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For Immediate Release Erin Vansickle
June 10, 2008 (850) 339-3184
Statement by RPOF Chairman Jim Greer on Barack Obama
Tallahassee- Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer released the following statement today regarding Senator Barack Obama.
"Florida families are feeling the crunch, rising mortgage rates and higher fuel costs have slowed Florida's economy. It doesn't seem to be affecting Obama and his well connected Washington friends, who are able to get millions in backroom loans from Countrywide Mortgage and Angelo Mozilo. We can't afford that kind of hypocrisy, something we're seeing more and more out of the Obama campaign, but it’s no surprise considering Obama's sweetheart deal from convicted felon Antoin Rezko."
Top Campaign Adviser Jim Johnson Received Special Loans From Countrywide:
Jim Johnson, A Former CEO Of Fannie Mae Chosen To Lead Obama's Vice Presidential Search Committee, Received Special Loans From Countrywide Financial CEO Angelo Mozilo. "Countrywide Financial Corp. makes mortgage loans through a vast network of offices, brokers and call centers. But a few customers have gotten their loans a special way: through Countrywide Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo. These borrowers, known internally as 'friends of Angelo' or FoA, include two former CEOs of Fannie Mae, the biggest buyer of Countrywide's mortgages, say people familiar with the matter. One was James Johnson, a longtime Democratic Party power and an adviser to Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, who this past week was named to a panel that is vetting running-mate possibilities for the presumed nominee." (Glenn R. Simpson and James R. Hagerty, "Countrywide Friends Got Good Loans," The Wall Street
Journal, 6/7/08)
While CEO Of Fannie Mae, Johnson And Mozilo Worked Closely And Maintained A "Close Friendship." "From 1991 to 1998, Mr. Johnson served as CEO of the Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as Fannie Mae, which worked closely with Countrywide, one of the nation's leading lenders and loan servicing companies. In 1996, Mr. Johnson named Mr. Mozilo as chairman of Fannie Mae's national advisory council. A 1999 article in the American Banker said the two men had a 'close friendship.'" (Josh Gerstein, "Top Talent Scout For Obama Tied To Subprime Lender," The New York Sun, 6/9/08)
"Property Records Show Mr. Johnson Has Received More Than $7 Million In Loans From Countrywide Since 1998, The First Coming In The Waning Days Of His Fannie Mae Tenure." (Glenn R. Simpson and James R. Hagerty, "Countrywide Friends Got Good Loans," The Wall Street Journal, 6/7/08)
At Least Two Of The Mortgages Were At Rates "Below Market Averages." "The Journal said at least two of the mortgages, among a series of loans made available to people Countrywide officials called 'friends of Angelo,' were at rates below market averages, though it is difficult to predict a market rate without access to nonpublic information about a borrower's credit history and other factors that can reduce interest charges on a loan." (Josh Gerstein, "Top Talent Scout For Obama Tied To Subprime Lender," The New York Sun, 6/9/08)
NOTE: Johnson Is Also A Bundler For Obama's Presidential Campaign And Has Committed To Raising $100,000 To $200,000. (Obama For America Website, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 5/19/08)
FLASHBACK: Obama's Campaign Attacked Sen. Clinton's Campaign For Its Countrywide Ties:
Obama Senior Campaign Strategist David Axelrod Criticized Sen. Clinton For Employing Mark Penn, Whose Firm Once Represented Countrywide. MSNBC's Keith Olbermann: "Senator Clinton not stopping to hear a reporter's question about Mark Penn, let alone answer it, leading Penn's counterpart in the Obama campaign to fill in the vacuum about Penn's non-departure departure this morning on MSNBC." David Axelrod: "She's stuck him with him through the revelation that his firm was working fro Blackwater and working for Countrywide, and, you know, so, it`s kind of stunning. Remember that the embassy said they weren't sure whether he was there as a representative of his firm or a representative of Senator Clinton. I mean, I think there are issues associated with this. I'm not - you can use the word hypocrisy, but there are certainly questions that arise from this." (MSNBC's "Countdown,"
4/7/08)
Axelrod: "Penn's Business Dealings Have Always Been An Issue." "Last week, she turned her fire on a huge proposed pay-out to the founder of Countrywide Financial, the mortgage company at the centre of the storm. Yet two months ago, Countrywide turned for temporary help with its tattered image to the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, whose president is Mr Penn. ... Mrs Clinton's criticism of lenders also raised fresh questions over the role of Mr Penn. Mr Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, said: 'Penn's business dealings have always been an issue. The Clinton campaign is clearly not too worried who its chief strat-egist does business with.' Burson-Marstell er said it was no longer working with Countrywide and that Mr Penn did not have a hands-on role with many of its 2,000 clients." (Philip Sherwell, "Clintons' Pain And Gain In Housing Crisis," The Sunday
Telegraph, 1/20/08)
The Obama Campaign Criticized Sen. Clinton For Accepting Contributions From Representatives Of Countrywide. "Obama aides also said Clinton is in no position to stiffen oversight after taking contributions from mortgage industry lobbyists, including funds from representatives of Countrywide, which has been at the center of the mortgage meltdown. 'If we're really going to crack down on the practices that caused the credit and housing crises, we're going to need a leader who doesn't owe these industries any favors,' campaign manager David Plouffe said." (Anne E. Kornblut, "Clinton Unveils Plan To Ease Housing Crisis," The Washington Post, 3/25/08)
But Now The Obama Campaign Says Reports of Their Hypocrisy Are “Overblown and Irrelevant”:
“This story is overblown and irrelevant.” (Obama Camp Talking Points On Jim Johnson And Countrywide, The Page, 6/9/08)
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