In yesterday’s post on Obama and Rezko, some questions were raised about this firm and why he picked Miner, Barnhill and Galland over a “white shoe” outfit. Let’s take a look.
One of the appeals was surely the firm’s role in Chicago politics. As the Boston Globe noted:
Miner was Chicago’s corporation counsel under Harold Washington, the city’s first black mayor, in the 1980s when Washington was battling for control of the City Council against remnants of the once-mighty Machine.
Along with that political heritage, the firm itself specialized in areas of law that may have caught Obama’s interest:
"It’s a real do-good firm," says Fay Clayton, lead counsel for the National Organization for Women in a landmark lawsuit aimed at stopping abortion clinic violence.
Examples of the “do-good” activities of the firm can be seen in the list of practice areas on their website along with highlights of the cases they have been involved in but here’s an overview. There are twelve areas of specialization, one of which is the already mentioned “Real Estate/Housing Development/Non-Profits” which has three attorneys of the current 14 on staff assigned to it.
Miner is perhaps best known for their work in Civil Rights and Voting Rights, including the "Motor Voter" suit against the state that Obama initiated on behalf of ACORN — and they are currently challenging strip-searches performed by Customs agents at O’Hare Airport. Their commercial litigation team was “one of the lead plaintiffs’ firms” against Michael Milken and Drexel Burnham.
They represent workers “challenging attempts by employers to reduce or eliminate employee benefits” and they represent migrant farm workers and packinghouse employees in California with some significant class action wins to their credit. Miner also works for ACORN on class action lawsuits challenging predatory lending practices, represents whistleblowers, and one partner serves as a "Neutral" to “oversee compliance with consent decrees entered as a result of settlements of three of the largest pattern-and-practice sexual harassment cases ever brought.”
The three other areas where they work are Health Law, Personal Injury and Malpractice and Antitrust law.
Looking over the work Miner has done over the years, I almost wish I had gone to law school! For firepups who want to delve deeper into Obama’s time at Miner, the Chicago SunTimes did a detailed profile of his legal career in an article last year – and if you have uncovered any other information on the firm and Obama’s legal career, please share the links with everyone.
Related posts:
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
1?
hi siun
*no dive tonight*
strapping in with 5 pt harness and making sure my nomex/kevlar lined modsuit is still within its warranty period
Thanks, Christina. It’s great that folks are taking the time to look into this issue in a fair way now so there won’t be surprises later on.
Cool picture of Barry!
Siun, thank you for this great post.
*waving to Suz and lol-ing*
Can’t be too prepared, eh? Bonne Soir, Ma Cheri!
Magic Pie Chart!
Colors and all.
Thank you Jane for giving us a place to dig in!
Nice post, Siun! This is good information to have.
speaking of digg…
(I’m afraid to watch, Suzanne!)
These are the people for which that one diary at dKos is flaming everyone here?
(BTW, there appeared to be an immigration raid going on this evening at a warehouse across the street from Busch Van Nuys. Guys in black tees labelled ’Homeland Security’, traffic control all over – glad I was on the passing train: people just driving by were going to be late because of the mess. I feel sorry for those they undoubtedly are deporting for not having Complete Up-to-Date Papers on their person. I wonder when they’ll extend that to the rest of us.)
I’m trying to submit it now — have never been successful at submitting before, only “digging”
Thanks Prof … it seemed important to look at what they really do – and I was mighty impressed. The cases listed on their web site are quite a selection of good actions – a lot of big class actions on sex discrimination and such.
PJ..I wonder if it was another ‘Falcon’ raid. I’m expecting to see a lot of minority members jailed before the November election. I mean, really, there’s only so many that can be purged without it becoming obvious.
Many thanks to you Siun. I really appreciate your post.
This is BS…!
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..829/451754
These are the people for which that one diary at dKos is flaming everyone here?
No, that diary properly criticized yesterday’s FDL article, which while making some good points very unfairly left out the details about this law firm.
B-b-but…The dive is why I stay up this late.
G’night.
Thanks for this post. Good information here. I hope FDL continues to offer free and open, and fair, discussion of both candidates. Providing sources of info, background and context is important for upcoming battle in the general election, no matter which candidate is nominated, and this post is a great example of that.
Of course, I am a big fan of LDP too, so, both pieces were useful. But this one provides more background and context, and I think should that element of it should be a model for FDL.
Thanks Martha … I knew their rep here was not bad but wanted to take a closer look. I’ve searched every reference I could find – and would love any I didn’t (I did have to actually work today too! ;->
I don’t come here for the splash.
I come here for the heart.
There was also a massive sweep of purported mob figures today.
I get the feeling that this is the beginning of the largescale arrests.
The Feds have a lot of nice new tools in their dictators toolbox that they can start using against the hoi polloi.
-G
Siun, I appreciate your work and research and the opporunity to review all possible info pertinent to both of the Dem candidates.
Regarding the Miner firm: how can one know how representative the cases Miner chose to highlight on their websie may be of the firm’s total volume of work?
