Dec. 10, 2008
7 Questions For Obama About Blagojevich
Politico: Stinging Criminal Complaint Against Illinois Gov. Raises Lots Of Questions For President-Elect
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The stinging criminal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris raises lots of questions for President-elect Barack Obama - questions he’ll have a chance to answer Thursday when he does his first news conference since Blagojevich was charged.
Here are seven worth asking:
1 - "Did you communicate directly or indirectly with Blagojevich about picking your replacement in the U.S. Senate?"
Obama issued a categorical statement Tuesday that he personally hadn’t spoken with Blagojevich about the seat - but seemed to correct himself in a way that suggested others around Obama might have.
"I had no contact with the governor or his office and, so we were not - I was not aware of what was happening," Obama said.
Yet, according to prosecutors’ characterizations of Blagojevich’s wiretapped telephone conversations, the Illinois governor seemed to believe he had a channel of communications with Obama’s team.
For instance, Blagojevich was recorded speaking to a union official who Blagojevich “understood … was an emissary” to discuss the interest of Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett in the seat, according to the criminal complaint unveiled Tuesday.
But at some point, Blagojevich seemed to become aware that Obama’s team had no interest in his favored option - he would pick Jarrett in exchange for being named secretary of health and human services, prosecutor allege. How did he know that?
2 - “Why didn’t you or someone on your team correct your close adviser David Axelrod when he said you had spoken to Blagojevich about picking your replacement?”
Last month, Axelrod unambiguously described a conversation between Obama and Blagojevich about filling the seat.
“I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names, many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them," Axelrod told an interviewer from Chicago’s Fox affiliate.
But then, Axelrod retracted the comment - after the president-elect asserted Tuesday that he hadn’t spoken to Blagojevich. Axelrod issued a statement saying he "was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then, or at any time, discuss the subject."
3. “When did you learn the investigation involved Blagojevich’s alleged efforts to ‘sell’ your Senate seat, or of the governor’s impending arrest?”
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said it was not until Tuesday that Obama learned the details of the complaint against Blagojevich - the same day it was released to the public - and wouldn’t say exactly when or how Obama was notified.
But at least some people got an early heads-up: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. told reporters that he was notified Monday night by federal prosecutors that the investigation was coming to a head, that an arrest was imminent and that Jackson was not a target.
4 - “Did you or anyone close to you contact the FBI or U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald about Blagojevich’s alleged efforts to sell your Senate seat to the highest bidder?”
Blagojevich seems to believe that Obama’s team was aware of - and had rejected - his offers, telling Harris in a wiretapped Nov. 11 conversation that Obama was “not willing to give (Blagojevich) anything except appreciation” for picking Jarrett.
If Blagojevich contacted anyone on Obama’s team even hinting at a possible pay-for-play arrangement, it seems they would have been obligated to report that to law enforcement.
One report out of Chicago suggested the possible tipster was Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s pick for chief of staff and a potential conduit for any communications frm Blagojevich’s office to Obama. But Emanuel’s office has denied that story.
5 - “Did federal investigators interview you or anyone close to you in the investigation?”
Fitzgerald said Tuesday he was “not going to speak for what the President-elect was aware of,” but it’s difficult to imagine his investigators did not reach out to Obama or his team during the course of the investigations into Blagojevich and businessman Tony Rezko, given how closely the subject matter involved Obama.
Rezko, a former Obama fundraiser who in June was convicted of 16 corruption-related counts, had alleged that prosecutors pushed him for dirt on both Blagojevich and Obama.
6 - “When did you and Blagojevich last speak and about what?”
Obama and Blagojevich both attended the National Governors Association meeting last week in Philadelphia and were photographed shaking hands at the event.
Before the meeting, Blagojevich was quoted saying he had asked Obama’s transition team for federal stimulus aid of $3 billion over the next three years to help fill Illinois’ estimated $2 billion deficit.
