Not surprisingly, Tribune columnist John Kass -- like many veteran political observers here in Illinois -- is as worked up as ever about this week's Blagojevich developments. Due to the scandal, he's also been enjoying a good deal of national media attention.  For instance, he has appeared on the ABC and CBS evening newscasts and been quoted elsewhere this week.

During a longer form appearance on Bill O'Reilly's syndicated radio show, however, Kass couldn't help himself.  Intent as always on tying Barack Obama to the corruption in Illinois, he used the Blagojevich controversy to drudge up Tony Rezko's purchase of a lot adjacent to the president-elect's Kenwood home in 2005.  Not only that, he egregiously distorted the facts.  His version of events: that "Mrs. Rezko buys the Obama dream house in that shady real estate deal."  (Media Matters caught the claim, which you can listen to here.)

The Rezkos bought Obama's house, John?

Most of the exaggerations regarding this issue come in the form of the claim that the Rezkos' purchase of the lot led the Obamas to receive a discount on their property.  Such assumptions stem from the fact that the lot was sold at its full price, while the house was sold for less than the asking price.*  But as we've noted before, this argument just doesn't add up.

Of course, that hasn't stopped media figures from advancing the discount claim.  Apparently it hasn't stopped Kass' fevered imagination from running wild either.

*This post originally stated that the Obama house was sold for less than "market price."  More accurately, it was sold for less than "asking price."