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The Obama Hospital Earmark Plot Thickens
I noted previously that Paul Geraghty at NRO had uncovered a breaking scandal involving an inappropriate earmark by Senator Obama for University of Chicago hospital where his wife is a vice president (and was bribed with a raise so extravagant it rocketed her salary all the way up to other vice presidents' working there, thereby ensuring Barack would throw taxpayers' money the hospital's way). And true to shady Chicago politician form, Obama earmarked $1 million (of $770 million in requests) for a proposed pavillion for the hospital. Quips Geraghty:
Looks like that raise was worth it.
What NRO failed to report was that Ms. Obama's salary was apparently lower after the earmark request, which would seem to drive a stake through the heart of the alleged scandal.
However, it seems as though Senator Obama was unsuccessful in procuring the earmark- it died in the Senate. Clearly then, Ms. Obama's salary decrease was retribution by the hospital plutocracy for her husband's failure to deliver the goods.
Although the Obama campaign and University of Chicago Medical Center officials deny any link between the requested earmark and Ms. Obama's employment, citing Mr. Obama's requests for other area hospitals as evidence against any sort of favoritism, I have no doubt that NRO mastersleuth Paul Geraghty will expose this as part of yet a larger corruption conspiracy.
Good hunting, Mr. Geraghty. This election needs bloodhounds like you keeping America focused on the issues that truly matter.
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Comments (9)
Yep. Absolutely no way she could have earned that raise. No sir.
No way Obama would be funding the largest research (and just plain largest) hospital in Illinois, either. That just seems sooo counterintuitive.
Her salary increase rivals some of the Vice Presidents' too! Absolutely unrelated to her becoming a VP herself! I mean where are we going to be if eeeevery VP gets VP level pay?!
The raise could not have anything to do with her having worked at UC for 9 years she was promoted to continue specifically the work she had been doing until that. At the very least it was definitely not an earned promotion!
The salary decrease is truly masterful sleuthing and a real nail in Obama's coffin! It cannot possibly be explained by the mere fact that she went from full time to part time! That would be, like, TOTALLY unbelievable that they would, like, reduce her pay for that!
Yeah, there is definitely something fishy going on here. Completely unlike the full earmark disclosure that Clinton did (or would like to do anyway)! I bet there is nothing completely inexplicable like this there!
What tax returns are you talking about?
March 14, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow!
That was just... incredible. Seriously. If I turn on ESPN tonight and I see your comment on Sportscenter, I won't even be surprised!
March 14, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am stunned to hear the a woman (a black one nonetheless) is getting paid per her position.
Clearly she is lucky to be in that spot.
The gall of the liberal campus these days.
March 14, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude-
It's okay to launch an Obama hit job. I like him, but I can't ask everyone to support it. But when you post spurious allegations in the guise of a hot news item, you'll want to avoid characterizations like "true to shady Chicago politician form" because using a phrase like that is a TELL. Look about 90 pixels to the right and there is a link to a critique of David Mamet's editorial in the Village Voice. Mamet wrote "House of Games". In the film version (I presume it was first a play, but I've only seen the film) Joe Mantegna's character educates the audience extensively about the concept of the TELL. You are giving away your bias, and therefore educated people won't have any confidence in your reporting.
March 14, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe his post is a snark. It's alright, man. :)
March 14, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you!
And to think, I was worried that I went over the top with the snark...
Yeesh!
March 15, 2008 12:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your link to the fluff piece on Michele does not refute the charges in the NRO article. In fact it proves them. Her reported income is in between her previous 100+K salary and her newer 300+K salary. That is what happens when you get a giant raise during the tax year in question. They don't make it retroactive to January 1. You get paid tyhey higher salary going forward. DUH!
March 14, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I regret the snark and i assume the supposed raise is mid 2006. I do think these questions and more will bubble up. I hope the "skeletons in their closets" have all been revealed at least to their senior staff. I hope they develop better answers, and stop using the race thing of course it works but it is obvious it is comming from obama's camp. I listen to some of their conference calls. they need to develop more meat to his policies.
As a Hillary supporter, I still want Obama to survive the scrutiny. I do want there to be a strong black leader. and a Native American and an asian and an everyone. I live in the Bay area on purpose because it is a real possibility here for leaders to emerge from every community.
I just hope O's supporters can get off their ridiculous attack mode and see that joining forces is the best way forward. I don't want to see either Dem destroyed.
I want them to join up for November. I can live with Hillary getting another senior post. Majority leader or something but the more I see her the more I want her to win. The more I see the unfair and untrue attacks from supposed Democrats the more I want it to be her who wins. But I'm just talking about the top spot on the joint ticket!
March 14, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems I'm not the only one doing the analysis this way.
ron brownstein
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23636352/
March 14, 2008 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
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