Obama: Illinois Corruption Casts An Ugly Shadow

President-elect Barack Obama hasn’t even stepped into office and already a scandal is threatening to dog him.

Obama isn’t accused of anything. But the fact that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a fellow Democrat, has been charged with trying to sell Obama’s now-vacant Senate post gives political opponents an opening to try to link him to the scandal. A slew of questions remain. The investigation is still under way. And the ultimate impact on Obama is far from certain.

He pointedly distanced himself from the case Tuesday, saying, “I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening” concerning any possible dealing about Blagojevich’s appointment of a successor.

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

 
In this June 20, 2005 file photo, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., speaks as Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., listens during a news conference in St. Louis. Federal authorities arrested Blagojevich Tuesday Dec. 9, 2008 on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder. (AP Photo/James A. Finley, File)

In Chicago, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said prosecutors were making no allegations that Obama was aware of any scheming. And Blagojevich himself, in taped conversations cited by prosecutors, suggested that Obama wouldn’t be helpful to him. Even if the governor was to appoint a candidate favored by the Obama team, Blagojevich said, “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation.”

Republicans pounced nonetheless.

“The serious nature of the crimes listed by federal prosecutors raises questions about the interaction with Gov. Blagojevich, President-elect Obama and other high ranking officials who will be working for the future president,” said Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the new GOP House whip.

Added Robert M. “Mike” Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee, “President-elect Barack Obama’s comments on the matter are insufficient at best.”

Robert Gibbs, an Obama spokesman, said, “We did not know about this recent part of the investigation until today.”

Read the rest:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_
go_pr_wh/illinois_governor_analysis

Illinois Governor Big-Jerk-ovich: You Did and Said What?

Knowing that he was already under investigation, Illinois Governor  Blagojevich said on the telephone: “I’ve got this thing and it’s f***ing golden, and, uh, uh, I’m just not giving it up for f***in’ nothing. I’m not gonna do it. And I can always use it. I can parachute me there.”

Just yesterday he said: “I don’t care whether you tape me privately or publicly. I can tell you that whatever I say is always lawful.”

Sounds like Richard Nixon?

The phone call including the “I’ve got this thing and it’s f***ing golden … thing” comment was secretly recorded by the FBI on November 5, the day after the election of Barack Obama, according to the affidavit filed against Blagojevich today.

Like O.J., Governor Jerkovich may have just hanged himself with his owns stupid words, pride and bravado.

Fox News lawyer and commentator Greta Van Susteren said, “These recordings would make a defense attorney have a stroke.”

“Conduct that would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in announcing the charges today in Chicago.

Pundits on all the major news channels expressed “shock” at this “outrageous behavior.”

But it is really just the activity and mouth of a stupid jerk: Governor Blag-Jerk-Ovich.

Brian Ross from ABC News wrote:

He said the governor’s efforts to “sell” the Senate seat was the “most sinister and appalling” of a range of alleged corrupt acts detailed in today’s case.

Fitzgerald said “there’s no reference in the complaint to any conversations involving the president-elect or indicating that the president-elect was aware of it, and that’s all I can say.”
.
His comment did not close the door on the possibility that Obama or someone on his staff may have known of some aspect of the governor’s demands.

 

Ilinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) during a news conference following their apperance before the Base Realignment and Closure commission during their hearings at Saint Louis University, St. Louis. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wanted President-elect Barack Obama “to put something together…something big” in exchange for going along with Obama’s choice to fill his vacant US Senate seat, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed following the Governor’s stunning arrest.

(James A. Finley/AP Photo)

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Four words: Are you kidding me?

Selling Barack Obama’s Senate seat? Are you kidding me?

There are allegations of political corruption, and then there are allegations of political corruption.

If this is true — and by all means we should presume innocence on the part of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich until the prosecution has made its case — but, if this is true, you have to be some kind of delusional. Watch Campbell Brown’s commentary…..

You have to be psychotic.

See the video:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/09/campbell.brown.illinois/index.html