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Did Obama Have Contact with Blago or Didn't He?

By Philip Klein on 12.9.08 @ 4:28PM

"I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening," Barack Obama told reporters today in the wake of the Blagojevich arrest, the Chicago Tribune reports.

But Jake Tapper notes that on November 23, Obama adviser David Axelrod was singing a different tune. "I know he's talked to the governor," Axelrod said on Fox News Chicago in response to a question about Obama's involvement in filling his Senate seat (see the 1:20 mark of the video below).

Furthermore, in the excerpt of the indictment that has been promoted as clearing Obama (in which Blagojevich uses a colorful Oedipus slur to describe the President-elect), the governor laments that Obama wants his preferred candidate appointed, but that he won't give him anything in return. Of course, everything Blagojevich said needs to be taken with a certain grain of salt, but this nonetheless does raise questions as to how Blagojevich would have known about Obama's preferences, or his unwillingness to deal. Also, it raises a question as to whether Obama knew that there was dirty dealing going on over his Senate seat, and said nothing.

Politicians often get themselves in trouble not by the act itself, but by subsequent denials. We'll know more in the coming days and weeks, but I wonder if Obama will come to regret his blanket statement today that, "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening."

View all comments (36) | Leave a comment

WendyG| 12.9.08 @ 5:31PM

Was he lying then or is he lying now? Isn't it amazing, by and large politicians are all the same. But Obama's devotees think their man is as pure as the driven snow, a new breed, Mr. Clean. Boy, are they in for a rude awakening...

Jeremiah| 12.9.08 @ 6:32PM

WendyG

Actually, with respect to Obama, so far the only rude awakenings have been experienced by "conservatives," reactionaries, and bigots. I don't expect that will change.

Obama, as his supporters will be the first to tell you (18 million of whom voted for Clinton) is FAR from "perfect," and we know very well he's a politician and not an angel.

The surprise is while he may evade questions well, and he may stretch things here and there, the man is for the most part remarkably earnest.

Two years ago "conservatives" and reactionaries expected he'd be crushed by Clinton. He was not.

Last spring, they gleefully reported he'd be finished by Wright. He was not.

They predicted Palin would be the next Reagan and win the election for McCain. She did not.

They thought slurs about his race and religion would defeat him. They thought holding Klan style rallies and whipping their crowds up into hateful frenzies would stop him. They did not.

They thought surely Americans would choose someone more "like them" and go with Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin. They did not.

This corrupt politician in Illinois will be punished. Believe me, if I could, I'd be the one to lock the prison gate and throw away the key.

But Wendy, even you have to have the sense to ask Qui bono? Who benefits from this corruption? Obama stood to gain nothing here, and it's ridiculous to think he was involved.

Rude awakening -- number 8? -- is surely on the way for you.

WendyG| 12.9.08 @ 6:46PM

Some of the charges against Blago are truly disturbing. From the WSJ...

>>>Mr. Fitzgerald also laid out some of what he described as "schemes" by the governor to enrich himself. One of the more extreme cases involved an alleged bribery of the chief executive of Children's Memorial Hospital. According to the government, Mr. Blagojevich wanted $50,000 from the chief executive of the hospital in exchange for around $8 million of funding from the state. After never hearing back from the chief executive, Mr. Blagojevich inquired as to whether he could pull back the $8 million funding.

Children's Memorial Hospital said in a statement that it is "is very disappointed that the $8 million in Illinois funding that the pediatric providers of Illinois believed would enable them to care for Illinois's neediest children has been tied to an alleged pay-to-play scheme. Neither Children's Memorial nor any of its personnel participated in such a scheme. If such allegations are true, Children's Memorial, pediatric physicians and the children of Illinois have been victimized."

A hospital for children??? That's low - really really low. )-:

WendyG| 12.9.08 @ 6:56PM

>>>The surprise is while he may evade questions well, and he may stretch things here and there, the man is for the most part remarkably earnest.

That makes no sense. He "evades" and "stretches" earnestly Jeremiah??

I am not saying he was involved in this. Just noting that his closest advisor said that Obama had consulted with Blago on a replacement - something Axelrod has now walked back.

Don't tell me that some, in fact many of the people in Grant Park on election night, with tears streaming down their faces, worshipping, yes, worshipping Obama, don't think he's way way above and beyond reproach.

Interested Conservative| 12.9.08 @ 7:13PM

Jeremiah - Geez, careful there. You've moved beyond straw man arguments into straw army arguments.

It's no more ridiculous to think Obama was involved than it is to think he wasn't involved.