Is there a way to search legal records/court records in Chicago/environs for ALL filings/motions (whatever the legal words may be) – all of the Miner attorneys direct appearances/ written submissions in legal proceedings?
Or – in all seriousness – given the relevance to Barack’s campaign and questions reaised by his association with Rezko – would Miner make their record of billable hours public? (if that’s OK with legal ethics, that is?).
Otherwise…how can one be certain that the worrk Miner chose to highlight on their own website is actaully representative of the scope of the firm’s activities?
uh, have you really thought that comment through CT? Cause really, it’s sorta borderline offensive.
edit- CTuttle @5, not @7
Obama as Harold and the GOP as the Vrdolyak 29, Trent Lott can be Fast Eddie V, and Bush can be slow Eddie B, ust like the old Tribune cartoons.
I was referring to the DKOS diary, Ma’am!
I read that. The Gambino family, a lot of others. Interesting times we live in, no?
sorry ust should bu just
The whole Rezco thing needs to be analyzed. Let’s not freak out before the facts are clear. Has anyone here seen LHP screw up? I haven’t.
Yeah. looks like a pretty impressive employment/civil rights/labor law practice. Not topo shabby. Not that I’d know, but I don’t tinbk everybody who graduates from top law schools (even law review types) go on to white shoe firms.
I’m stayin’ outta this.
Good.
vg, i thought barry was a nickname for barack – is it not? is there some other negative use of the word barry?
wise man.
I sided with LHP in the thread, altho, I didn’t agree with all that was written, but, I wouldn’t call it swift boating by any stretch of the imagination…
Barack used Barry when he was in school
Me neither. I love his stuff. But the DKos reply was good, too. No? I’ll let those who know more about it hash it out and thenI’ll try to figure it out. My guess is no legs here.
Kirk … The Chicago Tribune got permission to review all court appearances, filings and I believe also examined billing records.
This firm is not sleazy – take a look on their site at who they work with and for. They do list for each practice the names of the key attorney’s who handle that practice area and the development section has three listed who also work in other areas. The primary focus and the main activities of the partners are in areas like worker’s rights class action suits.
Actually he referred to himself as Barry while he was attending Punahou School, the same one Michelle Wie attended…
((Loo Hoo))
Heart!
(This isn’t kindergarten.)
That’s a fun fact. Thanks!
Okay, CT and Suz- I stand corrected, and rightly so. My bad, and my ignorance, and my leaping to the wrong conclusion. My apologies!
(exhaling) thank you
Otherwise…how can one be certain that the worrk Miner chose to highlight on their own website is actaully representative of the scope of the firm’s activities?
One of the points made in the (IMHO very poor) FDL article yesterday was the implication that there was no good reason for Obama to go to that law firm *other* than ties to Rezko. But even if the list on their website is partial, it gives a commonsense reason why.
So now turning it around as you do here is missing the point. And unfair. Does someone have to prove to you that the law firm’s work was 100% wholly altruistic? What happened to assumed innocence?
Even if that list is partial, it destroys one of the implications from yesterday’s article.
Julie Myers loves some blackface.
Another case of a Whitehouse legacy hire who was dishonest during her confirmation hearings.
-G
P.S. The US embassy in the UK has denied Amy Winehouse a visa…no, no, no.
(Personal to Suz, still waiting for the Digg submit — all I have in another tab is “we’re digging through your submission, thanks for waiting…)
I’m impressed by it.
Work? You too? It just gets in the way…
The more global issue that crystalized in my little brain last night was this: are we who work in the corporate world responsible/culpable if people we worked with or for become crooks? If we weren’t in politics, I think the answer would be “are you daft”? But, both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have situations that have (and will) follow them and be used against them, rightly or wrongly. But it’s really about context for both of them. To me we have to be very careful about throwing stones–on both sides–in relation to this question.
No harm done, VG! *g*
let me see what i can do LL
Given that “white shoe” firms are for the privileged, not for community oriented work or regular folks, I don’t see why his having chosen to work at a civil rights firm is presented as a negative …
it’s mighty puzzling to me since the firm is doing precisely the work we wish more lawyers did … and they win their cases.
Thanks Siun, this needed saying. FWIW, Judson Miner was a founder or the founder and first President of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, the “more progressive” bar association.
Do we have any evidence that Obama took cash to do something illegal? Is Fitz gunning for Obama or is this hopeful spin from the GOP and or Hilary?
Modo has always hinted at something I bet she is gossiping again with the Right. I wonder what the latest GOP gossip smear about Obama is, I stopped paying attention after the madrassa story.
Although Modo gushing about Obama in a swimsuit was funny.
Thanks Siun
I didnt know much about his law experience.
He didnt go for the money
tis dugg LL
Ooh, TRex will be distraught… ;-)
what he said.
i wanna hear further from LHP on this. But i don’t know that “sleazy” was the best word to describe the firm. I don’t think you need to read every single filing made by a firm to be able to tell whether it is or isn’t sleazy.
