Obama Senate Seat Sale Scandal

December 10. 2008

Barack Obama

There has been more fallout from Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s conduct in attempting to sell the vacated Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama. Blagojevich’s conduct has been branded engaging in a crime spree.

Republicans, not impressed with president-elect Barack Obama’s answers, which they have deemed insufficient, are requesting clarification.

Rod R. Blagojevich

Obama responded to numerous inquiries by the press stating he did not communicate with the governor on this matter nor will he comment any further on an on-going investigation. He has, however, publicly stated Blagojevich should resign.

Questions persist for Obama due to evidence in the FBI’s case, revealing his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, did speak with Blagojevich over the telephone, affirming he could obtain a job for the governor’s wife in exchange for political favors.

Obama speaks out in his first newspaper interview

Are you aware of any conversations between Blagojevich or [chief of staff] John Harris and any of your top aides, including Rahm [Emanuel]?

Let me stop you there because . . . it's an ongoing investigation. I think it would be inappropriate for me to, you know, remark on the situation beyond the facts that I know. And that's the fact that I didn't discuss this issue with the governor at all.

http://www.latimes.com

Republicans question Obama's ties to embattled Illinois governor

Republicans have begun to question Barack Obama's connections to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of conspiring to sell off the president-elect's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

"President-elect Barack Obama's comments on the matter are insufficient at best," said Robert Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee. "Given the president-elect’s history of supporting and advising Gov. Blagojevich, he has a responsibility to speak out and fully address the issue.”

"The serious nature of the crimes listed by federal prosecutors raises questions about the interaction with Gov. Blagojevich, president-elect Obama and other high-ranking officials who will be working for the future president," said Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the new GOP House whip.

The RNC also released a quote from Obama in 2006 in which the then Illinois senator said he would be "happy" to work on Blagojevich's re-election campaign if asked.

http://www.cbc.ca

David Axelrod Endorsed Trading Jobs for Political Favors in 2005 Op-Ed

President-elect Barack Obama's top adviser and chief political strategist, David Axelrod, penned an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune in 2005 that could come back to haunt Obama as the investigation into disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich goes ahead. In the article, Axelrod, who was a political adviser to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley before becoming the architect of Obama's presidential campaign, wrote that trading political jobs for favors is a perfectly acceptable practice and part of the way American democracy works.

"The democratic process is often messy. Diverse constituencies fight fiercely for their priorities. Their elected representatives use the influence they have to meet those needs, including sometimes the exchange of favors--consideration for jobs being just one."

At the time the piece was written, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald had just indicted aides to Axelrod's boss, Mayor Daley, for conspiring to award city jobs as payback for favors done on the Mayor's behalf.

http://news.aol.com