Look Who's Talking

Tony is talking.

A federal judge canceled convicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko’s sentencing date today and one of his lawyers said he is working with federal prosecutors in hopes of getting a break for his client.

While it's easy to get excited - thinking that, perhaps, truth about Rezko's close relationship with Barack might see the light of day, this isn't likely.

The decision to postpone the Oct. 28 sentencing barely stopped short of confirmation that Rezko is spilling his secrets to federal prosecutors. Speculation that Rezko is telling what he knows about Illinois political corruption has swept through Chicago’s federal courthouse for weeks.

If Tony is talking, and bringing news that would be damaging to the Obama campaign, it's safe to assume that this would become a bargaining chip for Rezko, giving him more leverage over a system eager to protect Barack.

"We are trying to work toward an agreement that would affect sentencing," defense attorney Bill Ziegelmueller told reporters after the two-minute hearing before federal Judge Amy J. St. Eve. "But obviously no agreement is in place."

The better the dirt Rezko has on Barack, the more damaging it would be to his candidacy during the last few weeks, the less likely that we'll get to hear about it.

Rezko was a major political fundraiser who bankrolled campaigns of both Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Sen. Barack Obama. But he did not supply any money to Obama’s current campaign and the Democratic candidate for president has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

That's the favorite line of Barack supporters - ie, the mainstream media - he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Well, ya. When the facts are all buried, it's tough to make accusations.

St. Eve canceled the October sentencing date and set a date for a fresh hearing Dec. 16 — enough time to see how valuable Rezko’s information could turn out to be.

And, of course, enough time for the election to have taken place without the truth having a chance to get out.

Rezko was convicted in June of plotting with admitted fixer Stuart Levine to launch a $7 million scheme to use clout with Blagojevich’s administration to squeeze kickbacks out of a contractor and money management firms wanting state business.

Several of the convictions carry maximum sentences of 20 years. Rezko wouldn’t be expected to get that much time for a first offense but still would be looking at years in federal prison. Helping prosecutors could reduce the sentence.