CT- thanks for understanding! I guess I am a little overwrought. At this rate, I wonder if I’ll manage to remain sane until Nov. Or relatively sane. I’ll try not to hyperventilate too often in public.
Suz, thank you! Don’t know why I never seem to be able to submit…but I definitely dugg this one.
So good. Thanks, Martha.
Deep, slow breaths and avoid snowbanks.
-G
Please forgive the o/t and my jumping in without reading the thread but…..
Has anyone heard from Marion to know if she’s OK following the sugar refinery fire in Savannah?
That’s easy for you to say. We got 13.3 inches of that horrible stuff yesterday (73 for the season, closing in on the all time record of 76.something) and more to come this weekend. GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!
If Obabma winds up in an indictment or is caled before a GJ, I’ll be shocked. I’ll bet everything I made on the Giants that’s just not happenin’. i don’t think there will ever be a there here. Go away Rezko story. Shoo.
From what I’ve read, in the practice of law, Obama was neither distinguished nor undistinguished. He was not a courtroom lawyer – but that part of practice is actually very small – and overrated. We don’t know what his legal work was like, but can imagine that it was highly competent. It doesn’t look, however, that he ever ran a large or complex case by himself – but this is not to say that he couldn’t.
It’s very obvious that Obama can write and deliver an excellent and inspiring speech. In addition, he’s enormously intelligent and seems to have a good and strong character. Nevertheless, I’m bothered by doubts about Obama’s abilities and experience as an executive in charge of thousands of people charged with solving the enormous problems of the country.
Waccamaw, I had contact with her on Facebook during the day today, can’t recall the exact time though — iirc it was during the afternoon.
Rezko will be an attack point
Be certain of it
As Ms Clinton said – Obama has not been vetted in the way she has
Here’s the opportunity to have it done by intelligent, thinking individuals, on the basis of facts, not half formed allegations.
Another rebuttal point to last nights article:
Real estate developers are not angels, and outside of Bethel New Life, all low income housing in Chicago is for profit.
There was and is a huge need for low and mixed income housing following the collossal failure of high rise public housing.
All the displaced people from the Robert Taylor Homes and Cabrini-Green need a place to live.
So, when we bandy terms like slumloard around, we should be cognizent of the entire context.
where you at?
recovering … glad you are! I didn’t know that about Miner … great added information.
And Things:
All the investigations done in the press here – and both papers have been gunning for a hot story on Obama – mention that there is no scent of his having gotten “cash to do something illegal”. In fact, a story at CNN describing the Poker games mentioned that the pots were rarely even $!00 and that even though Obama played with folks from ATT, he loudly opposed their legislation, same for another lobbyist – and he also opposed Rezko’s push for a change in a gambling regulation – not just by voting against it but by speaking strongly against it.
Thank you Suin. I think that LHP’s post was is as very similar ro Elizabeth Edwards condemning Move On in many ways. It was at best a biased piece that will feed a right wing attack machine. I hope your clarification will get highlighted at peak traffic times like the i heard it on a conference call with Howard WOlfoson piece that went up yesterday. It is only fair.
I don’t buy the premise that postings like LHP’s somehow provide useful anticipation of future GOP smear campaigns. Instead, it’s clearly a partisan attack on one of our two fine candidates, and represents the politics of innuendo, attack-from-weakness, and “anything goes”.
First, the fact that Miner, Barnhill and Galland is a creditable, virtuous firm isn’t exactly unknown. The Obama camp and the DNC are both aware of this and would have no trouble mounting a defense of Obama’s resume in a general election campaign. So what’s the advantage of parrying such an attack during a primary? Does such an assault on Sen. Obama’s integrity somehow immunize him from GOP Swiftboating?
Second, Sen. Clinton certainly has her own issues with donors and political contacts. (Yes, I’m not happy linking to TNR, but the article did bring up some very bad memories, such as Marc Rich.) Her attack from weakness on Sen. Obama’s relationship with Rezko was right out of the Rove playbook. (Attack the decorated war veteran with accusations of grandstanding and cowardice.) That’s what Mark Penn — and $4.8 million — will get you: a Karl Rove knockoff campaign.
Third, if such attack postings are legit, where’s the balance? . Where are postings on Clinton’s relationship with Norman Hsu? Marc Rich? That’s right — you can find those on RedState and Malkin’s site! I’m quite happy not to see such crap anywhere, but I’ve seen plenty of Rezko stories at certain “Democrat friendly” sites (here, MyDD, TaylorMarsh). When Obama supporters talk of “change” or a “new type of politics”, perhaps they’re reacting to the scarcity of personal attacks by the Obama campaign and supporters.
Just my $0.02. And big kudos to you, Siun, for a simple refutation of at least one of the noisome points in LHP’s posting.
Madison, WI, liberal bastion surrounding by reality yadda yadda. But proud constituent of Senator Feingold.
Thank you Assistant!
Somehow I doubt Wolfson will be quoting me!
Snowbird42, I’m so happy to see you here. I always love your thoughts, and I was worried when you said you might not contribute. HOLD ON!
