Bamani Obadele sentenced, Blagojevich appointment, Obama connection, More Chicago corruption cronies
“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
From the Chicago Tribune February 17, 2011.
“A former deputy director at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — who was appointed by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich — was sentenced to six months in prison Thursday for steering DCFS funds to companies in which he had a stake and then pocketing much of the money.
Bamani Obadele had become friends with Blagojevich more than 20 years ago after the two met when Obadele was a teen who shined shoes. His appointment to head up the state agency’s external affairs was controversial.
Obadele, 38, a South Side preacher with five children, apologized for his misconduct and sought mercy, pointing out he was now also the caretaker for two sons of a brother who recently died.
U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras sentenced Obadele to six months in prison followed by an additional six months confined to his home, though he would be free to leave his home for work and a limited number of other reasons. The judge said he felt compelled to send a message that “the law is deserving of respect.” Obadele faced up to almost two years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. His lawyers sought probation.
Obadele pleaded guilty in October to one count of mail fraud for directing DCFS contractors to buy promotional items — including magnets, yo-yos and tote bags for public functions sponsored by DCFS — from a company he secretly owned. He also admitted steering DCFS vendors into contracts with another organization in which he had a financial interest.”
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From Chicago News Cooperative March 19, 2010.
“Mr. Obama worked 20 years ago as a community organizer in the Altgeld Gardens public housing development on Chicago’s South Side. There, Bamani Obadele, who runs a youth program in Roseland, and Cheryl Johnson, who runs an environmental justice organization at the sprawling development, recently discussed Mr. Obama and the We Count event.
Mr. Obadele said Mr. Obama attended several antiviolence rallies that Mr. Obadele organized in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing development in the 1990s.
“He helped me carry a casket through the streets,” Mr. Obadele said, referring to an antiviolence mock funeral. “He absolutely understands the struggle of black folks. But he’s not the same Barack I knew. The Barack I knew wouldn’t bail out the banks and let the people go hungry. I think his advisers are giving him bad advice.””
Read more:
http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/a-delicate-balancing-act-for-the-black-agenda/
“Birds of a feather flock together.”
Citizen WElls 