Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr face new revelations in Governor Blagojevich scandal

[Fireweed247]

The TV station said Mr Emanuel had "multiple conversations" with Mr Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to "sell" the open Senate seat for a cabinet post or lucrative top foundation job, and his chief of staff. The report said the governor was given a list of Senate candidates acceptable to Mr Obama.

Because the FBI was secretly taping Gov Blagojevich in recent weeks, Mr Emanuel's conversations may have been recorded, Fox News Chicago said....

Jesse Jackson Jr, the Congressman son of the famed civil rights leader, who served as national co-chairman of Mr Obama's campaign, also faced new questions today about his quest for Mr Obama's old Senate seat.

A group of ethnic Indian businessmen with ties to Mr Jackson and Gov Blagojevich reportedly held a lunch on October 31 and discussed raising $1 million for the governor's campaign to encourage him to pick Mr Jackson as Senator, the Chicago Tribune said. ...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5332897.ece

[amdezurik]

1. sorry, I don't see anything new there

just a rehash and re-stating of stuff already out there, Time is way behind the curve on this.

[dmallind]

2. I'm not following this closely but

Didn't the rumor float around that Emanuel turned him in? Even if not so if we can assume form Blago's own words that the "motherfuckers" only offered him appreciataion - what could there be damaging to him on tape? If all we hea is Emanuel saying "we think you ought to consider X because they'd work well with Obama", getting the reply "Sure - what do I get - how about Ambassador to France?" and answering (knowing his reputation probably not far off) "Are you fucking kidding me you dumb bastard? What the fuck do you think I'm going to do - bribe you? You get the appreciation of a damn president and if that's not enough go fuck yourself" then who but the terminally prudish would hold that against him?

[Lifetimedem]

3. Jessie is cooked

[Critters2]

5. Yeah, I think so. Don't know whether he deserves to be or not,

but I can't see how he'll be able to come away not looking tainted.

[amdezurik]

10. from what we know so far

partial and very, very incomplete, Blogo figured JJ,Jr was willing to give him a bribe but how he came to that conclusion has not been announced so it could have just been him thinking he would because of his dad or because he is black or Blogo just thinks everyone is as crooked as he is, or he could have asked him and gotten an offer. We just do not know.

[Critters2]

11. The fundraiser story in the Trib today raises some concerns.

Again, not saying JJJ has done anything wrong, but if he's seated, there will always be the whiff. I think it would be a bad idea at this point.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-jackson12dec12,0,6420556.story

[amdezurik]

13. that's the thing, Blogo is like

a massive pile of cow pies with an M-80 tossed in the middle, no matter what you will get sprayed...

[Critters2]

14. The whole thing is such a bleeping mess! nt

[Cha]

26. And, yet rove gets a job with

Newsweek after he commits treason.

[EFerrari]

6. I hope not. It isn't looking very good.

:(

[WI_DEM]

4. I'm almost thinking that Obama should tell Rahm to step aside as chief of staff

we can't come in with questions of ethics re: the president's cos.

[marylanddem]

7. And didn't Emanuel's father already create embarrassment

with some remarks about his son's loyalty to Israel? And isn't Emanuel kind of a DLC douche anyway? Sorry but that's my opinion & I'm sticking to it.

[rvablue]

8. WHAT??? Yeah, that's right Obama should fire Rahm based bases on an uncited

Fox News story.

Even if Rahm did call Blago with recommendations it is well known by all that this is customary when a Senator vacates a seat.

Right, that'll show the lying, smearing RW, cave in to their innuendo and faux outrage.....please!

[LynneSin]

12. Joe Biden did it with his seat

That's how we got Ted Kaufman as our replacement, he's a former CoS of Biden's.

[WI_DEM]

15. I don't want Obama coming into office with ?s re: his staff.

[annabanana]

29. All the "quesitons" are ginned up by the lazy whorish corporate media..

There is no "there" there.

[karynnj]

24. not to mention an uncited Fox story that does not say he did anything wrong

The good thing is that the calls are taped - there will be no "he said He said" here. It makes sense that the call happened. Unless and until there is incriminating conversation, why would anyone thing this has to be a problem.

And I don't like Emmanuel who I think is a pompous jerk.

[JackRiddler]

25. Agreed. Obama shouldn't fire Rahm because of a FOX story...

He should fire Rahm because Rahm stands for the opposite of change!

;)

[Bjorn Against]

16. As a person who does not like Rahm one bit...

I think it would be a huge mistake for him to step aside now as that would imply guilt, and there is no evidence he is guilty of anything in this case. The fact that he talked to the Governor means nothing, you would expect a Congressman to talk to the Governor of his own state regularly. If there is no evidence of anything shady going on between them then it would be extremely stupid to make a move which would make it appear as if there was.

[Vinca]

19. What if we find out later Rahm dropped the dime on Blago?

Silence doesn't equal guilt. He may have been told to be quiet by Fitz. Rahm might end up being the hero in all this.

[scarletwoman]

27. Much as I loathe Rahm, he should NOT step aside unless there's some absolute proof he was playing

Blago's game. And I sincerely doubt he's dumb enough to have done so.

I'm assuming we're stuck with the DLC asshole. More's the pity.

sw

[trumad]

9. This thread will become one big troll trap.

[RoseMead]

17. The kind where they check in but they don't check out?

Cause that would be fabulous.

[Swamp Rat]

18. "Fox News Chicago said..."

[MiniMe]

20. It would be unusual for the PE team not to talk to Blago

They have every right in the world to have discussions with him, nothing wrong with that. If Rahm had said "We'll make you Transportation Secretary if you make Joe Blow the new Senator", that would have been a problem. It seems like Blago pretty much blew that up when he said that they didn't want to give him anything for this.

I just don't see a scandal here.

[Fireweed247]

21. The report said the governor was given a list of Senate candidates acceptable to Mr Obama.

The question is..is this normal and/or acceptable?

[Bjorn Against]

22. Of course it is normal and acceptable...

Anyone is free to make advice to the Governor on who they feel should be chosen, and any person in Obama's situation would have his people consult with the Governor on who they feel should be appointed. All the evidence shows that Blago tried to bribe them and was unsuccessful, and may have even possibly been turned in by Rahm Emanuel. It is very clear from the wiretaps that Blago was very upset with Obama's people, all the evidence shows that the Obama administration is clean in this.

[Fireweed247]

23. Why is Blago trying to bribe Rahm?

I think it is the other way around.

How does this evidence prove Rahm is clean? It looks like he was telling the governer who he wanted and the governer was not in agreement, perhaps because he was offered more from someone else. Why would Blago be upset with Obama's people if they weren't pressuring him?

[Bjorn Against]

28. Blagoyevich said himself that Obama's team offered him nothing

You say he was "offered more from someone else", but Blagoyevich was very clear on the wiretap that he was offered nothing...

Could Blagojevich have been any clearer: "They're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them." Here is a man who clearly is not aware that he is being taped and man who clearly does not like Obama and so isn't doing him any favors. In fact, he later calls Obama a "motherfucker." And he clearly says on tape, "They're not willing to give me anything."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/blagojevich-proves-obama_b_149926.html

There is nothing illegal about talking to the Governor and suggesting candidates, in fact it would be extremely strange if someone in Obama's situation did not have his people make suggestions for his replacement. It is clear by Blagojevich's comments that Obama's team did not participate in his illegal actions. Stop spreading false accusations about who was involved in this.