By DemocracyRules
From Chicago Sun Times, NYT, Data on File
Another card has fallen in the governor's house of cards. Christopher Kelly -- Gov. Blagojevich's close adviser, fund-raiser, and friend -- is set to plead guilty in his federal criminal case, according to a court filing. Last year Kelly was charged with failing to report gambling proceeds. He was not charged with other corruption, but he widely known to be under scrutiny for fund-raising schemes under Blagojevich, Obama, and Rezko.
Kelly was implicated in the criminal case against Tony Rezko. Many of the charges laid against Rezko related to bribery, kicks-backs, and extortion of Illinois hospitals and other health-care facilitates. Kelly was involved in many of those activities.
Corruption in Obama's Little Hospital Board Project
The corruption of the Illinois state health planning board was enabled by Obama. After Obama was elected Illinois State Senator, he joined and then chaired the Illinois Senate’s standing committee on health care. Obama then pushed a bill through the Illinois state legislqature which forced a reorganization of the existing state health planning board. Obama's bill dismissed the existing 15 board members, and set up a new one with 9 newly appointed board members.
Obama's forced change didn't seem to have any medical or administrative benefits.
But it was personally very beneficial for Obama, Blago, Rezko, Kelly, and others. It enabled Blago to dismiss the existing members and appoint a new chairman and new members. Many of the new members were corrupt. For example, the chairman of the board paid a bribe to be appointed to the board. Also, Rezko had three doctor friends appointed, who voted the way he specified. An email from that period suggests Obama was involved in recommending candidates for the board.
Thus, the board was stacked with a chairman and board members who would approve certain medical building projects in exchange for bribes and other benefits. For example, Mercy Hospital was trying to build a new facility, and had chosen a specific building contractor. The corrupt politicians jumped on the contractor and forced him to pay a substantial bribe to the corrupt politicians in exchange for having the board grant permission to build the facility.
Money that was intended for patient care was being diverted to the corrupt politicians who were connected with this "board."
Obama, of course, has disavowed all knowledge or responsibility. He has not been charged for his role in this. Personally, I'm sure he's innocent, and I can't possibly imagine why anyone would ever accuse him of any wrong-doing in this matter.
However, Obama almost certainly benefited from his little "Health Care Reform Bill". "Campaign finance records show that at least three Rezko associates who sat on the hospital board made substantial donations to Mr. Blagojevich and to Mr. Obama in 2003 and 2004." Blago, Rezko, Kelly and others who connected with this board have helped Obama in many ways since the "reform", including campaign contributions, help with fund raising, political favors, and political support.
So therefore, Obama is completely innocent, and don't ask him about it. You would simply be "wasting your question".
Today, Dec 19, Blago said he will fight the charges against him. Then Balgo's lawyer said,
"We have had, in this state, for the last six years, a governor that has one agenda on his mind, and that is health care, and making sure seniors get health care, and he's going to continue to promote that."
I think I understand what the lawyer meant. Blago stiffed his previous lawyers for $500,000. That's why Blago complains about being broke. The new lawyer will need new money from Blago, lots of it. And in the past, health care has been very lucrative for Blago!
If we're lucky, Christopher Kelly will tell what he knows.
Pro Patria
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