Posted on 08/23/2008 6:27:04 PM PDT by shrinkermd
Four years ago Obama was in a tight race with a Republican opponent--Jack Ryan. Wikipedia records what happpened.
...Ryan married actress Jeri Ryan in 1991; together they have a son, Alex Ryan. They divorced in 1999 in California, and the records of the divorce were sealed at their mutual request. Five years later, when Ryan's Senate campaign began, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and WLS-TV, the local ABC affiliate, sought to have the records released. On March 3, 2004, several of Ryan's GOP primary opponents urged release of the records.Both Ryan and his wife agreed to make their divorce records public, but not make the custody records public, claiming that the custody records could be harmful to their son if released. On March 16, 2004, Ryan won the GOP primary with 36 percent to 23 percent against Jim Oberweis who came in second. Obama won the Democratic primary, with 53 percent to 23 percent against Dan Hynes, who came in second.
Barack Obama's backers emailed reporters about the divorce controversy, but refrained from on-the-record commentary about the divorce files. On March 29, 2004, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Schnider ruled that several of the Ryans' divorce records should be opened to the public, and ruled that a court-appointed referee would later decide which custody files should remain sealed to protect the interests of Ryan's young child. The following week, on April 2, 2004, Barack Obama changed his position about the Ryans' soon-to-be-released divorce records, and called on Democrats to not inject them into the campaign. The Ryan campaign characterized Obama's shift as hypocritical, because Obama's backers had been emailing reports about the divorce records prior to Judge Schnider's decision.
On June 22, 2004, after receiving the report from the court-appointed referee, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Schnider released the files that were deemed consistent with the interests of Ryan's young child. In those files, Jeri Ryan alleged that Jack Ryan had taken her to sex clubs in several cities, intending for them to have sex in public. The decision to release these files generated much controversy because it went against both parents' direct request, and because it reversed the earlier decision to seal the papers in the best interest of the child. Jim Oberweis, Ryan's defeated GOP opponent, commented that "these are allegations made in a divorce hearing, and we all know people tend to say things that aren't necessarily true in divorce proceedings when there is money involved and custody of children involved."
Prior to release of the documents, Ryan had told leading Republicans that five percent of the divorce file could cause problems for his campaign. But after the documents were released, GOP officials including state GOP Chair Judy Baar Topinka said they felt Ryan had misleadingly indicated the divorce records would not be embarrassing.That charge of dishonesty led to intensifying calls for Ryan's withdrawal, though Topinka said after the June 25 withdrawal that Ryan's "decision was a personal one" and that the state GOP had not pressured Ryan to drop out. Ryan's campaign ended less than a week after the custody records were opened, and Ryan officially filed the documentation to withdraw on July 29, 2004. The same party leaders who called for Ryan's resignation controversially chose Alan Keyes as Ryan's replacement in the race; Keyes lost to Obama, 27% to 70%.
I>Subsequent to his withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race in Illinois, Jack Ryan has characterized what happened to him as a "new low for politics in America". According to Ryan, it was unprecedented in American politics for a newspaper to sue for access to sealed custody documents. Ryan opposed unsealing the divorce records of Senator John Kerry during Kerry's race against George W. Bush in 2004, and Kerry's divorce records remained sealed. Ryan has made this request: "let me be the only person this has happened to. Don’t ask for Ted Kennedy’s. Don’t ask for John McCain’s. Don’t ask for Joe Lieberman’s. Just stop. This is not a good precedent for American society if you really want the best and brightest to run."
The Wikipedia link is: HERE.
I think it’s Soros funded groups that form the nucleus of Obama’s support. There are also some Democrats who are not happy with the Clintons and see them as a threat to their ambitions. The Kennedys fit into this latter group.
Thanks very much for the ping, DAVEY. Great post doc. Informative, educational. Thanks. Terrific thread BUMP! Thanks to all contributors.
Yes, I remember this, too. I especially thought of it a lot when Lerch was running back in 2004, and couldn’t believe how the media was so silent on his first marriage and subsequent divorce.
And it’s just SO hypocritical of Obambi, since so much of what he and his wife have been involved with is “sealed” or unavailable. God really has a way of getting back at people. That “what goes around, comes around” principle will hopefully kick in with the Chosen One soon, let’s hope!
Well, there's Arkancide, and then there's Obamacide.
Yes, who sent Obama?
(my new tagline)
Your graphic is excellent!
He’s tried to pass himself off as The One who voted against the war.
That was stoopid.
Thanks DC. I got that in email so it’s free for all, lol.
Honest Abe indeed, snort.
“I only hope a few more of Obama’s homosexual lovers and crack buddies come out of the woodwork.”
I sure hope so! It appears Sinclair’s fling with Obama is not panning out with his shifting stories....does Obama have any other lovers stashed in the closet?
We need to ask Congressman Foley and other Log Cabin Republican congressional pages if they know these guys.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/057obOY6ob4OA
I know...that’s dirty but opening up divorce records is pretty dirty too. Obama needs to taste his own medicine.
Why was Obama up this far North anyway during the rumor fling with Larry? Great America Six Flags Gurnee is closed in November.
I do know Obama and State Senator Terry Link are good friends.
Crooks like other Crooks.
Link got caught in a scandal.
“Sen. Link campaign workers indicted for forging names on petitions”
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=227391
I’m ready to kick butt.
We’re getting a Republican back in to clean up the cesspool.
I don’t know which made me more sick. Fitzgerald (imperfect but gold for this state) forced out by RINOs (probably with Hastert’s blessing). I wish he had toughed it out.
Or Ryan (who seemed very good himself) forced out by the media for the world’s first and only sex scandal involving his OWN WIFE.
Then the brain trust thinks “we NEED to find a black guy and since their are none in Chicago let’s get Alan Keyes”.
Total joke. Might as well have recruited Mike Ditka.
Bump.
IIRC a poll had the coach beating Berry.
Axelrod Axelrod Axelrod
Clearing the field Ping
Ann Romney didn’t do anything to deserve the slime being thrown her way.
Has MS
Cancer survivor
5 boys
16 grandchildren
I’m no fan of Romney, but LEAVE THE WIFE ALONE!
Hey Sev
Hear that???
Sorry.
There was pressure from both Ryan's primary opponents and the Democrats to release the custody papers. The campaign to unseal the records was something that was already in motion, but Barack Obama was the beneficiary of the disclosure when it came.
His people had been pushing for release and may have influenced the timing of the disclosure for Obama's maximum benefit. There was something hypocritical about Obama's public position and what his backers and his party were doing behind the scenes.
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