Did Obama Promise Powell An Appointment In Exchange For An Endorsement?
Right after Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama, The One was gushing about the importance of the endorsement and said that Powell could have a place in his cabinet if he wanted it.
WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says that former secretary of state Colin Powell is welcome to campaign for him and might have a place in his administration.
Powell crossed party lines Sunday and endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Obama told NBC’s “Today” show Monday that Powell “will have a role as one of my advisers.” Whether Powell wants to take a formal role, Obama said, would be “something we’d have to discuss.
It should be noted that exchanging federal appointments for political endorsements is expressly illegal:
US Code TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 29 > 599.
Promise of appointment by candidate
Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
Of course, these sort of quid pro quo arrangements are impossible to prove in court (who’s going to talk, Obama? Powell?), it’s a scenario to keep in mind as Powell’s endorsement of Obama is considered.
