691

Jailed Obama Fundraiser Spills the Beans Jailed political fundraiser Tony Rezko helped launch Barack Obama's political career. But the secrets he might be telling federal prosecutors could send the careers of other politicians crashing and burning. AP Saturday, October 11, 2008 CHICAGO -- Jailed political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer who helped launch Barack Obama on his political career, is whispering secrets to federal prosecutors about corruption in Illinois and the political fallout could be explosive. Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration faces multiple federal investigations over how it handed out jobs and money with advice from Rezko, is considered the most vulnerable. Rezko also was friendly with Obama -- offering him a job when he finished law school, funding his earliest political campaigns and purchasing a lot next to his house. But based on the known facts, charges so far and testimony at Rezko's trial, there's no indication there'll be an October surprise that could hurt the Democratic presidential nominee -- even though Rezko says prosecutors are pressing him for dirt about Obama. "I think this strikes fear into the Blagojevich administration and the Statehouse Democrats but not into the Obama campaign," says state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Westmont, a John McCain delegate to the GOP convention but an old friend of Obama. Rezko, 53, a real estate developer, was convicted in June of scheming to use his clout with the Blagojevich administration to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks out of a contractor and seven money management firms seeking to do business with the state. Within two months, Rezko was seen in U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald's office, along with his attorneys. There has been no official confirmation that Rezko is talking but his sentencing has been postponed indefinitely and both sides say they are going to "engage in discussions that could affect their sentencing postures." "They never would have delayed the sentencing if he weren't talking -- it's proof positive," said Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association of Chicago. In addition, attorneys say federal investigators have been questioning Blagojevich contributions around the state using information that only Rezko could have supplied. Finally, courthouse personnel requesting anonymity because grand jury probes are secret said Rezko has been repeatedly brought from his cell to the U.S. attorney's office to talk to prosecutors. Rezko could have a lot to tell. He has raised millions of dollars in campaign money for many Illinois politicians and according to federal prosecutors used his clout to control appointments to state boards. Obama has sent to charity $159,000 that Rezko raised for his campaigns for the state legislature, the House and the Senate. Rezko raised nothing for Obama's White House run. Obama's name came up in testimony at the trial four times, twice in connection with an obscure legislative memo, as a guest at a Rezko party and when defense attorney Joseph Duffy told jurors his client was a friend of the senator. None of the witnesses accused the Democratic nominee for president of doing anything improper. But questions concerning Obama's relationship with Rezko linger, particularly over Rezko's role in the purchase of the Obamas' home. The two have known each other for years, starting when Rezko offered Obama a job after he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991. Obama didn't take it, but a friendship developed. The men talked politics frequently and occasionally dined together with their wives. In 2005, the Obamas paid $1.65 million for their home near the University of Chicago. The sellers wanted a parcel they owned next door to sell on the same day, and Rezko's wife, Rita, was the buyer. At the request of the Obamas, Mrs. Rezko later sold them a 10-foot strip of land to enlarge their lot. They paid $104,500. The deal took place while Rezko was under investigation and when details of the cozy relationship surfaced, Obama said it was a "bonehead" error to have asked for the additional land because it looked like he was getting a favor. "I regret it," Obama said at the time. "I'm going to make sure that from this point on I don't even come close to the line." McCain and vice running mate Sarah Palin have mentioned Rezko little if at all. But Republicans have aired a television ad focusing on Rezko. And McCain aides have repeatedly tweaked their opponent over the real estate deal in e-mails to reporters. "We're delighted to have a debate on judgment with Barack Obama, who bought his million-dollar mansion in a shady deal with a convicted felon," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said in August. Blagojevich, meanwhile, got a black eye from the trial. One witness testified that Blagojevich talked about hiring him for a major state job while his $25,000 donation to the governor's campaign fund was lying on the table. Two attorneys testified that Blagojevich hinted that they could get lucrative state contracts if they raised money -- possibly for a future White House campaign. Obama's name has not surfaced in accounts of the investigation since the trial. But Rezko himself raised it in a letter to the judge months ago. "Your Honor, the prosecutors have been overzealous in pursuing a crime that never happened," he wrote. "They are pressuring me to tell them the wrong things that I supposedly know about Gov. Blagojevich and Sen. Barack Obama." elections.foxnews.com