Obama’s “Curiously Close Relationeship” With The SEIU And The Blago Federal Probe

July, 9, 2009 by nicedeb

It was reported in the Chicago Trib, yesterday that John Harris, chief of staff to former IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich is singing to federal prosecuters:

John Harris, the last chief of staff to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, pleaded guilty today to a single count of wire fraud in federal court — and agreed to cooperate in the federal probe against his former boss in return for a recommended prison term of just under 3 years.

Harris was accused of aiding some of the former governor’s efforts to leverage the powers of his office in exchange for favors and campaign contributions. Among the accusations against Blagojevich is that he attempted to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

Here’s where the SEIU comes in:

In reading a summary of Harris’ plea agreement, (Assistant U.S. Atty. Carrie) Hamilton alleged that Blagojevich met with an official from the Service Employees International Union — a person he understood to be an emissary working on behalf of Obama — hoping to get something for himself in exchange for appointing the right candidate to fill the Senate seat.

Blagojevich was hopeful that by naming a person identified only as “Senate Candidate B” — previously disclosed to be Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett — he could secure an appointment to become secretary of the U.S. Department Health and Human Services, according to the plea agreement.

Blagojevich also was interested in a possible job at a private foundation in exchange for naming Jarrett and asked Harris to look into it.

Obama has “emissaries from the SEIU”? Involved in pay to play schemes with corrupt governors?

You might remember a couple of weeks ago, the article in the LA Times, Obama’s Curiously Close Labor Friendship, signaling an increasing awareness in the media that something is not quite right about Obama’s relationship with the SEIU.

Stay tuned.

Previously:

BREAKING!: Obama Has “Curiously Close Labor Friendship” With SEIU According To LA Times

O’Reilly Investigating ACORN, Now (Finally)

Video: Former ACORN Employees Tell All On Glenn Beck Show

Blago Releases 43 Subpoenas

Blagogate Links

Are Former SDS Radicals Trying To Steal This Election?

ACORN/New Party/Project Vote Shared SAME OFFICE

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

July, 9, 2009 by nicedeb

What the heck?! This story reads like something out of Birmingham Alabama circa 1958:

More than 60 campers from Northeast Philadelphia were turned away from a private swim club and left to wonder if their race was the reason.

I heard this lady, she was like, ‘Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?’ She’s like, ‘I’m scared they might do something to my child,'” said camper Dymire Baylor.

Well, if that kid’s telling the truth, I’d say, yeah, duh! Race was the reason.

The Creative Steps Day Camp paid more than $1900 to The Valley Swim Club. The Valley Swim Club is a private club that advertises open membership. But the campers’ first visit to the pool suggested otherwise.

“When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool,” Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. “The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately.”

What are those parents teaching those children..that they would do that? Those black parents should be outraged…this is an outrageous story…they don’t allow minorities? Disgraceful.

“They just kicked us out. And we were about to go. Had our swim things and everything,” said camper Simer Burwell.

The explanation they got was either dishearteningly honest or poorly worded.

“There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club,” John Duesler, President of The Valley Swim Club said in a statement.

What kind of oaf would say such a thing? Seriously? I honestly didn’t think crap like this still goes on…and in a liberal area like Philly, in the deep blue state of PA, no less.

UPDATE:

Irony of ironies: Captain Ed has video, and some information on Valley Swim Club president John Duesler, who made the “complexion” statement. It turns out that he has the same name as the man who ran the O-Positive Obama campaign blood drive in Philly before Barack Obama’s inauguration.

UPDATE II:

Internet detective, Ginger says it’s likely that John Duesler who ran the O-Positive Obama blood drive was probably the son of the Swim Club President.

A couple more things…

A commenter notes that something about this story doesn’t ring true…wouldn’t people who harbor such disgusting attitudes hide them out of fear of legal retribution? That’s a good point, and something I considered.

The story was written from the standpoint of the blacks who were interviewed, but what if they weren’t being strictly honest about what happened? If the pool attendants didn’t really say that no blacks were allowed at the club that is a scurrilous charge to make. Did the reporter from the Philadelphia News bother to ask Duesler if that was true? If it is true, that is an outrageous thing, this day and age.

Also, as I said in the comments, one thing that has gone unreported is the kids’ behavior when they entered the pool…were they excessively raucous and rowdy? That could be…and that may be why the white kids got out. There are cultural differences that may have been at play.

Report: Sunday’s Violence In Honduras Orchestrated By Chavez

July, 9, 2009 by nicedeb

The Honduran newspaper, El Heraldo reported on Wednesday that Chavez influenced the mob at the airport on Sunday. Here is the translation of the report, “Chavez planned a slaughter in Honduras” supplied by a commenter at Honduras Abandoned:

Chavez planned a slaughter in Honduras
The goal, on Sunday July 5, was to cause a massacre and create martyrs.

(News agency) AFP captured the moment when Hugo Chávez, from his office, coordinated the military operation that took Manuel Zelaya Rosales to Honduras, in a flagrant violation of Honduran airspace.

However, rather than seeing a former military coup leader pointing to his Panasonic TV and applauding the “feat” Zelaya Rosales, which was transmitted live by the Telesur network, to the experts in political and security issues what caught their attention was the message written on the whiteboard that could be a clear demonstration that the goal was to cause a slaughter in the event.

Almost in line with the intentions revealed in the writing on the whiteboard, Zelaya Rosales requested through satellite communication from the aircraft that people invade the landing strip and remove the obstacles that the military had placed.

The people attempted to break through; however, the action was suppressed by military and police forces that, according to the commissioner of Human Rights, used a volley of rubber bullets.

The text message on the whiteboard of Chavez says: 051345JUL09 A swarm of African bees, Presidential Podium, wounded by bites and desperation of the people.

Mario Berrios, a lawyer and analyst on political and security issues, says that this is a message written in military language.

The writing 051345JUL09 according to Berríos is what in military doctrine is called group-date-time.

This message reveals the day (05), month (July), year (2009) and time (1:45 in the afternoon), which was precisely the time that the demonstration was pushing into the policemen in the vicinity Camosa, feeling that the security rings were inadequate to retain them and prevent their approach into the airport Toncontín.

You can read part 2 at Honduras Abandoned.