Obama Calls For Blagojevich To Resign

Illinois Governor Returns To Work Day After Indictment Alleges He Sought To Sell Senate Seat

(CBS/AP)  President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday joined others calling for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign, distancing himself further from the unfolding scandal over allegations that the governor schemed to barter Mr. Obama's vacant Senate seat for personal gain.

"The president-elect agrees with Lt. Gov. (Pat) Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said in response to questions from The Associated Press.

Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday, accused of scheming to enrich himself by selling Mr. Obama's vacant Senate seat. The governor has authority to appoint the replacement.

In response to questions from The Associated Press, Gibbs said Mr. Obama believes the Illinois legislature should consider a special election to fill the seat. Gibbs says the hope is to put a process in place to select a new senator who will have the trust and confidence of the people of Illinois.

Over the past two days since Blagojevich's arrest, Mr. Obama and his aides have largely refrained from commenting on the scandal. When he has spoken about the case, he's been cautious.

In brief comments to reporters Tuesday, Obama said "like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office today," but he didn't go so far to condemn Blagojevich's alleged actions.

He did add about Blagojevich's process of considering a successor: "I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening."

But three weeks ago, Obama's top aide David Axelrod told an interviewer, "I know he's talked to the governor," referring to Obama. "There's a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced."

Axelrod later said that he had misspoken, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds reports.

There has been no hint from prosecutors of any wrongdoing by Obama Indeed, Blagojevich was heard on the tapes repeatedly disparaging and even cursing the president-elect for not playing politics his way. But inconsistencies remain, Reynolds reports. If Obama hadn't been in contact with Blagojevitch, how did the governor know that Obama wouldn't play the favors game?

"If the descriptions of these contacts come out differently over time, that will raise suspicions," former U.S. Attorney Joseph diGenova told Reynolds.

Mr. Obama reiterated his position in an interview published in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. "I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time," he said.

But Mr. Obama wouldn't answer a question on whether he was aware of any conversations between the governor and his top aides, including incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. "It's an ongoing investigation," Mr. Obama said. "I think it would be inappropriate for me to ... remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know."

And, aides didn't say whether Emanuel, a Democratic Illinois congressman, was ever approached by the governor's emissaries involved in allegedly corrupt schemes.

It now appears likely that investigators will at least want to hear from transition officials, especially Chicagoans like Axelrod and Emanuel, who have past associations with Blagojevich, Reynolds reports.

[mrmeatspin]

-You always forget the big picture behind this corruption: WAR FUNDS. No matter who is on the forefront of this scandal, the most important thing is the money that is going to be funneled into WAR. Making me think of AlQaeda who don''''t hesitate to deal drugs in order to fund their war.

-America needs to wake up and harness its destiny into OUR hands. Get control over the way WE want America to governed.

-Obama needs to wake up and to stop being stolen from the CHANGE he promised the American Anti-War Faction that voted him in!!!

-Barrack, just forget us not!


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Posted by trishab59 at 08:55 AM : Dec 12, 2008
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I hope..really really wish, that obama can walk on water and raise the dead..we will see

[niceface19]

Why take just one guy down, we have another one in Alaska too, she needs to go, and remove corruptions by voting out all those who voted for the bail outs of all type.

[fzy1hc]

Well I want to be a Senator for Illinois or NY.

Gee who should I contact? Jackson Jr. , Ted Kennedy, Ms Kennedy or Gov. Rod Blagojevich?

I don''t have ant experience but I have the backing four people.

Now I know why we are in this economic situation.

Last person to contact is Obama!!
I could be a governor

[likenoone-2009]

Rod to barry FO

[wlmrtpatriot]

Who was Blagojevich talking to on the telephone during his now famous tirade? I''m sure the Feds have that information also.

[logansprings]

Obama endorsed Blagojevich in his two gubernatorial runs and was among his key advisors during his first bid, in 2002.

During the governor%u2019s reelection campaign in 2006 - with press reports swirling about a grand jury investigation into Blagojevich%u2019s alleged jobs-for-contributions scheme - Obama praised the governor as a leader %u201Cwho has delivered consistently on behalf of the people of Illinois.%u201D

And, now, will Blagovejich "deliver" again as Obamba demands the resignation of the man that he was shaking hands with at a governor''s conference about a week or so ago.

