Posted on 12/13/2008 2:00:01 PM PST by Mike Bates
On CNN Newsroom this morning, CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano discussed with anchor Betty Nguyen Barack Obama's pledge to disclose any contacts between his staff and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich pertaining to his naming a replacement to Obama's Senate seat:
QUIJANO: But, Betty, the question remains, when is it exactly that the president-elect and his team will disclose what contacts there actually were between their camp and people within the governor's office? What is taking so long? The president-elect said yesterday his staff was looking into it and would release that list in the coming days. So we continue to wait for that -- Betty.
Hold it a minute. Barack Obama didn't originally promise on Friday to supply that information. He made that commitment on Thursday and CNN aired his statement live:
I have never spoken to the governor on this subject. I'm confident that no representatives of mine would have any part of any deals related to this seat. I think the materials released by the U.S. attorney reflect that fact.
I've asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor's office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days.
So it's been two days of waiting for that disclosure, not - as indicated by Elaine Quijano - just one. Others on CNN have also voiced mild frustration with how long it's taking to get the information out. On Lou Dobbs Tonight yesterday, CNN congressional correspondent Jennifer Yellin noted that:
There are lots of questions at this point and frustration because Barack Obama has not revealed all that he could about who on his team may have had any contact. This really is Barack Obama's style and I guess something we're all going to have to get used to.
He collects the facts, he gets everything in a row, and he releases it on his timetable. They think they really do have one chance to take a bite at this apple, to get it all out there, and they want to have all the information when they do, so we, in the meantime, are left to wait, wonder, and feel a little frustrated. Lou.
For months we've heard how efficient the Obama campaign is, how perfectly it functions. It was, we were told, quick and nimble in responding to any challenge. The day after the election, NPR's Don Gonyea hailed Obama's "well-organized, well-funded and well-disciplined organization that always seemed to know how to respond to crises."
So why the delay and hesitation now? It reminds me of another president who, a decade ago, started being asked questions about a possible scandal. Said Bill Clinton:
We are working very hard to comply and get all the requests for information up here, and we will give you as many answers as we can, as soon as we can, at the appropriate time, consistent with our obligation to also cooperate with the investigations.
And that's not a dodge, that's really why I've – I've talked with our people. I want to do that. I'd like for you to have more rather than less, sooner rather than later. So we'll work through it as quickly as we can and get all those questions out there to you.
It's already been more than two days and Obama hasn't responded. How long does it take to gather information from a relatively small number of trusted aides? Longer than Elaine Quijano realizes, apparently.
Apparently that tune has now changed.
From Jessica Yellin, CNN congressional correspondent........
But we are not going to get more details about this until Barack Obama released the entirety of his investigation. He is working at his own speed. And, as we know, he takes his time. He doesn't move at our pace. We are going to have to get used to this. This is how he operates.
FIFTEEN YEARS LATER, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR BILL CLINTON TO GET BACK WITH THAT INFORMATION!
So what's my point? Sometimes Presidents NEVER get back with info, and they get away with it!
OBAMA: Uh, uh, are, uh, uh, uh, um. That’s — that’s a bunch — so — so let me tick these off. Deh… Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, um, uh. So the issue is not a perception that, uh… Weh, weh, let me put it this way. Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, We’re — we’re trying to — you know, we
will put this information out here and — and — and, uh, uh, uh, uh, um, uh, uh, uh.
That’s why it takes so long...
Well, we have to get everones story straight. If we can't get everyones story straight, we have to make up a story and get everyone to get that story straight. All this takes time.
We have to be patient while they dig the hole deeper!
BLAH BLAH we didnt do it blah blah blah innocent ...
And whether the press allows them to get away with it or not depends a great deal on whether they have a "(D)" or "(R)" after their names.
Try these.
Now you listen to me. I'm going to say this again: I did not have discourse with that man, Governor Blagojevich.
.. or you can try this
I'd like for you [the press] have more [information] rather than less, sooner rather than later. So we will work through it as quickly as we can and get all those questions out there to you.
They're old tricks but they just might work again. . . .
bttt
The media has become such a Leftist clown show that it has no more credibility. I am reading more UK and German news outlets everyday to find out what the hell is happening in my own country!!!
Maybe we need to turn Elliot Spitzer loose on these crooks!!!
Rush said it all.
When it’s a republican big media is the prosecutor.
When it’s a democrat big media is the defense.
Standing at a podium the “Chosen One” pulls out from under his coat a cute puppy. He says “This is the new White House dog, now if any of you ask a question I do not like, I am going to jab this puppy with my pen”. “Are there any questins about Blago/Rezko/Birth Cert?”. The room is silent.
Questioning it makes you a racist.
FMCDH(BITS)
Remember how Clinton kept waiting until he could ferret out what Lewinski told Starr so that he could tailor his own story the right way? He had to make sure his lies were on solid ground. But Starr was excruciatingly patient and it was Clinton who finally blinked. As a consequence, he got nailed. Guys like Clinton and Zero and Emanuel and the rest of the mobster politicians are way too smart to blindly scatter their lies in the dark. They need information first. THEN they know how to safely lie.
I suspect that Obama's operatives are desperately trying to find out what Fitz knows so that they, in turn, know the best way to lie. This is why Obama's "list of contacts" is not yet available and why it may never be available - - he doesn't know which ones he needs to reveal yet and he doesn't know HOW to lie about the ones he does reveal.
This is getting interestinger and interestinger...
FMCDH(BITS)
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