Obama: Staff Not Involved In Ill. Scandal
President-Elect Says He Was As "Appalled And Disappointed As Anyone" About Charges Against Gov. Blagojevich
-
Play CBS Video Video Obama: Resign Blagojevich President-elect Barack Obama, and 49 Senators are calling for Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's resignation. As Dean Reynolds reports, Blagojevich is not stepping down.
-
Video Profile: Gov. Rod Blagojevich With an approval rating of just 4 percent, Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces mounting criticism over the alleged "pay-for-play" scandal. Katie Couric chronicles the career of this politician.
-
Video Illinois Politics In Turmoil As Gov. Rod Blagojevich's fate remains undecided after allegedly trying to sell a U.S. senate seat, Cynthia Bowers reports that many in the state are frustrated with political corruption.
-
-
President-elect Barack Obama listens to a question during a news conference in Chicago, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
-
President-elect Barack Obama made comments about the scandal involving Illinois Gov. Rod. Blagojevich at a news conference where he announced former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle as his choice for secretary of health and human services. (CBS)
-
President-elect Barack Obama introduces former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Thursday, Dec. 11,2008, during a news conference in Chicago. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
-
-
Interactive Political Scandals Politics can be a strange and dirty business. Check out some of the biggest missteps and mishaps in recent history.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges that he put Obama's seat up for bidding. The governor has ignored calls for his resignation and retains the power to appoint Mr. Obama's replacement.
Mr. Obama also said once again that he had no discussions about the seat he is vacating with the Democratic governor.
"I have never spoken to the governor on this subject," he said. He bluntly called for the Illinois Democrat to resign.
"I was as appalled and disappointed as anyone," Mr. Obama added at a news conference called to announce a series of new appointments to the administration he is setting up.
He also for the first time addressed the issue of whether his transition staff had any contacts.
"I am confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat," Mr. Obama said. "I think the materials released by the U.S. attorney reflect that fact." As to whether any aides were involved in Blagojevich's alleged dealmaking schemes, he said he was "absolutely certain" they were not.
Mr. Obama did say: "I've asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor's office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days."
Of interest will be the activities of soon-to-be White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, a veteran of Chicago politics and past associate of Blagojevich, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds. Emanuel was not standing in his customary spot at Mr. Obama's press conference today.
Also of interest is Valerie Jarrett, a confidante of Mr. Obama's now destined for the White House staff. She is mentioned on page 60 of the criminal complaint as "Senatorial Candidate Number 1" in a conversation that has Blagojevich allegedly plotting to win a Cabinet post for himself by naming her to the Senate, reports Reynolds.
Mr. Obama said "I think the public trust has been violated" and said he did not think that the governor "at this point can effectively serve" Illinois.
He also said he wants to make sure the selection of a new senator isn't tainted.
Mr. Obama said neither he nor his staff had been contacted by federal officials in connection with the probe.
Also at the news conference, he introduced former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as his choice to be secretary of health and human services and said he favored congressional passage of short-term loans to rescue the U.S. auto industry.
"The President-elect is quickly discovering how a political scandal like this can impair his ability to deliver a message," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "In a press conference called to announce his choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, three of the four questions asked were instead focused solely on the Illinois governor. Even while there is no evidence that he or members of his team are involved in any impropriety, the fact that Obama said his staff is still gathering facts about what contacts might have been made means this story will continue to touch his transition as he prepares to take office."
Mr. Obama said he worries about the public perception of political leaders as a result of scandals such as the one now surrounding Blagojevich.
He said scandals like the one in his state does a disservice to "many of us on both sides of the aisle who have upheld the highest standards."
Asked if he or anyone on his transition staff has been contacted by federal authorities in connection with the case, Mr. Obama replied: "I have not been contacted by any federal officials and we have not been interviewed by them, as is reflected in the U.S. attorneys report."
He said the public deserves to know that "any vacancy will be filled in an appropriate way."
"Let me say that this Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade. It belongs to the people of Illinois, and they deserve the best possible representation," Mr. Obama said.
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."





Let the fun begin!
Call Transition Headquarters:
202-540-3000 press option # 2 for a live person
Email Valerie Jarrett Co-Chair Transition
vjarrett@barackobama.com
and demand he be fired
Email Valerie Jarrett Co-Chair Transition
vjarrett@barackobama.com
http://w
ww.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32167608&o
p=1&o=all&view=all&subj=34012273446&aid=
-1&oid=34012273446&id=44200308
hussein: I did not have verbal relations with that man, Gov. Blagojevich.
Clinton: I did not have se*ual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.
Some things NEVER change
Sorry. He was a very funny man that made me laugh many times.
Posted by mr22258 at 10:44 AM : Dec 12, 2008
Why should we take your OPINIONS as FACTS?
He is kind of like Sergeant Schultz.
I guess Obama is seeing the way people are.
Wait till he gets to Washington and finds out some of the dems there are crooks too ! ! !
He has alot to learn. He trusts people too much.
He saw good in Rev. Wright. That is hard to do !
politicians mouth, this is absolutely horrible.
But we are to believe this great new leader, the man for change, ha ha ha ha, what a joke on all the people that voted for him.
I had no idea what was going on. No idea ! ! !
I am here to change Washington. I don''t know what goes on in Chicago !
Posted by mr22258
Like I said, mr22258 is a moron!
"appalled and disappointed"
why not also use the word "surprised"?