I read an interesting blog over on TexasDarlin’s site reporting on an article that appeared in the LA Times recently involving Obama and Blackwell. The LA Times reports that following an unsuccessful run for Congress(2000) Obama was stressed financially and Blackwell, an Obama donor, awarded him an $ 8,000/month fee (retainer) to provide  legal advice if needed (2001) to EKI (Blackwell’s company) via the law firm Obama was working for. The total amount collected by Obama according to the LA Times was $112,000. The articles authors write, “A few months after receiving his final payment from EKI, Obama sent a request on state Senate letterhead urging Illinois officials to provide a $50,000 tourism promotion grant to another Blackwell company, Killerspin.” It also was reported that the total amount of state grants awarded to Killerspin was $320,000 (2002-2004).

The LA Times staff reports address Obama’s tax returns for 2001 - income of $98,158 ($80,000 via Blackwell’s company) and for 2002 $34,491 ($32,000 came from legal assignment). The article continues to point  to an interesting fact, on Illinois ethic disclosure forms for 2001 and 2002 Obama did not specify that EKI provided him with the bulk of his income, instead, he listed all the law firms clients (hundreds) my guess is not to draw attention to EKI.

 Posted above data for educational reasons and discussion.