rssObama: No Contact With Blagojevich
Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 3:56 pm
- 8 Comments
Following a meeting in Chicago about energy policy and climate change with former Vice President Al Gore and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, which was likely planned to be the big news story of the day, President-elect Barack Obama instead found himself talking about the shocking arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
While seated at a table with the past and future vice presidents, Obama gave a statement to reporters about the meeting. As the press were being herded out of the room, a reporter called out a question asking if Obama was aware of Blagojevich’s efforts to “sell” Obama’s recently-vacated Senate seat, which Obama agreed to answer.
“I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so we were not — I was not aware of what was happening, and as I said it is a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”
I couldn’t help but notice that Obama slipped and started to say “we were not aware,” before correcting himself and saying he was not aware of what was happening. This might lend some credibility to a local news report out of Chicago that Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s chief of staff, blew the whistle on Blagojevich’s activities. If this was the case, Emanuel would have had contact with the governor or his office on the matter.
Here is part of Obama’s statement on the meeting with Gore, the pool report:
“The purpose of this meeting today was to listen and learn from Vice President Al Gore on the extraordinary work that he has done around the issue of climate change. All three of us are in agreement that the time for delay is over. The time for denial is over. We all believe what the scientists have been telling us for years now, that this is a matter of urgency and national security, and it has to be dealt with in a serious way. That is what I intend my administration to do.”
Obama also reaffirmed his commitment to use the current economic crisis as an opportunity to create green jobs, increase energy efficiency and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Update: TPM reports that a source close to Emanuel says the tip-off story is false.
8 Comments
Comment posted December 9, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Rahm Emanuel blew the whistle on Blagojevich? Did he get into a time machine to do this because a majority of the indictment refers to Blagojevich's dealings with Rezko bagman Ali Ata beginning in 2002.
Nice try team Obama.
Comment posted December 9, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
I didn't mean to imply that Emanuel blew the whistle on everything Blagojevich is accused of. The news report I link says Emanuel may have contacted the Feds re: the Senate seat.
Here's a quote:
CONATY: We did receive a tip this morning that perhaps all of this came together so quickly because the Governor may have reached out to Rahm Emanuel, the president-elect’s chief of staff, in attempting to leverage filling the Senate seat. And it may have been Rahm Emanuel who tipped the scale and made this move as quickly as it did.
Comment posted December 9, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
Axelrod says Obama talked to Blagojevich about the emtpy senate seat two weeks ago. The Obama team just said that Axelrod 'misspoke'. Funny how that took such a long time to correct. Either someone is lying or the Obama team is filled with misspeaking idiots. (or both)
Comment posted December 17, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
Many very credible scientist say global warming cause by man/co2 is a complete fraud. So I guess it depends on which “experts “you choose to believe. Global warming is just another excuse to raise taxes and gain control. Anyone notice the ice caps are back?
Comment posted December 19, 2008 @ 2:44 am
Some people want to ruin other people’s lives particularly personality. What could be the motives on doing this nonsense but sinful act? Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois, just might have seen his last payday in office. He may not, however, be the only politician accused of being drunk with power. In the wake of some high profile scandals, the Australian Parliament may have to start taking breathalyzer tests when reporting to work. A member of one of the major parties had to resign his position as spokesperson as a result of his being caught roughing up a female colleague after a Christmas party. Several people holding political office in the country have been busted for drinking related offenses in the last few years. The public has been receptive to the idea thus far, as drinking on the job isn't tolerated in any sector of industry, and officials charged with the helm of an entire nation should certainly not be drunk at work, just as people cannot be drunk at the wheel with their finances. A sober look at the budget is paramount, and any short-term gaps have to contemplated seriously, as well as the options for short term financing, such as payday loans. Click here to read the full article yourself on the payday loan money blog at personalmoneystore.com.
Comment posted May 1, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
good… blagojevich is bad news. it's amazing he hung around as long as he did! he's going to be needing to take out payday loans now!
Comment posted May 2, 2009 @ 12:02 am
good… blagojevich is bad news. it's amazing he hung around as long as he did! he's going to be needing to take out payday loans now!
Comment posted January 17, 2011 @ 8:03 am
Interesting post. It seems to me that every news about some horrible things about the weather is just another problem which have to distract people from the really important. Such like what we should do with economic crisis? Obama gives nice promises, but if he could hold it, it’s another question.
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