.Obama 'Appalled' By Blagojevich Charges
CHICAGO (CBS) ― President-elect Barack Obama said he was "appalled'' by the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich and reiterated Thursday morning that he had not spoken to the governor on the subject of a replacement for Obama's old senate seat.
"This Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade," Obama said. "It belongs to the people of Illinois."
Obama said he was "as appalled and disappointed as anybody by the revelations earlier this week."
Speaking at a news conference to unveil his Health and Human Services secretary, Obama said that he was confident that none of his representatives would "have any part" of making pay-for-play deals for his Senate seat.
Obama added that Blagojevich is no longer fit to serve as governor.
"I do not think that the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois," Blagojevich said. "The legislature is going down to Springfield to make a determination as to how to resolve this issue. I think they're going to come to the same conclusion."
He added: "What I want to see is a quick resolution of this issue. I want to make sure that the next senator from the State of Illinois is carrying on a tradition of service."
Obama said he personally had no contact with the governor's office, and planned to gather all facts about any staff contacts that might have occurred between his presidential transition office and the governor's office.
When CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery asked Obama what the problem is with Illinois politics, with Gov. George Ryan now in prison and Blagojevich now charged with a crime, Obama emphasized that he believes there are two predominant viewpoints when it comes to politics.
"With respect to Illinois, I think in Illinois as is true in American politics generally, there are two views of politics. There's a view of politics that says you go in for sacrifice and public service, and there's a view of politics that says this is a business, and you're wheeling and dealing, and what's in it for me," Obama said, pointing out former U.S. Senators Paul Simon and Paul Douglas as politicians who focused on sacrifice for the people of Illinois.
Obama said his own goals during the presidential race had always been to move politics away from the "business" model and back toward one of service and sacrifice.
The governor of Illinois is constitutionally responsible for selecting a replacement when a member of the U.S. Senate leaves. But Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell the seat, and suggested left vacant by Obama's election. The asking price: secretary of health and human services in the president's Cabinet, big-money jobs or campaign cash.
In a recorded conversation, Blagojevich allegedly told his advisers that he would not give Obama a senator without something in return. Recorded conversations said he would not give "this m***erf***er his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him."
Blagojevich has not yet been indicted. He is only charged in a one-page complaint accompanied by a 76-page FBI affidavit. The government has 30 days to bring an indictment -- a time limit that can be extended repeatedly if a judge gives permission.
When Obama has spoken about the case, he's been cautious.
In brief comments to reporters Tuesday, Obama said "like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office today," but he didn't go so far to condemn Blagojevich's alleged actions.
He did add about Blagojevich's process of considering a successor: "I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening."
Obama reiterated that point in an interview published in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. "I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time," he said.
Obama is among the chorus of officials who have called for Blagojevich to resign.
CBS2
I don't know, I just saw the President Elect just now, and to tell the truth, he wasn't very convincing. He needs to work on his responce.
What I want to know, How did Blago know that Obama wasn't willing to give him "fucking nothing" for the seat?
It begs question Mr. President Elect.
My readers deserve a better answers.
"This Senate seat does not belong to any politician to trade," Obama said. "It belongs to the people of Illinois."
Obama said he was "as appalled and disappointed as anybody by the revelations earlier this week."
Speaking at a news conference to unveil his Health and Human Services secretary, Obama said that he was confident that none of his representatives would "have any part" of making pay-for-play deals for his Senate seat.
Obama added that Blagojevich is no longer fit to serve as governor.
"I do not think that the governor at this point can effectively serve the people of Illinois," Blagojevich said. "The legislature is going down to Springfield to make a determination as to how to resolve this issue. I think they're going to come to the same conclusion."
He added: "What I want to see is a quick resolution of this issue. I want to make sure that the next senator from the State of Illinois is carrying on a tradition of service."
Obama said he personally had no contact with the governor's office, and planned to gather all facts about any staff contacts that might have occurred between his presidential transition office and the governor's office.
When CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery asked Obama what the problem is with Illinois politics, with Gov. George Ryan now in prison and Blagojevich now charged with a crime, Obama emphasized that he believes there are two predominant viewpoints when it comes to politics.
"With respect to Illinois, I think in Illinois as is true in American politics generally, there are two views of politics. There's a view of politics that says you go in for sacrifice and public service, and there's a view of politics that says this is a business, and you're wheeling and dealing, and what's in it for me," Obama said, pointing out former U.S. Senators Paul Simon and Paul Douglas as politicians who focused on sacrifice for the people of Illinois.
Obama said his own goals during the presidential race had always been to move politics away from the "business" model and back toward one of service and sacrifice.
The governor of Illinois is constitutionally responsible for selecting a replacement when a member of the U.S. Senate leaves. But Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell the seat, and suggested left vacant by Obama's election. The asking price: secretary of health and human services in the president's Cabinet, big-money jobs or campaign cash.
In a recorded conversation, Blagojevich allegedly told his advisers that he would not give Obama a senator without something in return. Recorded conversations said he would not give "this m***erf***er his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him."
Blagojevich has not yet been indicted. He is only charged in a one-page complaint accompanied by a 76-page FBI affidavit. The government has 30 days to bring an indictment -- a time limit that can be extended repeatedly if a judge gives permission.
When Obama has spoken about the case, he's been cautious.
In brief comments to reporters Tuesday, Obama said "like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the U.S. attorney's office today," but he didn't go so far to condemn Blagojevich's alleged actions.
He did add about Blagojevich's process of considering a successor: "I had no contact with the governor or his office, and so I was not aware of what was happening."
Obama reiterated that point in an interview published in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. "I have not discussed the Senate seat with the governor at any time," he said.
Obama is among the chorus of officials who have called for Blagojevich to resign.
CBS2
I don't know, I just saw the President Elect just now, and to tell the truth, he wasn't very convincing. He needs to work on his responce.
What I want to know, How did Blago know that Obama wasn't willing to give him "fucking nothing" for the seat?
It begs question Mr. President Elect.
My readers deserve a better answers.
posted by madtom at 11:56 AM
3 Comments:
I am confused by part of your post. If Obama was not willing to deal with Blago...not willing to "give" him anything...then please tell me what he has done wrong???
Blago must have made an offer, Obama had a candidate in mind for the seat. Blago seems to have been asking for over a million dollars for said seat. Next we have that transcript:
Recorded conversations said he would not give "this m***erf***er his senator. F*** him. For nothing? F*** him."
So how did Blago know Obama wasn't willing to give him nothing? I am glad Obama refused, but if he did not pick up a phone and call the FBI after refusing to pay to play, he's opened himself to RICO act for conspiracy. The fact that the asking price was too high is not a defense against conspiracy and RICO.
Obama's claim to have had no contact is hard to swallow in light of Blago's words. Obama promised "Change", not more of the same old, same old.
I don't want anyone to get me wrong.
I now support the president elect.
But he needs to give me something to work with. That I can not do for him.
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