Rahm Emanuel 'gave governor choices for Obama seat'

Times of London ^ | 12/23/08 | Tim Reid

[TigerLikesRooster]

Rahm Emanuel 'gave governor choices for Obama seat'

Tim Reid in Washington

Barack Obama’s incoming chief of staff gave the Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich - who is accused of trying to sell the president-elect’s vacant Senate seat - a list of names preferred by Mr Obama to fill it, according to an internal review released tonight.

The report stressed, however, that neither Rahm Emanuel nor anybody in Mr Obama’s White House transition team had any improper contact with Mr Blagojevich or his staff.

The report found Mr Emanuel, whom Mr Obama has chosen to be his White House chief of staff, held multiple conversations with Mr Blagojevich and his staff about the Senate seat, but at no time suspected the governor was looking for something in return.

An official with Mr Obama’s transition team said that Mr Emanuel had been caught on wiretaps taken as part of the investigation into Mr Blagojevich. The embattled governor was charged on December 9 with plotting to use his authority to appoint Mr Obama’s Senate replacement in exchange for cash and other political favours.

[ChiMark]

Wait a minute! Who is telling the truth?

[neodad]

I’m shocked that this comes from a British newspaper. /sarc. They were the only ones just a little skeptical during the campaign.

[jaz.357]

Nothing to see here!

[screaminsunshine]

He must be found innocent. He is an Obaman. He can do no wrong.

[stylin19a]

Valerie Jarrett bailed real quick from consideration for the senate seat.
The rumor that she was tipped about the Blago indictment has vanished into thin air, here in Illinois.

[Principled]

Everyone is Mr. in the article - it’s not just “Obama” or “Emmanuel”, etc. it’s “Mr. Obama” and “Mr. Emmanuel”.

Interesting and refreshing albeit the Mr.s in the article are punks.

[Wolfstar]

The report found Mr Emanuel, whom Mr Obama has chosen to be his White House chief of staff, held multiple conversations with Mr Blagojevich and his staff about the Senate seat, but at no time suspected the governor was looking for something in return.

A blatant lie, right there. Politics is all about looking for something in return. Precisely the same thing is going on in New York with that senate seat, but I assume no prosecutor is looking over Paterson's shoulder.

[MrMarbles]