Obama: Staff Not Involved In Ill. Scandal

President-Elect Says He Was As "Appalled And Disappointed As Anyone" About Charges Against Gov. Blagojevich

(CBS/ AP)  President-elect Barack Obama attempted to clear both himself and his staff of any taint connected with charges the Illinois governor put Obama's Senate seat up for sale, saying Thursday he was "absolutely certain" there was no involvement with the alleged dealmaking.

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.

[dave_p5]

Alright everyone, there we go. Let''s move on...

[yellow651]

How does the sand feel all around your head like that? This is Chicago politics 101 and nobody wants to hear it.

[nolalou]

It sounds to me that IF someone on Obama''s staff had a conversation with Gov Blagojevich about the open senate seat, and if the governor asked for ''payback'' and that offer was rejected, then the worse the Obama team can be accused of is failure to report it to the authorities. (there are also reports that the prosecutor was tipped off by Obama''s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel)

[shoebox119]

Obama sat in Jeremiah Wright''''s church for 20 years and says he didn''''t know about Wright''''s views.

Obama worked with Bill Ayers on government-funded projects but says he barely knows him.

Obama and Rezko bought adjacent real estate lots on the same day which ended up as a financial advantage to Obama, but Obama says he didn''''t know much about him. ..and on and on.

Obama worked on Blagojevich''''s first governor election campaign as an advisor...and now he is distancing himself from that relationship with Blagojevich.

I am ashamed to admit that Obama will be our president.

How many people can he run from?
What next?

Posted by Joe10005

________

Still pouting from McCain''s stinging defeat, huh, Joe?

[endurorob]

Alright everyone, there we go. Let''''s move on...


Posted by Dave_P5

So we just take him at his word and just move on like we would any politician?

[shoebox119]

So we just take him at his word and just move on like we would any politician?

Posted by endurorob

_______

No, but until there''s any information that would suggest otherwise, those who voted for Obama will believe him and those who didn''t will immediately believe in a cover-up.

What else is new in America?

[endurorob]

No, but until there''''s any information that would suggest otherwise, those who voted for Obama will believe him and those who didn''''t will immediately believe in a cover-up.

What else is new in America?

Posted by shoebox119

It just shows the trust our leaders have instilled in us.

[clancy49]

Blago loves his wife. He wanted to give her a better job. Surely BO understands. He made certain his wife had a high paying board job. I feel sorry for Blago. He is wondering what on earth he did that was criminal. This wife seating and money palming is standard operating procedure for American politics. If a board seat is good for Ms. BO, surely a board seat is good for Ms. Blago. This is the way American Politicians Work and it isn''t just Chicago. If God came down and said He was going to destroy the United States unless we could give him one honest politician, we would be doomed and would need to pack our bags for another country quick.

[shoebox119]

Everyone remember Clinton coming on TV banging his fist on the table and telling the whole world "I did not have $ex with that woman"

He really believed it just like Obama believes he''''s done nothing wrong. Its called Patholigical Liberalism.

Posted by hillaryin016

_________

Well, what do you know? From your moniker, one can only guess there''s still a Hillary nut hanging from the tree.

I''m surprised you didn''t compare Obama to Richard Nixon, but then, you might be accused of being fair and balanced in your insightful comment.

[jxknowles]

Blagojevich will get what''s coming to him and Obama is doing the appropriate thing. He''s moving on with transition to clean up the ''KRAPBAG'' Bush left in the White House.

Get your shovels out people. We have a lot of George Bush BS to shovel back to Texas.

[thcarson-2009]

%u201CWhy didn%u2019t you or someone on your team correct your close adviser David Axelrod when he said you had spoken to Blagojevich about picking your replacement?%u201D

Last month, Axelrod unambiguously described a conversation between Obama and Blagojevich about filling the seat.

%u201CI 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%u2019s Fox affiliate.

But then, Axelrod retracted the comment - after the president-elect asserted Tuesday that he hadn%u2019t 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."

[dave_p5]

"Alright everyone, there we go. Let''''''''s move on...


Posted by Dave_P5

So we just take him at his word and just move on like we would any politician?" - endurorob

The FBI is all over this, they''ve been recording Blagojevich''s calls for a while. I think we''d know by now if Obama was involved.

[unmunificent]

Still pouting from McCain''''s stinging defeat, huh, Joe?

Posted by shoebox119
_______
HA HA HA. You''re an A*S*S! Dead wrong. We''re waiting for the other shoe to drop. We''re waiting to say, "We told you so!" It''s just a matter of time.