VG…wanna share my new theme song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related
check your Facebook…with everything going on here in the past several threads I haven;t had a chance to message you. But I promise to do that in a few…for sure…
I’ve mostly been lurking on those threads, …*g* BTW.
DEMI!!!!
Just … here’s a description that was in the articles cited:
Obama sued on behalf of ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. The League of Women Voters and other public-interest groups joined in.
Obama did not speak in court –Maria Valdez of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the U.S. Justice Department joined the case and apparently did the heavy lifting in court. As Miner notes: “Barack was a young kid when he came here,” Miner said. “Senior lawyers are not going to be very deferential to Barack. He was not ‘THE Barack Obama’ yet.” Obama was 32 in 1993, having entered law school at 27.
But when the litigants met to design their strategy in the face of an appeal to their win:
Waccamaw, update — my contact with Marion was at 6 PM today. Not sure when that sugar refinery incident was going on, but I’m sure she’s okay.
Ditto.
I am not worried about that:)
(((hug)))
And many more days like this to come, I suspect. Stiff upper lip, guys.
somehow I knew that!
grinning here
All of this innuendo on FDL sounds like Hillary oppo research.
Here in Chicago, the Miner law firm has an excellent reputation for civil rights and public interest law. For many years, Rezko also had an excellent reputation. Rezko supported many candidates, not just Obama. Furthermore, there has been no allegation of wrongdoing by Obama. Accepting campaign contributions from a developer does not make Obama guilty of anything.
The weekly poker games between members of the Illinois House were nothing but entertainment. There were no lobbyists, no Jack Abramoff. There was absolutely no scandal whatsoever about those poker games. Obama was well liked by both Democrats and Republicans. One of his poker playing partners, Republican Kirk Dillard, who also has an excellent reputation, made a campaign commercial for Obama.
What we have here is not much. If it was a contest between questionable dealings by Obama and questionable dealings by the Clintons, guess who would win that race?
Thanks, LL – & @ 80 -
Not sure what time it occurred but sounds like a goodly number of injuries if initial reports are true.
Ooh that was cold, GSD…!
I just have the feeling the story is gonna fizzle out. We’ll see. Ity’s so much different, though when things are now focused on just a few candidates. No more talk about Rudy’s stupid strategy and all the rest. So, we’ll see soon enough if this amounts to anything. Obama knows te truth and I think he’s smart enough to know the worst thing he can do is let something come out in dribs and drabs. I’d like to think that if there was anything at all to Rezko, Obabma would have addressed it and put it behind him.
Thanks
Im happy to read this post and it makes me prouder of Obama.
He surely will gather the best and the brightest to save our country.
Ill be around although I hate to have us fight our own.
So, I decided to get a bit hostile and call Nancy Pelosi a war criminal over at Dkos: http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..137/452438
Martha … I think the question for all of us of where we are and are not responsible is very interesting which is one of the reasons I work in the field of “corporate responsibility.”
So much depends on your role and power within a corporation – but I believe we all have a responsibility to speak up when we know something is wrong.
Then perhaps we call the Miner lawfirm since they represent “whistleblowers” as a specialty!
I would recommend reading this article in Slate before forming any hard and fast conclusions about Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland.
http://fray.slate.com/discuss/…..57803.aspx
Tominator – there were lobbyists at the poker games (I should note that I’ve been around state gov in two other states and there are always poker games) but all sources note that Obama voted against and spoke against those same lobbyists even while playing poker with them.
Good night all. Thank you Siun, and thank you Suz for the Digg assistance :-)
One quick point for anyone who thinks either Dem candidate is to far beneath their standards to vote for:
Do you want John McCain to name the next youngster on the Supreme Court?
I didn’t think so.
BLOG WHORE ALERT !!!!!
Four new posts today at Tex Betsy’s Blog
Now I will get back on topic. Or off topic.
Effing-A!
sleep well LL
I definitely agree with you here, pace my comments in previous threads. Somehow I still think that dKos diary definitely needs to be engaged because it’s out there in viral-land, and spreading fast…
Thanks Siun. Interesting.
I don’t think Obama can be faulted for assuming the background role that almost every new lawyer assumes. It makes a lot of sense and it’s the right thing to do. Experience is enormously important in providing the best representation.
I also think that Obama can be credited for having his heart in the right place – apparently choosing to be part of a firm where he could pursue justice for causes in which he believed – and for his passion in pursuing a just result.
Thanks for sharing your views. I’ll continue to define for myself the information I require to reach what I beleive is a fair assessment.
Thanks also for the neat rhetorical trick of accusing onoe’s opponent of the behavior one evinces – it was a deft attempt at turning, but it failed.
So glad I spent my life learning about the natrual sciences , rather than playing on debate teams.
With ambitous pols, I never assume innocence; I look for data – all available data – and review it.
Thanks also for the strawman aboout “proving the law firm’s work is 100% altruistic”. (Neither posited nor sought in my question – the 100% altuistic firms aren’t private.) Another deft rhetorical trick – if a rather tired and transparent one.
