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Here It Comes
Commentary Magazine ^ | 12.11.2008 | Jennifer Rubin

Posted on 12/11/2008 11:08:18 AM PST by vietvet67

It took awhile, but the MSM is starting to flex its muscles. After all, they can’t let a scandal as juicy as Blago-gate go uncovered. Faced with a tight-lipped presidential team, you knew that sooner or later the media would start — brace yourself — asking hard questions and becoming irritated by non-answers. From the [1] New York Times:

Mr. Obama said Tuesday that he had never spoken with the governor about the seat, and prosecutors have not implicated Mr. Obama or his advisers. At the same time, Mr. Obama’s team has declined for two days to answer questions about what discussions they had about the seat and whether intermediaries had any contacts with Mr. Blagojevich’s advisers.

Republicans have raised questions about Mr. Obama’s refusal to say more and about his past ties with the main characters. Even if Mr. Obama remains untouched by the investigation, it shines a light on the corrupt politics of the state he emerged from and takes attention away from the agenda of change he would rather emphasize.

“This is a huge distraction at the worst possible moment,” said Lanny J. Davis, a former White House special counsel who did damage control for President Bill Clinton.

And it can grow if not handled properly. “It’s like the whirlwind,” said Chris Lehane, another veteran of the Clinton teams. “You get pulled into the vortex more and more.”

But the zinger is a few paragraphs down:

Mr. Emanuel was among the few people in Mr. Obama’s circle who occasionally spoke to Mr. Blagojevich. He declined to answer questions on Wednesday, waving off a reporter who approached him as he walked across Capitol Hill.

A Democrat familiar with Illinois politics and the Obama transition, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said there probably were calls between the Blagojevich and Obama camps about the Senate seat. It was not clear if any calls were recorded by federal agents, who had tapped the governor’s phones.

Okay, if it were a Republican there would be a two-inch headline : “NEW CHIEF OF STAFF TALKED WITH BLAGO –SCANDAL GROWS.” But even in its milder form, this is fairly troubling information. The “we didn’t” vs. “I didn’t” talk to Blago distinction that the President-elect stammered out when first pressed on Blago’s contacts with the transition team does seem to have been a key one.

If in fact Emanuel had conversations with Blago that were taped, the Obama team better get all the facts out. Fast. Otherwise, Emanuel and the Obama administration will be in for a tough ride.

So, is it over? (The honeymoon, of course.) Let’s just say the press is finding something more tantalizing than Obama-promotion: a fascinating scandal that potentially touches a key member of the new administration.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blagojevich; bleepgate; emanuel; media; obama; obamaknew; obamatransitionfile
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1 posted on 12/11/2008 11:08:21 AM PST by vietvet67
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To: vietvet67

I think the MSM is finally getting the picture that the boat they have been traveling on wasn’t exactly unsinkable, next they may find an acute shortage of lifeboats if they don’t act now.

In modern day speak, they need to abandon Obamas Titanic love boat and grab a lifeboat before they run out of time, before they lose their jobs, America is not listening to your SOS MSM.


2 posted on 12/11/2008 11:12:36 AM PST by Eye of Unk (Americans should lead America, its the right way.)
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To: vietvet67

The arrogant media believes they created 0bama, and he belongs to them. They also believe that having created 0bama, they can also destroy him.

The left always eats its own.


3 posted on 12/11/2008 11:13:05 AM PST by henkster (Welcome to the Union of Socialist States of America. You are ordered to enjoy your stay.)
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To: vietvet67

“The press [media today] should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses”.

- Vladimir Lenin


4 posted on 12/11/2008 11:20:17 AM PST by griswold3
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To: vietvet67

The MSM is engaging in a massive coverup trying to insulate Obama from the crisis. The honeymoon is far from over. It is just beginning.


5 posted on 12/11/2008 11:21:37 AM PST by kabar
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To: kabar
Scandals Shadow Obama Presidency Before Even Taking Office
6 posted on 12/11/2008 11:23:31 AM PST by Jay777 (My personal blog: www.stoptheaclu.com)
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To: vietvet67

(smirk) The only way Blago has to mitigate the tsunami of crap that’s about to come crashing down on him, is to do a “Sammy Gravano”. My guess is that his “friends” are already arranging to make sure he can’t.


