Obama Claims He “Was Not Aware Of What Was Happening” With Blagojevich

• December 10, 2008

An interesting claim from Obama:

President-elect Obama said Tuesday afternoon that he had not been in contact with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and “was not aware of what was happening.”

But according to section 104 of the affidavit filed by federal authorities today someone in the Obama camp was talking to Blago’s people:

Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them.”

It appears, for now at least, that Obama’s people were declining to engage Blago in any quid pro quo, but it does put Obama in an awkward spot. Did he really not know that Blago wanted something in return for the Senate appointment or is he lying?
And if Obama knew, was it his camp that reported this to federal authorities? Because if it wasn’t, Obama’s in some hot water for essentially being complicit in covering up the shady dealings of a political ally.

Tags: Domestic Issues, Politics

http://Array Eddie_the_Hated

Obama refused to engage in discussion of illegal activities, no less illegal activities themselves.

His chronic lack of prudence in association is nothing more than a mark on his judgement, not his character. I see nothing wrong here from the Obama team (short of some lower-level staffer not notifying the authorities), nor do I see a distinct connection betwee the two.

When scandals like this arise, we need to be careful to select those responsible. Reagan’s media-twisted contra affair anyone?
moxyfire

I am from Illinois and we are dominated by Democrats. The last 30+ years the Democrats have controlled our legislature and they have done nothing good.

This is downright embarrassing for our state.

To be honest, most of downstate Illinois would prefer Chicago just become its own state.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

without Chicago, Illinois would be as backwards, ignorant and dirt poor as the south!

This moment of moronic bigotry is brought to you by…Dino!
Dino

But moxyfire, without Chicago, Illinois would be as backwards, ignorant and dirt poor as the south!
bustoff

This oughta be fun to watch. Welcome to the sleaze pit that is Illinois politics. Coming soon to a White House near you.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

From the Blago complaint:

c. ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another
consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to “suck it
up” for two years and do nothing and give this “motherfucker [the President-elect] his
senator. Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him.” ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will put
“[Senate Candidate 4]” in the Senate “before I just give fucking [Senate Candidate 1] a
fucking Senate seat and I don’t get anything.”

104. On November 11, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH talked with JOHN HARRIS
about the Senate seat. ROD BLAGOJEVICH suggested starting a 501(c)(4) organization (a non-profit organization that may engage in political activity and lobbying) and getting “his (believed to be the President-elect’s) friend Warren Buffett or some of those guys to help us on something like that.” HARRIS asked, “what, for you?” ROD BLAGOJEVICH replied, “yeah.” Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that if he appoints Senate Candidate 4 to the Senate seat and, thereafter, it appears that ROD BLAGOJEVICH might get impeached, he could “count on [Senate Candidate 4], if things got hot, to give [the Senate seat] up and let me parachute over there.” HARRIS said, “you can count on [Senate Candidate 4] to do that.” Later in the conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH said he knows that the President-elect wants Senate Candidate 1 for the Senate seat but “they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them.”
Onslaught

You know, now would probably be a good time for that ol’ birth certificate to make it’s triumphal appearance on the scene.

As good as bombing an aspirin factory, for the same reason.
Hawk

For all you know the conversation was in the form, “Hey, we would appreciate it if you would consider XXXX to fill the open Senate seat.”
di butler

Duckworth comments on consideration for Senate
By Alexis Hunt
Saturday, November 08, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.
QUINCY, IL — Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled.
Obama met with Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week to discuss it. Illinois law states that the governor chooses that replacement. There’s already been speculation about his selection…from Congressman Jesse Jackson, Junior to Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

I don’t know exactly what they discussed, but it seems they were doing some talking about something.

BTW,

It is getting really old that every arguement Dino has, has to be some denigration about the people in the South being ignorant trash. I’m really getting tired of it. I’m also really sick of his faggy ass…..I was nice enough to post a chart for Dino showing him the statistics of the fastest growing cities in the US, but because everyone was moving to the South, he ignored it. Then I asked him if he was saying all the gays down here are ignorant trash. Again, he ignored it. I guess the only good gays are the ones from where he lives.
Lionheart

Of course he did. Obama knew nothing of Rev Wright’s sermons. He knew nothing of Ayer’s background. He knows nothing about Rezco (sp?) Just doesn’t know a thing.
2Hotel9

To bad Barri and The Rug were in daily contact for the last few years.
Lioncourt

Since all of Blogo’s conversations were on tape I am sure that if he spoke with Obama it will come out on tape.
2Hotel9

Gang, Barri is the Senator from Ill., the Governor is the sole deciding factor in replacing a Senator when he leaves that office during his elected term, the Senator leaving consulting with the Governor as to that replace in all cases other than the Governor/State Attorney General removing said Senator.

Add to that the minor point that Barri talked, face to face, with BlagoDaRug on November 5th, and again a week or 10 days later.
welder4

Proof : A picture is worth a thousand words in this case two thousand, good shot of the sgt.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

The patron saint of the Obama Administration:
ews48

Everyone in Chicago knows that his is how it works. They couldn’t wait to get to the bars to talk and laugh about it shaking their heads while wondering who he made mad. The only shocking thing about it is the honesty that the Governor did his business with. Everyone’s looking over their shoulder now. The judge didn’t do him any favors when he was let out for $4500. Protective custody is in order. People will continue to believe Obama when he says that he knew nothing, saw nothing, took nothing, and owes nothing.

When Daily was mayor, the press asked him if he awarded the multi-million dollar insurance contract at O’Hare to his son on a no bid basis. He said, “Yeah! He’s my son. What would you do?”
Lance

For having unprecedented access to information in America, Barry sure isn’t aware of much.

He also wasn’t aware that Bill Ayers was a terrorist, or where his campaign contributions came from, or that the reverend that presided over his marriage was a bigot, etc. etc…but that’s old news, so my point is, chalk up another “I wasn’t aware” to Barry’s list.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

For all you know the conversation was in the form, “Hey, we would appreciate it if you would consider XXXX to fill the open Senate seat.”

Per section 104 of the affidavit that led to Blaggo’s arrest someone in the Obama camp was talking quid pro quo.

It does appear the Obama people turned Blago down, but it also appears as though it wasn’t the Obama people who turned Blago in either.

Which is problematic in its own right.

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Obama Claims He “Was Not Aware Of What Was Happening” With Blagojevich

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