Is Alexi Giannoulias a Model Illinois Senate Nominee?

Some perspicacious voters deem it hypocritical that Illinois senate nominee, Alexi Giannoulias' campaign is casting stones at opponent, Mark Kirk for embellishing a few war stories. After all, does Mr. Giannoulias have a glowing track record; a wealth of experience; or, is he another politician saying what's necessary to earn the votes?

Around Chicago--as well as the state of Illinois, the depth of corruption is beginning to slowly culminate into more than a series of coincidental conspiracy theories or false allegations concocted by the Republican party. Egoistic pursuits that have been pervading Chicago politics as well as Illinois, demonstrate why the state is mired in $13 billion worth of debt. As it would be unfair to hypothesize Mr. Giannoulias' intentions, the proceeding roster presents different incidences, which are extraordinarily coincidental; or perhaps indicative of Chicago politics at work.

Between 1997 and 2002, sources from Hot Wire report that Mr. Obama's townhome was financed by the Broadway Bank.

From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Giannoulias was the vice president and chief loan officer for his family's business, Broadway Bank.

In 2006, before Giannoulias had any prior experience in politics or civil service, Barack Obama endorsed the bank executive's run for treasurer of Illinois.

During Mr. Giannoulias tenure at the family owned bank, organized crime businessmen: Michael Giorango and Demitri Stavropoulos secured some $27 million in 'loans' from the Broadway Bank. Both were later imprisoned for running national prostitution and bookmaking rings.

Tony Rezko, a mutual acquaintance of Mr Giannoulias and Mr. Obama, who has been charged with political fundraising corruption for Mr. Obama and Rod Blajogevich, had a $22.75 million loan from Broadway Bank for his business in 2006. This is the same year that Mr. Giannoulias held a stake in ownership of the bank. Mr. Rezko reports from a cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago- "the Broadway Bank is "politically connected. " (Source: http://hillbuzz.org/2008/10/10/urgent-big-story-about-to-break-we-are-one-step-closer-to-rezko-giving-obama-up-to-federal-prosecutors/)

Despite the now bankrupt Broadway Bank, Giannoulias gained access to Chicago's political inner circle when he played pickup basketball games with Michelle Obama's brother, Craig; hedge fund manager, John Rogers; Arne Duncan and Mr. Obama. (It's no wonder that the president and vice president have taken an active Involvement in Mr. Giannoulias' campaign).

According to Michelle Malkin, author of Culture of Curruption" Obama and His Team of Tax Crooks & Cronies, the cost of the Giannoulias failed bank cost taxpayers an approximate $390 million.

On the contrary, Mr. Giannoulias' supporters perceive his contribution of $7,000 for Mr. Obama's bid for Illinois senate in 2003-2004, coupled with his hospitable fundraising event for Mr. Obama's U.S. Senate campaign in 2004 and presidential campaign in 2007--as evidence of the nominee's expertise as a viable candidate as senator for Illinois.

And despite Mr. Giannoulias' agenda to raise state taxes to plug the financial shortfall, reports show that the democratic nominee, who has a net worth ranging between $7 and $29.3 million, and earned $135,669 last year as treasurer, filed a for a tax refund of more than $25,000 income-allegedly to donate to charity.

Meanwhile, it appears that loaning money to the right people, playing basketball with America's policy-makers and exposing an opponent's exaggerated military achievements are all the qualifications one needs to be a model Illinois senate nominee. Besides, that's business, Chicago politics style.

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Sources:

Michael Sneed, HillBuzz: http://hillbuzz.org/2008/10/10/urgent-big-story-about-to-break-we-are-one-step-closer-to-rezko-giving-obama-up-to-federal-prosecutors/

The Chicago Sun Times http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/2555870,CST-NWS-watchdogs02.article