7 posted on 12/11/2008 11:25:06 AM PST by DGHoodini (Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand)
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To: Eye of Unk

FREEPERS AND LURKERS,

If you care about our Constitution you will listen to the video at the link below. It is a 90 minute video and the only video you will see of this conference where the Constitutional issue was discussed. It is important to listen to the ENTIRE video, even if you feel like quiting before it is finished. The questions from the Media are important to hear at the end of the conference.

I hope all of you will listen and if you think this issue is important that you will send the link to others. I trust you believe our Constitution should be upheld no matter WHO is President.

At the link below, click on the video on the left titled: “WTP Obama Citizenship Challenge - National Press Club”.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=bob%20schultz%20press%20conference&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GWYF&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv#+


8 posted on 12/11/2008 11:49:46 AM PST by seekthetruth
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To: vietvet67

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


9 posted on 12/11/2008 11:50:16 AM PST by Emperor Palpatine ("I love democracy. I love Free Republic")
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To: vietvet67

It’s obvious when Obama said “We didn’t” instead of “I didn’t” that he was simply referring to himself using the royal We as befits his majesty.


10 posted on 12/11/2008 11:52:51 AM PST by Mangia E Statti Zitto
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To: DGHoodini
Maybe we should lay odds on how long it takes before Blagojevich goes sailing out a 10th-floor window like Murder Inc. stool-pigeon Abe Reles....the canary who could sing, but couldn't fly.......


11 posted on 12/11/2008 11:54:11 AM PST by Emperor Palpatine ("I love democracy. I love Free Republic")
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To: Jay777

That is not the MSM reporting this.


12 posted on 12/11/2008 11:56:58 AM PST by kabar
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To: kabar

“The MSM is engaging in a massive coverup trying to insulate Obama from the crisis. The honeymoon is far from over. It is just beginning.”

Agree. They are hating this because it makes them look bad...well, worse...if possible. The whole campaign was a media cover up and now they have no choice but to spin defensively. Prior to this, they could simply ignore anything negative about Obama. The chickens are coming home to roost.


13 posted on 12/11/2008 12:02:53 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade, There are only two sides. Pick one.)
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To: Emperor Palpatine
What did the president-elect know and when did he know it?

Ahh shucks. We have to wait?



14 posted on 12/11/2008 12:03:41 PM PST by vietvet67
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To: vietvet67

Lie down with dogs... where there’s smoke... yadda yadda yadda.

Said another way:

Jesus may have been able to walk on water, but nobody argues that he didn’t get his feet wet. Yet Obama waded deeply and for years in the fetid swamp of corruption that is the “Chicago Machine” and they want us to believe that he didn’t get any of it on him? I don’t think so. I’m sure he’s in this up to his (sizeable) ears. It’s merely whether something makes it out of the machine long enough to make waves.


15 posted on 12/11/2008 12:04:40 PM PST by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: vietvet67
Has Nobama EVER had as much press scrutiny as he has had this week?

This guy has always been adored. A few days of pressure and he will fold like a wet pancake.

16 posted on 12/11/2008 12:06:12 PM PST by what's up
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To: vietvet67
Let's see:

Republican administration - Put all resources into uncovering "massive coverup" and display daily in huge headlines to keep the story going. Accuse everyone of anything just to get them to talk.
And remember: the coverup is the story.

Democrat administration - Be part of massive coverup and say as little as possible. Never accuse anyone of anything. And: no coverup, no story!

Yup. It's all here. Coming to a newspaper or TV screen soon.

17 posted on 12/11/2008 12:08:18 PM PST by jeffc (They're coming to take me away! Ha-ha, he-he, ho-ho!)
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To: seekthetruth

Bookmarking link to watch whenever I get an extra 90 minutes to spare. How about a brief summary of the contents?


18 posted on 12/11/2008 12:08:45 PM PST by TruthWillWin
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To: vietvet67

And the SCOTUS is going to help pull this crime off and ‘’p-ss on the victims’’ ,,,US!


19 posted on 12/11/2008 12:14:54 PM PST by Waco (Oath? What oath?)
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To: Emperor Palpatine

Well, the longer he stays out of protective custody, the odds grow in my opinion. and the likelihood that if it going to happen, it’s likely to happen sooner rather than later.

If his “friends” are of that type, and it all points to that...They are going to want to shut him up, for good, as quickly as possible.


20 posted on 12/11/2008 12:45:55 PM PST by DGHoodini (Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand)
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