I noticed this as I was reading the transcript of Fitzgerald's comments at the press conference. Below is a quote from that event that I've not heard mentioned anywhere. After Fitzgerald details the events around the Valerie Jarrett portion of the pay-for-play scheming with the Obama people, he then goes on to say this about Jesse Jackson Jr. approaching Blagojevich with another deal:
—- “What I should also talk about is that, in another event, SOMEBODY ELSE APPROACHED THE GOVERNOR [emphasis mine]. And the governor’s understanding of this approach was that in exchange for an appointment, to the Senate seat, he would receive campaign contributions. And the government’s view of what was told, to him, through intermediaries was that, quote, “We were approached pay-to-play that, you know, he raised me 500 grand. Then the other guy would raise a million if I made him senator,” close quote.” —
SOMEBODY ELSE APPROACHED THE GOVERNOR??
Unless there were yet another set of people that were trying to make deals, it sounds like the Obama people CAME TO BLAGOJEVICH with this plan as did Jesse Jackson Jr.
Perhaps it began with 'a List'?
There is a reference to Blago cooking up the three way deal portion of the scheme, but Fitz is pretty specific that he was negotiating only a part of the various deals set forth: “At one point, he proposed a three-way deal, that a cushy union job would be given to him at a higher rate of pay, where he could make money. In exchange, he thought that the union might get benefits from the president-elect. And therefore the president-elect might get the candidate of his choice.”
Now reread the Federal Complaint with this in mind. It makes more sense. When Blago says the "offer" is not good enough--he means OFFER. The complaint doesn't seem to say who approached who.
The press is trying to paint Blagojevich as crazy and brazen, but it may not be THAT crazy guy’s crazy idea. It’s not a matter of what did Obama know and when did he know it. It’s a matter of what did Blagojevich know and when did HE know it.
We may not need the COLB issue!
It don’t matter if Obama’s people approached Blagojevich or not. The media loves Obama so much that he could shoot a man in the head on national TV and there would be no consequences.
As I have stated before, President Biden will pardon Obama shortly before he nominates Hillary Clinton as VP.
Well, Fitzgerald has gone out of his way to say that Obama is not involved and Immanuel is not a target of the investigation so whatever innuendo is contained in that quote is probably related to some other group and not Obama.
Maybe not.
There were apparently at least five people vying for the appointment.
For some reason, I find myself comparing the level of seriousness between the (alleged) Obama/Blago Senate seat sale (and Rezko stuff, and Ayers buddying, and etc) to the transgressions of once and former Vice President Spiro T Agnew.
The (alleged) Agnew "crimes" were serious, but truly teensy compared with (allegedly) selling a Senate seat, n'est ce pas?
.
This is going nowhere. Even Blago seems confident it is going nowhere.
This guys term as president will make Nixons look like a college prank.
As I have stated before, President Biden will pardon Obama shortly before he nominates Hillary Clinton as VP.
JJJ was only Candidate 5. “Somebody else” could have been any of the previous 4, no? How does this prove it was Obama?
The person that approached Blago "pay to play" and was offering contributions was doing it on behalf of "Senate Candidate 5" which is Jesse Jackson, Jr.
The person was probably a JJJ supporter, not directly employed by or tied to JJJ. Nobody near Obama wanted Senate Candidate 5 to get the appointment and they wouldn't have paid to get that candidate in.
That is why there was such a rush to shut down the investigation; Obama was about to be exposed for what he is; just another Chicago hack. No wonder Blagojevich was cussing about Obama. Would you be that angry if someone you had no reason to beleive was corrupt turned you down? No you only get mad like that when you are double-crossed.
Call Blago and tell him to stay and fight.
I’d like door Number 3!
Why hasn’t BO been arrested yet?:
December 14, 2008 9:30 AM
Defense Lawyers Assess Case Against Blagojevich
Posted by Brian Baxter
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2008/12/defense-lawyers.html
Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is an old hand at political corruption trials. The initial evidence he’s brought against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appears to be overwhelming. [snip]
Comments:
Here are the facts linking Obama to Blagojevich, in a letter I sent to Patrick Fitzgerald.
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:
Today you told the press, in connection with the Blagojevich arrest, “We were in the middle of a corruption crime spree and we wanted to stop it.” And yet most of the complaint is based on evidence you have had for a number of years. In other words, if the matter concerning the appointment of a Senator were removed, you would still have had enough evidence to indict Blagojevich. In fact, the complaint shows that you have enough evidence for a number of years.
This means that you and no one else, allowed Blagojevich to continue on a “crime spree” long after you had enough evidence to arrest him. Indeed, he would never have gotten to the point at which he was about to sell a Senate seat, if you had arrested him earlier. Why did you not do so? Why did you allow him to commit more crimes?
And now you are about to show the same negligence again. You are apparently about to make the same mistake with regard to Barack Obama. As you probably know, Evelyn Pringle has published detailed online articles concerning Obama’s participation in “Operation Board Games” crimes. Below, I reproduce paragraphs from your own Blagojevich complaint, and after them, a section from the Pringle Obama articles dealing with precisely the same facts as the complaint.
Her articles show in detail that Obama has committed the same 18 USC 1346 crimes you discuss in your Blagojevich complaint. And yet he has not yet been arrested. Why not?
Just as you allowed Blagojevich to get to the point where he was about to sell a United States Senate seat, so you allowed Obama to be elected President, and apparently you are willing to let him continue his own crime spree by actually becoming President.
It was irresponsible for you to continue to allow Blagojevich to continue in office when you had enough evidence to arrest him, and it is irresponsible of you now to allow Obama to continue in office and become President, when you have enough evidence to arrest him.
Arrest Obama now. It is irresponsible of you to wait any longer.
Sincerely yours,
John Ryskamp
Comment By John Ryskamp - December 14, 2008 at 12:11 PM
bttt
It was Jesse Jackson Jr's 'people' who approached Blago. That 'people' was either one of his brothers or dear old Dad, Jesse Jagmo Sr. This has all been reported.
Plus JJ Jr held a presser on this and cried and admitted he was Candidate #5 of the tapes. AND dear old Daddy hired a Criminal Defense Lawyer.
Btw, there is nothing illegal about Barry or 'his people' talking to Blago about a favored replacement. You can bet the rent Hillary and Biden are doing it too. And all of Barry's picks who now are lected to an office. If there's no quid pro quo, it is absolutely 100% legal.
There’s nothing wrong with Obama calling Blago to tell him who he thinks should fill the seat. As long as it never went beyond a friendly suggestion...
Welcome to Free Republic.
How did Blago ‘know’ that the Obama transition team only offered ‘appreciation’ for their perfered pic for Obama’s senate seat?
Rahm, "I never had sex with, nor 'inappropriate contact' , nor had 'inappropriate financial discourse' with the Illinois Governor. Hell, President Obama and I don't even know him."
Chicago Team Obama
Hey Zer0, How are you hanging in there with the big boys? How's your smoking and facial tics coming along? Enjoy your ride. The fun is just beginning.
