“Giannoulias is so tainted by reputed mob links 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.”
Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times

The Citizen Wells blog began researching Obama’s ties to Alexi Giannoulias and other Chicago and Illinois corruption figures months ago. This blog posted an article about Alexi Giannoulias, Dan Shomon and corruption on May 14, 2008. Here is an exerpt from the article:

“Like the ill-advised connection to Obama in Aurora, thanks to Dan Shomon, Obama is mentioned in the same discusion with all these problems with Giannoulias.”
“Shomon’s main activities are political campaigns and helping Obama and his friends like Alexi Giannoulias who is now the Treasurer for the State of Illinois.”
“We think it’s HIGHLY unethical of Dan Shomon or Tom Weisner to exploit the taxpayers of Aurora for political purpose. Barack Obama’s credibility is also risked in the process of Shomon and Weisner’s games at the expense of taxpayers.
“Aurora Mayor Thomas J. Weisner gave Shomon the lobbying gig in exchange for political work, including getting the endorsement of Barack Obama back in 2005 when Obama first said he would remain “neutral” in the heated mayoral race.”
“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.”

Audacity is a word often used by Obama. What we have here is:

The Audacity of Corruption.

Alexi Giannoulias spoke at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, August 25, 2008.

NY Post article:

“By CHARLES HURT Bureau Chief

September 5, 2007

WASHINGTON – 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 Sen. Barack Obama.

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.

Before he promised to raise funds for Obama, Giannoulias bankrolled Michael “Jaws” Giorango, a Chicagoan twice convicted of bookmaking and promoting prostitution. ”

Read more here:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09052007/news/nationalnews/obamas_mob_tie_idekick.htm

Consider the following:

“Much in the same way that Obama was groomed for his elections by people in power in Chicago, and much in the same way that Obama supported the corrupt Stroger family even when he could have supported a reform-minded (liberal Democrat) opponent to the Strogers, the Obama-Giannoulias relationship seems one of political payback.”

“The close association of Obama with a man who seems clearly to be involved in some shady deals with convicted criminals is yet another example of questionable judgment at best and typical dirty Chicago politics at worst. I wonder if Giannoulias will turn out to be the next in Obama’s never-ending series of “He’s not the man I knew”.”

Read more here:

http://www.rossputin.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/27/will-alexi-giannoulias-be-obama-s-next-n

Alexi Giannoulias, in his speech on Monday, referred to Obama as his friend and mentor.

Watch the video of the Alexi Giannoulias speech:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU8djhl0o14]

If you are fed up with Obama, his thugs and Chicago corruption, visit the Petition to Impeach, expel Senator Obama:

http://obamaimpeachment.org

I would like to thank Gracie, a commenter on this blog, for alerting us to Alexi Giannoulias speaking.