Pattycake, Pattycake

Tribune this morning on the sweet little pattycake deals:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's wife earned more than $113,000 in real estate commissions this year through a woman who holds a longstanding, no-bid state contract and whose banker husband has business pending before state regulators.

The four real estate deals involving the Chicago couple Anita and Amrish Mahajan, the last of which closed Sept. 28, account for the only commissions Patricia Blagojevich has earned this year.

Ms. Blagojevich has also had dealings with family friend, fundraiser for the governor, and now indicted figure Tony Rezko:

Rezko and Blagojevich met in the early 1990s when Blagojevich was a state representative from the Northwest Side, Rezko said last year in an interview with the Tribune. The two families also became close personally, with Rezko and Blagojevich's wife, Patti, a real estate broker, working on several deals together and earning Patti Blagojevich at least $38,000 in fees.

The banker husband, Mr. Mahajan, has also lent millions to Rezko.

The governor's spokeswoman said questioning the deals smacked of outdated attitudes toward working women. More like outdated ethics on her part.

Pattycake, pattycake.....as fast as you can.