Vehement attmept to spin off my questions, rather than answer them – increase my index of curiosity – thanks for the tell. If you play poker, hoipe it’s not for big sums.
But now I’m even more curious abut the full scope of Miner’s work.
BTW Read today that McCain finished 894 out of 899 at the Naval Academy. I will say nothing else.
Biodun … I find it best to let kossacks handle their own posts.
Is that, like, a C-?
obama has a property issue concerning rezko.
That’s was what he was called when he was a kid in the US and I think Indonesia…
Re: Slate Article
Sun Times = Conrad Black
Siun, please correct me if I’m wrong, but did the CT review the totalility of Miner’s cases/work, or did they only look at the cases Barack Obama was directly involved in? I honestly thought it was the latter…
Don’t know, but it surely isn’t Rhodes material.
Thank you Siun
nite all
Well put, my friend. I wasn’t talking about your post at all…*g* Of course you can’t engage the dKos diary that attacked the FDL post since you didn’t write the, er, em, underlying post in the first place.
Conyers Says He’s on Edge of Starting Impeachment
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/30858
This just came as an e-mail
The Slate article was from April! By now it surely has been checked and Obama found guilty.
I think the adjective “sleazy” in LHP’s post last night was what gives a legitimate hook to the DKos poster saying it was below the belt attack. Also, why BO might have joined the firm and the “indirect” hire.
I commented yesterday that the facts seemed suspicious. I’ll be more specific, the house situation seemed suspicious.
Very little of that article pertains to the Firm, mainly it covered the Rezko and WPIC issues…
It’s hard to know shit from shinola these days…..
*waving g’nite to the leaving sleepy pups*
night mack
good night all
Look. I gotta run. This bein’ on my best behavior stuff makes me tired. Or maybe it’s bored. I dunno.
But good night.
Read it. What’s your point? Nothing in that article suggests that the law firm was “sleazy”.
sleep well snowbird and bfl
Hey RobZuber…… You still ’round?
Kirk … look at their cases.
They were not Rezko’s firm – they represented a large number of Chicago nonprofits. There’s quite a list on their site in the section on their development practice.
Is any law firm 100% pure? probably not … and lawyers do represent people who are not. Does that make the firm “sleazy”? And should we be encouraging bright young attorneys to only go to “white shoe” firms? Those are the folks we fight against.
I don’t know about you, but I sure couldn’t prove I was clean if someone decided to attack me. I could point to what I do … and hope that evidence would have some meaning.
Twain! Alas, you are so correct!
And, of course, RBG, thanks for that YouTube link, and for all of the incredibly long hours you and the rest of the backstage crew put in. Like, omg! What a theme song. Too, too true.
Sorry NOT (edit) to have replied sooner- I was off trying to figure out if this is a full moon night. No info yet… ;)
Thanks. I will.
milwaukee here. are you still communing with satan over there? did you make it through the storm yesterday?
Conrad Black’s paper and the Trib both did a ton of writing on Obama – and that link goes to an article from a year ago. More recently, the Trib (not known as a progressive paper) did an intensive investigation into Rezko and Obama and printed a full report. They found nothing except some questions about the land deal which they felt was not significant enough to deny him their endorsement.
Good night Suzanne
g’nite Tithonia – ya’ll come back here soon now, ya hear :)
click {lights out}
Hey Y’all. I’m trying to start an impeachment riot over at Dkos and would appreciate some help: http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..137/452438
It looks like Conyers is right on the edge of defying Pelosi: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/30858
Now where did I put those tea bags? Must be ready for the revolution.
Siun, I’m asking for the data which allows one to determine how close (or far) from 100% pure the firm is. (And I’m not suggesting that you be the one to provide it.
The firm obviously chose what subset of cases to put on their website. Surgeons would love to be assessed on a subset of their cases (and try mightily to do just that) – but it’s the total track record that allows a full assessment.
I’m still not clear on whether the newspaper reviewd all of the firm’s cases (and if so, over what period of time) or only the subset on which Obama worked.
Hi, firepups. Just got back from Drinking Liberally. What a great group. I went to the Portland chapter’s meeting, and they were sooooo jealous that I get to go to the WA caucus on Sat. :D
About this Obama-Rezko stuff, it’s not clear to me that Obama did anything to help Rezko. The guy has legal problems, with good reason it appears. I haven’t seen that Rezko got anything of value from Obama, so at this point, I’m not concerned.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/4/195224/5138
I took all the teabags. Sorry. Texteen’s under the weather.
More? Give it up.
would it be possible in the future to include a short description of what the link goes to or is about. helps folks when deciding what to click on
thanks
Just what America needs, another belligerent legacy underachiever.
-G
Kirk … I know of no one who has reviewed every case of the firm. I’m also not quite sure what that would prove. They did review all of Obama’s work for the firm and all cases he was involved with.
Of course, we all put our best references on our company sites … but the cases they reference are often not ones that a “sleazy” firm would take on – nor would they be likely to be asked to represent if they were “sleazy.”
