RBO began on September 2, 2008, to explore the Friends of Barack Obama Illinois State campaign finance reports. On September 4, 2008, RBO followed up with the first set of records—7/1/1995 to 12/31/1995—including names, amounts, and some basic information about several of the 112 itemized individual contributions. This is essentially the time frame during which Obama launched his run for the Illinois State Senate.
Next, RBO examined campaign records for 1996. The 1/1/1996 to 6/30/1996 reports include only total amounts, no names. An interim report for 1/1/1996 to 2/18/1996, also shows only total amounts, no names.
A small list of individual itemized contributors (23) was provided for the next report period, 7/1/1996 to 12/31/1996. Of these contributors, two had been listed in the 1995 report: Barry McNamara, the Chicago Cadillac dealer, who contributed $300 in seed money 7/31/1995, and William Moorehead. On 9/4/1996, Moorehead contributed an additional $200.
Proceeding in chronological order, we now turn to 1997. First of all, we’d like to point out that a shift had already gradually begun in 1996, with a growing number of corporate political action committees contributing nearly equal amounts in campaign funds as those contributed by individuals. That trend continues in all subsequent campaign finance records. Those corporate PAC monies will be addressed later in a separate article.
1997 Time Table
- 1997 — It was reported that Obama’s work at the Miner Barnhill & Galland law firm “fell off sharply” after he was elected to the Illinois State Senate, although he continued to work summers at law firm.
- 1997 — Allison Davis left the Miner Barnhill & Galland law firm to become now-convicted political fixer Antoin “Tony” Rezko’s partner. Davis formed New Kenwood LLC to build a 7-story apartment building for senior citizens on a vacant stretch of land once owned by the City of Chicago. Nearly 2 acres was reportedly “tainted by lead, benzene and other toxic chemicals.”
- 1997 (January) — Obama received a $1,000 donation from Rezko Concessions on 1/13/1997 and a second $1000 donation from Rezmar Corp on 1/14/1997.
- 1997 (July) — Obama received a $1,500 Obama donation from Rezmar Corp. on 7/29/1997.
1997 Itemized Individual Contributions
The available Friends of Obama files for 1997 consist of 6 itemized individual contributions for 1/1/1997 to 6/30/1997, totaling $4175, and 64 itemized individual contributions for 7/1/1997 to 12/31/1997 totaling $23,300. Of these “individual” donors, several are businesses or corporations, which will be addressed later. A goodly number are individuals for whom general information has already been stated for 1995 or 1996. Only the dates and amounts of new contributions will be listed.
Our citizens may be deceived for awhile, and have been deceived; but as long as the presses can be protected, we may trust to them for light.--Thomas Jefferson.
