Were Obama Adviser(s) Included in Blagojevich “Sales Call”?
[Guest post by DRJ]
The Wall Street Journal reports that Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s November 10 conference call where he discussed the sale of Obama’s vacated Senate seat may have included Obama advisers:
“The call lasted about two hours. On the phone were Mr. Blagojevich, his wife, his general counsel, an unnamed adviser, and John Harris, the governor’s chief of staff and his co-defendant in this week’s case.
But what’s drawing the most interest is who was on the line from Washington, and the sequence of political events that followed that same night and in the ensuing days regarding Barack Obama’s close friend and adviser, Valerie Jarrett.
***
During the call, Mr. Blagojevich and those closest to him allegedly detailed virtually every one of their ideas for turning Mr. Obama’s open Senate seat into something valuable. Specifically, the governor asked “what he can get from the President-elect for the Senate seat,” the FBI alleged, adding later that callers talked about how to “monetize” Mr. Blagojevich’s connections.”
Within days, Obama announced the withdrawal of Jarrett’s name from consideration, saying he needed her as his adviser in Washington. Wiretap excerpts reveal Blagojevich’s frustration that Obama would only offer his appreciation if the Governor named Jarrett to the Senate seat:
“At a bare minimum, the timing of Team Obama’s decision to remove Ms. Jarrett’s name from contention, or at least to remove her name from the public speculation about the post, seems extraordinarily lucky. It came on the very same day the FBI secretly recorded Mr. Blagojevich telling a huge conference call loaded with politicos, in Illinois and Washington, that he wasn’t about to give the Senate spot away for nothing.
It’s also the same recorded conversation in which Mr. Blagojevich uses an obscenity to refer to Mr. Obama, before the governor makes clear he won’t give the president-elect the seat for free. “F— him. For nothing? F— him.”
This may be why Obama was careful to say he — but not “we,” meaning his advisers — was unaware of what Blagojevich was doing. Now the question is what Obama and his transition advisers knew about this call and, if so, whether they reported to law enforcement what Blagojevich was saying on November 10.
— DRJ
no way Juggy would snitch, cause it would ruin his standing in the black community.
he’s gotta keep it real to maintain his street cred, and not sell out to the man.
redc1c4 (27fd3e) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:05 pmThe spin coming from the Left on this is so absurd that it beggars belief that anyone with an IQ over 80 would buy into it: that somehow Obama and his people turned Blago in.
While that might make for a nice narrative, it is also 8 kinds of crazy wishful thinking. The facts completely debunk it for everyone but the serious Kool-Aid junkies.
If that were the case, then the feds wouldn’t have wiretaps: they could have only obtained the warrants after being notified by Obama’s camp that they were being solicited for a bribe.
The reality is that Obama’s team was solicited for a bribe exactly like the deal that Michelle Obama got when she was named to the board of TreeHouse Foods without so much as a single day of experience – just a marriage to a rising politician. It’s easy to understand why Blago was so angry with Obama: it’s pretty audacious to deny the governor when he wasn’t asking for anything more than Obama himself had already gotten.
Depending on deep Fitzgerald decides to go and which canaries start singing, but Obama’s own corrupt deal with TreeHouse may well wind up within the scope of the investigation as well.
Jim B (95a401) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:23 pmThe Seattle MSM and nutroots show a remarkable lack of curiosity about the Blago-Obama connection. I wait with bated breathe for the first suggestion that it is all Bush’s fault and/or a Republican plot.
John425 (eae6ea) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:26 pmHe totally ducked this question today; we can only hope that reporters keep asking. I mean the whole premise is implausible.
I mean, seriously – Why did the Governor think that you would only give him ‘gratitude’ for the Senate pick, when he wanted more. Specifically, who in your office discussed it with him? He can’t keep ducking the question.
You’re the president-elect. Ask your staff – who spoke with Blago’s team and what did they discuss?
carlitos (e40f11) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:30 pm“At a bare minimum, the timing of Team Obama’s decision to remove Ms. Jarrett’s name from contention, or at least to remove her name from the public speculation about the post, seems extraordinarily lucky.”
Yeah, pure dumb luck.
TakeFive (7c6fd5) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:35 pmAn “unnamed advisor” to Governor Blogo was on his end of the conference call. Anyone other than me curious why we don’t have a firm identification yet? Please, anyone know who it might be?
Ropelight (5b609a) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:44 pmSnitches get stiches. But obstruction of justice gets you a pardon.
imdw (3293a3) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:47 pm#3: So we just might be able to say: Rove, you magnificent bastard? As my granny used to say: from your lips to God’s ear.
Old Coot (a8acc7) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:49 pmHey, they were right. Fitzmas IS the most magical time of the year.
Techie (07c8ee) — 12/11/2008 @ 2:57 pmAs many of us expected, the Rezko conviction is already proving fruitful – when his plea deal is announced next year, it should make very interesting reading.
Dmac (e30284) — 12/11/2008 @ 3:28 pmThe Obama narrative is ridiculous. We’re supposed to believe that such murky surroundings were an unfortunate coincidence. He’s now “s a d d e n e d” by it all. Yet he torpedoed his way to the top, and with full backing. Would love to see Bloggo’s records and expenditures (/bribes) from day #1.
Vermont Neighbor (de46bd) — 12/11/2008 @ 3:45 pmThe funny part of it is that Obama doesn’t have to lie. He could tell the truth, if it is the truth, that he was unwilling to engage in such nefarious activity and turned the governor down. Then he has to say why he didn’t turn him in but that is not a crime, as I understand it, unless you participate in a coverup. What he is doing now is a coverup and is looking guilty. Of what, I don’t know yet.
