Obama’s Blago Problem
By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in Barack, Illinois
So, it didn’t take long for the taint of scandal to hit Barack Obama’s not-yet-in-power administration. With the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, it’s hard for anyone but the hardest core Obamaphiles to wonder what Obama’s relationship with Blagojevich is and whether the president-elect or his people had any dealings with the governor concerning the appointment of Obama’s successor in the senate.
As Steve Benen of Washington Monthly notes, the media isn’t waiting for any proof of wrongdoing by Obama before jumping onto the story and pressing Obama for answers. Some of this is due to the media’s constant need for a juicy story. But part of it is also due to some very real questions.
Rick Klein of ABC’s “The Note†has a long look at the contradictions in the Obama team’s statements concerning Obama’s relationship and contacts with Blagojevich.
Dick Polman takes the questions a step further:
Notwithstanding the fact that Obama isn’t accused of any wrongdoing in the federal complaint, is it possible for an aspiring reform politician to navigate the traditional Chicago/Illinois political culture and emerge with squeaky-clean hands? What’s the accurate extent of the taint (if any)? Does Obama have dirt on his nails or mud on his palms? Has he been in bed with Hot Rod, substantively so, or is this merely a facile case of guilt-by-association?
As Polman notes, it’s possible to maneuver the Chicago machine and still be clean. Adlai Stevenson and Paul Simon both succeeded in Illinois without being dirty. Obama could very well be of the same mold.
For me, the concern isn’t that Obama may be corrupt (I don’t believe he is). The question is whether he too easily suffers the corrupt or is too willing to look the other way. Can he live up to his promises to be a reformer? Maybe the Blagojevich case will spur him to fight against the very system of corruption he had to maneuver while in Illinois. Maybe not. Time will tell.
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December 11th, 2008 at 8:31 am
[...] « Obama’s Blago Problem [...]
December 11th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Do you have anything? or is this just a typical right wing smear job, mention Obama and Blagojevich in the same sentence and see what happens?
December 11th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Will Blago spill the beans first, or will it be Rezko??? Both face a lot of prison time (Rezko currently faces sentencing). OJ got 9-33 years; the guys that testified against OJ got probation. There’s a lot of incentive to be the first to talk.
December 11th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Rezko
Blago
Ayers
Wright
Who’s next….
He’s either telling the truth that he did not know these people, their affiliations, their beliefs, or their penchant for criminality – in which case he’s Totally Obtuse and must live in some sealed container or he’s Totally Disingenious and he suffers ignorant criminal types very well for political favor. We can only hope that this is no indication of the “friends” America will keep under his regime. Putin is probably getting a warm fuzzy KGB feeling from Obama so far (Moscow poltics are not all that different from Chi-town politics.) Say what you will about Harriet Miers or Gonzalez — they didn’t come with rap sheets.
Euw, 4 years of a dirty feeling coming up. 4 years of Chi-town Housing Authority type governance. He might as well lite up that cigarette, it will cover up the smell of his friends in the White House.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:19 am
What is everyone’s problem. You have ZERO evidence that BO talked to Blago about his senate seat, yet you prattle on about connections.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Don’t worry, Rob. Nothing cures this sort of partisan yearning and schadenfreude like facts. Yes, Blago is just like Bill Ayers. I’m completely shocked that Obama knows the Governor of Illinois. Shocked! Why would he fraternize with the governor of the state where he served as Senator? That’s stone crazy.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
With all the speculation about whether or not Obama was willing to pay off Blago for his Senate seat, it’s almost as if Fitzgerald’s report doesn’t specifically quote Blago saying that Obama would only offer “appreciation” and would not pay to play. I mean, do you guys suffer from selective dyslexia or something? It’s right there in the farking charges! And yet some people (who would NEVER stoop to baseless partisan mudslinging, how dare you make such an accusation!) apparently just can’t read that part of the charges. Once they read “Illinois Democrat charged for corruption” their brain just turns off.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Watching the rightwing try desperately to find SOMETHING to discredit Obama, after being unable to find even the slightest trace of wrongdoing during the campaign, has become a never-ending sorce of amusement. Kind of like Charlie Brown running to kick the football, and landing flat on his ass & making a fool of himself. Every day it’s another breathless “scandal has hit Barack Obama!!” and it every single time it turns out to be less than nothing. Even when it’s been documented that Blago was furious that Obama wasn’t a pay-for-play politician. I can understand why rightwingers would be sure he must have been on the take, since if it was a rightwing, born-again Christian senator, not only would he have been on the take, but would have been tap-dancing in men’s rooms and hounding under-age boys for sex.
So much for the ‘Family Values Republicans’ HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
December 11th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Rob, did you even read the post or did you just go knee-jerk with that comment? Or is it a “smear job” to ask even mild, reasonable questions about Obama?
December 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Is there a problem with me asking if you, like Mickey Kaus overly likes goats? I will admit that I don’t have any evidence, but it is just a mild, reasonable question.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Alan, it was basically inflammatory to title the post Obama’s Blago Problem. The only thing that makes this Obama’s problem per se is a post like this one. In much the same way, all the people on Harden’s list were Obama’s problem not because his interactions with them were untoward but rather because he was running for office and simply knew them.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Alan, this isn’t Obama’s scandal and it isn’t Obama’s problem. It’s an Illinois state gov’t problem and it’s certainly a problem for Blago and his wife. Did BO talk to Blago about his replacement – of course he did – it was his seat why wouldn’t he have a say in who gets it? Besides that’s what Presidents do when their party has an available seat in the federal government. Did BO try and twist Blago’s arm to put Obama’s guy/girl in there – no way. Did Rahm E twist Blago’s arm – maybe, but more likely it was twisted for a decision rather than anyone specific. BO and RE know Blago, they know what he’s like, they know he’s a scumbag, they have kept a pretty long distance from him throughout the entire campaign. There is no story here except a local one in Illinois- it will be gone by Monday unless Blago resigns or the movement to impeach gets legs.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Let it go already and give it a a rest! U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald has publicly stated that President Elect Obama is not under any investigation for any connection with Gov Blagojevich. They have even wired tapped Gov Blagojevich complaining and using expletives stating the ” the Obama people won’t give him anything but appreciation”
What is wrong with society and the media? What is wrong with you when you ignore something like the obvious criminality of invading Iraq with no questions whatsoever and in turn continually try to make a connection between a pig like Gov Blagojevich and the Obama camp that isn’t there! I have NO faith in what is considered our free media. It’s become a sad propaganda machine and no longer serves the people with FACTS and TRUTH.