Is he equally culpable? Almost certainly not. Does he have some culpability? Almost certainly. Is it criminal? Probably not. Can his approval ratings go anywhere but down? Probably not, and the sooner they fall the better for all of us, including Mr. Obama who seems to be doing just fine lowering expectations.

Are you from Chicago? I am, and as shocked as USA Fitzgerald is, the really curious thing about all this is the timing and follow up. Maybe it's all Scooter's fault.

WendyG| 12.9.08 @ 7:18PM

Why is Obama "sad" about this, and not outraged? Why is he the only Chicago pol not to call for Blogo's resignation?

Apart from everything else, I find Obama oddly cold and detached.

ruth| 12.9.08 @ 8:34PM

Jeremiah, why are you defending Obama when you don't know what happened? You protest too much. Obama was--enabled--not vetted-- by the media elite. They did not do their job, and our country is the poorer for it.

cjelephant| 12.9.08 @ 8:43PM

What did the President-elect know and when did he know it?

Obama brings real change. We now have a scandal BEFORE inauguration day. Yes we can!

Jeremiah| 12.9.08 @ 10:06PM

Look, folks.

Obama's got lots of fans, sure, but every tax and spend liberal I drink chablis and eat arugula with has plenty of concerns about him.

Every president and politician "frames" and "spins" things. I think the surprise is that Obama does these things about as much as the most honest politicians.

But look. The most honest politician is a notch below prostitute -- apologies to prostitutes -- in the matter of honesty. You don't have to convince me.

But I don't see Obama gaining anything here or wanting anything to do with it. Why would he?

The weird thing about Obama is how sure he was of a major victory five, six months ago. Why would he get involved with this crookedness.

As for this governor himself: really, I mean it. I say take him out and dump him in the middle of Lake Michigan. I can't stand these people -- these corrupt politicians.

Big Elk --

I'll argue with decent, rational, honest conservatives. You're just a hateful, stupid bigot. I have nothing else to say to you, brother. You need to get some spiritual counseling or something.

ruth| 12.9.08 @ 11:13PM

Jeremiah, Elk is a troublemaker, he offers nothing constructive, and he doesn't speak for me . I don't think Obama was vetted enough, though. The lack of major media interest in the President-elect concerned me throughout his campaign, especially after the way they nailed Palin.

Dee| 12.9.08 @ 11:18PM

Why does......."I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening," ....sounds like ....."I did not have sex with that woman, Monica Lewinski".

It seems like the Clinton third term is off with a bang.

Jack Bauer| 12.10.08 @ 6:55AM

Isn't it amazing at how "INCURIOUS" President-derelect Obama is?

He never seems to know anything about his own immediate political circle. Everything and everyone passes this glib guy by.

Of course, that would be merely an interesting footnote, if he didn't also happen to be the next President.

"Hamas is a terror group who likes killing Jews... NO WAY. I never knew that Biden. "

"Tony Rezko was a CROOK. You're shittin' me Axelrod..."

"We landed on the moon in 1969. You expect me to believe that Ms Gorelick..."

Glory glory... America has a President whose motto is "What you don't know, can't hurt you! Especially if you have the press in your pocket!"

stu.b.con| 12.10.08 @ 7:40AM

Obama to aide:
"I'm shocked to find out the Gov's corrupt(a racist,a terrorist)"
"This is not the Rod Blag. I knew"
Now how many names are interchangeable?...Wright,Rezko,Ayers,...

Bob| 12.10.08 @ 8:43AM

All of you on both sides of this argument are bigoted and hateful. The fact is that ALL POLITICIANS can be attached to someone with a questionable background. Do any of you remember Singlaub, Hagee, Liddy, Keating, etc.? If you are in big city politics, there are even more reprobates. Even Palin was attached to witchcraft and the AIP. You can't run for office and not be hit by one of these folks -- especially if you are good.

Why get pleasure from this kind of stuff. We should be talking about policy not possible conspiracy theories. I'll bet most of you were at some time in your lives abducted by aliens.

I will take issue with someone who said that Obama wasn't vetted. You can't vet Obama more than he was done on Fox News -- so drop that stupid line of reasoning. It was Palin who wasn't really vetted because no one allowed her to be asked any hard questions. Protect the woman -- now that is sexist.

stu.b.con| 12.10.08 @ 9:03AM

Bob-please save your ad hominem attacks, sanctimony, and condescension. You and your ilk make me sick. Out of resepct for AmSpec and fellow respondents I will refrain from giving you the Blagojevich/Soprano treatment.

vitadmd| 12.10.08 @ 10:10AM

Blago's "slur" is a response to Obama. This is evidence that a discussion, that negotiations took place. Why would anyone approach Obama in such an incriminating fashion if there wasn't already a history of such dealings. Obviously, Blago felt comfortable enough to approach Obama and trusted enough to "pitch" in the first place. That Obama "didn't play ball' is irrelevant.