That was when Blagojevich thought himself to be close enough to Obamba to request $3,000,000,000 in federal bailout money.

Then, there are the ties between Obamba insiders and Blagojevich -- Rohm Emmanuel and David Axelrod -- just to name a few.

And, when the prosecutors start to talk about sentences for people like Blagojevich, we will begin to hear more about the Obama/Blagojevich/Rezko connections and just how many others are involved.

As was warned about prior to the election, prepare yourselves for Chicago-style hack politics.

What tangled Obamba weaves...

[dburfears]

You Obama haters have nothing - NOTHING to show Obama has done ANYTHING WRONG. Instead you imply, and suggest, and "imagine" whatever suits your twisted goals. You WANT it to be true, because you want a reason to bring Obama down. But you have nothing- no facts, no reality, no evidence, no tapes, no documents... NOTHING. You just want to throw SLIME.

It''s not Obama''s responsibility to DISPROVE YOUR EVERY FANTASY. Bring us some PROOF. Not your imaginings or your conspiracy theories. You are like children throwing dirt in the schoolyard while the adults roll their eyes.

The real FACT is that the REPUBLICAN U.S. Attorney said there is not indication of involvement by Obama or his staff in ANYTHING ILLEGAL.

The real FACT is that Blagojevich was furious because he KNEW that Obama or his people would NOT "PAY", and that all he would get is Obama''s "appreciation". Then he called Obama obscene names for not being corrupt and not paying.

The real FACT is that Obama thought Blagojevich was a "bad actor", minimized contact with him for YEARS, and NEVER included him in his CAMPAIGN.

The real FACT is that Obama supported an ETHICS BILL in Illinois this year to stop "pay to play" activities, IN OPPOSITION TO Blagojevich. Obama lobbied Illinois legislators and is credited with helping pass the anti-Blagojevich anti-corruption bill.

The real FACT is that the most significant connection between Obama and Blagojevich is that they are both from Illinois. So are 13 MILLION OTHER PEOPLE.

[mrmeatspin]

You people are amazingly naive in your attempts to discredit the man before he even takes office. But, here how: If you know a man is already corrupt, why would you deal with him? If you are decent, you wouldn''''t unless you had no other choice. The Senate seat is far too important for the Democrats to be left in the hands of a greedy, extremely corrupt politician. Obama himself probably didn''''t have any contact with the man, but his associates might have. It is clear the governor reached out to Obama, and got nothing in return. So, your "Obama and Blagojevich conspiracy" thoughts or this "Chicage style politics" garbage is a bit premature...


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Posted by tj217 at 10:21 AM : Dec 11, 2008
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this type of corrupt politics did not just happen overnight..this is an going system for decades in chicago..where the democrats ARE THE BIGGEST PLAYERS..at this point its true, obama is not guilty of anything BUT......................BUT can come up during this investigation...IS TEH QUESTION

oh by the way i dont think the democrats are WORRIED ABOUT THE SEATS GOING TO CORRUPT GREEDY WHATEVER..all theyc are about is THEY GET A GOOD PRICE FOR IT..

[nocensorship]

The list goes on and on. yet you Bush haters want to blame one person.. When are you haters going to see the fact? The blame is on many people.. From CEO''''s to politicians..

Posted by you_fools at 10:38 AM : Dec 11, 2008

Just you wait......Obama will be next to be blamed for everything once people finally realize that nothing has changed at all and it''s just Politics as usual. Matter of fact how many campaign promises has he already broken??? And he suspiciously has already sound like McCain on quite a few things.....

The time to Blame the Demoncrat Liberals is coming.....

[antisocialzm]

Hey bou,bou-
How many of your buddies are convicted and soon to be convicted criminals? Any of them try to bomb/murder people? Naw. None I''m sure. Wow, you seem to have better judgment than the President Elect of the USA in hand picking your own circle. Maybe we should put you in charge. "God "amn America!!" Right Berry?