Obama finally pays local parking tickets

The Somerville News ^ | March 07, 2007 | George P. Hassett

[Brown Deer]

Before Barack Obama was a United States senator and a presidential hopeful, he was a Harvard University law student living in Somerville who parked in bus stops and accumulated hundreds of dollars in parking tickets. And for nearly two decades those parking tickets went unpaid, until a representative of Obama’s settled all his outstanding debts with Cambridge’s Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department Jan. 26.

Obama attended Harvard Law School from 1988 to 1991. During his time at Harvard, Obama lived at 365 Broadway in Somerville, according to his parking tickets. Records from the Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation office show that between Oct. 5, 1988 and Jan. 12, 1990 Obama was cited for 17 traffic violations, sometimes committing two in the same day. The abuses included parking in a resident permit area, parking in a bus stop and failing to pay the meter. Twelve of Obama’s 17 tickets were given to him on Massachusetts Avenue.

In one eight day stretch in 1988, Obama was cited seven times for parking violations and was fined $45. Thirteen of the 17 violations occurred within one month in 1988.

Obama’s disobedience of the rules of the road earned him $140 in fines from the City of Cambridge. The tickets went unpaid for over 17 years and $260 in late fees were added to the tab. On Jan. 26, the fines and late fees were paid in full. The final tally for Obama’s parking breaches was $400, according to Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation.

Obama spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said the presidential candidate’s parking violations were not relevant.

“He didn’t owe that much and what he did owe, he paid,” Psaki said. “Many people have parking tickets and late fees. All the parking tickets and late fees were paid in full.”

Psaki declined to comment further. She refused to say how the fines went unpaid so long and what prompted Obama to finally pay them.

At Harvard, Obama became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. After school, he spent eight years in the Illinois state senate before becoming a United States Senator in 2005. He is currently campaigning for the Democratic nomination for president.

[LucyT]

Thanks, Brown Deer.

Pinging, and adding a few links.

An Examination of Obama’s Use of Hidden Hypnosis Techniques in His Speeches

Rick Ross Cult Information Forum (posted link from Las Vegas Penny Press) ^ | Oct. 2008 |

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2109105/posts

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Searching for Obama’s 95 Percent

The American Spectator ^ | 10.16.08 | Philip Klein

“How can Obama cut taxes for 95% of Americans when 40% pay no income tax?”

3 posted on Saturday, October 18, 2008 7:30:20 PM by george76

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2109203/posts

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Thank you, Fred Nerks. Interesting thread:

The Ultimate Web Site On Obama’s Past

http://www.ObamasPast.com

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2109168/posts?page=8#8

[beethoven]

His campaign funds probably paid the fines. He thinks he’s above the law. What a piece of work.

[airedale]

Campaign money?

[Mad-Margaret]

How did Obama clear the character and fitness committee of the Illinois bar with all those unpaid parking tickets? The Illinois bar does not admit an applicant until all outstanding parking tickets are paid. (I distinctly remember that question on the character and fitness application. And I also remember my classmates scrambling to pay off their fines. Heh!)

Either someone pulled strings for Obama or he lied on his application.

[Carismar]

Wow, can you imagine the fuss if Palin had done this?

[Netizen]

I’m wondering if the campaign paid them. If so, that would really be disgusting.

Actually, THAT would be newsworthy! lol

[CORedneck]

I am sure that Obama would want a person’s head on a platter if they ignore Chicago parking tickets. “Do as I say and not as I do”.

[Netizen]

Don’t they put out bench warrants or something? I thought the fines seemed awfully low for 17 years worth of fines.

[Kickass Conservative]

All Muslims are equal, but some Muslims are more equal than others.

[TigersEye]

He’s nothing but a scofflaw.

[sbMKE]

Wisconsin pulls your vehicle registration if you don’t pay tickets.

I had mine held over a $20 “night parking” ticket - Milwaukee’s wheel tax.

[pray4liberty]

Believe it or not this really is a reflection on the character of Obama.

Lack of character, you mean!

[LTC.Ret]

What they are doing to “Joe” is just plain WRONG -— and I’ve had just about enough of it!!!

I sent the following complaint to the FCC tonight:

I request that an antitrust/monopoly investigation be filed immediately against ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and MSNBC due to the obvious and deplorable bias shown on major TV media “news” in their coordinated effort to skew reporting to obviously favor the Democrat Presidential candidate. Even the most unsophisticated consumer is aware of the blatant media bias this election cycle, and it has been well documented by various watchdog sources. These TV “news” firms, who have a dominant market share and abuse that position to threaten the “marketplace of ideas”, should be held to a higher standard for fair, accurate, and unbiased reporting of NEWS, as opposed to appropriately identified OPINION. Media fail to report and intentionally obfuscate facts about the Democrat candidate, while scrutinizing every aspect and reporting every unfounded rumor pertaining to the Republican, the VP candidate, and their families; plus the media inquisition of a man who only asked a question. Start/Investigate now!

You can file your own complaint at:
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

If we can make enough noise they will have to hear us!!!

[rockinqsranch]

“Lack of character, you mean!”

Of course. This tells us the man thinks he is above and beyond the rules the rest of us must abide by. He thinks he is quite special.

I’m surprised he hasn’t been put down, as in humbled by now. He’s 47 years old, and never had his head straightened out!? Amazing!

[arrogantsob]

This story will get him more votes. Parking tickets are the bane of the city dweller. Zero is another victim.

[cookcounty]

" Records from the Cambridge Traffic, Parking and Transportation office show that between Oct. 5, 1988 and Jan. 12, 1990 Obama was cited for 17 traffic violations, sometimes committing two in the same day. "

Don't drive angry!!!

[Merlinator]

But he’s an illegal alien (unless he shows a legit birth certificate to show otherwise), so he doesn’t have to pay his parking fines. Only citizens have to do that.

[Merlinator]

I wonder if the Messiah was driving around with a suspemded license?

[cookcounty]

"Probably illegal too. But the campaign donated $800,000 to an offshoot of ACORN, so anything is possible.

Now that's a lie. Obama's His own Self said His only connection with ACORN was in a lawsuit against the DMV...

And has the press said anything about this? No! So there you go, it didn't happen.

[cookcounty]

"How did Obama clear the character and fitness committee of the Illinois bar "

It's the Illinois bar. Even Richie Daley made it (the second time).