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Politics : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (149771)	12/11/2008 9:11:32 AM
From: TideGlider	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 173976

Thursday, December 11, 2008 WASHINGTON NEWS Scandal Fraught With Political Risk For Obama As calls for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's resignation mount, media reports and analyses are pointing to possible signs of political danger for President-elect Barack Obama. Under the headline "Obama Team Faces An Early Test Of Its Ability To Weather A Storm," for example, the New York Times reports that "exactly what role" Obama "or his team played will be a focus of intense scrutiny in the weeks to come," and "in that sense, the furor could be the first test of the Obama team's ability to manage a growing scandal." While Obama "said Tuesday that he had never spoken with the governor about the seat," his team "has declined for two days to answer questions about what discussions they had about the seat and whether intermediaries had any contacts with Mr. Blagojevich's advisers." The AP, meanwhile, notes Obama "wouldn't answer a question on whether he was aware of any conversations between the governor and his top aides, including incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel." Moreover, "aides didn't say whether Emanuel, a Democratic Illinois congressman, was ever approached by the governor's emissaries involved in allegedly corrupt schemes. Nor did they say whether Obama is investigating his own ranks to determine whether any of his staffers had contact with the governor or his office." Bloomberg News refers to "collateral damage and a taint on Obama's transition to power," while in a piece titled "Big Risks For Obama In Blago Scandal," The Politico calls the scandal "a stink bomb tossed at close range" for the Obama camp." The Politico also poses "7 Blago Questions For Obama" this morning. They are: "1 'Did you communicate directly or indirectly with Blagojevich about picking your replacement in the US Senate?' ... 2 'Why didn't you or someone on your team correct your close adviser David Axelrod when he said you had spoken to Blagojevich about picking your replacement?' ... 3. 'When did you learn the investigation involved Blagojevich's alleged efforts to 'sell' your Senate seat, or of the governor's impending arrest?' ... 4 'Did you or anyone close to you contact the FBI or US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald about Blagojevich's alleged efforts to sell your Senate seat to the highest bidder?' ... 5 'Did federal investigators interview you or anyone close to you in the investigation?' ... 6 'When did you and Blagojevich last speak and about what?' ... 7 'Do you regret supporting Blagojevich?'" USA Today quotes Emory University political scientist Merle Black saying that "questions about the Blagojevich case will be a 'huge distraction'" for Obama's team, "and they need to address" the scandal "as soon as possible.'" The Washington Post, AFP and Chicago Tribune run additional stories in the ongoing scandal. Source: There Were "Probably" Calls Between Blagojevich, Obama Camp The New York Times reports this morning, "A Democrat familiar with Illinois politics and the Obama transition, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said there probably were calls between the Blagojevich and Obama camps about the Senate seat. It was not clear if any calls were recorded by federal agents, who had tapped the governor's phones." Jackson Denies Offering Blagojevich Favors Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., identified as Senate candidate number 5 in the criminal complaint filed against Gov. Rod Blagojevich, yesterday denied he or agents on his behalf had offered to "pay to play" for the Governor's appointment. The AP reports Jackson "said Wednesday he openly sought appointment to Barack Obama's Senate seat but denied offering favors in return to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and said he was not involved 'whatsoever in any wrongdoing.'" ABC World News reported "the government says it overheard Blagojevich talking about approaches from emissaries for candidate number five. Quote, 'He'd raise me 500 grand, then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him senator.' Prosecutors say the Governor wanted some of the money paid in advance." The CBS Evening News showed Jackson saying, "I never sent a message or an emissary to the Governor to make an offer, to plead my case, or to propose a deal about a US Senate seat. Period." The Hill reports, "Jackson used specific words from the document, including 'pay to play' and 'emissary,' and denied he had anything to do with such an arrangement." The Politico notes that Jackson "said he had merely laid out his qualifications and his record to Blagojevich during a meeting in Chicago." The Chicago Tribune referred to Jackson's "frenzied campaigning for the Senate job since Obama won the presidential election last month with his staunch support." The New York Times adds that Jackson "made a defiant appearance before reporters in Washington...denying unequivocally that he had offered Mr. Blagojevich anything in exchange for the Senate seat or had sanctioned any offer by an intermediary." The Washington Times, Washington Post and Financial Times also reports the story. Criminal Complaint Confirms Rezko Cooperating The Washington Post reports that a footnote in the Blagojevich criminal complaint "confirms what has long been rumored -- that a former longtime friend and fundraiser for President-elect Barack Obama is talking to federal prosecutors in hopes of a reduced sentence." The Chicago Tribune reports, "The government isn't satisfied Rezko is giving a complete version of events, an FBI affidavit filed in the case said, 'but in broad terms Rezko's account incriminates Rod Blagojevich in a pay-to-play criminal scheme.'" Defense Lawyers Say Case Not "Slam Dunk" In its story focusing on Jackson's comments yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reports, "Mr. Fitzgerald's case against the governor is considered far from a slam dunk. Defense attorneys reading the 76-page FBI affidavit noted many of Gov. Blagojevich's headline-grabbing conversations weren't necessarily crimes." 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