From the Boston Globe link:
WHAT does that mean?
wigwam, I’d be happy to help….
but the Big Orange pulled my commenting access a while back.
As I recall, it was when I was slamming a (then) leading Dem light…Peolsi.
[I think I prefer the political sites run by folks who don’t make any money or career moves in Democratic party plitics/consulting]
I do wish you luck there – wish I coold help out!
I think you are missing the point. The insinuation was that there must have been a nefarious reason for Obama to pick that firm. Even if there are less than perfect cases in its files, the point is that its reputation seems to be good. MANY of its attorneys come from the best universities and law schools (browse the resumes). So do all the Ivy Leaguers have bad motivations to work there? The simple answer is that it must have a rather good reputation, justified or not. Obvious answer to why a Harvard graduate would choose the firm.
Hi Kirk. Thanks. In that case, in a few minutes, I may have my commenting privileges revoked as well. Damn, I’m so fed up with Pelosi and Reid and the rest of that crew.
BTW, liked you analysis of Obama v. Hillary on environment issues.
Hoofah…do you remember writing this upthread:
“BTW Read today that McCain finished 894 out of 899 at the Naval Academy. I will say nothing else.”
-G
Absolutely not.
Siun, I so appreciate your patience with my question. As the topic under discussion in the post and thread is the presence of absence of sleaziness in Miner as a firm (not merely Obama’s actions there), I’d view the full scope of the firm’s activities (and acitons of partners within the firm) as pertinent to assessing the absence or presence (and if the latter, the prevalence thereof) of sleazy behavior in the firm’s principals and associates.
Again, I appreciate your work with this “hot-button” topic and your patience wwith my questions about the scope of data available for review.
What does “100% pure” mean when it comes to a law firm? The majority of cases litigated have two sides – and each side is entitled to be represented. That’s how our legal system works. Unfortunately,, economic inequities mean that some fights are unfairly skewed.
But a lawyer is entrusted with the zealous representation of a client, within the bounds of honesty and high ethical standards. In my mind, a lawyer who fulfills that very difficult duty is deserving of respect.
“Purity,” on the other hand, is a spiritual aspiration.
Q: What do you call the person who finished last in his med school class?
A: Doctor
That seems like a week ago. Couldn’t figure out what you were talking about. And I agree with your comment.
There is an aspect of this discussion that puzzles me. The allegation is made that Obama worked for a “sleazy” law firm that represented “slumlords.” The merits of that allegation are clearly debatable. But when I was in law school, I was taught that one of the canons of professional responsibility (i.e. “legal ethics”) is that every person is entitled to competent legal representation, and it is a lawyer’s duty to help ensure that they receive it.
Lawyers represent people who need legal representation. Those people are often not model citizens. Does the fact that a lawyer represents a client who some say is “sleazy” or a “slumlord”–or even who later becomes the subject of a legal investigation for matters that may have nothing to do with the subject of the prior representation–make that lawyer “sleazy?”
Are criminal defense attorneys guilty of the crimes their clients may have committed? Can a lawyer who may have represented a client who, it turns out, broke the law, never run for public office because that representation makes him or her “sleazy”?
If that were the case, our legal system would have a hard time functioning. No lawyer would want to represent defendants in criminal cases, or defendants who were associated with any form of “sleazy” conduct.
The law firm Obama worked for represented a guy named Rezko who, it is now alleged, was a “slumlord.” That representation allegedly makes the law firm “sleazy?” Obama worked five hours on that case. That allegedly makes Obama “sleazy?” What a bunch of baloney.
I respect looseheadprop for what I have read of (her?) here. But I think this is an aspect of Obama’s Rezko situation that (she?) has not properly considered. Or, at least, that (her?) post did not demonstrate (she?)had properly considered. Senator Clinton, who raised the issue in a debate, should also (and undoubtedly does) know better. Everyone is entitled to legal representation. That means someone–some attorney–needs to represent them. That is how the system works.
thanks sailor.
Beats me. I took the 100% from a response upthread to my question.
RE: Rezko sounds like opposition research. Just arrived to find things at sixs and sevens here and in a diary on dkos. I do not want to add fuel to the fire, but rather to check the veracity of a statement that is On Topic on this topic.
In the comments on a diary at Dkos of about a week ago debunking the REzko myths (by someone who was writing a book on BO), one of the commenters claimed, and I paraphrase, that the arguments being made against BO first appeared during his Senate campaign and the opposition researcher who put them together now works for the Clinton campaign. The person was named.
My effort to retrieve the comment went nowhere, or more accurately, everywhere. There is so much stuff on Kos alone.
I wonder if anyone in another time zone where it is not 12:30am and with better googling skills can retrieve this so it can be verified and calmly discussed.
I’ll check back in the morning–the sun is up morning, not this one.
I love it when this place just sits and catches it’s breath.
Nice work, pups.
newton, ya think it is safe enough for me to unstrap and dive in?
