Obama and the RNC on Rezko

Barack Obama and the RNC have each released statements on today's conviction of Antoin 'Tony' Rezko by a Chicago jury.

The RNC pulled no punches:

"On the day Barack Obama hoped to unite his party after wheezing over the finish line and claiming the Democrat nomination, a jury in his hometown of Chicago convicted his longtime friend and fundraiser Tony Rezko of multiple felonies. This is further proof that Obama's high-flying rhetoric is just that and in no way represents the kind of change our nation demands. Today's verdict and Obama's friendship with Rezko raise serious questions about whether he has the judgment to serve as president."

Senator Obama's remarks recall similar statements he's made recently about certain other figures in his life, saying this is not the man he knew:

"I'm saddened by today's verdict. This isn't the Tony Rezko I knew, but now he has been convicted by a jury on multiple charges that once again shine a spotlight on the need for reform. I encourage the General Assembly to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent these kinds of abuses in the future." - Senator Barack Obama

Senator Obama does seem to have trouble with people he knows not being the people he knew. Breakdown of the counts against Rezko, and what it has to do with Senator Obama, after the jump.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, the individual counts were decided as follows:

Rezko's trial is a public window into a side of Illinois and Chicago politics that has been long lamented but often avoids the light-of-day treatment. He has a history of campaign contributions among both Democrats and Republicans; his two most prominent friends, of course, being Governor Blagojevich and Senator Obama. Blagojevich especially can expect to suffer the fallout of the conviction, having been deeply involved with the crook.

Senator Obama has admitted to receiving about 250 grand in campaign contributions from Rezko throughout his political career. As I mentioned earlier today, the two were also involved in a land swap deal which has been characterized as shady by some, and as boneheaded by Senator Obama.

The pertinence of the trial to the campaign is obvious, although it remains to be seen if the Senator will suffer any fallout among voters. While it should be perfectly clear, and frequently reiterated, that Senator Obama has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the case, it should be equally clear that his involvement with yet another controversial figure is a direct reflection on his judgment.

After all, during their long friendship, Senator Obama somehow failed to notice the dark side of this prominent figure in his life. In an interview earlier this year, Senator Obama said, "I've known him for a long time. I assumed I would have seen a pattern [of corrupt behavior] over the past 15 years." According to Stephen Spruiell of National Review, prior to the land deal there were hundreds of Chicago newspaper articles about the "clouds gathering" over Rezko's head. Perhaps the Senator was busy not reading newspapers on the same days he was not in attendance at Trinity?

Senator Obama said today that this is not the Tony Rezko he knew. The current Reverend Wright is also not the Wright he knew. On the other hand, Bill Ayers of Weather Underground is currently the man Obama knew, but the old bomber Ayers, well that's not the Bil Obama knew. My question is, does Senator Obama have trouble judging character, or does he simply have an uncanny knack for choosing Jekyll-Hyde friends?