[shoebox119]

Blagojevich will get what''''s coming to him and Obama is doing the appropriate thing. He''''s moving on with transition to clean up the ''''KRAPBAG'''' Bush left in the White House.

Get your shovels out people. We have a lot of George Bush BS to shovel back to Texas.

Posted by jxknowles

______


Just make sure the BS gets to the right place... you know the one. It''s that posh neighborhood in Dallas where homes run $2 million or more. Imagine, while the economy continues to tank and millions of Americans lose their jobs and their homes, the one very ignorant man responsible for most of it will be sitting back in his rocker and patting himself on the back for a "job well done."

[nanc12]

I am ashamed to admit that Obama will be our president.

Posted by Joe10005

That''s ok, you can sit and be ashamed, while 79% of the country is very happy with him so far.

[bigsk8fan]

this blagovich sounds more like a republican than a democrat. he would fit very nicely in the bush/cheney administration. he could dole out the ''no bid'' blackwater iraqi security contracts.

[shoebox119]

Still pouting from McCain''''''''s stinging defeat, huh, Joe?

Posted by shoebox119
_______
HA HA HA. You''''re an A*S*S! Dead wrong. We''''re waiting for the other shoe to drop. We''''re waiting to say, "We told you so!" It''''s just a matter of time.

Posted by unmunificent

_______


I stand corrected... make that TWO pouters who still can''t get over the stinging defeat of their candidate and his sidekick, "you betcha."

[endurorob]

That''''''''s ok, you can sit and be ashamed, while 79% of the country is very happy with him so far.


Posted by nanc12 at 12:14 PM : Dec 11, 2008

Happy with what. He hasn''t done anything but appoint some retreads and open a transition office and tell one of his people to say he mispoke so Obama wouldn''t look bad.

[drputt45]

Doggone that Axelrod for telling the truth. When will he learn that Obama will determine what the truth is and Axelrod can only say what he is told to say. Those pesty political aides.

[cpelzar--2008]

The ConDumbists falsely assume that we elected another ******* to the White House as they did in 1980, 1984, 2000, and 2004. Its gotta really suck these days to be a ConDumbass. Barack Obama described Americas White Trash perfectly last spring when he referred to them as bitter (white trash) clinging to their guns and their phony Christianity. Get a life, ConDumbasses!

Posted by ConDumbistan at 12:22 PM : Dec 11, 2008

Nixon said he was innocent too.

[shortestfuse]

Obama: "I didn''t inhale, I mean, I did not have *** with that woman, I mean, it depends on what the meaning of ''is'' is, I mean, I had no conversation with Blagojevich suggesting that he name my preferred replacement for my Senate seat."

Recycled politics, recycled appointments, recycled lies.

[endurorob]

Nixon said he was innocent too.


Posted by CPelzar

98% of the prisoners in our prison system are innocent.

[endurorob]

Today the Republicon White Trash of the USA are cheering the fact that AIG is giving our bailout money to their employees in the form of bonus money. No wonder the Republicon White Trash are trying to change the subjuect and fabricate lies about Barack Obama. All you McCain Nazis really need to get a life of your own!


Posted by ConDumbistan

Is everybody that doesn''t agree with you white trash?

[cpelzar--2008]

Today the Republicon White Trash of the USA are cheering the fact that AIG is giving our bailout money to their employees in the form of bonus money. No wonder the Republicon White Trash are trying to change the subjuect and fabricate lies about Barack Obama. All you McCain Nazis really need to get a life of your own!

Posted by ConDumbistan at 12:28 PM : Dec 11, 2008

As well as the Democratic Leadership in Congress that approved everything. Did you really think that people that make what Federal Employees make could out maneuver Billionaires. What a joke.

That is why the Auto Bailout is going down faster than Monica.

[ghwab1949]

Obama continues to get a free pass from the press and the benefit of wishful thinking from many Americans. Tony Rezko was one of his fundraisers and transferred to him personally land that he uses in his sideyard. He lied to the American public about his not using privately raised money until he found he could raise 3/4s of a billion dollars. He and his campaign have held David Axelrod out to be one of his spokesmen. Axelrod could not have been clearer that President-elect Obama and Governor Blagojevich had personally spoken about who would replace Obama. The FBI Affidavit and the Governor''s own words make clear that there were contacts at least between Obama''s staff and the Governor''s. Change we can believe in? Obama has proven himself time and time again to be a politician of the old school. A Chicago politician is going to talk ethics to anyone? Obama is likely as dirty as they come. Just wait until Blagojevich flips on him and we are faced with the possibilty of a criminal complaint against a sitting president. What did Nixon say? "I am not a crook." Right.