WendyG| 12.10.08 @ 10:23AM

>>>>cjelephant | 12.9.08 @ 7:43PM
What did the President-elect know and when did he know it?

Obama brings real change. We now have a scandal BEFORE inauguration day. Yes we can!

This is the money post on this thread, IMO.

vitadmd| 12.10.08 @ 10:29AM

Perhaps, a more interesting question would be: Who contacted whom first?
In any case, Blago's demeanor is that of expectation that Obama "play ball", that he is owed.

beegee| 12.10.08 @ 10:57AM

The video is no longer available. Why?

Wally| 12.10.08 @ 11:23AM

Obama met with the Gov. on November 5th to discuss his Senate seat. Obama has a habit of lying when the truth might be embarrassing.

james23| 12.10.08 @ 11:29AM

Bob the bigot's days of playing the 'I'm a GOP moderate' scam are over. Above, he reveals himself as a run of the mill Obama troll, whose mission is to pop up on spectator blog and bellyache about Palin at least once/day.

vitadmd| 12.10.08 @ 11:31AM

Video no longer available...
This is consistent with Obama's history of deleting unpleasantries on his websites and coercing others to do the same.
What needs to happen before a tipping point is reached and the MSM stops helping Obama obfuscate?

Tailgunner| 12.10.08 @ 11:40AM

Obama is headed for trouble right now.

If Axelrod's first comment actually was correct, and Emanuel , on Obama's instructions, (hypothetical) ordered Ax to backtrack and 'correct' himself, then you've got conspiracy to obstruct justice. Period.

If Fitzgerald or another independent prosecutor begins investigating this, and Axelrod were to be subpoenaed and placed under oath, this alone could land him in jail. Maybe the Ax could 'score' Scooter Libby's old cell.

As far as The One is concerned, we have over five more weeks of daily dirt, details and Obamista denials.

Obama has not been convincing since day one. He has a lot more parsing, Clinton-style evading, and outright lying to do before this is over.

It's entirely possible that Barack Obama may be the first President-elect to be impeached before he is sworn in.

vitadmd| 12.10.08 @ 11:53AM

Impeachment would be satisfying except for the alternative. I've always thought of Biden as Obama's insurance policy against this as well as assassination.

Jack Bauer| 12.10.08 @ 12:24PM

WendyG | 12.10.08 @ 9:23AM
Obama brings real change. We now have a scandal BEFORE inauguration day. Yes we can!

Ho ho. Nailed it!

You gotta laugh. What next?

The Office of Pardons of the President-derelect. Comes with its own snappy seal and latin motto: "Freeus Criminalus Nowus"

WendyG| 12.10.08 @ 1:26PM

There is now apparently the possibility of second a person claiming Obama met with Blago to discuss replacements, or was planning to meet with Blago. A local female reporter. Rush is discussing it this morning.

Bob| 12.10.08 @ 1:27PM

james23 -- believing Sarah is unqualified to be President agrees with 60% of the population. As George Will said, she was only chosen for her chromosomes. That's not bigotry, it is fact. The fact that she has not been vetted as much as Obama -- as I stated in response to another post -- is also fact. Again, I was a Romney supporter who could not vote for an incompetent like Palin.

Bob| 12.10.08 @ 1:38PM

WendyG -- how could I have guessed that you listen to that uneducated Limbaugh who misstates facts often. Please notice that if what he said isn't true, he will not ever apologize for it. Perhaps you can supply a link to a newsworthy reference? I didn't think so...

Jack Bauer| 12.10.08 @ 1:42PM

You have to follow the logic of politicking here.

It's not too far-fetched to opine that sometime between Nov 5-and Nov 23, somebody at Justice tipped off the Obama camp on the investigation of the Blag. And of the wiretaping.

This would neatly explain a couple of things. The two weeks of missing WIRETAPS. The on tape swearing of the Blag against Obama.

I find it very suspicious that the INSTANT media spin is to claim that the tapes the lofty innocence of Obama.

WendyG| 12.10.08 @ 2:32PM

>>>>WendyG -- how could I have guessed that you listen to that uneducated Limbaugh who misstates facts often.

Well Bob, the story Rush was discussing is up on Drudge now.

And William F. Buckley thought Rush was very smart - and WFB was an Ivy Leaguer - your kind of guy Bob. ;)

ruth| 12.10.08 @ 4:56PM

Bob, the intelligence of Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh is not the issue; it is the possible corruption of the president-elect that is so disturbing . Why aren't you concerned, too?