Tom Balanoff is the president of Service Employees International Union Illinois Council and the Vice President of its International Executive Board, as well as the President of SEIU Local 1 with 40,000 janitors and security guards.[1]
“I would much prefer she (remain in the White House) but
she does want to be Senator and she does meet those two criteria,” Balanoff said Obama told him.
“I said: ‘thank you, I’m going to reach out to Gov. Blagojevich.”
Balanoff then described a Nov. 6, 2008 meeting he had with Rod Blagojevich to recommend Valerie Jarrett for Barack Obama’s Senate seat.
Blagojevich responded that he was in “active discussions” with the Madigans about appointing Lisa Madigan and was holding out for a legislative package with the House speaker.
“I said that could be months. He said, ‘Yeah’. I said Valerie Jarrett, I don’t believe she has that kind of time,” Balanoff testified.
Blago then turned the conversation to a cabinet position, Balanoff said.
“He said, ‘You know, I love being governor, but my real passion is health care,’” and then he asked about the Health and Human Services cabinet post.
“I told him that’s not going to happen,” Balanoff said. “He said, “Is that because of all the investigations around me?”
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“I would much prefer she (remain in the White House) but
she does want to be Senator and she does meet those two criteria,” Balanoff said Obama told him.
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Why do I keep thinking ‘somebody’ in the US Atty’s office network tipped off the WH about the impending investigation via one of their Chicago insiders, and they backed off the Jarrett choice ?
Also in his testimony, Balanoff revealed Jarrett knew Obama called him the day before the election about her being named senator.
The morning of the election, Balanoff said he had a discussion on the phone with Jarrett in which he talked about her wanting the Senate seat.
“Didn’t Barack call you last night?” Jarrett asked, according to Balanoff. “Well, I am interested.” He said she told him.
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There ya go ...
Ooops .. link to the above
http://blogs.suntimes.com/blago/2010/06/witness_giannoulias_at_meeting.html