[smb127]

Great. Another first for Obama. Usually it takes the second term of a president before he is so mired in scandal to become useless. Obama managed to do so before he is even sworn in. God help this country, we will surely need it.

[cpelzar--2008]

Nixon said he was innocent too.


Posted by CPelzar

98% of the prisoners in our prison system are innocent.

Posted by endurorob at 12:29 PM : Dec 11, 2008

I love it great post. Blago says he''s innocent as well.

[credibility2]

To ConDumbistan at 12:28 PM: What an ignorant racist thing to say. I''m not aware of any Repubs, white or black, cheering this on. Blame the Dem controlled Congress for pushing the initial bailout through without any scrutiny, mandates, conditions or over-sight. If you recall the Dem controlled Congress was ramming this down everyone''s throats so they could get out of town for the last minute campaigning and general election period in November. Blame them for this, not the Repubs.

[toobigtofail]

i can see why (how) the founding fathers were afraid of direct participatory democracy...they had presidents elected by electors or state legislators, and senators electede not by the people but again by state legislators

over and over on this and other web sites the bad language, fact starved hate filled speech makes it pretty scary to think about half the people around here having the power and authority to rule over others

it would be helpful if people would argue facts, provide links to support and keep it polit

[toobigtofail]

RowdynTex

can you give us a link to a news story 9not a bloggers opinion piece) that reports obama brokered for his replacement on Nov 5th

back up your allegation please

[cpelzar--2008]

And now, here come the conspiracy theorists. Has it occured to any of you dimwitted Republicans that Obama might be telling the truth, or that he was unaware of any deal made between Blagojevich and a member of his staff as of yet? Of course not! Obama is nothing more than a smooth talking politician that beat John McBush like a rented mule last election. He is no more than the progeny of the corrupt " Chicago political machine" that spawned the likes of Blagojevich, Rostenkowski and others. Yes, even though on the tapes Blagojevich himself is complaining about Obama''''s refusal to ''''play ball'''', clearly, he had to have some to do with this. Even when---yes, I said when---the President-elect (something no one can say about Bush) is cleared of any wrongdoing, Republican''''ts will still try to link him to a crooked politician, probably for years to come. Try all you like. I do so enjoy watching you conservative morons fail...

Posted by tj217 at 12:36 PM : Dec 11, 2008

Obama is always unaware of things around him, Reverend Wright, Bill Ayres, Tony Rezko and now Blago.

He seems pretty stupid doesn''t he?

[nanc12]

Who makes such a bragadocious claim? Some corrupt mainstrem new media!? His own LEFTIST COMMIES don''''t even like what he''''s doing!

Posted by RowdynTex

Yeah, every news outlet that isn''t your favorite, Faux News is commie, right, McCarthy?

''Americans approve of Barack Obama in greater numbers than they did George W. Bush and Bill Clinton during similar periods, a CNN poll indicates.

''Nearly eight in 10 Americans polled in the CNN-Opinion Research Corp. survey released Tuesday indicated they thought the president-elect was doing well during the transition, CNN said. The 79 percent approval rating is 14 points higher than the approval rating for Bush before he took office in 2001 and 17 points higher than Clinton''s rating in 1992 during his transition.

Only 18 percent of those polled indicated they disapprove of Obama''s performance, pollsters said.''

[cpelzar--2008]

Let''''s see...I guess then it was Nancy Pelosi that got on TV, and tried the same old scare tactics that had won her the last presidential election (along w/ the cheating) to persuade the American people to go along with this bailout...which apparently is not working so well. Hmmm, unless Nancy Pelosi is the president and is a Republican, this is all Bush''''s doing. Period.

Posted by tj217 at 12:39 PM : Dec 11, 2008

Uhh Nancy did go on TV and chastised the Republicans for not passing the bill the first time around.

[berniew4]

To reverse the words of MRS OBAMA . For the first time in my life I am ashamed of our country. To have a lying corrupt Obama about to enter the White House and so many willing to defend his lies and NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS COWARDS Oh well wwe survived Clinton''s *** life but this man ios much worst.

[dave_p5]

"Ohhhhhh, the spin doctors in the media are out in full force trying to distance Obiwanana from Blagojevich''s office, even though he went PERSONALLY on Nov. 5th to broker the senate seat (wink wink no wiretap wink wink)!!!

PRICELESS!" - RowdynTex

Ohhhhhh, you are just DESPARATE to see Obama go down, aren''t you? The FBI is all over this, they''ve been taping Blagojevich''s calls. I think we''d know by now if Obama was involved.