I’ve never had my comenting access pulled anywhere.
Go forth, Suz. I need a dip, too.
Nodding … not a lawyer but that’s my understanding as well.
In addition, it’s important to note the Obama and Miner did not represent Rezko in those developments, they represented the nonprofits involved in the developments.
Boing boooooiiiing back dive, half twist, straight position, no splash
What are you talking about? That article is loaded wih information about the firms tangled and conflicted relationship with Rezco. Come on!
Hear, hear!
Indeed, “Nice work, pups.”
LHP is a she? I didn’t know that.
Are you familiar with the legal concept of conflict of interest?
Very nice, Suz! I understand the need for the kevlar mod suit, but it’s looks a lot less comfortable than a bathing suit. ;)
I look for data – all available data – and review it.
I have a Bachelors Degree in Physics from a top university. I don’t need the science lesson. Thanks.
Like many, I’m fairly new to Obama. The article yesterday made me think the firm was sleazy. I’m unhappy to have been misled like that.
One just never knows. do one?
That was my understanding, but I think someone here tonight referred to looseheadprop as “he.” Being thus unsure, I used the (she?) format.
i gotta admit, the kevlar suit does make my figure look better than it is – all that support (laughing)
Siun, do you have a juris doctorate? Have you had any professional training in legal ethics?
I imagine buoyancy is more at issue here…
And a Late Nite mod can use all the support she can get…*g*
no chit (laughing) gravity is not my friend – even in the dark
OldGold – you are misrepresenting the description of the relationship in that article.
The nonprofit that Miner represented – remember that they did not represent Rezko took over control of the buildings:
If she does, or doesn’t, is irreverent. We are vetting Presidential candidates here, and we’re all smart enough to do it without the JD.
I was thinking more in terms of “moral” support…
Nope.
That’s the function of counsel in our adversarial system.
Representation of clients is only facet of a firm’s professional practice.
As pointed out above:
I agree with that statement. In SoCal, law firms appear to have hired a criminal wiretapper to spy on their client’s opponents in divorce/custody cases – that’s sleazy.
Other firms have been caught stealing money form trust accounts – that’s sleazy.
If a firm’s principals engage in conflict of interest – or hire associates/partners with a clear conflict of interest – that’s sleazy.
So – WRT Miner – as the question at hand is the presence of absence of sleaze in the firm – I’d look at the scope of the firm’s activities: before the Bar and in the partners’ offices.
Same thing I’d do with any medical group. If the docs do everything they can for patients, yet submit fraudulent billings on multiple occasions, that’s sleazy.
double crapola, does this mean my morals now get vetted? i’m gonna flunk for sure
Sorry if I got a little loose with the facts and contributed to the perception that Obama’s work on the housing project was directly for Rezko…if it was not, that makes it even less of an issue, in my opinion.
Does anyone have a cabin in Tibet that I can use until the election is over? To use a southernism, I “purely do” dread the time between now and November. I think we all need to be very careful because tempers are already fairly touchy and we could tear FDL apart. I just want the whole thing to be over.
Suz, didn’t they tell you that the mod post came with a morals clause?
Gravity has taken a toll on my body too. Stuff is starting to droop that I never realized could droop. We all need extra support eventually, darn it.
I agree completely.
Hmm – looking in the mirror -
do any of the Kevlar suits come in a ## inch waist?
707!
i’ve been thinking new zealand myself or bora bora
custom fitted dood – made my #s look forking ugly too
NZ is nice this time of year – it’s summer. Can I go with you?
No OldGold – I do not, as I mentioned in my post in fact. I am rather well trained in research, including training in legal research years ago by the head of reference at the Yale Law School and I take citations and the idea of proving accusations pretty seriously.
If I follow your comments, I gather that you do have a JD. I’m curious if you feel that all firms you’ve worked for would be able to pass the tests you seem to be recommending for Miner?
If you find one, save some yak butter for me. And some tea. I’ll bring chocolate.;)
As the topic under discussion in the post and thread is the presence of absence of sleaziness in Miner as a firm
Wrong. That’s your topic. The article yesterday implied that the firm was all sleaze, and thus it was a mystery why Obama would go there. The fact that the firm has a history of good works utterly obliterates that implication in the FDL article. That particular issue is dead.
World leaders roast Iran’s Ahmadinejad.
-G
Thanks, chocolate always welcome. Yak butter is free.
T & S — what about Tahiti?
Good night, pups. See you tomorrow.
Hey that was my line from the other night…:>) Remember??
I was a reporter in Chicago when Harold was mayor and Miner the corp counsel. He had an excellent reputation and was known as a liberal, do-gooder law firm. Progressives in Chicago were proud of Miner.
Great diary, wigwam. I forwarded your link to Cindy Sheehan, as I think this strategy should be part of her campaign against Pelosi for Congress this year.
And Siun, thank you for this clarifying diary about the Miner law firm.
Quite a busy coupla days on FDL, eh?
Therapists get a kick out of watching people take time and energy to return to a non-issue….to assert it’s a non-issue.
