206 Barack H. Obama: The Unauthorized BiographyCombine stalwarts found that it was not politic to offer him their public endorsement. But Obama
had no such qualms, and gave the shady Giannoulias his stamp of approval forth with.
During the campaign, the Democratic speaker of the state House and other party leaders
criticized Giannoulias because of loans his family bank made to Michael “Jaws” Giorango, a
convicted felon. Obama stuck with Giannoulias after the revelations, though he did call on him
to explain the matter. “I’m going to ask Alexi directly what is happening,” Obama said in April
2006, according to the Chicago Tribune.^81
The public has never gotten an answer. But Obama gave full support to this sleazy character:
In the 2006 Democratic primary, for example, Obama endorsed first-time candidate Alexi
Giannoulias for state treasurer despite reports about loans Giannoulias’ family-owned
Broadway Bank made to crime figures. Records show Giannoulias and his family had given
more than $10,000 to Obama’s campaign, which banked at Broadway.’ Obama endorsed the re-
election of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration is now heavily embroiled in the Rezko
corruption probe.’ (Chicago Tribune, June 12, 2007)
Obama had to be tolerant about convicted felons: if Barky can associate with Rezko, then surely
Giannoulias can associate with Jaws Giorango and smaller sharks. If Obama were a member of a
big city police force like the NYPD, he would be fired for associating with known criminals.
OBAMA A “POLITICAL PSYCHOPATH”
This affair led Pringle to observe:
Obama is a political psychopath. He exhibits no shame, no matter where his money comes
from. On September 5, 2007, the New York Post reported that, “Alexi Giannoulias, who became
Illinois state treasurer last year after Obama vouched for him, has pledged to raise $100,000 for
the senator’s Oval Office bid.” “Giannoulias is so tainted by reputed mob links,” the New York
Post noted, “that several top Illinois Dems, including the state’s speaker of the House and party
chairman, refused to endorse him even after he won the Democratic nomination with Obama’s
help.”’ (Evelyn Pringle, opednews.com)
Obama was also happy to have Giannoulias organize a fund-raiser for his campaign shortly
before the Iowa caucuses and the opening of the 2008 primary season: On September 5, 2007, the
New York Post reported that: “A man who has long been dogged by charges that the bank his family
owns helped finance a Chicago crime figure will host a Windy City fund-raiser tonight for Senator
Barack Obama.” Alex Giannoulias had vowed to raise $100,000 for Obama’s campaign. Naïve
persons who believe the fairy tale that Obama is financed by millions of widow’s mites had better
think again in the light of these revelations.
PAY TO PLAY OBAMA: LOGOTHETE OF GRAFT AND CORRUPTION
Daniel J. Kelly of the Chicago Daily Observer examines Obama’s relation to and political
record regarding Alexi Giannoulias in the light of the mechanisms know to govern the Combine,
where the first commandment is Pay to play, meaning in effect pay bribes however disguised to
take part in the looting:
“Pay to play” seems to be another disturbing constant in Obama’s meteoric political rise. He
always seems to be available to the highest bidder. ... the curious relationship between Obama