No taint seen on Prez-elect, but Rahm Emanuel gave a wishlist for Senate

NY Daily News ^ | 12-13-08 | Celeste Katz

[STARWISE]

President-elect Barack Obama's right-hand man reportedly gave the disgraced Blagojevich administration a list of four women Obama considered acceptable to fill his U.S. Senate seat.

Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois congressman who will serve as Obama's White House chief of staff, was heard discussing the issue on court-approved wiretaps with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief of staff, the Chicago Tribune said.

The candidates "acceptable" to Obama on the list Emanuel provided included a trio of female Democrats: longtime Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, Illinois Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Chicago

Emanuel later added a fourth Democratic woman, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, to the roster, the source told the Tribune.

Blagojevich and his former chief of staff, John Harris, face federal charges of trying to auction off Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. Harris has resigned.

"The revelation does not suggest Obama's new gatekeeper was involved in any talk of deal-making involving the seat," the Tribune said.

Representatives of Obama's transition team did not respond to requests for comment about Emanuel's involvement Saturday. Obama has said no one on his team engaged in any deal-making in regard to his Senate seat.

Among others who have been publicly sucked into the scandal are U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois.

The longtime congressman and son of the well-known civil rights activist has denied that he authorized any intermediary to try to strike a crooked deal to get him Obama's seat.

A handful of protesters gathered outside Jackson's Chicago office Saturday.

Blagojevich has refused to answer specific media questions related to the scandal, in which federal authorities say he tried to parlay his power to choose Obama's successor into campaign cash and other perks for himself and his wife, Patti.

He says he has done nothing wrong.

A car belonging to the disgraced governor, who has given no sign that he is planning to quit despite escalating calls to do so, was seen outside the office of a well-known Chicago defense attorney Saturday.

The Illinois Legislature is moving to strip away Blagojevich's legal ability to choose a replacement for Obama, who resigned from the Senate after winning the presidency.

Other than his weekly video address, Obama spent much of the day out of the public eye Saturday, emerging only briefly for a workout at the gym.

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His Congressional website is still up.

"As Chair, Emanuel led the Democratic Caucus in fulfilling its campaign promise to pass legislation reflecting the values and priorities of the American people.

In the first 100 legislative hours, Democrats passed sweeping ethics reform, strengthened our national security, increased minimum wage, expanded stem cell research, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, cut interest rates on student loans, and ended the subsidies for the oil industry.

Emanuel began his career with the consumer rights organization Illinois Public Action. He worked on Paul Simon’s 1984 election to the U.S. Senate and in 1989 served as a senior advisor and chief fundraiser for Richard M. Daley.

Emanuel served as a senior advisor to President Bill Clinton. After leaving the White House, Emanuel returned to Chicago to serve as a managing director at a leading global investment bank."

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~~I think the taint could spread ...PING!

[dragonblustar]

Obama is Taint.

[Clemenza]

Obama aint the Taint, he’s the hole...

[Ronin]

It’s amazing how many of these articles headline, lead or somehow get the point across at the beginning of the article that “Obama is not affected”, “Obama will remain untouched”, Obama had absolutely nothing to do with anything”...

Methinks I hear the false cheerfulness of a whistler strolling through a graveyard.

[lilylangtree]

“Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan”

Since this RAT is one of the contenders for osama’s job, she’s also the one trying to shut Blago up by getting him to resign. The noose around osama & rahm just keeps getting tighter. Strike a deal, Blago and let it all loose. The public really wants to know the underbelly of Chicago politics which we know involve osama up to his big ears and then some.

[pankot]

Everybody knows all these people are innocent—it’s just racism, that’s all.

[Just mythoughts]

Emanuel later added a fourth Democratic woman, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, to the roster, the source told the Tribune.

The story does not say, but did the governor request a list of acceptable senate replacements from Bama, or did the list get hand delivered? Now who has more influence a president elect or a sitting governor?

Why isn't the attorney general now tainted? She appears to be moving heaven and earth to get the governor out of office.

[I see my hands]

"No taint seen"

He has not been blackened by this scandal.

[lnzog]

The attorney general and the governor have hated eachother for years. I doubt she would talk to him let alone have anything to do with this thing.

[claymax]

Yea, and Jefferson wasn’t caught with 90k in his freezer, Rangel didn’t know he did anything wrong, and Nancy is running the most ethical House of Representatives in the history of America. Our leaders and the MSM are getting comical, or creative or both at lying. Sad thing is, the “sheeple” believe them.

[Mogwai]

The new keyword for the ethical cesspool that is Illinois politics in general, and Chicago in particular is illinoisome ...

[Just mythoughts]

The attorney general and the governor have hated eachother for years. I doubt she would talk to him let alone have anything to do with this thing.

Wouldn't she have talked to somebody if her name is on Bama's list? IF she had any conversation with anyone regarding her desire to take that Senate seat why isn't she now compromised?

[Enchante]

"No taint seen on Prez-elect...."

UNREAL -- That is an EDITORIAL masquerading as a news headling..... the MSM bends over backwards to assure the public that there is no "taint" for Obama from his Chief of Staff consorting with corrupt Demagogues who are being indicted, resigning, etc. Blago's own Chief of Staff has been indicted and has resigned, and Blago's Deputy Governor promptly resigned as well.

Can anyone imagine the Mediascum writing similar headlines for Pres. Bush or any prominent Republican if an analogous situation existed???

Let there be no doubt that liberal editors and reporters all have their custom Obama kneepads.

[Clintonfatigued]

More on the Obama/Blago fiasco...

[pepsionice]

There was a political talk-show I listened to several years ago...talking about the reasoning why Senators were a problem when they ran for president...and actually won. We’ve had a long tradition of avoiding this issue...for several decades (Kennedy was the last one in this situation).

One of the discussion items was that Governors come under huge influence to “give” the position to the “right” guy. One of the comments ended being that this ought to be a legislature thing...thus avoiding this entire conflict or bribe potential.

I look over this situation and thats basically the only way that it could have been prevented. Everyone wanted to get into this act...to bribe Blago in some fashion. Blago was a natural at soliciting a bribe, no doubt....but the rest of the cast of players...all were part of the big scheme of things.

As you look across the political landscape for March 2009 (the likely election period for this Illinois senate position)...all of the big five mentioned as possible replacement figures are now tainted. Rahm...if he wanted to run...can’t run because of the taint. If there were ever a time for some retired military officer to step out of the shadows in Illinois...to run for the Republicans...this is it. If I were the democrats...I’d start to worry about the corruption taint and how long it will last. If Blago drags this out through the fall of 2009...it’ll affect races in 2010.

[ensignbay]

We have (hopefully JUST) four years of this kind of cheer leading for the president to look forward to. The contrast to Bush’s treatment is startling, even if expected.

[tallyhoe]

I think there will be a lot more indictments when this is over! I also think it will go to Obama’s inner circle! When Ron’s wife get indicted he will sing like a bird. Bye bye Jackson, Ron Emanuel, bye bye half of Illinois congress and bye bye Daley!

[Just mythoughts]

I agree with you. On the one hand Bama is the “ONE” and then on the other he has no influence.

What are political appointees ... nothing more than pay backs for money and time given in political campaigns. Even the strange selection of Hillary comes at a price for Bama.

[kb2614]

Oh c’mon you reichwingers!! “THE LIGHTWORKER” was too busy tending his flock of unicorns to be tainted by the Democrat Chicago Machine. Nothing to see here, move along.

QUICK,,,LOOK OVER THERE!!! SARAH PALIN JUST SLAUGHTERED A FUZZY WUZZY MOOSE AND IS FIELD DRESSING IT IMPROPERLY!!