If Obama had spoken on the phone with him since Election Day, it’s conceivable that the conversation would have been recorded by the FBI, which in late October won a court order authorizing the wiretapping.
7 - “Do you regret supporting Blagojevich?”
Obama endorsed Blagojevich in his two gubernatorial runs and was among his key advisors during his first bid, in 2002.
During the governor’s reelection campaign in 2006 - with press reports swirling about a grand jury investigation into Blagojevich’s alleged jobs-for-contributions scheme - Obama praised the governor as a leader “who has delivered consistently on behalf of the people of Illinois.”
It doesn’t seem like he shared the same high regard for Obama, at least not lately, considering that during a Nov. 10 conference call with advisers he called his old political ally and the president-elect an obscene name.
Carrie Budoff Brown contributed.
By Kenneth P. Vogel and Carrie Budoff Brown
Copyright 2008 POLITICO
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Add a Comment See all 378 Comments
- "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.
Posted by dburfears at 07:59 PM : Dec 11, 2008"
You forget that they shook hands ... that''s the very incriminating part ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTldYbqlJc8 - Reply to this comment
- "Bush is still President, that makes him to be able to give, the now standing AG, special powers in this to get to the bottom of this. Obama or Congress has no powers to stop Bush in doing this.
Posted by beentheir1 at 08:50 PM : Dec 11, 2008"
Of course Congress has the power: a long overdue impeachment. - Reply to this comment
- "Anyone who has lived or done business in Chicago knows
how it works you can bet obama played ball one time or
another so get ready Fitzgerald is a bulldog and he
smells fear
Posted by likenoone at 11:05 PM : Dec 11, 2008"
Still didn''t get Cheney, tough ... only small fish like Libby. - Reply to this comment
- What evs.
Just don''''t forget to change the sheets my friend.
Sweet dreams.
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:25 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Yes, I know you support bailouts because you need one..hopefully Obama will fix your soul and help you - Reply to this comment
The country has bigger problems to tend to than your partisan hate and burning desire to lynch the President of the United States.
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:20 PM : Dec 11, 2008
I think the sale of a Senate seat is a big problem for the country. Besides that fact that bailouts have not and will not work. But at least Obama promises to increase federal funding for religious programs. Obama is another religious nut just like Bush.
Posted by titletrack at 11:23 PM : Dec 11, 2008
What evs.
Just don''t forget to change the sheets my friend.
Sweet dreams.- Reply to this comment
He did a news conference about it today. Did he answer your questions?
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:15 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Nope. I think there are tougher questions to ask. But perhaps Obama''''s friends Blago and Rezko will tell more about their activities.
Posted by titletrack at 11:19 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Perhaps you can have a wet dream about that tonight?
Good luck with that.
In the mean time, I suspect that most of the sane people in the country will wait for evidence of wrong doing before they sling ***** around.
Don''t forget to change the sheets in the morning.
That kind of thing can be embarrassing.
lol!- Reply to this comment
The country has bigger problems to tend to than your partisan hate and burning desire to lynch the President of the United States.
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:20 PM : Dec 11, 2008
I think the sale of a Senate seat is a big problem for the country. Besides that fact that bailouts have not and will not work. But at least Obama promises to increase federal funding for religious programs. Obama is another religious nut just like Bush.- Reply to this comment
- He did a news conference about it today. Did he answer your questions?
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:15 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Nope. I think there are tougher questions to ask. But perhaps Obama''s friends Blago and Rezko will tell more about their activities. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by AJMarine111 at 11:10 PM : Dec 11, 2008
It''''s very incriminating.
Rush Limbaugh is going to talk about it all day long tomorrow.
lol!
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:13 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Hannity will give him a work over on it too.
The very idea "French Fries",.....doesn''t Obama know people were just waiting for him to make a slip up like this.
It''s be fun, but I have to go. - Reply to this comment
- With Congress needing just two Senators to give the Dems complete control, I think he should be, and I think he is, very concerned with who gets his old job.