Step away from the computer and wait for further instructions.

[toobigtofail]

RowdynTex

can you give us a link to a news story (not a bloggers opinion piece) that reports obama brokered for his replacement on Nov 5th

this is the second time ive asked

back up your allegation please

[cariboubarbi]

Wingnuts,


There is no evidence whatsoever that Obama was in any way involved in this.

Try being an American for once in your miserable life, instead of a petty, hate-filled, partisan boob.

[toobigtofail]

rowdyntex wrote

Too funny! The main stream news media is pulling copies of its articles off their websites, and threatening blogspots to pull copies and links with claims of copywrite infringement...any articles that show Obiwanana''''s support for Blagojevich!!!!

---

can you back that up with one single example?

or do you just make this stuff up?

[toobigtofail]

RowdynTex

can you give us a link to a news story (not a bloggers opinion piece) that reports obama brokered for his replacement on Nov 5th

this is the third time ive asked

if you dont back up your baseless allegation you will have to change your handle cause everyone here will know you just make stuff up

and i for one will just skip over your posts

[credibility2]

To tj217 at 12:39 PM: The Dems like Pelosi, Reid, and Frank were desperate to get out of town and didn''t bother to demand more of the specifics in the initial bailout. Yes, they did ram it down throats, almost to the point of coercion, just so they could get their sorry behinds home where the really important things were, like campaigning for their buddies and making sure they were elected. Now, they''re complaining and whining about what AIG did. If they''re that disgusted, let them pass legislation to halt any more money being used. Perhaps they could try starting a trend - post-earmarking, or I should have known better and now need to cover my sorry behind. And in terms of Pelosi, now her latest indignant hissy fit is to coerce the Senate into passing the House interim bailout of the big 3 by already coming out with a threat that if the Senate changes anything to what they passed yesterday and pass an amended version, she wouldn''t be calling a special session. Pelosi is spineless and only cares about things being done her way or no way at all. She''s a disgrace to the electorate.

[toobigtofail]

RowdynTex

you claimed (posted below) that news outlets are pulling stories about obama and Rago off their web sites

can you provide a link or cite a specific example or do you just make stuff like this up

[gowens1]

YOU WERE WRONG NEOCONS!!!!!! Take your racist views back to Texas with George Bush. Stupid is as stupid does, duh, you morons....

[cariboubarbi]

Wingnuts,


You are clearly seething with hate and contempt for all things Democratic.

You are just aching for a chance to tear Obama down even though there is absolutely no evidence of him being involved in this.

In your blinding hate you fail to see that, at this critical point in OUR nations history, if Obama fails, we all fail.

Try being an American for once in your miserable life, instead of a petty, hate-filled, partisan boob.

We''re all in this sinking ship together. We''re all Americans.

So stop ********* and start bailing!

[gowens1]

Rowdy can''t provide anyhting accept acusations and lies, that''s what REPUBLISCUMS do, just like Karl Rove....

[txlakeside]

Rowdy is just a dumb as dirt neoCON that is still crying about a demo black man that got elected. He is a perfect example of why so many white folks like myself voted Obama ... we are tired of dumb as dirt idiots that will lie trying to get their way!

[toobigtofail]

RowdynTex

it would cost you less words to just re post your link rather than all the blather about how you did already and you dont care if i saw it

i think you dont have any evidence that news web sites are pulling stories and i think you have no evidence that obama brokered a deal on nov 5 with gov blago

i will believe you make stuff up until you post a link to a reputable news outlet like AP, reuters, any major city newspaper or big four fox, cbs, msnbc, etc documenting you allegation

i suspect you are faking, but im willing to be proven wrong...show us we are waiting

[gowens1]

There you go again Rowdy, spouting at the mouth and still no proof....

[gowens1]

Bush and Cheney created hte reason for the bail out in the first place through deregulation and letting the criminal CEO''s ru rampant ove rthe economy.

[perceptions5]

And the "plot" thickens.............the web grows even bigger. Will Obama get caught in it like the rest of his political and business pals?

Apparently when Obama engaged in "personal corruption" in his special real estate deal with convicted felon Rekzo for his mansion the real estate agent for that corrupt deal was Blago''''s wife............oh my God!

If the Governor and his wife decide to sing for Fitzpatrick Obama could be finally included in this web of corruption......

Of course the Liberal Fascists in our MSM wolfpack press can''t report this FACT.

So I will.................

Corrupt liberal press if you can''t report the news/facts then get the hell out of the way...............

[gowens1]

You NEOCON losers are just upset because Obama didn''t have anyhting to do with this and you can''t start anything now.