Subcontractors say they’re owed millions, face financial ruin, after helping build Obama Presidential Center

Grok:

SO MAD's characterization is overstated, one-sided, and not fully accurate.

It exaggerates Trump's role while overly insulating Obama.

On Trump​

  • Trump and his companies do have a well-documented history of payment disputes with contractors across multiple projects (casinos, hotels, towers, etc.) over decades. USA Today and other investigations documented 60+ lawsuits, hundreds of liens, and complaints from small businesses, suppliers, and workers alleging non-payment, under-payment, or prolonged legal fights.
  • Trump was the principal owner/developer and personally involved at a high level. His companies often disputed bills citing poor quality, delays, or changes—standard hardball tactics in real estate, but the volume suggests a pattern. Some contractors went unpaid or settled for less, leading to real financial harm (e.g., cases from Atlantic City, Doral, DC hotel). Defenders note many disputes were negotiated or litigated, and Trump entities sometimes rehired the same firms.
  • Calling him a "scumbag who personally grifted" is hyperbolic rhetoric. It was business leverage in a litigious industry where developers frequently renegotiate. Not every case was proven "grift," and bankruptcies/restructurings played a role. Still, the track record is legitimately criticized as tough on small contractors.

On Obama and the Presidential Center​

  • Obama personally had limited direct involvement in day-to-day contracting—that part is fair. The Obama Foundation (nonprofit) hired Lakeside Alliance (GC joint venture) to manage the project, and the Foundation states it paid them the agreed amount with no direct sub contracts.
  • However, "had nothing to do with any of the contracting" is too absolute. As the namesake and public face, Obama and the Foundation set the vision, fundraising, goals (e.g., high diversity subcontracting targets), and oversight structure. The project had massive delays, cost overruns (to ~$850M+), and change orders that contributed to sub disputes. Subs are now pursuing payment through the GC, with some claiming losses in the millions.

:blah: :blah: :blah:

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Because trump is a scumbag who personally grifted workers out of money he promised.

Either that or you're just a fucking hypocrite with zero integrity.

Obama had nothing to do with any of the contracting of his Presidential Center.

In fact he did - the "Obama Foundation" - which is chaired by Barack and Michelle of the same name, was in charge of the construction of the death star the library.

The next time you are truthful about anything will be the first time.
 
But it's Different when they do it.

Always.

For 40 years I have been posting "there is NO hypocrisy like demopocrisy." It was true in the "Politics" forum on Compuserve - nearly two decades before Algore invented the internet, and it remains true today.
 
Either that or you're just a fucking hypocrite with zero integrity.



In fact he did - the "Obama Foundation" - which is chaired by Barack and Michelle of the same name, was in charge of the construction of the death star the library.

The next time you are truthful about anything will be the first time.
Bullshit ..

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Once a lying POS always a lying POS = you will never change other than to just get worse.
 
Another day another failed Democrat project that screwed the average guy over completely...
Trump did not just do that, but it was his business model. He stated that he would simply refuse to pay what was owed and force the contractor to take less. He has left a string of failed businesses from his cheating.
Obama was not directly in charge of the contractors. There are disputes, but no court cases yet. Obama cheated nobody.
 
The Obama Presidential Center was billed as a lasting legacy to former President Barack Obama, and its construction was touted as an ambitious model built with aggressive goals for minority-owned and local businesses.

But now, some of the very subcontractors who helped build the 19.3-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side say they are facing financial ruin as they race to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid ahead of the center's grand opening Friday. Overall construction costs were reported to be $830 million in 2021, and have likely climbed past the $1 billion mark.



Will the left slam Obama for not paying
Do you know what a subcontractor is?
 
Trump did not just do that, but it was his business model. He stated that he would simply refuse to pay what was owed and force the contractor to take less. He has left a string of failed businesses from his cheating.

Is that so?

Obama was not directly in charge of the contractors.

Did anyone say that he was?

There are disputes, but no court cases yet.

Are you sure?

Obama cheated nobody.

Is that right?
 
The Obama Presidential Center was billed as a lasting legacy to former President Barack Obama, and its construction was touted as an ambitious model built with aggressive goals for minority-owned and local businesses.

But now, some of the very subcontractors who helped build the 19.3-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side say they are facing financial ruin as they race to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid ahead of the center's grand opening Friday. Overall construction costs were reported to be $830 million in 2021, and have likely climbed past the $1 billion mark.



Will the left slam Obama for not paying
Fox News that figures. BTW Crazy Trump is well known for stiffing building contractors.
 
The Obama Presidential Center was billed as a lasting legacy to former President Barack Obama, and its construction was touted as an ambitious model built with aggressive goals for minority-owned and local businesses.

But now, some of the very subcontractors who helped build the 19.3-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side say they are facing financial ruin as they race to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid ahead of the center's grand opening Friday. Overall construction costs were reported to be $830 million in 2021, and have likely climbed past the $1 billion mark.



Will the left slam Obama for not paying
Maybe the sub-contractors did subpar work, that would warrant in not being paid?!!
 
The Obama Presidential Center was billed as a lasting legacy to former President Barack Obama, and its construction was touted as an ambitious model built with aggressive goals for minority-owned and local businesses.

But now, some of the very subcontractors who helped build the 19.3-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side say they are facing financial ruin as they race to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid ahead of the center's grand opening Friday. Overall construction costs were reported to be $830 million in 2021, and have likely climbed past the $1 billion mark.



Will the left slam Obama for not paying
The Obama Presidential Center was billed as a lasting legacy to former President Barack Obama, and its construction was touted as an ambitious model built with aggressive goals for minority-owned and local businesses.

But now, some of the very subcontractors who helped build the 19.3-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side say they are facing financial ruin as they race to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid ahead of the center's grand opening Friday. Overall construction costs were reported to be $830 million in 2021, and have likely climbed past the $1 billion mark.



Will the left slam Obama for not paying
And look at that monstrosity. It is horrible looking.

Personally, I believe that the whole notion of any Presidential library is ridiculous. Regardless of party. I have never visited one nor will I.
 
The Obama Presidential Center was billed as a lasting legacy to former President Barack Obama, and its construction was touted as an ambitious model built with aggressive goals for minority-owned and local businesses.

But now, some of the very subcontractors who helped build the 19.3-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side say they are facing financial ruin as they race to recover millions of dollars they claim remain unpaid ahead of the center's grand opening Friday. Overall construction costs were reported to be $830 million in 2021, and have likely climbed past the $1 billion mark.



Will the left slam Obama for not paying
You cult members are so delusional you will believe anything. Illinois allows anyone not paid to file a lien against the project.

Read the story and it isn't about not getting paid. It's about companies losing money when working on the project. "Among them is Adamson Plumbing, whose owner Mike Owen says is nearly $4 million in the red after years of work on the project." The one claims it's because of change orders that he lost money. Any competent contractor doesn't lose money on change orders since change orders are a change from the original bid so they are not covered under the original bid but are usually time and materials.
 
And look at that monstrosity. It is horrible looking.

Personally, I believe that the whole notion of any Presidential library is ridiculous. Regardless of party. I have never visited one nor will I.

You're missing out. The Reagan Library is absolutely amazing. Funny thing, it's over two hours from east OC to Simi Valley, where Fullerton is the next city over and houses the Nixon Library. But there is no comparison between them. The Reagan library is simply extraordinary.
 
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