Posted by AJMarine111 at 10:55 PM : Dec 11, 2008
No, I think they need two in addition to the Obama, Biden, and Clinton replacements (assuming the replacements are all Democrats). - Reply to this comment
Yeah, I know.
I heard that his sisters ex-roomate''''''''s cousin''''''''s boyfriends caddy went to high school with Blagojevich.
Can you believe the nerve?!
I smell a rat here.
lol!
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:11 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Don''''t you want to hold your politicians accountable. It may be that Obama didn''''t do anything wrong. But the more they stay quiet, the more I think they are lying. Obama promised transparency, let''''s see it
Posted by titletrack at 11:14 PM : Dec 11, 2008
He did a news conference about it today. Did he answer your questions?- Reply to this comment
- Yeah, I know.
I heard that his sisters ex-roomate''''s cousin''''s boyfriends caddy went to high school with Blagojevich.
Can you believe the nerve?!
I smell a rat here.
lol!
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:11 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Don''t you want to hold your politicians accountable. It may be that Obama didn''t do anything wrong. But the more they stay quiet, the more I think they are lying. Obama promised transparency, let''s see it - Reply to this comment
I heard he call his freedom fries, "french fries".
Can you believe that?
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:06 PM : Dec 11, 2008
I hadn''''t heard that,....that is truely shocking.
Posted by AJMarine111 at 11:10 PM : Dec 11, 2008
It''s very incriminating.
Rush Limbaugh is going to talk about it all day long tomorrow.
lol!- Reply to this comment
- They have Blago on tape saying that there could be a deal with candidate 5 (jackson).
Posted by titletrack at 10:56 PM : Dec 11, 2008
They would need to have Jackson on tape, not just Blago''s say-so. - Reply to this comment
I just would like Obama to answer all of the medias question, turn over any records that may pertain to any connection to Blago. All in the name of transparency that Obama promised us. Is that fair?
Posted by titletrack at 11:08 PM : Dec 11, 2008
Yeah, I know.
I heard that his sisters ex-roomate''s cousin''s boyfriends caddy went to high school with Blagojevich.
Can you believe the nerve?!
I smell a rat here.
lol!- Reply to this comment
- I heard he call his freedom fries, "french fries".
Can you believe that?
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:06 PM : Dec 11, 2008
I hadn''t heard that,....that is truely shocking. - Reply to this comment
- I heard he call his freedom fries, "french fries".
Can you believe that?
He also doesn''''t wear a flag pin.
He must hate America.
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:06 PM : Dec 11, 2008
I just would like Obama to answer all of the medias question, turn over any records that may pertain to any connection to Blago. All in the name of transparency that Obama promised us. Is that fair? - Reply to this comment
Would you like him to tell you that he drowns puppies in his spare time?
How about that he wears socks that are made in France?
Oooooh...that''''''''s very unpatriotic!
lol!
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:00 PM : Dec 11, 2008
How about just a press conference to answer all the medias questions? That would do for me...I mean he did promise to be transparent.
Posted by titletrack at 11:01 PM : Dec 11, 2008
I heard he call his freedom fries, "french fries".
Can you believe that?
He also doesn''t wear a flag pin.
He must hate America.- Reply to this comment
- Anyone who has lived or done business in Chicago knows
how it works you can bet obama played ball one time or
another so get ready Fitzgerald is a bulldog and he
smells fear - Reply to this comment
Would you like him to tell you that he drowns puppies in his spare time?
How about that he wears socks that are made in France?
Oooooh...that''''''''s very unpatriotic!
lol!
Posted by CaribouBarbi at 11:00 PM : Dec 11, 2008
How about just a press conference to answer all the medias questions? That would do for me...I mean he did promise to be transparent.
Posted by titletrack at 11:01 PM : Dec 11, 2008
He did a press conference today. Did he not answer questions?- Reply to this comment
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