The guilty flee when no man pursueth.
Mike K (f89cb3) — 12/11/2008 @ 3:50 pmMike K,
I agree. To his credit, it sounds like Obama turned Blagojevich down. In my corner of the world that would be something to be proud of. If Obama knew and didn’t report it (and those are big Ifs), then in his corner of the world to report corruption is snitching. What a sad, pathetic world that would be.
DRJ (8b9d41) — 12/11/2008 @ 4:07 pmThe army of Davids around the net are already building up a list of those generic name substitutions in the complaint and are about 70% done.
As those get filled in, it is getting clear that a lot of this was arms length proxies for plausible deniability.
The SEIU part is already drawing false targets being put out there.
Some are speculating that it is not Stern as first brought out ,but either the head of the Chicago SEIU or possibly even Anna Burger who is an SEIU spokes person, the head of Change to Win and an Obama transition team member.
daytrader (ea6549) — 12/11/2008 @ 5:05 pmI think Emanuel turned Blago down–the POTUS doesn’t need sociopathic governors bent on self-destruction any more. He is the Man. If Blago wouldn’t acknowledge it, Emanuel would know that Fitzpatrick was taping Blago and that the blow would come soon. That’s the purpose of these emissaries like Emanuel, to give deniability to the principal, like JJJ3 and Baracky.
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:03 pmThe local press here tried to corral Emanuel after he attended his daughter’s christmas pageant this evening, and he pushed one cameraman away with his left arm. They were attempting to question him regarding his status as Obama’s go – between regarding Blago. This is getting quite interesting.
Dmac (e30284) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:18 pmSince when are any of you scumbag Repubs concerned about honesty in government?
You try to link Obama to this.. while overlooking the criminal behavior of Bush Co??
Republicans have no morals..They have no souls.. they are like a heard of locust… robbing, destroying and feasting on everything in front of them and now that they have lost their attempt to smear they are now setting their sights on doing what they do best.. pretending to be people of virtue and integrity while smearing, destroying, lying and encouraging racism.
redc1c4 .. Vermont Neighbor.. carlitos .. Jim B.. do you folks take lessons in stupidity and hate or does it come naturally?
Vietnameravet (543dfe) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:40 pmIt’s baaaaack.
Another Drew (821fe5) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:47 pmI nominate this as the most ignorant post of the month.. and believe me it has lost of competition among the Repub Locusts..Thanks Redc1c4 for showing us that racism really lives on..Post 1
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no way Juggy would snitch, cause it would ruin his standing in the black community.
he’s gotta keep it real to maintain his street cred, and not sell out to the man.
Comment by redc1c4 — 12/11/2008 @ 2:05 pm
Vietnameravet (543dfe) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:48 pmSeems drunk too.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:49 pmToo much Jungle Juice.
Another Drew (821fe5) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:50 pm40’s and Mad Dog? Newport cigarettes, too. Poke the avenger of “racism” with a stick.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:51 pmBaracky probably had some typical white people on the conference call. He’s thrown a lot of them under his bus.
daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 12/11/2008 @ 7:57 pmvietnameravet:
My first blogging nomination!
What could I win? I hope it’s a puppy. I love puppies.
DRJ (b4db3a) — 12/11/2008 @ 8:10 pmWikipedia says:
“Misprision of felony” is still an offense under United States federal law.
“Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.” [18 U.S.C. § 4]
This offense, however, requires active concealment of a known felony rather than merely failing to report it.
Official Internet Data Office (244abe) — 12/11/2008 @ 8:21 pmDRJ – Remember to thank the little people if you win!
daleyrocks (5d22c0) — 12/11/2008 @ 8:37 pmSpeaking of dogs….
Another Drew (821fe5) — 12/11/2008 @ 8:42 pmThere is an absolutuely heart-wrenching video from Europe over at PowerLine of a dog that gets caught in traffic on an expressway, and another dog trying to drag his busted-up buddy out of the traffic lane.
It’s a tough one to watch.
Hahahahahaha. Trying to connect OBAMA to the bribe, You sorry Obamabot, Blaggo was mentored by Obama, after Axelrod himself passed on supporting Blog’s gubernatorial run. It’s Obama’s protoge, his personally selected candidate. That’s some of the connection you need right there.
Also, Rabid Vet. Interesting. You’re new here. New handle, new post. You list some of us… might be dissing a brother. You say we’re scumbag Repubs, filled with stupidity and hate. We’re white, you infer. Who’s white? Prove it.
Extra Q: You apparently judge corruption on skin color. That’s a double standard. And RACIST.
Vermont Neighbor (de46bd) — 12/11/2008 @ 8:50 pmHey, Patterico: You and other folks here are familiar with police & FBI procedure. All I know is what I see on TV dramas, where the FBI always wants to keep callers on the line so that they can trace the caller. Is that done on wiretaps in real life? Does the FBI know the telephone numbers of those involved in Blago’s ‘phone “negotiations”?
John425 (eae6ea) — 12/12/2008 @ 8:35 amsorry DRJ, he’s nominating me…. woohoo!
i guess our visiting fool didn’t follow the links that describe the phenomenon that is so prevalent in the black community, and that i’ve witnessed with my own eyes.
if i get the puppy, i’ll give it to you. %-)
redc1c4 (27fd3e) — 12/12/2008 @ 10:29 am