The tough part is hiding the smile….
Good to see FDL moving so quickly to address an obvious lapse in objectivity and fairness as so easily skewered by Kos. LHD’s post is obviously desperate oppo distortion. And definitely not an issue that HRC wants to explore, one would think. FDL has good reputation and one would hope that it would stay that way. It’s still my favorite.
Thanks Tominator – that’s what I hear from progressive lawyers here as well.
“definitely not an issue that HRC wants to explore”
? Clinton did bring it up in a debate…not sure what you mean
Siun, I posted at 93, 163, 166 and 172.
At 93 I asked people to read the article. Period.
At 163 in a reply to an individual who said there was nothing in the article about the law firm, I stated it was loaded with information about the law firms conflicted and tangled history with Rezco. And it is.
At 166 in reply to an individual who did not see anything that raised questions about the law firm, I asked if they were familiar with the legal concept of conflicts of interest.
At 172 I asked if you had a JD or formal training in legal ethics.
Now, what relationship are you accusing me of misrepresenting? I did not make any representations about any relationships.
Worse, at 191 you ask, “I am curious if you feel that all firms you have worked for would be able to pass the tests you seem to be recommending for Minor?” Where have I recommended any tests for Minor? I did not recommend any tests.
I shared the article, in good faith, to inform the discussion of your post. I offered no opinions or judgments about the information in the article. I did inquire of several commenters, including you, as to your background for so summarily and dimissively judging the information in the article. For this, you ask that I defend my ehtics?
Um, did you know oldgold was coming?
Bob in HI
I went to your link @93 above, it is a post by someone, it is not the original article, do you have a link to the original Sun times article?
So we’ve settled it. Obama didn’t work for Rezko, he just took donations and steered legislation for Rezko that Obama’s card playing buddies worked over.
That’s certain to convince the opposition that our man took the high road on card playing ethics.
Well, that’s your spin on it. Sounds like you’ve got an ax to grind, and that you’ve not read The Real Story of Rezko and Obama: 10 Myths Debunked, by JohnKWilson.
Bob in HI
Thanks for the link @93. Fascinating!
Thanks, it was AWESOME. But then I found this, and IT’S EVEN BETTER!!!
AND THEN THIS!!!!
AND THEN AS I THOUGHT IT COULDN’T GET ANY BETTER I FOUND THIS!!!
WOWSERS!!! You were right Obama has some interesting stuff in his past, but nothing like the merry group of donors Hillary runs with!!!
And I just know there won’t be 25 dismissals of the accusations against her, but hey hypocrisy is COOL!
Way late on this post, but, Siun: Thank you so much for this thoughtful analysis. And, also for your insistance on looking at the “claw” comment on the actual video in an earlier post. I appreciate your fairness and thick research.
Perhaps Kirk wants to find one little worm in the whole barrel of apples so it can be splattered to death on Obama’s campaign. I’m glad I’m not as morally fastidious as some folks pretend to be.
Siun –
Thanks for a great post. The combination of this with earlier looseheadprop post on Rezko was very informative for this primary voter.
A propos yesterday’s landmine post, here is a relevant link (the vote was a point for Clinton in Haaretz’s ranking):
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/p…..Page.jhtml
I stand corrected on the lobbyists at the poker game, but still there was no scandal involved.
OMG!! Obama once called himself Barry, used drugs as a teenager! These are shocking allegations. I’m going to walk over to Fitz’s home which is only two blocks away because he should investigate.
It’s somewhat Alice In Wonderland to suggest Obama joined Miner, Barnhill as a way to get rich on shady real estate transactions. My daughter graduating law school at about the same time-not Harvard , not Law Review- started at six figures ( which could have been higher but she chose to work attacing environmental law offenders, not the better paying defense side). As president of Harvard Law Review Obama could have earned a multiple of that. Certainly north of $200,000.
He didn’t join MB to maximize his income,he joined it because he was willing to sacrifice income in exchange for other goals.
Great and thorough research. It is always nice to have facts and things set in context. I agree that we need to vet our candidates and I appreciate well researched information, whether bad or good, that will not only give us deeper insight into our candidates but also will prepare us for the battle to come.
Kirk Murphy –
“Therapists get a kick out of watching people take time and energy to return to a non-issue….to assert it’s a non-issue.
The tough part is hiding the smile….”
An inside joke, huh? Really funny. This is disgusting and not the first time I have heard you referencing your patients in a pejorative way.
We all know you’re really smart, but I wouldn’t want to spend 5 minutes of my time in your presence. [edited by mod]
[Mod Note; Please do not insult fellow Firedoglake participants. Thank you.]
Actually, “in”…
my “kick” comes from remembering the “tell” in my anaylst’s voice…
as he was hiding his smile while I vehemently denied the importance of the matter(s)…
….I chose to bring up – again – in the session I was paying for.
Poor man – all that time spent with such an odious patient.
But thanks for helping me understand why our “hours” were only fifty minutes….
(All this time I thought it was just analytic convention…)