ABC Exclusive: Obama's Blago Report: Only One Rahm Call to Governor

[jezebel]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2008/12/exclusive-obama.html

December 21, 2008 9:26 AM

Sources tell me that the Obama team's review of contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will show that Rahm Emanuel had only one phone conversation with Blagojevich.

The contact, described as a "pro-forma" courtesy call, came as Emanuel was named Chief of Staff for Obama. Most of the discussion concerned Emanuel's Congressional seat (which had previously been held by Blagojevich), with only a "passing reference" to the Senate vacancy, according to these sources. No deal for the Senate vacancy was discussed.

snip

The sources add that the report will show Emanuel also had four phone calls with Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris. During those conversations, the Senate seat was discussed. The pros and cons of various candidates were reviewed, and the sources say that Emanuel repeatedly reminded Harris that Blagojevich should focus on the message the pick would send about the governor and his administration.

Sources also confirm that Emanuel made the case for picking Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett during at least one of the conversations. In the course of that conversation, Harris asked if in return for picking Jarrett, "all we get is appreciation, right?" "Right," Emanuel responded.

Bottom line: these sources say that Obama's report, which is expected to be released this week, will confirm what Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and President-Elect Obama have said -- and what Governor Blagojevich clearly believed: that Obama officials were not open to any kind of deal for the Obama Senate seat.

[Pirate Smile]

1. Good!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. It's an outrage!

Somehow...

[alwysdrunk]

3. I'm so glad they waited

Giving Fox News and all of the RW assholes trying to dirty up Obama name rope to hang themselves. Self serving pricks deserve to have this blow up in their faces.

[Kahuna]

5. I pray this is true. It will teach the M$M a valuable lesson. They

abdicated their responsibility for six full years with bushco, and still they are not reporting on importing bushco stories that are affecting our country. Now all of a sudden they want to be relevant again. Sorry. It's too late. We've moved on.

They need to regroup to the new media and do it fast. It's their choice to make. They can either continue to operate by the old rules or adapt to the new media.

[pinto]

4. Ha. Good to see this report.

:kick:

[camera obscura]

6. Just wish this had come out during the week... this will give the media a good chance to ignore it

but I understand it's not like they want to be leaking information constantly.

[Thrill]

7. Media is going to have to find another 'gotcha' on Obama

lol

[DevonRex]

8. That's great. Let's see what the media does when the report is

released. Seems like they only attack democrats.

[wellst0nev0ter]

9. Did They Mean This Phone Call?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/12/142929/59/901/672355

[Johnyawl]

11. That was too fucking funny!

And so believable, based on what I've heard about Rahm

[Phx_Dem]

10. Oh no. What's Joe Scarborough gonna be indignant about now?

:think: